This continues to be a fascinating and complex tale!  I do believe that Hermione can be of help here, and how perceptive of Severus to recognize that.Vector's tale, too, is interesting--and I think she may be helpful at some later date, for though they are rather far apart at the moment, both Severus and Hermione are headed toward one another (on a very long, slow trajectory--and that is not a criticism!  I like your pace very much!), and one who has experienced both a student/teacher relationship and a wide age gap could provide some wise guidance.

What an interesting concept!  I am fascinated by this turn of events, and continue to be intrigued to see how you are integrating it into the story we know.  The lessons with Hermione are equally interesting.  This Severus really is a very good teacher, as I would think he would have to be, as well as a very shrewd judge of how to handle people.Very nice touch that he didn't know many of the Polyjuice details--I was afraid you were making him too all-knowing, so I'm glad there are things he can learn.  He's much more interesting that way.  I'm also delighted to see that, while Hermione has considerable natural aptitude, she also has much to learn (and the willingness to work at it).Another terrific chapter!

What an amazing birthday!  And of course she would have been made a member of the Order at the first possible moment.  Love the fact that Severus knows so much about what she's done and who she is, while continuing to act completely within character.  And I do believe the word "act" is appropriate--he's a fascinating individual, and you are making full use of his complexities.

This new Slytherin is an intriguing puzzle--I'm very much looking forward to seeing how she fits into the plot.  You've also managed, I think, to get the relationship between Severus and Voldemort exactly right..as well as that between Severus and Minerva.  And now you tease me about the next chapter!  *Runs ahead to see*

What a wonderful explanation of why Hermione Confunded Cormac!I'm fascinated by your portrayal of Vector, as well.  You've made her quite an intriguing character.  Love the calculations about Hermione's importance to the cause!

Again, you are filling in blanks I hadn't even realized were there, and doing a brilliant job of it.  Severus does look after his Slytherins particularly well and gives them an excellent model to follow, if only they would.  Looking forward to his talk with Draco!

I hadn't really thought about how they would have spent that summer--especially Hermione--yet you've convinced me that this is exactly what that time would have included.  Excellent work!

I love seeing the story through different eyes and with different details and reactions!  Well done--looking forward to much more!

Oh, this is wonderful!  He truly does understand her strengths and where she could improve her skills, and she would do well to keep paying attention.  And I adore the fact that, while she thought she was being a good little spy, pretendingto be asleep, she didn't have him fooled for a minute.  He really is very good at what he does!

What an interesting job of filling in the gaps in canon with all kinds of intriuguing new details.  You've done of superb job of showing Severus' state of mind throughout all this.  The sense of danger is palpable!

No rest for the wicked indeed.He's a phoenix, is he?  What an intriguing start!  So glad this was nominated, or I might never have discovered it.You're doing a beautiful job of delineating both pfthese complicated characters!

very very good.  i actually came across the sequel first, but then i read the A/N and decided i had better read this one first. :D  im very glad that i have.  now, onward to Phoenix Tears!!

hooch and poppy?  who woulda thought? :D  but ever since i saw the first movie, i knew that hooch, at the very least, played for the other team.  she just wasnt described that way in the books lol

Oh, McLaggen.  Should have known that Death Eaters don't start creeping into the castle until spring - like lady bugs.Was it me, or did Snape not catch that Hermione's housemates are calling her a "whore"?  I may need to reread that again...Oh, Severus, you're so socially disabled, it's cute! 

Dumbledore is totally manipulative!Oh!  OH!  Is that Dolohov in the alcove?!  Damnit, how do Death Eaters keep getting Hogwarts?  Srsly! 

"“Nonsense, Horace,” Minerva replied complacently, “Hermione Granger has far more important things on her mind than taking a boyfriend!” Minerva persisted in the ridiculous belief that all of the smartest girls were lesbians, and Severus resisted the urge to roll his eyes."This is actually true!  All the smart girls are lesbians!"Jealousy and rage flared in an instant. Only the kind of control honed by years of spying prevented Severus from leaping from his chair and hexing Slughorn into oblivion. Of course, it wasn’t exactly Slughorn’s fault, but Severus had never liked him anyway."Sluggie has it coming, one way or the other...althought, it's weird, I was ambivilent towards Bookverse Sluggie but utterly adored Movieverse Sluggie.  Weird."The door closed behind her with a decisive thud. With a snarl worthy of a wounded animal, Severus swept the contents of his desk onto the floor. He strode from his office into his sitting room and wordlessly summoned the firewhiskey bottle. Getting angry at Miss Granger hadn’t improved his mood in the slightest."No, but I bet throwing things on the floor made you feel a little better.  I know it does me when I do that!  It's hilarious that in most fics the "clearing of the desk" happens just before sex and Hermione isn't even in the room!  I love it!GOOOOOOOOOD  Chapter.  And Voldemort is so Snape's creep uncle. 

I have always wondered why Dumbledore did and didn't do a lot of things throughout the series - like point out that Sirus Black wasn't a Death Eater - that he didn't murder Peter or James or Lily, etc.  I find Dumbledore to be more on the skeevy side than not, you know?I like Hermione's relationship with Krum - its something normal - any 17 year-old girl would do, you know?These last few chapters I've been clicking next before I realize it and then I have to go back to leave a review!  It's good stuff you've got going on here!

Reemember that part in True Lies where Arnold's character fantazises about viciously beating the used car salesman macking on his wife?  Yeah.  I could just see Snape doing that.  Oh, how I love Snape's political machinations!  ::squish:: 

"Shit. Snape—SNAPE!—is going to kill me. What the hell was I thinking?"  If by killing you mean sex, then yes, there will be sex.  ^_^  This is what happens when Snape dresses down - TEH SEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Love this chapter!  Hermione/Krum and Lesbian Poker Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And, of course, Snape was jealous.  ^_^

BTW, I forgot to mention last chapter that I'm not familiar with the Hagrid/Kicked Dog cliche.  ^_^Now I'm curious as to the reason behind Snape's dislike of dirty hankies...(I just realised I started treating that like a valid plot point!  Is it?)w00t 

D'awwwww!!!  Snape gets ::huggles:: from a firstie!  ^_^B'awwwww!!!  I was looking forward to Draco's paper too!  Oh, well!

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ah, Hermione, you'd love to ride to Snape's rescue, but someone beat you to it!  Fabulous!  And you used Arianna as a plot point!  ROCK! 

Miss Granger and Miss Smith, I like it.  Severus enjoys himself with Miss Granger too much.  ^_^  I'm looking forward to this "experimental treatment" Miss Smith is going to receive...  ::squee::  Theraputic Majic is fun!  

Oh, Prof Snape!  He's a delightful bastard!  ^_^  And how did I know Miss Smith would end up as a go-between?  Fabulous!