That poor child.  All those comments about sex.  I think he just wanted the basics.  And Severus certainly put a lot of himself out there, didn't he?

Thanks for the update..the sex talk was emabarressingly tru..gonna have to go through that with my own kids soon enough.I felt for both Severus and Hermione..

Getting better and better.  Liking shy Severus a lot.

Oh dear.Judging by Severus' last comment, I'd say it's likely that's exactly what happened with himself and Lily, that they had sex and he thought it meant that she loved him the same way he did her. I wonder ... did someone slip her a lust potion as a prank or was she just experimenting and Severus was convenient? That last would be kind of a male thing for Lily to do, but ... somehow I wouldn't be surprised.(Or was it James who used a love potion to steal Lily away?)Severus, though, has always seemed to feel things more deeply and profoundly than the typical male, so if that's what did happen, no wonder he's being ultra-cautious with Hermione. Not to mention his instructions to Eugene on the way a proper gentleman should behave with a lady.

so sad but with a ray of hope.  thanks

I'm glad Harry broke free and brought the memories.  Hopefully, Severus can fully heal and accept what's staring him in the face.  I'm sure he doesn't think like that, though, right?

Wow...  This chapter is just... beatiful! I love the end of the chapter, the love Hermione feels for the boy it's lovely...This fic is great, congratulations!!! Terrific writer work.Sorry by my english mistakes.

Wow! That was fantastic. I've just read this story in one sitting up to now. I feel quite an affinity with it as I have visited Grasmere quite a few times and have a special anecdote associated with it. But as the saying goes, "You had to be there". We live in North Lancashire but have a boat and caravan located at Coniston Water which is about half an hour away from Grasmere. It really is a gorgeous village and I believe Sting has a pad there. Yes...I know...we are very lucky! You have done really well in expanding Severus' impending spiral into madness and hopefully his recuperation from it also. Poor Hermione. She is always expected to be the strong one and guide everyone through life whilst they conveniently forget she has her own personal demons to battle. Hopefully now she and Severus will start to heal together. I love how you have done your homework on the Cumbrian dialect and the geography of Grasmere and the Lake District. It's my most favourite place in the world and that gingerbread.......yum yum. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxx. P.S. Sorry it's long. I just had to get ten chapters worth in. 

oh beautifu;!  Thanks so much

Oh, Harry’s shock at seeing Severus. I thought he knew that Severus lived? Wasn’t he at least mentally prepped to see the guy? And his reaction to Eugene’s announcement of Hermione and Severus getting married – the child’s fantasy of it! LOL  and figures – Severus and Harry just had to get into it with each other. Not a nice simple ‘Hello how life treating you?’ Gads, they are both so thick!

And Severus – stubborn as a jack-ass and think as mud! Of course he wants the memories – he just doesn’t want to face the truth of his life and his loss of Lily!     Your answer to Harry’s question of ‘why’ is so poignant and cuts right to the heart of everything. It is sooo well stated.

It was heart breaking Eugene’s wistfulness to have Hermione as his mum and Severus as a dad, but to hear Hermione say that Severus couldn’t not love her… Gods I hope you have other plans.

Great story by the way. I’m really loving Eugene, and you Severus is redeemable and even loveable. Your Hermione is well characterized, her caring and compassion mixed with her spunk is great. Looking forward to more.

Oh please, Ginny ‘let’ Harry come visit? Like what? she has a leash on the guy or what? That’s insane. I don’t understand this ‘in and out of St. Mungo’s’ crap either. What is Boy-Wonder so mentally unstable. He was perfectly fine in the Burrow when he ‘kissed’ her good-bye!  Now he’s flipping out and depressed and woe’s me? Get a grip. Ginny is being flipping unreasonable and selfish!

Ok, I get Ron being all dopey and depressed, work-a-holic and tuning everyone out. But Really! After all these PH/RW/HG went through and he’s all mental NOW?   Ginny is really being a b!tch!  Why didn’t Hermione simply write to Harry? Surely she could have written him a letter?

Hermione’s talk with Severus, his dep confessions are really touching; the light touching of fingers, and his reaching for her hand – that’s good. But he’s still so broken.

Gads he was ravenous! Like a starving homeless vagrant, only he owns a house. I still don’t get the thing with the mirror – what is it about the mirror that he’s talking to. Is it the Mirror of Erised? Is that what he has at his house – or think he has?  Has the gaps on his missing memories made him loose his mind – is that what ahs him all confused and demented?

And I liked the bit with the clothes. Severus reluctance to tell her his size, and Hermione acting like a mum to him. Even the bathing – she’s like a mum to him, which is probably what he needs now.

Eugene still pushing to put them together is so annoyingly cute. His pushing that Lily isn’t real – I can see how that would set Severus off.

But why hasn’t Ginny written? Given the letter she’d written back to Hermione you’d think that she’d be dying to have open communication with her friend? Why has Ginny been silent for so long – didn’t she mean what she’d written?

Oh lords, Severus is a mental wreck! He's completely broken down. I hope that he can come back into himself.

Got Nerve, that girl, I'll say. I think Hermione handled Eugene's aunt quite well. I was distressed that Eugene seemed to have vanished all of a sudden. I sure hope the kid's all right?I enjoyed Hermione's telling of Professor Snape's story to the boys. I can only hope that someday it sinks in and they are more giving to others (and stop beating up Eugene)ANd Now with crossed fingers... It is Snape!

 Little Eugene wanting Hermione and Severus to marry so he can have a mum and dad! That's too cute.

Oh man I adored Eugene! At first I thought he was Severus only under an de-aging potion. LOLI could just see him taking to Severus and bugging him daily!  It's funny that he calls him Mr. Black - Severus must totlaly love that. The way Eugene talks is so adorable! Wherever did you learn the slang? It adds so much color to the character.  Leave it to Hermione to get another 'project' in the boy!

Yay!  Harry finally showed up!  I wish he would have left on better terms tho.  I was happy to see the evolution of Severus from rejecting the memories to accepting them.  It was perfect!  I also loved how the chappie ended.  It just made me say "Awwwwww".  I can't wait to see what happens next!  Please update again soon.  Much Love ~ Brena

This was a very sad chapter,but lovely all the same. I can't wait for the next one :)A~

I like the direction this is moving!  I kept rooting for Hermione to say something like, "I wouldn't mind one bit if that were true," or something of the sort.  So--when shall Severus realize that what he wishes for is NOT that far at all out of his reach?  I kept hoping he'd kiss her--but maybe in the next?  Eugene makes a wonderful little matchmaker!

This was a heart breaking chapter.  I bet it was difficult to write.

Beautifully written, this chapter brought tears to my eyes.  Hopefully now Severus is back in reality, things will begin to look up.

Silly, ridiculous? I liked the idea and hopefully, they will make an effort to make it real quickly. I'm glad Harry came to see them. Perhaps he can find healing himself. Wonderful chapter, I can't wait to see what happens next.

I've just discovered this story.  It's fabulous.  You've managed to tug my old heart strings.

how bitter sweet. harry came and they talked - i think it was good for all of them even though it was so hard. but we never get past our demons until we face them, do we? the ending was so sweet and so sad at the same time. it must be so difficult for all of them to want a family they don't have - especially when they are in such a precarious situation. i feel for them and hope that all will be well and forgiven in the end and that hermione, harry, ron, and ginny will be on good terms again.well done

I have been enjoying your story.  NC-17, though.  Hmm, is that for violence or smut?  Just wondering.  I vote for smut, but probably when SS and HG have an empty nest, after Eugene is off to Hogwarts.