let's drink a dark roast from Vienna together, that is the one I like the best...another coffeine strong story  - high on emotions rollercoaster -  with many remembrances of my twenties dealing with similar problems and my forties being me  and living with my choices like Hermione did in your story. Well done.

let's drink a dark roast from Vienna together, that is the one I like the best...another coffeine strong story  - high on emotions rollercoaster -  with many remembrances of my twenties dealing with similar problems and my forties being me  and living with my choices like Hermione did in your story. Well done.

I love this chapter, especially for the breakthrough between Hermione and Rose. You paint very vivid scenes and I can feel like I'm watching this on a screen. I like how Rose didn't stop with Harry, but went on to gather more information, even if their was little to find. I can imagine how surprised Hermione must have been to have her daughter bring up this past history, just as it was beginning to figure so prominently in her own mind. The dream meal Severus served sounds delicious and certainly came in handy, as did the sage candles on the table. It is a joy to reread this.

I can't believe I left a review for Chapter One in 2008 and it appears that I neglected to leave any others! I'm currently rereading this wonderful fic and will attempt to do a better job of leaving comments. I did read the entire story previously and do have it on my favorites list! Chapter Tweo is a great follow-up to your opening chapter. I like how Rose is doing her own research before talking with Hermione about her discovery of her Mother's time away from England. It is interesting how she notes that Harry is not being totally forthcoming with her (his Mom had a doe patronus, please). I also enjoyed the intimate picture you painted with Harry and Ginny. Hermione's own recollections are bittersweet. Her acknowledgment of Ron as her Best Friend is telling. As is her reluctance to see Severus in person after so long. Vertiserum being the base of the new technology is ironic.Truly this fic holds up very well in the current time. It is so very well-written.

Another great chapter! I'm enjoying the way you are - or Hermione is - telling the story through flashbacks. It will be interesting to see when Hermione will finally get to meeting up with Snape, but I like how you're not rushing it.

Thank you for not rushing through this story. I know we all want some Severus but you make it totally worth the wait!!! Much Love ~Brena

Hermione Granger, Private Investigator.  Please don't put her iin a trenchcoat.  It takes someone tall to carry it off.Laughing out loud.  It's a great visual image.Humor aside, Hermione does seem like the kind of scholar and generalist that would be wanted for her knowledge of so many different kinds of things.  She's demonstrated that she can do the research and switch her focus very quickly.Intriguing story.

(happy sigh) An update! I particularly enjoy the steadily deepening focus on Hermione's character. Her "detour" at this point in her life makes a lot of sense -- it's not only the sense of mission in finding Snape, it's also about the helpful sidekick finally getting to figure out what she wants for herself. The mother-daughter interaction is also very well drawn -- poor Rose, coming to grips with the idea that Mom is a human being with her own history! No need to rush this plot, it's really good reading.

I love the flashback style of writing, let me amend that, I love it as written by you.  In most cases, flashbacks come off as being too much to the point, cheesy, and forced.  With you, they flow as naturally from thr present as could ever be hoped for.  Youe have a great rhythm to your writing that is truly refreshing.  I am enjoying your fic immensely!

Another brilliant chapter. You're able to access the believable inner lives of so many different character with great grace. I'm looking forward to the next!

I can't believe it took me this long to read this chapter!  WOW!  What a neat conversation you gave the girls.  And Viktor's letter!  *sigh*  That almost brought tears to my eyes.  Although, I am being a bit sappy today, so that might be part of it.

Wow, what a wonderful conclusion. I wouldn't exactly call this a 'happily ever after' story - more like a 'finally happy after all of THAT!"

The way that you wrote Snape was in many ways more true to canon Snape than much of fanon Snape (whom I love, btw). He was such a selfish, inconsiderate, closed-off bastard, clueless as to how to have a relationship, clueless that he even wanted a relationship... and I think that canon Snape was very stunted emotionally.

It makes sense that Severus, after chasing Hermione away, would finally have the time, the inclination, the freedom, and the friends to help him learn how to make things work. (And he only has to endure another twenty year period of obsessing over a woman!!)

