nicely done Severus, very nicely done. Now where does the acting stop and real life start?  And Pansy...good for you as well. Can we see Ron go down as well, please? I'll beg

They are making so much progress. I'm so proud of them. And congratulations for the admin position at tpp!

oh this poor man.being in this helples state,  having her around as an ear-witness, giving himself away, his deepest inner self.well, I start to understand why he feels towards her as he does. Bu this implies that he has no trust in any person at all. Everyone is suspicious for him, only harm can come from his people around him. He has not one positive thought or feeling about anybody.No wonder he misinterprets her letter.She and mock him while visiting him and hearing his nightmarish babble. Never ever.Oh he is so damaged.I wonder what Naginis rest-poison is doing to him right now, and what would be if they had done the experimental treatment.I can understand that he is so accid against everyone regarding his treatment via press and so on. Everybody, and especially him would have given the world to keep this treasure (and I think he held his love for Lily alsways as a treasure) and his shame (his behaviour towards her and the others, and his double life etc...) secret.And now it was torn into open light, everyone trampled upon it. No wonder he feels so hurt. And this shows what a sensitive person he might be under the icy surface.A broken man.I'm sure she wanted to help healing when she visited him. Why wasn't he able to sense this?How he must hate her. Or be ashamed of how grown up she was and is? Much more confidence than he has?oh fellow.I absolutely liked the way she gave him her piece of mind when returning to the castle. And I really felt both her horror and his jublation when he chanted his last sentence after her. oooh you Bastard, she must have thought.Is there really the chance NOT to accept a notice?

Awwwwww... how sweet. Getting her to eat and sleep. Adorable!

she blackmailed him with something we do not know? what was that???? tell us!!you make me curiousAnd he is so evil, makes her leave a job and place she likes so much. Thisis cruel.Why in the world.Is it as Lucius says, is stuck so far back in history?And is his only reason to go through the pains of "asking" Hermione to stay the fact that he could have a rais in his onw salary? oh wait, his whole job is at stake.Might Lucius be right here also, and Snape lose his position? really?And is Snape right, and Lucius does have some intrests of his own when he wants Hermione to stay where she is? oh how interesting this all is.Good that she took this step. I am proud of her, despite Luna said this wasn't like her.Sometimes it proves strength to step back. (sometimes just to make another attack, but the other side doesn't need to know...)By the way, very nice pairing with Harry and Luna. And a powerful arrangement you made her with the board and all. te hee.If Hermione is really that welcome in any school then she will have no problem to find a new situation. Always up to her, then.It is all about being charming then, as Lucius pointed out.Severus will never manage that. He'd rather bite his tongue.At least this Severus seems like it.But he obviously likes his position as headmaster.Also an interesting side.Why wanting to keep the job?Gumpy old man.Leading such an excellent school.Who would like that?Maybe he should vanish into the dungeon, back to his laboratory and behind his cauldrons. Not that he couldn't do any  harm and damage there, but at least he wouldn't be up front anymore. He is insufferable. Miserable man, what made him stay?Eager to read on.you really got me!Thank you for sharing!

I think she just sees what's underneath his gruff exterior...

another spectacular chapter, really loved it....

Sneeky Severus. I Like It!

Man, he is a master of manipulation.  He knows just what buttons to push to bring her around.  But even though he is scheming, maybe the time spent together will be therapeutic for their relationship.  I just hope she stands her ground as needed.

Oh, dear, meddling Malfoys.  But maybe it will be for the best somehow.  I hate how Severus continues to manipulate Hermione even as he is trying to make amends.  Of course, I'm not entirely convinced that he wants to manipulate her.  I think he is in denial that he has feelings for her and this way of behaving feels safe.  We shal see ...

Oh, please don't tell me she's going to act like an idiot and fall for him just because he's manipulated things just so, and she's like Pavlov's dog when it comes to research! He's made it very hard for her to resist, but I'd like to see her use self restraint and tell him no!

Did I ever mention how glad I am that you paired Harry with Luna? I always got the impression that they connected. Ginny, was just a crush on her side and a feeble attempt at a surrogate mother on his. Another matchmaking scheme gone wrong. Rowling should have just stuck to writing drama and not done the epilogue thingy. She's terrible at romantic couplings. On the other hand, Severus is giving me a headache more and more. He's manipulating everything he says to Hermione, and now the Malfoys are going to try to fix them up? Good Lord, don't tell me he's going to go for it? No, wait, he probably will since he's been manipulating everything to make appearances look good. Well, what's going to happen when Hermione calls him on all this? What's going to happen when she absolutely hates all the manipulation he's doing? She is going to end up having it out with him, isn't she? If she's every bit as smart as we're led to believe, she's going to eventually find out, and I want to watch it hit the fan!!

Poor Hermione. She is sad and confused and angry and all of it justified.  At least they were able to get to the heart of the matter, even if she doesn't fully understand why he feels the way he does.  I do think if they keep at it they will be able to form a better relationship.  Of course it would be hard to form a worse one ...

sneaky Severus, the one thing that is likely to make her stay....

still think he really needs to grovel though, still leave and leave him hanging I want to shout,

This could be titled (sp?) the Return of the Slytherin Master. It's so good to have him back at his fullest. And they are going to spend so much time together. *happy dance*

Matchmaking galore! Yeah!!!

With Severus admitting that he really doesn't know Hermione at all and that he's still working on getting her to even consider staying on, I imagine that will provide Lucius and Narcissa with a perfect excuse to help Severus get to know her a little better, won't it? I'm glad to see Hermione is still thinking hard about her decision and not letting Severus off the hook so easily by giving in, no matter how much she loves the school. Good for her!

Can I send some chocolate to NArcssa? And a pair of designer shoes if she manage to get them engaged before the end of the school year... *grin*

yet another great chapter...love Narcissa

I'm glad he explained himself. It will help her to forgive him and maybe him to trust people a bit more. He might discover he likes her after all.

I really can't blame Hermione for being totally offended still at Snape's treatment, even though he tried to explain why and what caused him to act so. Explaining is only half the battle. Conceding defeat and apologizing is going to be the next major fight.

please please don't let her just forgive him, please..it would be such 'usual' path for the story to take..let her stay hurt at his distrust.

as always. loving the tale and looking forward to the next chapter

poor severus, you can see how he would imagine that it could be used as blackmail... and I'm glad he is beginning to see how horrid he's been

I've read the first chapters in one go! I love that story!

WOW, that was funny... Hermione pretending to be Lili and he falling for it. Super cute. And he will need some begging to get her to believe him again. Great story!