'...you're all buttoned up.'

'It's a metaphor,' he replied, a little apologetically, and they both laughed, slightly breathlessly.
How many years have I been reading hgss and why haven't I read that before? It's perfect! Beautiful and funny. I'm really enjoying your fic -- thanks so much for sharing it!

Yes!  Enough talking already!

Sorry.  This is one of my favorite stories, and I'm re-reading it as you post here (more or less).  As satisfying as this story is, sometimes you do want to just smack Severus Snape upside the head.

Just as well she recognised how they were avoiding the issue by talking about the press coverage. :)

It's about bloody darn time!!! They are both so insecure - him even more so. Bless his heart.

I anxiously await your next chapter.

Good for them for being bold enough to go ahead and take things a bit further despite their reservations.  Perhaps spending their time at Hogwarts was a good idea.  I just hope the media gets bored with them soon, and that they are able to get back at Lavender, even if it is only by not letting the media attention bother them.  Now let's just hope her parents don't have an issue with this.  I am hopeful for a happy ending here!

I am so glad that Severus did not make a big deal about all of the media attention.  One of them fussing about things is plenty, really.  I think that things just might work out for them.  And, I hope they really stick it to Lavender.  It's only what she deserves.

'The benefits of a Sobering potion—I can get smashed several times in one night.'

She looked at him, appalled. 'You're joking?'

'Yes...' he acknowledged, but as an aside, added, 'that's what weekends are for.'

Hermione really should have laughed out loud when he asked her how much his credibility would be destroyed if he poisoned himself.  Because Merlin knows, *I* did. ;)  (and of course, I'm Hermione Granger... *eyeroll*)

AHA!  She finally got him back!

Heh.  "sightings of pigs flying through the sky"

And does the Clarity potion require lavender?

OMG, I can't stand to wait now!!!  Things are going so well between SS and HG despite the stupidity of the press!

ggrrr, stupid newspaper.  stupid ron!!!  UGH!

Yay!  Poor Severus is so out of his element here.

Lavender needs to be stopped.  She and Ron deserve each other.

I really like how Severus is "handling" this new interest in his and Hermione's comings and goings.  His diversion spell is a handy thing to have on a picnic, isn't it?  I'm glad that he is not ruffled by all the interest the press has taken in their relationship, and his calm about it all is helping Hermione handle it well, too.

I think Miss Brown is behind all this gossip, and I can't wait to see what happens if she chooses some public venue to ridicule Hermione and see how fast her boobs shrink back to their real size.  Wouldn't it be great if Snape were nearby when the glamorous model says her cruel spiel to Hermione, and he is the one to demonstrate how very "false" she is?

Very good chapter.  I like!
Beth

Glad to see Severus taking it all so well - and to even kiss her in public!  Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

I can't believe how stupid Ronald Bilious Weasley is!  What a shame for Hermione to have to come back to that kind of Inquisition after such a lovely day with Severus.  She came back to Grimmauld Place floating on cloud nine, and then jerk-face Ron had to do his best to ruin everything for her.  He could do with a good hexing.

I wonder how much longer Hermione can continue to live at Grimmauld Place?

I hope this mess with the Evening Prophet won't have made him change his mind about being with Hermione. 

Beth

Ohhh Ron your a prat.. Update soon pretty please.

Poor Hermione. Ron is being an ass. And after such a lovely day.

Oh, what a mess!  I hope that he doesn't revert back to his recent opinions that they shouldn't be together.  Maybe the two of them had a good enough time for him to say the Hell with them and their ridiculous stories.  I do hope she goes to him and he doesn't turn her away.   I'm just pleased that it wasn't Ginny who ratted her out.

I really liked the scene with the ice cream.  It was so terribly sweet, but not over the top.

I hope the next chapter is up soon!

Damn nosy reporters! :)

Thank goodness for Gryffindor bravery.

Godzilla!  What a great chapter!  You took my emotions on a whirlwind roller coaster ride, but the chapter ended with such a lovely talk between Hermione and Severus.

My favorite part was when Severus noticed the struggling ducks on her pyjamas:

'Everyone has to have a pair of novelty pyjamas,' she said defensively. 'I bet even you have some.'

She watched him raise an eyebrow. 'Well,' he said, 'that's for me to know, isn't it...'

'...and her eyes widened when she saw that there was a smirk about his lips.'

That was a brilliant way to lighten what could have been an awkward moment.  Thanks for this thoroughly entertaining update.

Beth

Too true.  It is time for some action.  I'm so pleased that he came to see her and say he was sorry.  That is a big deal for him.  Ron is such an idiot, but fortunately in this case, his bad decision was the catalyst for getting them together.  Interested to see what her plan entails.

Lovely.