Sometimes, you just need to be able to breathe!

Yea another wonderful chapter. 

Now we're getting someplace! Excellent chapter  in a stunning story. I'm going back to read the chapter again - it deserves another look!

Thank you for the update. I admit to have some issues weather Severus is to easily forgiven for what he did, but I will allow the argument that it was war and bad things happen in wars. He (read you) will get compliments for in this chapter handling what happened in the best possible way. If he can hold on to the resolve of not giving up and to give Hermione time and let her talk through the nigthmares that still hunts her, I guess they truly have a fair chance. Him not leaving there at the end, but suggesting a much less formal way of spending their evening were perfectly done, it showed that he accepted her having trouble dealing with the situation, and most importantly that he doesnt run when the things get though. There will probably be a lot of forks in the road for them, but he passed this one very well. With regards to Alice, they should let the little girl set the tempo. First let her meet the both of them and getting to know them. What is most important is to not force the child to chose between them and Luna / Neville. However hard Severus will find it, a friendship between the four "parents" are the only way to solve the situation to the best for all of them. Alice is obviously quite able to ask questions, at some point she will be secure enough in all four adults to start asking the questions that will lead to the truth being revealed. If they then manage to make the little girl secure enough to know that they will all love her unconditionally no matter what, there is quite possible that little Alice will have a good transfere with regards to who is her parents. What is a truth is that small children easier accept dramatic changes when they are told the answear to diffecult questions by persons who loves them and manage to let the child know that it is safe and loved no matter what. They must not lie to her, she will remember and loose faith in them, and they should hope that she finds out the truth as soon as possible, the older she gets, the more she will believe that something is wrong.

Another great chapter. Your way with words never ceases to amaze me.

Boy, Hermione is a wreck, isn't she?  But this is all new and scary for her, and the best thing Severus can do is to let her be in control.  He handled her breakdown very well and if he can continue to do so, things just might work out.I have no thoughts on the best way to handle little Alice's parentage.  Should they tell her now, or wait until she is older?  If they tell her now, are they intending to take her away?  If so, are they going to live together?  I suppose I think they need to hold off, let her get to know them both on a higher level and once she is attached, then tell her. Or maybe they wait until she is Hogwarts age so even though she is no longer officially Neville and Luna's child, nothing changes drastically for her.  She still lives at the castle, just like always.Thank goodness for Therese.  She might be the only thing keeping these two going in the beginning.  I do hope more is coming up soon!

I loved the way he described Alice: "infuriating, bossy, intelligent, and unforgettably beautifull all in one". I also loved how he described her to Hermione. I was VERY glad that she tried to apologize to Severus for giving Alice away without telling him -- AND that he refused the apology. It all seemed right, somehow. And I'm thrilled that he asked if he could court her, and she believed that his interest in her lies beyond Alice. Yay!

This was fantastic!  As real of a conversation as they could have had.  It took a lot of nerve on Severus' part to admit what he had done to her, and accept the wrath of Hermione.  I think he handled himself very well.  There was no way she was not going to go ballistic on him.The healing that needs to occur is extensive, but it couldn't begin until all the cards were laid on the table, and all of the pent up anger was out of her system.  I hope that even though she was raging, she was able to take in some of what he told her.  He really is sorry for what happened, and there is nothing else he can say to her to make her understand.  It is up to Hermione to decide if she wants to continue in this way, of let it go and forgive him, and finally move on with her life.I think it is possible to have a happy ending here, it is just going to take a massive amount of effort on both of their parts.  But I have faith in them.  And you :)

Pls do update this story both here and at ashwinder...its a great story..and i am thrilled as to knowing what shall transpire next...pls do not abandon this...DO NOT..pls..

How does one reason the unreasonable?  Sev is treading in sand here.  Every step has his feet sinking in deeper and deeper.  I would have to think long and hard about trying to reclaim a child in this instance.  Her life will not be enhanced by learning of 'real parents', as Luna and Neville will love her as their own.  But as Augusta pointed out chapters ago, Alice could be ridiculed if people learned who her true parents are and how she came to be conceived.  I will be curious to see how you weave this one through to the end!  Complicated to say the least!

hurry up with that next chapter! can't believe i've only just discovered this stunning fic!

I think this is the first time I've left a review on this site but wow, that was an intense, AMAZING chapter!! Hermione's emotions were so vivid and well-written and realistic. I eagerly await your next chapter...this one was a long-time coming but worth the wait.

wow. that was.. intense. one of those ones it's going to take a while to absorb... well done.

Great story! Like always :)Just wondering when are you going to update?Love. Love. Love your stories!Can't wait for the next chapter!!!

Hello - We miss you.  Hope you write back soon :)

Really enjoying the story and the novel plot.

Well written and very engaging story. Thanks for the time you have taken to share this.

Oh!  I've been circling around Ashwinder, twiddling my thumbs & hoping for an update, and here are TWO chapters at the the Poetess!   Well.... YAY!

Oh how this lunch meeting effected both of them deeply, despite how short the visit was.  Hermione's nightmares are returning and Severus is seemingly in a state of shock.  Why do I suspect (well, hope) the first person he's going to run into when he returns to Hogwarts is the little person that's going to make his head spin even more?Loved the tension of the chapter and looking forward to seeing what happens next!

In some respect this chapter seems to have turned Hermione into Severus, the snide Potions Master.  She's still wounded and is she not only confronted with her rapist, but he's acting chummy and makes a stupid comment about her disposition.  Very well written of her actions, or rather reactions to Severus and his presence!

Slightly cruel, definitely calculated, this Hermione is VERY different from anything I think he could imagine.  But little does he know, he had EVERYTHING to do with the attainment of her image. 

omg! i just found this story and it has to hang here???lol

This chapter makes a bit more sense now that the previous one was posted! There were some leaps that did not quite fit until now.. which is a good thing. What you wrote between here and there was important, etc. Anyway. Love the story, looking forward to the next chapter :)

I really liked this chapter.  There was so much said and unsaid and neither knows exactly where the other is coming from.  He made some comments which maybe were better left unsaid, but he truly has no idea the enormity of the chasm which separates them.  While she is fretting over his past transgressions, her confused feelings towards him, and his apparent interest in her, I think he is genuinely clueless to the fact that there is more here than just her anger at how he treated her as a student.  He will surely find out how wrong he is soon enough.  Phase two, huh?  This poor guy has no idea ...

I hope he figures out what happened to her on his own, and that he was responsible. Some day he should be able to look into his daughter's face and see some part of himself there. Then surely it will all add up.