Thank you . Yes, Hogwarts has changed and it's tough on Hermione. I'm glad you have enjoyed this so far. Thank you so much for the all the nice reviews.

Thank you, kimjo. You are most welcome.

Yes, now he knows. Quite an eye opener for him too. He still thinks he'll have to, but we'll see. That's a year away, isn't it?"Thank you for reading and the review. Hugs~

Thank you very much. Oh, the trouble hasn't really begun. and yes. Thank you for the review, doll.

Thank you very much. Oh, doll, it's one of my WIP's. But I swear to you I will not abandon this one. Hugs~

Yes, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Yes, his feeling for her have grown deeper. Thank you for the review.

Thank you very much. My first attempt at a banner. She was simply too shaken to talk about it, but he'll find out. Thank you for the review.

I know. I owe a big thanks to SW69 who helped me get through this one. I intended to splinch her in half - literally, and combine my medical background with what is known in canon. It was a tough one, but I'm really pleased with the results. I hope it wasn't too gory for you.Good night, and thank you for the review.

Thank you vey much. Yes, she can, but under the circumstances of her situation, she is still a prisioner, captive and feels like one. Hard not to fight that. Thank you for the review, doll.

Thank you. Yes, a bit of insight and you see more. LOLThank you very much for the review.

Thank you. Yes, Draco has a role to do and he's doing his best. LOLSeverus is taking his role as protector again, but she is intriguing to him. Thank you for the review, doll.

I've done that too. I'm glad you liked it. Good night.

Thank you. Yes, the interactions are interesting. I'm glad you are enjoying this one. Thank you for the review.

Thank you very much. Yes, these are the tough chapters, things are pretty ahrd on Hermione. I'm glad that it wasn't so difficult to get through. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story. Thank you so much for the review.

Yes, there is, but no the memory of what happened to her will not be 'remembered' or 'seen' because I don't want to type rape, beatings, torture, and all that. But yes, what she saw will come up, much later. No you didn't miss anything. You're supposed to hate the Carrows, like Cillian, be wary of Blinda, and question Draco's motives and a few others I've introduced you to.I'm glad that you enjoyed it a second time through. That's a real compliment. thank you. Thank you so much for the review.

 They are only about 5 years apart in age! ooops. Oh, things are moving forward, but I had to set up a lot in order to get where I want to go.  You have a load of clues on what I'm going to do now. I am still typing away on this fic. It's my baby and I'm really working at making it how I want it to be. I'm glad that you like it so far. 

lol, whoops!

Cillian was in fifth-year when Severus started teaching. He was a prefect, and thought Severus was cool, although naive when it came to girls... so he'd decided they were going to be friends. Severus was trying to exert his authority as the new professor of Potions and Head of House, and here's this kid (who knew him before, sort of. Cillian started Hogwats in 1976 approx, Severus graduated in 1978 and started teaching in 1980) that liked to hang out in his office. Eventually, they did become friends... Cillian helping Severus fend off the Slytherin girls who looked at him as a wizard who could get them things/somewhere - and Severus helping Cillian... (chapters 10 &14 give clues)Cillian and Severus will eventually fill in more, once they know they can trust their secrets to Hermione. 1. Occlumancy. 2. earn the trust.

Thanks for the info.  I went back and did some rereading and feel a bit foolish.  I have absolutely no idea why I was convinced that they were related somehow.  Sorry about the confusion.

Oh my goash, that's so cool to know! Thank you, what a compliment.It's two fold; he knows she's going to face the Dark Lord again, and she must control her fear. It will help her when she is face to face with him to know her enemy this way. As for the method, like he said, he'd learned to turn off his emotions yong - Hermione never has had to. So, I am delaing with that. Yoga was one way, Divination books another. She's trying anything that might work for her, and I have already set in a previous chapter exactly how she will come about it. You'll see, it'll make perfect sense, and show Severus where he went wrong with Harry's lessons (besides the fact that Harry couldn't put aside his hatered of Severus.) I started a chapter, well then had to move part to another later one and started again, only to realize I needed to put something in before - so I have 3 chapter's partically written and in rough draft, sort of. I'll have it ready soon. I hope.

You're welcome, Beth. Thank you for the kind support. There is a lot of things that are being set up in this chapter. Things that play a huge role later. Yes, AC and AC would love nothing more than to kill Hermione, but they know they can't go that far - she is still the Dark Lord's prisoner, remember. But they see no reason not to 'play' with her. And - OH, Yes, he will!I really felt that they needed a bit of togetherness/softness so to speak to balance the horors of their day. Severus has his fair share too, you know, I just don't show everything. 

Thank you, Jen. I'm well into the next chapter as well. Some stuff that was going to come next is bounced up to a later chapter so I actually have most of two chapters started at once. So you know I'm working on this.There is a shower scene you'll like - not next, it got moved too. But you'll like it.

I can't wait!!

Thank you very much. She is still a prisoner, one that is given the priviledge of attending school. She knew that she'd be hated and by whom. But there are three things in motion that are coming to a head: being able to talk to Harry/Ron, the DA is rising, she is working on Occlumency. Once she can close her mind, she can be trusted by Severus. The DA is growing... and well, even Hermione has her limits.But yes, she is the Dark Lord's pawn (so he thinks) and Severus cannot fully trust her yet, and the Carrows are never going to soften up where she is concerned.

I just realized that the chapter title has a misspelled word.  Did you mean 'escalate'?

Thank you very much. Oh, I cannot tell you yet!  Yes, Cillian are very close friends have been for years, but Severus still watches how much he tells Cillian.  Actually judging by Severus reaction - Cilian was going to see his sister, Belinda, not his girlfriend.

Yes, a very thin line that will get thinner...

Yes, a very thin line that will get thinner...

 I get it you're not very fond of Alecto? Thank you for the laugh, a, er, review.

i think "not very fond of" is too strong a phrase...its more like "disagree for the sake of disagreeing" also, my poor, poor OC Bazil doesn't get to eat enough people. I mean, I know he's just a giant messenger bird but HEY! people are probably good protein for giant ostrich size carnivorous birds...am i right? of course i am ^.^ lol have a nice day ~doffs imaginary hat~

Oh you've hit it on the head. That's exactly the problem. I'm so glad that you are enjoying this and sticking with me. Thank you for the review.

Hermione is making progress, but in a different way than Severus wants it to be. She isn't him, and her strrength at it isn't the same as his. Where Severus can shut down and put away all feeling, Hermione is by nature more emotional. It will click really soon with them why she's having difficulties. (and it will be in a book) With everything going on - I thought that they needed something that could take them away from all the bad.Thank you very much for stickng with me on this story and the review.