this is such a brave and daring story! i had read it before but i couldn't remember where it was posted so i searched through various sites and finally got lucky. this time i will add it to favourites without delay. thanks again for that jewell!

This was GRIPPING.

Wow! I am utterly and deeply moved. It took me quite a while to figure out what you were aiming at and that was a pleasant surprise in itself. There are not many stories out, where the end is not obvious from the beginning.I also liked to have Wormtail described as a human being and actually getting more than a few crucios out of his actions.Thank you for the wonderful story!

Holy mother of gods. That was just the best story I have read in a long time. I have stayed up till 2am reading this because I could NOT put it down... Your torture of her. The food. The sadistic/masochist tones... my god. Just brilliant. BRILLIANT.I have never read a story with wormtail in this character. I was almost sympathitic toward him.And when Snape finally had her! Why was that sOOOO hot to me? Shell

Wow. Brilliant I would rate this much more than 5...

Like a punch in the guts. Wow. I am breathless, horrified, amazed, marveled, disgusted, touched, numb, exhilarated. Thank you for believing in yourself and sharing your story with us!

How hard for Hermione, to feel that she is using Wormtail. You really depicted that so well. Sigh.

*melted to a puddle on the floor"*GASP!*Oh, Severus, you naughty boy!

Catching up with the story after a loooooong time (RL sucks!). Nice "intermission' chapter!

I don't know if I like thinking of Hermione being genuinely upset about Wormtail or Snape's letter acting like he tried to save Wormtail for her.... I jsut don't know what to think of it all... but regardless, the writing was good :)

It really is quite squicky to think of Peter and Hermione. I keep reminding myself that it is to ensure her escape but she seems to actually have concern for Peter at this point. Not caring but concern. And the fact that Snape doesn't seem to care is icky as well. Peter is so gross I'm surprised Snape didn't rip her off of him jsut out of disgust LOL

ugh... wormtail is soooo creepy. And knowing that HErmione is doing him often is just sickening. I hope she either gains what she's after or comes to her senses and ... I don't even know... jsut stops sleeping with Wormtail LOL

I was recced this... I like dark fics.. but that's a brutal way to start out. Well written and I can't say I'm looking forward to what's to come but I'm... interested??

I ended up reading this whole story in one piece, I just couldn't stop reading! :P I just love the way you writes Snape, he is completely believable in this story and so is the other characters. I think you should be very proud of this story, it was a joy reading it (except from the icky wormtail/hermione parts)!

Wow. I thought I wouldn't be able to go past the squicky parts, but... you got me reading for one hour non-stop. Excellent writing.

:x

Oh, fuck. That was what Father always said.

I'm wondering if she's pregnant . . .

this is such a good story!

Wonderful story. I read it in about two hours. Just gobbled it up, really. I especially loved your portrayal of Pettigrew, and the way you ended the whole piece.

Long story short: this is amazing. Short story long: anything by Dickens.

This was a wonderful story - but I might be just dim here when I ask you this question, but my Snape-fangirl-love wants to know who sent the letter? Did Snape truly defect from the Order, or was he happy that she escaped, wanting her to get away all along? Sorry if my Snape-love kept me blinded from any obvious hints you might have left in the story...

It was the only way what? He wanted her to use Wormtail to escape?

Yowza. The sex with Peter/Wormtail was just so icky. And you got the ick factor just right - along with the reality that it wasn't, of all the things Hermione had to endure, really so awful in the grand scheme of things. And then when Snape watched -well, that was wrong and right and actually quite hot. And through it all you never lost the complexity of the emotions involved, the grey-ness of all the protagonists. Thanks so much for a thought-provoking and entertaining read.

Very well written story the whole way through.  I really enjoyed it and was thankfull for the quick updates.  The way you ended it was very exciting.  Well done job all the way around.

Hi Avery.  Now that I have completed Shades (at least on SH and FF), I finally got the courage to read this story from start to finish.  Actually, I started reading when you first began posting chapters, but I only got to chapter 5 before I stopped.  To be honest, I found it extremely difficult reading.  The words painful and profoundly distrubing come to mind.  But I suppose that was the effect you were looking for.  Don't get me wrong--your writing itself is excellent.  Very descriptive, good characterization and not too wordy (unlike me...).  I also applaud your emphasis on a strong theme as I think too many fanfiction writers just want to write something fluffy that will be 'popular'.  It takes courage to do something like this. What I found most amazing is that my story could inspire such a piece.  It is ironic that your Hermione essentilly makes the polar opposite choice from mine.  She compromises nearly all her morals and principles in order to survive, making her a traitor not to Harry or the Light, but to herself.  It was a weighty piece of work.  Good job.Cheers and best wishes,