naughty naughty!  and more secrets.  tsk tsk.  and tenderness from snape.  and love!  poor hermione - how terribly distressing, to have come to such a realization and with such awkward timing in relation to all the secrets and trust issues.  the edge of my seat is getting uncomfortable - i hope we start getting answers to some of these questions soon!

She's going to be all pruney. Hot sex in the Potions store cupboard.  With students nearby!  Oh, my goodness, Hogs, you are wicked!  But I still adore you!  :)

Another excellent chapter! thanks for sharing this. glad to see they are not actng like children, but getting on with the living and learning.

Oh my goodness....I erm...now have a whole new Snape fantasy to play in my head....thank you so very much for that!!! It willbe great on the nights when my finacee is being a grump! lol great chapter!!!

This chapter was breathtaking. Hermione's terror at Draco's invitation was palpable. Oh, mercy, the last bit was gorgeous.I'm looking forward to the rest - whenever it happens to come along. :D

The opening lines of this chapter read like poetry:  "With the arrival of February, a veil of boredom covered Hogwarts, and the grey weeks passed in a fog of cold monotony. Each day seemed endless; morning seeped into afternoon, and evening lingered over its slow death before reluctantly bleeding into night."

I wonder what "previous engagement" Severus has this night?  Could he be meeting with his contact at the Ministry?   When Hermione had asked if he'd heard anything from his contact, he had simply told her, "No."  But he did not say that he was not meeting with him tonight.  Hummmm...

I could not believe my ears when Draco invited Severus and Hermione to Malfoy Manor...  Lucius is a very manipulative arse, and I think he knew with certainty that they would not accept the invitation.  He only wanted to remind Hermione that he had not "forgotten" about her.

I could have kissed Severus when he spoke up and told Draco that they had other plans for that evening.  Well, I would kiss Severus for no reason at all.  Wouldn't we all?

Draco's reply to Severus' declining the invitation led me to wonder if he knows that his father is up to something unsavory:  “I rather assumed you’d find better ways to occupy your time,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll relay your regrets, however false they may be.”

I'd give a pretty penny to know what Severus was talking about with Draco before he left.  Could he have possibly been warning the son about the disturbing actions of his father?  Or was he trying to find out whether or not Draco could have any involvement with Arglist?

I was delighted when Severus reassured Hermione that just because he did not outwardly react to Lucius' provocations didn't mean he didn't care or take them seriously:  “Our reactions to threats may differ, but let me assure you, I take it quite personally when something of mine is being threatened.” His gaze travelled over her face, his expression almost desperate.This was very interesting chapter.  It answered some questions and brought new questions to mind.  Well done!Beth

YEAH!!!  updated!

YAY! for an update!Your true fans will never leave you love! I can't wait to see where the story goes. Great chapter!

I just stumbled across your fic the other day and I have to say I'm completely hooked! I love your style, love the characters and I love the plot. I can't wait to read the next chapter!

though I am late in catching up with this story, all I can say is WOW! you write very well and have held me captivated and now yearning to see what lies in the next few chapters (of many I hope!) to come. I have enjoyed reading these and felt the happy times, as well as the difficult coupled with the guilt and the misguided assumptions of our dark haired tall wizard - sometimes, it would be great if a hand would slap them (men) at the back of the head and say 'open your eyes you fool!', but alas, this is not the case in reality nor here where it lends to the excitment and lead up to the somewhat apology. However, for Severus to react the way portrayed infers some emotional connection between himself and Hermione, even if he does not fully comprehend it himself ...as yet. Very nicely conveyed and done I must say, simple gesture of the hand and few words - always the best ! Enough to bring a few tears to my eyes... !  Though, at times Hermione's actions, or lack thereof, can be equally frustrating, but nevertheless understandable given the circumstances. before I digress fully - please keep writing and PLEASE do not leave so long in posting the next chapter. I will keep a eye or two out and await with anticipation on the edge of my 'real' life..... I really enjoyed Little Beloved's works, so with her on board as a beta, and the others, I will keep expecting greatness from you !!! Redz

I loved how you made Draco so perceptive. There is a lot of tension in this chapter which made it interesting.

When will you be updating? I love this story and have been following it religiously. You are such a good writer, I love how you draw the reader in. Pls update soon!

Amazing chapter as always of course:))But the most surprising part to me was when you mentioned Germany,Stuttgart,Böblingen,because I´ve been there:)Cant wait for the next one!!!

