this was quite a long one. I'm now definately positive that you'll be able to finish in time for your deadline. I loved this chapter especially the "Umbridge exception" . As to the rest all I can say is !!!

So many things to comment on and so little space to do it LOL.I am so very glad Minerva finally had the talk with Severus about how loathsome she must think him to be. And I can't even begin to imagine how tiresome it must be to tell the man that he's going to live yet he still begs to die, totally missing her implications. That must be some spell that's clouding his mind...sheesh.The image you create of how Albus and Minerva curl up together at night is so touching and realistic. Those have to be some of my favorite images from the story. It's a very natural and lovely thing, innocent in nature but very telling of the love they share. I LOVE IT!Hermione vs Pansy....brilliant! Fantastic to pair Hermione with Pansy and let her get a little bit back on the stupid Slytherin. I'm sure it made Hermione really happy to know that she could exact a little revenge on the girl who caused her favorite professor (Minerva, just in case you're wondering) to be put into this sort of situation. Lastly, things seem to be heating up for Minerva and Severus. I'm trying to be very adult about all of this and keep my Albus-feelings out of the picture as much as possible. However, it just makes me a bit uneasy knowing that Snape is taking such liberties (though Minerva gave him permission and initiated some of it). And I know she has a very good reason for it but at times it's hard for an ADMM shipper to read but I SWEAR TO SEE THIS TO THE END!!!!! If only for Albus' sake Can't wait for the next update so don't make me wait too long!The Greedy Little Mouse

Just thought I would let you know how much I am enjoying this - I don't normally stray too far from SS/HG so I have been pleasantly surprised!

This is Severus Snape cheered. Too funny. Excellent chapter. Just what I needed to start the day.Truly

Excellent. But poor Severus, NOT what he needed to see, or maybe it was as Albus ventured. Definitely looking forward to the next part.Truly

Albus came in, levitating the two potions. It was fortunate for him that his magic was as strong as it was; he was using it more for simple physical tasks than she had ever seen him do in the entire time she knew him

 This sentence particularly, and the rest of that 'graph, are absolutely amazing, for saying so much so compactly and poignantly.

 The rest of the chapter, and the story, is great too, but that para just jumped out at me and had me almost in tears.  

 I do  hope you finish by the deadline.  I'd say it's imperative that you do <g>, not only for Severus' sake but b/c I'm going out of town and away from my computer for the weekend and the suspense is killing me.

What a very akward position for the very conflicted Snape. You really are putting him throught the wringer. I can see how occlumency can be bad when practiced in excess, but being in the situation that he is in as a spy, I'd think it be better to be safe than sorry when it comes to dealing with a skilled legilimence like Voldemort.

So far this is the hardest chatper for me to read and I know that it's only going to get more difficult as we near the time of the "cure". I was not expecting Severus to radiate his feelings towards Albus in such a way that he would be able to pick up on them and then curiously peer into the man's mind. I don't blame him for looking though. If Snape had been projecting envy at me, I'd want to know more about it too. And of course there are all the emotions of what he saw and heard earlier in the evening so coupled with all of that, he must have been a wreck.I am in shock that Albus would suggest Minerva letting Snape give her a massage. By Minerva's own admission, that's something that she's reserved for Albus and then for him to come back and suggest that she allow that just blew me out of the water. I felt a knot forming in the pit of my stomach at the thought since Minerva was so careful earlier when Snape was rubbing the potion onto her neck, shoulders, and arms. I feel like Albus is bottling all of this inside him and at some point he's going to have to let it all out. And knowing that another man is being intimate with his partner of decades has got to be eating him alive. I'm most curious to see his reaction when all of this is said and done. I just hope Minerva is as understanding, kind, and compassionate with him as she's been with Snape. And Snape had better damn well appreciate all the trouble they're going to to save his life and to show him a little bit of what love is like. Grrrr...okay...that's my Snape rant for this post As I've said, I'm in this for the duration so don't keep me in suspense for too much longer. I'm eager to know what happens when Albus returns to bed and how both Albus and Minerva will feel when it's time for Snape to act on  the imperative once more. Knowing he's heard them making love is going to make it incredibly awkward.Great stuff here...The Greedy Little Mouse!

Wow, this has to be some of the best AD/MM I have read in quite awhile.  I know it is heavily Snape centric but the interaction between Albus and Minerva is very well done.  I adore how it marries up with what you have happening in RaU - timeline and references and so forth.  What a complex subject and an interesting approach.  I found it odd that Albus hasn't suggested polyjuice the other way around - not that he take some but that Severus take some, might make it easier on Minerva.  I love that you have given me another story to look forward to. 

The plot is moving along nicely.  Poor Severus and Minerva are going to have nervous breakdowns in the process of all of this.  Albus seems to be the only calm one.Well written romantic interlude.  A quick call to my therapist and I should be fine.Snicker.

Why do I get the feeling that there is more to Hermione's research than Albus is telling us?Severus' desperation and self-deprecation are so sad....

Okay, I'm past the squick factor.This has been a wonderful exploration of the kind of love that exists between Albus and Minerva, while incorporating the unexpected Snape factor.  It looks like Albus and Minerva are coming to some realizations that Snape's feelings for her may not be such a bad thing afterall.

Ahem.  I am trying to be adult about this.  I realize Albus and Minerva are long-time partners and have a varied and satisfying sex life.  However, reading it in detail is like imagining the kinds of things my grandparents might have done together.  I don't want to think about that. The passages describing their interlude have a wonderful tenderness to them. It's good writing.  I just don't want to think about my grandparents in this context and may need a bit of therapy.  I think I'll go onto the next chapter, now.

