Uh oh... I sense a storm brewing well maybe it's hitting shore actually. Severus is taking everything way to personally and lashing out.

Poor Arthur. It's so sad to think of the Weasleys without beloved Molly, but the war would have to have consequences. He must be completely lost.

Just when I thought Severus was realizing how much he overreacted he's talking himself back into it again. (vicious cycle) His mind really is all over the place... I've had nights like that (not quite the same topic running round in my head though.) Another sleepless night for Severus.

And poor Poppy isn't doing much better. They've both worked themselves into quite a state.

So he's working on a little peace offering it would seem. (LOL - Hopefully Pomona won't be too angry about the roses.) 4:30 in the morning. Severus you are eager and not even dressed. The lack of sleep must really be catching up with him.

A break, heh? Well, Poppy has reason to be a bit worried about being hurt after Severus acted the way he did and things did all begin rather suddenly.

Excellently crafted chapter. Such a roller coaster ride this, a great one.

Aww, Poppy. Her breakup with Murdoch must still be painful. (Ever give any thought to writing that time period between RaM and AAoL? I know you're giving us quite the glimpse in these later stories with the talks about people's backgrounds... I'm just greedy. Always want more of your writng.) Oh, Poppy... is it really that absurd to be in love with Severus? Hmm... will have to wait and see.

Nightmares... a great way to show all that Severus is still dealing with. I really like that he wishes Poppy had been there.

Very nice background on Severus' relationship with his house-elf. Wanting to brighten up his office says a lot about his state of mine and actually wanting people (and Poppy) to come to visit.

He is getting a tad sensitive though, I can see feeling slighted when he didn't speak to Poppy much at the day's meals.

Severus is definitely becoming more assertive and confident. Very sexy. Of course earlier Poppy said that she liked him like this so… she did encourage him. And followed up by such a sensuous and tender bath.  There’s that L-word again too. Wonderfully steamy chapter.

Aww, I love Severus complimenting Poppy. Such a nice contrast to her earlier appraisal of herself.  Her side of the bed – heh? (Yes, I do like the sound of that.)  Severus certainly perfected that spell in a hurry. He is definitely a quick study.  And dinner outside the castle and in a fancy place no less. He does make a habit of not having much money on him though, doesn’t he? So prepared in  every other way. I like that he’s comfortable to make a little joke out of it with Poppy.  There’s so much history to their relationship. I love the little kick when she thinks he might not be nice to the waiter. I also like that even though his feelings were hurt he came around rather quickly and moved on from the incident.

Poor Gareth, plagued by a moody teenage witch. He’s too nice. Maybe he should have set her some of that busy work instead of the chocolate, but then I’m evil.  Ah, they’re both so convinced the other doesn’t want any more and they’re both worried about being hurt or embarrassed that they  don’t want to make it seem like they might. (Well Poppy a tiny bit more than Severus but still.) Oh, so Severus still thinks he is in love with Hermione. That explains a lot.  Uh oh, now Gareth’s bringing up Minerva … thinks of him like a son – you’re doing well to express how and when he’s able to stay in control of his emotions and how and when he’s not. Like losing his temper a bit when Gareth questions his love for Hermione but he lets the comments about his feelings for Minerva go without a bigger reaction. I guess the Hermione emotions are more near the surface and he’s come to deal with the Adfectus incident pretty well by now. That’s good.  So he’s with Gareth and still thinking of Poppy to become aroused and he doesn’t want sex with Gareth. Wonder what this says. I love the conversation on the color of spells and it’s meaning. Seems to all make perfect sense. You create this magical information so wonderfully and it adds so much to the story and the universe. It’s also very telling that they’re having this indepth conversation about spells while they’re doing what they’re doing and the bit about why Severus knows this so well is a perfect explanation (trying to make one spell look like another.)

I know I’m woefully behind, but I’m trying to catch up… Oh Poppy. You are beautiful and not being nineteen can be a good thing. I like her frank assessment of herself, but as most women I think she’s still selling herself a bit short. You convey her fear of being hurt and convincing herself that he’s not really interested in her for a relationship.  Vector teasing Severus at breakfast is wonderful. It’s nice to see him interacting with the other staff members. Ooh and so good of him not to dish about Duffy.  Boy, Severus has had quite the busy week, hasn’t he? I’m so glad Poppy stopped him and brought him back for a cuddle. I doesn’t always have to be about the sex. He’s very sweet saying how much he likes to actually sleep with her as well.  I enjoyed his imagining of what he’d like to do with Poppy under the mistletoe, particularly blasting it away so no one else were to try to catch him there. Fun image. Too bad Severus didn’t have much luck with the spell, but I would imagine it takes some practice.  

