Oh dear. I am really enjoying this! Much as I like Sirius, he certainly makes an excellent villain. 

Oh dear. I am really enjoying this! Much as I like Sirius, he certainly makes an excellent villain. 

Oh dear. I am really enjoying this! Much as I like Sirius, he certainly makes an excellent villain. 

Oddly enough, Nick Lowe was playing on the radio as I read this chapter...Now that was a rather cruel place to leave us.  Not nice at all.I have to admit, though you may not appreciate it, that while you were doing the honorable Ser/cursed Sev dialogue I couldn't help but see bits of the good Smeagol/bad Gollum from Lord of the Rings in my head as I read it.

The inner turmoil that Severus is going through was so well done.  Cudos!  And Dumbles is quite the tool isn't he?Really enjoying myself, thanks!

Wow. Intense.  Like the part with the curse.  Just wow. 

Hermione is tougher and more mature than the adults in the room, I'm sure.  LOL.  Excellent.  Can't wait for the next bit!

oh my.  Is this entirely safe?  I expect not!  Excellent chapter.  Scary, though.  Wow!

excellent!  Sorry I have not reviewed for a few chapters.  I'm so enthralled it's hard to stop to review.  I've only stopped now because I have to go to work.  LOL.

excellent.  terrible terrible curse.  amazing chapter.  I look forward to the next one!

the comforter was a nice touch.  Sweet of the Professor to tuck it around her.  he thinks he's so bad and awful.  No, just complicated and often under duress.

wow.  amazing.  I love it so far.  Pretty intense.

Delighted to be able to re-read your story here! 

The characters are so perfect in this chapter and act exactly as you would expect them to in the books! Can't wait to read more!!

I loathe Sirius Black. Loathe. So this is sooooo wonderful *evil cackle* Every detail and insight of your depictions, action and characterisations is so very spot on for me-- Black's Animagus is the true him, people, not some noble, kind hearted jokester *arrrghh* (okay, fanatic rant almost over): he's a D.O.G. in every way... Mmmmn, love a simmering, seething Severus-- yum! Fanatastic work, as always, Teddy!xxx

Excellent start.  (I'm sorry there aren't already more chapters up.)  I thought Snape's lashing out defensively was spot on. Can't wait for more!!!

Merlin, I love this story!!  I am excited to reread what you have here!  Looking forward to revisiting it all, and I can't wait til you add new stuff!

Whew!  I am worn slap out.  I think I was holding my breath the whole time I was reading.  I just have to say that Hermione was brilliant "playing" Voldemort like he was a violin.  She and Severus really do make a formidable team. 

Gretna Green, here they come.

Beth

The nail has been found!  Gods, I love your Hermione!  First she basically tells Dumbledore he can kiss her arse, and then she asks Severus to marry her–now.

To paraphrase Kingsley:  Well, you may not like her, Headmaster...but you can't deny...Hermione's got style.

Beth

I am so glad that Severus and Hermione have had these lovely days together.  They were sorely needed and both of them deserved to have some peace and quiet- just the two of them.  But all that is about to change.  I knew this day would come sooner or later,  but realizing that Dumbledore has put on that cursed ring really caught me up short.

Beth

After a chapter or two I thought wow this author is good!  And then I realized it was a Teddy R story, and it wasn't a surprise anymore.  I've enjoyed several of your stories in the past, but thi s has to be my favourite.  In fanfic, I hold all stories in this ship up against In Annulo, which has been my favourite for years.  You've just made it a tie for first in my heart.  I loved your story,  I found it truly honest to the canon characters while having them grow in a realistic manner.  Hermione coming into her own was by far my favourite depiction of her in fan fic.  I have always thought of her as such a protector, and to see how you utilized that character trait was wonderful.  I hope to see you write many more stories in the future.  Well done.  Well done a thousand times over.  Best wishes to you!

