Hey, there! I'm going to post the next chapter in late December/early January at the latest. This are nuts right now, as it's the holiday season. I promise to have some new material for you soon.Thank you SO much for asking for more. You have no idea what it means to me. <3sapphire_pheonix's response: I know, holidays, holidays!  just as long as it isn't abandoned.

Oh, no, it's definitely not abandoned. There's an outline for ten chapters and an epilogue. I promise you that unless I die before I can write the ending, it will be completed. And between you and me, I may make provisisons for my husband (who is my editor, and also a writer) to finish it for me if that were to happen.

Hey, there! I'm going to post the next chapter in late December/early January at the latest. This are nuts right now, as it's the holiday season. I promise to have some new material for you soon.Thank you SO much for asking for more. You have no idea what it means to me. <3sapphire_pheonix's response: I know, holidays, holidays!  just as long as it isn't abandoned.

Oh, no, it's definitely not abandoned. There's an outline for ten chapters and an epilogue. I promise you that unless I die before I can write the ending, it will be completed. And between you and me, I may make provisisons for my husband (who is my editor, and also a writer) to finish it for me if that were to happen.

Oops! You're right. For some reason, Chapter Four is where Chapter Two should be. I alerted the appropriate people, so hopefully, it will get sorted out shortly!Glad you enjoyed!

Oops! You're right. For some reason, Chapter Four is where Chapter Two should be. I alerted the appropriate people, so hopefully, it will get sorted out shortly!Glad you enjoyed!

Thank you! I plan to update every three to four days, so you will quickly find out what Hermione is up to. Professor Snape is himself - he always has his own reasons for doing things, and it's never what it seems at first. Some things never change...Snape and Dumbledore are both sneaky bastards, although Dumbledore is usually more covert about it. Again, some things don't change. It IS fun, and I'm glad you're coming along for the ride!Lizz

Thank you! I plan to update every three to four days, so you will quickly find out what Hermione is up to. Professor Snape is himself - he always has his own reasons for doing things, and it's never what it seems at first. Some things never change...Snape and Dumbledore are both sneaky bastards, although Dumbledore is usually more covert about it. Again, some things don't change. It IS fun, and I'm glad you're coming along for the ride!Lizz

There, there, my love. I won't leave you unsatisfied. I promise. Just be patient, and all will be well.*blows a kiss*

There, there, my love. I won't leave you unsatisfied. I promise. Just be patient, and all will be well.*blows a kiss*

Thank you so much!Professor Snape, even when he is giving, is self-serving and one should always remember this. That's all the hint you get for now. The potion is definitely fun, and should be given to all couples as a honeymoon present. ;o)I am hoping to update every three to four days, although in the case of Chapter Two, it may be sooner. Cheers!

Thank you so much!Professor Snape, even when he is giving, is self-serving and one should always remember this. That's all the hint you get for now. The potion is definitely fun, and should be given to all couples as a honeymoon present. ;o)I am hoping to update every three to four days, although in the case of Chapter Two, it may be sooner. Cheers!

Thank you!Actually, there is no magical reason for the intimacy. Hermione realizes that her time is limited, and that she may not have this chance again. It's not something that she would regularly do at all, but she's willing to take this risk because she loves Severus and knows that if all goes well, she'll never see him like this again. I'm hoping to post a new chapter within the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for it! :o)

Thank you!Actually, there is no magical reason for the intimacy. Hermione realizes that her time is limited, and that she may not have this chance again. It's not something that she would regularly do at all, but she's willing to take this risk because she loves Severus and knows that if all goes well, she'll never see him like this again. I'm hoping to post a new chapter within the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for it! :o)

I'm sorry to say that he did, but like most things in life, this isn't permanent. I think that one of my favorite things about Severus is his humanity under his armor. He is such a perfectionist, such a hard ass, and yet he was tempted by acceptance and knowledge. The beauty is that he can be saved, and of course, Hermione is one of the very few people who is strong enough to take that task in hand. In some ways, she and Severus save each other from themselves, I think.

