Oh what a chapter.So exciting.Can't wait for the the next.I lovelovelov e loev this story.Great writing.Thanks to you.

last review for tonightthis chapter was everything I could have imagined.  I like the new students, too.  I wonder if the serpant gift will come into play later?  and yeah. I know this is already written, but I wanted you to know what I've been thinking.

Because I like this story so much (just found it a couple weeks ago and have caught up to 53), I am willing to overlook Dumbledore's prodigious assholishness.  This is really a very wrenching, moving, and otherwise convincing story, in terms of the relationship between Snape and Hermione--after reading this chapter, I may just be starting to see why Dumbledore has to be this way.  I look forward to seeing where this goes next.  Love the title, by the way. 

beautifulpainfulharshwow((awesome banner, too!))

oh, wow!  a drunk Snape, a pissed off Minerva, and a confused (somewhat) Hermione.On to the next chapter!

I like that you made it George, although I'm a huge Ron fan.  It's nice to see him loving her.  :)

Oh, how sweetly he played her!!

"Very good, Madam Snape," he murmured as he pulled away. "Now, there will be no doubt in anyone’s minds why we are late to the Sorting."O M GThat's got to be one of the most ... GUH-worthy statements ever written for him to speak.

Gin said I needed to read this!  I'm glad she did.  :)

I can't imagine him suffering through Lucius' Unforgivable like that.  How sad ... and brave of him to do so.And it's all for her (a girl can dream, cuz I'm sure he did it to save his own ass as well as hers).

In the books, Dumbledore is my favourite character and normally I don't like him portrayed as a dark character - but you do it so well!What a perfectly wonderful piece of writing. I hope you will have the time to update soon.

Last chapter I thanked you for keeping this story heart-wrenching. I stand by my words! I had to stop in the middle of the reading to drink some water, for my mouth was dry and my heart was racing so fast... Oh, Severus... you have NOT chosen the Dark, you only THINK you have.Thanks, again, for the wonderful writing.

okay, still confusing, but i will hold for the next chapter to see wha thappens.  please write speedily! thanks again for writing!!!! Huanita

Simply amazing. This story really captivates my heart and calls to me. Hermione's letter was really beautiful, and it makes me sad for Severus' dejected state. I'm excited for the next chapter!!

God, Dumbledore is an evil bastard.  I would also choose Voldie after that. 

OMG, I can't even form a coherent thought.  Amazing. 

When i saw the update i was ecstatic!!!i read it three times to get my thoughts together,so here we go...the fact that he had the strength to move and take the pepper up had me saying wow!!the fact that the blood was her bloody tears had me speechless...while he could not find her i was at the edge of my seat...when it was clear that she was at the grange and she was in so much pain i wished he had found her so they could comfort each other...i understand her need to protect him,when you really love someone you have that need..when albus appeared i was furious with him and i could feel how hollow severus felt because their souls had really become one and now she had broken her wand and their marriage... and him saying that she does not value what they had,i was so sad...albus is an idiot-he read her letter -what an ass!!!!her letter,oh my....she explains the why but the longing is so intense that it breaks my heart....and then the dark lord calls him,omg!!!!and he demands to know what is wrong with severus and who did it,and he sees and severus is in so much pain he asks for death.. i am crossing my fingers so that the dark lord won't kill him...hermione in pain,she knows sth is not right....and the rest of the meeting with the dark lord is extremely enlightening!!!!! he was not going to let her be killed by severus? oh my... but the fact that she loves him that much to protect him is again in their favor,right?severus accepts the darkest of dark magic because he has to find her ,to help her,to save her life,all that surely counts,right?at first i was confused but know it really makes sense i think.all the tests where for hermione,she proved her love for severus again and again and her theory about their souls kissing was right,when they married their souls became one.all the hocuxes were destroyed and if she had not left their souls would not have been broken but to the dark lord that would mean that severus was a spy because she would trust him knowing he would protect her because he was one of them.severus' willingness to kill her showed he was following the dark lord but the proof came when hermione betrayed him-according to the dark lord.so was hermione's plan that all along? to protect severus and prove to the dark lord that severus was loyal to him,so the breaking of their souls was a consequence that could not be predicted?and now? now that their souls need healing and severus accepted it so that he can save her? and when he does save her-that is what i am hoping for after all-what will that mean for her plan?i believe it was not a mistake what she did if my theory is right,she just passed another test of the dark lord but now what?my mind is buzzing and i don't know if i am right......if i am not plz tell me so that i can read it again and see what i missed!!!!what a chapter-amazing,brilliant,breathtaking!!!!! all the reviewers must have used these  words but i do not have a rich vocabulary so  its the above with all my heart!!!! you really should try publishing-it means i would have to pay for such a masterpiece but it would be worth its money so i would be willing to do it!!!!!p.s. i understand why you can't go giving chapters in advance ,but hey i am an c.o.m.c.-addict so i am excused,right?p.s.2. sorry for the lengthy review but i could not contain myself!!!!!p.s.3 PLZ,PLZ,PLZ update soon!!!!!i need to know what happens now!!!i need answers!!!! is my theory right? did luna give albus the letter? will severus find her? and then what? he will heal her soul with the dark lord? in front of him? they will find her together? and then? hurry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i am crossing my fingers and biting my nails and i will be hitting the refresh button like a maniac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please tell me there is Light in the end of the tunnel. I almost cried when Severus was so desperate to find her. I feared for him, for her all along the chapter. And the end of it was so dark. Please give them the Light they deserve so much. It's weird because I know it's just fiction. But deep inside, I feel them real. I'm with them all the time and I wish so badly happyness for them. And you're the only one who can give it to them, who can save them. Please.

WOW!

Okay now that is just creepy.  To think of Voldemort as the one who cares and Dumbledore as the one who orderes death.  I hope Severus can find her and set all of this straight.  Well done.  Irish

i am so confused. 53 chapters and i'm still interested. props to you. can't wait for the next chapter.

OMG OMG OMG What happened?You need to update again really really soon.I don't even know what to say this story is so amazing I'm dying for more. I truly have to say you might have created one of the cruelest dumbledores yet and thats saying something in this ship. i cannot wait for you to finish it so i can read the whole thing through again (for like the 4th time). such beautiful writing and the connection you have shone between severus and hermione is astounding, wonderful. God i love this fanfic it is a sshg epic tale that will be added to my personal list of greats. i only pray you have a happy ending planned....i'm not sure that i could handle a sad ending it might be the end of me.....

Oh man. I just .. can't... even... you... that... oi.

That was definitely a twist I didn't expect! Very intriguing.

Poor Severus!  If only he knew that the desperation he's feeling for Hermione is one of the deepest loves ever known...