She shouldn't have freaked out. The doctor said she couldn't have children. Umm so that doesn't mean she can't. Which Draco may have told her if she'd listen. Plus a doctor told my mom that when she was yound and I and my brothers are here.
Author's Response: Well, I think her freaking out is coming from her deepeset insecurities. That she doesn't deserve to find happiness and that Draco is better than she is. And you're right. She didn't really think about this logically. She is a very reactive kind of girl, which again is a product of her unresolved emotional issues.Thank you for taking the time to review. There's only one more chapter left. :) I'd love to hear your thoughts again!
I really do love the way that this story tackles a task so few D/G fics do: to portray Draco and Ginny's relationship over time as they try to make it work, and to subtly show all the reasons why it continues to go through the cycles of love, loss, and rejection that it does.
I really, really do understand why Ginny freaked out at the end. I absolutely do. Her entire family has always been manic about children. Everyone MUST!!!! procreate!! It's as if the Weasleys represent the one opportunity to repopulate the earth, and the negative side of that line of thinking is that if one of them can't do it, well... aren't they kind of substandard? (I don't know how you feel about that premise, but I am so over it. Maybe that's why Molly always turns out to be such a bitch in my fics.) I can comletely see how Ginny would have been set up to be afraid of Draco judging her because she didn't turn out to be a breeder.
The really funny part is that I've thought about writing a fic revolving around the fact that Ginny finds out she can't get pregnant. A little bunny has been hopping around... I know how mine would unfold... I'm very curious about yours. ;)
Author's Response: I never set out to write anything unique or different. It was just something that popped into my mind and the more I wrote the more real they became. As you can tell, the first chapter was compete fluff. And even the second chapter was headed that way. But once I realized that I had set myself up with coming up with 6 (or 7) rejections, I knew I had to dig in a little more. So thank you so so much for appreciating my version of these characters.As for Ginny's infertility, I love the way you see the Weasleys. I, too, have a fondness of Molly being a bitch, and I think it showed a little bit in my third chapter. I think her reaction is defintely influenced by her family, but even more by her believing that her fears are coming true - that she really is unworthy of Draco (or really anyone).
And I would love to read your take on this topic. I am still very much unsure of how mine will end, which is crazy since I thought it was done ages ago. Anyway, thank you again for your thoughtful and interesting reviews. They have been very motivating, especially since I am so new to this and many have not really liked my Ginny. Thank you. :)
You shouldn't be afraid, the story is wonderful! Thank you very much for this wonderful piece, I only hope they end up together, even if not married... :D
Author's Response: Thank you. So much. That means a lot to me. I have had so much anxiety over these last two chapters. I am still debating about the ending. :) I'm so glad you are enjoying it. Thank you again for taking the time to review.
Wow. What a chapter. I can understand why Ginny is behaving the way she is, but I've never particularly liked females who do that, so I have to say she irritated me quite a bit in this chapter. Which doesn't mean your writing is bad, I must stress, just that I personally don't enjoy the girls who cling to exes and get jealous, etc, etc.
That being said, I'm not surprised why Ginny refused that proposal. He was drunk and was using an old ring. Awful.
Author's Response: Thank you. And I can understand your reaction to Ginny. I think she even hates herself for behaving that way. Sometimes we don't know how much we have healed or moved on until we are tested, and she didn't exactly ace this test. And Draco was definitely awful as well. Thanks again. I always enjoy your feedback.
How did Michael figure it out?
Author's Response: Good question! I almost wrote it out in a way that let us know that Michael was figuring it out, but I wanted that to be a kind-of punchline for the end. Basically, he could tell that someone had set Ginny up, based on the letter she handed to him, and he does say this to her. But he could see Draco watching them closely, looking irate. And then, of course, Draco stormed over to Ginny and made a scene about the letter. He is a Ravenclaw, so it wasn't so difficult from there. Still, only Blaise really has it all figured out, that the letters are much more of a confession than an evil plot.Thank you for reading and for the review!
I loved this chapter but feel so heartbroken for Draco and so want to curse Harry. Poor Ginny.
Author's Response: Yay! Another review from you! And wow - you are one of very few who have had some sympathy for Ginny. Thank you! And Harry is not a total villain in this fic, but he's definitely no hero to Ginny. Only two more to go! Thanks again for the reviews - I hope to see more :)
Oh this chapter is just heart breaking. Poor Draco. :( I love how you go into the details and are shedding light on more of the story. Brilliantly written.
