This is an excellently written, brilliant story! I can't wait for the update, and I am definitely in this for the long haul!

I've really enjoyed this story so far and I'm really looking forward to the UST! And the angst, I guess, but a little less. :D

That was some wicked spell work Voldemort used on Severus.  He is in the best hands he can be now, but I think he will have a good bit of healing to do before he can be up and about as usual.I see Bellatrix has been her usual cruel and nasty self.  Someone should hex her to hades and back.  I'm looking forward to the next chapter to see how Severus fares and how Hermione handles this near-death of the object of her affections.  I know Poppy told her she couldn't see the Professor again that day, but surely no one will be able to keep her out for very long.Beth

'a place that shouldn’t feel anything at all, but should be going about its metabolic business in darkness and quiet.'  Love that bit! :)

excellent chapter - keep up the great work - really enjoying your story line

I love angst and UST. Bring it on! The more things build up the better it will be when they finally do get together.

So much time has passed and Snape is still thinking about his time with Lily. [Heavy sigh.] His pleasure from the Dark Lord had me worried for a moment. I thought he was having to shag the D.L. The episode was all in his head with an obvious physical response, right?

Like one of your other reviewers here, I too have only just come across this fic and read it through in one hit.  Wow - what writing!  This is quite amazing and you've done a fantastic job of describing the fantasies of Snape that Hermione has and how she keeps it as her 'little secret'; I'm sure a lot of us could relate to that (whoops, not a secret now, damn!!)Seriously though, this is good.  Again, like your other reviewers I've never seen SS as a smoker, mainly because it doesn't seem to go with the 'fastidious' image of a Potions master.  However, for me Alan Rickman is Snape and vice versa and I only ever think of SS in terms of AR.  I only recently found out that AR used to smoke (gave up just over 20 years ago apparently) which was not something I had imagined!  So now, stories where he does smoke somehow seem more realistic!Simply can't wait for more of this now - it's been added straight to my 'favourites' list so I don't miss out on updates! :-)

Hmm.  Wonder who Sev's imaginary lover could be? :)

I only just discovered your story and had the pleasure of reading all these chapters in one motion. I enjoy your writing very much, it is outstanding in its descriptions and fluency of the tale. I especially enjoyed your portrayal of Snape as the dark and hard minded, yet sooo sexy professor he is -- begging, 'don't let him go soft now!!' Thinking of Snape with a cigarette is hard to do though, it is so not like him. I might just cross that out in my mind, if you allow. Urgently awaiting your next update, H.

Interesting. Lets see what happens next :)But.. argh, smoking again. I so dislike that, for me, it doesnt fit Snape at all ( nor Hermione). But alas, for you (and many others as it seems) it connects, so dont you worry about it. It's not suposed to be a criticism, just my little pitty sigh ;) I'm still going to read on propably :)

So I guess Minerva and Severus were dueling and not shagging. LOL. It appeared so suggestive. Maybe we are all just pervs. Or is is just me?I wonder if Real Life Snape will get a look at what Hermione and Fantasy Snape get up to?

interesting. i'm looking forward to where this will go. :)I'll be secretly hoping for some more Snape POV :) but regardless of that, seems to be an interesting story... to bad, there are not more chapters yet, I want to read on :D

Nice chappy!! Can't wait to read more of them! Am especially looking forward to the next chapter (Snape's POV!). YAY! ^_^

Nice chappy!! Can't wait to read more of them! Am especially looking forward to the next chapter (Snape's POV!). YAY! ^_^

"Her diligent summer reading in Muggle-Smut Studies," And who hasn't done that course? :)

I like how you make Hermione put her memories together of other things, and yet have her not stray into unreality. This is exactly how I'd imagine her to fantasize: It's not real, I don't want it to be, but let's enjoy what can't be. Hmmmm... wonder how long THAT'S gonna last. =)

Wow, hot stuff!  Yippee!    A very accurate description of what the sex life of teenagers typically entails; not like the novels at all...  But if Professor Snape only knew what was going on insider her head!  Heh, he might be the first individual ever to suffer a Legilimency-related injury.

Looking forward to Chapter 5!

Ooh, the next chapter sounds intriguing.  I love duelling!Snape.

excellent chapter - thanks so much for your hard work - what torture for both of them!!!

She finally realized what we've all known for eons!  I like this back and forth perspective you're doing.  Very entertaining.

Hard to switch off those thoughts once they have surfaced! :)

Cori, you are writing a wickedly entertaining story!!!  My compliments to you.The way you let us see the thoughts that Severus and Hermione are thinking at the same time or about the same idea is very effective story telling and wonderfully informative on the heart and soul of both of them.It's almost painful to see how Professor Snape will have a pleasant thought about her, and then castigate himself for being a fool, as if saying to himself, "she would never feel that way about me."  "As he watched, the thought hit him that it was a rare thing for him to work alongside someone else—someone working competently and quietly on her own project. It felt collegial and... cosy. Cosy. His sneer was for himself this time. What a soft-headed notion."The revelations that Hermione had about her Professor were just as telling.  She had already noticed his hands, his magical hands, and tonight she noticed the way he moved, how he spoke, how the cut of his clothing complemented the way he moved to create the billowing of his robes with an economy of motion.  She noticed his voice, his eyes, his eyebrows, everything about him... Everything.  "He’s not just sexy. He’s bloody well made of sex."I think she has a good eye.  Severus Snape is sex on legs.Great chapter!  Beth

Poor Severus... when you expect to be vilified and feared, then everything you see is translated into what you believe.  The look on his face once he ever realizes how Hermione really feels about him should be priceless!  I'm really enjoying the back and forth between his perspective and Hermione's, as well as the tension.  I also like the little "teasers" for the upcoming chapters that you include at the end of each one; really whets the appetite for more!

I must say your teaser for chapter 4 is quite that, very intriguing. I'm on Hermione's wave length 'made of sex' lol.