Thank you for the lovely review and stars, Beth!  I'm so pleased you enjoyed this chapter (even the nail-biting, hair-twirling, teeth-clenching, breath-holding bits!!!).I'm glad they're moving back together, although I have no doubt it will be a rocky path for awhile.  New relationships rarely enjoy smooth sailing, and these two have brought along enough baggage to sink the whole damn ship!  :-)Thanks again for your kind comments.  The next chapter is in the queue!

I believe he might have ... I think he visits the portrait quite a bit.  No doubt the former headmasters have much to discuss.Thank you so much for the review and lovely stars.  The next chapter is in the queue!

Thank you so much - I'm quite pleased you're enjoying the story.  I can only imagine how devastated Hermione was to learn what the true intentions for her research were.  At least she stopped it as best she could at the time, before true tragedy struck.  Now we'll just have to see if she can put a stop to the plans, once and for all.Thanks again for the review and lovely stars.  The next chapter is in the queue!

I'm glad you liked it!  There are definite similarities between the two when you start thinking about it.  Severus has more memories of Lily than we canon readers are given, so it was easier for him to make the connection sooner.  :-)Thanks so much for the review and lovely stars.  The next chapter is in the queue!

Thank you so much - your compliments have warmed my heart and completely made my day!  Mistakes and forgiveness are always difficult topics to cover ... There are no easy solutions, and only time and patience will heal the wounds (for the lucky ones).  I'm sorry if I've stirred up any painful memories for you ... Trust is so damn fragile, and it's all too easy to revisit old wounds at times.My apologies for not responding sooner, but I wanted to let you know I'm back now and the next chapter is in the queue.  Thanks again for the review and stars!

LOL - Perhaps she'll indulge in an evening Patronus to make her feel better!  :-)Thanks so much for the review and stars!!  My apologies for not replying sooner, but the next chapter is in the queue at last!

Thank you so much for the review and stars; I appreciate them greatly!!My apologies for not responding sooner, but the next chapter is in the queue at last!

Thanks so much for your lovely review, Sav!!  Sorry I've been so remiss in responding to reviews.  But I'm back now, and the next chapter is in the queue at last!!  w00t!!

Thank you so much!  My apologies for not responding to this review sooner; real life pulled me away from writing for awhile, but I'm back now and eager to continue this story. Thanks again for your review!

Oh, hon', I'm so sorry to hear of the difficulties you had in your relationship, but I'm relieved to read you made it past them.I have hope for them, too.  I think they have much to overcome, and I can see the path ahead will not be easy.Thanks so much for the review and stars!

Aww... thank you SO much, kimjo!  I can't tell you how much this means, especially coming today, when someone (on a different, yucky site) left a very cutting and ugly review.  I'm so pleased you liked it - and your timing is impeccable!!!  Next chapter is in the queue!

Aww... thank you SO much, kimjo!  I can't tell you how much this means, especially coming today, when someone (on a different, yucky site) left a very cutting and ugly review.  I'm so pleased you liked it - and your timing is impeccable!!!  Next chapter is in the queue!

Thanks very much; I'm about to submit the next chapter to the queue!

Thanks very much; I'm about to submit the next chapter to the queue!

Next chapter is in the queue!  You're very perceptive to see that they are both hurt... many people are quick to assess blame or take sides, but I agree with you.  I think neither one is going to emerge unscathed from the encounter.  Thanks so much for the review!!

Next chapter is in the queue!  You're very perceptive to see that they are both hurt... many people are quick to assess blame or take sides, but I agree with you.  I think neither one is going to emerge unscathed from the encounter.  Thanks so much for the review!!

Oh my goodness - what a lovely review!  Thank you ever so much for your kind words; I'm so pleased you've enjoyed the story thus far and find the various elements to your liking.  It will take a few twists and turns along the way (some dark, some light), but hopefully you'll stay to the end and enjoy the payoff.  (I certainly enjoyed writing it.)  Story has been completed, so updates will post frequently... in fact, the next chapter is in the queue!  Thanks again for the very nice review!!

Oh my goodness - what a lovely review!  Thank you ever so much for your kind words; I'm so pleased you've enjoyed the story thus far and find the various elements to your liking.  It will take a few twists and turns along the way (some dark, some light), but hopefully you'll stay to the end and enjoy the payoff.  (I certainly enjoyed writing it.)  Story has been completed, so updates will post frequently... in fact, the next chapter is in the queue!  Thanks again for the very nice review!!

My darling

, I require a happy ending, too!!!  There will definitely be one!  The story will be taking some twists and turns along the way (just as life does) and some will be darker than others, but I hope you'll stay for the ride and enjoy the payoff at the end.  Thanks so much for the review, darlin'!!

My darling

, I require a happy ending, too!!!  There will definitely be one!  The story will be taking some twists and turns along the way (just as life does) and some will be darker than others, but I hope you'll stay for the ride and enjoy the payoff at the end.  Thanks so much for the review, darlin'!!

Yes, that wasn't very nice, was it?  Thanks so much for the review and the pretty stars!

Yes, that wasn't very nice, was it?  Thanks so much for the review and the pretty stars!

