I am very much looking forward to the duel!! Would his duel with Dumbledore, whether he decides it to be wandless or not (I do hope he chooses wandless!!!), be nonverbal as well? I hope so – it would be much more a test of their skills, as well as the audience's as spectators try and guess which spells/hexes are being used. If I were in the crowd for this particular duel, it would definitely seem to be more interesting to have a wandless/nonverbal duel than a regular one, or even just a wandless one.Either way, I can't wait! (And I love, love, love the images of the child/young Severus Snape that Gareth is studying – I hope there will be more scenes of a similiar nature in upcoming chapters!!)

WOO HOO!!! Life is good ... a pretty Saturday and a new chappie from you. SWEEEET!!I am so glad Gareth didn't listen to Snape and toss out the boxes of photographs. Otherwise, we would have missed a glimpse of Tobias and how much he must have loved his wife and son before things turned sour. I could actually visualize the photos in my mind. Truly amazing ... Poppy and Severus are just too darn cute (he'd hate that word, but oh well ...) together. I love the banter between them and that he is really trying to romance, wine, and dine her for her affections. As always, I'm a GLM waiting for the next update, or the new story, whichever comes first!!!CFP (to quote another reviewer),the GLM

Withdrawl... pacified... breathing... returning to... normal... This is, of course, my way of saying thank you. Or, um, CFP? For lack of a better term.Also, I think Tobias Snape is breaking my heart. Loving his wife and son in the best way he knows how, capturing moments of them in such a beautifully, unapologetically muggle way. If only Severus could remember the happy man in the argyle sweater, instead of what he became.

I truly enjoyed the update, and I find myself looking forward to reading Severus's interactions with Helen and the other associating characters more than Poppy for some reason. I just like the idea of him developing normal relationships. Sometimes the simplest storylines are most interesting.

It's pretty amusing that Severus feels jealous anytime someone with a Y chromosone is near to or touching Poppy. She's let the mask slip often enough that he should know how much she cares for him. But I suppose he has reason to feel insecure still. Anyway, I'm glad he's getting frustrated with the obstacles. I've been wondering when he would start some serious Slytherin scheming. Speaking of alliteration, Severus...SSSS...Snape? Since it's such a mystery, it can't be anything as obvious as "Salazar." I'm looking forward to the game(s). The structure of the formal duel is interesting. I had always imagined wizard's duels as something like the showdown at the OK Corral, where they just stand at opposite ends and blast away until someone is down. Your version, with the limited scope of spells and stages of action with expanding range of movement is more interesting. Did you base the rules from some RL world of fighting? If Poppy was so upset at a duelling format that Severus finds fairly boring, I wonder how she'd react at one he'd find exciting.And Severus with the baby! LOL I loved that part - that's exactly how I feel about having to handle them, except that I also feel vaguely ashamed about not being able to be sincere in admiring a mother's beloved child. You captured the discomfort perfectly, though.

I loved it, as every other chapter!Especially the PP/SS sequences. It is cute, watching Severus trying desperatly getting some time with Poppy, I hope he soon succeeds. I also loved his jealousy of Quin. Although I kind of hoped Severus would have done something, like for example grapping Poppy's hand during the duel. But anyway is absoulutly reasonable that he didn't. I really have to say, you write Severus' character incredible good. He always acts like I imagine him acting if he were real.He is a difficult character and many people fail to write him not out of character. You are really doing a great job!So please update soon! I'm so excited about seeing PP/SS happy.

well done!  Severus is doing a great job dealing with his jealousy.  I look forward to the next chapter.

This was a fun chapter. I like seeing Snape around other people and having to think through each situation. It's a good growing experience for him.Poppy is a hoot. I can't believe she found the Muggle and then gave him a case of his favorite cereal (can't say I share his love for the rainin, date stuff, eww. Give me Cheerios any day!).It was interesting to see Quin around Snape. I"m glad he (Snape) was able to control his emotions so Poppy didn't sense his unease. And the duel was great! I am rubbish at writing those. lolI am curious about Gertrude and Melina's truce. Any chance of us getting the details??? Albus is a sweetie and a cutie, too. I'm glad he reminded Minerva of the calendar (was it a calendar?) and then him teasing Snape and Poppy about their bet. tee hee.Anxiously waiting for more, as always,The GLM

