Aww... you're so sweet!  But omg, did you see how much I changed it after you sent it back?!  I really, REALLY need to learn to stop dicking around with it!!  lolz...Thanks for the review and rating, love. You know what a whore I am for shiny stars...

Aww... you're so sweet!  But omg, did you see how much I changed it after you sent it back?!  I really, REALLY need to learn to stop dicking around with it!!  lolz...Thanks for the review and rating, love. You know what a whore I am for shiny stars...

Well, I don't want to give away too much, but the title of the next chapter is "...of Joyful Bliss."  So if you were to read some lemons meaning into that, you might be right.~wink, wink... nudge, nudge~

Well, I don't want to give away too much, but the title of the next chapter is "...of Joyful Bliss."  So if you were to read some lemons meaning into that, you might be right.~wink, wink... nudge, nudge~

Thanks,

!  Once the threads of Hermione's past begin to unravel, her efforts to hide her secrets will come apart with alarming speed.  More on that later...And I love the way you capitalized 'Up To No Good' :DThanks so much for the review and stars!!

Thanks,

!  Once the threads of Hermione's past begin to unravel, her efforts to hide her secrets will come apart with alarming speed.  More on that later...And I love the way you capitalized 'Up To No Good' :DThanks so much for the review and stars!!

Oh, I sooooooo wish I had the rest of this story posted so I could really discuss this review with you in detail.  It seems so trite to say, "You'll find out more as the story progresses," although it's the truth.I suppose I can tell you that you are right about one thing, BUT (big 'but') perhaps not in quite the way you're thinking.  Ehhh... that probably just makes it worse.

I think it won't give away too much to confess that I've tried to hide some very subtle clues about a variety of elements that will develop further in subsequent chapters (there are 22 chapters left to post. Yay! We're 1/3 of the way there!!).  If someone is paying close attention, the payoff at the end will be better (although it won't detract too much if folks just want to read and be told, rather than speculate on what could be next).For example, I took great care in writing the line, "I will not pretend to be in love with you," for the EXACT reason you mentioned in your review.  I'm so impressed that you picked up on that!  I think Snape is the type of man to craft his words in such a way that several interpretations can be made, thus always leaving himself with an escape route.Thanks so much for reading and for leaving such a great review on your thoughts and interpretations!

Oh, I sooooooo wish I had the rest of this story posted so I could really discuss this review with you in detail.  It seems so trite to say, "You'll find out more as the story progresses," although it's the truth.I suppose I can tell you that you are right about one thing, BUT (big 'but') perhaps not in quite the way you're thinking.  Ehhh... that probably just makes it worse.

I think it won't give away too much to confess that I've tried to hide some very subtle clues about a variety of elements that will develop further in subsequent chapters (there are 22 chapters left to post. Yay! We're 1/3 of the way there!!).  If someone is paying close attention, the payoff at the end will be better (although it won't detract too much if folks just want to read and be told, rather than speculate on what could be next).For example, I took great care in writing the line, "I will not pretend to be in love with you," for the EXACT reason you mentioned in your review.  I'm so impressed that you picked up on that!  I think Snape is the type of man to craft his words in such a way that several interpretations can be made, thus always leaving himself with an escape route.Thanks so much for reading and for leaving such a great review on your thoughts and interpretations!

Oh, I'm so impressed that you know the next line of the poem!!  And I do believe there might be some lemony bliss in the next chapter, lol!!!I like your use of the word "limitations"... excellent choice!  I think Snape is quite shocked by his feelings for Hermione, and perhaps even a little resentful for being drawn to her and unable to disregard the attraction.  I'd imagine it's the last thing he would have predicted happening during his 14 years of lying in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, with nothing but his thoughts for company.And regards Lucius... well... I guess I wasn't very subtle with that one, was I?!Thanks SO much for the review and the stars!!

Oh, I'm so impressed that you know the next line of the poem!!  And I do believe there might be some lemony bliss in the next chapter, lol!!!I like your use of the word "limitations"... excellent choice!  I think Snape is quite shocked by his feelings for Hermione, and perhaps even a little resentful for being drawn to her and unable to disregard the attraction.  I'd imagine it's the last thing he would have predicted happening during his 14 years of lying in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, with nothing but his thoughts for company.And regards Lucius... well... I guess I wasn't very subtle with that one, was I?!Thanks SO much for the review and the stars!!

Oh, I'm so glad you found it moving!!  It's actually one of my favorite chapters - that moment of tenderness in the lab would have undone me!!LOL on the cliffie... I've started a competition with little_beloved over who can write the most evil cliffies!!  I'll give it a reprieve in the next chapter, though.Thanks so much for the review, kimjo!  ~smooches~ 

Oh, I'm so glad you found it moving!!  It's actually one of my favorite chapters - that moment of tenderness in the lab would have undone me!!LOL on the cliffie... I've started a competition with little_beloved over who can write the most evil cliffies!!  I'll give it a reprieve in the next chapter, though.Thanks so much for the review, kimjo!  ~smooches~ 

LOL - Just imagine the way I almost passed out trying to write it!!  :-)Sorry for the cliffie... I was telling kimjo that I've begun a competition with little_beloved over who has the most evil cliffies.  She's winning, darn it...Thanks so much for the awesome review and the lovely stars!!  You're too good to me!

LOL - Just imagine the way I almost passed out trying to write it!!  :-)Sorry for the cliffie... I was telling kimjo that I've begun a competition with little_beloved over who has the most evil cliffies.  She's winning, darn it...Thanks so much for the awesome review and the lovely stars!!  You're too good to me!

But if that were true, wouldn't Snape's former Patronus have been a stag (to Lily's doe) just like James's?  Ginny's horse Patronus doesn't compliment Harry's stag, either, which makes me think a matched Patronus is not a requisite for deep love.There doesn't appear to be much canon information as to how and why a Patronus is formed, so I felt comfortable taking some creative license here.  I really like Hermione's notion that the qualities and attributes admired by the caster (in general and as reflected by a specific person) are what manifest into their Patronus.  Perhaps I've lived in Austin too long, but I find bats to be some of the most amazing, private, complex creatures I've ever encountered—highly unique and highly misunderstood and, as Hermione points out, most unfairly maligned.  Hermione is far too smart to think a bat insulting in any way, and I imagine Snape will realise this, once the initial surprise wears off.Thanks so much for the review and stars, and thanks for giving me something to think about!