Apparently, a bi t more clarity.  LOL  I have edited the chapter to better explain the spell.  I am glad that you enjoyed this.

Apparently, a bi t more clarity.  LOL  I have edited the chapter to better explain the spell.  I am glad that you enjoyed this.

Thanks!  I'm glad you're still enjoying it.  The mystery will be solved, and relatively soon.  Next chapter is in queue. :)

Thanks!  I'm glad you're still enjoying it.  The mystery will be solved, and relatively soon.  Next chapter is in queue. :)

Thanks!  I'm flattered that you want the next part enough to forget to review, and grateful that you remembered this time. :)

Thanks!  I'm flattered that you want the next part enough to forget to review, and grateful that you remembered this time. :)

Thanks!  You won't have too long to wait. :)  BTW, are you the same

who posts to AW? 

I'm registered at AW as

, so I guess I must be the same one.  I've never submitted any stories, but have submitted reviews there also.

Silly acronym mix up.  I meant Absolute Write.  Forgot there was an HP related AW! 

Thanks!  You won't have too long to wait. :)  BTW, are you the same

who posts to AW? 

I'm registered at AW as

, so I guess I must be the same one.  I've never submitted any stories, but have submitted reviews there also.

Silly acronym mix up.  I meant Absolute Write.  Forgot there was an HP related AW! 

That's a very sharp insight.  The spell may assist them with their immediate situations, but it can't fix the source of their problems.  More's the pity.

That's a very sharp insight.  The spell may assist them with their immediate situations, but it can't fix the source of their problems.  More's the pity.

I promise to submit more tonight.  :)

I promise to submit more tonight.  :)

LOL!  Thanks!  I am glad you enjoyed this.

LOL!  Thanks!  I am glad you enjoyed this.

There is something sad about it.  Sirius knows he has to run yet again, for no other reason than that he is who he is.  In much the same way, Severus does not believe he can have love, because he is who he his.  And Hermione is going to have to find a way to keep their secrets, despite who she is.  It's a tangled web, indeed.

There is something sad about it.  Sirius knows he has to run yet again, for no other reason than that he is who he is.  In much the same way, Severus does not believe he can have love, because he is who he his.  And Hermione is going to have to find a way to keep their secrets, despite who she is.  It's a tangled web, indeed.

Thank you for the shiny stars and for coming along on this crazy ride.  Next chapter will go in queue tonight, so you won't have too long to wait. :)

Thank you for the shiny stars and for coming along on this crazy ride.  Next chapter will go in queue tonight, so you won't have too long to wait. :)

Thank you!  Hermione started out to see if she could change magic, ever so slightly.  When faced with Sirius' problem, she decided that her research might be applicable.  I guess we'll see if she's right!New chapter is up!  I'll submit the next one as soon as I get home.

Thank you!  Hermione started out to see if she could change magic, ever so slightly.  When faced with Sirius' problem, she decided that her research might be applicable.  I guess we'll see if she's right!New chapter is up!  I'll submit the next one as soon as I get home.

Nope, she's 18.  I modeled her speech patterns on the geeks with whom I hung out in my first year of college, rather than on high school students, though even there, our discourse (yeah, we called it that) was different because we were all in a writing program.  So it probably comes across as a bit more mature than she would realistically be.I wouldn't want to be stuck anywhere during my summer break, hot guys or no.  And her not having the time and space to think definitely plays into her decisions.  Sirius' magic definitely ties in, and soon.  I have usually completed 3 or more chapters ahead of what I'm posting, so this is only incomplete because not everything is up.  I really appreciate you reading and your comments. :)

So it would be the summer after a year off? Are Voldemort and the Death Eaters still around? I always get confused with AU stories. I'm amazed how this story feels so well fleshed out and true to canon with little mention of Harry, Voldemort, etc (and I like it a lot!). I didn't really mean her speech patterns (although she is quite eloquent for someone so young, I can see it in a first year college student or the equivalent), I actually meant the way that she interacts with two men who are twenty years older than she is. Most teenage girls (even older and more mature ones) don't talk to men that age like that. However, I think I'm being too picky, because this is a very common thing in the HG/SS ship.

I think that's a valid point.  It's easier for her with Sirius, because he APPEARS to be only a few years older than her, and she didn't really know him, save for a few brief meetings, before this. Her relating to them doesn't throw me, likely because I started doing local theatre when I was 15, so I regularly hung out with people 20 years or more my senior.  That's when I figured out that adults don't have it together any more than teenagers do, they just fake it better. ;)  Also, I had a mad, mad crush on a teacher when I was 16 and he was 42, and I spent as much time talking with him as I could manage.  Luckily for me, he was a bit wiser about such things than I and steered me to writing.I also think that whatever happened to her in America changed the way she saw the world in general and men in particular.  In typical Hermione fashion, it made her both more jaded and more willing to take some risks.I did just realize a mistake (one that I suspect could get the story pulled).  This takes place in the summer before year 7, which means she would still be 17.  For some reason, I thought her birthday was in July.  That's my error, and I'll respect whatever decision is made because of it.

