Now I'm really confused by his behavior. He seems back to being nice to her. So why was he so aloof earlier? If I'm confused, she must be also.

Can't wait to find out what's going on in that Slytherin brain of his!

I think Severus is distancing himself from Hermione because he thinks she'll be leaving. I have the feeling that Severus has started to feel something for Hermione, but hasn't admitted it yet, which would make his actions understandable. I think her distancing from him will help him open to her a bit more.

The sprig of lavender was cute.  You can't say he doesn't have a sense of humor.  Does he realize how badly she needs a clarity potion and why?  Perhaps he ought to sample a bit himself.  I love the end where they have the conversation that is serious, but then turns lighthearted.  That is starting to be a trend.  I hope eventually they will be able to keep it serious long enough for them to further explore their feelings.  Is he aware of feelings for her yet?  Maybe she will be in danger from Yaxley's release.  I don't want that, but sometimes our dear potions professor needs a kickstart to get him in action about his feelings. Looking forward to more of this most enjoyable story!

I'm so glad Severus was able to rid Hermione of the remnant of the Dark Curse that had remained.  But I think she is wrong in her assessment of his feelings toward her.  I think that he may be saying nothing to her about how he feels about her, but it's not because he doesnt' care.  He just can't imagine that she would have those kinds of feelings for him... and he doesn't want to put himself in a position to have his heart broken again.

Perhaps Mr Yaxley will not be very well behaved when he is allowed out of Azkaban, and Severus will realize just how much he has begun to care for his apprentice.

Thank you for this lovely chapter.  8^)
Beth

Nice build up of the relationship. :)

Would have loved to have seen Snape taking the mickey out of Lavender. :)

Things are moving nice and slow between them.

He does seem to appreciate the quiet.

Excellent writing!  This chapter has so many undercurrents I thought about digging out my water wings.  The confrontation with Lavender was a downer for Hermione, and for a while it did look as though Severus as very interested in her charmed chest... but it just didn't seem like Snape to me, so I was relieved when he followed her outside the castle to talk to her.  I found myself wishing Hermione had just taken the seat Severus showed her and sat back and enjoyed the fun.  Next time, perhaps.

I wonder if Severus realizes what effect his comment had on his apprentice when he told her he wasn't 'interested in ex-students, or a Weasley cast-off for that matter.'  I felt bad for Hermione, but she recovered from it well, and they went on to have a bit of a heart-to-heart and to laugh at themselves a little.

I hope both of them have a better time of it next week.  This Ministry Dinner has not been a fun one for a certain Potions master and his apprentice.

Have I told you have much I enjoy this story?  No?  Well here is a bouquet for you because you're doing a great job!

Beth

In a story of great chapters, this was even better than usual.  Not at all the kind of drama that I expected, but very good indeed.  Lavender is a riot.  Her and her charmed chest.  What an opportunity for Hermione's jealousy to flare, and in doing so, reveal how bad she has it for Professor Snape.  Their conversation at the end was fantastic.  It covers a lot of ground for them.  They can have a serious conversation, but also are able to infuse some humor and laugh a bit.  He is stern, and she stands her ground.  I can't tell if it is clear to him just how jealous she was.  Part of me hopes he is aware, and as such can explore what his feelings are, and part of me thinks that he is not yet ready to know such a thing.  I'm sure he has no idea how much his comments on her naivete, or his lack of interest in ex student, Weasley cast offs hurt her.  Hopefully there will be ample opportunity for her to prove him wrong and for him to make it up to her.

Jealousy thy name is Hermione.  Great chapter, Hermione has it bad, I can only hope that Severus might return her feelings.  Another great chapter :)

Wasn't quite the the evening I expected. Hermione has got her work cut out!

I kept hoping for her to re-enter the ballroom and deflate Lavender's chest.

I love the banter. I think maybe Hermione wil have a fab night if i certain professor decides to ask her to dance?

I love it.  I like the way Hermione and Snape talk to each other.  A little bit of banter, nothing mean spirited but usually amusing.

Hermione is making a great recovery in using her magic, but I can't get it out of my head that Poppy told her the Dark curse is still within her.  I worry that she will relapse one day, and it will return with a vengeance.  If that happens, I think Severus will get involved big-time.  In fact, I think that he gave her that assignment on making a potion that would help people addicted to one of the medicinal potions for pain or depression to help her "think" her way through the process of creating a potion to produce a particular outcome.  She actually did create and brew  one that could "replicate the effects of an anti-depressant without addiction."