Just caught up on a few chappters, and I love the choice of flowers.  So glad that Severus seems to have settled on a plan of action.  You've written his awkwardness in such a charming way that Poppy can't resist him for long, I hope.  His deciding to do this right and really court her is really wonderful :)

I love Poppy and Minerva at the start. Both worried, but Poppy clearly a little more on edge and Minerva humoring all her suggestions... lighting... trimming the bushes... Minerva's thoughts about Healer Brighthead and really herself are seriously compelling. The explanation of the ward at St. Mungo's is brilliant! "architects and gravitomancers from Switzerland" you amaze me the way you make these things up, create words, spells, what have you and it all seems so right. It's so good to see Severus confide in Poppy about Belletrix and what happened. Poppy is so smart. She knows Severus' habbits of not sharing much information and doesn't press, and he confides in her. I love that she knows what it means to be given the information by him and that he's freely giving it means so much. Sweet of her too to offer to check up on the muggle that helped Malfoy. Wonderful chapter!

Quite the description of the descent into the ward where Malfoy is. I’m very curious about that area on the stairs though. The significance of Severus telling ‘Newman’ to forgive his father is very powerful. The contents of both their pockets … very telling. (And I seriously adore that both Minerva and Molly have Chocolate Frog cards – especially Molly for some reason.) Bellatrix is barking, but then she was before. Again, great description of the ward at St. Mungo’s.  I simply adore Severus thinking he wants to be home and equating that with Poppy. (big grin)  

This is a bit scary!  Severus has been through too much already.  Can't wait to read the next bit.

Poor Severus. I enjoy the friendship you've created between he and Minerva. It's really good that he has her to confide in and I'm glad she seems to have come around to the idea of Poppy and Severus. Albus too in how own sweet way is encouraging though I'm a bit concerned with Severus over what he has planned for this dinner party. (Can't wait to find out.)Severus is certainly making a habit of running into Poppy in the corridor. I’m glad he was able to control his jealousy when she explained Quinn’s reading of Severus and that he’s able to see he can’t keep her from her friends no matter what happens between them. Severus is really growing and maturing. His tender goodnight and dream of me was absolutely heart melting. How could any woman not be moved by that kind of sincerity.  Letters of warning from the attacker(s). Very intriguing. It amazes me how well you integrate plot and character development. There’s always so much going on in your world. It’s easy to get lost in it.  Wow, that’s some talk between Minerva and Poppy. I’m happy to see Minerva working to convince Poppy to face her feelings and admit she just doesn’t want to be hurt. And Poppy’s confession that’s she maybe a little in love with Severus and going to give them a bit more of a chance. YAY!!! It’s so like Minerva to say the wrong thing about keeping him safe at the castle. I’m glad both of them were able to move past the misunderstanding.  Now, I just hope he’s okay. Minerva and Poppy’s combined worry has me worried too.

Anther update. woo hoo!!!!I can't get enough of the Poppy/Severus flirtings and romance. They're just too cute together, if one can consider Severus Snape as cute, haha. Too bad they were interrupted, grrrr.The conversation with Snape, Moody, and Minerva was rather intense. I loved all the little details you added for our benefit about the previous attacks. It helped me start to pull the puzzle pieces together to see ifI could figure out a motive or method to the madness. Agatha Christie reference ... priceless!!!Can't wait to see what happens next at the duel and them tracking down the attacker. Hope you update again soon!CFP, the GLM

Well now, it seems as Poppy is quite open towards Severus! Promising, promising! :o) And the mystery about the attacks is rather dark and sounds very complicated, too. The mentioning of Agatha Christie really made my day! *g* I'm now looking forward to you doing something the like...
Poor Severus, though, being so visibly the target of all this. He takes it in his own stride, but somehow I think it must hurt him rather much to be seen as such.

Author's Response: Since they've been going more slowly, and since her conversation with Minerva, Poppy is feeling more open to the possibility of something more with Severus. The fact that it distresses her so much that he might be in grave danger also helped, oddly enough, because it helped her to realize how important he is to her.

