harry'd better watch his back if ginny teams up with the twins to join the trio.

This is absolutely fantastic. In fact, it's the first fiction I've read recently reminded me why I used to love canon-based fictions. Although, judging from this incredible first installment, I have no doubt that this will be a far cry from a Jo-carbon copy. What you have done here, is what true fanfiction is all about.

It was the title that first caught my eye—something that could easily be passed off as cliché, but on second glance, is the farthest cry from it. It's gritty, it's exciting, and it points to a story with the promise of a fabulous tale. Then I read the summary, and almost jumped six feet in the air. What an awesome premise! What excites me more, is that you're attempting it. Too many authors are trying to convince themselves that the gang is returning to Hogwarts, and too few are taking on the complex task of sending them on a perilous journey.

Then, you go and blow me away with your writing style. From the start, you don't pretend that this is a children's story. Lines like, “...his former girlfriend who he desperately wanted to slam against the door and kiss senseless. set the theme of this story from just this first chapter—it's an adult tale of courage and passion. You're raising the stakes, you're beginning the end with a bang.

I loved your inclusion of Luna and Neville. The line, “Each was special to Harry in a way his respect for Neville and Luna wasn’t, in that he loved them all dearly and would happily give his life to save theirs,” was truly perfect. It's the type of line that really draws the reader into the story, giving them a sense of omniscient knowledge, giving them a connection to the characters. I commend you for this.

I don't know how you'll be able to follow up such a fabulous chapter with something even more pungent, but something tells me you're going to be doing just that. I have high hopes for this story, and I will definitely be staying with it. Thank you for this inspiring read... I think I'll go write now. :)