Wonderfully and beautifully erotic! You have a gift! I love this chapter.  I was surprised they waited until you reminded me about Hermione's curse, and Severus had promised Poppy.  Poor man.  What an awful personal conflict. He want's her first time to be so special but she won't be put off.  She's young and in love and he is sensual.  There is no greater aphrodisiac, nothing more powerful than mutual desire. Reciprocated desire feeds on itself and grows. He needn't feel worried.  It will be special.  I remember.  Hermione will be overwhelmed by their joining. All the petting is nothing compared to the striving for oneness.  He's never made love before; and he's never been made love to.  He'll see.  I'm glad Hermione has her studies with Poppy.  It isn't healthy for her to have only her obsession with her beautiful lover to keep her occupied. With her youth, her recent horrible loss and nothing else in her life for the summer, she risks a shift in her self worth that could lead her to become clingy and needy in a way that can only take, but leaves little to give.  She needs to continue to be her own successful person to be a generous lover.  Albus Dumbledore was wise in providing this for her.  But I wish you didn't make me feel sorry for him.  He's truly pitiful at that moment when he begs Severus not to chide him. As bitter as Severus feels toward Albus for his cruel manipulations, he is still attached to him.  Severus will be equally grief stricken and furious at Albus for being so careless.  And as much as he may not think he does, Severus does have the ability to feel pity.  It's so inconvenient to be angry with someone and sorry for them at the same time, damn it! Just one more substantial brick on Severus' heavy burden to bear. I love nearly every kind of music, but I was a very late comer discovering the Leonard Cohen song. I only heard it a couple of years ago. I don't remember how. I tend to listen to Public radio in the car. We have really crappy music radio stations here. I don't watch TV. My ipod has a couple of thousand songs with playlists from every genre from Sacred, Celtic, Bluegrass, 50's country music, Cowboy Poetry, Soul, R &B, New Age, Folk, Jazz, Death Metal, Hard Rock, Punk, Opera and Classical, to African and Asian tribal music song lists.  I hear a style then I go on itunes and go crazy downloading new music.  I guess the only thing I don't have is rap, and most of the music is old like me.  When I'm really angry at my Kids I sometimes get my anger out by cranking up System of a Down in the car and head banging at the top of my lungs before I get home from work. Other times I sing Hymns and others Metalica. I love to listen to Hedwig's Theme on the freeway home from work when I'm in a good mood.  It's on my soft music play list with this song.  Anyway, the K.D. Lang performance of Hallelujia at the 2005 Juno Awards gives me chills every time I watch it.

Dear, dear Poppy Pomfrey! No-Hippogryph-Shit-Allowed, indeed! LOL!  She is a blessing to so many people, but especially our Severus.  Bless her!  Dolohov is less valuable than Severus, obviously. Severus was tortured but has not been killed. I suppose that Voldemort felt that it would help keep Severus' loyalty if he let him take his anger out on Dolohov for cursing Hermione, for what Sirius did to her and for what he himself did by ordering Hermione's parents killed.  I don't feel sorry for Dumbledore. I guess he is doing what he must do to win the war, but I don't like him. No matter what he is doing to win the war, he could have believed Hermione. I still want him to have to see what Sirius did to Hermione.  He should be sorry for not protecting her. But I think he will say he did protect her by letting her and Severus have a secret relationship. And he will rationalize that Sirius was mentally and emotionally damaged by his time in Askaban. I am very sorry for Hermione.The story is riveting!

I forgot to say that the song is incredible! I went to youtube and watched it.  It was very intense.  What artists! I loved it. 

Very frightening! Sirius Black turned out to be true to his dark magic bloodlines. They can put his name back in the family tree.  He and Bellatrix shows there must be  a propensity toward madness and sadism in the family.  I wonder how he made it into Gryffindor. He had an evil, vengeful nature. I guess Gryffindors don't have to be good, just brave and impulsive. I'm sure Hermione won't burden Harry with the truth. Sirius got his just deserts and can't hurt her again.  I feel sorry for Harry but not a lick of sorrow for the mutt. I only hope what's beyond the vale is extremely unpleasant. I also hope Hermione puts what happened in a pensive for Dumbledore. Albus should be made to watch.  Thank the gods for Poppy!  I know Miss Weasly feels very hard done by. Someday when she grows up and maybe when she's a grandmother, she'll have to agree it was foolish of them to go to the Ministry to face Death Eaters.