Ew, Eurodollars? I hate that expression. LOLAnyway ... a very unexpected but oh so lovely ending. I enjoyed this story from the first sentence to the last.Thank you!/M

I never expected an ending like that, but I must say it was wonderful. Enjoyed this journey very much.

This story is a favourite of mine.  Thank you for this chapter, sadly nearing the end.  I am so delighted to find the house-Elves are heroes, too, they saved Severus and 'sang him back'. (twice!)  What a creative idea! Not that that should surprize me, the garden, the tower, the portraits - you have filled this story with touches of your own clever imagination.

I really liked the story. It is obvious we weren't supposed to have sympathy for Dumbledore. I'm not sure if we were supposed to feel very sympathetic for Hermione. From the point of view of a Slytherin she is better than nothing. I have a great deal of sympathy for Severus, though I feel he neglected the students to please Granger. We don't have to like all of the characters to really like a story, but I really hope you haven't felt offended that I have been angry with Hermione.  Maybe we were supposed to be.  Maybe this has been a story to demonstrate the flaws in these two houses of Hogwarts. Usually we feel less sympathy for the Slytherin.  I must admit, that though I am an insanely obsessed SSHG groupie, I have must Slytherin leanings. I'm a little surprised at how defensive I felt for the Slytherins sake and on behalf of Severus. If I was to choose a house to belong to, I'm pretty sure it would be Slytherin. Maybe it's because I am a Snape lover. Maybe because I am a non-conformist. My opinions do sometimes get me in trouble.  All that said. If I was a a portrait in this story I'd have to say, Granger doesn't deserve him.  If he's been content it's because of the elves and the castle's warm welcome. Hermione has been fickle, distant, insulting, high handed and selfish. She wasn't even happy for him when the key opened Slytherin Tower.  She didn't recognize the honor he had been given.  She only showed suspicion. She's as bad as Dumbledore. She never even checked on the students she had spent so much self righteous time trying to reform so that they would conform to the world as Hermione Granger The Great envisions it. Rather than caring for the needs of the students, she's cared more about getting her own way. Living skills? Does she forget she's a witch!?  What must Molly Weasely think?  Granger is just lucky the bar has set been so low that Severus Snape would be happy with so little from her.  She couldn't just love and trust him as he was when he got there. No. He had to prove, once again, by almost losing his life saving children, that he was a hero and good enough for her little know-it-all Griffindor Princes fanny.  How much thought had she given to the fact that the elves all thought so much of him?  I'm sure she just passed it off as because he was once the headmaster. Maybe she thought it was because of pity. It never seemed to occur to her that it was his noble character and good deeds that they had shown so much loyalty toward him.  I suppose it seemed lost on her that they were more attentive to him than anyone else in the castle including her. Did any of the other teachers have a valet?  Were the elves fawning all over Professor Burbage?  Lucky Hermione. If it wasn't for Severus Snape she would have died lonely and alone in her great big bed with the red and gold curtains.  Does she know that he mostly wanted her because she wanted him and he needed to be wanted? Not because she is Hermione the Great? OK. I'm done dissing the Griffindore Princes now. I'm going off to write a song to the loveliness that is Severus Snape.

Well it's about F-king time, Mister Snape!  Did you really think that dick head was taking loving care of your clutch of snakelets?  What hint of the century did you miss when Salazar Slytherin himself told you Burbage wasn't recognized as the head of Slytherin house? What circumstance could have been so dire that the Founder himself would be summoned to the need of Slytherin after 400 years? You've been too busy kissing Hermione Granger's lily white arse so that you can get into her nickers, to think about the well being of those students and the school. Were you worried that if you took any interest in the Slytherin students you wouldn't ever get laid again? The bloody portrait practically spelled it out for the two of you! How the hell long has it been since Betty's new portrait was commissioned? Why isn't she back in the common room yet?  I expect as much from that stupid girl. So I have nothing to say on that matter.