Author's Response: Yes, it is very tragic, this one. I think for both of them really. I also think that she does the right thing by walking out. Neither one of them is ready for the level of committment that he wants, and she saves them both from destroying each other. I reworked this chapter a lot before posting it, adding much more back story, etc. So I am glad to know that you are enjoying the details of their story.And a huge thanks for the compliment on my writing. I sometimes start to wonder if I'm just embarassing myself, well, my anonymous self. :) Thanks so much for the review!
I like this story a lot. Can't wait to read the next part.
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so happy that you are enjoying it. The next part should be out soon. Thank you for the review - it's so great to get the feedback!
I want to understand Ginny, I do. But ugh... it's so tough! And Draco... I honestly wish he would just stop being so desperately in love with her (and this is a huge thing coming from someone who LOVES desperately-in-love!Draco).
Anyway, I've enjoyed this so far. Can't wait to read how it all pans out. No doubt, with more pain. *winces*
Author's Response: I know she can be difficult to understand. And I'm glad that you can't, because that means you probably haven't suffered like she has - and that's a good thing. Yes, he is definitely "desperately in love" with her. I also think he is very good at ignoring her problems until they are smacking him in the face.Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you have enjoyed it. And there are only 2 chapters left! So the pain has to end soon, right?
Daaaaaaaaaaamn.
Author's Response: Thanks - this made me laugh. And I know, these two just can't seem to get it together. But, there's only 2 more chapters. Please keep reading and reviewing!
oh jeeze. seriously. ginny keeps screwing draco over. i feel soooo bad for him!
Author's Response: Yes, she has her problems. But he did push the issue and proposed to her with another witch's ring. Anyway, thank you for reading and reviewing. Reallly. I know this fic is testing people's patience with Ginny, but I hope you stick around for the last two parts. :) Thanks again!
This chapter, this chaoter... this is such a fascinating fic, and so different from the type of D/G that we usually see. I can definitely understand how it may not be some people's cup of tea. In a lot of ways, it actually reminds me more of a long-running strip than anything else. (Alison Bechdel's *Dykes to Watch Out For* comes to mind for some odd reason. Except that they're not lesbians. Oh, maybe it's just this weird migraine. It's been going on for two weeks now. Anyway...)
So much of this seems to be based on the way that real people would actually behave rather than the idealized versions of Draco and Ginny that we might usually expect to see, because this is exactly what they might really if they *were* real-- they'd keep on making the same types of mistakes over and over again. Ginny can't truly let go of Harry; Draco can't really let go of his jealousy. Each one of them sees the other's behavior more accurately than they themselves do-- Draco understands that Ginny hasn't yet really freed herself from her feelings for Harry, and Ginny understands that Draco made assumptions about their relationship that he should not have made. The incident with Harry and Cho rips at the D/G relationship so hard that all of its weak points suddenly show, and they just can't make it. But we know, too, that they will not be able to stay away from each other in the long run. The really intriguing part is that you've set up a narrative and a character development where either ending is believable-- either the power of their love is strong enough to keep them together despite everything else, or it isn't. Only time will tell...
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the compliment. And although I know many readers are probably hating Ginny (and me) at this point, I just can't change what is happening. Ginny has her reasons for being the way she is, and there is no cryptic, surprise reason to be revealed. She has been hurt and she is acting out. And I love -LOVE- that you get it. They are definitely, as far as I'm concerned, being real.And you are the only reader who has seen Draco's flaws, or at least acknowledged them. Granted, his are much harder to find and less damaging than hers, but he is not perfect. As you pointed out, he has made assumptions. But I think more than that he just simply compartmentalizes his life and whatever is not to his liking, he disregards. I tried to show some growth on both of their parts in the next chapter, hopefully it comes through.
And thank you again. It's so awesome to get such detailed feedback.
Haven't heard of Bechdel's work. Sounds interesting. And sorry about the migraine. Even bigger thanks for reading this when you feel so bad. Hope it has already ended. :)
I'm a little confused about things. One, how was Draco cleared of all charges? They had multiple witnesses and his own self confession for a lot of his crimes, including multiple account of attempted murder.
Second, why did Ginny tell her mom she wasn't cheating on Harry and she acted so offended when she had JUST come back from cheating on Harry? Is she really that cold heart and accomplished liar?
