WOW! What a wonderful birthday! So many people leaving me feedback! You guys make me so happy! (I know that may be kind of cheesy, but it is 100% true!)
Kathleen: I hope that I don't write a chapter that you don't like. If I do, then I think I will have become a failure! I am not going to answer your question about Hogwarts because I don't want to give anything away. But just know (as you and several others) that I have carefully placed many hints of foreshadowing in these first chapters. You may or may not be correct in your theories-we'll just have to wait and see! But I will give it away that an Auror will not be the new DADA professor. As to the other positions, we'll just have to wait and see!

And I forgot to place an admission at the end of the chapter. I was honestly in tears as I wrote Stephanie's POV. It was a POV that I had spent a good length of time working out in my mind and it was very emotional for me. I used my experience with people who have lost loved ones and it turned very personal (though I have not lost someone so close to me). My heart just went out to Stephanie.
The rodeo was great! Thanks for asking!! I got to spend some good quality time with a few of my girlfriends and it was just nice. (And I met (and got my picture taken with) Larry the Cable Guy!).

Thank you for your comments!
MOD: I won't give it away, but Dumbledore doesn't say much to her. We'll see what it is he instructs her to do. And Stephanie has a self-esteem problem, and that is why she can't see that Neville loves her. I'm sure that you can see that I'm setting something up. *foreshadowing* !

Thank you!
Namra: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I thought it would be a nice addition for her to play with the Animagi forms of her dad and his friends. And I kind of set that up for when Fred and the others came to her. We'll see how Snape and Sirius handle each other!

Lauren: I'll admit that I kind of used the DH scene as inspiration. It is a little contradictory because I describe her being truly happy and then show this scene where she is truly in despair. But she is happy because she knows that she will be at peace at last and sad because she lost her best friend and lover. I hope it's not too confusing, but I definitely think it's possible. And when you say her hallucinations are somewhat magical...I have a new POV (of an old character) that will somewhat show that you are right. We'll see, though!

You have really great insight and theories. I am quite intrigued by your thoughts of Martin Webber. But, as you know, I cannot give you any answers!! We will find out whether he is a good guy or a bad guy eventually...so, you may be right or you may be wrong. But it is definitely fun to hear what you (all of you) think is happening or going to happen! Thank you everyone for that!

And about Hogwarts, you are right. I did hint at something, but again (and I know I say this a lot), we'll have to see what happens!

And thank you, but you shouldn't be envious. Lauren, you, too, are an amazing story teller and I love reading your fics!

DW: Thank you!

You are the first person (I think) to mention the article. And I originally wanted them to get all angry, but I knew that Harry had matured too much for that. If he were to get angry at the article, then I would have had to have him go looking for Stephanie. But I need him at the Burrow (for a purpose that will reveal itself in the next couple of chapters) and thus, needed him to be much more mature than that.
I have my plans for both Stephanie and Neville, whether that is for them to be together or apart, that is yet to be revealed. But just know that whatever happens, I feel is in their best interests! Thank you. I will update as soon as I can!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments! I will update as soon as humanly possible. I have a good start on the next chapter so it shouldn't be a whole week like last time!!

Kristin