sniff!      Ten points to Slytherin... If the castle could pick the headmaster, maybe it would find someone more suitable like, oh... I don't know... Severus Snape? If only he'd stop thinking with his trowel. I can't imagine what evil Burbage could be up to. If he's hurting the students in Slytherin house, I would think they would tell Severus. But maybe they can't.  Were there dark tomes left in the dungeon for Burbage to find and read and become a dark wizard? I'm sure it would be difficult to find a muggle born that hadn't been personally affected by Volemort in some way.  However, whoever approved the head of Slytherin house should have at least tried to find someone who didn't have a close personal family member that was personally killed by Voldemort.  I'm sure that stupid girl must know that the muggle studies professor was killed by Voldemort or at the very least, captured and killed by death eaters.  If one's goal is to spread good will among the various houses, it would have been a simple and pertinent question to ask during the interview process. There's no way the person could be fair and unbiased with the childern in these circumstances.  It's rather mean.  I think to be the most helpful, if a suitable Slytherin couldn't be found, it would have been better to pick someone that came from outside Britain and didn't have a personal vendetta against the death eaters. Many of these children have lost their own family members in the war. I imagine their families have been harassed and suspect if they were former Slytherins. But, not all Slytherins followed Voldemort. Just like not all death eaters were Slytherins. There were death eaters from all the houses, weren't there? But some people just rush off with their grand schemes and good intentions and don't think far enough ahead.  Furthermore, can't a man's loyalties be with Slytherin and Hogwarts? What. An. Insult! Hasn't Severus done enough to show where his loyalties lie? That was completely uncalled for and rude! If Severus had been in the other person's shoes he would have ended up having his face slapped and everyone would have thought he deserved it! Those Griffindors can be so self righteous.

She is full of nonsense... Severus has been given the key to Slytherin tower! What an honor!  I hope Betty gets her new home soon. She deserves better than a broom closet. Couldn't that stupid girl have her moved someplace less lonely? Damn it! I mentioned her... I can't wait to find out what Betty has remembered.  How convenient that the valet understands Raven. Do all house elves speak with animals? Can they understand all or just certain ones? Who sent the Valet?  I wonder what has triggered the opening of Slytherin tower and what important event is about to happen that would necessitate something so important? I like the sorting hat by the way. If it wasn't for the sorting hat, Harry wouldn't have been able to kill the Baskalisk and Nagini would still be alive.  Pantywaist, Severus is acting just like my husband. The liar always says what he thinks I want to hear or just clams up.  The biggest difference though, is that Severus' trowel is still in working condition. I would be more inclined to appreciate his lying to save his hide or get his way if I had some trowel laid once in a blue moon. I haven't done any gardening since Followship of the Ring came out on DVD.  I think I've grown together down there. 5 stars for intrigue! 

I have nothing to say... I hope the Bloody Baron has fun. I wonder if the beatles stink. 

Oh No She Dinint!!!   Stupid girl!  I'm done with her...  I'm sure she'll end up needing Severus to rescue her from that wanker.  Let Burbage do what he wants. She's dead to me.  Maybe they'll make Severus Head Master again after she's dead. Or maybe Percy Weasely can suck his own... ...I'm going back to the dungeons now. Come on kitty. You can wash mommy's hair in our rooms while I rant on my keyboard.

Get over yourself Hermione! You know the man has never had anyone else to love. It was a dream! He probably dreams of her every f-ing night! Don't hold a grudge! Severus Snape doesn't sleep with just anyone. If you go out with that Burbage you and I are done!!!! That would just be spiteful.  I'll hex you until you grow together down there and you'll never boink another wizard again! 

Well, house elves have never been known for their cunning ways. Just look at Doby. Poor Betty. Give in Hermione! Give him a kiss. You know you want to. Drink some of that there elven wine. It will get you in the mood. 

She What? Hermione Granger made a non-Slytherin the Head of House? Of course! There wouldn't be any Slytherin muggle borns. What would she think if someone made a Slytherin head of Griffindor!!!!!?  I can't believe it! That's low. What an insult to the Slytherins and the Founders. They have a right to be part of this school too. She's treating them like step children. If you are going to treat me as the step child, I'd just as soon hang out with the other outcasts, thank you very much, Little Miss Perfect!  Maybe the Slytherin like being different!  If that stupid arse, Burbage is not a Slytherine, he needs to be ordered to respect the Slytherine traditions. They've been occupied. That's what has happened.  They've been occupied and forced to give up their culture and assimilate. Not everything about Slytherin is evil.  They're just different.  People have the right to be different if they want as long as they learn not to hurt anyone else.  It's like saying kids shouldn't be allowed to be Gothic. How about there shouldn't be any Jocks. That's my new rule! No jocks, because they isolate everyone else with their snobbish ways.  All the good looking, upper middle class, athletic snobs should have to be distributed throughout the other students and not allowed to hang out with each other. If Slytherin has a non-Slytherin as Head of House, all the other houses should be forced to do the same. If she wants integration of the houses, it's only fair. Otherwise, the Slytherins are still being treated as outcasts and she's only one step higher than muggle haters. If she does that, I will capitulate. By the way, forgive my spelling. My cat has been washing my hair and it's hard to type.  

