Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to thank J.K Rowling for creating such wonderful and vivid characters who have become an important part of my imagination. I would also like to thank the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, whose style I have shamlessly stolen and parodied.

This story would never have come into existence were it not for the Femmes Dangereuses. While participating in their discussions that I first dreamed up Minerva McGonagall's back-story, as a joke. It was due entirely to their encouragement that the story was able to take shape into what it is today. They have been friends in every way, providing supporting shoulders, helping hands, good ears and eyes, and any other body part that I may have needed. They have been beyond patient with me, reading my excerpts and urging me to finish the story at times when it seemed to stale to continue. I cannot express enough thanks for their belief and support and for welcoming me into their fold, despite being an homme. It is for these reasons that I dedicated The Heiress of the Raven to them. A special thanks goes out to Mona for editing and posting the vast bulk of these installments. That she edited and posted my installments so quickly deserves my eternal thanks. That she did it with a smile on her face has earned my undying awe.

And lastly I would like to thank Minerva McGonagall. I began writing with my own vague outline and then had to hold on to her long hair tightly so that I could keep up. We should all be so lucky to have such a wonderful muse, inspiration, and lead player.

If anyone has any comments for me, I should love to hear them. And I hope that you all enjoyed the story.