Wonderfully said. I really enjoy examining the paradoxes within Severus' mind, and I hope they (at least what I perceive them to be) have come through clearly thus far in my story. It's an odd feeling to sit at my computer writing Severus' character and knowing how crazily misled he is emotionally. But I have to write him that way, even though I'd love to just have him be miraculously trusting! It's frustrating for me, and I'm sure it's frustrating for my readers, but I hope that I'll be able to begin a slow, believable healing process for him.  

Hahaha, it's quite alright. I understood what you meant 

:) Yes, things will start to pick up a bit from here! Thank you for always reviewing! I hope you're enjoying the story!

Indeed! Glad you enjoyed it. =)

I do love a good semi-cliffhanger every now and then. =) The next chapter is in queue, but then I won't be able to update for the next two weeks. Fortunately, the next chapter doesn't end with a cliffhanger!

Thanks:)

I'm glad you still love it. And I know, I feel so bad for him too! Stick with it though. My build-up is slow, but I'd like to think that it's all worth it! =) And thanks for always reviewing. I love hearing from readers. 

I love a slow build.  Really, I hate it when I see a story with Snape and Hermione in which they hate each other and then a couple of chapters later they're professing undying love.  The point of the romance is to get them there in the end, but the journey is over if you get to that too quickly and then it's all anticlimactic after that.  I like there to be ups and downs and some angst.  I don't like for arguments to last too long without something positive but I don't want all sugar either.  One story I read and loved up until the last chapter had such an overwhelmingly angsty ending I felt I needed anti-anxiety medication in order to get through it.  It was so so sad but the rest of the story was amazing.  Snape was just the right mix of Snark and underlying vulnerability and the female character who was not Hermione was very strong and not one to put up with nonsense.  Anyway, I think if I'd had a choice I'd have left the last chapter unread.  But it was a story that went from prior to the relationship all the way to the end of the characters lives.  It's hard NOT to feel angst at that point.  Anyway, I'll shut up now.  I can't remember the title of the story.  It's just another example of a great story with a slow build-up. 

Well, things don't get better, per se, but they certainly do get interesting. I'm trying to post as quickly as possible, but the queue process is rather long. Thanks for sticking with this, though!