I agree that he's making an effort, but I wonder if she can see that about him at this point?  You're in the ruling majority who believe that he's wide awake when she's busy in the bed.  Thank you for commenting!

I agree that he's making an effort, but I wonder if she can see that about him at this point?  You're in the ruling majority who believe that he's wide awake when she's busy in the bed.  Thank you for commenting!

Lora, you are in the majority, who believe that Snape was not asleep in that bed beside Hermione.  Thank you for your comment - I think a lot of your questions will be answered in the next chapter.  Of course, then you'll have more questions.

Lora, you are in the majority, who believe that Snape was not asleep in that bed beside Hermione.  Thank you for your comment - I think a lot of your questions will be answered in the next chapter.  Of course, then you'll have more questions.

Love that term, "mercy obliviation".  It's a good point, wondering why she doesn't suspect him of making her feel the arousal.  I believe further details of their lives as lived in the previous six months may answer that question.  But it's your last comment that made me laugh out loud.  It's why I always fell for hard for Snape when you wrote him:  You and I see him, I think, in a similar light.Thank you for your comments.  It is lovely to hear from you, as always.

Love that term, "mercy obliviation".  It's a good point, wondering why she doesn't suspect him of making her feel the arousal.  I believe further details of their lives as lived in the previous six months may answer that question.  But it's your last comment that made me laugh out loud.  It's why I always fell for hard for Snape when you wrote him:  You and I see him, I think, in a similar light.Thank you for your comments.  It is lovely to hear from you, as always.

Thank you for the lovely comment,

!  It is a delight to be writing and posting SSHG again.

Thank you for the lovely comment,

!  It is a delight to be writing and posting SSHG again.

It's true; if you put yourself in Snape's shoes, you have to be grinding your teeth to nubs before that first night is over from trying to appear to be married.  Thank you for commenting!

It's true; if you put yourself in Snape's shoes, you have to be grinding your teeth to nubs before that first night is over from trying to appear to be married.  Thank you for commenting!

Thank you so much for taking a chance on my story!

Thank you so much for taking a chance on my story!

Ah, Beth, you read with your scientific, analytical mind open full throttle, and you get more out of stories than most readers do.  You've noted some important points.  I think things will begin to come clearer in the next few chapters.

Ah, Beth, you read with your scientific, analytical mind open full throttle, and you get more out of stories than most readers do.  You've noted some important points.  I think things will begin to come clearer in the next few chapters.

*grins*  They do know how to make each other spetacularly uncomfortable, don't they?  We fangirls think everybody wants to jump Snape's bones, but I always try to imagine how an 18 yr old would *really* feel if she was put in a position where it was marry her least favorite teacher or, in this case, lose the life she'd planned since she was 11 ... what a grim choice to have to make, really.  And how does HE feel about it?  So much to consider!

*grins*  They do know how to make each other spetacularly uncomfortable, don't they?  We fangirls think everybody wants to jump Snape's bones, but I always try to imagine how an 18 yr old would *really* feel if she was put in a position where it was marry her least favorite teacher or, in this case, lose the life she'd planned since she was 11 ... what a grim choice to have to make, really.  And how does HE feel about it?  So much to consider!

I'm glad you came by, as well!  It's lovely to see you again.  I do hope you'll like the story. 

I'm glad you came by, as well!  It's lovely to see you again.  I do hope you'll like the story. 

Now Miss June, why do you want Lupin to know that Snape gets more tense when he's around?  So he'll stop doing it to make Snape happy, or so he'll do it more to drive Snape up the wall?? "good, bad, or Obliviated?" made me chortle aloud.  I imagine that other Muggle-borns might have made the same move if they'd had enough time to arrange things for themselves, but keep in mind that the Ministry made this new rule while most of the students were away on Christmas break.  Perhaps, if the rule had stayed in force, more of the students who had been there for a while and wanted to finish their education would have married to do so.  Next chapter is next week! 

