OMG now I was not expecting that to happen to HG. Weird that the jar of eyeballs were in the vacinity when teh cauldren exploded when one dropped in. Now she is blind. Waht a canumdrum.

Well I do hope you finish this story. And for your information I am blind. So if you need any info on how HG should react to being blind let me know had years of experience in this area lol. Thank goodness for screen readers and access tech. Thanks for writing and sharing and please continue with this as I am keen to learn what happens next.

Oooh nasty LV and making SS react like that to HG. Now it looks like HG hates him now lol and Dumbledore's all knowing assistance - snort - what is he up too? Off to read next part. Thanks again for sharing and writing. Enjoying your story.

Reviewing your story as it has me glued to teh chapters so far. A blood sacrifice from Snape to join the Death Eaters and it being his mother wow. As for SG even while incapacitated her know it all brain still functions. Poor Longbottom.

Looking forward to reading the next chapter now. Thanks for writing and sharing.

I hope RL and your muse let you continue with this story at some point.

Good account of a person driven to extremes because of a combination of ambition and perceived opposition.  Does the text intend to imply that Severus's assumed persona is a contibutory cause of the accident?

Allow a reviewer to say something swotty about the title - ordinary arithmetic often has more than one answer, roots of polynomials come to mind, and the number of answers says something about the original problem as it does in this story.  Different solutions have different properties - this story goes for more stability and gets more robustness.   

There is the continued theme that feelings for a person make one vulnerable.  The main characters are such strangers to these emotions that they are unbalanced and super sensitive.  Severus appears to have inverted his self-loathing in the sense that he regards himself as the Lord of Pain and woe unto those mortals who try to approach him.

Love protects Harry, but it makes Narcissa and Severus vulnerable, although in Harry's case, it was a blood sacrifice.  Well written account of a Death Eater meeting.  One bad boy is ripe for saving.  Unexpected twist at the end given her actions in the previous chapter.

Good description of the early stages of romance.

Their thoughts as their relationship lurches forward, a narration bolstered by keen insights into their natures.

A description of a momentous undertaking where the goal is high enough and the risk is great enough that the reearcher does not inform her associates.  But there is usually a confident since no one can keep this big a secret.  It would be more realistic if it were bootleg - undertaken without the knowldge or even with the disapproval of the Headmaster - but this would require a Severus of a different color. 

There are the continued small flashes of humanity, bordering on rapport, from Severus.

Making potions is incompatible with Arithmancy because of the added complexity, but does not the added complexity have structure, which might guide one through the complexity.  

It appears both Severus and Hermione are losing control over their emotions.  A subplot has entered.

Brilliant work on the theory of Potions.  The various disciplines are compartmentalized in canon.  In fanon, Charms is often combined with Potions, but including Arithmancy indicates a capacity for absract thought.

A constantly calculating Hermione, possibly written by someone who has just or is about to leave university.  Hermione, like Severus, is considering sarcasm as a means of defense.

A portrait of the inner Severus.  He draws parallels between his life and Hermione's, noting that, in canon at least, they are unique.  Does he propose the central question of the tale - will this be revenge with its excesses and tragic results, or will it be a tempered exercise in justice?

Will this story be Dostoevsky-like, propelled by the inner thoughts of the characters?

There are the inner thoughts of a hardened Snape although even he enters too sarcastic for the occasion, and there is the solid premise that a hero needs a support group.  It begins with a playful interlude for contrast, and it acknowledges the toll of being Head Girl.

How alike they are. I wonder which one of them will break this sudden hatred first? Great chapter.

How bitter and hateful they both can be. So stubborn, so mean spirited. So in-character.It saddens me that Hermione was like that with him, but I can understand why. Unfortunately, it undoubtedly means that they will have to endure each other's barbs and bites for some time to come, until one of them forgives the other.

Severus is certainly not fair or anything.  He starts this horror with her, then gets upset because she is justifiably angry.

Intense finish to a gripping chapter. :)

When he loses control, he loses control.  That chapter had so many twists and turns.  I'm so fascinated.

Oh my! That was such a brilliant chapter, the ending of it was fantastic! I can't wait for the next installment.

One of the best chapters yet in this story!  I was fascinated with the take on the blood sacrifice, as well as the revelation that Severus offered up his own mother for Voldemort's favor back in his youth...  Who did make the attempt on Draco's life?  None of the DEs were admitting to the deed, although if it had been successful I suspect that several would have been insisting it was them.  Could Draco be right, and it really is his own father?  What a terrible blow for him if it's true...although it might just be the catalyst needed to tip him over to a more benign path in the future.The confrontation between Severus and Hermione at the end was well-played, and I'm enjoying the drawing out of the tension between the two.  Can't wait until the next chapter!

A heart-pounding and suspenseful chapter.Good that he didn't kiss her at that point. I am a firm believer in love over lust, and he hasn't had time to realize that he's in love with her yet. He must also realize that he is worthy of her love. That will be very hard for him to admit because he must first forgive himself for so many sins...A gripping tale. I anxiously await your next installment.

This is really a fascinating work.  I really enjoy pre-HBP and DH stories.

Please don't listen to KingPig- I don't think that I can wait that long to read more of this great story!! 

I am particularly enjoying the intensity to which you are portraying Hermione.  I find it very true to cannon how focused she is in solving this issue.  She is very resolution based.  When confronted with a need or issue, she WILL find a solution. (ie polyjuice in 2nd year or expandable beaded purse year seven)I found the discussion of KingPigss post on comparing Severus' intellect with Hermione's facinating.  I too think that is the common thread of these characters that makes me such a fan of HG/SS ships (well at least those written well- as your's is!)I am intrigued to see where where Dark Magic goes in the hands of Hermione in this story.  You have referenced it often thus far, and it reminds me of Ollivander and his facination with the wand of Tom Riddle.Great job!!!! Please post often- I am highly impatient!