Okey-dokey!  Alive!  All sorts of possibilities now!  And I vaguely recall the Star Trek episode, now that you mention it; Picard had another life, didn't he?  Looking forward to Friday!

What a deliciously convoluted solution is playing out in your story!!!  I love it, and the thought process Hermione goes through before she realizes that Severus is alive is fabulous.This story is absolutely amazing!  You're amazing!  Right now, after reading this chapter, I feel like Friday will never arrive.A  Thousand Points To Your House, Shug!  Beth

ok!  now we're talking!  facinating and deliciously convoluted.  thanks so much

Thanks for the quick update.  You hook us in, and are going to make us wait til Friday!   Awesome chapter, I'll be waiting.....

Let me guess: Hermione will take a sudden interest in helping to organize that war exhibition.

In this life Severus is really not dead but alive well and she finds him because she comes to realise that she actually does love him. They have the life she has dreamed about but without Severus dying! Do I ask to much? (crosses fingers) Hope I get the programme right.

Yes, yes....it was an episode of Star Trek (one of my very, very favorites).  I haven't looked at any other reviews soooooo I'm I right????????

thank you for promising to post quickly - it saves me the trouble of empty threats and vague references to torture :-)  Did see it coming- but you do such a lovely job it was still as engaging as ever - so I'll be here . . . on the literal edge of my seat . . . checking in every few hours . . . just waiting to see . . .

Wow, I certainly had never expected this and now I'm REALLY confused!!! But I enjoyed the chapter tremendously and the little things that were missing (Why did she never ask what the shere was? why did she never tell Severus the exact place where her memories stop?) now don't seem like they're missing at all, but seem to be part of a greater scheme... I'm glad I don't know the TV show you're refering to. I'm ready so be surprised, again!Lovely chapter, I can't wait for the update!!!gab

Oh My God!!! EVIL! I cried when Severus died, and now it's just a DREAM!But the good thing is... she will get to live it all again, won't she? But without the missing memories! Lucky girl!!

Gosh, by the end of this chapter I was in tears.  And I'm still sniffling. Will the next chapter make me feel better or worse?  I'm almost afraid to find out.

Aha, she gets to start again! :)

I saw this coming but I was still crying when the end came.  I believe this is from one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Am I right?  It was a favorite of mine and just as gut wrenching as the story you're writing here.Well done.

I'm so glad to know Severus is still alive. I wonder if he has any notion of the life he "shared" with Hermione. I'm looking forward to reading more.

I'm really enjoying this story. Thanks! Here's my guess on the TV Epi: Star Trek TNG, season 5 episode called "The Inner Light"  As soon as Hermione picked up the sphere and spun out of time this is what came to mind.  Can't wait for the rest!Celest

Very nicely written. You are very effective at transmiting emotions. I'm looking forward to read how you tie up the loose ends.

I am amazed how well you told us of the events that occurred throughout the decades of their life together.  With an economy of well written words we learned that:• Hugo had been sorted into Slytherin House (and made Severus very proud).• Severus had been about to leave his family rather than have them have to endure an investigation of an unfounded accusation of the child of a former Death Eater.• Rose had married Scorpius Malfoy.• Hermione had won a grant to study memory loss, and Severus had feared that his wife harbored some regret for staying with him.• Hugo gave them their first grandchild, Dahlia Hermione Weasley.• Ron and Eleanor had four children.• Severus and Hermione never had a child of their own (and Severus had no regrets).• Rose and Scorpius were expecting a child.• the youngest of their great-grandchildren was named Severus Ronald, and they had gone to see him off at Platform 9-3/4 when he first went to Hogwarts.• Rose and Scorpius' middle child was named Peter, and Peter had escorted his aged grandparents to the train station.• Severus collapsed at the station after the Express had left because of his declining health.

And then I cried.  The Healer's words to Hermione broke my heart.  Not Severus... this could not be happening to Severus and Hermione...

Severus' goodbye to Rose and Hugo, his children, and to Luna was poignant, and I know how hard it was for Hermione to witness it.  But his goodbye to the love of his life was both sad and uplifting.  Hermione's love for him had given him the life he had wanted but feared he would never have.  He felt blessed beyond measure to have been married to her and loved her with all his heart.Hermione's response to him was the perfect benediction for his life and love:  “Loving you has been the best part of my life. I wish I had those missing five years again … not because I still feel that something is missing—because I don’t, not at all—but because it would have been five more years of memories with you. I love you, so very much.”

They spent his last two hours not speaking but looking into each others eyes, and as Severus closed his eyes and his breathing slowed, Hermione timed her breaths to his until he drew his last.  I can not imagine a more peaceful death.  And I can identify with the feelings that overcame Hermione.  "What would she ever do without him?"

~~O~~

At the very ending of the chapter, when Hermione awoke and found herself in Luna's home, surrounded by all of Severus' books and parchments and journals, I caught my breath.  And then she realized that her wedding ring was missing, and her hands were not those of an old woman.  Then when she saw the "small, wooden sphere," I had to wonder if her marvelous husband hadn't found a way to grant her this fondest wish to have "those missing five years again." Good lord, what a marvelous story!  Take a bow, Shug, you deserve it.Beth

Hrmmm ... I bet dollars to donuts that she finds out (somehow) that she is just back at the start of those missing five years again and she somehow had a flash into the future. ^_^  Guess I'll have to wait and see ...

The next chapter better be up tomorrow, omg!  Evil, evil cliffhanger!!!!!

Ack, I knew it!  But wait - maybe Severus is really still alive, and Hermione has yet to meet him, and she'll have another wonderful life with him ahead of her!  Right?  *crossing fingers and toes*

Ohhh... I cried hard when he died... =(But it is a beautiful story, I'm glad I stoped to read it!I'm nervously waiting the next chapter!

But what about the object which sent her five years forward? Obviously Snape should understand what happened if he looked into her mind.

you better post tomorrow night. I love this story. There could have been a little more filler in this chaper, but then you could have gone on forever. Can't wait until tomorrow.

So no finding Severus alive and well in the shower? hmm...the story description does say it is DH-compliant, and I read it anyway, so I guess I am ready for whatever is coming...

first i was tearing and sniffling...then i was ready to strangle you (along with hermione!)  but you promised tomorrow so i'll compose myself in patience.  thanks so much