Yay! 

Way to go Hermione!  It was no small thing that she did for Severus.  I was so pleased that they both came out and declared their feelings.  I was afraid that he was going to zoom out of there before they even got a chance to speak.  After all they have been through in their lives, if finding a way to be together while she still teaches is their biggest obstacle, it will be smooth sailing from here.  I love that he still calls her "Red." 

Very sweet.  i enjoyed the build up to their relationship and that things have been moving slowly.  I'm lookig forward to seeig where things go from here, I suspect that they are still going to have a few battles to fight before the end.

I'm so glad to see them work throught their emotional stuff together, I think it will make them closer in the long run.

Kudos on a great chapter.  Even though they were already falling for each other, each of them needed to confront the feelings they had about what had happened at the Shrieking Shack.  I'm glad Severus asked Hermione to go with him.  Standing there, side by side, each one had a different reaction to their memories of that day that Severus almost died.Severus now feels a new freedom, and Hermione has spoken to him about how badly she felt for the way they had left him on the floor and the relief she had felt that his death was one less Death Eater to worry about.No one likes to talk about the elephant in the room, but those elephants have a way of spoiling life until they have been acknowledged.  Then and only then is it possible to get rid of them.  Now I think they can move on to their future instead of living in the past.Wonderful!Beth

Well, that was cathartic.  Onward and upward! :)

Bless them. They really do deserve each other (in a excellent way of course although i'd very much like him to myself, but i'll share hehe). Look forward to more.

Another lovely step on the road to recovery.  I never expected Hermione to break down like that.  But she's always been sensitive and she would never hide her feelings for Severus.  It must have been so hard to admit what she felt about him before she learned the truth of his allegiance.  But she needed to have her own words thrrown back at her for her own recovery.  Now bring on the romance!  Please, please, please.

So sorry to not stop and review before now, but I got a late start on this one and decided that as the chapters just kept coming, it would waste precious reading time if I stopped :)  I love the concept of her befriending him in her bird form. And the fact that he took to her so well, spilling all of his secrets to a bird- the only person whom he trusts- was very sweet and very sad.  Extremely excited to see where we go from here!

Lovely chapter. Hopfully things will get better from here.

This was a momentous chapter, and it set the stage for everything to come.  You handled the moment so well, and I even felt a sense of relief as Severus faced his emotions and let them out.  Hermione is the best thing that has happend to Severus in a very long time.  They are building the foundation for a very lovely future.  There may be a few relapses ahead, but the journey has begun.*claps wildly*BethPS- The banner Tales created is made of win.

Well, that was better out than in. :)

Sure, there was no Severus/Hermione interaction here, but the Severus/Umbridge interaction was sooo worth it. If only Severus was legally able to do more to her. She's such a cow.

Severus' berating Hermione in the staff room was a near miss.  I thought we'd lost her.  And now the tables have really turned, haven't they?  I hope it won't take long for Hermione to recover her health.I'm glad Minerva sought Severus out and gave him a piece of her mind.  she made it pretty clear that that behavior would not be tolerated again... he'd be out on his ear.  Yay, Minerva!  And she also made it very clear that he had a lot to true friends at Hogwarts. I can understand why Hermione told him to go away and leave her alone.  It will take a while for her to come to terms with all that happened.  If he's lucky, she will read his letter and give it the attention that he was unwilling to give to the letter she wrote him.Getting a bit of his own medicine may just be what the doctor ordered.  Great chapter, Deb!Beth

I'm glad Luna is there to help Hermione with her situation with Severus. I think she is right, and once Severus sees Hermione's actions, he will know she was telling the truth. I don't think he will approach her, so she's going to have to be the one to start the healing process for them.

It may do him good to have to earn her forgiveness, she should really make him work for it.So good to see an update.

Quite an epiphany Severus has had.    I am sorry there are no more chapters to read...yet.

oh this is very good.  Umbridge is the character I love to hate.  and Luna is so sweet.  I am delighted to see Hermione recognise Luna's sweetness of character and want to be better friends.  Evil Umbridge!  I am certain it will not be the last we hear from her.

I think you are doing a good job portraying the broken Severus.  I am happy that I've never dealt with that much damage myself, (and I hope you have not, either!) but what you write seems believable.  That is the best compliment I can give, believable.  Hermione's geting into this mess is also believable.  People often do that; they never get around to it being the 'right time' until it is too late.

Oooh, catching up with this!  Such a neat story!

Will do him good to walk in her shoes for a while. :)

Yup. Severus has his work cut out for him, course if he hadn't yelled her she wouldn't have had a heart attack but then again he didn't know. I'm glad you udated and I look forward for me.

I can't wait for the next bit!  Severus is such a mess.  Working to get Hermione to forgive him will sort him out, I expect.

Severus is breaking my heart with all his self loathing.  I hope Hermione gets through to him soon.Wonderful update. 

I'd say Albus had that coming to him. Good chapter, I am ready to see Severus pick himself up and realize he's worth loving. I hope Hermione has a plan. Oh of course she does, she's all about plans.