Oh wow, I did! Thank you for pointing that out, I went back and fixed it on both sites. That's just awful, lol.

Hermione and Ginny make me laugh... they are both very strong characters, but definitely in their own ways. See, in my mind, Ginny just kind of has this hot headed temper. Hermione will get indignant, but she's not one to blow up over small things, or come right out and say whatever pops into her mind. I think they make a great combination, because they really balance each other (as friends, of course).

Ginny is an incredible character, and I hate when people minimize her roleof importance. I know it is not possible to pay attention to every great character, but she just seems like someone that fits in well with the story. As you may be able to tell in later chapters, I do plan to use her more.

Flat characters also bother me, so I'm glad you think I've achieved some rounder ones, if you get my meaning. People in general are very different, depending on situations. Some simple minded people will look at a character and as soon as they do somethign that seems off kilter, they will stamp the label "ooc" on their foreheads. I don't think you can do that... in life, people are bound to act differently than is the norm for them, because no one can remain completely balanced all the time. You really have to get into the psychological aspect of everything that is happening... I try to do that. In fact, I have an entire set of Psychology encylcopedias, and being the little nutcase that I am, I actually spend hours some nights going through them.

Transitions are actually one of the hardest things for me to do, I won't lie. It's one of the greatest challenges in writing an epic... because you don't have the time to really focus on every single moment. You can't go day to day, because first of all, whose life has something exciting happen every day? And second of all, it's hard to progress their characters and interactions and all that in such a short amount of time. It's not realistic... so that's why I tend to skip over days and whatnot. I should credit JK Rowling with that... I read her books and observe the way she does it. Or at least, I used to, when I struggled more. Now I've got my style down to a science, if you get what I mean, so I usually don't have trouble with those kinds of things. It's all about finding your style, it really is. Read other people's work, observe what you like and don't like, and keep writing. Eventually, you'll find your comfort zone and be able to focus on other areas... it's really all a learning experience.

No, I unfortunately haven't read your story, actually. I read the summary, and I saw a recommendation for it on a yahoo group one time, but I never did get around to reading it. Lately, I don't really read fanfiction, and if I do, it's a romance to get me in a good mood before I go to sleep at night. Hermione/Severus, typically... I find that when I read other people's work of the same type as mine, I get influenced... and I want my work to be my own. If I'm lacking inspiration I read about a chapter of something that makes me all giddy, and then I get all excited to go write. I might take a look sometime, though.