Identity
Chapter 11 of 17
OlethrosA series of vignettes as Hermione and Snape begin to work together, and just how did Snape get those white teeth in chapter 8?
A/N: I just wanted to clear something up: I have received many questions about whether Hermione ever regains the ability to make memories. As I hope is clear from the timestamps, the chronological "ending" of the story is already known... it was the second half of the first chapter. And while I have also said time and again that not everything is as it seems in that chapter, I hope it's apparent that Hermione remembers nothing. So will Hermione recover? Answer: not within the course of the story, but your imaginations can run wild about what happened after the "ending"... especially after these next two chapters.
In this chapter, there is an unintentional nod to PlaidPooka's "The Price of Madness." If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: No bunnies were harmed in the course of this story.
Chapter 11
Identity
--10:3011:00am, July 9, 1998--
"How often does Voldemort summon you these days?"
"For the last time, Miss Granger, please refrain from using that name in my presence!"
"Well, I'm not calling him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Hermione snapped back. "Bloody ridiculous if you ask me, considering that we're planning on killing him."
"I do not care for your singular annoyances," Snape hissed, turning a funny shade of purple. "You will not use that name in my home."
"You think I like hearing you call him the Dark Lord all the time?" Hermione replied testily. "Fine, fine, I'll call him 'Riddle.' Happy now?"
"Ecstatic."
--2:303:00pm, July 10, 1998--
They had progressed to the first stages of testing viable potion bases. Before Hermione even stepped up to the cauldron, she realized the problem.
Her distorted wrist forced her to hold the stirring rod at an awkward angle. As she dipped the rod into the simmering contents, the end scraped against the inner wall of the cauldron, scattering iron filings into the potion.
Wordlessly, Snape cleared the ruined potion base with a sweep of his wand. "Let me," he said, taking the rod from her hands.
Hermione's face grew hot, and she whirled upon him, daring him to mock her for being unable to do such a simple thing.
She was astonished to discover not a sliver of amusement upon his face.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
--9:009:30am, July 11, 1998--
"Professor, what are these?"
Snape shot her a glance that could have withered a cactus. His familiar, a midnight-black raven perched in a corner of the ceiling, cawed derisively, startling her before it returned to preening its feathers.
He motioned to the thick sheaf of parchment he had dropped upon the table. "These are for us to combine all our notes regarding this project. I trust that you would prefer to keep these separate from your notes detailing every second of your life. Years of experience as Head of House have taught me that peeking into a girl's personal diary usually instigates a reaction that would put Vesuvius to shame."
Hermione couldn't help herself. She chuckled. "Certainly I will, Professor. I'll transfer over all the notes we've recorded thus far, as well. Thank you. This was most..." Considerate. "...thoughtful of you."
He snorted. "I wish to get this project over with as soon as possible, Miss Granger. A sentiment which I am sure that you share."
Hermione stared thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. It was the safe response. She couldn't tell him that she already treasured their time together most ardently. He was an impossible, insulting man whose presence still made her nervous despite their now mutual trust.
Yet beneath the unattractive exterior, Hermione had discovered glittering fragments of the man who had been able to lead a double life for nearly twenty years without going mad. She would catch him in an instance of intense concentration, when the menace would disappear from his scowl to be replaced by single-minded dedication to solving the problem before him.
Dumbledore had been right. She and Snape were far more alike than she ever would have admitted.
She had also seen the part of Snape that had given him the strength to go on after "The Dumbledore Incident." Snape had been summoned twice since they had begun working together. Each time, he had hissed in pain as he grabbed his forearm and grumbled about the Dark Lord continuing to use such irritating methods to call his most trusted servant. Yet beneath his complaining, Hermione caught the edge of fear.
Even now, nothing was certain.
Both times, he had returned several hours later, to toss aside his robe and mask the instant he reappeared in the lab. He then returned to his work in a foul mood that Hermione knew better than to disturb.
