I have read this story every Christmas season, without fail, for many years.  And I thought it had probably been a long time since my initial read and review, so I'd stop in and leave a quick note of my continued adoration.  But I discovered that I never ever left a review for this.  I must have been lurking back then.  Anyway, I can't quite say why, but this is one of my all time favorite stories.  There is no raging magic, no wild wizarding world circumstances etc, just a very real feeling situation where two people come together by spending time alone together.  It just makes me feel so warm and fuzzy, and reading it has become an indispensable tradition.  I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that 2016 is very good to you.

Even after many years of reading and re-reading this, I still love it.  It's an integral part of my Christmas, and I wouldn't ever be without it. I have also grown fond of Hermione's teapot faux pas, though I would never, of course, perpetrate such a thing myself.  <3

I don't know how many times I've read this, but it was a perfect thing to read again. Love you, dear Subversa. Thank you for all the wonderful stories you've given us.

Just revisited this one as I wait for the return of Remembrance postings; as touching and sexy as always! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your gifts to the fandom.

Its June and it is chucking down wiht rain here in Scotland as I read your lovely delicious Christmas tale and loved it so much.

It made me gasp, laugh and cry. So happy that it all worked out in the end. The carving of words on Rons arse was inspiration indeed. Severus in a sweater sounded very delicious too.

So thanks .

that was a wonderful story

An enjoyable story - I loved the slow build, and the final consumation - lovely!

Thanks for sharing this.

aint nothin like the Real Thing, baby!!! At Last!

i totally understand her inability to move on with her life as long as she thought HE was still alive....heartbreaking. kinda sorry for viktor as he was clearly sorry seconds.

i loved snapes present. definitely a womans gift to a (special) man. i know thats something id get my DF. I adore cashmere. i love snape teaching hermione how to play better chess, and them reading together. beautiful.

id send those two blockheads packing too. good for hermione cos theyre so flippin predictable. and the ust betw our fave ship is starting to get spicier. YUM.

this story is perfect for the season, AND it feeds my insatiable appetite for ss/hg fanfic.

snapey christmases are the best kind *grin*. i, too, am impressed with the more human side of snape and his solicitous care of his charge.

liking snapes praise for hermiones inventive hex. enjoying greatly the man-woman-cat interaction, esp. as im owned by a loverly kitty boy.

*evil cackle* I lurve me hermiones revenge on ronniekins & shaggette of the moment. that canon pairing always makes me want to hurl. what, if anything, do hermione and teh ginger wonder have in common besides harry & being in the same house?? D'OH! great start!!

FOX SNAPE HAHAHAHAHA

thankyou for 1.5 hours of blissful reading made possible only because of u

omg omg omg i read like the first two lines and I had to comment

RON AND HARRY!! ron and harry crap crap crap
i am biting my nails in anticipation
will it be an irate snape who will open the door

subversa i wonder if sometimes u put yourself in hermione's place and make her say stuff you yourself would have liked to say to snape- if snape was real

omg so he did what ebenezer scrooge LOL great minds subversa... great minds

 no one mentioned it but I love the scene where the radio of someones car is blaring loudly outside and snape goes and checks outside the window to see if its safe  he is taking his job as protector so seriously

please please please let them watch a christmas carol or something- the likeness between severus and scrooge has got to be pointed out- and its christmas- and I always wondered what severus would think watching that


going onto chapter two with baited breath

I am over the moon that this Christmas was a nearly perfect carbon copy of their first one, only this Christmas was a hundred times better than the one three years ago.  When I think of Christmases to come with Rose and Fox I grin from ear to ear.  Can't help myself. 

This story has everything that a Christmas tale should have, and I thank you for sharing it.  You're the best.

Beth

I adore the image of the two of them sitting side-by-side reading The Little Prince to each other just as they had done on their first Christmas together.  But this time is many times better because they can freely and completely express their love.  *sigh*  'S just perfect.

Beth

Finally after three years of sadness and a relentless search to find out what happened to the man of her dreams, Severus is standing on her front porch demanding to be let in.  Woo hoo!

Thanks you for this.
Beth

This is so sweet!  From the waking with hangovers, to exchanging Christmas presents, to playing chess, to reading The Little Prince, I was warmed by the closeness that Hermione and Severus were able to share.  It was a perfect Christmas Day.

However, the morning after Christmas was completely heartbreaking.  When Tonks arrived with the news of the attack on the Burrow and announced Dumbledore's orders, I felt like an elephant had sat on my chest.  But the absolutely worst thing was when Hermione told Severus that she didn't want him to go, and his reply was, “I was never here, Miss Granger.”  That single line reduced me to tears.

Beth