Geez, no matter how hard you try to keep something secret, someone finds out. It's funny that Matt told irresponsible James about the kiss. You've made it more realistic by showing that the Potter children are not perfect. We want them to be perfect because they're the children of war heroes but they're just kids like anyone else:D

Author's Response: Yeah, secrets never seem to stay secrets. Matt has managed to keep his a secret fairly well over the years, though. I'm really glad you like the Potter kids! I didn't want to make them perfect because it's not realistic and I find perfect characters really irritating. Everyone has flaws! Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I don't know if I've ever known anyone who can give good romantic advice--except me when I'm advising friends:D I think when we ask for advice, we already know what we want to hear. Then, when others give us advice, even though we've asked them for advice, they don't tell us what we've already decided. It all ends in disappointment. It seems like Lily has decided what she wants to hear. She did not want to hear that she needs more time to get over Sean. I agree with Rose though.

Author's Response: I have a few friends who give excellent romantic advice, and that's probably where I got a lot of Rose's advice from. That's a really good insight! If Lily really thought hard, she probably could've figured that all out on her own, but she's lazy and Rose gives such good advice. As you'll notice in this fic, Rose is pretty much always right. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I'm sure it is awkward to date a friend of a sibling. I've never had that experience, I think because I'm the oldest. I wonder if Lily kissed him too early. One never knows. I take it not everyone knows Matt is a werewolf. And it could've gone either way. Very enjoyable chapter.

Author's Response: I've never had that experience, either, and I'm also the oldest. Lily may have kissed him too early, but it's done now. Nope, the only people who know Matt is a werewolf are those who knew as of the end of Beyond the Shadow. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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That was a good chapter. Once again I have some chapters saved up to read. It's so odd to read all these stories about the kids grown up and to have them all woven together. I think you blazed some new trails here. I'll be back to read more later.

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked the chapter! I love writing about the kids all grown up as much as you like reading about them. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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Was I supposed to recognize the older woman at the wedding? The only person I could think of was Aunt Muriel:D I have to get used to the kids all being older now. Fortunately, I've been reading your stories all along so I know who's who. Great start. I'll be reading along as always.

Author's Response: No, you weren't supposed to recognize her. Muriel would be super old at this point if she were still alive. I'm glad you know who's who! Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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Considering all the other things Albus and friends have been through, their 4th year seemed rather calm. I guess I expected there to be more of a "blow up" involving Laurentis. What I liked though was that you didn't do the expected. I liked that Malfoy called a truce. In the review I wrote for one of your other stories, it was JKR's speech at Harvard in 2008 that I was referring to. That was my 25th reunion year--25 years since I had received my doctorate. I couldn't attend the ceremonies in person but attended through the wonders of technology. I'll be reading your other stories and looking forward to your account of Albus' fifth year.

Author's Response: I wanted to have a bit more of a subdued ending since the past years were so hectic. Laurentis is still there, though, so there could still be a big blow-up with her.

Oh, wow, you went to Harvard? That's so cool! I watched that speech online, too. It was awesome. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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Wonderful story. I thought you had the Head Boy and Head Girl give some meaningful advice. At some point you will make friends who you will keep forever. I loved Lily's advice--not to be afraid to fail. One can always learn from failure. One time, I think it was 2008, I was watching, via computer, the graduation from my graduate school. JK Rowling was giving the Alumni Address and I think she received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. As I recall, one of her key words of advice was to not be afraid of failure--to embrace it and learn from it and use it to move forward. You may not have known of that speech but it is interesting that you had Lily use the concept of failure as a main tenet of her speech. Remus seemed very aware that he was starting on a new part of his life. I think that sometimes graduates, especially from high school, don't know that within a few short years classmates will move on and if you don't move with them you end up stuck in the past. Anyway, great story. I've got a couple of other stories to finish and I look forward to your new one. I hope you don't wait too long to write sequels for this story and for your Albus story. Thanks for all your hard work.

Author's Response: I'm so glad you liked it! I had such feels writing James's speech because, in the end, Peter betrays them all and James dies and Sirius and Remus think each other are the traitor and it's just awful.

I actually did get the idea for Lily's speech from the one JKR gave at Harvard. It really is such good advice! JKR's was, of course, much better than the one I wrote for Lily.

I think Remus was more aware than the rest of them that he was starting a new part of his life, just because he lived so sheltered at Hogwarts compared to how he'd be treated in the real world. But, then again, with the war, I think all of them had a pretty good grasp of the fact that they were moving on. I think you're right, though, about being stuck in the past.