It surprised her somewhat that he was so unrestrained with his emotions at these times. The Professor Snape she had known was an enigmatic pestilence. This Severus Snape was afraid, angry, brilliant, accepting of her help, and once or twice, Hermione swore that she had seen him smile.
She reasoned that this was because she was with him for ten hours straight every day and that he had rarely in his life entertained company for such a length of time. And certainly no one, other than perhaps Dumbledore, had been around to see him leave and return from being Summoned. Hermione felt honored and more than a little nervous that she was one of the few people to ever see this side of Snape.
This Severus Snape had also given her life a purpose once again. He made it possible to continue working on the potion, because she knew that, despite his intolerable personality, he would support her every step of the way.
He was giving her the chance to create something worth remembering.
She couldn't tell him any of this, of course. She merely said, "I will do my best to make this a tolerable experience for both of us, sir."
--9:009:30am, July 20, 1998--
Hermione cursed as she stumbled on the stairs yet again. That stairway leading to the potions lab was a veritable bruise factory.
The fading marks on her legs were evidence that this had not been the first time she'd tripped on the steps.
There was a soft chuckle from somewhere above her head, and she looked up to see Snape holding out a hand to her.
His hand was warm and strong, his grip entirely foreign.
It was the first time he had ever initiated contact between them.
It must have been.
--6:006:30pm, July 31, 1998--
"Sir? I was wondering if I might leave a little early today."
Snape set a barrel of dung beetles on the lab table with an audible thunk. "For what reason?"
"It's Harry's birthday today. Ron and I were going to take him out to dinner."
Snape picked a beetle from the barrel, holding it by one leg as it squirmed in mid-air. Hermione rolled her eyes. Apparently satisfied, Snape tossed the creature back into the barrel. "So," he said, "Mr. Potter survives yet another year. I must commend him."
"They say that he's one of the best Aurors in the department," Hermione replied, feeling a sudden need to stand up for her friend.
Surprisingly, Snape did not scoff at her proclamation. "One should hope that to be the case, Miss Granger, if we are to have any hope of winning this war. And under what capacity will you be celebrating his natal day with him? I recall that Hermione Granger's obituary was published last month to much public mourning."
"I'm his girlfriend."
Snape raised both brows. "I beg your pardon?"
Hermione flushed and fidgeted, embarrassed for no clear reason. "Camilla Elliot, that is. That's the relationship with Harry that was created for her so that I would have a reason to stay in his company."
His expression was unreadable. He lowered his eyebrows. "I suppose that someone must bear the burden of being Saint Potter's companion. Thank goodness that a real woman did not have to be chosen to suffer genuinely."
Her mouth dropped open, and she struggled for a split second to formulate a suitably scathing response. Then she noticed that his delivery of the statement had been utterly dry and... "Professor...I do hope that you won't make a habit of telling jokes in public. Half the population of England might faint in shock."
This time, even Snape could not deny that his lips curved upwards in a genuine smile. "Go celebrate with your friends, Miss Granger." He frowned, thinking for a bit. "You can come in later than usual tomorrow. I predict that all three of you will be slightly worse for the wear by the end of the night."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you." She Apparated home.
--8:008:30am, August 1, 1998--
She knocked on his front door, hard, at 8:15am the next morning. The door swung open a few seconds later.
Hermione stared, her mouth half-open.
Severus Snape stood at the threshold in loose black trousers and a white shirt with flowing sleeves. Stubble dotted his chin and cheeks. He held a toothbrush in one hand. As she watched, a drop of water dripped from the end of the toothbrush and fell to the doorstep.
Snape's scowl was thunderous, made even worse by his haggard morning appearance. "I was expecting the postman."
Hermione worked her jaw up and down, words eventually coming out. "I... I, er..." Don't stare at his toothbrush. "...I was wondering if I could start work a little early today?"
His scowl did not dissipate. Hermione did not move, too horrified from trying not to laugh to be afraid of his temper.
"If you must," he replied at last. "You will forgive me if I don't join you right away. You seem to have caught me... unprepared."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." She darted through his sitting room after he stepped aside and up the stairs to the potions lab, stumbling slightly on the stairway.
