Part First: The Hart Assurgent: Prologue

It's a shame you did't finish the story, I liked it lot.
But real live is inportant.

So glad to see this story continuing. I love the way you write. 

I was so excited when I got an email that this story had been updated! I was afraid it had been abandoned. I'm in love with your OFC... good ones are so hard to find. The relationship between her and Severus is so beautiful... I truly hope that they're happy in the end. Thanks for updating! I can't wait for more!

I really love the story…Please complete it.

You know, it was like Christmas in July when I discovered, after pining over this story for months and months, that there were actual additional chapters posted on another archive. Dare I hope that your posting here is an indication that you've turned your attentions back to this story and might actually be writing more on it? Because that would be like...I don't know what it would be like. But I really really want it. More than I want an iPad or world peace.

Come on! I know you have it in you to finnish this story... Please find your inner muse, give her a hug, and then smack her around for a while until she finnishes. You can't let an epic story like this go fallow. You just can't!

This is definitely one of the best fics I've ever read. Incredibly detailed and realistic, and just weaves perfectly into the original. Rich is the word that comes to mind.

Wish you could write as fast as I can read.

Two words: 1. Wow 2. Steamy
Oh goodie, 33 chapters more to read;)

I've read ALL of this that you have posted up on Occlumency so far. Please, PLEASE finish it!! Please, I beg you.

Captivating!I've been meaning to review... Except I just can't stop!

Ooooh!! Another chappie!! I absolutely love this fic and I think this probably one the best ss oc fanfics I've ever read. I absolutely love how you keep the characters very much in character even when they are doing some rather ooc things. Your character develop is very good in how you describe lucius, draco, severus, and emily. I cannot wait for the next chappie!! Especially since they are sooo long!!!

What a beautiful time for them to spend together. I'm sorry to see it end so abruptly.

Perfect, abso-figgen-lutely perfect!! And quick!!

Wonderful story, as always, please keeping writing it!

I'm so glad to see this story.  I started it on anothersite, but for some reason or another, lost track of it.  I'm working my way to the newer chapters, but I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your story.

"So... what you're saying, Albus, is that my colleague, Severus Snape, the spy, the apostate Death Eater, the teacher of whom every student at Hogwarts is absolutely terrified – is terribly shy when it comes to women, and if I want him, I need to just knock myself out pursuing him, because otherwise he won't even know I'm interested?"Yes! LOL  That about sums him up. *g*"Perhaps – but she still preferred Malfoy to me," Snape said bitterly. “The man may smile and smile, and still be a villain, but he's handsome and charming, so women just ignore the fact that he's the most despicable bastard alive. They always have."So very, very true!  *boggles @ the large chunk of fandom for whom this seems to be true*The only thing to do in response to that was to launch herself into his arms, sink a hand into all that black hair, and kiss him – and he kissed her back with all the tantalising arrogance only he was capable of. He tasted like jasmine tea.W00t!  (I may now need to invest in some jasmine tea...) "Ah, yes, I'm now working on an outline for a piece on the uses of bezoars in the preparation of anti-venins... "Good plan, that.  Wish JKR had thought of it.  Wonderful, wonderful chapter!  *cheers loudly*

Version I: You know, that Dumbledore fellow is a wonderfully meddling old fool.    *sigh*  Version II: Well, it's about bloody time!LOLOL!

I love how well they work together here!  Particularly once she remembers what happened in the hunt and works with it."I read in your inquest report that the judge said he dearly hoped never to startle you in a dark alley," Snape said finally. "How sensible of him."*g*In another moment, he had Tranfigured each of the bodies on the ground into human-shaped bundles of wadded-up paper, which he then lit on fire with Incendio spells. That's a brilliant way to cover the evidence.But he was not the sort of man to say such words out loud, and even if he had been, he could not have imagined that such advances were welcome. He resolved, however, that if he ever again unexpectedly found himself in the arms of a woman such as this one, never to take his eyes off her for even an instant.Aaaaaaargh!!  How can two such brilliant people be so fecking clueless?Yes, I know, the UST is important.  I still want to shake them both.He stopped short at the sight of his colleague standing there with her skirt hiked alarmingly above her knees, one fine black brow arching toward the ceiling.Ah, what excellent timing!"Well, you know, dear, he is Professor Snape," she said, and to her, that explained everything.Yes, indeed. Emily looked at him silently. Don't leave. I couldn't endure it if anything happened to you.I'm so glad she's finally figured out this much.Cecile told her Mistress, with a shudder of giggling, delicious horror. "Sometimes the mushrooms is humming."LOL!!  (And now I half expect to find humming mushrooms when I ever get around to cleaning my own basement.)  I really enjoy the picture you've painted of the house-elves' joyful summer activities, and it's such the perfect contrast to Emily's worried state.Emily had no idea what had become of this Bella, or whether or not she was truly out of the picture, but that bitch had really better hope that the two of them never found themselves pitted against each other in any sort of adversarial situation, because use of unnecessary force wouldn't even begin to cover it.Okay, that's totally going to happen, right?  Because I seriously want to see that showdown.  Interesting, too, how some of the DE's compared Emily to Bella earlier."You really should tell Severus how much you care about him, Emily. He wants so very much to hear it."Dotty old meddling fool indeed!  But I have to say, I like your Albus very much, and that's a hard feat to manage since DH.

