Thank you--that's what I had in mind, that of all things, it would be something purely Muggle that would do Bella in.  I'm glad it worked for you!

Thank you--that's what I had in mind, that of all things, it would be something purely Muggle that would do Bella in.  I'm glad it worked for you!

You read this in the middle of a lecture?!?Damn, I'm just glad there wasn't any sex.  LO!I have worried for weeks about how Hermione would get out of this situation and had several lame ideas--when she got the gun I was astounded and hoped it worked.  Thank you!

You read this in the middle of a lecture?!?Damn, I'm just glad there wasn't any sex.  LO!I have worried for weeks about how Hermione would get out of this situation and had several lame ideas--when she got the gun I was astounded and hoped it worked.  Thank you!

Thank you so very much!  I'm thrilled to read your beautiful review, and that you're saying these wonderful things about something I wrote!

Thank you so very much!  I'm thrilled to read your beautiful review, and that you're saying these wonderful things about something I wrote!

Thank you so much!  I'm glad it worked for you.

Thank you so much!  I'm glad it worked for you.

P.S.--see, I'm so far-gone I can't even spell right, anymore....blasted dyslexia!

P.P.S.:  Ok, so now I know my mind has exploded with this latest, because it's only just dawned on me that Bella imay be ALREADY dead--somehow on first reading I'd thoought she'd merely reverted to her 'true' (ugly) form, to be taken back wounded in that form by Lucius to the D.L.  If she is:  well, ring the bells out! Ding, Dong, the witch is dead!  If not, I can't wait to see your description of the D.L.'s reaction when Lucius appears before him with this withered creature in his arms!

I love-love-love your reviews!!!You know I can't answer any of your questions, but they reminded me of something you didn't ask but I don't mind saying--somebody asked me about Percy, and is he a Death Eater.  I don't think so.  I think he's still the same Percy with the same small-ish dreams, all wrapped around his career with the Ministry.  Yes, he's enamoured with Hermione because he thinks they have a lot in common and thinks she'd be an asset to his career, but I don't think he's gone to the Dark Side.  He has spilled his guts to Lucius Malfoy because Cornelius Fudge and other high-ranking Ministry officials still mix with Lucius, and I think poor Percy sees his ability to give Lucius what must seem like relatively benign (if highly inappropriate) info about the marital activities a way to keep his own options open if Lucius continues to have power, and also, Percy doesn't have a lot of friends.  Lucius knows how to charm. I think Percy has been seduced into what he perceives as a friendly relationship with Lucius, but Percy is a Weasley and if Lucius were stupid enough (and he's not) to try and get Percy to join Voldemort, it would never happen.Bella simply had to catch him away from the Ministry and use an Unforgivable or two (probably with an Obliviate to follow, though I'm not sure about that) to get her info.  Um, okay, that has nothing to do with anything you said, but I don't think it's going to be explained in the story, so I give it to you here.  LOL!

