UPDATE 05/26/2008

Chapter 13 is still only a few pages along, still due in part to papers, and also a new job that has me working 20 hours a week or thereabout, but mostly because my grandma died. Sifting through her possessions is tough, balancing it with work and school, and it is just my four-person family on whom this task falls. So, writing TMS has taken a bit of a hiatus due to this situation. Also, my beta, Ominous Voices, has recently had some family emergencies as well, so we're both in little shape to be worrying about fan fiction. It will come back, I promise, but again the amount of time that takes is variable and probably not as short as I would like it to be.

Trading My Sorrows: Working on it, but, as it turns into more of a joint spiritual journey (me exploring/discovering more about my faith along with Severus), unfortunately updates probably won't be too often. Coupled with school duties and the desperate need to get a job, I hope you understand.
Erroris of Vestri Mores: I've lost the plot bunny for this one. If anyone is still interested in reading, let me know, and I'll work on it more. I've thought about changing the premise of the fic; instead of everyone blaming Hermione, just Draco does it, and it's mainly about Snape dealing with the punishments and trying to figure out who is doing them. Does this sound alright to anyone who cares about this fic?

I'm also planning on writing a sequel to Spring is in the Air, since I feel like it and a few reviewers asked for one. : ) If this is something you'd be interested in reading, let me know somehow. Tentative title is Summer Vacation, where Dumbledore drags the Hogwarts staff off to the Carribbean for a nice beach holiday. Sirius Black is alive in this one, too - as many have noticed with my fics, he often is. I just love the Snape-Black fights that can happen when he's alive - too much good grown-men-fighting-like-little-boys to pass up, mate. : )

End Update

For anyone interested I am ShadowBallad, the fan of Harry Potter, espeically Severus Snape.

A few things about me...I'm a college second-year majoring in English and minoring in History. Needless to say, classwork and the need of a job often overshadow fanfiction writing, so if I haven't updated in forever (which for me is not so rare a thing), that is probably why. :D I also like anime and general fantasy, which I write in whatever spare time I manage to scrounge up. I also have developed the habit of writing using the British spelling of words, though I am American. shrugs It annoys my professors, so the habit is good for something. :D

My favourite Harry Potter pairing is Minerva x Severus. ... Yes I'm weird. If you read my story Spring is in the Air, maybe you'll become weird too.

Reviews make me so happy! You have no idea how warm and fuzzy a review in the inbox makes me feel! Okay, so maybe you do, but pleeeeeeeeeease review if you read! It gives us writers motivation and good critiques help us improve. If you feel you must flame me, please be polite about it!

HBP spoilers ahead, don't read if you haven't finished Book 6!

I still believe in Snape. He has always been and will forever continue to be my favourite character. I have several theories about why he did what he did, and what will happen next, etcetera. However, they are all just crackpot theories, so to speak. JKR just better not kill him, otherwise I shall have to kill her! Mwahahahaha!

Well, I guess that's all I have to say...cheers!

DH spoilers ahead, don't read if you haven't finished Book 7!

Bwahahahahaha, I was right! Snape was good! Except...er...he sort of died...and that made me mad/distraght there for a while. The book overall was incredibly good - loved the whole concept of Wizarding fairy tales and the Deathly Hallows themselves - but she bloody killed off so many people! Besides Snape, I was most angry when she killed Fred. That's just wrong. I am a twin, and even the thought of my twin dying just...I don't even want to think about it. I could imagine what pain George was enduring after that. I think The Prince's Tale was the best chapter ever written (I'm a Snape fan, what can I say?), but at the same time it's a bit disturbing that he loved Lily so obsessively (while also being incredibly laudible, as it proved he could love just as mush as or even more deeply than those around him who thought he was a heartless bastard). One of the best scenes was Mrs. Weasley killing Bellatrix! Oh yeah, I was just WAITING for someone to off that horrid woman, and the fact that it was Mrs. Weasley simply surprised me. Oh, and speaking of killing, I was also angry that Lupin died! My immediate thought after finishing the book was, Oh, lovely, now both my favourite male characters are dead. At least McGonagall survived; I would have had a fit if she didn't, as that would mean ALL my favourite characters died, which would have been bloody awful.

Anywho, sad that the series is over, sad that two of my faves died, but still adamant in writing fan fiction about JKR's amazing world.