Lucius is good, isn't he? It's just such a Slytherin way of doign things. <eg> As to Ron, he's pretty obtuse and has 'the emotional range of a teaspoon'. LOL One of the better lines in the books. Plus there is the fact that Hermione is generally not one to lie and when she does, it is a very big deal.

I'm glad you are enjoying this.

Ah, Ron. He's so much fun to play with. He's a good guy and a good mate, but I just don't see him with Hermione. Let's see how the writing on the wall materializes for the obtuse.

I thought that would be a fun little reference for Lucius. Now one just has to wonder where he got it. LOL Did he actually read Muggle stories or are their Wizard versions where the magical folks are the heroes or did he get it from Severus?

I actually love Ron, but not with Hermione. (Though every once in a while it's fun to play with them.)

Hmm, I highly doubt it would be the first option. When I read it I immediately thought that there were probably magical versions of them. Severus doesn't strike me as the type to have read fairy tales.

-who is still waiting for more *grin*

My beta and I are working on more. :D There may be a few minor changes and tweaks to be made, but I'm getting there.

The idea of magical versions of the fairy tales has me intrigued. Once the prompt window is closed, I may have to experiment with that and see if I can make it work.

And that's why she was chosen. :D Nothing like using one of your adversary's strengths as a weakness, is there?

Thank you. I often wondered why he didn't kill Severus himself. Now he did kill the Muggle Studies teacher, so he has not stopped completely, but I wonder if that was just to test Lucius' wand? But it did leave a nice door open that an AK wouldn't. And not just for Harry to get the memory. That's my justification to make the decision to use Nagini make sense. of course, he might have just wanted to see Snape suffer for no good reason since he isn't sane.

Thank you. I often wondered why he didn't kill Severus himself. Now he did kill the Muggle Studies teacher, so he has not stopped completely, but I wonder if that was just to test Lucius' wand? But it did leave a nice door open that an AK wouldn't. And not just for Harry to get the memory. That's my justification to make the decision to use Nagini make sense. of course, he might have just wanted to see Snape suffer for no good reason since he isn't sane.

Thanks. I really do think he would do some sort of little scheme like this rather than leave it all out in the open.

Thanks. I really do think he would do some sort of little scheme like this rather than leave it all out in the open.

LOL Standby because I do like cliffhangers to keep folks coming back for more. :)

LOL Standby because I do like cliffhangers to keep folks coming back for more. :)

I'm glad you found the beginning so intriguing as to keep coming back. That was my big goal.

I'm glad you found the beginning so intriguing as to keep coming back. That was my big goal.

Thank you. I'm so very glad to have thrown someone for a loop with that little revelation. I hope you enjoy the rest of the journey.

Thank you. I'm so very glad to have thrown someone for a loop with that little revelation. I hope you enjoy the rest of the journey.

Yup, she is the one who can help him. And I'm so glad to find there are other people who are happy to see Snape alive. I know that some folks don't care for that sort of AU thing, but for many of us he was the most fascinating character in the series and killing him off was a crime.

Yup, Snape is alive. Of course there is the question about the conflict between her natural curiosty and suspcion of Slytherins. Quite a confict for her, isn't it? LOL

Thanks,

. I have been trying to figure out how Hermione could forgive him. Yes it was still painful, but after his chickening out like that because he was safe as a pureblood was really dispicable. Glad you are enjoying it.

I think JKR let Hermione forgive Ron because it was easy. I cannot see how Hermione would have forgiven him knowing what we do about her in canon. Oh yet another point of my list of gripes with DH.

LOL We all seem to have a long list, don't we? For most of us it starts with killing Snape and orphaning Teddy. I know she really connects with Hermione and I kind of wonder if she had a thing for a redheaded young man in her youth that she let get away.

Yep, sort of alive is right. I'm not sure it's as much trust as her following her insatiable curiosity, something Snape obviously knew about in leaving all those little tidbits for her. But trusting Slytherins is not something that would come easily.

Glad you enjoy the mystery. I'm sure you've read on from this chapter and had some questions answered, but it makes for a nice start, doesnt' it?

I'm glad you like hte beginning. And I know the Ron is a prat camp will enjoy this one. LOL

I'm glad you find this a good one. I worked hard to make it fit logically within as much canon as I could. I really do think she made a mistake killing him off, but it's not my story. Instead I have to selectively ignore events and write it my way. LOL

Yeah, cuddling up with Lucius is not high on her list of things to do. LOL Poor Hermione having to trust him.

Very good. I can't answer those questions here, or that question actually, but it will unfold in the story. :)

Glad you are enjoying this so much. I know there have been quite a few ways to bring Severus back, and I hope that this one is different from that. I hope updates will be coming a little mroe quickly than they have, but we'll see how RL goes.

<eg> I love cliffies. LOL That is a big mystery, isn't it? *wink*

Thank you. I really do think that she has always had the curiosity. Hanging around with Ron and Harry would have given her the confidence to give into it that she didn't have before. I love the idea that she will have her own adventure without them and am glad that you do, too. :)

Isn't that the truth? Especially an academic mystery. That's right up her alley, like figuring out about the basilisk. :D

It is a huge one, but I dont' think she will see it as a huge burden. This is the sort of thing that she likes. :D

You'll have to keep reading to see how that turns out. Obviously I can't give anything away in the reviews. :D

Glad you are enjoying this, Livvy. And it was nice to see her assert herself rather than just being the cog in the gears, right? And yes, Snape alive. :D I'm still made and JKR about that. >:(

Wasn't that so much fun? LOL Go Hermione!!!!