Once she was sure that he was not following her, she removed her quill and began to write, in exquisite, excruciating detail.
Some moments were just too precious to be forgotten.
--10:0010:30am, August 1, 1998--
"When are you planning to tell me why you came here so early when by all rights you should be nursing a wicked hangover?"
Hermione clenched her jaw together. "Preferably never."
"Why merely 'preferably'?"
Hermione set down her quill and lowered her head to her hands. "Because I know that you won't take 'never' as an answer."
"True. Although my reaction to this rather childish display may be mitigated depending on the reason for your reticence."
Only Snape could say something like that and have someone take him seriously. "I'm afraid you'll think I'm being stupid."
"Tell me. You must, after all, pay your dues for seeing me before I was able to complete my morning toilette, a privilege that no one has had since my parents."
Hermione allowed herself to laugh. The last thing she would have expected was for Severus Snape to be able to make a joke at his own expense.
"I left the celebration right after dinner. I didn't feel much like pub-crawling with Harry and Ron. Or Ron's new girlfriend."
"Ah," Snape said. "You feel as if you have been replaced."
"No. Well... maybe a little. But that's not the problem. Ron and I went our separate ways months ago, and I rather like his girlfriend. They got on very well, all three of them, and I just couldn't stay... not as Camilla, not as the newcomer. I wanted to give both the boys a big hug and then realized that I couldn't. Camilla couldn't do that." She trailed off to see Snape's unchanged expression. "Yes, I know, it's silly. I knew what I was getting into from the beginning and..."
"And why, Miss Granger, did you feel that coming here would make you feel better?"
"I..." Hermione paused, choosing her words with care. "I know who I am here. I can do my work and not have to pretend to be someone else." She shook herself. "It doesn't matter. The sooner we can bring down these bastards, the sooner I won't have to worry about this anymore."
Snape was silent, but she was no longer worried that he would laugh at her.
"If you had been so perceptive during your time at Hogwarts," Snape said, "you and your friends would not have wasted so much time inventing stories about why I spent so much time in the Potions dungeons."
--11:30am12:00pm, October 1, 1998--
"Let me get this straight. You mean that... this creature is now Cicero?" The rabbit in question nibbled at the female's floppy ear and squeaked in dismay as she hopped away from him.
"Not in the classic sense of the term. But it now holds the deceased subject's soul. Observe its behavior. The same mannerisms, the same incessant chattering, the same infatuation with that one female. Before Cicero's death, this creature barely moved from the corner of the cage. Now it has assumed charge of the herd."
"Do rabbits herd?"
"Hermione, please," Snape said testily.
"The subject's changed behavior could very easily just be animal instincts for the, er, second-in-command to take charge when the leader of the herd has been killed."
"So quickly, Hermione? And by the former weakling? I doubt it."
"But... what happened to the soul that Cicero's replaced?"
"Destroyed, most likely. A single body cannot be home to two souls, not two complete souls at least. That would cause madness at best and immediate death at worst. This creature appears normal; it is simply someone else."
Hermione's head was beginning to hurt. "Is that... possible? I don't understand. Cicero is dead; we both saw it happen. His body is..."
"Sit down, Hermione. Let me explain." His voice seemed to tremble unnaturally, and Hermione looked up. Shocked, she saw that his gaze was filled with unadulterated delight. Snape? Happy?
She sat.
Severus stood in front of her and crossed his arms. It felt exactly like they were back in the dungeons listening to one of his Potions lectures. But he had never appeared as excited in any of their classes. Who was she kidding, Snape never appeared excited. Ever.
"You are already well aware that the soul and the body are separate entities," Snape said. "The consequences of the Dementor's Kiss are proof enough that a body can survive without a soul. And if that were not enough, the Dark Lord was quite successful at splitting his soul into several pieces. Ideally, your potion would preserve the natural states of the body and the soul, allowing both to survive the Killing Curse. But it appears that we overestimated the resilience of the flesh. The soul, although properly re-formed, can no longer reside in the dead body and therefore searches for the closest compatible host. Compatibility, I assume, is determined by whatever the soul determines to be its closest match."
