In which I attempt to use a spoiler cut for the first time...

[akashathekitty]

[In which I get very self-congratulatory indeed, so imma spare you with this cut. It's about Secrets and reviews.]
I'm so very pleased with how Secrets has been received so far! And yet... fuck, it makes me scared of it all fizzling. O_O;

Only one chapter is up and:

On Hawthorn & Vine, it's so far received 83 reviews. I've never received that many reviews on the first chapter of any piece anywhere before. After it's been updated a few times a similar number

Comments

[akashathekitty]

It's the continuation to a story that had lots of smut and a bit of angst and ultimately an unhappy ending that tied into canon. (It's Draco/Hermione -- Draco wipes Hermione's memory of their relationship in my fic and it's very strongly hinted that he then after the end of the story attempts to kill old Dumbles etc to protect his family) People like their happy endings, so they're hoping they'll get it in Take 2. XD Not a happy ride I have planned, though. (ETA: Not commenting at all on the ending, only the path to it. Just... before some lurker gets the wrong idea.)

Haha, kind of unrelated: I've had a lot of comments over the years - and even a couple on this chapter - that are like but if she has sex with someone else, how does she explain to herself that she isn't a virgin? (Because she was pre forgotten relationship) And it's like... It doesn't hurt for everyone? I actually have to explain to (often) grown women that not everyone has torn hymens, blood and pain the first time? And why would she even question her own experience? IDGI. O.o

[aasaylva]

I actually have to explain to (often) grown women that not everyone has torn hymens, blood and pain the first time?
Thank God for that! I mean, I don't even know how the idiocy of judging brides according to blood on the sheets even came into existence in the first place because I've yet to encounter a woman who did bleed enough for it to show...

[akashathekitty]

I've met women who said they did. But they're indeed rare. And I think it was one of those myths that probably perpetuated itself with women pricking their fingers or having little phials with blood, because they were afraid they wouldn't bleed enough.

[the_physicist]

*facepalm*

i saw that a lot on FFR too with anal sex. everyone was like: "you need LOADS of prep and it will probably still hurt..."

i was like: um, not for everyone, seriously...

and the hymen can tear in many ways before sex. Hermione's parents are dentists, she probably went pony riding or horse riding as a kid, lol. for instance.

[aasaylva]

i was like: um, not for everyone, seriously...
bwahaha * high-fives you*

[the_physicist]

i mean, of course, maybe i'm lucky or whatever but it's certainly not unrealistic and fics shouldn't be ranted about for actually having realistic sex in them. there are many that don't that could be ranted about instead. using sand or salt as lube... those could be ranted about without anyone going: wait, i did that and it's totally fantastic! XD (unless they are heavily into pain or whatever of course, but that would have to be mentioned in the fic...)