Thank you so much for the wonderful and detailed review! I really appreciate it! Now, I've never seen the Malfoys as being particularly clever, so when I portrayed them, I tried to show the obvious flaws in their logic. That's not to say I'm intentionally writing them as stupid, because I'm not trying to. But I feel that Lucius thought he had the upper hand in this particular situation, as he's been sort of (or, at least, as I imagine it) bullying Severus since the two have met. I think the comment about Bellatrix was solely to Severus, and it was intended to do harm. I think he also meant it to alienate Hermione against Severus, suggesting in such a way that Severus might have enjoyed the attentions of Bellatrix when he was a small child. It's a very Slytherin-like power play between the two men, each trying (subtly, in Snape's case) to humiliate, isolate, and alienate the other in front of present company. And I am, of course, not condoning Bellatrix's behavior, but I thought it very likely she was used to lure young Slytherins "into the fold". Bellatrix is also varying shades of gray, and I think if I had the time, I'd really like to write a story based on what her own childhood was like that created this need in her to ....well, I'm getting off topic. What I mean to say is, Bellatrix's role in Snape's childhood... In this wizarding world, as it is in the muggle world, boys are expected to feel lucky to have the attentions of an older girl, not violated. And to a child that has already had a turbulent past and very few boundaries as it is, this experience cemented Snape's belief that he was more an object (such as a pawn) than a person... And I'm sorry, I completely rambled, and it probably doesn't make sense at all. I'm really sorry... half tempted to delete it, but...

Thank you for the review! Hehe. Next chapter is in queue, should be posted fairly soon. 

Thank you again for the review!!!

I'll address the comment you had about their relationship first: Yes, it definitely has changed. I imagine Slytherins to be very primal, especially in their vicious manipulations of each other for dominance. In this case, Severus has been trying to force Hermione to submit (not sexually, of course, but in everyday reactions) to him. Having always had to fight to place in a pecking order his entire life, and never treated with equality, this is his only instinct. Hermione, however, refuses to be submissive, and this is where we see her establishing her dominance. Only now will the relationship be able to even out, as Hermione has forced Severus to see her as a worthy advisary that cannot be controlled. Eventually, of course, he will see her as an equal.... Okay, saying too much now..

About the Malfoys, one of them has tampered with the drinks, but you'll have to wait for that to be explained further :)

And about the crotch – there wasn't a *need*, per se, for his crotch to be in the chapter, I just wanted it to be ;) And the reason it makes such a grand entrance goes back to my earlier point about Severus' obsession with posession and dominance. Hermione needed to effectively emasculate him in order to prove that she would never submit. If this doesn't make sense, I'm really sorry, this ideology and presence of thinking will make a presence again in the story, and I will do my best to have Hermione explain it... she explains things far better than I.  

Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you're asking me these questions because I can see when I'm not being clear in my writing!

I believe he used the burning paste to effectively seal/disinfect/heal simultaneously. He did not want the Malfoys to see the wound, not because it concerned them, but because it would more than likely spring up conversations (such as the Bellatrix one) that he'd rather avoid. Also, I image a very primal instinct that plays out between Slytherins, somewhat like a pack of wild animals — so show any weakness, especially in the form of a physical wound, is extremely dangerous. ...I hope that made sense...

Aw, that's a cute image, little Teddy nimbling on Uncle Sev's arm! (Not being sarcastic, the mental image is really funny, and adorable.) Okay, here's the thing about the bite:

I've had a lot of questions regarding it, and the bite seems to have taken on a life of its own. It's not central to the story, but it will come up again. And there's a pretty simple explanation, and I promise it'll be presented when the time is right. I've hinted in the past that the bite and/or the act in which the bite had taken place wasn't exactly consensual on Snape's part, but the story has changed, and I can definitely say it was between two consenting adults. No real mystery woman, no one important. The reason why it is the arm instead of anywhere else was because it seemed most logical as both a place he would be bitten, and a place Hermione can easily see. I don't see Snape allowing himself to be bitten in a place (such as his neck) that would be viewed by all and become a source of humiliation. So, that's why it is his arm. And the woman has no name, cause I don't think she's important enough to have one. Can't let women who bite our Severus get an inflated ego, now can we? 

