Narcissa was a child when she wrote that letter: she still thought that the thing one should miss about childhood was the toys, even though growing up meant that toys were supplanted by real things.

-And perhaps the toys were all she really had; with her different looks, she would have seemed the cuckoo in the nest.

I love your description of Draco; I read a fic once where his toddler picture showed his natural hairstyle to be Exploding Dandelion. I also adore how Audrey winds him up.

As for 'ferret', no doubt Andromeda would laugh when she heard how he was transformed into one and bounced against a wall by faux Moody. Cruel pranks are always funny when a Slytherin gets them, right?

I don't remember Hermione being in the pub; was she there, or did she just fade into the woodwork?

Andromeda is obviously grieving deeply for her daughter, and for Ted.

As for Ted's remark about the Herrenvolk-well, Dumbledore put a very heavy thumb on the scale for quite a long, for exactly that result. But it's _good_ when he does it. Rowling says so.

Of course Molly is unrepentant. She and hers are the product of decades of work convincing the Order et al that anything they do is right, as long as the victim is on the wrong side-or the perpetrator is on the right one. Just ask Marietta Edgecombe about that part.

Me, I'm surprised that the new trials are being conducted in a fairly civilized manner; one would think that the members of the Order would be out for vengeance the way they were the last time.

But then, Bartemius Crouch Sr., Alastor Moody, and Dumbledore are no longer in charge of them (and if one really thinks that Albus wasn't, just ask Sirius Black's ghost, if you can find him).

Of course Molly think she's right. She's the killer of Bella, and thinks Andromeda is more of the same-or worse yet, doesn't care, because, after all, anything she does is justified by her being who she is.

How is that different than the usual pureblood attitude? Or have only the names changed?

I think it's very interesting how you chose to portray the aftermath of the war. The way the characters try to reconstruct their lives shows a lot about who they are. Your portrayals of all of them are facinating.

Andromeda lets him squirm for a bit, and then helpfully supplies that in the public mind, it seems that once one is a blood traitor, one ceases being a Slytherin.

-"Sometimes we Sort too soon..."

Frankly, I will be quite surprised if any of these honors will be mentioned in twenty years, once the history books have a chance to be rewritten to remove _any_ Slytherin contribution to the Order's victory. Sluggy looked after his own comfort, not Slytherin House, while the only head of it who cared about all the students in it seems to have made an error by trying to protect them from the other Houses. Not that it did them much good. Minerva's concern, though no doubt appreciated for what it's worth now, comes a bit late. But then, she was a laissez-faire (at best) head of her own house. Just ask Ginny Weasley.

I do like Andromeda's musings. And am not a bit surprised at Draco's last flare of ambition. Hermione will, of course, crush him entirely in Potions; the Ministry grades the tests, after all, and doubtless will have no trouble telling whose test is whose. (Hermione will undoubtedly do quite well, and probably better than Draco; but there are those who would like to see Draco fail no matter what he actually puts on paper).

Excellent chapter, as always.

Excellent chapter, as ever. Given what Audrey knows, I suspect the wall between the Wizarding and Muggle worlds is about to reveal itself as thin as tissue paper; if not now, then in a decade or so to come. Really, you mean nobody noticed that huge fight with brooms up and down the length of Britain between Privet Drive and London?

As for Walburga, Andromeda might benefit from a chat with her on duelling tactics; one suspects the old portrait might know some helpful tips, especially if she recalls the Prewitt twins to any degree, and what they might have taught their little sister.

Draco, as ever, channels all his terror into a facade of Malfoy arrogance. But then, they'd throw him into Azkaban if he wept and pleaded with them, too. He may as well go out with as much dignity as he can muster.

I wonder what Millicent Bulstrode has to say?

Umbridge as third in succession? (falls over laughing)

Of course, the authorities don't want to mention Draco's real position in the DE circles; they want a show trial and a Kiss, and to end the Malfoy line completely (good luck with that, there's always a cousin somewhere). I do like the characterization of Lucius Malfoy as the Wicked Earl with bells on. (I remember seeing a romance cover with a picture of a wicked cane leaning on a chair. No, it wasn't a serpent, but it should have been. All us romance readers Got It).

