Oh, I'm sorry, is my EVIL side showing?! LOL!! Don't worry too much, dear. I have plans for them...

They both have a lot to deal with, that's for sure!

Hello, Red Roo!! So lovely to hear from you! And believe me, I can completely relate to not having time enough for fanfic. I had to take a (reluctant) break this summer due to RL craziness. I am so glad you are enjoying my first lengthy chaptered fic (or the first one that I actually finished!) My Severus and Hermione are flawed, and have made grave mistakes in the past regarding each other. So we will see how this all plays out! Oh, glad you liked this chapter. It is my personal favorite, haha. I also have a problem with making things too angsty and too melodramatic (for some reason, light and happy generally avoids me), so thank you very much for that lovely compliment! Thanks! ~kizzy

Thanks,

. This is actually one of my personal favorite chapters, so I am glad you liked! Now, onto the more in depth discussion. Before I even started posting, I knew that I would get varying reactions on this chapter, and on this story as a whole. Because my Severus is ambiguous-- not completely good (and a bit of an ass to boot!). And one thing I definitely did not want to do was to take a definite moral stance on an issue such as this-- the atrocities of wartime and if they are justified or not. I did, however, want to create some interesting dialogue, because to me, that is what is so interesting about fanfiction. Taking much beloved characters out of a familiar setting and playing with their reactions. Personally, as I said to another reviewer, I am inclined to forgive Snape for all of the reasons you and other reviewers have so eloquently stated. It was wartime, he faced an ultimatum, and made what he believed to be the best of the two choices. He felt immediate regret, and punished himself for years. Does he deserve to be forgiven? I believe so. I believe that redemption is possible for everyone, everywhere. Morality, forgiveness, and redemption are definitely some heavy themes to deal with-- and, much like Snape, answers can be ambiguous. Thank you for this thoughtful review,

. I really appreciate it!

Our Severus is definitely not given to flights of fancy, for sure. Yes, makes it rather interesting for Hermione now! More soon! Thanks!

Thanks, kim, for this and all of your lovely reviews! I really appreciate it. Ah, the mysterious DE. More about him coming soon. Thanks!

I know! Hopefully they will! Thanks,

!

Thanks,

, for this and all of your wonderful reviews; I appreciate it!! Yes, it was a terrible moral dilemma. More about the DE soon! Thanks!

Thanks, deb. This is one of my favorite chapters, I must admit, hehe. Yes, my Severus, though he is, to be quite honest, a bit of an ass, but he is not a bad guy. Now, here is what I have been thinking about the situation: yes, it is better that he did not kill nine people, but he still killed one. He still killed one. This was the impetus for writing this story. Hmmm, complicated! And yes, I feel bad for Severus too-- what Hermione put him through. And you are right--she really has no proper excuse, and trust me, she feels horrible. Duly repentant, indeed. And the mystery Death Eater! You will see, my dear. You will see. Thanks!

I don't think it's complicated at all, actually.  I'm certainly not a condoner of murder, don't get me wrong.  But this is war time.  He's a spy.  He's trying to protect Hermione.  He's been literally backed into a corner.  The man is filled with remorse and can't even continue.  For all he knew at the time, his declaration to not go on with the murders may have been Hermione's death sentence.  Unfortunately, in a war situation, people are killed who shouldn't be.  In order for him to save his position and Hermione, he's forced to do something heinous.  I believe his remorse and inability to 'finish' the job save his soul.On another note, I'm wondering if the myster Death Eater isn't Solomon, wanting to kill off his wife for some reason.  Keep grasping at those straws, Deb!

Grasping at straws, hehe. One thing that I am loving about this story is the different responses it is eliciting. Now, as I wrote this, I am with you. I am more inclined to forgive him, as you are right. It was a war, and Severus made a tough decision to save someone he loved. I think most of us would do the same. "his remorse and inability to 'finish' the job saved his soul." Yes. It shows that he does have compassion, and that he *is* despite all outward appearances, a good guy. It becomes complicated, however, because of how Hermione reacted, and how that affects him still. And how this affects their relationship! Thanks, Deb! 

Thanks,

! Yes, this is one of my admittedly favorite chapter. Glad you liked! More will be up soon.