Ah Severus, finding Minerva and Albus in just their dressing gowns. The mind wanders (to fun places). Severus really is giving this all a lot of thoughs. How everyone around him (not just him) was affected by the war. As you pointed out in one of your replies - clearly to be who he was during the war he is clearly perceptive and clever and thoughtful. He's just directing all that in a very different direction now. His idea of counseling for the students is clearly needed. You can see how everyone would have been so caught up in dealing with all of it themselves (especially at Hogwarts) right after the war to have not thought of it, but it is overdue. Still uncomfortable with Albus though. Sad. Poppy and Severus are so cute with their flirty banter. Efficient way to get rid of all his layers. Improper use of the staff room and table. Steamy session on the table as well and Severus asking to be restrained to replace good memories with bad. So many layers. Passionate and sexy, tender and caring... vulnerable and open, anxious and assertive. Then back to the banter about the new rules. Just on the weekends, weekends and weekdays, but only after curfew, (only on odd days or even days - hehe) Yeah, they're stopping. Not!

"If he'd had that kind of time for a baby..." sigh, poor Minerva.  She gave up a lot to be with Albus, perhaps needlessly.  I'm proud of Severus - not conceding; you go Severus and get your witch.  Minerva is providing excellent advice and will be able to pat herself on the back if they get together in the end.  Thanks for the update.  More please. 

Oh the bit with Duffy at the table was too funny. Someone being so completely forward at the staff table in the great hall... and with Severus. Even better was his way of getting rid of her. Perfectly, brilliantly, Severus!Albus playing matchmaker... there's a slightly frightenly thought - in a very amusing way of course. Then you go from that to Ginny. The talk with Severus was so powerful on so many levels revealing things about both of them. I'm amazed how well Severus handled the situation and was able to get through to her. I shouldn't be amazed really because you have slowly evolved him to the point where this is who he is and what he's capable of, I guess I'm still comparing this Severus a little bit with the one I built up in my mind all those years reading the books. This Severus has come a long way since then and unlike the books you give us a peek inside the man behind the billowoing robes. I'm so glad you do and that you do it so well. And it's so wonderful that he takes her to 'good listener' Poppy.

The more Severus tries to convince himself that he and Poppy are just friends with benefits and collegues - the more I think it's WAY more than that.  Just like Minerva trying to convince Albus and Severus that she's not hung over. HA! Brilliantly funny and perfectly Minerva "Mind over matter" indeed.I adore that Severus comes to Poppy's defense and takes a bet against Minerva. She was just a little too arrogant. I love him glaring down Cahill in the stands to save seats. Wonderful moment. Great description of the game as well.

Hmm.. Severus' thoughts are filled with Poppy. I like that. I really love the discussion on Arithmancy. It's one of those things that we never really learned about in the books but what you've done with it in these stories is fascinating. The idea of Filius mixing up naughty named drinks for everyone if wonderful. Such a picture you paint in my mind. The flirtation in Poppy and Severus' conversation is so fun. I really like that she gives him her drink to try and she's right that he does like it. Also about the food she knows what he likes. The dynamic between the two is just so on. Oooh more Poppy Severus action. These two just can't keep their hands off each other. Severus drunk is very amusing and of course Poppy's taking care of him. Anothehr great chapter and great fun and steamy bits in this one.

zesty.  ROFL. 

Complicated, very complicated indeed. And Minerva tries her best to help - but the difference to unhelpful meddling isn't so large, is it? ;o)
I do hope, though, that indeed nothing happened to Severus! *gnaws nails*

Author's Response: It's hard when you know how both people feel not to blurt it out to the other. lol! They're lucky they have her to talk to. :)

I hope you don't gnaw too much! Not sure when the next update will be, though I'm aiming for Sunday.

Thanks for the review!

Snape almost appears grown up. So is he due  a setback? I liked the role Minerva is playing in all this. It allows you to show different aspects of his personality as he switches topics with her. Mature when they talk about the school, he becomes teenager like when the subject moves to Poppy. I like that. (I've had a flakey internet connection lately, so my review covers a couple of chapters.)

