Thank you so much! I haven't read any of the new Merope fics, but I can imagine many would be as you describe. She certainly does come across as a victim in the book, but I wanted to try for something a bit edgier - a "feminist serial killer," as one of my betas put it. Eep. And McGonagall, yeah - I hope she 'gets it' too! *bites nails*

Thanks for the rec, btw! Oh yes, I saw that... ;-)