"Yes..." Hermione whispered, feeling her own excitement growing. "Not unlike Muggle cryonics. Life extension facilities have successfully frozen dozens of human subjects, but the process is not reversible. The organs and tissues would die if we tried to bring them back."
"Muggles are currently doing... that? Good grief, is there no end to their foolishness?"
"So what you're saying is that we solved half of what we had hoped," Hermione said, ignoring his derision of Muggles. "The physical body is too frail to be preserved by the restorative elements of our potion. But somehow we have been able to save his soul." The sheer ridiculousness of what she had just said overwhelmed her, and she disintegrated into a fit of giggles. Televangelists were nothing against the two of them!
"I fail to see what you find so amusing," Snape sniffed. "For all intents and purposes, we have succeeded. We are concerned with re-forming the Dark Lord's soul, not his body."
Hermione extended her hand towards the side of the cage. The rabbit who may or may not have been the new Cicero hopped over at once, chirruping happily and rubbing itself against her hand. She patted the creature's fur through the cage and glanced over uneasily at the limp body over on the far table.
"We will need to run further experiments," Snape said, "to confirm my hypothesis and to ensure that the soul can be restored to its original form in the event of any alterations."
"Of course, I know that," Hermione said absently. She continued to stroke the creature's fur. The eyes... red, curious, alive. Could it really be that this creature was now home to another's soul? A soul that for all intents and purposes should have been dead?
"What do you think, little one?" Hermione whispered. "Would you like to live forever?"
A touch on her shoulder made her turn. Snape stood there, his eyes bright. "Hermione..." he said in a reverent whisper. "You have done a miraculous thing."
He cupped her cheek, and she felt warmth follow his fingertips from her jaw to her ear. Then he was kissing her.
--10:0010:30pm, October 7, 1998--
"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"After this is over... the potion, the war... what will you do?"
He scowled. "I prefer not to think about outcomes that are at best... uncertain."
"Humor me. Please?"
Severus leaned back from where he had been peering into the microscope. He rubbed his eyes with one hand. "After the war..." He paused. "After the war, the role that I play will no longer be needed. I would like nothing better than to walk away from everything. To cross the fence separating this wretched town from the fields and just walk..."
"...and never look back," Hermione finished, looking at him as if mesmerized. "For when the war is over, the world will no longer be ours to live in."
She fidgeted under Severus' suddenly sharp gaze.
"What makes you say that?" he asked in a soft voice.
Hermione laughed lightly. "Can you imagine how hard it is for me to think in terms of future? After this project is over... after we have finally destroyed Riddle and the Death Eaters... after I know the bastard who hurt me is dead... what more is left for me in the wizarding world?"
"A heroine's welcome," Severus replied almost snappishly. "The love and adulation of the masses. You, the young warrior presumed dead but instead survived to deliver the killing blow to an enemy who believed they had crushed her. Hermione Granger will be revered for all ages. Not to mention she'll have the boys and men fawning at her feet."
"'For all ages' doesn't mean too much to me, does it?" Hermione retorted. "Besides, I thought I'd made it clear that there's only one man that I'm interested in. And if he ever fawns at my feet, I'll slap him."
Severus rewarded her with a flicker of a smile. Then he continued in a sober voice, "I would not have you underestimate how wonderful the world will be for you when the war is over."
"I would want you with me," Hermione said softly.
He clenched the microscope so tightly he nearly tore the base from its table. "I will forever be an outcast. I will never have a place in your world, Hermione, no matter what I do to make up for my transgressions. It doesn't work that way."
Hermione gazed at him, her hands itching to touch his face, to smooth away the lines of anguish between his eyes. "It's Camilla Elliot's world now. I'm not so sure Hermione Granger belongs here any longer," she said at last.
