Thanks goodness for Vector! She's like - well, the brighter side of The Greater Good. The opposite to Dumbledore's manipulations. Of course, running calculations and strategizing require different abilities from those needed to lead men in a war, but I bet she's smart enough to do that as well, if she so chose. (I've come back here from the end of next chapter to leave this comment: I was so engrossed in this rollercoaster of emotions that I went straight to the end of it before realising :D)

Poor, poor Severus! That fatal dialogue always makes me want to cry and huggle him. And he's so merciless towards himself! *sniffles*After all he's been in over the past few days, I was dreading that he might turn out all kind!Professor with Hermione. I shouldn't have worried, as you Exceed Expectations once more *G*

I totally liked Hermione's family and her light-yet-adult relationship with your delightful Viktor, though I find her surprisingly insightful of "matters of heart" for her young age. All the better for her!BTW, Viktor playing football as a young Beckham is fun :))And - applauses for your clever handling of canon! Everything makes sense and the story runs smoothly along with the events of 6th year. I'm particularly glad  that you have dealt with the "Marietta issue," but there is one point I've never understood: even if Marietta had had to choose between her family and the DA, as I have always thought, why couldn't she feel sorry all the same? (I'm sure I'm being dense here...)And your Dumbledore is spot on, as usual!Let's see what next lesson will bring ;)

*nods vehemently* that's how it should be, in my expectations. An abundant stream of consciousness from Snape, and his character laid bare for us to see - and feel for him and resent on his account and suffer with him.He also took a vindictive pleasure in secretly being a better man than the so-called nice, friendly people around him.Love this one.Meeting at the coffee shop: first of all, *swoons* I take espresso like S. does! I'm positive that sugar kills the coffee taste. Then, S' epiphany - heartbreaking.I also like Hermione's behaviour and attitude, at least what we are allowed to see from his POV. Krum is another very good addition. I'm not a Ron-basher, either, but I wonder how H. could have felt attracted by Ron when she had such an alternative. Of course, distance does that. Anyway his special Portkey is a brilliant invention; I suppose we'll see more of it ;)

Dunno but IMVHO those gym lessons are exuding tons of UST. Very subtle, therefore more powerful. Just the way I like it :)H's reflections about her newfound awareness of her Professor are perfectly IC. And I have no intention to deal with the scene under the mistletoe - need to see what happens "after" *scurries off to ch.16* (another advantage of patience: I'm so behind that instead of fretting over a cliffhanger I can just *click* et voilà, the magic is done! :)

Interesting S/H interaction. I'm sure he was only aiming at shaking her out of her gloom, but what a backlash! He's already to the point of talking himself out of inappropriate thoughts, LOL! "Library romance" *G* So much that he doesn't react to her angry warning, which would be equally inappropriate, if "he" had not already crossed all limits."he considered the woman in front of him." Very telling.And... have you really planned for Krum to come to UK and stay at Hermione's?!? *rubs hands in anticipation*AndHeeeeeee - poker evenings at Hogwarts! You have definitely a gift for bringing to life OCs and minor characters :)

You are SO good at taking me back to forgotten sensations! Hermione's developing feelings for Ron. Glances exchanged over a shared thought. The sudden awareness of another's forearm: synecdochic, alien, exciting... but it happens with her professor as well, on a shifted, and still mostly unconscious, level. She is bound to make comparisons (well, you certainly do it, or this is how I understand it *g*)Ha! here it is: Jocelyn/Hermione, I knew I just had to be patient :)) Truth be said, I find the first-year a little bit too comfortable while dealing with Hermione. Probably it's just me, but I'd have been (I mean, I was!) intimidated, not to mention incredibly pleased and happy, when someone over 15 seemed willing to talk to me as if I was their peer :DYou know, Hermione's attitude in the Felix Felicis accident, in your words, looks like something I might have done any moment *swallows* - BTW, nice addition of sympathetic Professor Snape at the end ;)

Though I'd have liked to see more of Hermione's interaction with Jocelyn, I confide in your choices and, after all, I've had a great time with Snape's musings. Analysing people's relations through paper grading is very creative :)And then he plays saviour. Again. For how long, poor man? You are doing a great job of arousing our sympathies for his solitary, understated heroics, knowing that the worse is yet to come... And that Dumbledore! Enough to make me want to whine "Please mummy can I strangle him? Pretty please? - so, I have no charitable feelings if, for once, he is the one confronted with haunting memories and past mistakes.