My goodness... thank YOU so much for that amazing review!!  *blushes*  Your praise and comments have made my week, kizzy - I cannot describe how much that means to me!  I'm very pleased you're enjoying it and am happy to report that the next chapter is in the queue!  Thanks again!!

My goodness... thank YOU so much for that amazing review!!  *blushes*  Your praise and comments have made my week, kizzy - I cannot describe how much that means to me!  I'm very pleased you're enjoying it and am happy to report that the next chapter is in the queue!  Thanks again!!

Oh, it's written, I assure you!!  Actually, the entire story has been completed, so updates should post frequently.  I agree with everything you've said... they were both in high dudgeon, both have been affected by the growing tension, both behaved inappropriately, and I believe they will both suffer the consequences.  And your assessment of Snape is wonderful  - we really got very little of his character in canon, but what was there was complex and impossible to pin down.  And that's just one of the reasons he's so appealing.  Thank you so much for taking the time to write this insightful, lovely review.  I really appreciate it!!!

Oh, it's written, I assure you!!  Actually, the entire story has been completed, so updates should post frequently.  I agree with everything you've said... they were both in high dudgeon, both have been affected by the growing tension, both behaved inappropriately, and I believe they will both suffer the consequences.  And your assessment of Snape is wonderful  - we really got very little of his character in canon, but what was there was complex and impossible to pin down.  And that's just one of the reasons he's so appealing.  Thank you so much for taking the time to write this insightful, lovely review.  I really appreciate it!!!

What amazing compliments - thank you so very, very much!  It's reviews like this that really encourage me to put pen to paper fingers to keyboard.  Next chapter is in the queue - I hope you enjoy it!

What amazing compliments - thank you so very, very much!  It's reviews like this that really encourage me to put pen to paper fingers to keyboard.  Next chapter is in the queue - I hope you enjoy it!

LOL - thanks so much!!!

LOL - thanks so much!!!

Thank you for the review.  I, too, was appalled by Severus's behaviour.  His actions were indeed calculated and embarrassing, although many have noted that Hermione's methods could be described with the same adjectives.  Perhaps if he weren't already in a position where he's forced to job-share with a former student, having to claw his way back after spending 14 years in a state of stasis... relegated to teaching the youngest children with the least ability (most of whom wouldn't know the difference between a bezoar and a bettle), ... then, perhaps, he might have responded differently to being challenged in his own class.  But I do not offer excuses for him, because nothing could really justify his cutting remarks.  We all know that Severus is no stranger to saying and doing things which result in deep remorse.  We'll just have to see how he responds now and whether they'll be able to move past this.  Again, many thanks for your review and opinion.

Thank you for the review.  I, too, was appalled by Severus's behaviour.  His actions were indeed calculated and embarrassing, although many have noted that Hermione's methods could be described with the same adjectives.  Perhaps if he weren't already in a position where he's forced to job-share with a former student, having to claw his way back after spending 14 years in a state of stasis... relegated to teaching the youngest children with the least ability (most of whom wouldn't know the difference between a bezoar and a bettle), ... then, perhaps, he might have responded differently to being challenged in his own class.  But I do not offer excuses for him, because nothing could really justify his cutting remarks.  We all know that Severus is no stranger to saying and doing things which result in deep remorse.  We'll just have to see how he responds now and whether they'll be able to move past this.  Again, many thanks for your review and opinion.

Thanks for the review,

!  I think we all know that Severus is no stranger to saying and doing things which later cause him deep remorse.  We'll just have to see how this plays out... luckily, the next chapter is in the queue.  Thanks again!

Thanks for the review,

!  I think we all know that Severus is no stranger to saying and doing things which later cause him deep remorse.  We'll just have to see how this plays out... luckily, the next chapter is in the queue.  Thanks again!

Thank you for the review.  I, too, was appalled by Snape's behaviour.  He did indeed cross the line, although you are correct in pointing out that Hermione did similarly; her actions were also calculated and embarrassing.  I do not offer excuses for him, because nothing could really justify his cutting remarks.  We all know that Snape is no stranger to saying and doing things which result in deep remorse.  We'll just have to see how he responds now and whether they'll be able to move past this.  Again, many thanks for your review and opinion.

Thank you for the review.  I, too, was appalled by Snape's behaviour.  He did indeed cross the line, although you are correct in pointing out that Hermione did similarly; her actions were also calculated and embarrassing.  I do not offer excuses for him, because nothing could really justify his cutting remarks.  We all know that Snape is no stranger to saying and doing things which result in deep remorse.  We'll just have to see how he responds now and whether they'll be able to move past this.  Again, many thanks for your review and opinion.

Thanks very much for the review; it amazes me how some people found this quite unexpected and shocking, while others... not so much.  The next chapter is in the queue, and since the story is completed, future updates will occur on a regular basis.  Thanks again!

Thanks very much for the review; it amazes me how some people found this quite unexpected and shocking, while others... not so much.  The next chapter is in the queue, and since the story is completed, future updates will occur on a regular basis.  Thanks again!

Thanks so much,

- I'm pleased that you enjoyed the chapter (even if parts of it were unpleasant).  The next chapter is in the queue!

Thanks so much,

- I'm pleased that you enjoyed the chapter (even if parts of it were unpleasant).  The next chapter is in the queue!