Lovely drawing! Burbage shouldn't be trusted. Doesn't Hermione understand the unschooled Slytherin mind? She knows he has hard feelings toward Severus. Just because Voldemort is dead doesn't mean the normal frailties of the human soul died with The Dark Lord.  Any red blooded Slytherin would want revenge! Dumbledore could probably tell her that. Niggle could tell her that. She should know that! Just because he's muggle born doesn't make him a good person. Headmaster Niggle knows a thing or two. Does she forget that?  A Slytherin needs to be taught self control of his instincts for vengeance just like a Griffindor needs to be taught to control their urges to run off on some grand scheme without thinking first.  Did she ask The Hat who to make head of house? I would think The Hat would have some advice when it came to that.  She should have made all the candidates for Head of House put The Hat on and paid attention to what might happen before she choose. I wonder what would happen if a Head Master of Hogwarts went into the room of requirement to ask the Founders questions regarding running the school?  That's what I'd try...I'm just saying. You'd think the brightest witch of her age would think of that.  I hope Purdy has her way! Go house elves!!!!! or is it house elfs? Is there a difference between an elf and an Elve. I need to look that up. 

Since this is not an MC-17 rated story, I will try to restrain myself in my reviews in case sensitive readers are present. Therefore, F#&K Dumbledore!  Burbage needs to be careful. Doesn't he know who he is dealing with? I'm ashamed to call him a Sytherin. Too bad they aren't taught the proper house skills. Making Burbage head of house is too bad. She may have wanted muggle born head of houses, but she needed one who has more Slytherin stealth. Though, I forget that Severus is remarkable. Most of them were just big mouthed A-holes.  Only Severus could teach these children the best of Slytherin house attributes with honor.  "Honorable Slytherine" shouldn't be an oxymoron. 

Oh oh!!!! Does Charitie's brother hold a grudge against Severus Snape? I feel trouble brewing there. Bless Purdy.  I hope Severus can swallow his bitterness and accept Purdy's gift as gracefully as he accepted the house elves allegiance in the bad old days.  He knows they live to serve! Purdy can't help himself.  

How can you be a charity case when the castle obviously wants you back, Severus! Hogwartz has been waiting for you to come home.  Try to be nice to Hermione.  I think she really likes you. Enjoy your new life, Bravest Man I've Ever Known.  

Oh Yea...Mmm Mmm...that's right, Old Man! That's what I'm talking about, you manipulative old dried up poofter! She's gonna give Severus Snape a real second chance, not some fake ass, "I'm gonna use you till you've got nothin' left to give" 2nd class second chance, so go bugger a picture of your little bother's goat, and shut your mouth! Bless Hermione and Minerva, rest her soul! 

(nudges author helpfully) new chapter?

It has been so long since I read this, I almost forgot what it was about. What an evil cliffie. But great story! Update soon!

Bleeping heck, what an evil cliffie! And somebody else is evil, too - I hope the consequences for that person are SEVERE! I do love this story; you've done a wonderful job on expanding on JKR's world. I also like you OCs - Betty is such fun. Please keep writing! Thank you for posting, Cat

Ack! Bah! No! *snortfumegrowlwail*

*deep breath*

I'm ok. I think.

Ohmigod, how can you stop there? I suppose that earns you lots of evil-cliffie-points, wherever they are collected... *grin*
Great chapter, great suspense! And so good Burbage has been found out... the maintainng idea is brilliant, by the way. One small thing, though - even if it's important for your plot: wouldn't it be a stupid idea not to admit house-elves to common rooms? Who is going to clean up and range there, then, if not them? *looks puzzled*

Author's Response: thanks
It was Hermione's idea to introduce life skills into the curriculum - elves are paid to cook and clean the common areas. Each house is responsible for the cleanliness of its dormitories and common room

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: Oh, right, I completely forgot, now I remember *looks sheepislhy*

Oh my god!  Wow.  Great chapter, very suspenseful.

Oh the net sounded cool - and Burbage couldn't have maintained it because he's not Slytherin. Oh I really feel sorry for the kids, losing all their belongings. I hope Hermione give it to Burbage and good!

oh.my.god. that bastard. i love hero!severus. evil, evil cliffie! please update soon.