Thank you!  At least he's actually gotten to the friendship part.  The man is a turtle.

Thank you!  At least he's actually gotten to the friendship part.  The man is a turtle.

Thank you!  The man obviously has some insecurity issues.  I don't think he would jump right into a relationship with anybody, no matter what his feelings are for them.

Thank you!  The man obviously has some insecurity issues.  I don't think he would jump right into a relationship with anybody, no matter what his feelings are for them.

Yes, it is.  But you can't blame the guy.  It's not like people were jumping up and down with joy every time he entered a room.

Yes, it is.  But you can't blame the guy.  It's not like people were jumping up and down with joy every time he entered a room.

Why thank you!  You made my day.

Why thank you!  You made my day.

You are so right!  (about everything!)  Severus definitely has a hard time with other's affections, simply because no one has ever really shown him affection.  He certainly doesn't see someone as totally put together as Hermione ever being able to see anything worthwhile in him.  That, of course, will be his biggest stumbling block.  But Hermione will eventually help him to see himself in a better light.

You are so right!  (about everything!)  Severus definitely has a hard time with other's affections, simply because no one has ever really shown him affection.  He certainly doesn't see someone as totally put together as Hermione ever being able to see anything worthwhile in him.  That, of course, will be his biggest stumbling block.  But Hermione will eventually help him to see himself in a better light.

Thanks tons.  Glad you're having fun with it, as I am.

Thanks tons.  Glad you're having fun with it, as I am.

Nicely put.  Yes, things are  moving along rather nicely for them.

Nicely put.  Yes, things are  moving along rather nicely for them.

I think we might get it down to forty by the end of the next chapter.  Mwahahaha.

I think we might get it down to forty by the end of the next chapter.  Mwahahaha.

Stupid Pierre won't set them back.  I will say that much.  He'll be the catalyst for an interesting conversation.  Glad you're having fun with this.  They will eventually realize everything, it will just take Severus time.  (No, not 50 years!)

Stupid Pierre won't set them back.  I will say that much.  He'll be the catalyst for an interesting conversation.  Glad you're having fun with this.  They will eventually realize everything, it will just take Severus time.  (No, not 50 years!)

Thank you!

Thank you!

Yes, he is.  But he's just the catalyst Hermione needs to make an important decision.

Yes, he is.  But he's just the catalyst Hermione needs to make an important decision.

Yes, it does seem like love, doesn't it?  But certain snarky potions masters wear blinders when it comes to such feelings.  Those will need to be stripped at some point for him to see clearly.Thank you for your lovely review.

Yes, it does seem like love, doesn't it?  But certain snarky potions masters wear blinders when it comes to such feelings.  Those will need to be stripped at some point for him to see clearly.Thank you for your lovely review.

Thanks to you too for the lovely review.  It was big of both of them to say what they did at the end, admitting such weaknesses.  Perhaps they have a chance?

Thanks to you too for the lovely review.  It was big of both of them to say what they did at the end, admitting such weaknesses.  Perhaps they have a chance?

It probably will manifest itself in one way or another.  I do think the longer they spend in each other's company, the easier dealing with one another will become. 

It probably will manifest itself in one way or another.  I do think the longer they spend in each other's company, the easier dealing with one another will become. 

Oh, thank you so much!  I'm so very honored that you think this is one of those stories, because reading the offerings, I totally agree with you about the calibre of entries.  It will be hard to choose.  I'm really glad you found this chapter so breathtaking!

Oh, thank you so much!  I'm so very honored that you think this is one of those stories, because reading the offerings, I totally agree with you about the calibre of entries.  It will be hard to choose.  I'm really glad you found this chapter so breathtaking!

Thank you for the pretty flower.  I thought he was going to kiss her too.  Maybe he would have if he hadn't been so irate.  I'm sure he'll analyze his feelings at some point.  He's a bit of a slug when it comes to recognizing those feelings, though.

Thank you for the pretty flower.  I thought he was going to kiss her too.  Maybe he would have if he hadn't been so irate.  I'm sure he'll analyze his feelings at some point.  He's a bit of a slug when it comes to recognizing those feelings, though.

He really is a concerned man with rather deep emotions.  Hermione is lucky that his emotions didn't get the best of him.  He actually restrained himself pretty well.  I think he was very tempted to just throw her out and tell her never to return.  Fortunately, he sat back for a minute and actually thought about everything that happened. 

He really is a concerned man with rather deep emotions.  Hermione is lucky that his emotions didn't get the best of him.  He actually restrained himself pretty well.  I think he was very tempted to just throw her out and tell her never to return.  Fortunately, he sat back for a minute and actually thought about everything that happened. 

It really is a surprise to see Severus basically apologize.  He's a tough cookie.  At least he took the time to step back and analyze the whole situation.

It really is a surprise to see Severus basically apologize.  He's a tough cookie.  At least he took the time to step back and analyze the whole situation.

She really didn't think at all, did she?  At least she realized it in the end and it didn't ruin all of her devious planning to get Severus.

She really didn't think at all, did she?  At least she realized it in the end and it didn't ruin all of her devious planning to get Severus.

Things weren't headed that way, were they?  Well, Severus fought his usual responses a bit there, I think.

Things weren't headed that way, were they?  Well, Severus fought his usual responses a bit there, I think.

Thank you!

Thank you!

I'm glad you enjoyed it.  Thank you for the review.  As for their flaws, some things are tough to overcome.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.  Thank you for the review.  As for their flaws, some things are tough to overcome.

Thanks!  There's lots more to come.

Thanks!  There's lots more to come.

Thanks!  I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks!  I'm glad you enjoyed it.

They're really just grasping around in the dark right now.  But all in all, the whole affair could have gone much worse.  I'm glad you liked it.

They're really just grasping around in the dark right now.  But all in all, the whole affair could have gone much worse.  I'm glad you liked it.