Obviously, John and Poppy dated before he was married to Alberta! LOL! He's the one who didn't keep in touch with her, and she was a bit hurt, even though she realized she didn't want to keep in touch that badly, either. They dated for two years, then she went to work at Hogwarts. This was decades ago. And nope, Severus doesn't think she has the hots for a woman! lol! The portrait is of John's grandmother. When Poppy saw it, she thought it would be funny to have his grandmother hanging on her door. She's never changed it since -- she got so she liked the portrait just fine completely apart from her initial amusement at the thought of having his grandmother's portrait on her door.

Thank you Madam Raven for explaining that to a drooling, ravenous, skunkbear - HAHA!

I just think you need a piece of chocolate -- that's my big Answer to Everything. Chocolate. Preferably dark chocolate. Mmmm, Dove dark chocolate Promises . . . mmmmmmmm

Mmmm, chocolate does fix many things, you are quite right. I looked up the wolvarine today and saw one of its nicknames was skunkbear due to its smelly nature - but as a member of the weasel family, it does have particularly potent scent glands - and I found that kind of funny!But right now I am having some blackberry juice - yummerrs!

Teehee! Skunkbear! I will remember that. Make a mental note & hope it doesn't fall through one of the holes in my sieve-like brain!

Yes, open and vulnerable. *nods* And letting himself be that way with Poppy, as well.

I also love Poppy's response - kidnapping him herself... *grins*

Yeah, I can just see that now! LOL! Bundling him up and trundling him off, using an illegal Portkey . . . lol! could be a cute story somewhere there!

*snip*Poppy shrugged. “I think you should put torches right at the gates, or even large lanterns. Yes, that would be better. Or perhaps great reflecting lamps like they have at—”Or giant sun lamps! LOL

*snip*She gave him a squeeze, then raised her face to look up at him. “You seem tired. Did you eat? No? Then we’ll have something now together.”Hey, no reason to give him a chance to speak! LOL, Just do what you're going do without asking next time, I can totally see Severus standing there with a blank look on his face, blinking.... errrrrrr, well...

In response to "did you eat," he shook his head to indicate "no," and then she said, "no? then we'll have something . . ." etc. That's why I had her say "no?" rather than just suggesting the food. :-)I'm glad you enjoyed the funny little bits in the beginning of the chapter!

I like my interpretation better *smirks* its funnier that way! HAHA!

Indeed! It would be much more amusing! hee!

The Weasleys are good folk, as Draco says (in other words) in "The Sorting of Suzie Sefton."Ginny remembers that if it hadn't been for what his father did, she or Gareth might easily be dead as well as Percy. Yeah, Bella is a raving lunatic, and poor Severus!

She had so completely not expected that Quin & Poppy's date would actually turn into a date, complete with "Irish, straight-up," and then to see how distressed Severus was -- she is trying to nudge a bit more than usual here! Glad you like it!

Oh the Irish Straight UP was perfect... the phrase that is, as is Quin - he's quite the dish, but yes, I can see she's really trying to bend things back now that she's seen how taken Severus is with her.*snip*“I don’t know as I’d say strongly, but yes, I haven’t felt like this in years. If ever. But Severus and his unexpected vulnerability scare me, the thought of being hurt by him scares me, I even scare me, sometimes! I had thought all of the passion had gone out of my life. I was happy with my life . . . I am happy.”And there it is, out in the open - boing! I didn't see this coming - I was blind sided, and I don't want to be hurt! And - how the hell could he want me?! I get it, I do.

Yup, things moved very fast for her, and it was completely unexpected. But she does know what scares her, at least, both in herself and in the relationship.

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. There has been a lot building up to this chapter.The conversation was very good for Severus, and it did give him insight into Gertrude, too. It was good to be able to show more of Minerva & her worries for Severus, so I'm glad you liked that bit, as well! And I do enjoy writing Filius, and to show a bit of his relationship with Severus indirectly -- he cares about him, too. :-)Thanks again!

Indeed. As is Albus's reaction. :-)

Aye... and on that particular day... and in regard to Severus... just all of it.

Yes, the day that Albus "died" two years before, and Severus's new life, and all of it, as you say.

Yes, there will come a time when Severus will have to tell Poppy. He feels it, too, but he tries to avoid thinking about it. He is quite frightened of what it might do to their relationship, but as he himself has thought, and as Aine said, a secret could easily seem a lie if the secret is held too long and comes out in the wrong way.I'm very glad that you loved Gertrude in this chapter. :-) These few chapters with Gertrude in them have just been patiently waiting to be written! LOL! Yes, Filius is finally going to ask Pomona to marry him again, after well over 30 years together! I'm glad you think it's cute!Thanks very much for the review!

