I am just going through my bookmarked stories tonight, checking in with those who haven't posted recently, and letting them know that I-and many others, I'm sure- still want to see this finished.  Happy writing.

Been missing you for a half a year, I still hold out hope! Is it foolish of me? Please update soon.

Great new chapter! I particularly like the way how they approach slowly to each other.

Author's Response: Thank you so much1  I'm glad you're enjoying the slow build up.  :)

You were smart enough to reason out that if you were going to make us wait so long, you'd better come out with a magnificent chapter... and you did.  I think her emotional well being, as well as their friendship moved forward by leaps and bounds in this chapter, without feeling rushed.I loved the gaudy Christmas tree.  They both are fully aware what a dreadful sight it is, but it was his gift to her, and they had a nice time decorating it, so it just seems perfect.  The thrown together, mismatched quality of it kind of fits in their current situation.I liked the real turning point for her, where she realized that perhaps Draco was still taking care of his two most important friends, even in his absence.And hooray for the return of the old Hermione.  I suspect she is not entirely back, but some of the spunk that has been missing is starting to shine through.  Severus feels like he is in over his head, but he seems to know exactly what she needs and gives it to her when appropriate.I hope to see you around these parts again really soon.  But if it takes awhile for the next chapter to be fabulous, I can wait... sigh.  Thanks for the great update!

I love the building relationship between them... the Christmas tree decorating was just perfect! I cannot wait for another update!

I was wondering where you were. This is one of my favorite currently unfolding stories. I'm so glad you're back! This chapter made me cry and laugh...I loved it!

So happy to see this updated. I was thinking of this story not too long ago as one that I thought must have either been abandoned, or that I had missed updates for. However I couldn't remember the title to search for it.But when I saw it come up today, I remembered it as the one I was wondering about. Thanks so much. Really enjoyed this long and engrossing chapter.

Wonderful, but still so sad. 

You're back, YAY!And what a great update you've brought with you, complete with a hideous Christmas tree and budding friendship.Loved it!

Welcome back!  That was a very good chapter with lots of good character development.  Your take on these two feels very real in dealing with life after a major event and how to start living again.  Even with Severus, who is injured indirectly, I can sense that he has a need to start living a new type of life.  This will be good for both of them.  I look forward to the next chapter.  Thanks, JoAnne

Wonderful update. Nice to see Hermione's transformation, bit by bit. Nice also to see Severus slowly willing himself to let her in. They need each other. Great revelation that Draco knew this and orchestrated it.Love this story.

What a great chapter...glad to see her coming back to normal. Love your depiction of Severus. He is trying to hard not to get too attached. Cant wait for your next installment.

Glad to see you back. The chapter was well worth the wait. That was fabulous.

I love it.  I'm glad they have each other and that they're both slowly opening up.

Oh wow! Total shock there at the end! I'm so very glad I found this finally!

I love a reluctant but honor-bound Sev! Great work... I'm eagerly awating another chapter!

Hey Shug I read at your blog that you currently have a sort of writers block so I hope you are doing ok and are not too frustrated about this. - i felt glad for you that so many other writers sympathise and have the same experience in whatever way. - I wanted to add one other possible cause of being blocked that I sometimes suffer from: I have times when I get stucked when writing about emotional issues, when said issues apparently touch something from my real life that I don't want to look at at that moment. I then end up in the dilemma that one the one hand I want to be true to the direction in which my story develops itself and on the other hand I want to get away from the sensitive spot in myself that it touches, because I lack the emotional distance in that area. In most cases I stay stucked until I have solved the issue in myself, by doing so giving myself a broader perspective again.I don't know if sharing this is of any help to you but I do hope you are either reunited with your own muse or have borrowed one from someone else. (or went to a rent-a-muse LOL) and i both wish you and myself as a reader the joy that you soon will be able to finish another chapter of BtSaS.  

This is a lovely story.  May I boldly ask for a Christmas update?  I'm dying to know what happens next!

Oh dear.  Where is our bossy know-it-all!  Poor Snape is in over his head already, I'm sure.

I returned to your profile to reread A Life Unlived and found this story. I've read all four chapters and I am hooked. If the story had been complete I'm sure I would have stayed up all night reading. Thank you for sharing your writing. I thoroughly enjoy it. Looking forward to chapter 5!

Ohh... this is still going brilliantly! I love the tension in the house, it's almost palbable, isn't it? I just hope she's okay.. and that they start to communicate in sentences of more than three words!

awwww...he does care.  Hope RL allows you to keep the chapters coming!

Wow, you had me nearly in tears with this death scene...and I don't usually care for HG/DM.  I'm intrigued.  On to chapter 2!

Ouch, how sad!  Very sweet and sad.

Aaarhg, evil cliffie ahed, and without any warning! ;o)
Great chapter. The cohabitation of these two sounds very plausible and makes me eager for anything that is going to come.

Author's Response: *snickers*  I should just put a warning on the summary: Cliffhangers occur at will.  Enter at own risk.  LOL

I think that's the last one for a while, though.  ;)

Thank you so very much!  I'm so glad you're enjoying the story thus far.

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: *grins* What about "here be cliffhangers"? I once read a disclaimer stating "here be lemons" *rofl*.
And I was just kidding. I don't mind a cliffhanger now and then at all, it absolutely adds to the tension and to the drive of the story, if it's done well. Rather wanted to state that it's a very good cliffhanger! ;o)