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A Pensieve Affair by Imogen Adult What do you get when you cross a pensieve game devised by Fred and George, a best friend bearing chocolate cake and a disillu...
Daddy's Girl by Drie All (takes place in 'Home is Where the Heart is')) Hope won't stop crying, so what's a father to do? Featuring yodeling Harr...
OK, so I really think that if Hope would finally just ADMIT that she loves Matthew, he'd be up for some serious physicality! hello?!!! I thought she was smart--figure it out, Potter!
Be Careful What You Wish For by rzieve All Did the Sorting Hat get it wrong? How Matthew Belford wound up in Slytherin House. Takes place during chapters 2-5 of Nil Desperandum....
Date: 20 March 2006 - 08:54PM
Title: Chapter 11: Three Little Words
Author's Response: I don't know about Allie, but you can always bribe me ;)
Matthew's bound to be hesitant - she's hurt him a lot more than she realises, but after the pensieve porn, I'm not convinced she's thinking straight LOL
Hmmm...Name your price, Imogen...name your price. *grin*
I'm not certain she's thinking straight either -- and there is a lot of hurt there *pets poor Matthew*. I'll be waiting for the update...
Oh, and I meant to say this before (and this gave me a good reason to review the same chapter twice), I'm game for a plot bunny contest. Although, I'm not sure my muse will cooperate, I do promise to read and review those who do write something.
*more hugs*
Author's Response: Check your email ;) We're looking at putting a subforum up just for our user group to play in - that way we don't have to worry about things getting a bit naughty. There are bunnies galore in this fic - your muse will be eaten alive ;)
Date: 20 March 2006 - 07:35PM
Title: Chapter 11: Three Little Words
Oh. My. Goodness!
*faints again*
(bring the bucket back, looks like I need it again)
This is wonderful and wrought full of emotion both dealing with the three little words and with their connection, be it only physical or both physical and emotional. I can certainly understand Matthew's hesitance - after what he's gone through in the past with Hope, it's quite understandable that he wouldn't want to cross that line again.
I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter, Imogen...might have to mug a beta or something ;o) Wonder if Allie can be bribed...
*mucho hugs*
Susan
Author's Response: I don't know about Allie, but you can always bribe me ;)
Matthew's bound to be hesitant - she's hurt him a lot more than she realises, but after the pensieve porn, I'm not convinced she's thinking straight LOL
Date: 20 March 2006 - 07:21PM
Title: Chapter 11: Three Little Words
Oh Nooo! I mean, YES! Or.. Wait. What? Will she run again?
I'm so confused. Imagine what poor Matthew is going through. I hope she means this. I hope she wants it. I think she does, but does she know that? Oh dear.
Come on Hope. He would be so good for you.
Now I'm on edge for the next update. Can't wait. Can't wait.
Author's Response: LOL I'm confused too. There's never any telling with Hope and this sort of thing...
Matthew's been very patient waiting for her so far, but she'd better get it right this time.
Date: 20 March 2006 - 07:18PM
Title: Chapter 11: Three Little Words
Aw, you wanna get rid of all the lovely little bunnies bouncing out of your story???
I love this chapter because you make the feelings between Hope and Matthew so real, so genuine. It is very easy to see two people in this situation, trying to cross that bridge between friends and lovers and having to deal with the consequences. Bravo to another well written chapter!
Author's Response: Everyone's getting bunnies now - Tesgirl in the review below yours wants to know what happened in the four months between Christmas and now, MrPump has a bunny about the pensieve, and poor old Hank is overrun with the little critters!
I'm glad you read it that way, I don't want people to think that Hope is using him - she's not - but the ground under her feet is very, very scary and unfamiliar.
Date: 20 March 2006 - 07:05PM
Title: Chapter 11: Three Little Words
Is she just toying with him now? I really hope not because he deserves way better. I can't believe she didn't figure it out before then. I mean, she didn't realize in school, which is fine, but I can't believe she didn't realize it when he was talking to his ex or after they slept together. Plus, I really want to know what those 4 months were like. Did he try to contact her? Or did he wait for her to contact him?
Author's Response: No, she's definitely not playing with him, but she's not exactly thinking straight either. I don't really look at the four months they had apart in this story - he did try to contact her but it was very awkward, so he left it for a while to let her come to terms with it. I think he assumed she regretted it totally. For what it's worth, it hadn't occurred to her that he might love her - not in that way, at least.