Cat shook her head admiringly. "Bloody hell, and somehow he finds the time to work on a cure for iron burns while trying to free his world from oppression." She turned another reproachful look at Emily – "Why do you not like him again?"*g*And oh, the notes from Cecile, Dumbledore, and Tonks are just perfect.For one very long moment, as she came toward him, with the sword on her back, and the dagger on her hip, and the pitiless resolve on her face, Snape knew what the doomed satyr Robinett had faced across a forest clearing, and feared it.*shudder*  You've captured his reaction to her so well here.Snaky-eyed fucker thinks he can Crucio me, does he? That's the spirit!As Dumbledore began to explain the circumstances, Emily quickly realised – the perfect opportunity to show her appreciation for all Professor Snape had done for her after the Burrow attack had just fallen into her lap.You know, these two really do insist on giving each other the oddest sorts of courtship gifts. "No – under normal circumstances, there's no way you could get me anywhere near an ironworks," she replied, shuddering.That does beg the question of why Lucius chose that particular meeting spot. *worries*

"You perhaps have an iron fireplace poker somewhere in the house?"Brilliant! Circumstances unfortunately preclude me from being more specific at this moment, but please be ready to admit a Fae patient to your clinic at St. George's tomorrow evening, any time after eight p.m. I wish you could see the huge grin this note inspired."Er, Professor – while we've got an English to Cat translator here, would you mind terribly telling Pyewacket that I'd prefer it if she didn't scratch the furniture, but used that nice scratching post we just bought for her?" Bwahahahaha!!  Oh, how many cat owners would love to borrow Emily for exactly that request!!  An absolutely inspired bit of relief to the desperate training and strategizing.an Arcadian's immunity to infection by werewolfInteresting!  I have the distinct idea that's going to end up being important.Nice use of the Weasley clock for dramatic effect. "You said, in the context of referring to the treatment of a wounded member of the Order, and I quote – ‘I have better things to do than do the scrubbing for Malfoy's little friend, thank you,’" Snape snarled. "Now please, parse that sentence for us so that we might be enlightened as to the hidden depths of altruism contained within that sentiment. We'll wait."Excellent.  I love how you've managed to get even Tonks and Moody disgusted with Sirius' attitude and behavior."Don't think it's escaped my notice that every time you've gotten serious about a man, he's always been tall, dark, brooding, and unbelievably clever, just like – "*g*  You know, smart as Emily is, Catherine's right:  she's a bit oblivious on this topic.

They had told her Voldemort was cruel, and evil, but no one had ever told her how compassionate he could be – that he could look into someone's very heart and offer her what she really wanted, even if it ran counter to what some high muck-a-muck in his organisation like Lucius wanted.Damn, he's played her well, that she can't see this is a perfect example of his cruelty.Cecile was such a dear, adoring little thing that she would probably part with a bit of skin if asked, perhaps a tiny bit of one of those big droopy ears of hers, the castle physicians could always grow it right back for her, and under some local anaesthesia the removal wouldn't hurt a bit –Damn!  What an excellent way to show how very desperate she is for this chance, that she'd contemplate such a thing.Yes, well, she probably wouldn't want to be dragged out of heaven either, come to think of it. It's good that she's realizing this aspect before rather than after. He was standing a pace away... and it occurred to her that all she really wanted was to let her head sink onto his shoulder and wrap her arms around him, to comfort him and be comforted herself.While she's probably right that he wouldn't have welcomed it, it's something of a relief to see this.  And it makes me think of who she first thought Voldemort was offering in the mirror.She had heard now and then of people who took a fetishistic delight in consuming the blood of their lovers, and having their own blood shed, and would not have put such depths of perversion past him for a second. Nor would I, but I have a sinking feeling that's not all he did.How much do I love that she has to think back to that one encounter in the call box in order to respond to Lucius? *g*And Molly.  That's ... just the perfect choice on so many levels.

Wow.  I absolutely love how she was playing them all like a master violinist but then showed her one weakest point in spite of herself.  And of course Voldemort was all over it. Excellent.

Let's get drunk and not get tattooed! Yay! I want to see one of them come back with a tattoo. They're just asking for it now.

Lockphart? ::snicker:: Poor Snape. His heart got buggered with. That's not cool. If he starts spelling her name Emilie I will laugh.

Bad Lucius! You're married! Even if Narcissa is a bit of a twat...