Hmmm. I haven't tied up Severus in awhile...

Hmmm. I haven't tied up Severus in awhile...

Thank you - when I was uploading this to TPP, I re-read it, of course, to make sure there were no glaring errors (and boy, did I find a fair few!), but the one thing I realise was that I truly learned to write with this fic. These early chapters taught me so much, and I hope I've been able to take those lessons and utlise them in later works. One thing I learned, however, was that I changed POVs entirely too much in the early chapters. I was able to calm that down a little later on.

Thank you - when I was uploading this to TPP, I re-read it, of course, to make sure there were no glaring errors (and boy, did I find a fair few!), but the one thing I realise was that I truly learned to write with this fic. These early chapters taught me so much, and I hope I've been able to take those lessons and utlise them in later works. One thing I learned, however, was that I changed POVs entirely too much in the early chapters. I was able to calm that down a little later on.

Thank you very much. This story has no outline or plan; it has been given to me by my Muse literally one chapter at a time, and there have been times, like this chapter, when I knew he was 'driving' my fingers and I was just taking dictation. Those are the times when I know I've been faithful to his vision of the story, and I can rest assured I've done my best by him.There have been a lot of distractions during the past year (MISTI-Con, working on my original novel, illness, etc) and I haven't given this story the devotion it needed, but this summer, when I finish it, I hope it will be with the certain knowledge that I allowed him to guide it from start to finish - without any real interference from me!All this rambling speech just to say thank you for a thoughtful and encouraging review that made me really happy.

Thank you very much. This story has no outline or plan; it has been given to me by my Muse literally one chapter at a time, and there have been times, like this chapter, when I knew he was 'driving' my fingers and I was just taking dictation. Those are the times when I know I've been faithful to his vision of the story, and I can rest assured I've done my best by him.There have been a lot of distractions during the past year (MISTI-Con, working on my original novel, illness, etc) and I haven't given this story the devotion it needed, but this summer, when I finish it, I hope it will be with the certain knowledge that I allowed him to guide it from start to finish - without any real interference from me!All this rambling speech just to say thank you for a thoughtful and encouraging review that made me really happy.

Me too - as you say, it took us long enough to get there! LOL Thanks, sweetie - it was made perfect by your great beta skills.

Me too - as you say, it took us long enough to get there! LOL Thanks, sweetie - it was made perfect by your great beta skills.

Gosh, thank you so much! I hope I still can.

Well, it has been a while... maybe you should make this wonderful story a priority then we can find out? As ever, more please!

Gosh, thank you so much! I hope I still can.

Well, it has been a while... maybe you should make this wonderful story a priority then we can find out? As ever, more please!

Thank you so much! I really hope I can match the newest chapter with what has gone before - it's one of the reasons I've been so reticient to upload a new chapter. I'm afraid I'll disappoint everyone who has followed so faithfully. I really can't work on it till I return from Con, but I hope I can make it as enjoyable.

Thank you so much! I really hope I can match the newest chapter with what has gone before - it's one of the reasons I've been so reticient to upload a new chapter. I'm afraid I'll disappoint everyone who has followed so faithfully. I really can't work on it till I return from Con, but I hope I can make it as enjoyable.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you sweetie! I was really into H/C at the time I was writing this. I love a bit myself!

Thank you sweetie! I was really into H/C at the time I was writing this. I love a bit myself!

Absolutely! (Actually, I'm working on the new chapter and hope to have it out sometime in late May or early June anyway, but yes, yes, I promise a new chapter if you re-read!) LOLThank you for hating my Sirius. I know he was a creep! ;)

Absolutely! (Actually, I'm working on the new chapter and hope to have it out sometime in late May or early June anyway, but yes, yes, I promise a new chapter if you re-read!) LOLThank you for hating my Sirius. I know he was a creep! ;)

Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment more than I can say.

Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment more than I can say.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your lovely comment.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your lovely comment.

I know - I just think of him as being a bit spoiled and bratty, but I was sort of tough on him! LOL

I know - I just think of him as being a bit spoiled and bratty, but I was sort of tough on him! LOL

Thank you!

Thank you!

I know - poor Harry. I understood Severus more when I realised that JKR depicts him through the filter of a teenaged boy who doesn't like him, and who knows hates him in return. I think Sirius is also seen through that same filter, in a totally different way, of course.I know! I really should have left that part out.... hee hee...

I know - poor Harry. I understood Severus more when I realised that JKR depicts him through the filter of a teenaged boy who doesn't like him, and who knows hates him in return. I think Sirius is also seen through that same filter, in a totally different way, of course.I know! I really should have left that part out.... hee hee...