Date: 19 March 2006 - 10:44PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
2 reviews on one chapter could easily be construed as greedy... but
As a male of the species, I can so appreciate what Matt is going through. Happened to me (more years ago than I care to admit) that I realised feelings for a girl who had been "a friend" for a long time. Not being slytherin in nature though, I never managed to "engineer" a situation to do anything about it!
I will say though that you have captured the feelings of confusion and fear very nicely. Matt is terrified of losing contact with Hope, but has to try this, even though it might blow up in his face. Some girls just aren't really aware of the power they hold over us!
I feel a (not related to this review) plot bunny coming on. Is there any chance of putting a "challenge" on the forums for new authors to submit snippets of ideas or one shots? I have an idea for something which might happen to the pensieve the morning after!!!
Author's Response: LOL You can review three times if you want! I'm a review junkie, so it does my ego no end of good! Glad the confusion's come across ok. The moving of feelings from friendship to something far more that that is something truly terrifying. It's a lot to risk.
Plot bunnies are a bit rampant in this fic. I've got quite a few from other people (my poor betas were a bit savaged by them!) to get posted at the relevant times. Feel free to start a thread in the forums and I'm sure people will join in, or even email me a fic - if I can I'm happy to post stuff on site, because what's fanfic for if it's not for having a laugh? :) You've got me all curious now...
Date: 19 March 2006 - 09:51PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Hello!!! I´ve spend all weekend and readed all yours stories again!!; i didnt want to read ND; because i though Hope isnt too interesant like her Parents; i was wrong!! ok i did it; because i love Matt; he is so cute; and sorry; but Hope is a little clueless; i noticed; that since the beginning Matt had a crush in her; so like Ginny and Harry; sweet; ok, i love the story now; but i have a BIG question: How many kids have Harry and Ginny?; at the Beginning i thought two (Hope and Holly); but in ND Hope talk about Sam, her brother???; when "Sam" exist; and is H/G´s son.. where is he in ND at the beginning; and in PA?? (Maybe in Howgarts???)I know this isnt the place; but you allways answer the rewiews fast.... congratulations; and keep doing; because PA is hot!!! and please make Hope loves Matt too... LOL!!
p.s. sorry my english; it is my third language and i forgot a lot!! hope you understood what i meant
Author's Response: I think your English is very good. I'm always so impressed at people who can speak lots of languages. My other ones aren't so good!
Someone I knew about 3 years ago BEGGED to have Sam written into the story, but we never really needed him and the problems Ginny had with pregnancies worked a lot better if he didn't exist. So... I deleted him... *ducks the flying crockery*. I'm sorry. So Harry and Ginny just have the two girls, eleven and a half years apart. Holly's just had her 11th birthday in this story and Hope is 22, almost 23.
Date: 19 March 2006 - 08:03PM
Title: Chapter 1: A Pensieve Affair
A few years (and fics) ago you said to me you wouldn't write anymore fics in this universe and yet here you are... still doing it. Methinks someone can't stay away....
Author's Response: ROFL - I haven't finished the last one yet!
Date: 19 March 2006 - 08:43AM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
More comments...
I liked the double copies of Matthew and Hope and didn't find them at all confusing. It resulted in some cute grammar; when else would a line like "Check out what you were doing now" ever parse?
Matthew and Slytherin: I can see some Slytherin traits, but I don't see them predominating. I have no trouble seeing why Hope's in Slytherin. She also has her share of Gryffindor qualities (she values both loyalty and courage highly), but her first impulse is often to look for the hole in the rules. Matthew, on the other hand, is no more ambitious than Hermione, he can't beat Fred and George for elaborate planning, and his recent manipulations of Hope don't seem enough to counter his noble streak. (ESPECIALLY as he's muggleborn; I'd think he'd have to be an extra strong case for Slytherin to be sorted there!) Besides, if he didn't want Hope to hear those last words, why did he put them in the pensieve? Stupid planning on his part---shouldn't a Slytherin get it right?
And more on those words: besides his brief comment on the girl he wanted not being interested, he just showed Hope his break-up with Della where he said he loved someone....whom Della thinks is in Slytherin....Then he shows Hope his "happiest memory." We know Hope can't put two and two together, but this is more like one and one. That's why I'd assumed the "I love you" was part of his plan. (Besides, I hardly see Matthew as a happy camper if Hope's obliviousness continues and she comes out of the pensieve thinking only that Matthew's good in bed and they should shag more often while she waits for Mr. Right to show up!)