Aw, I hope it doesn't take me too long, either, but I'm so busy and I want to work on original fic, too. We'll see! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! :)

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Sounds like a definite break-up. You have to feel sorry for both of them. I still say that Addy took her life into her hands by experimenting. I don't see that as much different from what she's complaining about Remus doing. Of course, you might redeem Addy with your last chapter:D

Author's Response: Definitely a break-up. Addy is far too afraid of losing someone else close to her to stay with Remus. She did take life into her own hands by experimenting, and she lost Remus all the same by breaking up with him, but she's still too young to understand that. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I wonder if the OoP will be the thing to break up Remus and Addy. Although Remus graduating could put him out of sight and potentially out of mind. This was a good chapter. I wondered if Peter joined or not. I guess he did in the books. I sat on the edge of my chair wondering what he'd decide. I think your writing a story about Peter will be very interesting. I look forward to that.

Author's Response: It might be! Graduation will also be a hardship on their relationship. Yeah, Peter was in the OotP, according to canon. Not sure when I'll write the sequel, but I hope to. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I expectected Laurentis to look worse than she does. You have one more chapter left to make her look bad. Malfoy kind of switching sides was strange. I guess it shows how grown up he's become as Harry said. I'm sad to see this story end. At least I can look forward to the next one. I need to get to work on my own story. I haven't written anything since I went back to work in August.

Author's Response: This novel was more of a set-up of things to come. Laurentis won't appear too evil in this, but just wait. ;) Malfoy switching sides is kind of weird, but remember that it might not last. And yes, he is growing up. Good luck with your own story! Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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Did you slip any of your writing to JKR? That would be very bold but that's how good I think your writing is. Wow, you're going to have to clear this up quickly. You've got only a couple of chapters. I had to laugh when Rose told Albus that he gets involved in something stupid at the end of every year. He takes after his dad. It's hard to comment when your stories are so perfect. Do you have ideas for your 5th year story? Thanks so much for taking on this massive project.

Author's Response: Haha, no. She doesn't read writing people send her because she doesn't have that kind of time. But thank you so much for the compliment! Rose is completely right about Al getting involved with stupid things. Half this stuff he could avoid if he just minded his own business. But he's nosy, in many ways as nosy as Scorpius. He definitely takes after Harry. I do have an idea for the 5th one and hope to get started on it soon! Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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Sad but lovely chapter. I can understand how Remus feels. I'm having my knee replaced next week and I'm having bittersweet feelings of my own. The knee has caused me nothing but trouble but this is the last week I get to spend with it:) I understand your use of the word "tool" but having lived through 1978 I don't remember that word (there's a typo in a bit but my iPad won't let me change it. There's a 'her' that would be 'his life'.) being around then. I don't object to you using it. I wouldn't have used it here. Addy objected to Patrick making a decision that put her life in danger but isn't that what Luna's mother did when she died? Wasn't she experimenting with a spell? I guess it's all easy to see in hindsight.

Author's Response: I hope the knee replacement went well! Remus had such conflicting feelings in this chapter. Haha, I suppose I'm showing that I was not alive in 1978 by using the word tool. But it fit so well there, so I'll leave it. I suppose Addy did put her life in danger when she experimented with the spell, but for all we know she thought there was very little risk with that and it all just went horribly wrong. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I agree with you. This chapter was sad but it was very good. My favorite part was when Remus walked into the common room and everyone looked to him. That's when he realized that even a werewolf could do good and be respected. I was also surprised about why Addy would never fight. I didn't expect her brother to die.

Author's Response: I really enjoy writing the sad chapters. You can do so much with character development in them. Addy's life completely fell apart when her brother died. They were so close that she didn't know what to do, but she decided not to fight. And that's the one main difference between her and Luna. Luna always fought. In that way she was stronger than her mum. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I used to wonder about Peter before this, like how he became a Death Eater, but it's easy to forget about him. For so long we've thought of him as a less than good wizard, a tagalong living off the skills and reputation of the other three, and being unattractive on top of everything else. Your story brings Peter to the forefront and makes him and his needs more obvious. I think your sequel will be very interesting and fill in some of the blanks.

Author's Response: Peter has always intrigued me. What happened to make him turn to the dark side? What in his past made him susceptible to that? Why did the Hat put him in Gryffindor? So many questions! I'm glad you like the focus on him in this. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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Don't worry I voted :D I've found that the only thing to help grief is time. I think you have to learn to be without that presence you're used to. After a while remembering the good times becomes natural. I don't know if anyone's written a story about Peter so I will certainly be interested in your sequel if you decide to write it.

