Lovely ending.  The flowers sound fabulous, I need to send someone some flowers. Could I borrow your idea?

Flowers for her, chocolates for him.  Goody! :)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!How could you stop at such a cliff?!You're becoming much more cruel by the day. Poor poor Winky!I'd ask how is it even possible to rape an house elf if it wasn't so sad an affair! I concord with Severus: rapers should be killed in one go (I don't know if you've heard but in Italy, my homeland, there have been 10 girls raped since New Year's Eve, often by a group and every one of those men has been let off with just a bit of handslapping...things here are becoming strained to be sure!). Anyway, I'd like to think Rita is the blackmailer, but maybe even she passed herself for a pureblood and is being pressured not for money but for articles?Anyway she is still a bi...ehm...witch and as such I don't think that every schoop she wrote was requested by someone else...or was it?Harry pleading Severus' case is something to be wondered at and little Rose seems to be as clever as her mother. Ron is still a prat(nothing new in that...is he the blackmailer?). But let me ask something...that brief mention of Umbridge...was it a clue?Is she the blackmailer?Or maybe is Winky?Or maybe...is you?!Or...me?! Sorry...I'm becoming a bit paranoid but I love your story all the same...'til next chapter!^_^

So the plot thickens ... if it's not Rita Skeeter behind the blackmailings, who is it? Hm. And this person evidently has something over on Rita ... could Rita maybe be a Muggleborn herself? And it sounds like the person somehow has knowledge of each business owners profits. Maybe someone with connections to Gringotts or the Ministry?That aside, it sure sounds like Hermione has realized that Severus' intentions were good, even if he did screw up big time. And both she and Harry are right, Severus' social skills are virtually non-existent, especially when it comes to wooing a lady. But it sounds like he now has able assistance from Winky. Great update, can't wait for the next one!

sad chapter with a happy ending.  it was a good one.  i can't wait to read more.

Even though it is supposedly near Harry's B-day in the story I find it ironic that Hermione and Severus will be exchanging chocolates and flowers.  You know I also think Rita may be innocent (did I just write that?!).  Really I think  the blackmailer is a Malfoy.  What do you think?

ahhh sweet... flowers and chocolates. So romantic!

This blackmail person is downright nasty! I sooo want Hermione and Severus to talk this thing through. But, all iin good time. *pouts*  And poor Winky. You know I'd never considered thas aspect of house-elf enslavement, but I reckon that some sick wanker has to have tried it. Poor dears. Lovely as always, dear.

great chapter.is it the umbridge toad making skeeter do the black mailing?seems like it would be in her league of things to accomplish.

"All the better for her" I can hear Alan Rickman saying that line in Sense and Sensability!! Do I get house points for catching it? Oh thank you for getting things with the kids evened out. I still want Ron roasted on a spit, but thats just me being vindictive. Thanks for the update.

I am glad that Snape did not let himself be used like Cyrano de Bergerac. Good of Harry to catch on that Snape loves hermione. Now if only he convince him to fight for the woman he loves.

Great chapter! I'm so relieved that Ron saw reason - this IM idea is really good for this problem. It wouldn't be for me personally, I type too fast and my hubby hates it *giggles* - but then, we DO talk to each other ;o). Good idea that Molly & co knew about the spells...
But why on earth Viktor Krum? *looks puzzled*

Author's Response: I'm afraid that you will have to wait and see about Krum. If I say anything I might give it away. I will only say that Snape's need for Krum is a business issue. But...

I'm glad you liked the chapter. I never really liked Ron, but I don't hate him either. I just felt that he didn't belong with Hermione. I never understood JKR when it came to that pairing.

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: I didn't understand that either. I don't dislike Ron, too, but still... though, to be honest, I don't think that Snape is the proper partner for her, too, or rather she for him ;o). Perhaps JKR counted out the fanmail and went for the largest number? *giggles*

Author's Response: The way JKR sees Snape, he wouldn't ever be happy, no matter who he was with.

I like to think that he could have been happy after seeing the permanent downfall of Voldemort, but it would have taken a long time, and someone with infinite patience. My other story, "The Potion Master's Assistant," has an OC that I think would have fit the bill, but I would rather have made her older. I just couldn't figure out a way to inject her into his life as anything but a student. By the time they get together, she is over 18 and no longer a student, and very mature for her age, but I still feel that he would never have gone for anyone that young.

I'm gald they could work things out, but I wish they would get together...(I realize this is a major plot spinner for you, but I can wish). It's amazing. =]

that is love indeed.  i'm glad swinish ron and hermione got things straightened out.  he deserves lavender even if his kids don't.  thanks so much for the wonderful update and i look forward to seeing how severus' plan works.

this was really good, but do you have to bring in Victor?

Viktor Krum? Where does he fit in? I'm not so sure Ron will live up to his agreement. Good story. Well-developed plot and characters.

This chapter made me smile Now you have me wondering if you are going to follow through on the conviction of Severus and who did not allow him to be acquitted. Hmmm I am intrigued.

The "just friends" theory has to be somewhere in that idiotic book and should be banned. Granted, rebound relationships occur however, Hermione isn't just any witch. I sincerely hope Severus' forehead is large enough to display the word "Dunderhead" that Hermione will charm onto it.

Someone shake him out of his oh-so-noble funk!

Phew – I'm glad that things went so well with Ron. I also liked the part where Snape and Harry seem to form a bond of friendship for Hermione's sake. But what does Snape want with Viktor Krum? Set Hermione up with him? The git!

I loved the way you fixed things up between Ron and Hermione, even if I think those who've used the book should pay with prison. I liked the supportive Molly you've described and the way she could still be maternal with her daughter in law: I know many mothers who'd try to defend their sons regardless of the way they'd acted in their marriages and I guess Molly could be like that, but I'm happy to see I was wrong, but pweeeeseeeeeeee....don't make Severus try to matchmake Hermione and Krum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can well understand the desire to wait to start something if one doesn't want to be the 'rebound guy'...but to trow other men in her path?But maybe I'm overeacting: he prbably wants to to know about the new Nimbus I-don't-know-what and Krum is the man for the job?Anyway, will you describe the way Rose and Hugo have reacted to the news?I noticed you didn't and I was really curios about the way they'll see their father now that they know about the book...and I could take a shot in the dark here, but if Scorpius likes Rose maybe she should learn the counterspells like Ginny and Molly did?I guess now that Hermione will move to Hogwarts the story will move there too, and we'll see more of her children..hopefully^_^. Well, I hope I haven't harassed you too much, but your story is so 'real' that's easy to identify oneself in the characters...excellent work :D

Yay!Am disappointed in Molly though for not preparing Hermione for the possibility of having that book used against her...Wish Severus didn't feel so...unworthy.

can't wait to read the next chapter, i hope something good happens with Severus and Hermione's relationship!

I was happy to hear that Hermione and Ron worked it out.  So back to Hogwarts?  Can't wait for that.

Okay, so Ron  is capable still of decent actions. And Molly, she and Hermione need to write a book to counter the other one.  I get that Snape wants to be the guy after the guy that follows Ron-- that's actually smart, but how will he feel when he sees her with someone else?