You are a romantic, exploring the different facets of love.  Nicely done!

That certainly isn't going to do much for her muscle cramps, but what the hell. There's always more Tonic. (grin) Does it really work?Thanks very much for the quickie (no pun intended) update.Truly

Very steamy    at the end there! Just a question I remember them discussing wether or not they could use someone else in Minerva's stead....what about Snape taking the shape of Albus??? have they thought of that? Would that freak Minerva out too much??? Or is it just not possible because of the spell itself??

It made a lot of sense that Poppy would be suspicious...but I'm very intrigued as to why they didn't just confide in her...patient confidenciality being what it is, but then again I can understand that they'd want to keep it as secret as possible...after all a secret never revealed is a secret better kept!

I do so love the longer chapters. It gives us more story to read...tee hee. And what a story this is turning out to be...wheee!I like this chapter for many reasons. We get to see a bit more of our "old" Snape when he incorrectly assumes he's to accept Hermione's apology instead of issuing one of his own, or at least admitting he's partially to blame. The greasy git wouldn't be in this mess if he'd done his duty as a professor instead of trying to spy on the students. BAH!I have to say that's one nasty little potion Albus brewed for Minerva. The effect sounds dreadful but it has to be comforting to both Albus and Minerva to know that he's brewed it himself then tested the batch for safety. It's also very touching to know that he's tested it himself so he'll know exactly what Minerva is experiencing...a true ACT OF LOVE And now to my favorite part...the lemon! What can I honestly say that will convey my feelings...WOW, AMAZING, WONDERFUL, TASTEFUL...all of those seem so inadequate. I think you did a phenomenol job on portraying the lemony ADMM moments here.  It shows a playful, romantic and very human Albus to us...one who wants to pleasure his beloved and it also goes to show how deep their love really runs. The moment Minerva climaxes and cries out his name (while not unusual in and of itself) reassures him that she is truly and forever his. And when they pause after joining to stare into each others eyes...awwww...that was perfection. Albus' speech at the end nearly brought a tear to my eyes. After listening to Snape's vocalizations of how wonderful Minerva is, it's a refreshing and welcomed change to see Albus getting the same opportunity. The difference, however, is that Albus' declaration, while simple and endearing, comes straight from the heart and he needs no spell to remind him of his love for Minerva.Looking forward to reading more soon!

Most excellent!  Glad you pointed your RaM readers over here.

 I am most concerned for Minerva. You seem to be foreshadowing that after this is over, the end of the school year may well play out as in canon.   IF so, I hope Albus and Minerva have enough time left together after Severus is restored to himself to be able to work through any residual oddness they feel WRT each other, no matter how much they have talked it all through first.  And I hope Albus tells her of the worst-case contingency plan regarding other matters that he and Snape are working on, either in advance or at least in an "only to be opened in the event of my death" letter.  It would be absolutely awful for her that the Snape whom she and Albus did all this for/with then murders Albus just weeks or months later.

Ahh so the plot thickens . I find it very believable that, once they realize that there is only the one option, Minerva would start to seriously think that option through and what it would mean to her. And the concerns that she has are very realistic! So fantasticly written. I'd imagine that once Minerva has made up her mind she'd talk it through with Albus and then go through with it. Looking forward to see where you take us readers next.

This has, without a doubt, become one of my favorite stories.  OF the three, I can't help but feel the worst for Severus.  To be so reciedent and restrained by nature to only have that completely stripped away must be horrifying.  I can only image what will run through his mind when the spell has run its course.  I can't wait for the next installment and will be waiting on baited breath.

Once again you've given us a wonderful chapter and there are so many things going on that it's a fast and very enjoyable read.Hermione can be such a little nuisance at times that it irritates the bejesus out of me. Grrr. I know she only meant well but Minerva is her HoH and Deputy. Oh well...guess she had to do what she had to do. LOLAgain, the Minerva/Severus scenes are hard to read for an ADMM'er like myself but you're handling it all very well and tastefully. I sincerely appreciate that. It's nice to see Minerva being uncomfortable, even though she doesn't come out and say it, and then when Albus returns, it's easy to see that she wants to be with him, even if it's just for a few moments.My favorite part of this chapter has to be the scene where Albus and Minerva are sleeping together in her bedroom. The image you create of how they're curled up together and the obvious contentment that is so subtle in that bit are just so powerful that it brought a silly little smile to my face. I know I should be nicer to Snape but I was happy he saw that little moment between them. While on one level it's not his fault he was hit with the curse (Pansy had no right to cast the spell), and he can't help the effects of the curse, it always makes me uncomfortable to see Albus having to walk away while Snape dotes and fawns over Minerva. It has to be so hard on him to watch as his wife is kisses and touched by someone else, even if he was telling the truth about her seeking some pleasure from the experience.FANTASTIC UPDATE and I'm looking forward to even more because I am now and forever will be....THE GREEDY MOUSE!

Excellent. I hope Severus doesn't go bonkers, when Minerva gets sick. You're doing a terrific job.I really hope to read very soon.Truly

Strange story.  Looking forward to seeing how it ends.

Wow, very emotional chapter. My heart aches for all the characters for having to be in this situation. You're a very good writer.

You are doing a Excellent job. Poor Severus's decreasing cognitive abilities are rather realistic and terribly heart breaking. It makes me just want to cuddle them all thoguh.