This is warming up v.nicely........am eagerly anticipating your next installment. Methinks Severus as he is now would be incandescent if he found out that 'red' was Hermione....yet I'm sure you will progress their relationship along swiftly to a point where he will either find out...or will she tell him? Either way he's going to be hurt to the core....maybe her revelation will come in a form of rescuing him from rogue Deatheaters or similar situ...so he will have to forgive her! Can't wait to see what you do......loving it so far.

oh my deb, that was so true to character for all of them.  loved the whole thing.  thanks and mega mucho smoochies

Poor Severus, cynical and distrusting.  Now he thinks Red is part of an ebil plan to  humiliate him?  She's a freaking bird, albeit a sentient one.  Snap out of it, man.  Stop the woe-is-me crap and makes friends with the nice birdy/animagus/Charms mistress. *giggle*  I know, I know, all in good time.

I can't tell you just how well this story is written.  The characters are in depth and 'true to form' and things are progressing nicely.

Great update.  He's got a lot of things to work through, that's for sure.  Not envying Hermione when the other shoe drops.  Hopefully he will remember how talking with the falcon-Hermione started him on the road to healing... before he hexes her to death.  :D

Hermione knows that Severus would be furious with her if he knew that Red was her in her Animagus form, but I'm glad she wouldn't let him wallow alone in depression.  He needs to recognize that no one blames him for the things he had to do to help Dumbledore bring about the downfall of the Dark Lord.I'm afraid that sooner or later Hermione will do or say something that will let Severus know that she is the fed falcon.  I just hope when he connects the dots, he won't stay mad at Hermione forever.Thanks for such a great chapter, Deb.  I liked seeing Severus feeling better and enjoying himself for a while, even if it couldn't last.Beth

This is gonna be fun.  Very good so far.  I'll be adding an update bookmark!

Yes, he is his own worst enemy.  Yet again.  I'm enjoying this story.  I can't wait to read the next chapter.

Great story. I can't imagine he'll be happy when he finds out who "Red" really is.

poor severus

Loved, loved, loved the conversation between Severus and Red.  Then she cries from frustration.  Poor Hermione.  Poor Severus.  I trust you have a plan to make them happy, dj? *taps foot impatiently*Janice? LOLExcellent chapter!

At least she is making him feel better. But hopefully Hermione can do that in human form eventually. 'Know-it-all Bird' hehe.

A good chapter, and I look forward to more. :)

Hope she doesn't leave it too long to tell him.  You know what he's like! :)

She's gonna be in deep when Snape figures out she's been playing him.  He'll rake her over the coals.

Wow, look at me finally catching up on some much needed reviewing.  As I mentioned a while ago, I love the form you picked for her animagus.  I also really enjoyed her bonding with him and being able to listen to his issues, because you and I both know he'd never be that honest with her human self.  I of course can't wait to see more.  Much Love ~ Brena

I'm so happy that Hermione is back at Hogwarts!  Woohoo!I'm tickled that her Animagus form is a falcon, and can't help wondering if Severus is an Animagus as well.  Wouldn't that be interesting!  Would he be a bird, too?  A hawk or a raven?  Or maybe an eagle?  It's fun to speculate.Having Hermione find Severus sitting by the lake was a stroke of brilliance.  In her falcon form, he accepted her without reservation, and felt it was all right to give voice to his troubles with this beautiful wild creature.  I'm sure that once he finds out that he has unburdened himself to his former student (the Know-It-All, no less), he will be outraged that she "fooled" him.  Maybe he will think Minerva put her up to it.  Whatever, I know it will make for interesting times between the new DADA Professor and the new Transfiguration Professor.I can't wait to see how you work all this out, but I know you will... and that I will love it!Beth

Severus sounds almost childlike in his speech.  I hope he is not pushing too close to the edge.  Very touching. chapter   I am very glad to see Hermione is an animagus.  It strikes me that once she knew such a thing existed, she'd have beed dying to obtain that ability herself.  I was surprized that McGonagall never taught the three of them that little trick.  It could have been useful in their camping expedition... I mean, in DH.-Wahoo

brilliant chapter!  I can't even imagine feeling like he does.  -Wahoo

This is brilliant.  I am assuming that it is, by and large, your imagination that supplied Severus's feellings, rather than personal experience. (I sure hope so!)   It all is so well-thought-out. This rings true.I am not a huge angst fan, having enough going on at home, thanks.  But this is supurbly done.  And. since the tale is called Recovery, not Descent, I gave it a try.  So glad I did.thanks for sharing this,Wahoo

Poor Severus!  I used to get survivor's guilt simply becasue I was so lucky (Touch wood!) and the people around me had accidents.  But I got over that.  This is survivor's guilt and, even more, I imagine, justifiable guilt.  I think you are doing a marvelous job imagining how he must feel having done terrible things, and then, another marvelous job setting it on 'paper' for the rest of us. -Wahoo

Birds of prey never hunt with their beaks. The curved beaks are too fragile. Instead, they use their powerful feet and claws to knock the prey down and kill it. Beak as a hunting tool is used by birds like storks and herons, but not by falcons, eagles or kites.Aside from a zoology lecture (could not help myself there), it is great that Hermione found a method how to penetrate Severus's shell and dig out information about him as he views himself. He needs help very much, and in this way, she knows where the problem is exactly.

Hooray, a new chapter!  How funny that Hermione's Animagus form is a flying creature, when she's terrified of doing it as a human... you just never know.  I also laughed when she instinctively caught that fish--if she doesn't watch it, she may find herself eating something that she'll regret afterward when she changes back!  Sev's opening up to the falcon was touching, but he's going to blow a gasket when he finds out it wasn't just some random form of wildlife.  On the other hand, the longer Hermione waits before letting him know it was her, the worse the explosion will be when he finds out...sigh.  Just can't win for losing, sometimes.  Still, he could probably use a familiar to talk to on a regular basis--maybe Hermione could gift him with a Kneazle kitten or something.I'm looking forward to see what happens next to our dynamic duo!

I can believe this is the way Severus would have acted if he.. he.. well you no. Hopefully Hermione will sort him out.

Look forward to more.

My heart is breaking for Severus.  He has lost his connection with Lily, and cannot believe that there is anything left to salvage of his friendship with Minerva.How much longer can he take this depression and sense of isolation?  He needs someone to will not take his orders to "Get out!"  Someone who can be as stubborn as he and who will make him come back to the community within the castle.  He needs Hermione... and she's on the way!I can't wait!Beth