Wow!  Life has been a real roller coaster for Severus and Hermione!  My heart almost broke when he stayed away for the entire weekend.  But you made things better when she found him at his work table carefully working with her father's wood carving tools.

That scene is so wonderfully written.  I could feel the tension in the air when they began talking.  And when Severus kissed her I wanted to jump for joy!  Well done!  Well done!

Their intimate time in their quarters when he gave her a back rub was just delicious.  Mind you, I do think that he should allow her to have a nice warm bath, but I understand that he is doing what he believes to the best thing for the child.  Hard to argue with his sentiments even if I disagree with his ideas.

But now our "cleverest witch of her age" is about to royally piss him off by using a Charm she has found to create a work-around so she can have that nice warm bath she wants so badly.

There will be hell to pay, I'm sure.  I'm just not sure who will be catching all this hell and who will be dishing it out!

Beth

I felt so sorry for Neville.  He was so disappointed that Hermione didn't return his feelings for her.  Perhaps time will heal his injured heart and their friendship will survive this unhappy time.

Severus' attentions to Hermione's lips and neck and... I thought I was going to swoon!  Finally! I thought, and then she pushed him away.  Arrrguh! 

What is going to happen now?  I'm just too nosy right now, and I have to – have to – go to the next chapter to see what's going on!

BTW, I love this story in case you haven't figured it out! 

Beth

I am glad that Severus realized what a precious Christmas gift Hermione had give him... it was the only thing she had from her father. 

Their visit to speak with Professor McGonnagal was so bittersweet.  I'm happy that Hermione was able to say goodbye, even though she didn't realize it was goodbye at the time.  Severus must love his friend very much to be able to honor her wish for her Christmas gift, and it is clear that she loved him as if he was her own child.

The discovery that Hermione's anonymous gifts did not come from Severus was quite a surprise!  I'm glad that Minerva was able to warn him of her secret admirer.  Perhaps he will feel more urgency to act on the feelings he has already begun to have about Hermione.

Great chapter!
Beth

Sexual intimacy?  With Hermione?  "Wait! Why am I even thinking along these lines?"

I was enthralled by your description of Severus when he felt his child move for the first time.  It is a truly magical time for both mother and father, and Severus can tell himself that it was unimportant all he wants to, but I know better!  That little movement he felt with his own hand moved him body and soul.

He was completely enthralled with the sensation. After another five minutes of chasing the tapping movements across Hermione’s abdomen, he looked up at her face. It held an angelic look. A look that portrayed sweetness, innocence, and pure joy.

Now I want to see what Hermione got from her Gringotts vault to give Severus for Christmas.

Dear Merlin, I hope he got her a gift!

A very wonderful chapter, Ginny.  Thank you! 
Beth

“I think that it was Neville that sent the note, Mione. It seemed that he figured that it wouldn’t hurt for me to come spend some time with you. I am surprised that he can manage to teach! The berk even forgot to sign that last letter.”

I think that Severus wrote that letter!!!

I can understand her sadness at the thought of not being able to play a role in her baby's life.  It would be crushing!  But I have to keep on hoping that Severus will one day declare his love for her.  After all, he did write to Ginny to hopefully bring a bit of sunshine into Hermione's life.  I'm sure his feelings for her are growing into something more than just as the "carrier" for his child.

Even though this is a sad chapter, you have written it so well... I can feel Hermione's heart break!
Beth

I can't wait to find out what Severus' solicitor tells him about the stipulations of his father's will.  The answer to this question will have far reaching effects on Severus' life.  Could there be more than one child in his future?

I wanted to cry with Hermione when she realized that she may never know anything about her child.  So very sad for her.  But, as always, I have hope!

This was a very well done chapter!
Beth

The news that Severus is planing to leave Hogwarts at the end of the school year came as a complete surprise!  To Hermione and to me!

She has begun to think of him in different terms, begun to look forward to his company.  Severus has become "Someone to eat a meal with. Someone she didn’t feel obligated to talk to. Someone with whom she could just be.

Really odd, that. Why has he changed in my eyes?"