Thank you so much for the review! Yes, he did, though she was in no state to truly notice it at the time. Next chapter in queue, so stay tuned!

Don't despair! Next chapter is in queue as we speak! I'm realy glad you liked those particular paragraphs, as I came very close (several times) to cutting them.

In the queue?  Lucky me! :D

Oh, I'm so glad you didn't cut them.  I really liked those paragraphs quite a lot.

You write such wonderful reviews! You have me glowing!

LOL! Thank you so, so much for all the help! *hugs* It really wouldn't be possible to write this without you and AM!

Yay!

Thank you! My goodness, you read fast!

LOL! Thank you for taking the time to post a review!

Wow, thank you! I've often had a problem with dialogue in the past, but with this story, I can hear the characters speaking to each other, so it comes much more easily. And yes, I'm crazy. I hear them in my head.

*bounces around happily* I'm so very glad you enjoy it, thank you for the review!

Oh, thank you so much for the kind review! I hope I don't disappoint :)

Lol, don't worry about the missing review. I'm just so happy you have left the ones that you have, as I really appreciate them! The next chapter is in queue, so it shouldn't take too long for it to be posted. And no, Pansy has never been close enough to Snape in any way to bite him.

Thank you so much for the review!! I hope you do stay with it, it will get romantic... eventually. Mwa ha ha! And although you're right, Bella's dead in this story, he did have an interesting encounter with her when he was eleven... Anyway, I hope you stay with me, it'll be a rocky road, but satisfying in the end, I promise! Thanks again!

I get the impression that Draco would have forbidden Pansy from pursuing an apprenticeship, so she, bein' all Slytherin-like, arranged it behind his back so it would be too late to stop her. Why he would act this way? Would you let your newlywed wife spend most of her days in a dungeon with Snape? Probably not, lol. Not if you're half intelligent, that is. So, in Pansy's shoes, wouldn't you want to make sure things went as smoothy as possible? Lol. Also, I don't think Lucius really cares a whole lot about his daughter-in-law being under Severus' control. I think the relationship may be strained as it is with Narcissa and Pansy both fighting for Draco's attention, so Lucius may just want her out of the house. Yeah, hoped that made sense. I think that's what's going on. I'm not so much a writer as a spectator, like you, so I'm sure the characters will let us know their motivations as time goes on. I really enjoy the review, and I'm very glad you enjoyed the chapter. Oh, and, nah, I don't think anyone saw what happened, as the gates to Malfoy Manor are a bit of a ways from the house. Wow, hope that answered your question, lol. I might've given too much away?

wow!  I'm going to make a wild guess here that neither Severus or Hermione will have a lot of patience for "As the Malfoys Turn" soap opera affecting their little corner of Hogwarts.  Now Draco is doing to be irked at Lucius for helping Pansy, plus irked at Pansy herself, which will only make Narcissa happy at the newyweds' conflict, which....  No, you didn't give away too much!  I'm going to guess that Lucius is the one who drugged S&H, but not sure why or how.  Next chapter?

Unfortunately, not in the next chapter. It didn't make it. But it will surface soon, that particular answer!

Lol! Well, he did deserve it, didn't he?  Well, the next chapter is in queue, so please stay tuned! Thank you so much for the review, I really appreciate it!

LOL, you are very very close to the mark! Next chapter's in cue, so stay tuned! And thank you for the review!

And I am so very happy that you enjoy it! Thank you so much for the review, I really, really appreciate it!

Thank you for the review! Ah, I think Snape'll be okay...

Hehehe. Thank you for the review! I'm so happy to hear you liked it! Yes, Hermione is very formidable when angry, isn't she? The next chapter is in queue, and I think you'll enjoy it immensely!