That is one of my favorite lines from the whole story!  "...unless you defeat the Dark Lord and save this maudlin old bat from himself......"  Rather high stakes for becoming head girl!  The bat thing too....I totally expected Severus' patronus to be a bat! 

Funny, poignant, and a phoenix. 

"I'm to stay here while I research.  Um...uninterrupted....orders....I have orders." 

"It's an acquired taste"...."Dark, bitter, enervating."  Sounds a lot like "tall, dark, and brooding." 

The agony of getting the formula to work and the wait.....almost unbearable.

The wonder of the birth of a new phoenix....beautiful

I never thought I would like Mrs. Black's character under any circumstances, but what a hoot!  "Walking a bit stiffly this morning, are we?"  "Next time, use a Silencing Charm..." 

Nor did I ever think I would see the day that SS would be jealous of Ron Weasley.  Well done.  "There is no need to remind me of something I cannot forget......"

This is my favorite chapter so far!  The double entendre was totally inspired!  I laughed out loud.  "Inspired!"  And the mirror connecting them, so sweet.  Love to see Severus with that degree of sensitivity.

What a gut-wrenching experience for Hermione to go from seeing Molly's name on the parchment, almost immediately to the attack at the Leaky Cauldron.  She didn't even have time to process her fireside experience :O  I loved SS's response to her disapparation to Hogwarts....."Adequate."  From him, that is high praise.....Molly, certainly represents motherhood is all its aspects....here we see the mother bear.  Of course she would not escape as long as she thought Hermione was in danger.  I was a little shocked at the AK, but then what is she supposed to do?  Call the aurors to send him to Azakaban just to be broken back out?  She really doesn't have a lot of effective choices here.  I'm guessing her soul took a blow from that AK though as she immediately fainted.  WOW.

"After the initial release, one often finds that subtlety has its own, even greater rewards..."  sounds like the kitchen explosion... as much as the library explosion.  :)  not at all surprised to see the fork again.  Lovely subtlety!  Something tells me we are going to be seeing a lot of that fork.

The action totally speaks for itself.  Awesome!

"MINE."

"I'm dying."  "I want to.  I - want - to - die."

............

violent orange  >>> the color of old blood

the smell of rain (I bet we see that again)

"I had a choice.  I made it."

OOO LA LA!

I do love the use of the mythology to build the story.  Hermanubis indeed!  Hermione is as much a redeemer figure as Harry, but without the prophecy!  Born for it.  As Hagrid would say, "That's our Hermione!"

Medieval idiocy indeed!  I have visions of the black night riding off to battle to the death for the sake of the Lady with no more comfort than the lady's "favor."  Chivalrous?  Certainly.  Gallant?  You bet 'cha.  Masochistically, medievally idiotic.  Good job Herminone, you tell him (and show him ;). 

"Well done, Herminione."

stormy indigo > > > smoky violet

"10 points to Slytherin."

vile green > > > rancid yellow

So many layers, almost as many as the buttons!  I can follow Hermione's reasoning that leads her to ask Severus if his patronus was a jackal.....but I am still stumped as to why she would ask him if it had changed, what she was assuming the precipitating event was, and when the change occured.  I cannot imagine the change was pre/post Saturday with Lily.....I doubt if many Slytherins have a patronus....but then Severus always was one of a kind wasn't he?  More likely pre/post death of Lily or possibly pre/post taking of the Vow to protect unborn baby Harry?????  I love the complexities of your story.  Wish there was a venue in which to discuss theories!PS.  This is my second reading.  I couldn't wait for the story to be completed here and found it on another site.  Call it a compulsion if you will. 

Phoenix(es) means rebirth - resurrection.  Apt I'm reading this right after Easter then, isn't it?  Hmm...

Your writing is very abstract; and although honestly, I can't say I've ever been able to lovingly grasp this kind of writing - the subject matter is so deep, saddening and known  - that it's been startlingly easy for me to get immersed in the story. 

I was actually going to wait till the end review to admit that, but somehow I couldn't help but let it come out now!

Oh, you had me all hopeful in the beginning and then you dashed my hopes  with that unsettling ending, wonderful, wonderful story telling.    I am on pins and needles waiting for the next update.  I may have said this before but it needs repeating I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS STORY.

lol the they sent Black running

I like the going to sleep with the mirrors conecting them very nice

oh no...

seriously I'm enjoying it but I think its over my head in complictaed thought. 

Very nice, looking forward to more.

LOL  enjoyed that one, I like it when they touch

I must be to tired I'm not getting why the sudden killing moods that come over him.  I am enjoying the story though

Ok that one went over my head, I'm sure it was a wonderful chapter full of amazing thought I just couldn't figure out what I was ready, I honestly didn't try hard.  I thought the ideas behind it amazing though.

I think its been awhile since i started this :)  I must have gotten side tracked this is very good and I look forward to more.

I have enjoyed this story ,but it is really starting to depress me.  I hope things don't turn out the way Hermione and Severus seem to think it will.  I don't think I could stand it if Severus has to kill Hermione, it will break my heart.

what an update!  thanks and smoochies

Absolutely great! I loved it.