I'm so happy for her that Professor Flitwick will be working with her, grooming her to take over the Charms professorship when he becomes headmaster.  It's wonderful that he knows of the Potions master's intentions to rid her record of the Ministry's ridiculous criminal charges against her... now she has someone that she can talk with about things on her mind and have something she loves to do to occupy some of her evenings!  Hooray!

Now, what is all this profanity coming from the bathroom?  Is the water too cold... again?  I'm off to see the Wizard in the next chapter!

Beth

In some ways, Hermione wished that particular rumor was the truth instead of what she was faced with; except for the main point, though, because there was no way in Hades that she would ever shag Snape. She shuddered at the mere thought.

Yeah.  'Kay... never is a long time, in Hades or out.  I love that you give us her thoughts as she is talking with Neville.

As far as Hermione's morning sickness goes, it is "wretchingly" obvious that Severus has no personal experience with a woman in the early months of her pregnancy.  What did he expect?  I had to laugh!

“Fine,” she mumbled. She took the potion and downed the contents quickly. Promptly, Hermione vomited the remainder of her stomach’s contents all over the front of Professor Snape’s teaching robes and onto the tips of his black boots.


I thought is was very telling that when Severus was wondering about Hermione's absence that morning the thought that came to his mind was, "... Hermione had won."

Very nicely done, dear! 
Beth

Headmaster Tofty cracks me up:  “Well, certainly not the way we did things in my day…but to each his own, I suppose.” The daffy old man had a humoring smile playing on his lips.

Indeed!  Between Headmaster Tofty and Albus' portrait, I imagine Severus will hear many an entertaining (to the reader) comment over the next nine months.

Hermione will make the best of her situation, and I have a feeling that Severus will find her a willing verbal sparring partner as time goes on... she is not exactly a Wilting Wilhelmina, is she?

Well done, Ginny!
Beth

Prenatal Potions!  I remember taking my prenatal vitamins... at the time they seemed like they were the size of a small car!  And Merlin help you if you couldn't  swallow them right away!  They had the most awful taste.

I'm still loving this story and can't wait to see what Hermione thinks of her welcome back to Hogwarts in general and to the Dungeons in particular!

On to the next chapter! 
Beffey

Ooooooh!  I love a sneaky Snape, evil grin upon his face... and because I know he's a softie for Hermione.

This is more fun than a barrel of monkeys! 
Beth

Hi GinnyW,I read your LJ post this morning and found my way to this story from there.  I've only read this first chapter and I am already I'm in love with the story!!  I can't believe I hadn't found it before!  It's delicious!!!Hug, Beth

I know you wrote this story a few years back but I wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading and rereading it (particularly this chapter) since I started reading fanfiction a year ago.  This was one of the first fic's I read and it has been on my favorites list since then.  Thanks for making me cry over and over.

Loving the use of the Empathy curse on "midwife" Munch...should have lasted longer than three weeks...

Completely forgot that I hadn't read the epilogue to this one and I loved it, thank you for writing it all.

How wonderful!

You took a really strong challenge and spun it even further, with such detail to the worlds and characters and situations.  I'm in awe.

And, in case I didn't make it clear, I loved it!

Oh dear.

This backache has me worried.

It's too soon!

Oh, Ginny!  You made me weep.

First, when Severus scoffed at her gift.

Then when he gave Minerva hers.

Oh me.

So sad.

Great. Love the power-play.

It's Macbeth that the witches are from, not Hamlet.  :) 

Nitpicking aside, I'm enjoying the story - it's a good treatment of this challenge.

Beautiful. Took a while to read, but everything flowed wonderfully.

Oh, my word, what an amazing story teller you are.  I am completely captivated with your writing.  I bawled like a baby when Hermione went to see Minerva for the last time.  And the whole time she thought she was going to lose the baby, either through premature birth or because of paperwork, I was a mess.  I couldn't stop reading.  Well done.

aww minerva!!! *big bawling tears!!!*

loved it!

that was a great ending. While open ended there was a sense of closure or at least a peace about leaving this particular story. Well done GinnyW kudos

BRILLIANT! MARVELLOUS! WONDERFUL! CAPTIVATING! ENTHRALLING! EXEMPLARY! THRILLING! EXCITING! The list goes on and on!!!! LOL