Thank you, again! Yes, Septima's biggest problem is that she thinks all her problems are because she did something wrong or didn't do something well enough. Fortunately, she does have a family that will support her while the rest of the confusion is resolved.

Thank you! Keeping Hermione safe and keeping their own secrets so they can continue to find out what happened is very important to Snape. He's been hoping for and dreading this moment for years. And after 160-odd years, Dumbledore thinks he just needs to out-wait whatever is in his way. He wasn't expecting Septima to be quiet so tenacious, so he's got a problem, there.

Oh, yes.  He thinks just to get her out of his system, but she's solidly under his skin, isn't she?  ;)  Thank you for the lovely reviews!

She's got expectations she never mentioned, and she never really bothered to find out what was in his mind.  It's a bit of a muddle, and she's bound to feel unsure and worried under the circumstances.  Thank you for reviewing!

She's not exactly sure what the situation is, and he's not telling.  He's cagey with his emotions.  She's willing to take the chance, though.  Thank you for the review!

LOL, thank you!  He's having a hard time, trying to fit her into the role he wants her to have in his mind.

Oh, thanks! I've been pretty shocked at the way I've writen Dumbledore in this story. He's just bad at every turn.

Oh, thanks! I've been pretty shocked at the way I've writen Dumbledore in this story. He's just bad at every turn.

Thank you, again!  Yes, he *knows* what he wants in his head, but the rest of him isn't so sure.

LOL, he probably had to *learn* how to be a love!god, right? I think he and Septima are more than able to carry their "research" into whatever place they find themselves.  ;)  Thanks for the review!

Oh, thank you for reading! I tried to think of a "trendy" sounding drink that would actually be disgusting... Pumpkintini seemed a safe choice, LOL. I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

Dumbledore is going to be a problem for about the next fifty-two months, LOL, but Severus has a plan.  Thank you so much for the review!

Whoops!  I meant the next 28 months or so.

28 month - that would be the end of Hermione's (and Harry's) sixth year, wouldn't it? So Dumbledore will die at the same time as he did in canon? Interesting!Great story! I'm really curious how you continue.

Snap!  Was that a spoiler? LOL, I'm pretty fanatical about sticking to the main canon events, so I figure that it's not too much of a spoiler. I like to think of my stories as "canon-consistent," which is a little AU here and there in ways that JKR seemed to be elastic about the canon. Thank you once again!

Yeah, he's closer to calling his feelings love, but because it's not like what he had for Lily, he can't call it love. Meanwhile, never even knowing who Lily is, Septima can't even begin to figure out what she's up against. Thank you, as always!

I think that's how it is. Hermione knows the basic facts, but she's going to have more questions and she's going to need time to think about it. Thank you so much for the review!

Septima appears barely able to keep track of her studies and her infatuation, and Severus has a few other things on his mind, too, like whether or not to join the Death Eaters and how he's going to get Lily to give him the time of day.  We'll have to see how it goes.Thank you so much!

It was a one sided competition, LOL, and I don't think Descartes would mind if Septima found someone closer to her own age and station in life.  He sort of paved the way for Severus... and I was a little shocked to look him up for a refresher and see how much he and the Snape of the books resemble each other.  It was fun doing a little wool-gathering of my own for that chapter... mmm...  Thanks, again!

Yes, I decided to take the plunge and see what happened before the DH year, and this is where I found myself.  Thank you for reviewing!

Thank you!  Septima was indeed making decisions, sort of, and Severus is on a different wavelength entirely, unfortunately.  We'll see how it goes for them.

There will be more!  Thank you!

Thank you for the review!We haven't given up on the Grangers, although I've read that every Muggleborn would probably tend to withdraw from their family as they entered more and more into the wizarding world.The ice is broken, but there's probably going to be some fallout.You're right about the cow comment, but maybe Snape is off his game today.Thanks, again!

Right, he should be off his game!!Experiencing the birth of his son AND the very first private chat with his daughter. I see the practical withdrawal, but emotionally this was harsh. Any parent who adopts has been through quite a mill of papers and really WANTS a child. The older Grangers obviously do not feel severely left out if they are seriously considering adopting yet another magical child. I like that.If you can lead Hermione to compare her early years with those of Neville, Ron and Harry, she should find so many positive sides--and they need not at all impact her relationship to Severus or Septima.  Aaaah, but I forget, you do not want to make it easy.

Thank you!  I hope I'm doing this right.

There's going to have to be a sinking in phase as she sorts it all out in her mind, I think.  She's always loved Septima, so if she can get past the thing where Septima gave her up, she'll be happy with that. Severus is really one of her favorite professors too, which is why that comment about her teeth cut her so deeply. She respects him as demanding.It's a bit of a cliffhanger from here, but what happens next will develop more slowly, I think.Thank you so much for the review!

Oh, thank you!  I'm interested in seeing how this works too.  :)

Yes, that's the question.  ;)Thanks, once again!

I know!  You don't want to think about your parents doing it, and only slightly less do you want them to think about you doing it, LOL!Thanks, again!

She's getting Septima away from Hogwarts for a few days, hopefully without causing Dumbledore to want to follow/track her.Thank you for the review!