--8:309:00pm, October 8, 1998--
"Hermione, could I borrow Slytherin's locket from you?"
The question, asked in such a nonchalant manner, completely threw Hermione's concentration from the rather raunchy bit of Canterbury Tales (borrowed from his shelf) that she had been reading. They were sitting on her couch in her flat, each absorbed in reading material of their choice.
"Whatever for?"
"I would rather not say exactly. But it will be crucial to the project."
Hermione looked at him for a second and then laid her head against the back of the couch. "Still keeping secrets, Severus."
"You know that there are things that I will never tell you, Hermione."
"Don't try and change the subject," she snapped. "This isn't about dark secrets from your past. This is about our project. Ours. What you and I have been working on nonstop together for over three months. Whatever it is that you need the locket for, you can tell me. And considering what I went through to get it, I think I doubly deserve to know."
She finished her speech to find Severus staring back at her with a slightly mystified expression that reminded her so much of Harry and Ron that she wanted to punch him.
"You're beautiful when you're angry," he said.
Hermione's mouth fell open. "If you think..." She stopped talking. She saw his smirk and realized that he didn't think at all that he'd be able to distract her this way, but he didn't care. With a great effort, she remained silent and glared. After a moment, his smirk faded, and he dipped his head, signaling surrender.
"I need the locket so that I can remove a portion of Voldemort's soul. It can be used in our test subjects to confirm whether contamination by another soul will be neutralized once the potion takes effect. In other words, to test whether this potion has the capability to restore something as twisted as the Horcruxes to their original state. I did not want to tell you as I knew you would... worry, considering what happened to the Headmaster when he destroyed the Horcrux in the ring."
"You're right, I would. But I would also recognize the necessity of doing so and also have faith that you would take every precaution. However, there's something even more important that I noticed from what you just said."
Snape seemed to be looking at her a little strangely. "What is that?"
"You called him 'Voldemort.' It's the first time you've ever called him that."
Snape raised a brow. "Am I to understand that you record conversations with that level of detail at all times?"
"I do, as you were so adamant about avoiding that name."
He snorted. "Well, as we are mere weeks from killing him, it felt strange to keep calling him a Lord."
Hermione smiled. That also marked the first time he had mentioned the future with anything resembling optimism. She nodded towards Snape's lap. "Reach under your seat cushion."
He slid his hand down between the cushions and searched around, eyes widening when his hands found something. He pulled the heavy golden locket and chain out from the depths of the sofa.
"Ingenious hiding place," Snape said.
--9:009:30am, October 9, 1998--
He held up a small glass vial as long as her little finger. It was filled with a smoky, iridescently green substance.
"That's a soul?"
"Just barely. You could call this the soul's veneer: its skin, if you will. Much less dangerous to manipulate than a soul fragment but will still serve our purposes."
"Are they all that color?"
"Astute observation. Genuine souls are invisible to the human eye. So in this case, the claim that Voldemort has a tainted soul can be taken quite literally."
"Should I even ask how you know so much about soul magic?"
"Voldemort's private library."
"Oh."
Snape shrugged. "I believe you mentioned your displeasure yesterday about keeping secrets from each other."
"I did," she said. "Thank you. Er, how do we go about... testing this?"
"I have already injected a small amount of this substance into our newest Cicero. The process required a combination of Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and much as it pains me to admit this Divination, the details of which I am confident that even you will have no interest in knowing."
"Actually now I'm more interested in knowing just how much sleep you managed to get last night."
"Enough not to be a safety hazard in the lab. Now please observe the test subject and tell me if you notice any... deviations from its original behavior as a result of the contamination."
"Like what? The rabbit suddenly develops a raging desire to conquer large parts of England?"
Hermione gasped as she suddenly found herself spun around and being thoroughly kissed.
"What was that for?" she asked, after she had caught her breath after the unexpected, though not unpleasant, interruption.
"Do you have any idea how much sarcasm turns me on?" Severus replied, his eyes bright.