I like Severus and Hermione getting together later in life, when they are both more fully formed and far enough away from the events and emotions of the war years. And by the end of the story, they are both at a stage of life experience where cohabitating without marriage can be acceptable to them.

You've written a beautiful novel, and as I said before, I love how so much of it is seen through Rose's point of view. I admit, in some of the early chapters I was curious to see if Rose would turn out to be Severus' daughter, but I love the story of how she got her name.

HUGE KUDOS to you for a fabulous read. Wrung out I may be, but happily so. **hugs**

I want to grow old with someone. I want a man to look at me like Dad looks at Mum. Like she’s the most beautiful and fascinating woman in the world. Like he’ll never get enough of her.
...
He’s never said he loved me.

*wipes away tears and clicks on bravely*

*sniffs*
I feel this sense of desperation for Severus' and Hermione's relationship, even knowning they've only got something like a year or so left before it all ends. One assumes Hermione and Ron had happy times in their marriage, raising their children, but still...
Perhaps too often the grande passione does not lend itself to a healthy stable union?
(Need I say that you've absolutely captivated me with this story?)  :)

Of course we know from the beginning of the story that this relationship will not last, but it is still troubling to see the places where it seems unbalanced - Hermione obviously wants to take it places Severus is unwilling to go. As much as they are drawn to each other, love each other, there is that shadow always ready to darken the image. I'm bracing myself for the big hurt that is surely coming. :-(

Ack! Romantic, frustrating, stimulating, annoying, hot - how on earth was Hermione keeping hold of her sanity around that man!? :D

This was a very enjoyable chapter indeed! I love the "rake" you've turned him into. Their dinner banner especially was very, very fun! :)

Holy cow, what that would be like to get actual confirmation of your obsession, especially totally out of the blue like that. Go to Paris, Hermione, GOOOO!

*guiltily clicks the back button to say LOVE LOVE LOVE, then hurriedly clicks forward again!*

Holy cow, the tension is so incredibly thick here! So many questions, so many! *clicks to find answers*
:)

Oh, what a FABULOUS beginning to a story. Is it awful of me that I like the fact that Ron is ...ahem... tidily out of the way at the beginning of the story?

I'm also loving the POV of Rose, instead of either Severus or Hermione.

Also, I KNOW! I KNOW! I know whose Patronus is a doe!! :D

p.s. How have I never read this before?????

All right, not terribly angsty! Whew! I needed a breather after the first three. Though I am positive you're gearing up for more...

Do you like coffee or something?

*wink*

Author's Response: Hi, honey! The angst comes later... I try not to emotionally crucify my readers right off. And... yes, I have a teensy-weensy coffee addiction... *scampers off*

*hugs* Thanks for continuing with the story. I so appreciate your readership!

I'm enjoying this very much. I liked how you began this tale with Rose's POV and now we'll know what happened all those years ago. I can't wait! Keep up with the good work! :)

My dear, this was beautiful. A perfectly lovely way to spend an afternoon when the Muse was away. I apologize for not reviewing any of the chapters until now, but I was too eager to read the story.

And, I'm back! Was working like mad on my Exchange fic. Oh, and btw, hope all is well now that you're back in school. Onto your little gut-clencher here...

I like your Hermione an awful lot, maybe because I can relate. I, too, have a real need to work myself to the bone, and I very much like my privacy. As in, I'm insane about it. My personal life is my personal life. And just because you're my child, does not mean you are entitled to know about... certain things.

So far, I would have done everything that Hermione has done. Going back to work, remodeling the house, keeping to myself, secrets included...

But I'm not sure if I would tell Rose. I would, like Hermione, be infuriated that Rose snooped--regardless of whether the door was open or not, it makes no difference. But to tell her... Well, let's see what she does actually tell her, shall we? Onto the next one!

Author's Response: Oh. My. Goodness. Is your Exchange fic DONE?! Lordy! What with getting back to school, I haven't had time to work on mine, but tomorrow I have no obligations until noon, so... *rubs hands together excitedly*

I am so thrilled that you are enjoying my Hermione and that you can identify with her. That's always the goal, of course -- real emotion that can be identified with, that gets you in the gut.

Let me offer you Kleenex and chocolate in advance.

*huge hug* Thank you so, so much for reading - it means the world to me!