"Thanks for the fuck". Indeed! Hell! If Severus Snape ever dared say that to me after a screw...........well I'd be a puddle of emotional goo all over the floor and probably kissing his size 13s as well.  Bastard! How does he (AND YOU) do it? As for Marcella.....he's not suggesting a threesome is he? The kinky bugger! No, no no! It's just that he seems to be getting a little uber-confident in his sexual prowess. Not a bad thing at all but I think us ladies prefer threesomes where two blokes are involved not two birds. Right then. Apologies for not having updated for a while but have been busy turning my old office at home into an en-suite and gallivanting around Coniston in the Lake District sorting out our new boat. Such is life. Oh and Alan Rickman is calling for tea and crumpets this afternoon. Sorry. That's tomorrow's fantasy. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxxx.

Mr. Smug Slytherin himself!  "Thanks for the fuck…. I’d better go and unlock the door."  Well, he did stand and deliver, after all.  And in as much as he has allayed Hermione's fears about the attractive Marcella he was talking to earlier, Hermione has had her ruffled feathers smoothed. 

Once I'm into a story (particularly WIPs) and commited to following it to the end, I don't usually read the Reviews and Author's Responses for a chapter before I write my own review.  In fact I almost never do that for any reason.  The one time when I'm most likely to is if something in a chapter confuses me, or I'm not exactly sure that I'm not just being paranoid when I think I see trouble just ahead... and this chapter is one of those times.  So I quickly perused the reviews/responses and noticed the following:

Sevvy said, " ...not sure I believe the bit about Marcella...", and you replied, "I'm not convinced about Marcella either!!!"

You did that on purpose, didn't you?  Don't deny it, I know you did.  Congratulations on making me think about, and twist, and massage every frickin' word in this chapter!  And here, for your edification, are the mental hoops I jumped through:

There was something about Severus' interaction with Marcella that did not ring completely true with his explanation of her to Hermione's question.  He had told her that:(1) she is a business associate – just business(2) with whom he had worked closely since he had opened his shop(3) and he said that Marcella preferred witches to wizards.  He did not say she was strictly (as in exclusively) a lesbien, he said that Hermione was more her type.  So she could be bisexual, which would not preclude his having had sexual relations with her at sometime in the past... I'm not saying he did... I'm only saying he could have.(4) when Hermione asked him why she had come to the shop, he told her, "Ahhh... That I cannot tell you; it would spoil the surprise…. But trust me, you will like it..."

Additionally:(5) he had been leaning into their conversation, and he did not move his hand when Marcella placed her hand over his own.

So anyway, just before Marcella appears in the shop, Severus is thinking about how happy he is. To wit, "Severus felt like a new man. He was having regular sex, but that was nothing unusual. It was, however, unusual for him to have sex with someone he was in love with. And it added a whole new dimension he had never experienced before. It made him more light-hearted. He felt joyous, happy. He enjoyed smiling. He had even smiled at a couple of his regular customers, and they had left thinking he had been sampling too many of his own potions."

Now I ask you, does this sound like a man who has just been flirting with another woman with designs on getting said other woman into a certain position?  I think not.  However, after thinking on Valentine's reaction to what she had seen in her mirror, and then in the three cards she had drawn at random, I began to wonder just what the hell she had seen, and what had prompted her to mutter, "Men."

After much careful and studious consideration, I have come to the conclusion that Severus is completely in love with Hermione to the exclusion of all others, and that Marcella is a travel agent and Severus has asked her to arrange a trip for him and Hermione to take a romantic holiday.  Now, wasn't that fun?

