Thank you so much! I hope that you enjoy the rest of it as well. I finished writing the final chapter, emailed it off to my beta, and posted this chapter within a matter of a few minutes. I'll get the remainder of the chapters posted when I can. Thanks again! ~Ginny

I'm so glad! You've been wonderfully patient with me through this story.  Thanks, hon!

HA HA HA! She and Harry will go rounds. I'll get the next chapter up soon. Thanks! ~Gin

Thank you,

! The next chapter will be up later on this week. I need to pull it out and re-read it and edit a few things before I pass on to my beta. Cheers! ~Ginny

Thank you, Lutricia! Yep, she's standing up to Harry, at least some. More will be up soon. Cheers! ~Ginny

Thanks, June! A guilt-ridden Snape feels the need for penance and yes... he can only come along when others are mulling around the area... less likely to stick-out. Though, later he came more out of curiousity if she would turn up. That line was one of the harder ones for me to try to fit in here... though I have to say that the line from HBP was my worst. (Still gives me a headache when I think about it.) Thanks for reading, June! ~Gin

Yes, that is the pertinent question, is it not? Next chapter is being proofed this evening and I should be able to upload Thursday sometime. Thank you!!! ~Ginny

HA HA! Yeah, I want to see her smack Harry a bit, too. He can really be an obnoxious prat. The sad thing is... can't you just see him holding such a nasty grudge? Grrrrr.More will be up soon. I'm just waiting in the long queue line at another site before working on polishing chapter 3. Thank you!!~Ginny

Thanks, hon! Yeah, Harry is a prat... Hermione will tell her story now. :-)

Actually, the biggest reason that I stopped there was because of the challenge guidelines. It specified word count to be between 1000-2000 words per chapter. I was right aroun 1950 words when I got to this point in the story... thus the chapter cut-off... Next chapter starts to answer a few questions, though. :-)  Thanks, Patty!  ~Gin

Oh sure blame the challenge...

Oh, come on, Patty! You've read enough of my stuff by now to know that I can't run away from a really good cliffie! Muwahahahaha! 

I know... I just love to hassle you...         

I was trying to find a word in the dictionary.  Came across hogshead - a large barrel especally one that holds from 100 to 140 gallons of liquid...  

Of course the dictionary was printed in 1966. 

PS it even has horny in it but not by today slang... lol 

Harry is dangerous, but he thinks that he's right. In most things he's reasonable and fair... in the case of Snape. Well, after the way he perceived the events of HBP, how well do you think he'll take the news that Snape's not as evil as he thinks. (Because we all know that he's not, LOL!) Hermione isn't about to underestimate him, never fear.  Cheers! ~Gin

No... definately NOT "Voice Of Reason". Actually, I'll explain the story title and the chapter titles at the end of the last chapter. I am quite horrible when it comes to cliffies, however in this case the biggest reason is that the chapter was just barely under the 2000 word mark at that very point. Seeing as that's the word limit for each chapter. :-) The next chapter will begin to answer a few questions. Thanks for reading! ~Ginny

Harry has a very bad understanding of misunderstanding and not getting 'all' of the information, I'm afraid. It's a flaw that he's proved time and again. More up in a few days. Cheers! ~Ginny

ROFLMAO!More like: The words 'You don't want to know,' flashed through her mind before she thought better of speaking them.Too funny...southern_witch_69's response: Harry noticed that she was having an internal debate. What the hell is she hiding from me? "I'd like to know, Hermione," he said, rising from his seated position.Hermione stepped away. Oh, no, not now. Please don't do this now, Harry. "I know him well, Harry."Suddenly, Harry's hands and lips were everywhere at once. "I can guarantee that he doesn't know you as well as I do." tbc?

