I wasn't racing or anything, but I just had to fix it, and I couldn't sleep until I did.  Thanks so much for reading it.That Voldemort would so casually kill his chief lieutenant if it suited his need was not inconsistent with his drive; so that didn't bother me.  Leaving Snape's sacrifices as so meaningless did.I'm sure there will be any number of stories floating around quite soon as JKR left us with a lot of room to invent.Thank you.

Thank you.  Unlike others who might think it was sloppy writing, I think JKR was gracious enough to leave fandom a few ambiguous points so that we could continue to play.It wasn't anything pre-meditated, but I just couldn't rest until I'd figured a way out for Snape.  He's been my favorite character since late in book one, and I hated the ignoble way he was left on the floor of the Shrieking Shack, believing none of his sacrifice had counted.

I don't think the fandom is over, it'll evolve, but it won't die out.I don't have current plans to continue this, but if/when I do write my post-DH SS/HG, this will be the jumping off point.You're an angel to leave such a nice review.  Thank you. 

You make an excellent point.  It was cold and unfeeling, and I, for one, don't believe he's dead.  I think three semi-frantic seventeen-year-olds didn't recognize unconsciousness.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.The epilogue (that horribly sloppy addition to the book so that JKR won't be importuned into writing an eighth book,) just doesn't realize he's disappeared from Britain.  But Snape is alive and well on another continent!Thank you for reading.

You are most welcome.  And thank you too.

I know exactly how you feel -- it's really why I wrote it.  I'm glad JKR redeemed him, but I hated the way she left him in the Shrieking Shack.  Although she was kind to the fandom and left a big ol' opening!Thanks!

You're very welcome.  I'm so glad to have given you something not to moan and groan about!  What great praise.  ::snicker::  Thanks so much.

Thanks,

!I don't think Hermione has that level of cruelty.  Even if she didn't do something, she'd have told someone about Snape.  But with no body, no portrait in the headmaster's office and no funerals, there's lots of room for maneuvering!

Lots of room for maneuvering?  Thank heavens for that.  :D

::grins:: Enough that I could drive one huge truck through the plot hole!  ::grins::  I may just have to do that.

Not only did I not sleep, but I was haunted by the horrible fact that Snape supposedly died in the Shrieking Shack -- the scene of his most terrifying childhood experience.  I just had to give it a more hopeful spin.I'm so pleased you thought it worked.  Thanks!

I felt exactly the same as you when I'd finished the book.  I'd expected Snape to be killed off, but I really hated the way it happened, and seized on the loophole.A sequel?  There's a good probability, but I'm not sure when it'll happen.Thanks so much for reading and liking it enough to comment.

Thanks so much.  At the moment I don't have any concrete plans to continue this; but I'm undoubtedly going to have to do at least one story where they end up together later on ... and I'll use this as the jumping off point.I do hope you're patient because I have a WIP I must finish first.I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

::hugs you::Thank you very much.  He's far too intelligent not to have been prepared.

::curtseys:: Thank you, thank you.I am NOT a Ron/Hermione shipper, and I don't think the seventh book added much in the way of supporting it.  Ron walked away from Harry and Hermione; when he heard her sobbing and begging, he kept walking; and then when he returned it was for Harry and not her. However, I have a friend who suggested that there's nothing even in the E.W.E. (epilogue what epilogue) to show that Ron and Hermione aren't quite contentedly divorced and escorting the kids to the train.  I like that interpretation.

::glomps you ... smooches you::Thank you, my dear.  See!  The ship might have sprung a leak, but we can patch it very quickly.

I think there's a lot of wriggle room, and I highly doubt that Snape -- as canon brilliant as he has been made out to be -- wouldn't have been prepared in some way.  This is the wizard who carries Veritaserum with him; and improved on the standard book of potions.I'm really happy to have eased your finishing the book.  It helped me too.  I was a mess.

And thank you for enjoying it enough to let me know.

Aw, what a lovely compliment. Thank you so much.  I'll be continuing on in the fandom for the foreseeable future.

Thanks, again.

You're most welcome, and thanks for reading it.  A sequel?  Perhaps ... but it won't be adulterous.  I'd never believe it of Hermione (I think her loyalty is her most endearing trait,) even if Ron is a pillock!

Too true on the loyalty front.

I know what you mean.  I thought from the moment I finished the 'Astronomy Tower' chapter that the writing was on the wall, but I'm glad he wasn't unrelentingly evil.  I'd never have believed it.  Thank you so much for the compliment.  I just think there's enough room to make a fairly plausible guess.

I refuse to give him up ... JKR didn't paint a portrait of him, didn't give him (or the others) a funeral, and didn't say in black and white that he was dead.   They were seventeen, what did they know about the distinction between death and unconsciousness.  It's a magical world, a lot could happen!Thanks so much for enjoying my little take on it.

That is true. We are lucky she left it a bit open ended. I'm less shaken up about it now. I knew this was coming but I still wasn't prepared. It's been now taht I've had a day or two away from the book.

WW!  You know I adore your comments, and this is no exception.  I'm honored I'd be the first fanfic that you'd read after finishing the book.  She left the door open, and I just connected the dots.Thank you so much for reading and thinking it was plausible.

Thank you.  I refuse to believe that Snape is dead, as well.  Besides, she left a lot of wriggle room.  They're only seventeen-year-olds; what do they know about unconsciousness?

I was feeling the same way too, which is why I had to write this.  Thanks for reading it.