Oh no!  Where IS he?!  I hope he's okay.He's so emotionally vulnerable!  Poor thing.  Occluding all those years probably added to that.  He doesn't have to occlude any more so he doesn't but now his emotions are on the surface and tears are always just below.  He definitely wasn't like that before he was hit by the stray spell.  I always remember Hermione's cheering charm from that time when someone said something rotten and he heard it.

YAY, an update! YOU DO STILL LOVE US!!!! I'm glad Minerva is friends with Severus and Poppy. I can't say I envy the position she's in, though. That would be increadibly hard to know what the other is thinking and yet be bound by the rules of secrecy and friendship so you can't openly share. She's an amazing friend to have, though, so I have every confidence that things will work out for everyone involved.Poppy is right to be a bit fearful for her heart, but I think once she gives Severus a chance and he stops worrying so much about things, they'll find that they're highly compatible (as Minerva tried to point out discreetly) and then there will be lemonade galore! tee hee.Thanks for the update. And just for the record, I'm so missing my Albus, sniff sniff!!! I'm going through ADMM fluff withdrawls!Cheers,the GLM

I totally sympathise with Poppy and her fears. A woman who has held herself so contained in matters of the heart would be taking a mighty risk with a man like Severus, especially if she's feeling insecure about the age difference. And they work together, so imagine setting yourself up for heartbreak with a man who has a notoriously nasty temper and having to face him at meals and in your daily work? Minerva is in a tight place, trying to be a good and sympathetic friend to both of them. It must be a trial for her not to tell them both what is best for them, but to just be supportive while they work it out.I'm so glad you updated. I was just sitting down with dinner and wishing I had a good story to read, and my blackberry dingalinged. It was like... magic!

I truly apologize for not replying like the diligent reader I am. I find myself reading your stories many times over. This last chapter was a particular favorite of mine. I truly love the insights in to Minerva's past. And I look forward to the RAM sequal!

Oh dear, that didn't go well at all. It was to be expected, I suppose, but it will be very difficult for them to get over this.

Author's Response: No, it didn't go very well, and neither of them was at their best. Awkward doesn't begin to describe it -- but they will get over it. :-)

Thanks for the reviews!

*grin* So Poppy really thinks this would work, is she? I'm really eager to see what you have in store for these two.
At first, when you introduced Poppy in this intensity with Severus, I was unsure whether this could work, but I've thought since some chapters that they would be, in this story, the perfect match for each other. I suppose the both of them only have to realize it.

Author's Response: In this story, in this HP-universe, I think they are a really good match. Now if they would only realize it, as you say! LOL!

Have you read "Heat"? It's lemony, but I think you still might like it. It's also SSPP. It was one of those things that at first struck me as an odd pairing, and unexpected, but I liked it. I wrote it for a friend who's a big Severus Snape fan. :-)

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: Not yet, but it's on my reading list. I'm only now catching up with ALVS ;o)
I think that overall, Severus and Poppy would make a good pair, not only in this story, and generally better than SSHG *ducks* :oD

Author's Response: Yes, ducking is a good idea! LOL!

I've read some really great SSHG, and they were the first pair that I read consistently when I discovered HP fanfic (by accident -- I was a Sherlock Holmes pastiche addict and found someone who wrote both SH & HP fanfic), but it just wasn't going to work in the RaMverse.

So Poppy had indeed some interesting relationship to Quin back then! :o)

Author's Response: She did, indeed! :-)

Woo hoo. TPP is back up and running so that's great news for my Sunday reading pleasure.It's fun to see Severus trying to control his emotions when he's around Poppy and also knowing that she's going out on a date soon. He's doing a great job, so far, of trying his wooing attempts as Minerva suggested.I thought the conversation about Malcolm and Gareth was informative and fun. I love getting little peeks into the lives of the other characters, especially those I really like. I think that's what makes reading your stories so much fun. It's like eavesdropping on an entire family of people haha.Thanks for the update and I can't wait to read the next chapter.the GLM

Yes, Severus did very well.  And Poppy is trying to do the right thing.  THe duck is precious!I'm intrigued about the next chapter--what will Severus learn about Minerva?  He has no idea of the long rocky road it took her and Albus to get together, nor Quin's role in finally sorting that out . . . he probably thinks Albus and Minerva realized they were perfect together early on, if he's thought much about it.

Poor Severus.  He did a great job of not sabotaging himself despite the little sneer at the end.  He's made so much progress.

Gareth and Snape have an interesting dynamic. I would find it odd, except I had friends like Gareth that were able have casual sex with people they considered friends and nobody got emotionally involved. Anyway, nice chapter, I still feel like there is a big blow up  due.