Thanks!  I'm glad you like  story and the concentrated scenes - I've made some purposeful decisions about format in an attempt to make myself 'show' instead of 'tell.'  I'm glad it's working!

Thanks!  You won't have to tell Severus - he finds out within the next few chapters!  That said, I do love the little begging smilie thing.

Thanks!  Poor Hermione, indeed.  I so glad you like the story!

Thanks!  Ooo, I love that observation - "Hermione's being courted by the Weasleys en masse as much as she's being courted by Ron in particular."  That's putting it really nicely - all that subtext of desperattion I tried to lay in in chapter 2.  I'm glad you like the story!

Thanks!  I'm glad you look forward to the story that much - it means a lot to me!  What's fantastic is that you like this chapter - I knew it would be controversial, but it just seemed to need to happen.

Thanks!  I'm glad you're enjoying the story and that Hermione's response seemed reasonable.  You're very right about the alter!

Thanks!  I completely understand your reaction, but I also feel this is what she would do.  That doesn't mean she stays this way (points to summary)!

Thanks!  (shares medichoc - sorry you're tummy's rumbly)

I think I can safely say that book smarts don't equal people smarts (I run up against this everyday - I'm very like Hermione - LOL).

I am a gloomy, sarcastic grumbler myself, but to give HG a break, I usually think of the perfect answer after I've stuck my foot in my mouth.

So, OK, it's 'after' Hermione's stuck her foot in her mouth, now think of the perfect 'get me out of here' escape!

I'll try, but I don't think it'll be perfect!

Thanks!  I'm going to keep the POVs coming from HG and SS only, so we'll never see inside RW's head.  That said, you're doing some insightful reading with the groundwork I laid in chapter 3.

Thanks!  I did it because Ron told me this was what he was going to do, and I believed him.  (adjusts devil horns)  Next chapter will tell you what's happening with NT/SS.

Thanks!  I'm glad that you found her answer reasonable for the situation.  You're right - Ron can be annoying!

Thanks!  I'm glad you're enjoying the story!  As for her extraction from the RW relationship?  You'll have to keep reading.

Thanks!  I'm really glad that this scene reinforced their incompatability for you!  More early next week.

Thanks!  One person's romatic gesture can equal another person's nightmare if they aren't on the same page about the relationship.

Thanks!  Hey, those tomatoes were fresh - I think I'll make a lovely omlette with them!

'Clod' - that's perfect for how I picture Ron - sweet but too oblivious as to what other people are thinking/feeling.

Didn't anyone in that room see the look on her face?  Surely she couldn't hide an expression of "OH SHIT, NO; WHERE'S DOOR NUMBER THREE," even if it was there only for a few seconds.

I think they all just took it as shock, but they're misreading the feeling behind her shock.  People will see what they want to see.

(LMAO) She's going to have to find 'DOOR NUMBER THREE'!

Thanks!  The 'fiery Gryffindor lioness' is still there - she's just in shock.  She really had no clue!  (I tied to show that by having her pick a dress that wasn't very 'smart' and thinking she'd be able to do work later on in the evening.)

She will reemerge, but I'm saving some of her fire for Severus! 

Thanks!  Bad, Ron, bad!  (Maybe the future love of his life should be a dominatrix - LOL!)

hahaha...

*relishes the thot of ron huddled, terrified, in a corner.* hee hee 

Hmm, I think I'd let him enjoy it instead - he might make a good sub.  (grins)

enjoy it? ron doesn't deserve to enjoy it.

idk tho. im usually the sub, not the dom, so i wouldnt know 

still, after cornering hermione in like that, even if he didnt think of it that way, that boy doesn't deserve to enjoy it. lol 

Thanks!  (chuckles)  She'd really have to have the most amazing shielding charms to do so!

Thanks!  [Ooo, torches and a pitchfork - those are some of the most interesting smilies I've ever seen.]

If you want to throw jewelry my way, I prefer white gold!

As for your two speculations - the next chapter will answer one of your questions!

Thanks!  I'm so glad you liked this chapter - I can just see Ron doing this and Hermione being too nice to scream, "No!"

Thanks!  (laughs)  I like Ron, but I guess I've written him as a bit oblivious - he thinks this is some grand, romantic gesture (and it would be, if things were good between them).

Thanks!  I must admit I got the idea from the fact that my b-i-l did this to my sister.  Fortunately, she was happy about it.   But what if it only pressures the woman?

Severus's reaction within the next few chapters! 

Thanks!  I may have Ron bashed a bit in my comments, but I agree that he thinks he's doing something wonderful - "tragically nice and well-meaning Ron" is very well put.

As for the question you asked me a bit ago on my lj, I've finally posted my answer there (it had a small spoiler about this act, so I wanted to wait until chapter 8 was up).

Thanks!  I think you're right - Ron can be a git.  The sad thing is, I don't think it's intentional on his part.

More SS/HG interaction coming in a couple of chapters!

Thanks!  I'm really glad you like it and my writing!