Thank you so much.  Sorry for the cliffie.  I think there should always be one good cliffie chapter in every story.  I personally hate getting to them when I'm reading a story, but I love them as an author.  They're all full of the Mwahahaha factor.

Thank you so much.  Sorry for the cliffie.  I think there should always be one good cliffie chapter in every story.  I personally hate getting to them when I'm reading a story, but I love them as an author.  They're all full of the Mwahahaha factor.

Thanks!  Glad you were pleased.

Thanks!  Glad you were pleased.

Thanks,

.  Glad you like my twists.  You really never know what you'll find when you go book hunting!

Thanks,

.  Glad you like my twists.  You really never know what you'll find when you go book hunting!

Wow, nice compliment!  Thank you.  I'm hoping I'm giving you everything you want!

Wow, nice compliment!  Thank you.  I'm hoping I'm giving you everything you want!

Well, there's a tiny clue in there.  It would be incredibly convenient if that was Holt, but only if he's a good ghost.  It could be very bad otherwise.

Well, there's a tiny clue in there.  It would be incredibly convenient if that was Holt, but only if he's a good ghost.  It could be very bad otherwise.

Yup, they do.  They just need to realize that and get a move on!

Yup, they do.  They just need to realize that and get a move on!

Glad you enjoyed that.  She's a bit of a tease.

Glad you enjoyed that.  She's a bit of a tease.

Great!  I'm glad you are.

Great!  I'm glad you are.

That would have been nice if it had been reduced that much.  Severus needs some TLC and a big hit over the head before he finds his confidence.

That would have been nice if it had been reduced that much.  Severus needs some TLC and a big hit over the head before he finds his confidence.

Heh, heh.  He does in a way.

Heh, heh.  He does in a way.

They are very hopeful.

They are very hopeful.

It's always nice to see those horrible Death Eaters bite the bullet, so to speak.

It's always nice to see those horrible Death Eaters bite the bullet, so to speak.

Men are stupid because of insecurity.  Severus has more than the average bloke when it comes to that sentiment.  Now, if we look at all the variables in the Arithmantic puzzle, we have to put into account that Snape is insecure and doesn't trust anyone which equals... 50 years.  But his newfound trust in Hermione is huge, which lowers the answer to 40 years.  You know this Arithmancy stuff is easily changed.  We'll just have to change a lot more Snape variables to see these two together before then.Thanks!  Deb

Men are stupid because of insecurity.  Severus has more than the average bloke when it comes to that sentiment.  Now, if we look at all the variables in the Arithmantic puzzle, we have to put into account that Snape is insecure and doesn't trust anyone which equals... 50 years.  But his newfound trust in Hermione is huge, which lowers the answer to 40 years.  You know this Arithmancy stuff is easily changed.  We'll just have to change a lot more Snape variables to see these two together before then.Thanks!  Deb

I totally agree.  Although the bookstore could hold her attention because of her love of books, I think she would feel something was missing.  Book hunting is adventuresome and it keeps her mind alive.  Thanks for the review!

I totally agree.  Although the bookstore could hold her attention because of her love of books, I think she would feel something was missing.  Book hunting is adventuresome and it keeps her mind alive.  Thanks for the review!

Hermione really loved tossing Pierre out.  Pompous fool.  But he didn't learn anything.  Those types never do.  Severus, however, did learn something.  Never cross Hermione!  That and good looks aren't at the top of her list.

Hermione really loved tossing Pierre out.  Pompous fool.  But he didn't learn anything.  Those types never do.  Severus, however, did learn something.  Never cross Hermione!  That and good looks aren't at the top of her list.

It was a bit amazing that he did.  He's not one for trust and... feelings.  Lol.  But he is a good gauge of sincerity, having been a spy for forever.  Shocking as it may have been, he knew she was being truthful.

It was a bit amazing that he did.  He's not one for trust and... feelings.  Lol.  But he is a good gauge of sincerity, having been a spy for forever.  Shocking as it may have been, he knew she was being truthful.

Oh, I know, you just put the drink in your fireplace, throw a bit of floo powder over it and yell, "Hermione's flat!"  She'd appreciate it, I'm sure. 

Oh, I know, you just put the drink in your fireplace, throw a bit of floo powder over it and yell, "Hermione's flat!"  She'd appreciate it, I'm sure. 

Thanks, sorry to have you in such agony.  The next chapter will be here soon.  Probably not soon enough, but it will be here. 

Thanks, sorry to have you in such agony.  The next chapter will be here soon.  Probably not soon enough, but it will be here. 