I'm suffering so much from CoMC withdrawal, that since I can't have another chapter, I've been going back over reviews, squeezing out what drops of sustenance I can from your review-responses to assuage my parched soul languishing in the barren desert of no updates.  (Am I pitiful enough, yet?  grin) And I've thought of even MORE questions.FIRST---a guess about the gun.  If it wasn't left behind because, as I thought, she was too weak to hold onto it during the portkey travel, was it stripped away because the wards around Hogwarts would not allow anyone to enter with a danterous or deadly weapon?SECOND---as far as Dumbledore knows, Hermione is still under a death-sentence from the Dark Lord.  He may even think that Severus has himself gone out searching for her for the very purpose that HE (Severus) would be the one to reach and kill her before anyone else could find her---sort of to protect her from being tortured, etc.  The attack of Bellatrix and Lucius on her would only confirm D. in that belief.  So--given that---what protection--if ANY --- would D. give her at Hogwarts?  Might she even be in danger from D. HIMSELF---who might think he would be doing Severus a favor by doing the difficult thing for Severus that he couldn't do, since D.'s ONLY concern is that Severus remain a useful tool for D.'s purposes with the Dark Lord?THIRD--and others have touched on this---once Hermione gets inside Hogwarts (and even that's not certain)---and Harry KNOWS she's there (will he? or will Luna hide her somewhere?)  then Harry will know the "otter" patronus is a fake, and the Order will be fully prepared (one would hope) for battle.  Yet, the DL told Severus---"Do not fail me"---what if he does?  He then dies---and so does Hermione?FOURTH--You've left it totally ambiguous as to whether Severus cares anymore WHICH side wins this war, or whether his loyalties are at all anymore with the Light over the Darkness.  It IS manifestly obvious that the ONLY thing he cares about is keeping Hermione SAFE.  To that end, he's trying to hasten the confrontation between the DL and Harry---mostly to keep Hermione out of harm's way, and also to prevent either of them being used against the other as a weapon of blackmail due to their soul-union.  Yet, SEVERUS DOES NOT KNOW THAT SHE IS NOW AT HOGWARTS----right in the thick of where battle is soon to be joined.  What new danger will this put BOTH of them in?FIFTH---I don't understand how Hermione snapping her wand ended her ability to do magic.  Aren't witches and wizards BORN witches and wizards?  Aren't they singled out by the parchment roll in Hogwarts from their birth, before they ever possess a wand or have ever done magic?  Why, then, should the snapping of a wand suddenly change a witch into a Muggle?  Hagrid still had magic after his wand was snapped;  Ron was still considered a wizard after his was broken.  What happened to Hermione's magic?  After all, the snapping of her wand, even though it was voluntary (and not IN-voluntary like Hagrid's or Ron's, was NOT to renounce being a witch, but to renounce any willingness to be under the authority of the Ministry of Magic and their Marriage laws.  And Hagrid was allowed to live on in the Magical world after his wand was snapped---why must Hermione face the dangers of being sent to Azkaban for what she did?  Obviously, she "is" still a witch, because she can see Hogwarts.  But is she now in danger of being taken to Azkaban, if D. or the authorities find her there?SIXTH (and I think last)---Obiouvly, the Ministry and D. consider Hermione and Severus no longer married, since she snapped her wand.  Yet, the DL still refers to her as Severus' wife.  Does HE recognize that they are still married due to the soul-union?  Or is that only PART of the truth?  Is it that SOMETHING about the TYPE of marriage they had, there in the crypt, united them in marriage "till death do us part" that "no man (could) put asunder"?I know you can't answer any of this, but it eases my poor thirsty soul to just articulate the questions.  A few drops of water, please, to cool my tongue in this flame?

I was looking through these reviews for something I'd written and wanted to repeat, and stumbled across this review from you.  I never answered this last set of remarks (because the answers would be spoilers) but now I'll ask--do you still have questions?  Have they been answered in the story?Thank you, as always, for your FABULOUS reviews!

P.S.--see, I'm so far-gone I can't even spell right, anymore....blasted dyslexia!

P.P.S.:  Ok, so now I know my mind has exploded with this latest, because it's only just dawned on me that Bella imay be ALREADY dead--somehow on first reading I'd thoought she'd merely reverted to her 'true' (ugly) form, to be taken back wounded in that form by Lucius to the D.L.  If she is:  well, ring the bells out! Ding, Dong, the witch is dead!  If not, I can't wait to see your description of the D.L.'s reaction when Lucius appears before him with this withered creature in his arms!

I love-love-love your reviews!!!You know I can't answer any of your questions, but they reminded me of something you didn't ask but I don't mind saying--somebody asked me about Percy, and is he a Death Eater.  I don't think so.  I think he's still the same Percy with the same small-ish dreams, all wrapped around his career with the Ministry.  Yes, he's enamoured with Hermione because he thinks they have a lot in common and thinks she'd be an asset to his career, but I don't think he's gone to the Dark Side.  He has spilled his guts to Lucius Malfoy because Cornelius Fudge and other high-ranking Ministry officials still mix with Lucius, and I think poor Percy sees his ability to give Lucius what must seem like relatively benign (if highly inappropriate) info about the marital activities a way to keep his own options open if Lucius continues to have power, and also, Percy doesn't have a lot of friends.  Lucius knows how to charm. I think Percy has been seduced into what he perceives as a friendly relationship with Lucius, but Percy is a Weasley and if Lucius were stupid enough (and he's not) to try and get Percy to join Voldemort, it would never happen.Bella simply had to catch him away from the Ministry and use an Unforgivable or two (probably with an Obliviate to follow, though I'm not sure about that) to get her info.  Um, okay, that has nothing to do with anything you said, but I don't think it's going to be explained in the story, so I give it to you here.  LOL!

