Sighs happily.....another wonderful chapter about Charlie and May!!!!!! I loved it! May and Charlie balance each other so well, and their relationship with their mentors Lord Amryas and Dumbledore is so well written. I liked how May was able to relate to how Molly and the other women of the family planned for each child. It might be tough at times, but perhaps May and Molly will work well together. Of course, Fleur is taking the heat right now, but Charlie has laid the groundwork for May and Fleur to become good friends as well as sisters in law. I hope that a later chapter does have the two couples meet for a night out! And Arthur will like May and her family! I think Molly is too possessive, and that's something she should be wary about.......that and she has a narrow viewpoint of what other peoples behavior should be. Chuckle, I thought the scene in the bath house was priceless.....May giving him a detailed report on what she'd been doing as she "washed" him. They both care for the dragons so much....you can see it in their devotion to their jobs. I bet Lord Amarys is well pleased to have such a fine pair of students! It also shows in their enjoyment of life, and their determination to oppose those who would threaten others. The tattoo sequence was very intersting, I liked how you showed how Charlie's lessons on Japanese culture had increased his understanding. It was also facinating to see how his tattoo and May's complimented each other, and how the artists "read" each of theem to make the tattoos express both the soul and the personalities of May and Charlie, and how they related to each other as well. And of course, the final scene was lovely.....the two of them walking beneath the Milky Way and Orion. Laughing......I bet that they both had excellent appetites for dinner! Many thanks for another wonderful chapter in this story!!!
Author's response
Hi Teresa!
It was good to return to writing about their lives in Romania. I missed writing May during those two chapters in the UK. Thank you for noticing the portion about how May relates to the Matriarchal families. That portion went through some serious editing and a hefty rewrite at the end.
Don't worry about Molly and her viewpoint, and about seeing Charlie and May interact with Bill and Fleur... when I begin to write more of my next story about Hermione and Ron, in the modern day, your wishes will be fulfilled!
I originally meant the bath scene to be more ritualistic in preparation for the tattoo scene, but they are just such a relaxed couple... there's not going to be too many rituals in their lives (smile).
Back when I originally profiled Charlie and Mayumi, I knew there would have to be balance in their lives together. The idea of Charlie's tattoo eventually grew out of that, and as you said, Teresa, they are designed to compliment each other. The part about the 'Soul' stone, or pearl, was just something that happened, partially by accident, and partially because it is traditional to see a Shishi statue, as well as the Chinese Foo dogs, to have one of the two guardians with their paw atop an orb.
I do envy them their dark skies at night for stargazing! I'm glad you appreciated that portion, Teresa!
Thank you so much for the review!!
--Jim