How does one tuck a sprig of basil flower into their buttonhole? I spent few minutes pondering the issue, LOL. Whenever I need them around (as mosquito repellant. not because I share Luna's taste for extravagant decoration) I end by carrying them like a loony wannabe bride ;)Vector's beckground is the most unexpected run into RL and recent history that I've had the pleasure to come across in the HP fandom. I have this nagging feeling that I should know these events, though I can't place them exactly (Panagulis is the first name that crossed my mind, but of course the timeframe is entirely wrong)<i>love and politics is a fierce combination.</i> *sighs* so many memories of the 70s!Some more very delicate, very spot on moments of teen-age Hermione growing up. Her nostalgy for simpler times, her blessed moment of respite playing with Harry and Ron. Her first pangs of jealousy. As for the lesson - well, that's the beginning (or at least I hope so) of the interaction we are all expecting to develop. And I like the pace you are keeping in its development.

Pheeww, I'm sorry for putting your story on hold, but I like it too much not to give it my full attention, and things had become a little too messed up for me recently. I even read this chapter twice already, without the chance to complete my comment. Now that the Exchange is over, I hope I will be a better reader :)As for this chapter, I loved both the occlumency lessons and (perhaps even more) the side story of little Jocelyn, the concern Severus is showing, their interaction with Poppy Pomfrey -- and what his uncharacteristical behaviour tells of Snape :)Now this will be the occasion to redefine inter-house relations, among many other tantalising opportunities for developments...

Nice twist. Very ingenious how you manage to stick to canon (so far!) while telling Hermione's story and putting in a lot of extra, interesting information.As a classicist/medievalist who specialized in philosophy and logic, let me add that Ockham actually formulated this maxim as 'Entia non multiplicanda sunt sine necessitate' (We should not multiply entities without necessity), which of course comes down to the same thing. Contrary to popular belief, the principle was not invented by Ockham; it's at least as old as Aristotle. Ockham used it in a metaphysical/ontological context, meaning that he did not believe in Plato's immaterial, eternal and incorruptible  Ideas as the perfect originals of the imperfect and material things we observe around us. Ockham considered this an unjustified multiplication of objects which, as he believed, were not necessary to explain the structure of our world. These days people generally use the maxim in a scientific context to advocate the simplicity of theories.OK, end of class.Looking forward to your next update!

It's so cool that Prof Vector asked Hermione to help out. I really loved the way she manipulated Hermione into being her 'assistant' without actually making it seem like she'd palnned it. I bet the numbers told her too. I always liked that Hermione gave Ron a nudge to get back on the team. So when is Sev going to make his move, hum?

as always, i love how you weave this with canon - i can't imagine doing it myself but you are and it's great. additionally, the story itself is very well written - i love your writing style in general but the depth you are adding to the characters and their relationships is exciting and very plausible. this is a great chapter. i've never rated a story before but i decided to give my first rating to you (*****) i also added it as a fav. i'm really enjoying reading and as always, i'm anxiously awaiting the next chapter!

This is undoubtedly the best of the SS/HG stories I have ever read. I am awed by the subtle weaving in of various characters so seamlessly that there are no threads left dangling. Your portrayal of Viktor is flawless. The whole story flows like silk sliding over bare skin. I am very impressed. Thank you. I did not leave chapter reviews because I was too enthralled to stop reading.

wow!  what a terrific update!  loved the stuff about Occam's razor but i see why i didn't take latin or logic in school.  thanks so much

Oh wow what a chapter. I was so impresed at how you wove Hermione's perspective in this and her way of handeling the 'logic' puzzle. What did she say to him in Latin - no fair doing that and not telling us!   LOL kidding.Severus' reactions were surprising in that he almost dropped his masks. Very good job. Oh, I've recommended this fic to two of my online friends!

lovely job - thanks again!! 

I'm glad she figured it out herself.  If anyone could, she definitly would be the one.  I'm sure it will be of some comfort to Severus once the despicable deed is done. Shame on Dumbly for ever asking him to do it.

smartest witch of her age, indeed. she should have hugged him; that could have been interesting.

Excellent chapter.  I loved how Hermione got Severus's attention to get him to talk with her.

Good girl! :)

*sigh* I wanted to hug Snape too.  Poor Snape.  *sniffle*

Oh, Severus' reactions toward Slughorn was stunning. He open hates the man!  I liked the way he met with this house and the meeting with his students in his office. Really put them (all but Draco) in their place, didn't he?I can't believe I missed this chapter!

Has Hermione just out smarted Dumbledore? I think she has. The know-it-all does it again. But now Snape feels terrible, will he turn to Hermione for comfort maybe it's time for them to stop hiding their feelings.

Behind on reading as I am, I just began this tale yesterday -- printed it out and then couldn't put it down!  This is so well done on so many levels.  It's not easy to write a well-woven Canon-era fic, but you have done such a lovely job weaving canon with your story and adding layers of characterization.  Hermione feels like an older adolescent and not an adult; Snape's need and fear and hope and rage are palpable.  The relationship growing between them feels credible and viable -- a student/teacher relationship with an edge and with the attendant conflict you would expect from two such principled people.  Snape preparing Hermione to do the feats we see her doing in DH feels far more realistic than her sudden and inexplicable skills in canon.  I'm eager for more and so admiring of what you're wrought thus far!  Brava!