Will you be continuing with this part of the story or will you be jumping forward to the Order Member's 'retreat?' Either way, I'll very much be looking forward to the next chapter you have in store for us. Enjoy reading this story. It's another reason to look forward to Fridays. Thanks.

Oh, my, it has been a long time since I heard that song!  You're totally spot-on with the lyrics and SSHG. He is such a wonderful, loving, gentle husband to her and she only remembers a little - just enough to start those dreams.  I sympathize with Severus for not wanting to admit his love for her at this point, and if she leaves for school in the States, he may never recover, ever. Now that is what I cannot guess how you will handle.

Thank you for the new chapter, and I'm glad you had a great time away!

Aww! Great to have an update this week, even if I;m a greedy wench who can't help wishing that there were even more. And a gorgeous song to swim around my brain as I drift off to sleep (hopefully).

Oh, Severus....you make things harder than they need to be. Beautiful chapter and I'm so, so happy to have you back! I understood how Severus felt waiting for his beloved to awaken! Xo

It's so good to see another chapter!!!

'That is what I'm here for,' he informed her, his voice a rumble to the ear pressed to his chest, a silken caress to the other.  'You may always count on me to shield you.'

I was thrilled when Severus came to Hermione's rescue- those two fellows from the Prophet were even getting on my nerves.  I hope that this will only the beginning of Hermione's getting her memories back. 

I listened to These Dreams and had chills the entire time!  Thank you for another wonderful, delightful, and heartening chapter.

Beth

It looks like, from what I gathered, that her memories are about to be unlocked. What else could be awakening within her? It's about time. Perhaps more time with Severus will get the ball rolling. Off to a good start with him rescuing her from the reporters.

It looks like, from what I gathered, that her memories are about to be unlocked. What else could be awakening within her? It's about time. Perhaps more time with Severus will get the ball rolling. Off to a good start with him rescuing her from the reporters.

It is odd that he doesn't mind revealing his attachment to her to everyone but her.  You'd think he would hide it better if he wants to be thought unattached...

I see now why Severus had to keep her at arms length, Hermione is not a good enough actress to keep the love out of her eyes. 

I guess Severus will have to decide whether or not he wants to listen.

Your chapter heading is surprising.  Are you saying that this is the start of new things?

That was the most fantastic chapter! I don't think I have ever read a story about Severus that I think truly touches his inner soul like this one does. It was sad and beautiful at the same time. Wonderful job Subversa!!

Sounds like Draco would have helped if he could have got away with it. :)

I love your playlist, and this song is the perfect one for the apocalyptic happenings of the Last Battle!  And although I know they both survived, it still gave me pause to think about how close both Severus and Hermione came to dying.  I don't know how I will survive next weekend without a new chapter to read. 

Thank you for sharing this very brilliant story with us.  Now go have fun with the Beetle!

Beth

I love the idea of a teachers' labyrinth and using it the way Seveus does. And the attack on Hermione was perfect in its awfulness. Interesting how Draco felt he was the closest thing Hermione had to a friend in that room. 

Almost more action than I could bear in this chapter; what a ride! This is definitely an instance where I was glad to have been skipping back and forth through time; the suspense would have been tough otherwise. Hermione's inability to notice Snape's absence was a bit strange. I could see Snape casting some sort of spell to keep her from wondering and going after him. Or maybe I'm just too caught up in all this :)

I'm looking forward to Hermione going off on Vector about how close and cuddly she is with Severus. I know there's only so much she'll put up with until she explodes; we see it with Ron and Harry. I think this chapter was good in the sense that it will help bridge the gap between Severus and Hermione. Hopefully things will be better for them. If love is all it takes to break the spell, then this just might be the push needed.

ACL!!!  Does Hermione not remember - wasn't she told - that it was Severus who hauled her body to the infirmary??  Draco apparently lives, I am guessing - but not sure about Wormtail. If only Crookshanks is there to eat the rat!  Umbridge can feed the acromantulas with her body.....

How do you find these great songs?

You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

THANK YOU for the new chapter! I hope you have a marvelous holiday with the Muse flowing freely.

awesome!!! but this whole story has been so far!!! thank you

Nice update, very dramatic and different.

I like what you've done to Hermione in this chapter by not portraying her in the brightest or noblest light. I imagine she's about to do some emotional and intellectual growing in the next few chapters. Sometimes in stories we forget she still is young and very much embodies and displays those immature traits that all young people do rashness, a rush to judgment and a certain myopic view point. She is a young woman and not a perfect angel.  On another note, really can't wait to see the show down between her and Vector.

Oh bugger! How did they get tot the point that he could go missing for over a week before she even noticed? Poor Severus, so much of his heart is bound up with Hermione at this point, and yet, as far as she's concerned, he's practically a stranger. It's a good thing they got that time together after the year end.

he bore the unmistakeable appearance of a man who had cried in his sleep.

Here you go, breaking my heart in the first paragraph.
*sniffles*

I decided to stay an extra day in the Secret Kept cottage to rest and revise for my NEWTs.  Is she buying this?  Why would she have to leave herself a note?  Wouldn't she just wake up the next day, still at the cottage, and make the decision to stay and revise?  And, if she learned anything before she slept, she wouldn't remember it anyway.  Hmmm ...  I suppose perhaps she is more worried about where he slept and what he did in the extra day than thinking through the logic of the thing.

This is really painful to read.  Hermione seeing Severus and Vector together and thinking the worst.  And, it is quite possible that she was the one person to whom he could confide the truth of their wedding night.  Then, the scene where he offers to accompany her to see the headmistress ... we all know that he is sincere and cares about her and therefore wants to protect her.  But she has no idea, and puts him off saying they should start as they mean to go on.  That must have punched him in the gut, because this is surely not the way he means to go on.  If he had a choice, that is.  Instead, things remain cool and formal between them.

Good job to Hermione for her behavior in the headmistress office.  You know it drove her crazy to not get a rise out of the girl.

Once again, Hermione is jealous of Vector, Severus is jealous of Lupin.  She thinks he is repulsed when he dances with her, and she feels the same about him being a Death Eater.  Tthese two would be in so much better shape if they had any form of communication.  But alas ... look who we are talking about.

And I never thought I'd thank Voldemort for anything, but at least he finally spilled the beans about the old wives tales.  Could it be true?  He is right, though, she isn't going to fall in love with him acting awful or even indifferent to her.  But in the current timeline, it just might happen.  So I wonder if her subconscious mind is slowly remembering as she slowly begins to fall in love with him.  It gives me such hope!

Oh, and that final scene!  Hermione has no idea that she is crushing her husband to pieces.  If she gets her memory back, it will be a great thing, but I wonder how much guilt she is going to feel for the way she treated him.  Oh, and lets not forget anger, for letting her believe there was nothing between them.  It's going to be so bad and so good.  I can't wait!

I love how you just slide in your killer phrases - man who cried in his sleep, almost of hurt, what if she falls in love with you. How they are spun in the narrative so matter of factly, with no marquee and flashing lights, just hitting you straight in the gut, breaking the fangirl's heart. Excellent (as always). Am eagerly awaiting the next chapters.

My heart is breaking for both of them. I adore this story so much, usually reading each chapter at least twice. Thank you for sharing it with us. xoLisa

I'm so glad you gave us some much neede back-story about what they have been through. Now it all makes so much more sense.

But the dreams that come to her... was the first dream an indication of the spark of love starting? And if so, how could she fall in love with a man that treats her with such disdain all the time? I'm sure all of this will be explained in due time.

Love it. Keep up the good work.