OMG!!!! Hazzhhhh!!! I'm so  happy for you. Of course I can't wait to read your book!!! 

I was thinking that Lance was gay when you made a point to mention the garish lavender robes. I do think this job working with Severus Snape, Postions Master extraordinere, most potent wizard and the Half Blood Prince truly is the best thing Hermione has ever done. I'm assuming Uncle Lance is not aware of the goblin made rings, however. There will be no lovers for Hermione and no raven haired little babies for Moe.

I really hope Theo doesn't give Hermione a reason to rue the day she agreed to the goblin wrought rings, but I can't help thinking that you wouldn't have made such a big deal about them if it wasn't going to be important to the plot.  What happens if both people cheat?  Do they both have burning?  
Maybe Hermione needs to declare a cold war with Mutually Assured Destruction the outcome if either party breaks the fidelity vow. "I won't if you don't" 
I'm sure it hasn't occurred to Hermione, yet. But this old broad has been around the block a few more times than she has.  I would do a pre-emtive patronus strike that says, until the divorce is official I expect you to keep your bits in your pants and I'll keep my legs crossed.  
It's about time the brightest witch of her age did a little bit of research on the history of goblin ring marriages. How much cheating is required to make the goblin rings react?  Will just thinking about being with another person set them off, words of love, heavy petting or is actual intercourse required?  Hermione could be the one to unintentionally set off the goblin magic if she fell in love with Severus and the magic rings are sensitive to what's in the heart not just what the body does. I'd be thinking a lot about what Uncle Lance said about Severus watching me if I was Hermione. She knows that Lance is way more astute than he pretends to be. He probably knows more about Severus than Severus does about himself.  Lance is older, wiser and has been watching Severus Snape carefully. He may have noticed more about the other man than a straight man would normally observe. If he thought it was important enough to say something about it to her I doubt it was simply an idle observation.  Drive defensively Herms! A wise Hermione move may be casually mention the rings to Uncle Lance and see what kind of reaction he gives her. That could tell her a lot.  But frankly, I don't think Hermione understands the Slyterin traits to realize she should feel concerned. She's going to put Theo out of her mind and dive head first into her new job as assistant potionaire with a tunnel vision worthy of her reputation in school.  Last, I wonder what Cordelia thinks about Severus spending so much time with Hermione doing something so mutually satisfying and time consuming.  I already think Cordilla has a lover.

Well I think the rest of us have some idea where this improbable partnership will lead them.  Now we wait for Severus to find out he's being cheated on by his lovely wife or she ends up in Askaban for something.  That's the only way I can see that he would end up free to be with Hermione.  Unless Theo and Cordilia both fall over dead, that is. Now that would be a nice Sytherinesc twist.  
I knew someone would help Hermione see the beauty of her situation.  Now she can have godchildren. They're the best kind! They love you because you buy them presents and she gets to send them home! 

Babies are so overrated! I work with their over thirty to forty something mothers every day.  OMG!!! They have way too high of expectations of life to be doing this at their ages. They are completely overwhelmed in the way wee little 19 year olds never worry about.   They are so neurotic. Who doesn't know that babies spit up?  These are educated people who bring in the 2 month old that is starving because they are limiting his intake to prevent SPITTING UP!       It's a freaking laundry problem!    I ask, "Does your baby seem hungry?" They say, "Oh, Yes!"    These are also the people who say their baby is eating too often and they don't have enough milk. When you make a chart of feedings the baby is eating exactly as often as she is supposed to, it's just extremely exhausting to be responsible for someone who must eat every 2-3 hours around the clock.  

"We tried to warn you about that, by the way.  It wasn't even in the small print.  Did you think we were kidding or do you just not do math in your head.   "But All they ever do is nurse!"  And I say, "Yes. That's right. All you ever do IS nurse.  That's what you signed up for.   But it doesn't last that long in the course of things. They don't become less high maintenance they just change the kind of maintenance they require. I swear it gets better."