Nice, very nice story!Beth

This interlude is the sweetest one of all!  Such sweet declarations of love and longing.  Such sweet joining.  Is it any wonder that kingdoms have been won and lost for thousands of years for just an experience.Beth

‘I ticked the ‘lifetime commitment’ box, Hermione,’ Severus murmured in her ear. ‘I thought you might want to know that.’How very beautiful their joining was, with both of them having ticked the 'lifetime commitment' box, how could this have been anything less than this Earth shattering experience?  They have crossed into that ethereal place where two souls are bound as one, and this once solitary man has "wet tears on his cheeks as he continued to move inside her gently, not wanting it to end…. Never wanting to leave her body."Dear, Neelix, if this be cheesy sex, then cheesy sex is the best sex.  Very nicely done, m'dear.  Very nice, indeed.Beth

Neelix, this chapter was perfect.  You're right, of course, they did need something to make them laugh, to be able to let go of the tension that had built up... and it looks like Hermione's arse "waving out from under the table" for all to see did the trick.It was so sweet when Severus just gave himself over to the comedy of the situation.  ‘God, Hermione, I love you!’ He lifted her and spun her around on the spot, and she giggled softly. The only thing that needs doing before that can go on to Spinners End is for Severus to retrieve her rose, her beautiful , beautiful rose.This chapter is totally squeeeeeeeee-worthy!  I UBeth

Too funny, Hermione certainly guards her man from wayward women.

Well, once again you surprised me Neelix.  I was expecting "a jealousy" issue (all shouting and being mad) and that didn't happen at all; just wonderful lemons.  Do you have a job (in RL) as a multiple choice writer?????????

Well,it's nice to see him so sure of himself. It was almost comical how he was laughing at her.

Man, that kind of stuff never happens at my work!  Um...is he hiring part time help?

The sex was hot, but he was being a jerk. 

Ooh the jealousy was angsty for all of 5 seconds and then he took full advantage.  Well, that's one way to dispell any of her thoughts of it!  He's not smug at all is he?

Smug bastard isn't he? 

Ooooooooooo, Severus is a devil isn't he! He is so bad! LOL!!!  Squeeeeeeeee!!!  LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! Thank's for another great chapter!  Can't wait for more!!!  Whoohoo!!!

'thanks for the fuck...' You tease Severus. On the lab bench. Nice one!

He's such a tease! :)

Now that's what I call working overtime!  He's a smug bastard into the bargain aswell & I'm not sure I believe the bit about Marcella (then again, I'd believe absolutely anything he said if he'd just done that to me!) :-)

In the lab?!?!  Do they have no shame?!?!?!  No??  Thank god for that!!  Horny!Severus is a hoot, although I hope they wipe the benches afterwards - someone might get more Pep in their Pepperup than is strictly hygenic.Meanwhile, in the Continuing Adventures of Hermione's Pussy and Severus' Cock:The rhythmical thump of bed against wall had been disturbing the rest of both cat and chicken for several hours.  The pace suddenly picked up, and with it there came a cry: "Oh Gods, Severus!  I love your cock!!"Lucius preened.  The old Malfowl charm was still working its magic.To see a picture of this most slytherin of poultry go to my livejournal:

Severus, Severus, terribly naughtly Severus.

Author's Response: YES... but hot, right? hehehe

This was nice.  I would say that it is a good sign that they are talking about the future. 

How's it going to slip out that they both want lifelong commitment from one another?  Its amusing the way its all playing out!  Well done!

I really wasn't expecting that last bit there, brought a smile to my face. I can see Severus telling her in lecture mode just like in one of his classes let it all tumble out lol Poor Severus he needs to feel wanted... my door is always open (bedroom) lol. Great chapter. I hope he finds the courage soon.

Well, he'll have to get over that soon, won't he? Great chapter!!!

Men, honestly! Severus really is just being the archetypal male here in not being able to tell her he's fallen in love with her, isn't he?! Perhaps he should write down his feelings instead? (By my reckoning I think he'd be pretty good at poetry - if he put his mind to it!!) Then Hermione could get him to read it to her in that delicious voice of his ... hmmm (Sorry - got a bit carried away again there!)Great update though.  Things do seem to be moving along a bit now for them I believe - albeit slowly! :-) 

ER.  Words, Sev, words! :)

A bit of hanky panky should dispel some of the negativity! :)