She often refers to him as Dumbledore -- usually when speaking of him in a "Hogwarts business" context. There are many occasions she does -- and not just in LVS. But in LVS, one specific chapter I can think of where she refers to him as Dumbledore is in the chapter "Preoccupation." She's sayingI'm not understanding it was 'his children or none at all' whatsoever... because we know he's not sterile...She's saying that if she wasn't going to have his children, then she would have none at all -- she wasn't going to go have someone else's kid just to have one. He did not want a child. He would not try to have children with her. And she, because she loves him so, knew that it was his children or none at all, and so she chose none at all.

Yes, that little understated humor is good when I can achieve it -- sometimes my characters seem to manage it on their own, in a way! I'm glad you liked that. I hope you do like Severus in this chapter -- he's working really, really hard at doing something that's very difficult for him.

*snip*Severus nodded. He wished he were also brightening Poppy’s evening, but it couldn’t be helped. Not unless he were to hex the wizard now on his way up to see her. And that would hardly endear him to her. OH I lolololed at that! I was going to say, Severus is a new man in this chapter - having a goal and ambition to do something has really changed him, I'm completely shocked at his behavior here, knowing FULL well that Poppy is on her way to a date with a Crazy Charismatic wizard... I am sure I'd have tossed in the pot and walked out - feeling completely distraught and totally out of my element - I have to award him serious points for swallowing his pride, jealousy, rage, anger, pain, and physical needs to not only listen to her, be kind and even cuddle with her, but to wish her well on her 'date' when he so wishes it was him.And the patronus was HYSTERICAL! I would NEVER have seen Poppy as a duck! But ducks annoy me to no end, so I couldn't ever see her as a duck - you have GOT to tell me what gave you such an idea! I must know!

*snip someone else's review*Riposto's response: Oh dear. I never finished RAM. I got so frustrated with Minerva and Albus misunderstanding each other's feelings that I wanted to shake them both. At the end of most chapters, I was just like, arrrgh! I've been meaning to go back and finish, though. I probably will when you've finished this story and I'm jonesing for more. I just HAD to point this out - SEEEEE, I'm not the ONLY one who got fed up with those two! *grins* Its not just MEEEEEEEE!

Yeah, well, you know that RaM was not just about the two of them getting together. If it were, I could have written it in a couple dozen chapters! Forest for the trees, or trees for the forest -- but ya gotta read RaM understanding that it's not just about the superficial romance between them. As far as Poppy's Patronus goes, I love ducks, but they are not particularly graceful creatures, nor do they have very euphonious calls -- they are often the butt of jokes, and if someone quacks like a duck, it's not beautiful, like singing like a nightingale, but it's funny. But ducks are very nurturing. They mate for life (I believe, anyway, that they do), and they take very, very good care of their young. They also aren't mean the way geese can be, but if a duckling is in danger, a mama duck will go after something much larger & nastier than she is. They also paddle about beautifully. So, Poppy is a duck, and she does find it embarrassing, and it was good of Severus to tell her it was a sweet Patronus. I am glad, however, that you found it hysterical, since it was meant to be funny for the reader!

It WAS! Especially Poppy defending her patronus, protesting that it could, indeed, FLY!  Poor Poppy!Now I must wonder... what would our Madam MMADfan's patronus be?

I took a test once that said it was a cat. But then it went on to point out that Umbridge's Patronus was a cat, which I did not appreciate, and it left out the fact that Minerva's Patronus was a cat. So I don't know if I buy that test! lol!Yes, poor Poppy!

yeah, if they compare a cat person with Umbridge over Minerva.... that's..... total nonsense...

Complete nonsense! Otherwise, I do like the notion of having a cat Patronus.

Glad you enjoyed that line! ;-)

Thank you muchly! I like Helena, actually, and one major reason I gave her a small speaking bit in DD was in order to introduce her more to readers, as well as to have Minerva introduced to her.Yep, Severus actually can have a friendship that doesn't involve lamenting or bone-jumping! And they could have a good time together as just friends, even if there is a bit of mutual attraction there. But basically, they can be friends, and Helena has often had male friends who were "just friends" and nothing more, so it's not at all a new concept to her (on the Quidditch teams, for example, and at school, as well), and it's good for Severus to have that kind of friendship in his life.I'm glad you enjoyed her Animagus form! I thought it so appropriate, I never considered another for her. And she does have a fast metabolism and is able to eat tons, as you say!

You do have to admit that the age difference here is significant, though, particularly given the direction -- that it's Poppy who's the older of the two. But her real reason for thinking all this is to try to make it easier for herself to deal with the fact that (she thinks) Severus will move on from her now.

