I realize that it has been a bazillion years since you wrote this, but damn, this is a very fine story. Sigh.

This is a wonderful story that remains one of my favorites no matter how many times I read it.  The emotional and sexual tension are almost unbearable at times, and I'm very glad that after the years of maturing both Severus and Hermione are able to get it right.  Brava!

you made me cry, you did!!! such a wonderful story and yes hermione did the right thing, i would've left too!!!!

Oh my goodness. Heart wrenching and completely excellent.
I was quite sad when it finished...

What an incredible story! Left me in tears. 

Amazing, simply amazing! You've brought me to tears several times and taken me on an emotional roller coaster. The path you take Hermione on is so compelling and realistic that it's almost soul tearingly beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this story.

It was a great journey. I really hope he'll behave how he was supposed to this time around!

Thank you!!!

That was glorious.  A heart rending story and believable characterisations.  ...and you managed to get Florence in.  Major bonus points for that.  ;)

Oh, this story is beyond fantastic! I'm typing with tears in my eyes --- this has been such a thrilling, moving, poignant journey! Such an emotional roller coaster, I went from being charmed by Snape, to despising him, to slowly easing into forgiveness. You are so extremely talented!

This was just lovely, beginning to end.  Thanks for writing it!

What a truly wonderful story of love and redemption.You have penned a compelling story that is filled with real-life emotion and not over-the-top dramatics. I hope you consider writing more stories.

That was so beautiful!I loved how the story was artfully wrapped with different time periods.It reminded me slightly of Titanic, the film, with the present timeline and the past.Once again, can I say it was beautiful?We all love happy endings.

A tale wonderfully told.  Your Snape is bitter, sarcastic, snarky and a right bastard - but written beautifully with character.  He certainly isn't nice at all - not like many other fanfic Snapes where he's willing to settle down with Hermione after the war - but you've made him independent, engaging with a very strong character.  He definitely is the bastard of a Snape we have in canon with a layer of society-gloss on him.  Beautifully done.  Sage really was a different perspective on the entire Snape-Hermione dynamic.  It's really original, having them be ex-lovers who have fought and made up.  It's rare to see a story where they aren't together immediately and forever and forever, and I think it takes courage to write but this is so original and so refreshing and wonderfully awash with emotion.  The character arcs are great - I really like seeing their relationship evolve to the point where Hermione left - its so real and true to life and not a fairy tale at all.  I also really liked Hermione and Ron.  I'm so glad you didn't neglect him and so glad that they had a wonderful marriage in which they loved each other with no regrets for years.  It would really diminish Hermione if they hadn't had an happy marriage - but that she and Ron knew what they were doing and acted as mature adults really sharpened the characterisation and the emotional arc of the story.  Sage was really a very mature story in terms of emotion - it just feels so realistic with a bittersweetness underneath the surface which makes it so heartrendingly beautiful - I suppose, just like a cup of dark roast.  Brilliant!

My dear Lady Rhian, You have written an AMAZING story.  The backstory was believeable--especially the dysfunctional relationship between Severus and Hermione.  The relationship you built between Rose and her mother was amazing.  The revelations made--not only through the discussions between Rose and Hermione, but also through James' part in the story--were heart-warming and intense.  I found myself with tears in my eyes throughout--but most especially near the end with James' return and with Severus' and Hermione's meeting.  Severus calling out "I love you." was surprising yet somewhat expected as it showed his emotional growth and that he was capable of changing for the better--by openly loving her 20 years later while she was somewhat unsure of her own feelings--and whether she could survive another relationship with him.This was an amazing story.  I loved it.  Thank you for writing it.

Thank you for a truely beautiful story.

My dearest LR, let me say that we are only, what, two chapters into this, and already I am reading with teary eyes and tense chest--and this is not my usual fare. I recognize the incredible talent you have here--dialogue, for instance, is so difficult to do well, especially if it is not the main characters, the ones we want to read about. But I devoured every bit of Harry and Ginny's exchange.

Fascinating set-up, and how you've managed to pull so much tension from only a beginning is beyond my power, surely, and I am both worried and hopeful here.

I haven't read the other reviews, but I'm sure I'm echoing others when I say, thank you for not making Ron out to be a terrible person.

Now, having said all this--I am going to continue, if only for you, my dear. But also because I recognize when I am in the presence of a master--damn you for being so young and so talented!

*takes a deep breath, and... plunges back in*

Author's Response:

Darlin', you are too kind. I am positively blushing over here. I am so pleased that you are enjoying the story thus far, and I am doubly grateful as I could very well guess that this is not your usual fare. Thank you for taking a chance on Sage and on me. *tight hug* Now - keep reading! :-)

All's well that ends well ... though I hate that they lost all that time together. But then again, the way they were going, they might have killed each other, or at least ended up hating each other. Thank you for the wonderful story. 

This was a lovely story! I read some of it a while ago before it was complete but I very much enjoyed re-reading the completed saga. Very compelling characters and I loved the ending. Thank you!

Wow, this was absolutely amazing....I think I wil even venture to say it is my absolute favorite of the hundreds of fics I have read. 

*thunderous applause*I've never read anything quite like this, and it is wonderful.

Dear Rhi,Mission accomplished as I promised myself read start to finish...okay I did have to go to work and sleep, but I read nothing unless until this was completed.  Simply, beautiful, darling, I love it all the more in its entirety.  I wish I could take you out for a mocha! Irish

I read this story a long time ago, but couldn't find it again. it wasn't finished yet, not by a long shot. I read it probably up until Hermione left Severus.  I absolutely loved it, and I'm more than happy to have found it again, and read it to completion. It's absolutely beautiful, and I'm so happy that they were able to find love with each other again.

There are several times when my heart ached in this story.  I usually avoid stories where our favourite characters break up, but I stuck with this one even though I knew she had to leave him.  I was thoroughly rewarded in the end.  It was a moving story...I can really envision it.  Cheers!

wonderful story i thoroughly enjoyed the journey, im now going to read your other pieces and if theyre as good as this ill have lots of fun . Keep on writing you certainly have a great gift all the very best to you jan xx

Lovely ending. Seemed fitting for the story.  Thank you for sharing it with us :)