Hi! Man, it's been literally years since I first posted this story (or what I managed to finish of it). It was my very first attempt at FF, and I think I got myself in over my head. :D But thank you for the review, even though it's been 88 years since I've been around! The title was inspired by Goodkind's series, yes, and I thought it was a good theme for the story. But that's where the similarities end. Hopefully one day I can find the inspiration to finish this epic, which is sitting in pieces in my laptop. Thanks so very much and I'm thrilled that you liked it!

Goodkind's series is my most faavorite ever so the title caught my eye. If you do ever come back to it I definitely think its a story worth finishing! :-)

It's been SO LONG I KNOW. I literally haven't posted anything in years, and for that I apologize to the people that enjoy my stories! The Muse left one day and never came back, but I've been thinking about jumping back in. SSHG was my first FF family, and I love all of you! And I miss you! So thank you so much for the review! 'm thrilled that you liked it! I'll do my best to drag the rest of this story up out of the dusty crypts of my laptop and get it finished one day! 

Thank you so much! I know I haven't been around much, but I haven't lost my love for these two. Hearing that you guys are still reading gives me inspiration to continue my stories. 

HIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tackle hugs* I'm still here... although sadly, very infrequently. I haven't lost my love for these two or this story, or for you guys! I'm looking to have some free time coming up after first of the year (in the form of one day off work every week, completely to myself), so hopefully that'll let me get back into the swing of writing. Thanks so much Toby! Love you!!!

Hey Scully! PM me when you start getting the sshg feels again. I miss our brainstorming sessions. Hope you are well! ~Toby

I know, I know... *hangs head in shame* RL has been... full, is all I can say. :) But it warms my heart to see you guys still here and reading this behemoth of a story. It's been four years now since I first started on Faith, and it may take me four more to finish it, but I will. Then it will probably get a revamp and edit, but that will come later. I'm going to have to go back and reread to remember a bit of what I had planned, but you can be sure there will be some Ron/Snape clashing! Thank you so much for the welcome back and for the review. You guys are what make it worth it! Much love!

Thank you so much! I'm very glad you weren't confused by the narrative... I truly don't intend for things to be written that way... it just sort of happens. :) There is still plenty of angst to come, so you'll get your fill, I promise. Thanks again for following!

I can just see her trembling as she has to restrain herself... hehe... Thanks for reading!

Thank you so much! Sorry it took so long to reply... RL and all. :) I've been hesitant about this subject all throughout the story... even though it hasn't been touched on much. I couldn't imagine losing one of my children (my husband and I have three: a son, 3 1/2 years; and two daughters, one is 5 years and the other 2 months), and I didn't know if I could do Severus and Hermione's loss -- and their subsequent emotions -- justice. I'm so glad it doesn't seem contrived; they did lose a child under extreme circumstances, and that is something that I know would break even the strongest of hearts. Thanks again and I hope you continue to enjoy things! 

Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy things as much as I've been enjoying writing it!

Thanks! I'm sorry I made you cry, but then again I'm kinda glad that the chapter made you react that way. :) It was meant to be sad and sorrowful, and I'm so glad you liked it!

Thank you very much! I'm extremely inspired by music, so I'm glad you thought that it fit. :)

Thank you so very much Beth! Their lives have been a runaway train, something that I think Hermione was unprepared for when she first signed on. ;) They did make a small step towards rebuilding what they once had... and I think you're right that this night and the visit to the graveyard will be a huge turning point. They both want the same thing... only their anger and stubborness (and perhaps Severus' misguided sense of blind loyalty to certain omnipotent wizards...) has been keeping them apart. I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter. I've no doubt that they will eventually find happiness, but how long and difficult that journey will be, I don't know.Thanks again for the great review and for taking the time to read!

Thanks very much! I hope you continue to enjoy things! I wish I could paint like that... the images are just photomanipulations that I made with Photoshop. I'm glad you like them though!

Thank you very much! I'm so glad the flashbacks aren't confusing... I was *very* worried about that aspect of the story. I sincerely hope you continue to enjoy things!Thanks for the R&R!

Thanks very much! Both of those scenes were a lot of fun. I'm glad his drug-induced confession didn't come off too cheesy or OOC -- I was very worried it would.Thanks for the R&R!

Thanks! I've always thought that Severus was a pretty deep character, even though we don't see much of it in the books. We get a glimpse of his emotions in PoA when Sirius escapes and in DH during The Prince's Tale, but other than that he's a cold, supposedly unfeeling git.He's so closed off most of the time, but I believe he's withholding some very powerful emotions. You're very right about Hermione not wanting to relive such a tragic part of her life. Hopefully, they'll both be able to grieve and perhaps move on.Thanks again for the R&R! 

Thank you very much! I hope I can keep you interested! :)

She definitely does need to be more careful. You would think that she'd know better by now... *sigh* Thanks for reading!

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you came back to read the rest. I hope you continue to enjoy things! 

I'm glad you liked Sev's little confession. I was worried that it would come of too cheesy or OOC, but I think that Severus (my Sev, at least) is simply a very lonely man who is starved for affection and love, and the potion loosened his inhibitions enough to admit it. What he said definitely struck a cord with Hermione, though she doesn't realize it yet. Despite the tough exterior, Severus is a perfectly sweet man... when you nearly kill him and then drug him within an inch of his life... ;)Thanks for the R&R!

I'm glad you liked it! I was very worried that his confession would come off too cheesy or OOC. Then again, who hasn't said something when under the influence of powerful pain killers that they'd never admit otherwise... While I don't think he actually loves her yet (but he will, don't worry), I think that he sees in her the potential to be someone that he could love, someone he could spend his life with... after all, he did do a lot of thinking before he accepted her as his apprentice. The relationship that they've entered is complex, and Severus did tell Hermione to do more research into the aspects of it... maybe there are some things about being an apprentice that even a 'know-it-all' doesn't realize... Hmm... we shall see...And you're right... if he does remember what he said, he won't mention it, and I think Hermione has enough sense not to bring it up... hehe...You're welcome, and thanks for the great review as always! *hugs*

Poor Severus... he did seem a bit offended by her comment, didn't he? Thanks for the R&R! 

Thank you very much! It was splendid fun to write that chapter... I love magical rituals. :)

Thanks! Yes indeed, it has far more meaning than even Hermione realizes... ;)

Yes he did. I hope the timeline isn't too confusing. :) I'm doing my best to make the rest of the flashbacks (and there will be several) go in order... Thanks for the R&R!!