*grumble grumble *

That probably happened when I moved some scenes around, possibly even after the chapter had been beta-read. So, yeah, good catch. I'll have to fix that in the revised version.

 

Hmm...

Im calling it now. Archie Green went to Charmbridge.

 

Why ever do you think so?

Poor Julia. But I still expected more,of her and it will now take it longer... why hasn't Alex told her anything, at least about Livia? Although for some reason I doubt Mrs. King's only reason is punishment.

Now I'm convinced Payton is an idiot. Using LOL in a letter, really? When will Alexandra dump him?

I wonder what it means that Lilith and Diana went to separate schools. More of a break between them? Perhaps they were raised by different parents in different places. But seriously, named for the Furies? Interesting.

 

That was a pretty awesome chapter. The way Alexandra so impressively dealt with Mrs. Middle about her project, and the fact that Thorn has now agreed to start teaching her advanced magic during their meetings show that Alexandra is definitely coming into her own. And she's growing up in other ways too (i.e. forgiving Brian)

She's still prone to both childishness and stubbornness though; I rolled my eyes when she decided to keep her 7-years-to-live curse secret from the one person in the world most likely to solve her problem.

Thorn was genuinely worried when she was talking about the Parliament of Stars, and now I can't remember if he knows that she bargained with Death. If he does, I don't know why he'd be shocked that she's trying to treat with the Powers again...

Overall, I really like this series, been following it for a while, and I can't say I've ever read anything more original in HP Fanfiction (and not necessarily just because Harry Potter isn't even mentioned), and I've been reading HP FF since 2002.

 

Because, while she was looking at the records of who all went to Charmbridge, she looked up her mother, her sister, Lilith and Diana, but didn't even think to look up her stepfather. Call it a hunch.

 

Mrs. Middle is no match for Alexandra. Not surprised at Alex's attitude. And I like how devious she is - the project is just another excuse to find out more about John.

Forgiving Brian (or coming close to it) was a good thing. I feel that so far, this book has been (and that is as it should be) a lot less about 'someone trying to kill Alexandra' and a lot more about Alexandra accepting herself and the fact that she needs friends. And forgiving others is often key to forgiving yourself.

Abraham is awesome, doing that sort of magic just to meet with his daughter. Of course, it's needed - Alexandra is probably the one most under watch, and probably in the most danger in general, as well as possibly having the most importance in Abraham's plans... but still, it's amazing he goes to this kind of effort just to meet with her.

Interesting information about Livia. She was at Alexandra's birth - was she estranged already back then, and only came because he forced her, or did something happen at the birth which caused her to break with Abraham. And "Livia is one of my most unforgiving daughters" - one of the most? Who else? Alexandra, possibly, but if so, who is 'the most unforgiving'?

I won't speculate more about what Abraham revealed, because it's vague and uncertain. But I do find it reassuring he is keeping tabs on Alexandra, and I think it's obvious he himself treated with the Stars Above - and perhaps this caused the need to protect Alexandra.

 

Good chapter. Been following your stories for a long time, and honestly they are the only current HP fics that I get excited about when I get a notification in my email of an update. I love the fact that you write beforehand and release chapters at regular intervals. Gives me something to look forward to and takes away the anxiety of waiting for a new chapter of a great fic you want updated.

 

Well, it may be an unreliable narrator, but: "She'd been wrong. Her wand wasn't here." So I guess it depends on whether we trust Alex's new Witch Sight or not.


Alexandra was awesome in this chapter. Great bluffing skills. And it was all partly true, which always helps. I found the way she titled herself to be interesting - "eighth child of Abraham Thorn/seventh daughter/fate is written in the Stars Above" - because I do think these are all significant in some way. But without more on it, I don't have much to say.

So, Abraham got the business from his first marriage... and used it to do more business with the Dark Convention. Was the Dark Convention already operating through the Pruett's before Abraham married Livia's mother? Or did Abraham cause this connection to come into being? And is this part of why Abraham has problems with Dark Convention, the mystery of the eldest daughter, and why he felt the need to protect Alexandra? Consider this: The business was in Larkin Mills even before Max was born (Livia was born in what, 1978 and met the portrait last as a little girl - even if we say that's up to when she was 13, Max was born in 1992). So, perhaps Claudia moved to Larkin Mills due to Abraham? Was this his secret hideout?

So, Alexandra found a source of information about the mysterious first sister (though Alexandra will have to get Livia to get the portrait out of there), bluffed a hag, learned a bit more about her father and the Dark Convention, got Seven League Boots (always useful) and discovered how to actively use her witch sight, or wand sense, or whatever you call it. All in all, not a bad haul. I can't wait for the consequences and realization to come crashing down.

 

So what, you think it's a complete coincidence Abraham married a Pruett, they had a storehouse/shop in Larkin Mills, and Claudia moved there after she hooked up with Abraham? There's obviously some connection here, and Martha seemed to be under the impression Abraham and the Dark Convention had some agreement over the place.

I don't doubt a large part of the Dark Convention simply involves the Black Market trade - after all, dark items are illegal to trade, even if nobody's using them. So traders would naturally seek protection. And since their customers would normally be Dark Wizards anyway...

 

Awesome chapter. Kept me pumped up the whole time waiting to see what the hag and Alexandra would do. Great action, even with no dueling or fancy spells. Just nicely written, tense, smart prose.

 

^^^^Ditto this^^^^^

Inverarity really puts together their scenes well. These stories are really masterworks of character building and storytelling. It's not epic or filled with badassery. Just real characters with real problems and a great eye for insignificant details that lend credence to the tale.

Kudos on the last chapter. This story is starting to get interesting.