Was it too short?  No.Did it happen too suddenly?  No.Was it just right?  YES!

I'm glad you didn't change anything.  With the Death Eater's attack on the Ministry, the Order had to act soon, and they had been preparing for this so they would be ready at a moment's notice.  I thought the pace of this chapter was spot on, and you communicated the action and emotions of the battle without bogging down in excessive description.

With a smirk and a nod to Lord Voldemort, Severus brilliantly lured the evil wizard onto the battlefield where he would become most vulnerable.  I can imagine the fury the Dark Lord must felt at realizing he had been duped just moments before by the one Death Eater he had thought to be his most loyal follower.  The ploy was so good that he didn't take time to surround himself with body guards and was intent on destroying Severus Snape by himself.  It was his own fury, manipulated by the Potions master, that led to his own destruction. 

I loved it when Hermione told Severus that she knew he would have assumed that he would have been killed in the fight and would have left some noble sentiment for her.  They know and understand each other very well.  Now I'm trying to figure out just what "things" they need to discuss. 

I can't believe there is only one more chapter (and maybe a short epilogue) left in this story.  I have looked forward to each new chapter since I started reading it.  It's a wonderful story, and I thank you for sharing it.  Good job!Beth

how can there only be 10 reviews on a 21-chapter story???  this is a really excellent story.  please finish quickly - i'm dying here lol!  i want ron's reaction and hermione's to the fact that she can have children:)  yes, i'm a bit anti-ron, at least in the context of a relationship with hermione.  i'm truly enjoying reading this.  more please!

um...stupid question that i'm a bit ashamed i didn't notice until this far into the story...where's mcgonagall in all this?  did i miss something at the beginning?

That definitely nuked 'em! :)

Very exciting!  I'm so glad it works!

A whole phial of Verita serum for each--goodness!! For how long can they now press the truth out if the Minister and his staff? All the doors in the Ministry are now wide open.  The Daily Prophet? Oh, what's that going to be? Harry and Ron might be satisfied with Severus' choice.Now Hermione has to stomach the horror of being responsible for someone's death. Her brilliant mind and the nonchalance she applied after her capture will not suffice here. A great chapter!

Oh yay! It worked! I didn't doubt that it would since it was Hermione and Severus working on it. But I didn't think it would work better than I thought. I think it was a fitting end for the Carrows, since they were the ones who took Hermione in the first place. Lucius will  no doubt be rather peeved that Severus killed them, but he did have Voldemort's support on that. I see the next chapter is in queue; I can't wait for it to post!

The horrors of war are something that we safe at home often forget. As hard as it was for Hermione to see, it is good that she did. She must fully understand the moral implications of what she is about to do. The lesser of two evils, but evil, none the less.I will be interested in hearing her thoughts and seeing her reactions on this event in your next chapter.

Awesome! I felt so tense throughout the whole chapter! Just brilliant stuff! Hope there's more soon!

He should have gone ahead and strangled Ron just to get him out of the picture.  I hope his silence doesn't mean that he will no longer be wanting Hermione.  What a cowardly reason to end a relationship.  Not that I want him to have one with her, but how degrading that would be.

Sounds like the extra precautions for the Avada Bomb test were a really good idea, that is some powerful stuff! Now comes the fun part... getting Voldemort and his minions where they can be disposed of without harming anyone else.Good riddance to bad rubbish with the Carrows' demise, but I think it might be more difficult for Hermione to deal with than she thought. The only downside of the Avada Bomb for me is that it seems far too painless a death for an unrepentant slime like Lucius.

Wow, that was quite a bit of devastation. The Carrows deserved what they got, of course. Can't wait to see the bomb in the real battle.

No way!!!!8 chapters later... and I need More!

You know, I'm just really starting to read this properly - not because I didn't know it was there, but because I have been involved in other stories and wanted to wait and give this my full attention - I have just finished chapter 10 and I wanted to duck in and tell you I am LOVING this!The descriptions are wonderful, the tentative building of Hermione and Severus's relationship, and their characters. It's all spot on and so vivid, I am totally engrossed. I have a glass of wine in hand and 8 chapters still to read...Best night in this week!!! Thanks, I love love love it!!!

I'm surprised the boys didn't fly more off of the handle.  Exciting chapter.

I like the way Snape handled them. I guess Ron's moving on to other future scenarios since Hermione can't have kids.

I'm intrigued as to whom they are going to test the Avada Bomb on. :)

This time it was Harry's turn to behave like an ass.  What is wrong with those two?  They were told time and again that Hermione didn't want to talk about what had happened to her.  I was delighted to see that Severus would go to any length to protect her peace of mind, and a well placed hand to Harry's throat helped him and Ron see the error of their ways.With the Avada Bomb complete and ready to be tested, Severus is actually looking forward to being Summoned.  Now I'm wondering just what revenge Severus has in mind for Lucius.  I hope everything goes according to his plans.Excellent chapter!Beth

Nice to see Severus' skills of intimidation are undiminished where the boys are concerned. Typical that their first thought was their own desire for revenge rather than concern for their friend's well-being. As for Ron growing quiet on learning that Hermione can never have children, I imagine it's because he had planned on Hermione bearing him a Quidditch team someday and now he knows that will never happen. Which probably means he intends to look elsewhere and thinks he's going to have to break off whatever he thinks is between himself and Hermione. Of course, he's completely unaware that Hermione's interests now lie elsewhere. But I trust Ron to completely bugger up what he thinks he's going to do.

I'm so glad that the boys didn't go off and end up captured or worse.

This is certainly getting good!!  I am surprised that Harry and Ron survived canon considering how hotheaded and irrational they are.  Keep up the good work!!

oh that was positively henious and very malfoy.  superb update.  thanks and smoochies

OOOOO! How evil for Malfoy to send his memory to Harry. I imagine that his and Ron's reaction will be horribly predictable, and may put everyone' plans in jeapardy.And I wonder who the spy in the meadow was.  Malfoy again? Is that how he knew that Ron and Harry were back?

Lots going on. Well, now the boys know. NOt sure if that's good or bad. Will wait and see. Oh, yeah, Ron's a prat. Big surprise.

"It was her idea; she can't just leave it to Severus to accomplish. Besides, she's his apprentice, and with that responsibility comes a lot of hard work. Even if there was no war on, she'd be busy with her apprenticeship. Be sensible," Remus replied, exhausted with Ron's less than mature ranting.  I am so relieved that someone else has noticed Ron's childishness.

"After a loud crack confirmed their Disapparation, a tall, cloaked figure rose from his uncomfortable seat on the ground, sore from sitting there for so long, and also Disapparated from the edge of the warded meadow."  From the description of the interloper, I'd say Lucius is scouting for ways to put and end to Severus.

I can appreciated just how hard it would have been not to tell Harry and Ron about Hemione's rape and torture, and I figured that they would find out before she was ready to tell them, but never in a million years would I have thought of Lucius sending them his memory of the whole sordid affair.  Before I knew what the memory was about, I wondered if it would have been what Lucius (if it was him in the meadow today) saw of Severus and Hermione's kiss before they Apparated away.

On Severus' arrival back at the Manor, by the way he abruptly told Hermione that she should go to bed I have to wonder if he didn't receive some of Voldemort's "constructive discipline" based on the testimony of whomever it was that saw them kissing.

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day for everyone.  And you are right about this being a very busy chapter.  Well done.Beth