Great start and an interesting premise.  You've got me itching for an update.  Oh, look.  Chapter 2 is waiting to be read.  *Runs off to continue... *

I like your style, too!

This is really neat!

Bet ignoring it won't work. I'm intrigued now.  Do carry on!

So what happened? I suppose I'd better read the next chapter and find out! :)

Well, that does answer at least one of my questions!  A Lifebond, hmm?  That's probably why Severus was getting himself royally smashed...if he still feels devotion to Lily, this is almost certainly unwelcome on his part.  It also must seem like a travesty on every conceivable level there is, with age only being the tip of the iceburg.  And of course his lack of surprise at Hermione's sigh of relief as she left--who would want to be forcibly connected with someone who has no desire to be with them?Naturally, it's not going to be as easy as "living without each other".  I look forward to seeing what obstacles our intrepid pair face next!

What is going on here?  I must know!  I'm glad you have a second chapter up already, but I suspect I shall be very sad that you don't yet have a third...    I think this is starting out brilliantly, and I'm off to the next chapter in hopes that some of my bazillion questions are answered!

This first chapter is very good, and like a good beginning chapter, it leaves me with lots of questions.  Did "they"  tell him what really happened?  Does Hermione have a different recollection of the events?  And what the heck just happened?I'm looking forward to seeing how you develop this story.Beth

Very interesting first chapter, I look forward to read more.

painful but beautifully written.  thanks

Oh no, not her parents!  I think this day was a turning point for them in so many ways.  Let's just hope that her forgiveness is enough for him, and that they can move past all of this with a better understanding of one another, and maybe a closer relationship.  I fear things will get worse before they get better and their relationship may be all they have to get through it.  I hope more is on the way soon!

Things were going along so nicely, albeit slowly, until that last bit about fixing their situation.  I hope he didn't mean it.  Although I suppose it would be nice if they could be together by choice and not necessity.  Time will tell...

Glad she forgave him.  He definitely needs that.

Oh no! Not her parents. Can she never get a break?

Boy oh boy, this chapter really shows how much Severus and Hermione have in common.  Both came from essentially Muggle backgrounds, and neither had felt like they fit in in their early years st Hogwarts.Severus:"His earliest memory was of both intensely longing for his father’s love, approbation, respect and friendship and vehemently despising and loathing him, of taking blows meant for his mother and subsequent blows meant solely for him. When he found he had a means of fighting back, even if he couldn’t always control it, he used it. He spent hours practising, harnessing what he would later come to find was magic, a practise which, had he but known it, would stand him in great stead in later years. It was the beginning of the greatest self-control and thence, the greatest Occlumentic skill known to the modern wizarding world." When all was said and done, Severus would imagine himself to have found the acceptance he craved in the likes of Lucius Malfoy and the Dark Lord.Hermione:"The truth was she wanted his approval desperately. She had always wanted it. He was the only professor at Hogwarts to ever not give it to her. He was undoubtedly the most brilliant Potions Master in several centuries and one of the few existing in the western world. This caused her to positively run herself ragged her first few years in Potions. After second year, however, she gave it up, albeit reluctantly, as a bad job. She would have to settle for Minerva McGonagall’s and Filius Flitwick’s praise." This horrible experience of Severus cutting out his Dark Mark was to have far reaching effects... and as a result of seeing the kinds of things he was required to do in service to Voldemort, she could better understand how and why Severus had found himself trapped in a nightmare of his own making.  I think her forgiving Severus will have far reaching effects on their future, too.   Ultimately these effects will be good and lead t healing for both of them, but for now I think they will have some rocky times ahead.Now what has happened to the Grangers?  I hope a fugitive band of Death Eaters hasn't taken revenge on her parents.  The scenes pictured in this chapter are horrid to behold, but they are part and parcel to the people our hero and heroine are, and I hope they will be able to overcome this set back.  I can't wait to see what your next update will bring.  Well done!Beth

Little by little I think both Hermione and Severus are coming to know each other so well that they can complete the other's thoughts, sentences, and actions.  I enjoyed their shared Christmas experiences and the night they sat before the fire and she thanked him for being so nice to her parents... well, I just think that was a big turning point in their relationship.  When he brought her the potion to re-mediate the lingering effects from the Cruciatus I loved her reaction.  But when he announced that he deemed it wise to begin research on a remedy to our situation, I wanted to scream "NOOOOOOO!"Hermione must put on her best Gryffindor bravery and withstand any attempt Severus makes to convince her that she would be better off without this attachment to him.  He may even come up with some kind of potion that will do away with the withering effects of the Lifebond they share, but somehow I don't think he will be at all happy to have her leave... and I don't think she will be happy either.  Sometimes Severus can be so thick, but I have hopes that he will come to his senses.  Thanks for this lovely chapter.  I can't wait to see what happens next.Beth

Life rolls on, girls grow into women, and old men become young again.  Wonderful story, nicely written.  Very thoughtful.  Thank you!