Yes, he is having a bit of a temper tantrum! Maybe he needs a little nap! lol!

*snip*“Severus! There is no call to take that attitude with me! And it was a request—a polite request—made out of concern for you, not a job requirement.” Minerva sat down in the chair opposite him.“Sorry.” Severus looked away. And if I were Minerva, I'd be all - "The hell is wrong with you, boy?" and of course, slap him.

and of course, slap him.She's been there, done that! lol!

Aye! And nearly does AGAIN! I love her response to his nonsense!*snip*Minerva’s jaw worked. She was growing impatient. “Severus, we have been friends for a long time. We have been through a lot together. I say this with all the love in the world: stop acting like a petulant child, sit up straight, and look me in the eye! If there is something wrong that you’d like to talk about, I’m here to listen, but you’re behaving like a spoiled eight-year-old who didn’t get what he wanted for his birthday. All of us have our troubles, you know, not just you. And as for your attitude toward Alastor, you do have a right to be suspicious and careful of him given your history with him, but he is, indeed, trying to make amends. Who do you think leaked to the Prophet the story of your saving Scrimgeour’s granddaughter’s family and rescuing her son from the fire?”You go Minerva! WOOT!

Yep! Thought you'd like that! lol!

I love that woman!

Woah! Talk about turning on the faucet - Severus is just POURING out his feelings here... and without any persuasion! Just - dumps it all into Minerva's lap - I love how much he adores her and trusts her and its so sweet to see him just forget all his insecurities and dump it all out.I'm sure if Albus walked in though, he'd turn into ANGRY HAMSTER BOY and stomp out - but still, major, major progress for our boy here.

I'm sure if Albus walked in though, he'd turn into ANGRY HAMSTER BOY and stomp out - but still, major, major progress for our boy here.LOL! Angry hamster boy! hahaha!Yes, some progress, even in the midst of his temper tantrum, or hard on its heels, anyway. But he needed to vent, and rather than ranting and having a complete little tantrum, he talked about what was actually bothering him -- quite a bit of progress, indeed!

*snip*“Perhaps not. Or perhaps not for the coming year. But I will continue to present the idea until they do agree to it. Ceterum autem censeo, Carthaginem esse delendam—and furthermore, I believe Carthage must be destroyed,” she quoted with a glint in her eye. “They’ll come around.”Never thought I'd see the day that I agreed completely with Severus over Minerva, but I do here - however, despite me totally being against her idea - I love that quote! "I have spoken and will be heard - I am Minerva McGonagall, and like it or not, you WILL submit to my wisdom!" That's my Minerva! Even if she's flat out wrong, still love that woman!

And she will have her way! ;-) I'm very glad you like that quotation, too! It seemed so fitting for Minerva to use it at some point or other!

*snip*“But? But what?” Severus was angry now. He did know enough to stop when asked, after all—even if that had been what he’d been after that evening, which it hadn’t been. Whatever he was or ever had been, he didn’t force himself on women. He may have been coercive at times when he was younger and had provided payment or potions in exchange for sex, but never had he forced himself on an unwilling woman, even ones who he had thought were no better than whores, and he certainly would never force himself upon Hermione. “It’s not as though I was going to start fucking you right here and now.”Hermione winced at his words. “I didn’t suggest you were,” she said softly.“Sorry.” Severus didn’t know why he was apologising. She was the one who had insulted him.Sheesh.... this, above everything else, shows his understanding of intimacy and sexual behavior is about as developed as a fourteen year olds... which I am sure you're trying to convey - that and his absolute lack of tact, despite how much he may care and feel, is just so off-putting - I think he should be happy that Hermione didn't throw him out on his ear! I sure would have!Poor, poor sweet Hermione... I really feel for her here - being just a kid, having her mentor and object of her desire act like a complete bafoon, make her feel like an object and used, and him being so selfish that he thinks he can just take what he wants - as if all these witches are his for the picking - that is what he's acting like - and he has the gall to be jealous of anyone who even looks at one of the witches of his desire - I can't even begin to imagine what he would have done if he saw Quinn walking out of the castle with Poppy - arm in arm - or if he saw him up in her rooms... he'd probably go bonkers! *sighs* This chapter shows me just how immature Snape is in this context.