She wasn't sure what surprised her more: the fact that Snape had just used the term "turn me on" or the fact that he was admitting something so personal to her.
Hermione launched herself at him, fusing her mouth to his. She tangled her hands in his soft, limp hair, which really wasn't greasy anymore now that he was working in a lab with proper ventilation.
--9:3010:00am, October 9, 1998--
"You could have just told me that there was a spell that could tell you if a creature's soul had been tainted."
"And missed the sight of you filling out two feet of parchment on how a Voldemort-possessed rabbit was different from a regular rabbit? I think not."
--10:0010:30am, October 9, 1998--
"I think you bit me. My lip is still bleeding."
"You deserved it for not telling me. You also deserve this." She stepped forward and kissed him tenderly. "For very successfully keeping my mind off the more morbid side of what we're doing today."
--11:30am12:00pm, October 9, 1998--
Six black Havana rabbits lay dead. Six living rabbits still squatted in the cage, with one male nibbling at the ear of one increasingly confused female.
Snape held his wand over the male rabbit, observing the pure, untainted silver cloud surrounding the creature.
"Severus... do you know what this means?"
Severus Snape lowered his wand and stared at the sight with veritable thunderclouds above his brow. "Yes. We have succeeded beyond our wildest hopes," he muttered.
"No need to sound so excited about it."
"My pleasure has unfortunately been killed by the realization of what must happen next."
"And what is that?"
"You will have to go to Potter and convince him to work with me."
Her hand found his as she turned his head to face her with a finger under his chin. "To work with us, Severus. We're all on the same side."
"You'll have a job convincing Potter of that," he grumbled. Despite his frown, his arm moved to wrap itself around her waist.
A/N: Anyone remember that raven from chapter 4 and chapter 7? Hmm, I think we know now how Snape knew when Hermione was returning from the cemetery.
Next chapter: Who was the farmer in chapter one? Hermione and Snape philosophize, and Hermione begins noticing some disturbing feelings for her former Potions professor. Snape deals with rabbits, and an apparent failure?
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Latest 25 Reviews for Memento Amori
114 Reviews | 3.13/10 Average
I think this ending is most apt and very powerful! I know it's a happy ending and I feel the continuation of their story is a cure.
I can't thank you enough for putting the time and effort into creating such a complicated masterpiece. I enjoyed every minute of every read through I've attempted to piece it all together. This tale was very satisfying.
You've managed to infuse lovely humor and saracasm and believabilty into their relationship and their characterizations. All with a convoluted mystery that needed solving and truly does make sense in the end. Chris Nolan eat your heart out.
Only thing I didn't "get" was the Harry becoming enamored of Cami/Hermione. That was awkward and she avoided that well.
Haha although Cicero "died" this is another great and funny chapter. And thank you for the notes, it's really coming together now.
Love love this chapter! Lots of great one liners and little scenes that I adore.
"... she shivered at the butterfly-wing feeling..."
Oh my that was very sensual.
Omg they really did it. She should be ecstatic! The best in his life, indeed.
A very intense and engaging battle scene you've written here. Loved it!
Wow you really know how to twist things up! I'm ready to settle down for a long drawn out read.
Swoon swoon swoon. Romantic!Snape to the rescue.
My gosh I wish she could remember all these little humorous things that happen between them! I love how she's getting to know him but upset that she won't recall.
Someone really needs to draw a fan art of Snape AK-ing some daisies!!
Wow! I finally finished reading it for the second time. I had to print it out and read it straight forward chronologically the second time. That was a great story. I do wish there could have been an epilogue but I know in my imagination they live happily ever after. My hat is off to you for being able to pull something like that off. Truly amazing. Thank you for a wonderful read.
Response from Olethros (Author of Memento Amori)
I hope that not too many trees had to give their lives for this noble cause 
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Response from Olethros (Author of Memento Amori)
I hope that not too many trees had to give their lives for this noble cause Thank you so much for your kind words!