I'm suffering so much from CoMC withdrawal, that since I can't have another chapter, I've been going back over reviews, squeezing out what drops of sustenance I can from your review-responses to assuage my parched soul languishing in the barren desert of no updates.  (Am I pitiful enough, yet?  grin) And I've thought of even MORE questions.FIRST---a guess about the gun.  If it wasn't left behind because, as I thought, she was too weak to hold onto it during the portkey travel, was it stripped away because the wards around Hogwarts would not allow anyone to enter with a danterous or deadly weapon?SECOND---as far as Dumbledore knows, Hermione is still under a death-sentence from the Dark Lord.  He may even think that Severus has himself gone out searching for her for the very purpose that HE (Severus) would be the one to reach and kill her before anyone else could find her---sort of to protect her from being tortured, etc.  The attack of Bellatrix and Lucius on her would only confirm D. in that belief.  So--given that---what protection--if ANY --- would D. give her at Hogwarts?  Might she even be in danger from D. HIMSELF---who might think he would be doing Severus a favor by doing the difficult thing for Severus that he couldn't do, since D.'s ONLY concern is that Severus remain a useful tool for D.'s purposes with the Dark Lord?THIRD--and others have touched on this---once Hermione gets inside Hogwarts (and even that's not certain)---and Harry KNOWS she's there (will he? or will Luna hide her somewhere?)  then Harry will know the "otter" patronus is a fake, and the Order will be fully prepared (one would hope) for battle.  Yet, the DL told Severus---"Do not fail me"---what if he does?  He then dies---and so does Hermione?FOURTH--You've left it totally ambiguous as to whether Severus cares anymore WHICH side wins this war, or whether his loyalties are at all anymore with the Light over the Darkness.  It IS manifestly obvious that the ONLY thing he cares about is keeping Hermione SAFE.  To that end, he's trying to hasten the confrontation between the DL and Harry---mostly to keep Hermione out of harm's way, and also to prevent either of them being used against the other as a weapon of blackmail due to their soul-union.  Yet, SEVERUS DOES NOT KNOW THAT SHE IS NOW AT HOGWARTS----right in the thick of where battle is soon to be joined.  What new danger will this put BOTH of them in?FIFTH---I don't understand how Hermione snapping her wand ended her ability to do magic.  Aren't witches and wizards BORN witches and wizards?  Aren't they singled out by the parchment roll in Hogwarts from their birth, before they ever possess a wand or have ever done magic?  Why, then, should the snapping of a wand suddenly change a witch into a Muggle?  Hagrid still had magic after his wand was snapped;  Ron was still considered a wizard after his was broken.  What happened to Hermione's magic?  After all, the snapping of her wand, even though it was voluntary (and not IN-voluntary like Hagrid's or Ron's, was NOT to renounce being a witch, but to renounce any willingness to be under the authority of the Ministry of Magic and their Marriage laws.  And Hagrid was allowed to live on in the Magical world after his wand was snapped---why must Hermione face the dangers of being sent to Azkaban for what she did?  Obviously, she "is" still a witch, because she can see Hogwarts.  But is she now in danger of being taken to Azkaban, if D. or the authorities find her there?SIXTH (and I think last)---Obiouvly, the Ministry and D. consider Hermione and Severus no longer married, since she snapped her wand.  Yet, the DL still refers to her as Severus' wife.  Does HE recognize that they are still married due to the soul-union?  Or is that only PART of the truth?  Is it that SOMETHING about the TYPE of marriage they had, there in the crypt, united them in marriage "till death do us part" that "no man (could) put asunder"?I know you can't answer any of this, but it eases my poor thirsty soul to just articulate the questions.  A few drops of water, please, to cool my tongue in this flame?

I was looking through these reviews for something I'd written and wanted to repeat, and stumbled across this review from you.  I never answered this last set of remarks (because the answers would be spoilers) but now I'll ask--do you still have questions?  Have they been answered in the story?Thank you, as always, for your FABULOUS reviews!

Yes, it's an alarming bit of info to try and process, isn't it?Thank you!

Yes, it's an alarming bit of info to try and process, isn't it?Thank you!

Oh dear, I'm so sorry!  I'd hate to hear my Texas accent reading a British world.  LOL!Thank you, I didn't think Severus could remain contained any longer, even if he did get slapped down!

Oh dear, I'm so sorry!  I'd hate to hear my Texas accent reading a British world.  LOL!Thank you, I didn't think Severus could remain contained any longer, even if he did get slapped down!

I think they may know of guns, but certainly never had to deal with them!

I think they may know of guns, but certainly never had to deal with them!

Why thank you, I'm thrilled to make you like a character who usually isn't your cuppa!

Why thank you, I'm thrilled to make you like a character who usually isn't your cuppa!

Ah, thank you. I know exactly what you mean.

Ah, thank you. I know exactly what you mean.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you.  And thank you.  And thank you.Watching you read your way forward in this story has brightened many a day.  I hope it continues to please you.

Thank you.  And thank you.  And thank you.Watching you read your way forward in this story has brightened many a day.  I hope it continues to please you.

Your reaction is making me both grin in diabolical delight and suffer from guilt.  I truly don't want to contribute to anybody's need for chemicals!  LOL!