It does bother Severus, quite a bit, especially since he still hasn't come to terms completely with his own mixed feelings about himself, and with his sense of guilt and unworthiness. The paradox of hearing Alastor Moody, of all people, say that the letter writer didn't know what he was talking about, that no one in the Order could have written the letter because they all knew him and knew the truth about him, that really helped Severus. If someone who had been his nemesis w/in the Order could come to see him in a new light and not believe any longer that he was an evil blight on the wizarding world, etc., then he (Severus) could remember to look at the totality of his actions & who he was, and not just at the evil -- and his conversation with Poppy a few days before, after he'd returned from St. Mungo's, helped him, as well.

Glad you liked the AC reference! ;P In RaM, Minerva reads her novels . . .

Thanks for the review!

I love how Minerva calls Severus on his moping and childish behavior and that he straightens up when needed. Shows their friendship that he feels close enough to behave that way with her and that she can call him on it without worry. Nice way to show us Severus is still Severus holding a deserved grudge against Alastor and how he's changed listening to and giving consideration of the new information Minerva is giving him. It's sad to see Minerva speaking about how she'd wanted children and not had any... even Gareth. Very interesting that Severus never really considered this a possibility before. He's so good at reading people, understanding who was a threat and who wasn't and how to best deal with that he didn't really have time to see the layers beneath. What made people who they are, what struggles they might have had. He's really learning to see things from other perspectives finally and growing as a result. The way you show his thoughts conveys that well. Can't wait to see how Minerva's ideas go over. Sounds like Hogwarts is in for some changes. More wonderfuly layered and intriguing details about Merwyn's death. Sad that he's gone, but I'm interested to see if there's a mystery of the Egyptian papyrus to solve. Fawkes' burning is also a wonderful layer to this chapter. The rebirth metaphor fitting so well with Severus' emerging new self. As always looking forward to more.

He might be Masterful Severus in the bedroom, but he's still darned awkward in the romance department. But I bet he was awful cute, with all his nervous blushing and indirect declarations. Irresistible, in fact.The pattern of attacks does seem very odd. I've thought over what I can remember from earlier chapters, but I can't think of any clues you might have dropped before now. Hmmm. Who would attack the weak and vulnerable, but have a fixation on Severus and the "danger" he presents to children? Hmmm.

Awww, well at least things are getting a bit warmer for Poppy and Severus. Great restraint he showed when he found out about her date. Love the little story about Alroy and the flying sow and Poppy's patronus is adorable. Very nice sweet chapter.

All right, I got to read 3 chapters at once!  While I like Severus and Gareth together, I think Gareth should "cut his mother a break" and be a little more understanding about her feelings regarding his relationship with Snape.  He's not fooling her by pretending that there is nothing between him and Severus. It doesn't sound like Brennan has a lot of time left and I'm sure Melina is struggling with this knowledge.  I vote for leaving the wards in place and having the baby somewhere that Brennan can get to.  Come on ladies you can work this out.   Interesting background on Severus' family.  I'm so glad Severus didn't have to find his mother's body.  I can see Severus being paranoid that one of the MacAirts might have been able to "read" him.  He would see that as a true violation of his privacy.  Liked the story about Quin and Harold.  I think it showed Quin's personality perfectly.  He's not a push-over but he is fair.  "He doesn't carry grudges he acts on them" - love that line.  I think Severus is lucky that Quin isn't holding a grudge against him since you mentioned that Quin views "injury to his kith and kin as unforgivable'  and Gertrude is family.  Severus coming up with the cure for Quin probably helped smooth over that.  Thanks for the great chapters.  Looking forward to more interaction between Severus and Poppy.          

I have a feeling that Bellatrix and/or the healer is involved someway. Cant wait to se who it is. Hopefully he will have some nice time with Poppy

How sad that Severus doesn't even value memories of a time when he was happy and secure in his fathers love. Too painful, I suppose.

Something tells me that Hermione's apprenticeship is going to take a turn for the tedious. I hope she's not angry with Severus over it.

Poor Gareth's just not having a good day, is he? That's so sad. Makes me want to give him a cuddle and take him to the pub for a pint! tee hee.I loved the little notion that Snape's father liked to take photographs and develop them himself. I can't believe Snape was going to throw all those things away. I'm glad Gareth's not allowing him to do that.It was an incredibly sad story about Snape's mother. I'm thankful he wasn't the one who found her. That would be traumatic, regardleses of the age!Thanks for updating so quickly!!! You're the bestest!