“Excellent, we have demonstrated that we know each other’s names,” Hermione said. One of the funniest lines I've ever read. Maybe I shouldn't have done, but I found this chapter was very funny. I was also chuckling at performing the Killing Curse on bunnies.Good meeting between the three of them, nicely written, things are becoming clearer. There has been a few warnings about the dodgy stairs now, could there be a simple explanation for Hermione's injuries? I am intrigued, so I'd better get on with the story.
Response from Olethros (Author of Memento Amori)
Glad you enjoy my dark humor... most of this chapter was definitely intended to be funny.Also, not going to answer about Hermione and the injuries but the stairs... ah yes, the stairs will indeed make a repeat appearance. Good eye!
I haven't reviewed every chapter because this is the first time I have paused. You weave your story beautifully, the non chronological time makes me really sympathetic with Hermione's position. I am pleased that you haven't spent the majority of these early chapters wading through too much of Hermione's emotional state. It would have been very easy to get bogged down in the sadness and loss of most of her memory. Still, you have clearly shown her reation, and I particularly admired the way you had Ron and Harry react. You have done a good job of keeping everyone in character, Hermione's practicality, Harry's moving forward to do what he must, and Ron's affection. It's nice to see a Ron in an HG/SS fic that isn't belittled and killed off at the first opportunity.You certainly have a flair for dramatic writing. Your scenes are well constructed to give the reader a lot of information in relatively few words. This really adds to the fast pacing, giving us a lot of action as well as explanations, meaning that readers like me are thoroughly swept along with Hermione.I look forward to reading the rest.
Response from Olethros (Author of Memento Amori)
Possibly one of the most flattering reviews I've ever gotten, thank you so so much!! I am glad that you are enjoying my work; it's the best reward that a writer can get. I'm especially glad that you thought my writing to be in character - that is always what I strive for first and foremost.Hope that the rest of the story lives up to your expectations!
*is stunned*
After reading chapter sixteen, my intention was to go back and read the whole thing backwards, but that last chapter was so exhausting, I think I need to step away for a while. Maybe some day I'll leave you a real review, but all I can say for now is that you have written an amazing story; I'm just not sure how I feel about it.
Oh this chapter is dark. Exquist imiagry of torture and pain. Very conflicting too, given the crying Snape before he chucks her down the stairs. Never ever read anything like this. It must have been challenging for you, I could never see me writing something like this.
Did they meet at McDonald's?
I am enjoying this fic, but I'm having trouble keeping the time lines straight.
I've just discovered it is possible (for me, at least) to squee in delight, cry, laugh, sniff and moan at the same time. You are absolutely right, no epilogue is needed. Let us imagine, each one, what life will be like to Severus and Hermione. What an amazing way to complete the story! Bravo!
I don't know if you'd intended it to be tricky, but I was thinking it was a sunset until I read this chapter; maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention to the dates and confused myself. Goodness, the dates are getting closer together now...
I had really hoped it was something like that. Wow!
The next chapter sounds exciting. And I don't have to wait. Very compelling story so far.
*applauds with a yawn* If I could keep my eyes open, I would. I haven't mentioned before, but I like the way you write everyone. Ron and Harry are often shortchanged in SSHG fics, but you've done a good job with them.
I like how there is something that ties the halves of the chapter together, like the wand in the previous chapter. I am so intrigued by the bracelet thing; I already want to go back and reread the first four chapters, but then I know I'd never get any sleep.
Oh, I told myself that I wasn't going to leave a review for every single chapter, but so far, I've had something to say.
I'm really interested in Hermione's research; I've already got a few ideas. Your recaps-as-forshadowing are brilliant!
Hmm, she remembered to call him "Severus." That has possibilities. Writing this story backwards and forwards must have been hard; it's amazing.
Okay, I know I said at one point that I wasn't going to read this because I was working on something similar, but I've pretty much given up on '50 First Kisses' and I can't ignore the siren call of a completed fic. I only hope I don't stay up too late reading this tonight, because right now I want to read the whole thing. You really gave us somehting to mull over.