LOL...I skipped the valium, so don't worry. ;) My husband came rushing into the room because I gasped so loudly when I read that, you know.  He thought maybe there was a murder in the office or something....HA!Snape seemed to accept Voldy's bit of news rather readily...

Your reaction is making me both grin in diabolical delight and suffer from guilt.  I truly don't want to contribute to anybody's need for chemicals!  LOL!

LOL...I skipped the valium, so don't worry. ;) My husband came rushing into the room because I gasped so loudly when I read that, you know.  He thought maybe there was a murder in the office or something....HA!Snape seemed to accept Voldy's bit of news rather readily...

I hope you don't think I'm taking your reviews for granted or ignoring them!  I squee and run read as soon as they show up, but have been so involved in writing in recent days that I haven't attempted to formulate responses.  And as usual, I had to go reread this chapter to see how I'd used your quote, and it made me need a Kleenex, too, because I'm like that.Thank you so much (and the next chapter is in the queue)!

I hope you don't think I'm taking your reviews for granted or ignoring them!  I squee and run read as soon as they show up, but have been so involved in writing in recent days that I haven't attempted to formulate responses.  And as usual, I had to go reread this chapter to see how I'd used your quote, and it made me need a Kleenex, too, because I'm like that.Thank you so much (and the next chapter is in the queue)!

Thank you.  You're overwhelming me with praise, but if you stop writing I'll have to kick your arse, you know that, right?Just checking.

LOL...I know, and I won't.  But damn....

Thank you.  You're overwhelming me with praise, but if you stop writing I'll have to kick your arse, you know that, right?Just checking.

LOL...I know, and I won't.  But damn....

Oh, thank you and thank you more.I can't really thank you enough.  I do appreciate your reviews so very much.

Oh, thank you and thank you more.I can't really thank you enough.  I do appreciate your reviews so very much.

Squeeee!Snape=hot?  I'm so happy!

I know! Who knew?  I just can't help myself :)

Aren't you a Draco shipper?

Yes, tried and true!  But I've both written and read Harry/Hermione and Lucius/Hermione.  I don't think I'd ever try my hand at writing Snape though...I'll leave that to the masters.

I'm just glad I've been able to write an SS/HG that works for a non-shipper!

Squeeee!Snape=hot?  I'm so happy!

I know! Who knew?  I just can't help myself :)

Aren't you a Draco shipper?

Yes, tried and true!  But I've both written and read Harry/Hermione and Lucius/Hermione.  I don't think I'd ever try my hand at writing Snape though...I'll leave that to the masters.

I'm just glad I've been able to write an SS/HG that works for a non-shipper!

Thank you!  Tell you little cyber friends to say hi and let me know they're here!  LOL!(And I'm glad you liked the Howlers.  I had great fun with them.)

Thank you!  Tell you little cyber friends to say hi and let me know they're here!  LOL!(And I'm glad you liked the Howlers.  I had great fun with them.)

Thank you for being so persistant consistant!  LOL!snapeaddiction's response: Consistent.  Yes.  One of the qualities for which I'm most loved.  lol.  And... THANK YOU for being so talented and willing to share!

*squishes you*

Pssst!  16.snapeaddiction's response: Squeeeee!

Thank you for being so persistant consistant!  LOL!snapeaddiction's response: Consistent.  Yes.  One of the qualities for which I'm most loved.  lol.  And... THANK YOU for being so talented and willing to share!

*squishes you*

Pssst!  16.snapeaddiction's response: Squeeeee!

Thank you so much!  I had to go back and check to see how the chapter ended, and then I realized what you meant about Christmas.  And yes, sigh, because I want them to make it to Christmas, too.Again, thank you.

Thank you so much!  I had to go back and check to see how the chapter ended, and then I realized what you meant about Christmas.  And yes, sigh, because I want them to make it to Christmas, too.Again, thank you.

Thank you for your review.  I hope to come out from under the angst soon, because it's killing me.  Sigh.

Thank you for your review.  I hope to come out from under the angst soon, because it's killing me.  Sigh.

*~

Your reviews are worth more than stars to me.  Thank you so very much!

*~

Your reviews are worth more than stars to me.  Thank you so very much!

*squish*Thank you so much!!!

*squish*Thank you so much!!!

I don't know what to say.  I mean, honestly, I know I paid you to say these fabulous things but even so, you surprise me!  (Um, you did get the check, right?)  LOL!  Thank you!

I don't know what to say.  I mean, honestly, I know I paid you to say these fabulous things but even so, you surprise me!  (Um, you did get the check, right?)  LOL!  Thank you!