Again, great chapter.

i came across this story quite by accident, started reading it at 11:30 p.m. on 1/25/2012 and just completed chapter 46 at 12:11 p.m. on 1/26/2012.

all i can say is - WOW!

this story is so detailed. honestly (and i love her, i really do), i don't think JKR could have came up with this story. you really hit all the emotional highs and lows and the chapter w/Andromeda Black Tonks dueling Molly P Weasley - AMAZING! in those scenes, Andromenda was scarier than her oldest sister Bellatrix, and that's saying something.

i do feel however (and i could be wrong) that in regards with Draco, it's not as (excuse the pun) black and white as it appears. i mean, if Molly Weasly can drug numerous people in an attempt to arrange her familys' love life, one can only imagine what Lucius Malfoy would do to his son in the name of gaining power.

looking forward to your next update, whenever that may be.

W.o.w.

I just love the dynamics between the ladies of the wizarding world and the post-war politics (and the way the matrons would work behind the scenes). I like your portrayal of Molly Weasley too - her behaviour in cannon has always seemed a bit off to me.. has always... And there's also Andromeda too - she's irrefutably a Black, but I can see how she'd have eloped with a muggleborn in her "youth".

Anyway, I'm going to be patiently waiting for the next update, whenever you have time to write it!

This has to be the most complex fanfiction I have ever read. Any plans of finishing or is it abandoned? It seems like you are nearing the end, I'll cross my fingers that you finish it!

I love the take on all the characters. Also, I like how this fanfiction made me feel more intelligent, rather than being just another guilty pleasure.

Pretty brilliant. :-)

I was quite fond of the beginning of this story. I think your characterization for Andromeda is spot on. Most describe her as this sugary sweet, lump of a girl, but I think people forget that she is the sister of Bellatrix Lestrange, whether anyone likes it or not. So I appreciate that. The only thing that I was irritated with was her initial treatment of Draco, only because I felt it a bit laughable that she was haughty over his social manners when her daughter was infamous for being obnoxious and lacking in that department. Also, her determination to have him know her family without delving into his past and instead judging him on the spot, according to his likeness of Lucius. (It reads hypocritical, since most mistake her for Bellatrix and react to her accordingly.) I felt that was a bit out of turn for her. Otherwise, great story! I hope you continue. :)

Percy… well, Percy just deserved it on general principles

-Because he exists (makes me wonder if Percy has a little icon of Snape to commiserate with and get advice from, on how not to end up like he did). The parallels are quite obvious, I should think.

Arthur Weasley was an observer, enjoyed his home comforts, and ignored what his children were up to. Though he didn't actively persecute Percy the way that Albus did Snape, those parallels seem rather clear as well.

No wonder Molly Weasley fought so much with Sirius Black. They were much too alike.

Excellent story :)

What a delightful marriage dance between Andromeda and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley; it's practically a gavotte, with all the requisite twists and turns.

And yes, the gatekeeper of the Leaky Cauldron _would_ need a great deal more in the way of qualifications than most pubkeepers (though pubkeepers need more even in the ordinary way than most people realize. I suspect someone who had trained as a kindergarten teacher would be apt at that kind of work, and I mean that as a compliment to the teacher).

I adore the description of the apartment; all Enlightenment Classical with a spot of Swedish post-modern, I suspect, or as I called Doyle's apartment in a rerun of The Professionals, Sotheby's Little Annex. It's all beautiful lines and bones, rather like its owner.

Very good chapter.

I'm amazed that Andromeda is being allowed to confront Molly Weasley at all, no matter what the other woman does. After all, the Weasleys' iconography is far superior to Andromeda's. No doubt the support of the Longbottoms is the only thing that makes this possible. We've seen in canon that being on the right side pretty much makes you invulnerable to any kind of retribution no matter what you do.

Obviously, the Wizarding World doesn't have a legal system to deal with child abuse on the level of poisoning Ginny. What a pity.

(Of course, with Amortentia being brought up, I recall Harry wondering if his father had used a potion on his mother. But then, Lily was shallow enough not to need it, I suppose).

This is bloody amazing! You took the characters and developed them in a way that I've never read before, following the devastation of the war, as well as a history that could've happened! It's very,,, human! Because they all have faults, some bigger and some smaller. This is a great story and I hope you update sometime soon. :D

I'll say it again, this was an amazing read with compellingly subtle and complex characterizations and I hope this chapter isn't the end.

Still reading and wish I could all day. I've stayed away from post DH stories so far, it all seemed so happily ever after, but this is amazing!