I was hoping that would come across that way.  I think we all just want to give him a big hug and tell him he's not so bad.  Thanks

!

I was hoping that would come across that way.  I think we all just want to give him a big hug and tell him he's not so bad.  Thanks

!

We will wave goodbye to our French not-so-hottie now.  He does have a hard time accepting no for an answer, but he also has a hard time with being rejected.  You see, it's never happened before.  Unlike Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, he doesn't vow to get the girl, no matter what.  He is annoyed that his overtures went unheeded.  Although he was shocked beyond words with her abrupt dismissal of him, he certainly stewed about it afterward.  He won't give Hermione a second chance.  She lost her opportunity for perfection.  The poor girl, she'll never really get over him...As for Severus, he now knows she actually is a true friend, something he's not used to having.  Because he's so used to being the outcast, it's almost impossible for his mind to go further than that in relation to Hermione's feelings for him.  Things like love just don't happen to Severus Snape, according to him.  Well, neither did friendship, but he's a bit oblivious to obvious hints like that.  Lol.

We will wave goodbye to our French not-so-hottie now.  He does have a hard time accepting no for an answer, but he also has a hard time with being rejected.  You see, it's never happened before.  Unlike Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, he doesn't vow to get the girl, no matter what.  He is annoyed that his overtures went unheeded.  Although he was shocked beyond words with her abrupt dismissal of him, he certainly stewed about it afterward.  He won't give Hermione a second chance.  She lost her opportunity for perfection.  The poor girl, she'll never really get over him...As for Severus, he now knows she actually is a true friend, something he's not used to having.  Because he's so used to being the outcast, it's almost impossible for his mind to go further than that in relation to Hermione's feelings for him.  Things like love just don't happen to Severus Snape, according to him.  Well, neither did friendship, but he's a bit oblivious to obvious hints like that.  Lol.

It surely proved something to Severus.  In his insecurities, I don't think he felt he could compete with a young, handsome foreigner, but he needn't have worried.  How could he not be happy about that?

It surely proved something to Severus.  In his insecurities, I don't think he felt he could compete with a young, handsome foreigner, but he needn't have worried.  How could he not be happy about that?

Wow, I'm very flattered.  Thank you so much.  *Author dons cape and makes cheesy poses.*  I think this part of a relationship is one of the best also.  It's so filled with unfulfilled emotions and desires.  Mwahahaha.  Things will continue to move along at a turtle's pace, because that's about as fast as Severus can go at this point.

Wow, I'm very flattered.  Thank you so much.  *Author dons cape and makes cheesy poses.*  I think this part of a relationship is one of the best also.  It's so filled with unfulfilled emotions and desires.  Mwahahaha.  Things will continue to move along at a turtle's pace, because that's about as fast as Severus can go at this point.

Yes, she will.  I'm not sure she'll make such great leaps forward in years time from here, but they will get closer and closer.

Yes, she will.  I'm not sure she'll make such great leaps forward in years time from here, but they will get closer and closer.

I think you're right.  Severus couldn't have been happier with her pushing of the French imbecile.Pierre really is an Auror, just not a very bright one.  I daresay that Ron could probably beat him at a logic game.  Pierre is also very full of himself, so he feels he can do no wrong, which really isn't a good attitude for an Auror, lest you want to wind up dead.Thanks for your review and compliments.

I think you're right.  Severus couldn't have been happier with her pushing of the French imbecile.Pierre really is an Auror, just not a very bright one.  I daresay that Ron could probably beat him at a logic game.  Pierre is also very full of himself, so he feels he can do no wrong, which really isn't a good attitude for an Auror, lest you want to wind up dead.Thanks for your review and compliments.

Given the circumstances back in that time, I can only imagine how Severus must have felt.  Every shred of evidence pointed to him being a murderer.  He never expected anyone to believe otherwise.  His only 'friends' at that point were his enemies.  Not a happy existence.  What a relief it would be to know that even one person believed in him.As for Hermione, she would snog him senseless, but she thinks his reaction probably wouldn't be very good at this point.  She underestimates her power over him, I think.  I think, though, that if she ultimately isn't the first one to make a move, it will take 40 years to move forward.

Given the circumstances back in that time, I can only imagine how Severus must have felt.  Every shred of evidence pointed to him being a murderer.  He never expected anyone to believe otherwise.  His only 'friends' at that point were his enemies.  Not a happy existence.  What a relief it would be to know that even one person believed in him.As for Hermione, she would snog him senseless, but she thinks his reaction probably wouldn't be very good at this point.  She underestimates her power over him, I think.  I think, though, that if she ultimately isn't the first one to make a move, it will take 40 years to move forward.