Author's Response: Good questions, and you made me double check. But I was almost certain that he did not go to Azkaban. Even if he did, for my purposes in the story, he didn't. And I didn't feel like explaining all of that when the focus is only on their relationship. But, here is the quote from J.K. Rowling: No, the Malfoys weaseled their way out of trouble (again) due to the fact that they colluded (albeit out of self-interest) with Harry at the end of the battle.And as for your second question. Ginny had already broken up with Harry, ending their engagement, before she even showed up at Draco's flat. As far as I'm concerned, that's not cheating. She even goes back to get her things after leaving the Burrow. And she didn't deny being with Draco to her mum, she admitted it. She was upset because her mother still took Harry's side even though he had been the one to cheat. Molly, I think, was the one being cold-hearted during this coversation.
I hope this clears up the confusion. I appreciate the questions. Maybe Draco's uncertainty of whether she had really broken up with Harry is where you were confused? And as for his acquittal, I agree. It is far-fetched to think that there would have been no repercussions. But as I said, it didn't really work with the story I wanted to tell, and since it came from the source, I went with it. Don't hesitate to ask anything else. Thank you!
I have to be honest, I didn't particularly like this chapter. I'm steadily losing respect for both Draco and Ginny. I think it was very cruel what Draco did to Astoria -- so much, in fact, that I wanted to hit him. And Ginny is frankly annoying me with her swtichy indecisiveness and whiny "If you love me, you'll let me walk all over your heart, Draco" nonsense.
I'll keep reading, but I just didn't feel I could say I enjoyed this chapter when it wouldn't be the truth. That being said, I did laugh at the house-elf named Potty.
Author's Response: I'm sorry you feel that way. I admit, their relationship can be pretty ugly. But I'm trying to be honest with what Ginny has been through. Someone who has a lot of emotional baggage is not going to be good for anyone else, no matter how great they are. Ginny was being brutally honest, and I think she did the best thing for both of them by asking for space. And yes, she could have handled it better, but people who are hurting don't often make the best decisions. Even he knows that she is not really ready, but he is clinging to denial. She has a lot of work to do before she could be what he wants her to be. Trying to force things to work would only end very badly for both of them. And yes, Draco was absolutely terrible to Astoria. Although he was 100% right in saying that she deserved more than he could give. As far as I'm concerned, better to be dumped six months in than to be divorced six years later.This story became so much more serious than I ever expected. I did not focus on what happened between Ginny and Harry because it's not about them really. But he did mess with her head, intentionally or not. And he did repeatedly cheat, which can destroy someone on the inside. But just so your warned, until she faces her demons, she's going to continue to make very bad choices.
I do hope you keep reading. I've read so many stories where Draco is absolutely horrid to Ginny and most people (not saying that you are one of them) seem fine with that. It's been surprising to me how much people don't like to see her being the one to hurt him.
Thanks for your honesty and the reviews.
Where was the proposal in this chapter?
Author's Response: The "proposal" was when he was confronting her at the ball. He started to read his letter to her but then stupidly started improvising out of jealous anger. I know it's not a real proposal, but since Ginny responds like it is, I counted it. 7 proposals is a lot and I wanted to have at least 2 fun and fluffy ones before the real rejections started.Thanks for reading and reviewing. I hope you are enjoying it and can give me a little wiggle room when it comes to a couple of these proposals.
So cute!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! I love them when they are little.
gin is not being nice to this poor guy. i feel bad for him. update soon!
Author's Response: Yes, Ginny is not very nice in this fic, but I hope you can see that she is still suffering as well. I never really intended to make Draco such a sympathetic character when I started this, but I guess I, like most readers, really love him the most, so I'm afraid you will probably continue to feel bad for him for a little while longer.Thank you for reviewing! I really appreciate it.