Sounds like he's coming around.  LOL!  He needs a few boots to the head, he'll figure it all out after that.

"I shall take this opportunity to declare that her main fault has been associating with Harry Potter, whose main fault was being born of James Potter, whose main fault was being a thoughtless and insensitive clod."That is the most accurate and succinct synopsis of three characters that I think I have ever read!This is just brilliant stuff--witty, engaging, drammatic and funny. Your concept of a lifebond is familiar but with a unique twist. It reminds me of the one-shot I wrote called 'Colors' which featured a 'power-bond' where SS and HG suffered withdrawl if apart too long.Great job so far! I am really enjoying this.

But I don't want a remedy to our situation!But I LIKE our situation as it is, thank you very much!But I don't see any wisdom in that pursuit whatsoever!But... I could think of so many retorts. I hope that, by the time he figures out how to undo the blood magic, they love and need each other so much that they stay together anyway.

First of all let me thank you for another great update. Seccond, could you please let me into your story for a line or five? There is a certain Potions Master I cherish that desperately needs someone to smack his rather thick head to make his braincells start function again. His pining for the "holy" Lily irks me, he should have enough braincells to realise that his love and devotion to her was very onesided, someone who could only be called a good friend wouldn't have done what Lily did: Not only did she refuse to forgive him for a mistake he regretted from the seccond the word left his mouth, she completly betrayed him by joining the group of boys that had made his school years a warzone. Yes, Severus did pay them back, but they were four cowards against one, and his crime: Being Slytherin, poor and friends with a girl who one of the cowards wanted for himself. Yup, thinking about it, he deserves two smacks in the head and a kick in the butt. He migth not have to love Hermioen (though he better, or else....), but grow up and see the ligth: Lily was probably a nice enough girl, but she was far from a saint and do not deserve being remembered as one!After that said, I am very much lookign forward for your next update!

He's fighting intimacy valiantly, but it will win... :)

Ah, they're so warm and fuzzy with each other!  But it's perfect right now.  Things will get better, I'm sure.

Yay for Poppy!  And isn't it just like Ron to ignore her.  Hopefully Hermione will wizen up and see what's good for her.  :)

Yes!  She will stay, and be his Potions Apprentice... and he noticed her lovely smile.  You made me laugh with how similar their speech and mannerisms have become through the Lifebond.  When she said that Ron was being a git about her staying with Severus, his response was classic Snape:  Narrowing his brows, Severus said icily, “Naturally, it’s been a constant dose of Felix Felicis for the rest of us.”Then when Hermione made to thank him for the apprenticeship and, presumably, for all he did to defeat the Dark Lord, her response was so much like his:  Narrowing her eyes, she said, “One of these days, I’m going to teach you to say, ‘you’re welcome’.”This story has a subtle endearing quality that runs just under the surface.  It's like watching two old friends sparing with one another while they negotiate falling in love.  Splendid!  And thank you for such a marvelous story.  I'm truly looking forward to your next update!Beth

Clearly neither of them has completely come to terms with the "restrictions" the Lifebond has placed on them.  To each of them, it seems to be more than they can stand.  But wait a minute... both of them are sleeping better and eating better than they had before Hermione showed up at Severus' garden gate.  I think they're just having trouble giving up the plans each had for their lives post-war, but I think Poppy hit the nail on the head:  “The advice you have come seeking is this: Pluck up, stop whining and be a man. You have suffered. So have we all. You are not specially privileged to withdraw from the world, disdaining it. Hermione Granger could be the best thing to happen to you since… Well, there you are.”Other than Poppy's advice, my favorite part of the chapter was when Hermione asked him to pick up some tampons for her while he was running errands.  I thought he was going to have a coronary!  Lucky for him Poppy had a spare box of Witchtex.Poppy rules!!!!!Brilliant and witty chapter!!!  I am sooooooo happy they've decided "that Hermione would remain with Snape indefinitely, working as his assistant."Beth