Finally, on the chapters here vs. at Sugarquill: I like Ch. 8 better there; really the concerted misbehavior and motorcycle ride sounded like a happier memory than the sex scene, and Matthew's SQ comment about not wanting to see THAT sort of memory made sense. (I do love the Matthew/Hope interactions while they're being voyeurs though.) Chapter 10 is harder to say without seeing what follows, but I suspect the R-rated piece really will be important.
Looking forward to Chapter 11!
Author's Response: Are you on IM? You and I really must chat one of these days!
I always wondered if Hermione was actually sorted into the right house, but that's another issue entirely. Matthew has a lot to prove in his life: he doesn't want to be like his father, he's desperate to succeed in his field of work, and above everything he needs Hope in whatever form his relationship with her has to take. If friendship is all that's on offer, then he's willing to bide his time. This is the first time he's ever risked letting her know how he really feels - and I can understand him making all sorts of mistakes - poor bloke must be terrified of it all blowing up in his face and losing her for good.
The "I love you" can be taken in all sorts of ways: maybe when he put the memory in the pensieve he wanted her to see it, then panicked as that part of the memory was about to happen? Maybe he forgot it was there and was careless? Or perhaps he subconsciously wants her to know everything? From the writing point of view, he's trying to let her know gently, a bit at a time, rather than just landing everything on her lap at once. She certainly DOES know how he feels for her now, but it would have been easier for her to go through the "I wonder if...?" part of putting one and one together (and yes, he does know she's more than a bit slow on the uptake!) rather than making her face up to the fact he loves her more than life itself.
I liked the SQ version as well (and it was a lot less scary to post!), because it's got such great character development in it, and shows just how Hope thinks (plus I like Julius, but that's another story!), but the Flint smut was put in predominantly so Hope could start to wrap her head around the fact that these are two really different events. What she had with Matthew wasn't the same. He needed to make her look at it again, regardless, because she'd blocked it out of her head entirely. She had to 'see' it again to 'see' it wasn't what she'd thought it had been. It's easy to create demons out of nowhere if you're left to your own devices.
Date: 17 March 2006 - 12:15PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Oh WOW!
*faints*
That being said, this was a wonderfully, well-written chapter dealing with something Hope initially had no desire to relive. The fear in her over losing her friend by taking their relationship is quite evident - you know how she reacted after the incident four months ago, how will she react now? Now that she knows how exactly Matt feels?
Well done!
One thing -- I. Want. More!
*hugs*
Author's Response: Shall I throw a bucket of cold water over you to revive you? Hehehe. More is on the way, but your logic is absolutely spot on. She is scared and had blotted it out, and this was the only way Matthew could think of to make her realise what it really had been like. More is on the way. Monday for definite. Thank you for the lovely review!
Date: 17 March 2006 - 11:33AM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Wow. Just wow. It's been ages since I've read something this romantic. Great job.
I can see Matthew's plot now. He makes her face her own feelings, without allowing her to drown them in a flood of passion. If Hope wants a repeat of that memory, she will have to admit them first...
Quizer
Author's Response: Awwww. Glad you're enjoying it! That's exactly what Matthew's up to. But who knows if it'll work... :D
Date: 17 March 2006 - 04:56AM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
After letting this chapter sink in for a while I had to add a second part to my review. I love how a decent amount of arrogance peeks out of Mathew's nice guy persona here. It takes quite a bit of ego, after years of hearing how gorgeous Flint is and seeing first hand Hope's physical reaction to him (at the ball), to still think to oneself 'you know what, I bet I'm better in bed than he is'. Even with Hope seeming to regret the whole encounter, Mathew still thinks it is a good idea to revisit the incident. Not to mention add some 'foreplay' to the viewing experience. Way to go Mathew. Hope doesn't stand a chance.
Author's Response: You're too good at this second guessing me ;) I reckon you could work out the whole plot if you put your mind to it! I'm impressed :)
Date: 17 March 2006 - 04:11AM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
i've been following this on sugarquill for a while and decided I had to check your site out. This story is fantastic! Sometimes I forget they're characters and really think I'm observing real life people. You're extremely talented with your imagery and creativity! I can't wait to read the next chapter!
Author's Response: Welcome here! You'll definitely get the unabridged version on this site, despite my blushes! Fantastic to hear you're enjoying so much. The next chapter will be along on Monday.