Oh, what a chapter this was! I do hope that reviewers don't get their claws out and sharpen them on your Ginny here. (Cat's on the keyboard-- that's probably where the claw idea came from...) At first glance, she maybe doesn't look all that great here. Poor Draco, she's broken his heart again, etc. *However*, the only thing that really kept Draco from shagging Astoria on the couch and then moving on to marry her was chance, in the form of Ginny knocking on the door in the middle of the night. And then there are the descriptions of his "expert hands" and how much better he's gotten at it all... I don't think he was exactly living the true-love-waits pledge while Ginny was with Harry. :P
Ginny's relationship with Harry had real consequences for both herself and the people around her, and these are unflinchingly explored-- which is what sets this fic apart from the entire genre of teenage wish-fulfillment D/G. It isn't fluffy and nice, but real. (I do kinda want to see Draco reject her a bit by this point, though... he could start to get a bit doormat-y, if not. Can we send him to Co-Dependents Anonymous Meetings?) Anyway, more soon, I hope! :)
Author's Response: Well, thank you. And as for the claws - I've been applying much dittany to my scars from another site. So far no one here has outright declared their hatred of Ginny, but I'm prepared for it to come, especially after the next chapter comes out. And thank you for noticing that Draco is not so innocent. I love the way you put it - there indeed has been no "true-love-waits pledge" from him. And I hope he doesn't become a doormat, I've been trying really hard to keep some real Draco in there, but yes, I also stupidly decided to make him ask her 7 times (although the first two don't really count).As for Ginny's relationship with Harry, thank you so much for acknowledging it!!! Oops, I might need a little more dittany :) I like to think that the "teenage wish fulfillment" part of this story was really between Ginny and Harry - and it didn't turn out very well.
Thank you, again. I really appreciate your thoughts. I love your work so it's a thrill to hear from you. Well, I'm off to the Co-Dependents Anonymous Meeting, I'll make sure to bring Draco with me!
ahh jeeze. haha. update soon.i'm ready to see ginny reject the poor kid 3 more times. haha.
Author's Response: It should be updated very soon. And how do you know she won't reject him 4 more times? :) Thanks for the review. I'm so glad you are enjoying it.
Aww, I feel so bad for Draco in this one! He's being all strong and silent and she can't help hurting his feelings, ha, I love it!
Author's Response: Yeah, I really loved him in this one. I'm so glad you are enjoying it! Thanks for the review!
Lots going on in this chapter. I'm really, really tired, so it was a bit difficult to take everything in, but I do think you did well for trying to piece everything together for such an eventful chapter, if that makes any sense.
I'm sad to see the fluffiness going away, but there were still some nice moments. Their first time was awkward and cute, as it should be. I thought you really got that 'teenage' feel about it, but I admit I have some issues with your Ginny. Sometimes, I didn't really understand her motives for things. I suppose we can blame it on stress. Being in a school run by Death Eaters and worrying about your friends safety would make one a little on edge.
Author's Response: It was a busy chapter. It covers the longest stretch of time (in detail at least) than any of the other proposals. Yeah, Ginny is a reactive kind of girl in this fic. She's compulsive and resorts to diversion, a lot. I mean, I had to make her a little unstable in order to turn down Draco so many times. I hope it's not too much:)
i love it so far! please continue! i'll be looking forward to an update :) great job!
Author's Response: Thank you! It's actually finished, except for a bit of polishing here and there. And I am waiting to hear from my Beta. Thanks for the review and the encouragement!
I love this chapter! I've always wanted a DG fic that involved tension between this particular Ravenclaw (or Ravenclaws) and Draco, or a POV from him (Michael Corner). :) Can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: Thank you! And I'm glad I was able to provide the Corner angle for you. :) I hope you won't be disappointed that he does not make another appearance. Thanks again for the review. It's always so nice to get some feedback.
So much love!!! Seriously, I would copy/paste my favorite lines but would just end up copying the entire chapter. I love Blaise, he's so hilarious, and every one of his lines had me giggling. Hopefully we get some future scenes of Blaise and Ginny interacting. I love how clever Michael was and find it funny how Draco was essentially the catalyst to that relationship forming. Makes me think he's going to be the reason for Dean/Ginny to occur. Lol. I'm getting way ahead of myself. Again, much love!
Author's Response: Thank you!!! What a great compliment! I really loved writing this whole chapter. Draco's plan was quite fun to have blow up in his face. And I couldn't resist having Michael figure it out. As for Blaise and Ginny, there is more to come between the two of them. Thanks again for the great review. I love hearing your thoughts on it.
"He had spent a very restless night on the sofa and was not in a good mood."
Oh, was there a fight? :(
"She had accepted someone else's proposal, but never his."
Woah ... what?!
-
Young Draco and Ginny are simply adorable and Lucius's POV was quite amusing.
:)
Author's Response: Thanks for the review! And I like that you picked up on the little hints in the opening. And I love little Draco and Ginny, they really are so cute. I like Lucius a lot in this fic. He makes a couple more appearances so I hope you enjoy those as well. Thanks again!