"Your baby has a rash?  Well,let me see it. Oh that's because you aren't getting all the poop off her bottom." "I was worried that if I cleaned her too much I'd be accidently sexually abusing her."  "Remind me what you do for a living?"  "I'm a 41 year old attorney and this is my first baby." A mom across the room says, " That makes me think of a question. Are you sexually abusing your baby if you use too much diaper cream?"  "...Do you only put it on at diapering time?"  "Yes."  "Do you ever just have the urge to go put some more on just for fun later?"  "No." "I think you're good!" "And you do need to get all the poop off when you change the diaper. It's the right thing to do." 

"Well I'm very worried because my baby won't eat peas. What should I do?" " Will she die if she never eats peas?"  "No." "Then I wouldn't make her eat them. She can try them again when she's older.  Nothing bad will happen if you try again later. In fact, nothing bad will happen if she never likes peas.  Scratch that worry off your list. Does that feel better?"

 I swear I am not making this crap up!!!!


I answer the phone, "My baby isn't sleeping." "How old is she?" "She is one month" "Well, they start staying awake to socialize a little after feedings now." "But I'm worried." "What about." "She wants me to hold her. What should I do?" "Why is that worrying you?" "I don't want her to be too dependant on me."  "She's one month old.  Who would you like her to depend on?"


"Hello." "Yes, I was hoping you could tell me how to make my baby take formula." "What have you already tried?"  "We've tried holding a bottle in her mouth while she cries hysterically but it isn't working."  "Well, just put her on the phone and let me talk to her.... Oh wait, hold on. I forgot. You can't MAKE babies do anything...don't put her on.  How old is she?" "She is 7 months old." "Does she take solids?" "Yes" "Well, you see, you have a person here who knows the difference between yummy and not yummy. Have you tasted formula?" "No. I can't even stand the smell." "Hmm. That's a problem all right. Say, how do you like when someone holds something in your mouth against your will no matter how much you plead for them to take it out? Not much, you say? Hmmm. Does she know why she needs to take a bottle when the good ones are right there on mom across the room? Yeh, probably not, huh? What were you calling me for again?" "You thought I was magic?" "O crap! I just say that for laughs!  I didn't really mean it! No.  I'm not the magic breastfeeding lady.  Sorry, I gotta go now and talk to the mom who wants to know when her baby will start eating less. Yes. Yes. That's right. As they get bigger they actually consume fewer calories. Hadn't you noticed? I'm going to go tell her right now."

Hermione should quit going down that path right now.

I'll be the humbug.  I'm with Theo. He never led Hermione to believe he wanted or planned to be like her other friend's relationships.  She hoped he would change.  She wrangled him into an agreement to travel for 1 year instead of 2 years.  He was upfront about what he wanted from life.  There is nothing wrong or immature about not wanting to have children. There is nothing wrong with wanting to explore the jungles of Brazil or travel the world. Theo is just lucky enough to have the money.  It just isn't what Hermione wants. They were forced to be married to someone and they didn't have many choices after waiting as long as they did to come back to Britain.  It isn't Theo's fault that being an Unspeakable isn't as exciting as Hermione had hoped and now Hermione wants a baby. Hermione has no more intention of doing what Theo wants to do than he does of settling down and being a dad.  Her only intention is for him to compromise with her and do what she wants. The problem is that parenthood isn't a negotiable issue.  There is no compromise that can be made the involves both of them getting even part of what they want.  Hermione won't be content with part of what she wants. She would not be content to be a single parent who works her ministry job and has a husband that travels around most of the time but visits her and their child from time to time.  He will end up the "bad guy" no matter where this goes.  Sitting there and refusing to budge is the same as him leaving for another trip under the conditions of their marriage. His only alternative is to stay and listen to Hermione wheedle and haggle with him on how to get what she wants, for she has absolutely no intention of finding a career that allows her to travel with Theo and she wants them to be parents.  I have sympathy for Hermione because of the marriage law, but I think she and Theo need to break it off.  The only thing left to do is to find someone else to marry so that when they do divorce they can get married soon enough to satisfy the conditions of the law.  As I see it they have plenty of time now to look for a suitable mate. Hermione can work for the ministry, Theo can travel and when they have the right people lined up, they get divorced. She and Theo will have to remain faithful until they do because of the goblin rings.  That was unfortunate but not impossible to deal with as long as they agree to remain faithful until the divorce.  If I could do my life over, I would find someone who made me laugh, wanted to travel the world, had the money to take me along and would I not have children again.  Hermione doesn't know how lucky she is. The ministry will continue trying to force Theo to have children.  This is just an unfortunate bump in the road for Hermione unless Theo strays before she can find another husband.  That is where all of my energy would be directed at this point. 

