Thanks! (They're finally loosening up a bit!)

Thanks so much for sharing your observations! Yes, I'm glad that Teddy's got a village of people looking out for him. I also rather enjoy the thought of Severus 'communicating,' so to speak, with a child he actually likes, and think it would be quite the sight to see! As for points? Oh, yes, she won them big time. (Not that he'll admit it... yet.)

Severus and the Malfoys are quite interesting to me... In the worst of times, when no one believed in him, Narcissa turned to him for help, honestly believing that he would be able and willing to help her child. I have to think he took some comfort in that. So, yes, I (happily!) give him a family, and I like to think that canon supports it, had JKR allowed him to survive the final battle. (And I'm glad you like the kids! I like them in their own right, but I also think you can tell a lot about people by how they interact with children.)

Finally, they're getting there... Ha! Yes, I do think she was soundly surprised to see Severus and Scorpius speaking sociably and sympathetically (albeit sans understanding).   ;)As for his birthday, I think Astoria summed it up pretty well – he's not particularly comfortable as the centre of attention.

Thanks so much! They're such verbal people, so it's quite the challenge to write their conversations! (I love watching people who are not naturally good with children interact with the kids in their lives. There are so many different ways to be awkward with a toddler, but this one seemed to suit Severus.)

Yes, JKR spends a lot of time dwelling on debt and sacrificial love, doesn't she? And, yes, Severus is a clever fellow. ;)  After the dismal pictures we had painted of Harry's childhood Christmases with the Dursleys, I think it's safe to say he would really, really love family holidays and ensure the best of them for his own kids.

Ha! Too true!

There's an awful lot of talk in the HP series as a whole on debts and obligations, and a great deal of it concerns Severus. Finally free from both his masters, I imagine he's done a lot of thinking on the subject. Hermione and Severus will rehash a good deal of this later on once they've learned to trust each other a bit more, but they're still pretty wary of one another now. As for Hermione being combative? Yes, I think you're right! She's under the impression that she's doing him a kindness, though, a mistake she's made before (cough, cough, S.P.E.W., cough).(I'm glad to hear you're enjoying this! I sometimes worry that a conversation like this between our pair will turn readers away, but it seems to me that Severus and Hermione - more than almost any other pair - need a meeting of minds and souls as well as bodies and lips.)

Ha - 'Dark Lord'? Yes! As to life debts, it's always struck me as odd just HOW MUCH emphasis is put on it in the series and how poorly explained it is. One thing's certain, though - Dumbledore and Voldemort say a lot about the subject, but most of it doesn't line up with what we know actually happened! Hermione and Severus will have a thorough hashing out of this at a later date, but for now, this is about where their level of trust with one another stops the conversation. They're getting there... slowly, but surely!

Thanks for the message. I gave the genre category another look and noticed that romance is not a part of it. While not a must - as long as the story is great - I am wondering whether this story will include a romance between HGSS. (No matter, anticipating more).

Ah, my apologies! I think I probably got a bit lazy on all the genre markings and I missed marking 'romance' on two of the chapters. Really, I think it's fair to say this covers a bit of everything - I'm always tempted to mark about six or seven genres - but a SS/HG romance is most definitely one of them. (This story is as long-winded as I am, so we're in it for the long haul, just as Hermione and Severus are! And as well-suited as I think they are, they've got a hefty history between them that needs sorting out first.)

Will she ever!

Oh, absolutely! What Dumbledore tells Harry about debts - and about Snape's life debt to James in particular - is very, very different from what we know from Snape's memories in the Pensieve with Dumbledore. Severus and Hermione'll revisit this topic in much greater depth later on... they can really only go so far on this subject now. When they trust each other a bit more, they'll have it out.

You laugh or you'll cry, right? I think Severus has an arsenal of distancing tools at his disposal - humour among them.

It's also a telling reference to Bumblebore! ^_^

He calls 'em as he sees 'em!

Oh, you're so kind,

. Thanks! This makes my day!

Thanks for another beautiful review! Yes, the house talk is often reduced to its simplest terms (bravery, intelligence, hard work, cunning), but it's so much more than that! Each house also has its vices, but they're ignored in the books - except for Hufflepuff and Slytherin, again, who we're told are 'not particularly bright or special' and 'the only place where evil wizards emerge from.' And when it all comes down to it, why isn't there someone at Hogwarts telling the kids that they're individuals, free to make their own choices and be their own people?  They're eleven! You tell them that being in a certain house makes them act a certain way, and most will fulfill those expectations. [Stepping down off of soapbox now.]

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a message - I love hearing people's reactions to things! Yes, the really sad thing about the Hat's song here is that it's only a step or two further than the songs we heard it sing in canon. (Or the remarks people made about Hufflepuff and Slytherin in canon!) Gryffindor and Ravenclaw escape unscathed, and there's a definite explanation as to why. (It'll just take us some time to get there!)

I think she forgot who she was dealing with when she revealed all to Draco.  He's been raised in Slytherin; he knows how to play his cards close to his chest.  Oh, Severus'll react, all right - next chapter!

Thanks so much! I do adore Narcissa...

I adooooore Narcissa. (Particularly after DH.) Draco as well, but I just feel like there are a thousand interesting untold stories in her.

Thank you so much!  They're such fabulous characters to play around with. (The next two chapters are already in the queue, but it's over 60 in line now, I think. The admins here are rock stars.)

Uff. Yep, there's definitely a story with Draco. It'll all come to light eventually!

Hermione's a smart girl!  I think whatever she does and wherever she does it (magic or Muggle), she's coming at it from a unique perspective and will be able to see things other people miss.Poor Draco... I'm afraid there's a story there. Hermione'll learn what in due time!(In case I haven't said this lately, thanks so much for leaving your reflections on things. It's fascinating to see the reactions of a thoughtful reader!)

Narcissa's a formidable woman!(Draco's patients? Yes, I will. There's definitely a story there, poor fellow.)

No kidding! Dinner with Narcissa would have me quaking in my boots. (Although Hermione does fare fairly well with one pureblood - Astoria.)

She's only agreed to stay with the Potter clan... for now.  As for Severus, he's bided his time long enough!