Thank you so much! I"m glad you like Cara... she has been around the block a time or two... so to speak. I see her as the antithesis to Severus. She's loud, outgoing, spontaneous, and she tries very hard to find the good in everyone, even Severus. He has his good points, but no one has really taken the time to get to know him well enough, due to his harsh exterior. Cara sees beyond that. She has her faults though. There are things in her past that have made her who she is, and we'll explore them as the story progresses. In fact, one aspect of her past will "seal the deal" so to speak... between her and Severus. As for SSHG... I know its not for everyone. I love it simply because it's what got me into the world of fanfiction. I prefer an older, 30-ish Hermione though, as opposed to a school age one. I will say that original characters are a breath of fresh air for me though. There are no preconcieved notions about what kind of person they should be. They're your character, so they can be whatever you want. :)Sorry to have gone on so long! I'm glad you're enjoying things so far! The next chapter is on its way! Thanks again for the great review!! *hugs*