*snip*Severus shook his head. He could see her point now, but he still felt as though she had behaved as though he were some kind of randy, out-of-control teenager. Yeah, that's because he IS behaving that way! DUH!

most women, probably quite a few men, don't want to jump into sex immediatly - people like to get to know someone, learn what their intentions are, before they open themselves to such intimacyWell, they do know each other quite well, and she didn't handle her rejection of his overtures well at all. Severus may have been mistaken in how he approached her, but he did really hope that she would feel good and feel loved and appreciated. Instead, she starts acting as though his touches were just "groping" when he meant them to be gentle and loving. And he wasn't trying to have sex with her, just touch her and hopefully bring her pleasure, as well. She reacted in quite a childish way.And Hermione really needs to grow up a lot. She did act as though he was more than just a bit out-of-line, and he wasn't trying to "use her," as you put it. He was mistaken in what he was doing, but she had no ability to talk about it, either -- or to handle it in any other way. The one thing she was right about, though, was that something either had or hadn't changed for Severus, and his decision to try to spark a relationship with them was triggered not by a real desire to be with her (though he doesn't recognize that at this point, or the folly of it), but because something else didn't work out. But otherwise, neither of them was behaving particularly well. If Hermione had been a few years older and a bit more experienced, she would have handled it very differently -- and it likely wouldn't have even gotten past the first kiss because she would have been more attune to things and, with some finesse (more than Severus has here!), redirected his attentions and had a conversation with him.

*snorts* I still think she had every right to be hurt and upset by him, and that he was a cad... and if someone reached up my skirt and grabbed my chest, I'd think they were looking for sex... but anyway - the chapter relayed well - he's clueless about a lot in intimacy and she is clearly not ready to move into such a physical relationship - not trying to argue with Madam Ravenclaw *winks* just aggrivated with our Bat!

There's no doubt that he approached her wrong, and his notion of "giving himself to her" was really very wrong-headed! But he didn't know any better -- he does realize later, though, that it was a bad move. (And he didn't think of it as "grabbing her chest," but as caressing her and trying to have her feel good -- naturally, how it's experienced by the other person is different!)

He (and I) don't see it as dating multiple people at the same time. He has this misguided notion that he "owes" Hermione something. Sadly, Hermione, being inexperienced and having an idealized notion of what dating and romance should be, doesn't do very well with Severus's attempts (ill-thought-out though they may be) at approaching her. He's also become suddenly used to the notion that if a woman wants to be with him, she will react positively to his approach. Hermione has an immature idea of what an adult relationship might be like, and she doesn't react well at all -- there are other ways of easing back and out of a physical encounter than being as snippy as she was.So she's less mature than he is in this encounter, though that makes sense, because she is younger. We are used to Hermione appearing to be mature -- and in many respects, she is -- but dating and sex are new to her, and she isn't handling it well here.

Ah, well I'll have to disagree with you here, I don't see Hermione being immature at all - I do agree with you on Severus - he's got some learnin to do!And why should Hermione oblige him just because he wants to jump the gun and get physical? She's entitled to some stability and romance... especially after he shut everything off between them only a week before - sheesh... I feel sorry for the kid, really, having to teach the Potions master something about personal space and feelings and respect for someone else.

But if she had been more mature and more realistic, she would have handled it quite differently. She has an idealized view of both romance and of Severus. There are nicer ways of easing a guy back -- especially one you purportedly love -- than telling him he's groping you and pushing him off before he has a chance to react to the fact that you want to stop. Hermione shouldn't oblige him -- of course not! And she is certainly right about the reason for his having broken things off and then tried to start up again. But she didn't handle the earlier bit well. She was right about Severus, though -- and very right not to think it was a good idea for them to be dating.

Oh and I loved Minerva's vague description of her evening with Albus - and that Albus is still dead in bed - HAHA! After what... six or seven orgasms? I'd be too!And Minerva's meddling is so endearing - though I seriously hope Poppy will just be honest with her buddy. Minerva can help - always, and Minerva AND Albus together, helping, is even better, but they have to have the right information to help!

Don't worry about Poppy! She will manage!Glad you liked the fact that Albus was still zonked after their "games" the night before! haha!

Ah, but there is a big difference between Severus and ADMM & Poppy & Quin: Albus and Minerva, and Poppy and Quin, all had very satisfying "encounters," but Severus just got kind of randy & broke it off before anything more happened. He didn't "get any" that night, as the expression goes.Remember that Quin & Poppy dated for a while in the 60s? But they never did very much together, physically, but they are close, and they certainly do find each other attractive. It's a bit of rebound sex for Poppy, and for Quin, it's just a wonderful night after years of nothing. Decades, in fact.

