I love this story, Mystery Author! I have read it several times now, and every time I do, I just can't come up with the words to do it justice. So I leave the comments open, type something down, hate it, erase it and then read it again so that I can try again. Ehn. Why I should be so unable spit it out, I don't know, but I kept thinking 'Austin' as I read - this reads like something out of 'Austin'. Which made it an automatic love for me, so it should have been an easy thing to say why it touched me as well as tickled me. I'm out of time now, though, and I so wanted to tell you that I loved this before the reveals were up (though I think I have a good idea who you are :-) ).
Your effervescent Arathusa Glomp, truly a voluptuous lady if ever there was one, was as perfect (and perfectly drawn) an observer of her surroundings as one could possibly hope. I adored seeing the wizarding world through her eyes. She draws such sharp portraits (if you will forgive the metaphor *g*) of everyone. It's obvious that you have soaked up so much of the little details of the books that you are able to breathe them out in such a natural way, that everyone and everything is beautifully three dimensional and perfectly in tune with the world they inhabit. Perhaps the problem is that I am having such a severe case of writer's envy!
The relationship between Arathusa (what a fabulous name, btw!) and Violet is so perfectly in character and so very charming. The Emma-esque shading of the class differences (and how one must make allowances for one's dear friends) is just wonderful. Both women are clever and resourceful and oh, so dear. Every line is perfectly placed. I think, other than my own wonderful gift, it is my favorite of the fest. So thank you for sharing this marvelous, marvelous story, even if articulation is failing somewhat to explain why I think so. <3