This is a marvellous story so far. Sinister and dark, yes, but it sticks so meticulously to canon and seems entirely plausible in Potterverse. I enjoy how you show the Aurors immediately leaping to the wrong conclusion, deflecting attention away from Snape and Malfoy. I don't know how you plan to resolve all the loose ends, but so far, it's excellent.

I've said it before (and I'll probably say it again,) but I really, really love this fic. :) There's so much to it. And you do a good job of striking a balance for Draco-- he's genuinely sympathetic, but there's also something truly creepy about him. He feels the pricking of his conscience, he's not a cartoon-y villain, but he's ruthless, too. He wants Ginny and he's going to have Ginny, and I doubt that anything is going to cause him to hold back from what he wants. Looking forward to more!

Marvellous! The one thing I feel could use improving, is that Ginny's reaction to the love potion somehow doesn't seem right. Remember in the HBP, Ron was a lot more.. affected? Well, since Snape brewed an incredibly strong one, probably stronger than the one Ron took, I think Ginny should be more.. gah, no right words come to mind. I'm sorry. Hope you'll unerstand what I mean! Oh, and Draco has got his work cut out for him. Looking forward to see how he's going to go about it!

Author's Response: Actually the issue of Ginny's immediate response to the effects of the potion was one I wrestled with. My treatment of it was based on my feeling that Ginny would be overwhelmed by the rush of feeling and would likely immediately focus on the fact that they were to be married. Also the chapter is more from Draco's perspective than from Ginny's so I alluded to rather than described her reactions (her chattering and the comments of how she loved him). Her reactions will be much more of a focus in the next chapter, The Consummation, as in my mind, they'll set up a paradox for Draco. I was very taken in HBP of how Merope Gaunt eventually stopped dosing her husband in the hope his love would become real and not potion-induced. Thank you for reading and for your review.