New begginings for both S & H - I'm going to enjoy sitting back and watching ... (Reading) !

I'm really enjoying this story and your writing style! Keep the chapters coming, and good luck with your career! I'll take a peek at your original story... :)

Congratulations on Amazon, it's clearly well deserved from what you have posted.Another great chapter. Thank you, well done on getting published!

Of course Lance is gay!  A perfect comrade in arms for Hermione! :),

Congrats on your original story  I will go to amazon and read it.  You will also be in my Prayers so that you may reach the finals or better yet be the winner.

Hermione is the injured party in this mess, Im glad she finally realizes that.  The fun part is about to start can not waite to see how their first day goes, hope no one is hurt at the end of the day Ha Ha.

Cordelia was PERFECT! Wow! And Lance was a hooooooot! Interesting observation he made -- that Severus watches her all the time. I loved Hermione and Severus's meeting; the clauses he added for her were fun, but realistic... and her parting line was awesome.

Loved this story the first time and loving it again here!  I just downloaded the sample of your book on Amazon -- best of luck with winning and hopefully getting pulished!

Best St. Patrick's day surprise possible. Hope you had an enjoyable day too. Thank you so much, your updates are wonderful.
Congratulations on Amazon, it's clearly well deserved from what you have posted. I envy your writting style. :D Especially your wonderful dialogue. Go n-éirí go geal leat.

more chapters! Every time I saw more chapters, I held off reading until Ihad a day to cuddle on the couch and read. I had time today, and it was the best part of this rainy Monday! I adore this story; and I cannot wait for more! 

I hope you had a wonderful St Patricks day yesterday. It was nice to see the update today. I like how Lance points out to Hermione that Severus watches her. It sets the romantic intrigue off.

I just downloaded the exerpt of your book on my Kindle. I will settle in with some nice chamomile tea and the first two chapters this evening.

Like the old-fashioned wizarding values. :)

Hmmm, if she weren't being rushed in, she'd have time to come to her senses. On the other hand, there really wasn't another eligible parti

And so the fun begins.  loved this chapter.

She’s rather … highly strung. <snicker> That's putting it lightly.I really love your Draco.  He's like our own little peanut gallery.The deserting her and she gets all his stuff isn't bad but the burning ring, well....Of course if she decides she does want the divorce, she and Severus can oblige and that will most likely bring Theo back ready to sign papers.  Especially if they are 'bunnyrific' shall we say.

At least Hermione has some recourse.  Desertion is an awful situation to endure, especially without funds or a roof over your head.  I'm glad Severus spelled it out for her.Moe is such a sweetie!  Hermione's own champion.  (I can't wait to see the reaction if Hermione has babies, Moe would probably crochet the whole nursette and zap anyone that got too close, lol.)Working with Severus... this is going to be interesting.  He already is feeling that subtle pull toward Hermione again.  He's right to wonder where this will lead.  I hope he has a remedy for the ring burning thing, Theo isn't going to stay celebate forever.  Sheesh!  Great chapter!!!  :)

This chapter was as wonderful as the rest.  Your eloquent choice of words and character development never fails to impress me and to make the story flow.  Thanks!

Another great chapter. well done on getting published! good luck!

I loooved Severus's visit with Hermione. The explanation of how Wizarding society would react was interesting, and now my question from last chapter is answered. She HAS a home, if she should choose to stay there. I'm now looking forward to seeing Cordelia and Lance's reactions to Theo's leaving.

Dear little beloved. This is a great chapter. It is obvious how much thought you have put into the workings of wizarding society, and it is that attention to detail which makes a great story. You describe Severus' internal conflict regarding Hermione so well.

Well, I'm *REALLY* glad Theo didn't buy into the "a baby will make it better" train of thought. That would have made a bad situation into an unmitigated disaster. I wonder if he's just pushed off for long enough for her to get out... it IS his house, after all. 

OK, THANKS, YOU'VE OFFICIALLY MADE ME CRY!  That was I dare say one of your best chapters.  Wonderful,just wonderful!