Thank you so much! As a reward for having to leave and go to work, I will upload three more chapters in the next couple of days! :)

Thank you so much! As a reward for having to leave and go to work, I will upload three more chapters in the next couple of days! :)

This was inspired by Bloodcult of Freud's awesome WIP, Seven Preposterous Things (My favourite fanfic in the whole wide world), and something her Severus says about him, Lupin and Sirius snarling over a half-grown witch (Hermione). He thought what they were actually doing was reliving their battle over Lily, but now that he knew Hermione, he knew she was twice the witch and woman Lily had ever been. That stuck with me, and still does. I pray to the fanfic gods everyday that Bloodcult will finish this masterpiece, so I can die a happy woman!

This was inspired by Bloodcult of Freud's awesome WIP, Seven Preposterous Things (My favourite fanfic in the whole wide world), and something her Severus says about him, Lupin and Sirius snarling over a half-grown witch (Hermione). He thought what they were actually doing was reliving their battle over Lily, but now that he knew Hermione, he knew she was twice the witch and woman Lily had ever been. That stuck with me, and still does. I pray to the fanfic gods everyday that Bloodcult will finish this masterpiece, so I can die a happy woman!

Oh, dear, that's not good! LOL But Severus is well restrained...

Oh, dear, that's not good! LOL But Severus is well restrained...

Hahaha, well, this story started out as one thing and became vastly different. I am still amazed I'm working on it even now. And though it's nearly finished, I maintain I learned how to write working on it. There are a lot of things that go one here, and I hope they all will eventually make sense. Thank you for sticking wtih the story.

Hahaha, well, this story started out as one thing and became vastly different. I am still amazed I'm working on it even now. And though it's nearly finished, I maintain I learned how to write working on it. There are a lot of things that go one here, and I hope they all will eventually make sense. Thank you for sticking wtih the story.

Call it a teaser, if you will...

Call it a teaser, if you will...

I realise that one of the criticisms I have received over this fic is making Hermione too 'mature'. I understand she is a young lady, but she is also a very intelligent young lady whose best friends are two young men. JKR may have not made us privy to some of their conversations, but I recall a few I had with my two best male friends in high school ;)I realise Severus can be a persuasive, even suave fellow when necessary, but he's also carrying around a lot of arrested development. I'd say in some ways they're pretty evenly matched, just don't tell him I said that ;)Thank you for your comments regarding the 'play acting'. Sempraseverus drew a stunning work based on this moment in the story, and I have the original on my wall in front of my writing desk, and I wouldn't take a million bucks for it! It's so full of erotically charged tension I find myself just gazing at it from time to time!

Well, I think it is only fair to attach a maturity level to a physical age up until about the 10-12 age range.  After that, everyone takes off at different rates.  Some mature well before their time, and some never find themselves in a situation that allows them to mature quite like they should.  JKR didn't give us enough to go on to be able to criticize anyone's take on these two.

I realise that one of the criticisms I have received over this fic is making Hermione too 'mature'. I understand she is a young lady, but she is also a very intelligent young lady whose best friends are two young men. JKR may have not made us privy to some of their conversations, but I recall a few I had with my two best male friends in high school ;)I realise Severus can be a persuasive, even suave fellow when necessary, but he's also carrying around a lot of arrested development. I'd say in some ways they're pretty evenly matched, just don't tell him I said that ;)Thank you for your comments regarding the 'play acting'. Sempraseverus drew a stunning work based on this moment in the story, and I have the original on my wall in front of my writing desk, and I wouldn't take a million bucks for it! It's so full of erotically charged tension I find myself just gazing at it from time to time!

Well, I think it is only fair to attach a maturity level to a physical age up until about the 10-12 age range.  After that, everyone takes off at different rates.  Some mature well before their time, and some never find themselves in a situation that allows them to mature quite like they should.  JKR didn't give us enough to go on to be able to criticize anyone's take on these two.

I think one of the things that I learned in writing this story is that Severus is so complicated, but in another way, he's very simple. It is this dichotomy that makes him so irresistible and fun to write. He is constantly at war with himself.

I think one of the things that I learned in writing this story is that Severus is so complicated, but in another way, he's very simple. It is this dichotomy that makes him so irresistible and fun to write. He is constantly at war with himself.

:)

:)

Thank YOU! Accepting the hugs and chocolate with love! ;)

Thank YOU! Accepting the hugs and chocolate with love! ;)

Aha! My job is done! LOL I feel a bit bad, because I'm not really into Sirius bashing, but he has always struck me as the type who would think every witch on the planet would be ready to drop trou at the slightest suggestion. I think all those years in Azkaban would have left him a bit mad, no matter what he said. Thank you for your wonderful comments!

Aha! My job is done! LOL I feel a bit bad, because I'm not really into Sirius bashing, but he has always struck me as the type who would think every witch on the planet would be ready to drop trou at the slightest suggestion. I think all those years in Azkaban would have left him a bit mad, no matter what he said. Thank you for your wonderful comments!

I'm glad you are as undisciplined as me - and I'm glad you enjoyed their fight! ;)

I'm glad you are as undisciplined as me - and I'm glad you enjoyed their fight! ;)