Date: 17 March 2006 - 03:13AM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
Well I simply MUST leave a review for this chapter above all others. It quite simply is the HOTTEST bit of smut I a have ever read, and that's saying something! The two moments that just make me gasp in delight are when she sees Matt's face in the past so full of love, and then looks up at the Matt standing behind her and he has the same expression on his face. Sigh. And then...hehe... when he rubs her breast the same way he did in the past and says, "Now, THIS is foreplay." Oh MAN! I love me some Matt! Hope is one lucky girl!
Author's Response: LOL You're partly responsible for this fic, and personally I think you did the better job with the smut!
Date: 17 March 2006 - 12:42AM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
I am such an idiot. I just had my review typed in here to post, then I clicked a link by mistake and lost it. :/
So. Let's try again.
I was going to review on PS, but I think I need to review the unabridged version (how I managed to miss this nice little review box down here first time round is anyone's guess. Silly Alison.)
I think you handled this wonderfully, Imogen. I can understand you being worried about posting it - I certainly would have been (but then, I'd be worried about posting anything I'd written for public consumption, it would be unsafe) - but I think you pulled it off. Both the subject matter and the use of two versions of each character. I paid particular attention to that after reading your note at the top, and I didn't get confused once.
I loved this. You've been hinting for ages as to what happened at Christmas, and now we know. Looks like I was a bit wrong - Hope does indeed seem to be suffering from the worst case of denial possibly ever (although maybe not so much after this chapter *g*), but Matthew seems to have more than just a bit of a clue.
I guessed why Matthew was trying to hurry Hope out of there before it happened, but it was nice to be proved right. Not sure it was quite so nice to then be left with that as the last line of the chapter, though.
*wanders off muttering about authors who are fab but like to torture their readers (and characters) with mean cliffhangers*
Author's Response: Hi Alison, great to see you here too! Marvellous that the smut tempted you over to the dark side ;)
I tell you, the two versions of each character drove everyone nuts. I think we checked each line about twenty times to see if it was clear. We were all seeing stars by the end!
I like cliffies far too much, but even I admit, this one is pretty evil!
Date: 16 March 2006 - 11:55PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
I cannot, cannot wait for the next chapter. You certainly know how to put us on edge! I was wondering as I got near the end what Matthew didn't want her to hear, but I never thought it was that, and boy did it make me anxious to see what happens next.
You had no need to be nervous about this chapter, I thought it was beautifully and tastefully done, and really captured the moment. I honestly don't think you could have captured it better...
I must say, I love Matthew. After reading almost everything in this universe you throw at us (I didn't read Invictus yet or most of the outtakes other authors have written, and I'm waiting, somewhat patiently, for the rest of HIWTHI and ND to be finished), I've loved Hope, but this new view of Matthew makes him, by far, (as I wrote in my review of Alphie's outtake) my favorite original character of any series of fanfiction ever, this series being my favorite as well.
I can't imagine what's going to happen next...no doubt it's going to be nail biting....don't keep us waiting!
Author's Response: Next chapter will be along on Monday, so you don't have long to wait. Matthew certainly didn't want Hope to hear that bit!
Glad you like Matthew - he's great to write, especially in conjunction with Hope. The pair of them are a lot of fun and can be quite shameless!
Date: 16 March 2006 - 11:36PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
How was Hope able to repress all that? Talk about denial. Dare I hope seeing this has done for Hope what Mathew dancing in Dobby's tea cozy couldn't accomplish? That must've been terrible for Mathew, having Hope treat something so special to him as wrong, and blaming him for it too. Of course now I worry that Mathew might be a bit defensive about the over share at the end. Those are powerful words... I'm on pins and needles until the next chapter is posted.
Author's Response: Matthew's been pretty badly hurt by Hope over the past four months, but she couldn't cope with the reality of what they'd done and what it might mean. This isn't going to be easy...
Date: 16 March 2006 - 11:25PM
Title: Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith
I don't think you need have any worries about people's reactions!
That was utterly beautiful! Hot and sweet, passionate and tender in equal measures. I can so see why Hope would react as she did afterwards, but come on Matthew! The girl doesn't need to be asleep before you tell her you love her!!
Author's Response: LOL He didn't want her to know. Hope's been wary of emotional entanglements, and he prefers to play it safe (usually) as far as she's concerned.
Thank you for the lovely review. I'm just stunned people enjoyed this.
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