Go, Minerva!  Good for Harry, too, deciding to get her advice.  He's not the ninny Some People think he is.

Severus is a good man, but he is a man.  He'd have to be dead not to feel just a little thrill from his activities with Hermione.  She's getting to him.  Thing is, he's starting to 'get' to her, too, if he only realized it.  I'm loving it.

Also, Draco seems to have developed a little sense — must be some kind of genetic anomaly, since he's definitely Lucius' and Narcissa's boy.  Good chapter, all around.

Ha! I'm finally caught up!(This would be the chair dance of triumph I'm doing right now. I've been trying to find enough time to read this thing all in one shot for months now and I've finally done it)And now, I have time to actually leave a review for a change!-drops to her knees and worships SW69- Long time reader, first time reviewer, worshipper of all the things you've written and big fan of yours in general. You never let me down no matter what storyline you're playing with, and this tale is no different. Snape is deliciously in character, the dialogue is to die for (as always!) and best of all, the romance aspect is believable (very important for someone such as I, who dislikes romance in general).So, now that I've done obeisance to one of my favorite fanfic goddesses, I'll leave you to tackle the next bit of this story.

May your muses always be at the ready, may your plot bunnies multiply like tribbles and your toast always fall butter-side up.

I'm glad Minerva is paying attention. 

I love the developments in this chapter. Thanks!

ahhh you are way to good of a writer!can't wait for more!

Another great chapter!!!

McGonagall being there was a very lucky thing! Harry can be a rational person, but he really needs someone else there to talk sense into him, and Minerva would be just the right person to know Severus well enough to read him - better than Harry at least, and she would be one of the few people that Harry would actually be inclined to listen to and believe.

Well done, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Hermione and Severus is going to develop from now on - it almost seems like they have come to a new sort of understanding. 

love it! More please!

Pleas ,thell me, when do you intend to update next chapter ? I read all of it over a  few times and I can:t whait for more

Enjoying the story. I'm a little uneasy about Hermione falling for her captor, even if it is Snape (and he being "good") but it's an entertaining story all the same - and I've always felt Ron was too simple for her. I like the Malfoy's rolls too. I always like reading more about them and their situation given that it did seem in canon that Draco was having serious second thoughts. Thanks, and looking forward to the next!!

Is it wrong that I found that line ("Don't cry...you fucking liked it") incredibily arousing in this context? Just wondering...

Nice! You always weave such a wonderful tale And I think I enjoy them more than JK's writing. Really!!

I think you have Hermione perfectly personified, intelligent, ambitious, feisty, with a healthy dose of guilt. Severus I still have not figured out yet, except that he is great at looking out for himself or great at accomplishing some master plan.  I am not sure if you are going to follow the basic motivation for Severus's character from cannon or not. I hated DH. I felt a big cheer of "YES!" coming when Hermione slapped Wormtail, not just once but twice. The Malfoys leaving without her was probably a blessing.  I don't think that would have ended well at either end--for Severus with the Dark Lord or for Hermione alone with three Malfoys.

Oh he is running hot and cold.

Ack poor Hermione, but she is gathering information.Not peeking in the tub, likely story-hehe

Boy, Hermione was screwed by the Malfoy's.  I'm not surprised, but I feel sorry for her she made the portkey and was left behind to deal with the mess.

I didn't expect the portkey plan! I liked Hermione feeling a little guilty about her escape plan, and a little worried for Severus - it seemed quite in character to me, wanting to get away but not feeling entirely at ease about the possibility of causing harm to someone that might be on her/their side after all.

Looking forward to more!

Interesting chapters! About his alliance: I'm so clever as before: I have no idea :)I'm very interested in the Malfoy's fate. But I hope very much that Snape and Hermione will not lie in the bed like brother and sister during the whole story ;)

Oi! That was a marvelous ride! You write Severus so beautifully, it heals my wounds. Let's have more of him. Draco's path to Hermione was portrayed nicely in the previous chapters. You did a great job building it up, and the puchline with Wormtail's pay-back was a bliss. Thanks a lot for that. Looking forward to the new installment

Well, I'll admit, Southern: I have been lurking through this story.  Not Reviewing.  Why?  Certainly not due to any lack of interest in it.  Just a certain level of general ennui. 

But now that the shock of DH is fading into the background, fanfic comes into sharper focus and we all can take an interest once more without that terrible sense of double vision... (i.e.: Severus, dead?  Nonsense.  He's right there - in Southern's story!  Ignore that body in the Shrieking Shack, it's an illusion.)

A good story, by the way.  More, soon, please.  Good job.

Poor Hermione.  And putting the Malfoys that close to the Weasleys should be interesting. 

More please!!!!!!

Another fabulous chapter! I didn't realize I was holding my breath during the whole "whose taking the portkey" scene, but I certainly was! I can't wait to see what happened to the Malfoys - not to mention the impact that Hermione's actions will have on her "relationship" with Severus. More, please!

I'm glad things are calming down for you.  I can't wait for more updates.  I'm having a hard time deciding which ruse is the real one.

"So long ago when you told me of the Prophecy, I promised to deliver the Evans Mudblood to you once I killed her husband and the boy. Even though I had no choice but to kill her, you’ve not held that against me and still do my bidding.”           wow... how's that for sending shivers down your spine?  Love this story, and now with DH out, I hope you can still put a good spin on it, using the information from the seventh book.