I'm sorry to say that he did, but like most things in life, this isn't permanent. I think that one of my favorite things about Severus is his humanity under his armor. He is such a perfectionist, such a hard ass, and yet he was tempted by acceptance and knowledge. The beauty is that he can be saved, and of course, Hermione is one of the very few people who is strong enough to take that task in hand. In some ways, she and Severus save each other from themselves, I think.

Thank you! Exactly - the past becomes the future whether we try to prevent it or not, which is what Hermione is going to have to realize.

Thank you! Exactly - the past becomes the future whether we try to prevent it or not, which is what Hermione is going to have to realize.

You know, as much as I love Dumbledore, I can't bring myself to like him very much (I have relatives I feel much the same about). He spends so much time looking at the desired end result that he forgets that people aren't chess pieces to move about at his leisure. The operative word is definitely "alleged" when speaking of "the alleged epitome of Goodness and Light". Severus isn't going to believe Hermione under any circumstances right now because he's too angry to listen. It's amazing how when we've done something stupid and don't realize it, the last people we want to hear from are the people who are willing to point out that our Master Plan is flawed. Evidently, books and cleverness aren't everything, which I hope teaches her something....Thank you for a wonderful review!

You know, as much as I love Dumbledore, I can't bring myself to like him very much (I have relatives I feel much the same about). He spends so much time looking at the desired end result that he forgets that people aren't chess pieces to move about at his leisure. The operative word is definitely "alleged" when speaking of "the alleged epitome of Goodness and Light". Severus isn't going to believe Hermione under any circumstances right now because he's too angry to listen. It's amazing how when we've done something stupid and don't realize it, the last people we want to hear from are the people who are willing to point out that our Master Plan is flawed. Evidently, books and cleverness aren't everything, which I hope teaches her something....Thank you for a wonderful review!

It may be too soon under some circumstances, but Hermione has known Severus since she was eleven, even if he can't say the same (or even know the same, in this case). He's familliar, and yet, he's strange, because she hasn't seen this side of him. I think it was an intelligent chance to take; she loves him and this may be her last opportunity to show him before she leaves. I would have done the same thing, but then...  I probably would have slept with Severus, regardless.Teenagers? Randy? Surely, you jest! I'm glad you like this virgin sex. I don't usually write it either, and try not to read it because it's so often poorly done, and to be honest, I'm glad you find this believable. It was somewhat of a struggle to make it seem real, and I still find myself wondering if I did it justice.

It may be too soon under some circumstances, but Hermione has known Severus since she was eleven, even if he can't say the same (or even know the same, in this case). He's familliar, and yet, he's strange, because she hasn't seen this side of him. I think it was an intelligent chance to take; she loves him and this may be her last opportunity to show him before she leaves. I would have done the same thing, but then...  I probably would have slept with Severus, regardless.Teenagers? Randy? Surely, you jest! I'm glad you like this virgin sex. I don't usually write it either, and try not to read it because it's so often poorly done, and to be honest, I'm glad you find this believable. It was somewhat of a struggle to make it seem real, and I still find myself wondering if I did it justice.

Thank you! You know, that food sharing was a last minute inspiration, but it's added a lot to the piece. I love gentle romance. Passion and excitement have their place and are wonderful in their own right, but I like to think that Severus has a gentle side that shows itself under the right conditions.

Thank you! You know, that food sharing was a last minute inspiration, but it's added a lot to the piece. I love gentle romance. Passion and excitement have their place and are wonderful in their own right, but I like to think that Severus has a gentle side that shows itself under the right conditions.

Thank you so very much!

Thank you so very much!

Oh, no. There will be no drownings here, not at all! Your comment does make me wonder if there's a possibility of a Hamletesque story for that ship - with no suicides, of course.Thank you! I appreciate it!

Oh, no. There will be no drownings here, not at all! Your comment does make me wonder if there's a possibility of a Hamletesque story for that ship - with no suicides, of course.Thank you! I appreciate it!

