oooh I love this chapter!!  Especially all the talk of his hands lol.  Looking forward to more.

well written as always, and looking foward to the next chapter

I think Hermione is handling herself quite well, and seems to have earned some respect from the Marquis. Unless he's acting. But I think he wouldn't have accepted her this far if she didn't stand up for herself. He seems to have stopped the insults in this chapter. I think that Severus is starting to have feelings for Hermione, but she's so used to him being cruel to her, she believes he's faking.

Clearly Severus and the Marquis have not been on good terms for decades, yet I see that there are one or two things on which they can agree:

• “Well, Severus,” was all he said for a minute or two, and then, “You certainly have gained yourself a wild hippogriff in that girl.”
  One corner of Severus’s mouth quirked up at the corner. “So I have,” he said.

• “I suppose you enjoy that about her,” Tobias responded. His voice abandoned all of the previous attempts at civility and dripped with disdain.
“It just so happens that I do,” Severus returned. Now it was he who smirked. “It seems to be a family trait to attach ourselves to women with … spirit.  Surely you remember Mother’s.”

Before we know it, they'll be rehashing old times like school chums.  Not.

I was so happy for Hermione;  she gave as good as she got, and sometimes better.  She gets extra points (and so do you) for kissing her "attentive fiancé" as she fled the study with naught but Alice in Wonderland for company.  After seeing the way Severus reciprocated by kissing her hand and pressing her fingers to his cheek, I'm believe he is truly enchanted with her... until she does something else to raise his ire.

I liked his lesson in logic for Hermione.  Hummmmm.  Let's see how we can get her to come full circle and believe she is right about what a good lover I am.  Yes...  That walk on the grounds was a very special time.

Maybe the Marquis is beginning to think Severus may just have made a marvelous choice in offering for Miss Granger.  Well done, LadyTuesday!
Beth

Love the way she is 'handling' the Marquis! The old bastard needs a damn good slapping! :)

Excellent chapter, as always, although I was a bit disappointed that Snape didn't kiss Hermione after their chat during the walk. Well, I assume it's precisely a matter of patience. However, it was the first scene between them charged with sexual tension.

i'm so glad you updated! this chapter had me rolling in places. great job

I have been following this story closely. I love the way you are developing Hermoine's view of Severus.
Very well done!

But he might mean it.  Sigh.  Lovely chapter.  Thanks for the update.

beautiful chapter!

Me thinks that Severus wasn't acting hehe.

Wow, it's a little warm in here. And all he did was kiss her hand.

Please, please update soon. I love this story - I'm desperate to see what happens next.

Thank you for updating - I love your Hermione and I am looking forward to the next chapter.

Such an exquisitly written chapter. Well worth the wait.

I'm so glad that Hermione is not taking any of the Marquis' crap!

But did she misread his eyes as being cold and inscrutible just now? I can't help but hope that he is growing to care for her sincerely. Perhaps he doesn't want his father to know, for his father might forbid the marriage if he thinks it might actually make Severus happy to marry her.

Hmm, that old pain dulling the new thing sounds familiar. Hunchback of Notre Dame?

yay hermione!!!  that's our girl!  faboo update.  thanks muchly

Beautifully written. As always. I very much like your Hermione; psychologist and witty. I wonder why she doubted she could handle the situation...
The scene in which they arrive to the manor reminds me a bit of the one in Love Story when Oliver takes Jenny to meet his parents. Of course the similarity practically stops at the social status difference and Hermione's and Jenny's brilliance. Oliver was the same age as Jenny's, and they were really in love from the very beginning. And then of course, Oliver's father wasn't really as bad as he meant him to be, while the Marquis is even worse.

Woot!  Go Hermione!  I loved seeing her find her Griffindor courage and go sailing in there as regally (and unflappably) as a queen!  (and I get the impression Severus loved it, too!)

Oh dear, you can't leave us hanging now.  This was just getting good.  Well it's been good all along but you know what I mean.  Another great chapter!  Can't wait for the next installment (in which Hermione kicks some ass) *fingers crossed for luck*

Well done, Herms! :)

Oh, good ole Hagrid! :)

The French girls are very cute! :)

I do hope the Marquis admires strong women, for Severus has most certainly brought one home. To quote the Marquis, "Well done, Severus." Well done, indeed!

Hermione's move into the house had me laughing. I just love how you portray her in these situations. I feel that before the weekend is over, she will have won both the cold Snape men's hearts. Either that, or Severus will end up defending her honor or her defending his and they will become closer than ever as a result.

Thanks for another great chapter, LadyTuesday. They don't come with frequency, but they are worth the wait.

Dinner should be fun. I hope the elves hid all the sharp knives.