First, I've been itching all throughout the fest to tell you how much I admire and adore you for your beautiful, thoughtful comments. Whenever I read a story on which you had already commented, I felt utterly humbled, because I knew I could never match your feedback ;-)
So, thank you so very much for taking your time to write up your thoughts and impressions. It's particularly gratifying, because Muriel/Griphook is an, ah, unconventional pairing, and I couldn't be sure that anyone would even read the story, let alone like it.
I'm very glad you liked my version of Muriel. Surprisingly, she was more difficult to write than Griphook - I felt that his alienness gave me more leeway to come up with characterisation ideas, and that I could get away with even the most outlandish concepts. Muriel, who represents a very specific type of old lady, had to be more carefully crafted. She was fun, though. Somehow, writing outrageous (and prejudiced) characters is always immensely enjoyable and liberating.
Thanks again for commenting! Feedback like yours makes participation in this wonderful fest an even greater pleasure.