I'm super impressed.  Hermione's characterization stems naturally from her younger character in the books, as does Snape's.  The situations are funny and the characters' reactions believable; well done, you.

Nice chapter, I like the way Severus spoke to Hermione.  It appears he has learned a few things as well, and perhaps together they can stop Lucius's plans.

I have just read the entire thing ... from the first chapter to this one ... and I'm just floored at the power of the emotion in this entire story.  You've had me on a rollercoaster ride, from the exhilirating highs to the lowest of depths where I just wanted to curl up in a ball and retreat from the world.  Hermione did better than I would have, I have to admit.  Amazing.  Amazing writing. Amazing story.  You have my complete adoration.

Well, it's hard to know how Severus really feels now, if Hemrione really is his substitute for Lily or if he was being truthful when he said she wasn't. It's hard to know if he's forgiven her for her curiosity also. I think you painted him as still struggling with his own thoughts in all regards, and although that last paragraph said '.. his mind had been decided' it seems like it really isn't. Or at least not totally and completely. We'll see...

I've come to this story rather late and was able to read everything till the last chapter, so this chapter is my first real "instalment". I love how you manage to keep all characters very much in canon while developing them in truly believable directions. Your plot idea of putting Snape "in stasis" largely eliminates the power and age divide that mars so much of SS/HG relationship and power dynamics and never lets them get out of a kind of father/daughter relationship which is kinda icky. With you they are truly equally matched.I also love how you balance Snape's current relationship against his relationship with Lily. I had never thought how the Harry/Hermione friendship must have reminded Snape so much of his old schooldays when Lily hung out with the Marauders. But of course Lily proved unforgiving and chose Potter, Hermione has forgiven a lot (and I am afraid I am still reading the legilimency session as mental rape which is pretty unforgivable...) and she never chose Potter. So I'm really hoping Snape wakes up and realizes (and embraces!) the differences!

That was so heart-wrenching. I feel like crying myself for these two people. Again I could totally be wrong, be you seemed to lace a subtle regret into Severus' expressions and actions at the end of their fight, as if he too couldn't quite belive things were unraveling between himself and Hermione. Just as it did Hermione, it sliced through my heart when he told her she'd never be Lily. So cold. I think, based on how you've painted him, that Severus has some regret about saying that to Hermione but I'm not positive on that. He does seem pretty admament in his stance that he shall only love Lily and never anyone else. I have to wonder if that is just out of habit at this point or if those feelings are still genuine. I think it may be a combination of both, but I also think loving someone else will chip away at those old feelings rather quickly and make them nothing more than a memory.

I understand htat Severus may have overheard in a way that sounded very bad, but at the same time, I can't believe that he would so easily dismiss Hermione and assume that she wanted something to do with Lucius. I mean, Snape's not dense. He knows how Lucius tormented and torutred her and her friends. I guess Severus really doesn't ever intend to give Hermione his heart because he sure was easily able to leave her behind. :(

Did I just read that wrong or did it seem like Snape was almost talking to someone else when they came together that first time? His shout of "now" - and Hermione's assessment that his voice sounded 'unfamiliar' - seemed to be either someone else saying it to him, or... I don't know what, but a little off somehow. Also his cry of "damn it" for no explicable reason and then his assessment long afterwards of how she trembled at his touch seemed almost erie rather than as a sentiment. For a second I wondered if he was really someone else. Then I wondered if he somehow had a split personality. And now... after thinking that... I hope it isn't something to do with Voldemort and a piece of him moving from Nagini to Snape during the attack. Maybe my mind wanders too much. LOL The phrases jsut somehow seemed out of place to me during a session of love making. I guess I'll see in the chapters to come.

I"m glad they're working it out, but it makes me sad that Snape is so adament - or at least in Hermione's mind he is - that he can not offer her love. By his words though, I didn't get exactly what Hermione did. It seemed to me that he was saying he didn't love her right now. However, that could just be my wishful thinking. :)

I loved it. The change in their relationship was subtle and obvious all at once. The intense passion, both scary and enticing, shown in Snape's actions, and the fact that Hermione was thinking of him all day - for several days really - jsut showed that he had gotten under her skin regardless of what had transpired between them and she couldn't let it go even by force of will.

I think Snape may be realizing that his actions may have cost him something much more precious than a bit of hurt pride. I hope they can remedy this situation.

Wow. That was cold. I didn't really expect them to even get that far being that Snape was in the middle of teaching a class, but to get her all worked up and then dismiss her so easily... *shakes head* What is that man thinking.