There will hopefully be a few more chapters before Christmas... Don't be put off by the het--Snape's on the way. ;)

Hi!>>Will the source of her illness be found?Yes, it will.I virtually rewrote this fic in the last few months, trying to write it better incorporate something of Deathly Hallows' ambiance, but it was actually originally written before DH was out. The Snape/Lily plotline was scrictly fanon at the time. So, what I can tell you is that it wasn't originally in my plans to let any Harry-as-a-surrogate-Lily theories infiltrate my plot ("what is that het of which you speak?"). I'm... actually thrilled that it can be read that way, because it adds another layer to the plot that I didn't even intend to put there. But Lily isn't exactly my Snape's most pressing concern. And if I tell you more, I'll ruin the rest of the story for you. *slaps own blabby mouth*

>>for not wanting to be part of a teenage drama Snape sure put himself in the thick of it.Oh, yes he did. Though, in his defence, it must be said that Harry took the first step (he took quite a lot of first steps, actually). Snape just... found himself in it. Speculate away, i love it. *cackles* Ginny's plotline is going to be untangled before Hermione's, though. Nobody cares for poor Ginny (well, I once had a reader that absolutely hated her, so she's probably better off with the indifference).

>> So Snape was seething with jealousy all along?  LOVE that!HEE! I thought you would! My personal reasoning is that, since the two houses are actually getting to know more of each other than their respective badges, and seeing as Hermione has even ingraciated herself with two Slytherins, one of whom previously hated her, Snape might begin to guess at some truth in all those rumours about the proximity between her and Harry. In his PoV, Harry's attitude so far really isn't much better than "a shameless flirt"'s.... and yes, he's partly (unconsciously) trying to keep them apart. You guessed it, yay.

Go, me!  Although I hope I didn't spoil it by giving it away in a review!!  8-O

I LOVE your theories. They're such a great sounding board. >>it's interesting how they both think the other is in love with herIn the first version of the fic, it was much more blatant snd Harry had more reason to be jealous. When I rewrote it, I dropped the quasi-Snape/Hermione subplot, because they were both behaving so well, and Harry was becoming much more obsessive than before, so it suddenly just made more sense that it was mostly going on in Harry's mind. Hermione was more hate-able in the earlier version.... and here I go on, rambling shamelessly about my own fic. *le sigh* I can't wait until all the miscommunications can be resolved so they can be happy. I don't know why, but I have a sneaky feeling you'll be hating me at some point.

I don't know why, but I have a sneaky feeling you'll be hating me at some point. Oh, no happy ending, then?  That's ok.  There's enough angst in this thing that I can live with that.  This is my 'angsty' read at the moment.  I'm too invested NOT to continue reading.  You got me hooked.  BTW, I'm usually a SS/HG shipper, and I've just started on ss/hp so I don't totally hate her completely, but your version reminds me so much of canon that i'm reminded why I didn't choose HER name as my allias.  A dichotomoy, isn't it?

Yay, I'm so glad. *does the happy dance*Snape's feelings are... complicated. And contrary to Harry, he's not about to voice them in the faint hope that they become clearer.

>> Is it love unacknowledged? Is it just lust? Is it just somehow satisfying because, well, it's Harry and they have their interesting history?What a complicated pairing they are. Hee. Mind you, Harry's come right with his overflowing passion, which... isn't really the Snape-ish way to do things.Why just blurt it out when you can be secretive and misleading for ages? ;).. I did feel, as I wrote, that Snape didn't quite reciprocate Harry's feelings.

Why, of course you saw it coming. ... if the new chapters keep getting posted every three days, we should be done within the month. My New Year's gift for you all. *waggles eyebrows*

Yes, now is the time for answers. The countdown to the performances (and the ending...) has begun. *overwrought dramatic music soars*... oh yes, wrong conclusions ahoy--for everyone involved.

Yippee!  Can't wait (although I realise I will have to).

Thanks for reading thus far--and for letting me know. See you in other reading/reviewing corners...

Hello,

. :)Hermione and Snape's relationship (which we've seen entirely through Harry's eyes) will be clarified in the next couple of chapters. It's time to start untying the knots--the end approaches.

Poor Hermione, she gets no love at all. :PI love your theories. They're all very much awake now, though.

Gah!  Even your responses make me laugh. *snerk* 

You'll find out in the next chapter (which is all Harry and Snape, btw...).

I must confess I'm not all that fond of Sirius (... at all), but Harry reacted so strongly to his passing that I was amazed he went back to normal in HBP. Considering the events in HBP and DH, I do wonder if Sirius would have come up again, should Harry and Snape have found the time to have an actual conversation.

I think its inevitable that they would have had to talk about him. I was really wanting JKR to write a scene where they talk about everything from Sirius to Lily . . . but it didn't happen, so I guess we get to make that happen in fanfiction instead =) Even though you don't like Sirius, you did a great job with that scene!

Whee, you're back!

*snortlol* ... because explaining himself is just the sort of thing Snape likes to do.

*sporfle* Exactly.  But after Harry's recent heart-on-sleeve/must-talk-NOW debacle, even the Snapester's gotta know he can't leave this one percolating.  Confrontations with hysterical Gryffindors are his absolute favorite...

I don't think he was expecting Harry to read that 'interlude' quite in that manner... ;)

Whoo!... I thought you liked Harry straight and innocent?

Well you may not be writing him as such but I do love this story.  Unless there's a twist coming, could he be in love with Hermione too? That triangle would be weird.

I completely agree. But then again, if people actually bothered to talk to Harry, there might have been two books instead of seven... and where would we be...?

Hee!

Yay! ... hope you have a soft spot for Hermione. You're getting an overload of her in the next two chapters.

I'll leave you a detailed response there later today (real life has been just a wee bit hectic. Sorry...). Your review was delightful. *grin*

... you don't write? Why?

I can definitely understand r/l being overly hectic....tell that to last week's 65 hour work week (including commute)!!  As far as writing, I don't think I ever said I don't write...I do, it just never meets anyone elses eyes....I'm atrocious, I swear.  I was good until about my 15th or 16th birthday, but my writing (nor my characterization) ever matured from there.  It all still reads like stupid high school crap.  I love to beta and put my two cents in though.  Good luck in your hectic week, and I'll keep popping in to say hi periodically. 

Hee, coffee break! I want!I was just wondering if you wrote (and if not, why), because I'm that curious. ;)Hey, if you're into the House M.D. fandom, I might want to borrow your beta skills later! *imposing, moi?*

Yep, just one more, and it shouldn't be much longer. :D... I'm nervous, now. What if you don't like it? *cringe*There'll be more focus on Harry and Snape from this chapter on. The set up is ready (you'd think so, after nine chapters...), so now it's a matter of letting events unfold.

No, not quite, poor thing. Hee. In his defence, though, we are talking about Snape, so he's entitled to a bit of doubt.

Hermione comes off as being very popular? Really? ... not exactly my goal. Glad you liked this one. More on the way!

Well, she has Ron and Blaise and whoever sent her those flowers . . . I'm just saying she has enough people interested in her =) Leave Snape for Harry!