Thank you very much! This has been a fun story to write, and I'm enthused that you're getting into it. :o)

Thank you very much! This has been a fun story to write, and I'm enthused that you're getting into it. :o)

See, these are my thoughts, too, because this is a familliar person to her - only now he's hawt. I'd like to sign up, too, please! I'm glad you agree. :o)No time can pass while she's gone, because it's already happened, so regardless of what he thinks, he'll go to bed that night, and get up the next morning - and as far as he knows, life will go on as usual. Poor Severus, he does have a hard time of it, doesn't he?YAY! To be honest, I don't either, but this thought plagued me and wouldn't leave me alone until I succumbed to its whims.Thanks so much for your review!Lizzsapphire_pheonix's response: so.... when's more???sapphire_pheonix's response: there are two extra chapters on Ashwinder? more! more!

See, these are my thoughts, too, because this is a familliar person to her - only now he's hawt. I'd like to sign up, too, please! I'm glad you agree. :o)No time can pass while she's gone, because it's already happened, so regardless of what he thinks, he'll go to bed that night, and get up the next morning - and as far as he knows, life will go on as usual. Poor Severus, he does have a hard time of it, doesn't he?YAY! To be honest, I don't either, but this thought plagued me and wouldn't leave me alone until I succumbed to its whims.Thanks so much for your review!Lizzsapphire_pheonix's response: so.... when's more???sapphire_pheonix's response: there are two extra chapters on Ashwinder? more! more!

Hermione is a far cry from Homer Simpson, if only because, for the life of me, I can't picture Hermione saying, "D'Oh!" No, you're absolutely right. Everything she does now will have some impact on the future. I doubt seriously that her family will wind up with forked lizard tongues (How's she going to explain THAT to her parents??), but she will probably cause things to happen that she does not expect. Snape hates everyone for everything because he's a very bitter person. He's going to be upset no matter what she does, so she may as well do what she thinks is right, which apparently encompasses sleeping with him. I know I would have.

Hermione is a far cry from Homer Simpson, if only because, for the life of me, I can't picture Hermione saying, "D'Oh!" No, you're absolutely right. Everything she does now will have some impact on the future. I doubt seriously that her family will wind up with forked lizard tongues (How's she going to explain THAT to her parents??), but she will probably cause things to happen that she does not expect. Snape hates everyone for everything because he's a very bitter person. He's going to be upset no matter what she does, so she may as well do what she thinks is right, which apparently encompasses sleeping with him. I know I would have.

It was scary, but no, not significant. I just wanted to be graphic. The eating habits, though? Very significant, and also very sexy.

It was scary, but no, not significant. I just wanted to be graphic. The eating habits, though? Very significant, and also very sexy.

*giggle* He's a seventeen-year-old boy! They're all like that, aren't they! Heck, I know men three times that age that are STILL like that... Thanks for reviewing! I love to hear what people think. :o)

*giggle* He's a seventeen-year-old boy! They're all like that, aren't they! Heck, I know men three times that age that are STILL like that... Thanks for reviewing! I love to hear what people think. :o)

You know, a lemon emoticon is not a bad idea. Someone should make one... Lemon-shaped with a "I've just been laid" look on its face. Want it... Of course... Of course, they want it. *hides puppet strings* *sheepish giggle*No, really, I think they're acting like seventeen-year-old kids, and what HG/SS shipper WOULDN'T like to catch Severus on his first time (or any other time, for that matter)??Thank you! It means a lot when you say that! I won't tell you if you're wrong or right (a) because I think you'd rather savor this than have it all at once, and (b) because you'll find out in Chapter Six, which should hit the queue this weekend. *hugs* Thanks, T. You always write an awesome review.

You know, a lemon emoticon is not a bad idea. Someone should make one... Lemon-shaped with a "I've just been laid" look on its face. Want it... Of course... Of course, they want it. *hides puppet strings* *sheepish giggle*No, really, I think they're acting like seventeen-year-old kids, and what HG/SS shipper WOULDN'T like to catch Severus on his first time (or any other time, for that matter)??Thank you! It means a lot when you say that! I won't tell you if you're wrong or right (a) because I think you'd rather savor this than have it all at once, and (b) because you'll find out in Chapter Six, which should hit the queue this weekend. *hugs* Thanks, T. You always write an awesome review.