The next chapter--which is already half-way through the queue--is FULL of Severus . . . and has some particularly interesting SS/HG interaction. I'm glad that this chapter was palatable even without him ;)Thanks for the review.

Ah, Severus. He's such a tortured soul.I'm so glad that you're enjoying the story :) Thanks for the review.

Thank you :)If he'd kissed her then, though, so much of the sexual tension would have disappeared, and really, no-ne wants that to happen! ;)

I'm glad to hear that Severus earnt your sympathy--that means I must be doing something right! :) I probably should have given this chapter an angst warning. Thanks for the review!

Okay. But only because you asked so nicely ;) Otherwise, you know I would have had him stop in the very next chapter ;)Thanks for the review, I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Poor Viktor, he's smart enough but hasn't much of a grasp of subtleties--particularly not in a foreign language.And Snape, yes Snape really truly needs to spend as much time as possible with those who are quick on the uptake. Otherwise he gets frustrated.I'm glad that you like the portkey--if they have touch activated ones, and time activated ones, I don't see why they can't have voice-activated ones too!

If Severus didn't have such a high tolerance for torture, he'd have died long, long ago, and we wouldn't be half so interested in him. :)With luck the next chapter will hit the queue tomorrow . . . after that point the time you have to wait is out of my hands.Thanks for the review. :)

I love a jealous Snape, too. It fits with his tortured romantic personality. You'll have to wait for the next chapter to see what transpires between VK and HG. Thanks for the review! :)

Thank you for such a lovely and thoughtful review!What we see of Durmstrang in canon (pureblood supremacy, interest in the Dark Arts, etc) just emphasises the physical similarities between Viktor and Krum. It makes it even more interesting to juxtapose the two and the very large differences between their lives and their prospects. In that regard, JKR sets up the HGSS shippers so nicely . . . ;)

I guess we'll both have to wait and see about that . . . not even I can be sure at this stage. I'm delighted you're enjoying the story!

Your certainty cheers my heart. I wish you could tell Severus; he just might be tempted to believe you. Thanks for the review.

Thank you! Eventually I will, but he's not one to be cheered up so easily . . . ;)

That's a good way of looking at it; I hope you're right.

You'll have to wait and see ;) No, here's a hint: it will *definitely* be used in the next chapter, but whether it comes back again after that will have to be a surprise. Thanks for the review!

Your review makes my heart sing. To be read so closely and sympathetically is all that a writer could wish for. Thank you for this, you have left me otherwise speechless.

Thank you very much! I like thinking about Jocelyn, about what a sympathetic Slytherin character might be like; since JKR is always writing from Harry's perspective, there's no hint of that in canon.The next chapter will be up as soon as it makes it through the queue!

Thank you very, very, very much :) The next chapter has just been added to the queue so you shouldn't have too long to wait . . . Thanks again for the review!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! :) I can count the squees in my life on the fingers of one hand; you have officially made my day ;) The next chapter was just this moment added to the queue.

Thank you very much! I have trouble imagining Severus training in his teaching robes, and I want to believe that he's keeping fit ;)

Thank you very much! With luck, I should add the next chapter to the queue in the next day or so.

Thanks for the review! Hermione will have to come up with some other way to send the message. And you'll find out more about Snape's reaction in the next chapter, for sure.

Thanks! ;) I agree: Cormak = YUCK!

Thanks for the review. I mean it to be more about using her whole body and thinking with and through her body--which she had to do to master the tumbling. Like when you kick a soccer ball, you don't just use your foot, but have to balance and push through your whole body. I reckon Hermione would be just the type to naturally maintain quite a distinction between her mind and her body; Snape wants her to overcome that.

I can't see Severus thinking that being kissed under the mistletoe by a student, in the public corridor no less, is a very good idea!Thanks for the review, I should add the next chapter to the queue in the next day or so.

Oops is probably an understatement ;)!!I'm glad you like Jocelyn. I don't think JK gives us enough Slytherin characters to play with. The Gryffindors, much as I love them, are always too convinced that they're in the right to think about ethics that hard.In the deep, deep imaginings of my mind, the story is looong, extending over several years (in narrative time). I'll proabably break it up into a couple of chunks, though, you know, with imaginative names such as "Phoenix Song II (or, Hermione Granger and the Deathly Hallows)" ;)