If she gets the research position at St Mungo's, perhaps she will be able to work on a cure for the kind of curse that Yaxley cast on her.  And maybe the potion she made to treat depression without causing addiction will be something she can test and perfect... and maybe it can be adapted to treat the lingering curse in her own body.

Top marks to Snape for tricking Hermione into giving away her hastily concocted plan to avoid the Ministry Dinner at Hogwarts!  I had to laugh at how easily he boxed her in.  And now it seems that the first time she will see Ron since their breakup will be at said dinner.  I hope he doesn't get all soppy and beg her to take him back.  It would be awful to have to go through that in such a public forum.  But.... if that happens, maybe Severus will "intervene" and let Ron know that he is not to aggravate his Apprentice. 

Thank you for this very interesting chapter.  It is full of possibilities!
Beth

Love the banter between Hermione and Severus. Look forward to find out what happens at the Ministry Ball perhaps Ron will put his foot in his mouth as usual and Severus will come over and sweep Hermione off her feet onto the dance floor and perhaps elese where. Hey a girl can dream *Grins*

Well, that's hopeful. Maybe Ron won't be a prat. :)

Bugger off Ron she's got Snape. I do hope something happens at this ball. Maybe a very nice dance with Severus??

Great chapter!  Loved the dialogue between Severus and Hermione.  I can't wait for them to go to the Ministry Ball, I'm thinking perhaps, Ron will put his foot in it and Severus will just have to sweep in and save the day.  Looking forward to th next chapter.

Stars and garters, what a great chapter!  I loved everything about it.  Woo hoo!

Hermione's visit with her parents and her time at St Mungo's was very productive and well spent.  She might even get a job out of it.  Will she be finished with her apprenticeship at the end of term?  Or will she still have more time working with Severus?

I'm glad that Minerva was able to talk with Hermione about the monitoring that the Ministry has to do where Severus is concerned.  It explains why he was so upset, but it also gave Hermione the chance to stand up to him and defend her honor.  Even though it was a contentious moment, I think after all was said and done, it's a good thing that she did and that their relationship will be on a more equal footing in the future.

Snape's apology– ‘This is a very good attempt, Miss Granger.’– was a thing of beauty.  Hooray for his "practically effusive" compliment to her.

I love it!
Beth

Try as she might, Elsie Reigate did not find an ally in Miss Granger.  I felt sorry for young Max Teasdale, but even though he is probably unaware of it, it seems he has impressed both Miss Granger and Professor Snape.  And that can't be a bad thing.

I enjoy the comments that Severus and Hermione say about or to each other.  His remark that she didn’t need reminding about her short comings resulting from being a Gryffindor was a hoot.  I know she's catalogued that incident for some form or retaliation in the future, and it will probably be a zinger.  I believe she really surprised him when she came back to him with a recipe for, and a vile of, the potion to help someone addicted to potentially harmful potions.  In typical Snape fashion, he refused to give her a resounding compliment, but he did admit that it would work.  I hope we find out if it really is superior to the one St Mungo's has come up with. 

Poppy's instructions for her to restrict her spells to the milder ones she has been using was scary.  It's awful to think that the Dark Magic is still able to cause problems, but I can understand why Hermione had to try casting her Patronus.  I would have done the same thing.

What has really captured my concern is the parchment she saw on Snape's desk.  The Ministry Department of Magical Law Enforcement?  What the hell is going on?  What ever it is, the Professor was clearly disturbed by it.  I wonder if it had anything to do with the curse that Yaxley cast on her.  Or perhaps the Ministry has found a trail leading to others who might be involved in perfecting the curse that Voldemort had wanted. 

Now she will be ventruing to Grimmauld Place to visit with Harry and Ginny for the weekend.  I hope she can scope out some opportunities for work experience this summer. 

I enjoy following this story and now I have to go read the next chapter.  *grins*
Beth

I loved this chapter so much.  I liked being able to see the daily interactions between Hermione and Professor Snape whether they are sitting nearby in the staff room or he is helping her with something she can't yet manage like Reparo.  Or if he is helping her to his office because she has had to us a lot of magic to take care of a cauldron problem. 

This last bit of teasing him was funny.  I liked the way he told her that she should tread carefully, and then when she looked at him out of the corner of her eye only to realize that he had caught her sneaking a peek at him.

Well done!  And I'm still wondering if she will remember their earlier discussion when he made the remark that she shouldn't go plundering around in his bottom desk drawer.  I have my own ideas about what she might find there.

Jeez, I hope she'll look there before she leaves.  Thank you for this great chapter!
Beth

I'm enjoying this a lot, in part because it's not clear where it's  headed.  It's so well written that I am just enjoying being carried along with it.

LOL.  At least she recognised an apology when she got one. :)