Author's Response: Thanks for voting! Time really is all that can help, along with talking with friends and family. I've never seen a Peter fic, so I hope to have time to write one. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I found myself wondering how Peter got involved with Voldemort after his father was kidnapped. As I recall, Peter's dad died. I guess I can see some scenarios in which Peter might be trying to save himself or his mother from Death Eaters. Peter was such a little creep. I remember, when seeing him for the first time in movies, that I thought he even looked like a rat in person.

Author's Response: I think there were a lot of factors in Peter's eventual turn to the Death Eaters, and I think his dad's death was a part of it. I'm hoping to explore it in a sequel. He did look just like a rat in the movies! Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I think Addy was holding hope for the future when she said Remus would have to wait to find out what her secrets were. I' m not saying we should shirk on our responsibilities but sometimes when we wait a good time to reveal something comes up. I guess that exposure to a boggart can show us what our fears are.

Author's Response: Addy was definitely holding out for a future with Remus, but sadly, that will never happen. You just never know. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I must say I feel a little sad at Lucius' passing. Didn't Moaning Myrtle have a crush on Draco at one point? Did you mention that before? I wonder what Albus will find out from Myrtle. Despite Albus' concerns for his family he's certainly had a good end of the year with dueling and Quidditch. You're building up the suspense--I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Author's Response: Lucius's passing is sad. Myrtle did have a crush on Draco in HBP if I'm remembering right. Albus definitely had a good ending to Quidditch and dueling. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I'm with Albus--I can't believe Harry isn't going to be Head Auror anymore. And what is Percy going to do. Maybe he could be a lobbyist or consultant and run next time. I have an odd feeling that Laurentis is still up to no good and that she won illegally. Or, one of her decisions is going to go very bad and she'll be run out of office:D. Great chapter. Your Albus stories have almost become canon to me with respect to your young Marauders.

Author's Response: I'm not sure what Percy will do next, but he'll figure it out. You're right to be suspicious of Laurentis, though. I'm glad you've been enjoying my stories so much! Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I think you're a lucky duck to have been able to attend the book signing. I'm around 125 pages from the end of the book. I'm in a hurry to finish it to see what happens but I want it to last at the same time. Loved that Addy gave Remus a party. I don't recall that much was said about Sirius' Uncle Alphard. It was brave of Sirius to go to the funeral. It's within his personality to share with his friends.

Author's Response: It took me a while to finish it. I finished it the day before I went to her signing. I really loved it.

I loved that Addy gave Remus a party, too. It's one of the last really fluffy bits in this story. There wasn't much in canon about Alphard, so I got to invent a lot. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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It is strange for people to definitely decide on a career this early. I had a vague idea but I don't think I would've predicted the job I do now. I didn't even know such a job existed when I was 16. I guess they don't have a sports related degree at Hogwarts like a Quidditch scholarship or sports medicine or PE:D. Maybe James could develop an alternative course of study. That's what some colleges have done with degrees in General Studies or University Studies.

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I respect you more for having Laurentis win. I guess if Percy won that would be the end of the story and you haven't dealt with the other escapees from Azkaban. I liked how you had the younger Weasleys deal with Percy's loss. They voiced some valid concerns about what happens after someone loses an election. There's more at stake than just losing by a couple hundred votes. There are a number of practical and political issues, like changing jobs.

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Snape was always complaining that James was a bully but I can see where Snape himself was also a bully. He was probably a more dangerous bully at that. In a way it's good that Addy didn't give in to peer pressure. It takes all types to fight and we fight in our own way. Great chapter.

Author's Response: It was a two-way street with the Marauders vs. Snape bullying, although Snape always makes James & Sirius out to be the bad guys. I agree that Snape was more dangerous, just because he became a death eater. Addy is very strong-willed and will rarely cave to peer pressure. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)

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I'll bet the Hogwarts students are as tired of the campaigning as we are tired of the current campaign in the US. I must admit, though, that we haven't had a lot of focus on the election since we're a small state with very few electoral votes. We're not very important I guess. It will be great to find out the election results but I wonder what you'll do with the Willinson issue.

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I enjoyed the "lecture" on the Muggle and Wizarding political organization. So I hope what you said was right:D. I hope you explain why Scorpius went home. You managed to distract me with his visit home. Have you read The Casual Vacancy yet? I've started it. So far so good. I've also been reading the Unwind Trilogy which is very good. Great chapter.

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