Attn, Lupin: A happy Snape is a better spy and a better husband to Hermione. Quit yanking his chain, you twit!

Now Miss June, why do you want Lupin to know that Snape gets more tense when he's around?  So he'll stop doing it to make Snape happy, or so he'll do it more to drive Snape up the wall?? "good, bad, or Obliviated?" made me chortle aloud.  I imagine that other Muggle-borns might have made the same move if they'd had enough time to arrange things for themselves, but keep in mind that the Ministry made this new rule while most of the students were away on Christmas break.  Perhaps, if the rule had stayed in force, more of the students who had been there for a while and wanted to finish their education would have married to do so.  Next chapter is next week! 

Attn, Lupin: A happy Snape is a better spy and a better husband to Hermione. Quit yanking his chain, you twit!

Great question, Mikimoto!  And a fair one, at that.  For one thing, in canon, I don't think the word "divorce" appears in the Potterverse books, but I also don't think strong-minded Hermione would remain in a marriage if she wanted out.  To be perfectly honest, they've scarcely had time to consider what to do once the war was settled and done.  You'll learn more about the timeline as the story goes on.  Thank you for reading and commenting!

Great question, Mikimoto!  And a fair one, at that.  For one thing, in canon, I don't think the word "divorce" appears in the Potterverse books, but I also don't think strong-minded Hermione would remain in a marriage if she wanted out.  To be perfectly honest, they've scarcely had time to consider what to do once the war was settled and done.  You'll learn more about the timeline as the story goes on.  Thank you for reading and commenting!

Yeah, it's kind of hard to imagine not jumping at the chance to go to bed with Snape, right?  But Hermione does not see him the way we fangirls do.  Thank you for commenting!

Yeah, it's kind of hard to imagine not jumping at the chance to go to bed with Snape, right?  But Hermione does not see him the way we fangirls do.  Thank you for commenting!

Thank you so much for saying so!  It makes me terribly happy.

Thank you so much for saying so!  It makes me terribly happy.

Your questions about Hermione's feelings are fair ones - and well thought out, to boot.  I'm not sure she knows how she feels any better than you do, to be honest.  And no, she's not doing a good job of making the others think they're a normal married couple.  Do you think she would have been happier with Lupin?  Hmmm.  I guess it's hard for such a Snape-fancier as I to imagine that could be true!~passes you a cushion and a cup of tea to help you while away the time~

Good point about Snape vs Lupin.  Eventually Snape will be the better choice.  I was just thinking in the current moment, she would have been more comfortable around Lupin, and he would have tried harder to make her happy.  Wouldn't be as fun for us readers, though. ;)

Your questions about Hermione's feelings are fair ones - and well thought out, to boot.  I'm not sure she knows how she feels any better than you do, to be honest.  And no, she's not doing a good job of making the others think they're a normal married couple.  Do you think she would have been happier with Lupin?  Hmmm.  I guess it's hard for such a Snape-fancier as I to imagine that could be true!~passes you a cushion and a cup of tea to help you while away the time~

Good point about Snape vs Lupin.  Eventually Snape will be the better choice.  I was just thinking in the current moment, she would have been more comfortable around Lupin, and he would have tried harder to make her happy.  Wouldn't be as fun for us readers, though. ;)

Ah, your comment made me grin like a fool.  I'm so glad you'r'e enjoying my story!  Thank you for your support!

Ah, your comment made me grin like a fool.  I'm so glad you'r'e enjoying my story!  Thank you for your support!

The image of a conga line made me laugh out loud.  And SubHub, my Slytherin husband, says it's only fitting for you to have a martini while you read, since I had no many while I wrote.  Thank you so much for taking a chance on my new story!

The image of a conga line made me laugh out loud.  And SubHub, my Slytherin husband, says it's only fitting for you to have a martini while you read, since I had no many while I wrote.  Thank you so much for taking a chance on my new story!