Whew! A safe return from another summons from Voldemort, and all Dumbledore cares about is that the 'plan' is safe. Selfish prick.'He was grateful that she was asleep, that there would be no more harsh words today, that he could pretend that someone had waited so many hours to make sure he was all right.'My heart is aching for him. I hope that he will soon realise that he doesn't have to pretend that someone cares!This story just gets better and better.

His desperation literally leapt off the page (or screen). Very well done.

ACK!After Fatastically Fluffy Friday, you make my heart hurt again!!! Oh, that angst! Poor, poor Severus. Make it better, please! This is just heartbreaking. Dumbledore is a horrible, manipulative old sod. And Severus deserves his happily ever after. Fix it, please!

Wow, I don't know how it's possible, but this was even better than the last chapter. Your plots are so rich and multi-layered, you are really giving JKR a run for her money. I enjoyed this chapter very much, even though it made me soooo angry (at DD) and sooo sad (for H and S). I can't wait for the next chapter (and the delay for this one was very bearable). Great work!!!gab

Whew. That was intense. I like her using their marriage magic to call him back. Also like how you set up their breaking the taboo. Can hardly wait for the next bit!

Goody good. 33 chapters going strong. Thank you.

I truely hated the way Severus was used, I think in canon he simply gave up, there was nothing else to live for.  Thank Merlin for fanfiction!  :D

Oh wow, this was scary. Severus has to hold on:) Hermione won't let him go...Someone HAS TO right the wrongs done to Severus. And I have faith that you will:){{hugs}} and my hat's off to you:)Fizzabella

OMG this has to be the best chapter yet! Hermione is his strength and you protrayed it so well. Her love is what will bring him back from death just as it did on this night.  For I fear had she not been there he would have died.  His soul would have withered and he may have walked as a man, but his soul would have been lost.  Thank you Dobby! Well done as always. Irish

Severus was somewhat wrong in one thing; Dumbledore ain't as bad as Voldemort: in some ways he is so much worse. Everyone knows that Voldidork is the bad, evil, dark lord who wants to kill all muggles, muggleborns, purebloods who annoys him etc etc. Dumbledort has through years made people belive him to bee the very opposite: couragous, figthing for the rigth and the ligth, powerful beond compare (well he did have the Elder wand to help him) while at the same time sending children to their deaths, to play God with the rigth to decide who should die and when, I am so mad at him, so incredible mad at him: I want you to make Hermione create a curse that makes portraits feel pain, or to use the Deathly Hallows to rise him from death just so they can all have a go at hurting him and kill him all over again!  I am so glad you had Dobby collecting Hermione to come and comfort Severus, she was the only one who could manage to help him out of his despair after realising just how big and deep Dumbledorts betrayal was, not only towards him, but to Harry, and by that also to Lily, towards Hermione, to most members of the Order of Phoenix, actually to everyone. Dumbledore is a coward that makes Pettigrew look honourable and I want to see him hurt, but most of all, I want you to save the people he has betrayed. Your story aint finished yet, and maybe you will not write an end to the story that I will be completly happy with, who knows? I know one thing though: If JKR had managed to write DH half as good as you write this story (so far:-)) she would have written a book worthy of being the last book in a fantastic serie.  "Seccond Life" is such a marvellous story, I can even smile when I look at my dusty copy of DH (not being touched after I read the last page), knowing that no matter what JKR did to ruin her own work with that last book, there are people like you out there who collect the pieces and makes it all much, much better!!! Keep up the marvellous job!

I'm a horrible lurker.I've been reading this fic since the beginning and I absolutely love it. I'm sorry it took me so long to say something. Its wonderful and touching- especially this chapter. I love the evolution of the relationship.Wonderful work!

That was quite powerful, actually.  I'm glad Hermione is not so blind about things. 

For once I'm left speechless. (well, comparatively)Just....wow.  Loved the part at the end where he held her and buried his face in her neck and whispered....it was so sweet, and sad, and sexy all at the same time.No, really I'm speechless.  Rockin' chapter!Yay for Snape blasting that damn portrait of that damn old man.  Boo for magically self-repairing portraits.

I love the part where Snape wants to share the white peacock absurdity with Hermione.  It rings very true.I (heart) Arthur Weasley.

Oh. My.  Once again, you've left me breathless. Your characterizatin of Snape is just genius! What a storyteller you are!

This chapter is the best, how neither Snape nor Hermione can deny themselves any longer, it's just so tender and AMAZING. Their chemistry, and more importantly how it's built up so much from the start is really striking and so wonderfully expressed in your writing.

A wonderfully sad chapter.  I feel a bit more fulfilled, knowing how it went with Hermione's parents.  In Canon, I know that she was sad to leave her parents as she did, but it is such a huge event for her, that I'm glad you took me along for the ride!

Oooohhhh, I'm in such a hurry to find out what happens next, I'm not even going to read the other comments!

It cannot be undone, now or ever. All we have is Occlumency. Let our shields be thick and unyielding. Let me cause him no more harm. She thought of that senseless flame that had sprung up in her chest when it had become clear that he wanted her memories of that night. Don’t you ever hope that, Hermione Granger. Not even for a second. If he were to care for you… it would mean death. Oh, what a terrible burden she carries. And it is so obvious that they do care -- that both of them care very much.This is just wonderful.Would that JKR had made DH half as engrossing and entertaining as you have.

“The less you know, the better, my dear boy. I’m sure I’ve made that very clear. And now, I think I’m growing weary. You will contact Miss Granger after the students have departed?” “I wasn’t aware that I had a choice.”“Quite right, of course. You don’t. Goodnight, Severus.”Oh, I could just AK, Dumbledore myself, the sodding bastard!“I see. Can you sense the presence of others?”“I don’t know. Most people don’t hide when they’ve invited me to see them.”“Surprising,” he said, and she bristled.“Is there a purpose to this visit, or did you just intend to leap out and frighten me half to death, insult me, and send me on my way?”I love their snarky by-play!The Disguising charms were unique and inventive.I'm still so loving this story.

“Your first lesson in duplicity, Miss Granger, is this: you must appear to abhor that which you hold most dear. It is the only way to keep it safe.”And Snape certainly seems to abhor her, doesn't he?I love the dancing, I love that they can 'sense' each other's presence. I have a feeling this will become important later on. I'm still very much loving this story!

Hehe, I love the DADA lesson with Neville up on the desk. That image just leaves me giggling. Snape purring his right to touch Miss Granger gives me shivers. And finally her outburst of emotion, so good. She is able to have a good cry over a lot of things. I hope Snape will be ok too. *sniff*

I'm glad he's finally realizing that her concern isn't for herself, but for him. And she's really beginnging to get under his skin. Lovely.

So romantic, how he starts calling her 'his' Gryffindor. A prickly but sweet Snape is my favorite, this chapter wins my heart.

They are  very much the same, in the way they need affirmation and dare to hope, yet they both resolve to push their  growing feelings down. Great chapter.