Hello, Hannah! For your first point: I completely agree with you. This was actually the impetus for writing this story. I was thinking to myself 'what if Snape actually killed a person? Why would he? How would that affect his relationship with Hermione?' And it went from there. So we can all now say, well at least he didn't kill nine people. Only one. But still... a life is a life. Is there an good reason for murder? Should there be? I don't know. I'm still unsure about how I feel about my Severus in this story. His relationship with Hermione is very complicated. He is angry. And Hermione feels very,very horrible. Ah, it is a sad situation. The plot has thickened indeed! More will be up soon. Thanks!

That's a pretty tough question: is there a good reason for murder? Since murder is by definition always intentional, the circumstances have to be really, really, very extreme before you could even begin to think there's a good reason. Such circumstances would generally mean that it's not really murder, but manslaughter or self-defence. So there goes the argument. But there's a very large difference between understanding how and why it happened, and approving of what happened. At least Severus was repentant from the start, and he hasn't exactly gone unpunished; that's more than can be said for many criminals. Chances of recidive would be small in his case; he's obviously not a murderer at heart.At last they're talking now! Pls don't send Severus back to Azkaban without some lemons...

Haha! No, there will be lemons, I can promise you! They deserve at least a little happiness!! It is a tough question, something that is very intriguing/complicated to think about. Have you read southern_witch_69's story "A Dragon's Fire?" Moralistic dilemmas! But you are right-- Severus is not a murderer at heart. And I think that he punishes himself more than anyone else can-- well, him and Hermione, that is. He has suffered, that is for sure. And, being that he is Severus (and I am rather fond of him), I am inclined to forgive him.

Sure - if people were not to be forgiven (again, for good reasons) for morally bad actions, where would we all be??

Exactly. I believe people who have sinned can be redeemed.

Hello,

, thanks for reading and reviewing! Glad you are enjoying. Hermione's reaction will be up soon.

*cackles* Yes, he is suspicious, isn't he?! More will be up soon. Thanks, sunny!

Thank you,

! You will see how she will react soon! Thanks.

Yup, it was all for her. An interesting point you bring up. "true love into a struggle to take an innocent life for another." Thank you for those wonderful words, rhiannon! Oh, yes, Angel. Hidden in plain sight... you will see! *wink* More will be up soon! Thanks!

Thanks, doll! I think I am getting better! *jumps around happily* One reason I love writing fanfiction-- helps my grammar and writing. Lemony fruits!! *winks*

Ah, you will see!

Thanks, Molly. Angel is creepy, yes? Next chapter is in the queue...

Thank you,

!! Glad you are enjoying. More will be up soon!! ~kizzy

Okay, so, do you do beta work for anyone? Because you would totally rock at it! ;-) Plot consistency, characterization, grammar, etc. are always hard to keep track of, so thanks for keeping me in check! Here is what my mind thinks about the spell: Snape cannot do anything without Hermione's permission. First off, I don't think of it as Snape has to obey Hermione's every whim. He had permission to do anything (excepting harmful things. And go in her room.), and unless she explicitly takes away that, he can kiss her. Secondly, he can go against her, as we witnessed in this chapter. Surely he can get away with a few kisses! Thanks for the review.

heh, I don't beta for anyone...I'd kind of like to, but I'm not sure how to get started.  I suppose it would be easy to find out, but...well, you know.  No one actually needs more stuff to do when one is in school.  :)

Yes, I do remember that. And I was aware of it when I wrote this. However, I am *not* a science person at all, and so ultimately, I went with something that fit with how I needed the story to go. Thanks for the forgiveness and glad you are enjoying my story so far!! ~kizzy

Let's call this semi canon-compliant, shall we? hehe, playing around with canon can definitely be confusing! So this is essentially how I thought that HP would end-- Harry dead, Dumbledore still alive. Harry did walk into the FF, and never came back. Still confused? Shoot me an email, and I'll tell you all about my muddled universe. Thanks!

I would surely welcome a slightly longer explanation here, if you should care to give it.  But don't feel obligated.  Or if it is supposed to be a secret I will email you.

Will actually go send you an email now!!

Indeed I did mean 'who's' and 'past.' Thanks for the heads up; I went and changed them. Thanks!!! ~kizzy

And onward with the explanations!! Big one coming next chapter... So glad you liked this chapter. It was an important one for Hermione-- sorting through her dilemmas. Poor girl. I've put her in a tight spot, that is for sure! I know about the pics. My fridge is covered in them!