I am absolutely LOVING this story, and am only mildly miffed that I had begun writing something similar, because your creation is miles better than mine would have been. However I cannot BELIEVE you wrote this but weren't sure about writing a follow-up - are you crazy?! Of course we want a sequel!!! I can't wait to continue to the final chapter and also to read Phoenix Tears... and then to rethink the story I've been working on! Damn you for being so bloody good, well done!

I loved the story, and am going to go see what i can find in regards to a sequel now. Curious to how you will continue the canon events in your almost non-canon way. :)

This was a truly wonderful, emotion filled story.  I loved hearing the book from Hermione and Snape's perspectives.  You answered a lot of questions that JK's book left me asking, and made it a more believable.  I am so glad to discover that you wrote the sequel as well.  I can't wait to go read it.

A great fic!! Congratulations for it! It's cool the way you are following the original story and, in the same moment, telling a diferent one. Kisses

this is awesome.  awesome awesome awesome.  everything holds together so well; it's all so tightly knit!  you've incorporated everything perfectly!  I don't know how you do it.  this is right up there with Diana Wynne Jones novels, where everything fits and I'm left going "how did she do that."  I am so impressed!  Thanks for a great story :)

so hermione got snape's help with planning for being on the run.  annoyingly convincing...I like to think she did it all herself.  but really, it makes a lot of sense.

your explanations of arithmantic thought are fascinating.  the details you give are logical and convincing.  it's awesome.

I love love love it when authors go into the intricacies of magical theory.  I love the explanations of the differences between charms and warding.  This is so cool!

"I suggest running, perhaps supplemented with yoga."  possibly one of the most bizarre things I have heard Professor Snape say.  Ha!

terribly sad, and fascinating.  You've really managed to convince me that muggleborns are more likely to be good Occlumens than their counterparts.

What a brilliant fic!!! This is definitely one of my favorites now, and I especially love how Sev shared the Felix Felicis!

I am utterly astonished at your revelation that this is your first piece of fiction!  You have a masterful command not just of narative but of character, motivation, plot, and drama.  I am really impressed!And I'm delighted to see that I'm not the only one clamoring for more.  I await what is to come with baited breath, and thank you profusely for a darn good read!I don't know if you've read Lariope's "Second Life," but I am delighted that you both chose the same method for sharing those last drops of Felix Felicis.  I can't think of a better moment to prepare them both for all that is to come....Brava--excellent work!  Looking forward to the sequel.

She is the one person clever enough to puzzle it out.  I can believe that she would have guessed it and known it to be true because it is indeed the simplest--the most elegant--solution.  Can he at least find some comfort in her knowing?

Wow!  So much here!  And all of it to do with Severus, quite delicious.It makes sense that he would have killed his father--that's the most interesting explanation I've heard for his choice to become a Death Eater: they were the only ones who would have him after such a tragedy.And it was nice to see him touched by Davis' project.  He needs to remember how much esteem his Slytherins have for him, especially in these dark days.You keep driving home so effectively the damnable place he's in and the bleak future ahead.  It makes sense that he would have known about the Elder Wand, and that he would have understood so well how alone he would be after killing Albus.Now to find out what he needs to tell Hermione....

Utterly fascinating!I must commend you throughout all of this for making the magical, theoretical, and academic components ring so true.  I know nothing of mathematics (I can barely add without a calculator and a lot of scrap paper!), but your Arithmancy sounds so plausible that I buy it completely.  And all the details you've supplied of the lessons that have been going on all make it sound quite realtistic (magically, of course!).  What else, I wonder, does Albus need to tell Severus, and what does Severus need to tell Hermione (besides "You have to let Harry die in order to allow him to live, and, oh, by the way, I rather fancy you" that is)?

Oh, dear lord, bless her for the extreme act of courage it took to come down to his office, and bless him for the equal leap it took to offer one of the best apologies I've ever had the pleasure of reading.And I'm terribly glad it was only McLaggen--she could've handled him eventually, but it was good that Severus was there to lend a hand and deduct points from the great bully. I think it might've also helped him decide later to allow her to stay long enough in his office to have it out with him.This chapter makes me very hopeful!

ARE WE INTERESTED?!?!  ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!?!  IT CAN'T BE ABOUT TO END?!?!!  I was desperately afraid that this was a WIP, but YES, PLEASE, YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST CONTINUE IT!!!  (Okay, I'll stop yelling now.  I think I've made my point.) Will now go on and read the FINAL CHAPTER.  Arghh!!

Oh, hell, who's got her?!  Evil cliffie!  No time to review, must rush off and see what's next!

Hermione, please use that very big brain of yours and actually listen--perhaps you can figure out why he's behaving like a jealous, self-pitying prat.  (One of you needs to be thinking clearly in all of this.)Love the fact that Dumbledore's horrifying revelation to Severus about Harry's fate is delivered while he's rather drunk.  Gives me just a tiny bit more pity for Albus.  And I also love the idea of Severus hearing it while he's more focused on his own jumbled emotions.

I think we all wish we had mothers who understood the concept of a fuckbuddy--if not the frankness to insist on having a discussion about such things!Hermione is discovering the complications of the delicate dance of her position.I'm curious to see how her reunion with Severus goes, though I expect they are both convinced they have their feelings well in hand.  (At least Hermione has had some nice distractions for her holiday treat!)

He took a vindictive pleasure in secretly being a better man than the so-called nice, friendly people around him.That's an amazing insigh and obviously one of the reasons your portrayal of Severus is so spot-on.Poor Severus, seeing the echoes of the tragedy of his past, feeling he can't even want Hermione, and watching her with Krum, who isn't a bad guy (especially in this portrait--kind of thick in social situations, but fundamentally decent), but who isn't him.(Nice touch with the Italian portrait speaking Italian, by the way.)This continues to be fascinating!

And I just added it, too.  This is really an accomplished, fascinating piece.The scene in the Room of Requirement was especially terrific.

I completely buy this picture of the staff at play.I love Severus' interrogation of Hermione about Krum; found out more than he bargained for, I think, but she at least got some information in return.You are doing an amazing job of drawing a truly believable portrait of everyone, but most especially of Severus.  This is a competent, complex, interesting, intelligent man who knows very clearly what he's doing.  I love it.

And they continue to learn a little about one another.  Such a shame that Ron can be such an idiot.  This was in an earlier chapter, but it still applies all too well:"I always assumed that was because they were, well . . .” “Imbeciles?” he suggested smoothly, one eyebrow raised.Made me laugh.  And now I'd sad for Hermione.  Because he's right. 

Complexities and fascinations!  Dumbeldore's reaction is quite intriguing, considering his own history (does Severus know about Arianna? probably not).  You continue to weave an entirely new, interesting tale into the cloth of canon, and I continue to find it a wonderful read.