Hermione's in for a lot of surprises.  She's been making rash decisions from the get-go, and making assumptions based upon believing Severus is staying in Azkaban.  There's a lot of potential for the other wand to drop.  As for courting, the fic developes really slowly, it's character driven, and while there will be citrus, that's much later on.  Thanks for your support, and working on the Q! AV

Well, I like character driven, and I like it when the citrus comes later when it will mean more.

No, it has nothing to do with safety.  The plot hinges around it, but there is a reason why Severus would rather stay in prison.  AV

Thank heavens for small mercies.  -AV

I'll update every chance I can.  But yes, there's a method to the madness and Hermione is in for some serious surprises.  And hopefully, so are you.  AV

Wow, you liked the dog park comment. You must have a very dry sense of humor.  We should get along famously.  I'm glad you liked it even if the summary is lacking. AV

A second time? Are you a glutton for punishment Kimjo?  No, that's ok. I'm just thrilled you like it.  Obviously well enough to read it twice.  All the best! AV

Very simple answer with complex reasons:  Severus doesn't want it to.  He's there by his own personal choice, and plot hinges around that fact.  I hope you'll continue to read and watch it unfold! AV

Oh, the contract should be up soon along with the negotiations.  Hermione's in for some hard truths.  All the best, AV

Absolutely.  Quid Pro Quo is a very Slytherin concept.  And why not?  She's benefitting from the arrangement.  Thank you for reading. AV

Somehow I don't see Hermione nesting too much.  She's too driven.  That, by the way, is what my Mother used to tell me.  Ha!  AV

She got to the point real quick, didn't she?  Hermione swings a pair of brass balls in this fic, except when she's feeling vulnerable and insecure.  AV

Oh good.  It is rather depressing, in a glossed over 'The War never happened - kindly go about your business' sort of way.  Severus' list and contract negotiations are forthcoming, and I hope you enjoy them too.  Thanks for reading, AV

Lustful Homicidal fantasies are great!!!  Sigh. I just wanted to avoid the pit/trap where SS/HG have secretly been in love with each other forever.  Different is good.  I hope you like different.  There's more different coming.  AV

Thanks!  They'll negotiate it out across the table, and I promise that it will be a very revealing chapter.I hope you continue to enjoy the story.  Thank you for reading! AV

You are so silly, you know that?  Prolly why you rock love.  Thanks for the support, I appreciate it. AV

I expect him to squeeze every desire his little heart has ever wanted into it.  Thank you for the sweet compliment. Poetic writing has never been my strong suit, so sometimes when I can pull something out it's a happy moment.  -AV

Of course!  That's exactly what plot is.  Nobody reads about ordinary people doing mundane things in a perfectly predictable fashion.  Where's the fun in that?  Bring on the twists and turns... and buckle the strap.  AV

I'm so happy you're enjoying this.  Minger is an unkind Brit slang word for an unattractive girl.  It's not a nice word at all.  -AV

Funny you bring that up.  That particular subsection will indeed come up at some point in time.  Before then we have to get past those 'homicidal urges.'  It's a long plot and character development.  I this fic is mostly written and will be about 160,000 words, so I hope you continue to enjoy it. AV

Thanks.  I love a strong Hermione who works hard and doesn't take too much crud from others, but that doesn't mean she's without her vulnerabilities and insecurities.  I'm glad you liked it, I hope you continue to enjoy it. AV

Ron can be whiny and immature, but he's also a strategist.  And what Hermione's got planned makes sense from that standpoint.  Aside from which, I cringe when some writers make him over-the-top petulant and irrational.  Nobody is that shallow.  Hermione is more grown up and what I envision she would act outside the structured school environment. There is also a bigger reason for some of her anti-sociability that's to be revealed.  Thanks! AV 

She's a grown witch.  But then, she's always been a grown witch under that bushy head.  I'd say she was pushing thirty before she hit 16.  I think JKR dumbed her down a bit as a foil, but that's probably a huge disservice and contrary to the actions of the character.  All the best, AV

Ron deserves some dignity.  He gets type-casted too much.  And the irrational whiny child act that he's given often as a bad plot device just doesn't often feel genuine.  I think were someone that immature, neither HP or HG would stand them.  Aside from the fact that chasing after Death Eaters and Voldemort has to be a very maturing experience.  Charlie.  Charlie is there because I cringe sometimes by the Virginal-Hermione thing I sometimes see.  Or that she's only been with Ron and is completely unworldly.  I don't think that's realistic... and yeah, I do think she's got a thing for bad boys.  Yes, we all do.  -AV

He's real, and he's human, but to make him over-the-top immature and whiny is to turn him into a cartoon.Did you just nicely say I was a potty-mouth?  Too funny! Thanks m'dear.  -AV

As a non-native speaker, who's been out of school for more than half her life (you may do your maths...) I did mean this literally! We learned the absolutely no-do words, of course, or then we found them in a dictionary. But all those in the grey zone are neither in a dictionary nor in a  textbook, and they change too rapidly to keep up.  Thankfully they're in the WWW these days. Bog paper is one example. Thanks for all 3 replies!

Here's the split:  SS gets bitten by Nagini, starts to die (Split:but doesn't), he releases his memories, which are collected by HG and others, HP witnesses memories in pensieve (Split: doesn't tell a soul about what he's seen.  Only HP is aware of them or knows of his innocence.)  HP wins Final Battle, per JKRs description. (Split: SS receives medical attention, and is hauled before the Wizengamot for being a Death Eater)Hermione does believe it.  As far as she is aware, SS is a DE who betrayed AD and the Order.I hope that makes sense to you.Thanks, AV