Oh wow, so many interesting things at Spinner's End.  Maybe some day Severus will want to go through it.  I sure hope so.  I want to know more about his mother!  All the photos sound wonderful, too.  My dad took amazing photos of our family when I was small.  I haven't seen them in many years.

I love the little scenes at the beginning. The quill and pergament choosing and conversation, the setting up the table in the restaurant... small things, but showing Severus' character so well. And the "reverse banishing" is quite ingenious; I wonder why it's not more widespread!
Severus' dish
is quite unusual, too, I find, even for me. Did you made the combination up or do you know it form somewhere? I also only heard it served with dumplings, mostly potatoe, "Thüringer" made half from cooked and haf from raw potatoes. My mother served it with ribbon noodels, though without red cabbage. I imagine the Spätzle going well with it (not that I would try nowadays ;o) ), but haven't ever heard of the mashed swede. And the red cabbage I have never heard of cooked with caraway, too.
All in all, again a culinary detail I really love in your stories!

he charmed Nifflers from Venice using a penny whistle, can you?”
*rofl* is this the chapter with the German cultural heritage? ;o) This sounds very close to the "Rattenfänger von Hameln"! Using nifflers is too cute, though.

Author's Response: The Nifflers story is from RaM. (In English, the fairy tale is called "The Pied Piper from Hamlin.")

I've usually had Sauerbraten with potato dumplings, but I've also had it with Spaetzle. I was having a Spaetzle craving when I wrote the chapter & ended up making some for myself. (With vegetarian gravy, etc.) I managed not to make a mess. LOL! In the States, a swede is called a rutabaga, if that helps. It's pretty good, and would go well with a meal like that. Oh, caraway & cabbage, especially red cabbage, is wonderful. A bit of raspberry vinegar (or other fruity vinegar) dashed over it at the last minute . . . mmmmm! (And onion, of course!)

"Reverse banishing" -- very difficult. If you read those chapters in RaM, you might remember Quin can do something similar. :-)

Thanks for the review! Now all this talk of potato dumplings, spaetzle, and red cabbage have made me hungry for my lunch! LOL!

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: It made me cook potatoe soup today *fg*
I do know what swede/rutabaga is, but still, it's kind of "never cooked" like this if you ask around. Most people even have still that swede trauma from WWII, even if only inherited from their parents. I do like it, though have overeaten on swede dishes last year and don't cook it at the moment. I have a recipe for a soup with coconut milk and curry paste that is quite delicious.
And red cabbage - with cumin, yes, absolutely, but caraway - NEVER for me! ;o) Ok, one of the few spices I dislike.
I cook red cabbage as a vegetarian dish with sauteed onions and apples in apple juice or cider, cumin, cloves, some caneel powder and fresh ground black pepper, add some steamed chestnuts for the last five minutes and season generously with garam masala and balsamic vinegar. Eaten with potatoes (salt or "Pellkartoffeln" it's already delicious, and with dumplings it works as a christmas dinner. And also works well with deep-fried cabbage when in need for fast cooking...
I haven't cooked Spätzle for a long time, mostly since our first move and since the Spätzle ricer (?) has gone into one of the boxes and never re-emerged so far. Seems to have gone in one of these moving black holes.
I am attempting to learn scraping them, though.

Author's Response: I always used to scrape my Spaetzle, but I finally sprung for a Spaetzle doohickey (don't know what those things are called, either) a few years ago. It lessens the mess & makes the Spaetzle a little less "artisan" (read: many different sized blobs! lol!) than scraping.

I sometimes mash rutabaga, turnips or parsnips, and carrots together. Yummy! Especially with just a pinch of cinnamon.

I really like caraway. Love it in bread, too. And sauerkraut. I also like coriander, and have used that in kraut sometimes, but I can't abide cilantro, which is from the same plant. It tastes like someone is trying to poison me! haha! (In minute amounts, I can just manage to bear it in chili/TexMex-type dishes, provided there are plenty of other spices to overwhelm the flavor.)

My mother can't stand parsnips for the same reason you mention many people don't like rutabagas. Apparently she had them way too much growing up during WWII and can't face them now!

Severus  seems to has a way with the women today, if he wants it or not *giggles*. And winnign the costume competition on top! It's so cute the way he reluctantly accepts it... ;o)

Author's Response: Yes, he does, even the little ones! haha!

Thanks!