Oh god, I'm addicted to this story. It's so emotionally wrangling and their pain is so wonderfully written that I can almost feel the angst. Great job. I'm really excited to hear that it's nearly finished. You know I'm rooting for a happy ending right? LOL

Myanceris

*huggles Draco* He is so close to what he wants, but he needs to step back and allow Gin to go at her own pace. He does realize that she'll spook easily if he comes on too strong. Someone (Blaise, Luna AND Narcissa) needs to impress upon him (strongly) that good things come to those who wait. He's almost there, but coming on too strong...she wants lunch not marriage. Maybe after she returns home for good... Please, please, please Draco don't fuck this up! This is about the rest of your life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent - another chapter! This story is wonderful, I don't really know what else to say. I'm absolutely tickled that things are getting better.

sorry, that should have been, I could even hear the scratchy sounds of the recorder. Elise

The more I read of this story the deeper I get sucked in. I am on the edge of my seat now! This is so angsty and well written that I can almost see the haggard and drawn Draco. Oh it's awful. I feel so bad for him - is that wrong? Perhaps I should be feeling bad for Ginny but I don't. Aren't I wicked? Ah well, we both seem to enjoy torturing our characters so I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. Draco's letter was heart-wrenching btw.

Myanceris

Okay, I HAVE to review this chapter too... ;) The choices you made here were exactly right, and so different from the way a lot of authors would have chosen to take it. The easy way would have been for Blaise and Narcissa to convince Ginny to let Draco come in and talk to her. Big crying forgiveness scene, oh-how-Draco's suffered because he thought she didn't love him, etc., etc. But that would have been WRONG!!!!, and I'm so glad you didn't do it. This is the way it had to be.

Oh,and one more thing! I can't edit my review to add anything to it so I'll have to double-post. ;) Draco has suffered. No doubt about it. But I feel that he has to suffer in some meaningful way, some concrete way, to not only be sorry for what he did to Ginny but to understand it on the deepest possible level. Something has to HAPPEN to him (ponders possibilities... I don't know, maybe all of Ginny's brothers get together and pull his fingernails out with pliers?) NOT that this usually happens in real life after something like this, but hey, this is fiction, right? ;)

Author's Response: I've not been very good at responding to reviews, mostly because I'm having a hard enough time trying to update my story ... trying to make this story believable has been challenging. I did have to respond to this review however as Anise is definitely one of my favorite fanfiction writers along with Mynuet and Rainpuddle (and a lot of others - I'm addicted to D/G I admit). I'm feverishly awaiting the conclusion of Heavenly Creatures and the start of Man in Black and have been swept away by Bound. So your very kind words have meant a lot to me. I do read all of the reviews and am quite frankly astonished by the response to this story. I felt strongly at Chapter 4 that I had to reflect the character of Draco and in this story, he was hell bent on getting his own way, no matter what the cost. It's his punishment that the cost may be beyond what he ever imagined. Will there be more suffering in future? I think both of the characters are suffering, albeit in different ways.

Amazing, as usual. I love how this isn't just your run-of-the-mill D/G story. It's easy to sympathize with both at once. Very good, I can't wait to see what happens!

You have captured both Draco and Ginny's emotions very vividly. I feel sorry for both of them. I get the impression that Ginny cares for Draco very much, and i am glad that she is giving him a chance. I anticipate that Draco has learned his lesson and the next time his temper gets out of control, memory of this event will allow him to reign his emotions in. You have done a great job with this chapter in initiating a tentative correspondence between the two.- It didn't appear forced, contrived or seem to occur too quickly. Can't wait for the next chapter Caps

Great chapter, again! There is no way how I can tell you how great this story is. I can see how difficult it must be to write so much passionate drama, but all I can do is say, keep it up! Excellent writing - and I'm so glad Draco was given a chance!

Ooh I hate and love stories like this. You write it so well - but I hate wanting them to get back together. He shouldn't be able to win back his heart's desire - she shouldn't have to do anything more than perfect her castrating charms. But its Draco and Ginny and he's in pain and as awful as his actions are I still want them together. Ugh. How will they ever know things are ok again? How will Ginny ever make up for her (less awful but still hurtful actions of denying their relationship due to family pressure and fear - I mean the pre-date rape stuff. It seems that Draco's crime just overbalances her bad behavior and he'll never be able to call her on it now but she didn't deserve to be raped but Draco had my sympathy in the first part.

At least it's a start. Draco can't ask for much more than that. It does have to give him some hope though that she at least read his words and found something there worth trying for. I think she loves him far more than she's willing to admit. I think that Draco will be on his best behavior from here on out because he's learned a very painful lesson in what happens when he gets out of control. Ginny is a brave, brave witch for even trying. *sniffles*

Author's Response: This is the hardest story I've written and considering my meager output, that probably isn't saying much. I think this would be a smutty little sequel to Catching the Snitch but the dark side of Draco seduced me.