Nope, she's 18.  I modeled her speech patterns on the geeks with whom I hung out in my first year of college, rather than on high school students, though even there, our discourse (yeah, we called it that) was different because we were all in a writing program.  So it probably comes across as a bit more mature than she would realistically be.I wouldn't want to be stuck anywhere during my summer break, hot guys or no.  And her not having the time and space to think definitely plays into her decisions.  Sirius' magic definitely ties in, and soon.  I have usually completed 3 or more chapters ahead of what I'm posting, so this is only incomplete because not everything is up.  I really appreciate you reading and your comments. :)

So it would be the summer after a year off? Are Voldemort and the Death Eaters still around? I always get confused with AU stories. I'm amazed how this story feels so well fleshed out and true to canon with little mention of Harry, Voldemort, etc (and I like it a lot!). I didn't really mean her speech patterns (although she is quite eloquent for someone so young, I can see it in a first year college student or the equivalent), I actually meant the way that she interacts with two men who are twenty years older than she is. Most teenage girls (even older and more mature ones) don't talk to men that age like that. However, I think I'm being too picky, because this is a very common thing in the HG/SS ship.

I think that's a valid point.  It's easier for her with Sirius, because he APPEARS to be only a few years older than her, and she didn't really know him, save for a few brief meetings, before this. Her relating to them doesn't throw me, likely because I started doing local theatre when I was 15, so I regularly hung out with people 20 years or more my senior.  That's when I figured out that adults don't have it together any more than teenagers do, they just fake it better. ;)  Also, I had a mad, mad crush on a teacher when I was 16 and he was 42, and I spent as much time talking with him as I could manage.  Luckily for me, he was a bit wiser about such things than I and steered me to writing.I also think that whatever happened to her in America changed the way she saw the world in general and men in particular.  In typical Hermione fashion, it made her both more jaded and more willing to take some risks.I did just realize a mistake (one that I suspect could get the story pulled).  This takes place in the summer before year 7, which means she would still be 17.  For some reason, I thought her birthday was in July.  That's my error, and I'll respect whatever decision is made because of it.

I appreciate you taking the chance!  I am notorious for posting at least 3 chapters behind what is actually written, so it won't be a real WIP much longer. :)   I rather imagine Crooks would be irritated, vaguely amused and, well, bored by the people he's forced to live with.

I appreciate you taking the chance!  I am notorious for posting at least 3 chapters behind what is actually written, so it won't be a real WIP much longer. :)   I rather imagine Crooks would be irritated, vaguely amused and, well, bored by the people he's forced to live with.

Which part is confusing you?  I will gladly elucidate. :)

Which part is confusing you?  I will gladly elucidate. :)

Heh.  I am glad you liked that.  Sorry about the coffee though.  I know it's sacred.  I hope it was worth it.  Thanks for the review. :)

Heh.  I am glad you liked that.  Sorry about the coffee though.  I know it's sacred.  I hope it was worth it.  Thanks for the review. :)

Thank you. :)  I am humbled by the comparison.  I suppose it gives me insight into how 20+ years of shared history reduces conversation to that which is necessary to know or share, which can't hurt in this story.  I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you get and enjoy the intricacies of the relationships.

Thank you. :)  I am humbled by the comparison.  I suppose it gives me insight into how 20+ years of shared history reduces conversation to that which is necessary to know or share, which can't hurt in this story.  I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you get and enjoy the intricacies of the relationships.

I would think of it more as disaster insurance.  With a history of madness in his family (and a bout or two himself), Sirius wants to be sure that he won't pose a danger to the world if he goes nuts.  He can trust Severus to come after him if it becomes necessary, precisely because of their history.

I would think of it more as disaster insurance.  With a history of madness in his family (and a bout or two himself), Sirius wants to be sure that he won't pose a danger to the world if he goes nuts.  He can trust Severus to come after him if it becomes necessary, precisely because of their history.

Yes, indeed.  A rather large storm, I'm thinking.

Yes, indeed.  A rather large storm, I'm thinking.

Sometimes having a defined nemesis is as good as having a friend.  In this case, it's working for them.  I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.  There will be more soon!

Sometimes having a defined nemesis is as good as having a friend.  In this case, it's working for them.  I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.  There will be more soon!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for reading!

Thank you!  I really appreciate your feedback.  All of the relationships are complex and evolving, which can get a little confusing.  I'm glad I haven't lost you.  More is on the way. :)

Thank you!  I really appreciate your feedback.  All of the relationships are complex and evolving, which can get a little confusing.  I'm glad I haven't lost you.  More is on the way. :)

Algebra I could do.  Calculus and trig are beyond my puny brain.  Come to that, have you seen the crazy math involved in advanced physics?  There are reasons I don't have a science degree.  I do like the terminology, though.

Algebra I could do.  Calculus and trig are beyond my puny brain.  Come to that, have you seen the crazy math involved in advanced physics?  There are reasons I don't have a science degree.  I do like the terminology, though.

Thank you for the lovely review and the much needed laugh.  I wonder how wel such a sampler would sell...

Thank you for the lovely review and the much needed laugh.  I wonder how wel such a sampler would sell...

He's got a bit more experience in that regard.  I think there is no way she will not get hurt, but he's trying very hard to minimize that pain.  As is Severus, if from behind the scenes.

He's got a bit more experience in that regard.  I think there is no way she will not get hurt, but he's trying very hard to minimize that pain.  As is Severus, if from behind the scenes.

Thank you!  There's another chapter in queue, because I can't help myself. ;)  I hope you enjoy that one, too!

Thank you!  There's another chapter in queue, because I can't help myself. ;)  I hope you enjoy that one, too!

Thanks!  It will be interesting, at the very least.

Thanks!  It will be interesting, at the very least.