I figured, Quin was trying to say, Poppy was his first since his wife passed...I was never one for casual flings, so I can't relate too much, but its apparant that most people can and do, and I am at least thankful that Quin is a decent man with morals, at least he isn't bouncing from witch to witch like a leap frog - unlike another wizard in the story... (not fussing at you at all, fussing at Severus - he is upsetting me at the moment!)And I certainly don't and wouldn't admonish Albus and Minerva for enjoying themselves - EVER! They should as often as they can, when ever they can, in my opinion! I just found it humorous and ironic that it seemed like everyone in the castle was at it that night! I am guessing Flitwick was too drunk to enjoy Pomona - awww! I won't even guess at the students - all those hormones flying around! *le gasp*

There was a lot of bonking going on! Or boinking, whichever you prefer! lol!Quin did date some in the 60s, and he had one lover during that time (he doesn't normally sleep with a woman he's dating until they've been together for a while -- and he's actually only slept with a very, very few women), but after he was cursed, he had to suppress so much of himself, that he had a lot of trouble opening up to women. On top of that, the only viable choices were Muggles, not witches, and even though he and Aine were living like Muggles, he did have a condition that required monitoring, and their lives weren't normal, so it was hard for him to entertain the idea of bringing a Muggle woman into his life.Hmmm, I was going to say one other thing, and now I can't remember what it was . . . Oh, yes! Filius just zonked out down in Hufflepuff with Pomona, and she provided him with some Hangover cure in the morning.

Minerva is really quite astute about many things! And she does give him very good advice!

Yes, true, but if only he told her the whole story - "Minerva, I'm trying to shag every witch in Hogsmeade as well as your nephew and wonder, can I keep Hermione and Poppy all to myself while I do this?"*snorts*I do hope, as a fast learner, Severus shapes up quickly before he royally screws any chance he ever had with Sweet Poppy... and before he squashes any more hearts in the process.

Severus may not find it easy to ask for advice, but when he does, and when it's Minerva who gives it, he is not so foolish as to ignore it! (And he does come to appreciate how bone-headed his approaching Hermione -- in any way -- was. But he had a sense of debt toward her, and he, confused and inexperienced wizard that he is, thought that he should repay it in a particular way -- he had no clue how it might feel to Hermione, or that at her age and with her limited experience -- she was busy with the war during her teens -- she might expect something less sexually romantic to begin with. He does get a clue, however -- as does Hermione!)

He's trying to be -- and like he thought earlier, he was miserable & horny as hell! lol!

Especially the bit with - thankfully not a chair in use - soooo cute. I love that bearded half giant! HAHA!

*snip*“You know, there’s a new grocer’s opening here in Hogsmeade,” Filius said, changing the subject. “Down around the corner on Piggery Lane. I saw them working on the building when I was here earlier in the week.”Piggery Lane - Awesome name for a street in Hogsmeade!

*snip*“A half of cider, please,” she requested. “Yes, Moscow. She’s going to be working at the Canadian wizarding embassy there as an assistant to the deputy ambassador. She’s looking forward to it.” The Hogwarts flying instructor turned to Severus. “How are you, Professor?”“Fine.” Why did people ask such inane questions? What was he supposed to say, that he was miserable, jealous, and horny as hell? On the other hand, he supposed it was better than being ignored.You know, he does have a point! I often wonder such things myself.

LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed Hagrid there. This is one of the few chapters with a large group of characters interacting that I didn't fret about and put off writing for fear it would get clumsy, for some reason, and it turned out to be quite fun to write. I did really enjoy being able to have Hagrid there. He's adorable.Yes, in certain moods, I feel the same way Severus does about that question! haha!

Well I'm glad that Poppy kicked him in the arse, actually, he needs a reality check, if nothing else, to teach him that people can't be treated like that, and people are not to be taken for granted. Force him to think for a change, think things through, and figure himself out.

Ah, but did you notice that none of his attempts at fantasy really did anything for him, and he felt pathetic after imagining Melina? He's trying to be a rat bastard, but isn't doing too well!Yes, Poppy did give him a wake-up call!

*snip*“A Hufflepuff with the curiosity of a Ravenclaw and the bravery of a Gryffindor,” Severus said speculatively.“No, thoroughly Hufflepuff,” Poppy said. “A badger is not to be taken lightly, you know.”*just grins*

Very glad that you enjoyed their flirting! They are fun to write together when they're like that. Heck, I always enjoy writing them together! lol!And yes, badgers!

He really does appreciate her.

Yep, she will show him! (Of course, he's still very insecure, and that insecurity helps make him his own worst enemy, at least when it comes to relationships.)

Oh I can believe that, very well, I know someone else who has that same issue. Again, another reason Poppy is so good for him - despite her worry that she'll get hurt in all this, she is a very self confident woman. She's actually quite a remarkable woman and so very, very selfless - truly glad you decided to focus a story with her in the center, so we could appreciate her more.

She is. I'm really glad you love her so much!