It took every ounce of Hermione's courage to push him away. "That was a long time ago, Harry," she stated at his afronted look. "Bloody hell! You're married!""That's never stopped us before, Mione," Harry replied. "But that was before..." her voice trailed off.southern_witch_69's response: Harry crosses his arms over his chest. "Before what?" He had his suspicions, but he'd not voice them... not yet.Swallowing nervously, she said, "Before I met and fell in love with someone else.""But you and I... we agreed to always keep the each other close at heart." He sat down roughly, sulking slightly. "My feelings have never wavered. You know the only reason that you aren't my wife is because... of Ron."Rolling her eyes, Hermione said, "Well, this is no longer enough for me. It hasn't been for a long time now." She raised her chin defiantly. "I love Severus."

"Damnit!" Harry shouted. "I knew there was something between you and that arse! When did all of this happen? Hell, you were just in my office last week under my desk. You didn't say anything then!"southern_witch_69's response: "Ha! You thought that was me? That, dear Harry, was Lavender Brown. She used a bit of Polyjuice and pleasured you. I've not done that job for months!" Her smirk faltered when he rose angrily.

Harry's wand was out in an instant. "I've sullied myself with the likes of Lavendar Brown! Bloody HELL, Hermione!!!  What have you been doing... off with that greasy git of a traitor! You are no better." Levelling his wand, he cast the first curse that came to his mind.southern_witch_69's response: Hermione felt the flesh on her stomach heat painfully for a moment. She ripped open her blouse to reveal... a tattoo! "You've marked me!?" Property of Harry J. Potter was now branded into her flesh. She flicked her wand in his direction, giggling as the spell hit him.

Harry felt the curse on his groin roughly. He hurridly opened his pant to see Property of Draco Malfoy branded on his member. "HERMIONE! You promised you would never tell anyone of that night! What will GInny say?"  (by cocoachristy)southern_witch_69's response: Hermione snickered. "Reverse yours, and I'll do the same." She lifted an eyebrow. "I'll not breathe a word to anyone about Draco or us... so long as you allow me to continue seeing Severus."

Looking down at his marked anatomy, Harry obviously weighed the consequences. "I suppose you'll want me to ensure his acquital so you two can continue to shag like kneazels in heat," he muttered as he raised his wand and removed the curse on her."Though that doesn't mean that you cannot see me still, does it?" he asked, with a small glimmer of hope. (Life with Ginny could be rather boring.)southern_witch_69's response: It was likely that Harry wouldn't truly go through with the acquital if he thought he'd lose her completely. Besides, what was a little shag now and then if nobody knew about it? "Deal, Harry," she agreed. "Nobody must ever know." She flicked her wand, removing the evidence.

Hehehehe... Yeah, Harry deserves a slap about now. :-DThanks for reading!

Thank you very much! That is definately a compliment! It definately is coming from you.  So very glad that you enjoyed it!!! Cheers! ~Ginny

Thank you! :D

Sunshine, thank you, sincerely. I appreciate all of the time and effort that you've put into everything I've done. ~Gin

Thanks, Patty!  Gonna finish "To Beget an Heir" before I start anything new, I think. :) That's the plan anyways. Thanks, for reading!!! ~Ginny

Thank you, Patty! The next chapter is in the queue at Ashwinder and will be uploaded here in another day or so! :-) Sorry it took so long. You know, the broken wrist, the added scene... all took time to out of posting. I hope you like what you see!!! Thank you!  ~Gin

Harry sort of scares me a bit. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he did it anyway. 'Getting the bad guy at any cost.' Failing to see that he is fighting the wrong battle. I'm glad that you liked the chapter. More up soon! ~Ginny

It's always too short... that's the problem with 2000 word chapters. ;-)  Ron had to be asleep... there was no way around it. Hey, in my first story outline, I had everyone out camping. LOL!  (Erm... yeah... it was a TOTALLY different premise.)Keep up your chant... ~Gin

Thank you so much! I'm glad that you're enjoying this... We'll have to see if Harry gets that smack he sorely needs. :-)  ~Ginny