Severus Snape is such a tortured soul. His life that you describe is thoroughly miserable. It is a wonder that he is functioning in society at all. The man needs to be loved, but first he needs to allow himself to be loved.

I liked that chapter.  Oh, my, the dream/vision Minerva had was scary. 

It about killed me you left off where you did!That chapter was worth waiting for.I hope you update soon!

Wow. I don't know what to say, that was so full of imagery and pain. I can not wait to see where this story will lead, there is so much to work with here. I love seeing the dark and sad side of Snape and all the possible reasons he became the man he was. Great work!

Livvy 

That was quite the nightmare.

Whoah. I loved this... so very strongly written. I'm so hoping Severus is OK though!

I can't help but feel sad about the way Snape's been treated by everyone in this story! At the same time, I do hope Hermione won't let him hurt her too much.

I enjoyed the interaction with McGonagall. She's a great character and I always love seeing her in any story.

Hm, I look forward to read more. I hope you won't let Severus abuse Hermione to much, I know based on the story so far that there has to be some "explotions" to get things out in the air, but don't make Hermione a victem. Let her show that she has in fact grew up like she staded in the Headmistress's office, and able to figth her own battles and handle the situation. I do feel sorry for the boy Severus was, and I can understand that he doesn't want his past ripped open again. BUT, it is the past, and what ever he can claim, he aint innocent. AS a grown up he has taken great joy in torture children, if not phsycially, so at least verbally.  Some of it as a cover up towards Voldemort and his followers, but no one can claim that he hasn't enjoyed using his sharp tongue agains everyone from Gryffindor, no matter if they were elleven or seventeen, just because they were sorted into a house he hated. What ever he can claim, he has been abusive towards the children who were not sorted into his own house, abusive, unfair, and to some downrigth cruel.  While one could not have expected Severus to be just, polite and caring for anyone else than the children of his "pureblooded friends", he has been allowed to spend a hell of a lot of years beeing cruel to children from their first day at school, children who he doesn't know, that don't know him, and who have never spoken ill of him, done him anything wrong etc etc except being born to the wrong set of parents and sorted into the "wrong" house at school. Yes he had a terrible childhood, yes, Dumbledore should have lost his job for his treatment of Severus, but Severus have also been allowed a lot of years giving out his revenge on children not involved in the transgrations in the past.  For that, maybe both he and Dumbledore should have lost their job, there should be a limit on what you can claim to do for the "greater good". Update again soon!!!!

Is it going to be horribly dark?  It is interesting, anyway. 

Such drama in that ending. 

Wow.  Every once in a while there is a story that truly makes me want to hate Dumbledore.  This appears to be one of them. 

I feel so bad for Severus.Hermione has her hands full trying to get him to open up! Update so0n I can't wait to see what you mean by the story getting dark?

For some reason I feel as if this was the way he treated Snape.  Never did have much use for dumbledore.

I've never thought of Snape as a violent person, though the characters in your story appear to think that he might be dangerous. Do you have any reasoning for why they think he might hurt Hermione? I wonder what work Severus is now going to give Hermione. What does he find challenging? Probably something disgusting that will take hours to make and she won't get time to sleep. Well, I'm looking forward to the next chapter . . . and maybe more interactions between Severus and Hermione. :)

I wonder what guest Severus is planning to take to tea with him. Hermione, perhaps? Is he planning on having two apprentices, or is he going to drop Hermione? We'll see what he gets away with. Anyway, I quite look forward to finding out what happens between Severus and Hermione.

eeps!!  He is ACCEPTING Pansy as an apprentice?  In ADDITION to Hermione?  Yipes.  Maybe Hermione should just get together with Harry and Ginny, and skip Won-Won and Lav-Lav.  Hang in there, Hermione!!  Thanks for the new chapter.

Pansy?  I believe I am wondering where this is going.  I guess I will give it a few more chapters. 

What a wonderful chapter!  I suspect Severus is up to no good!  Have a wonderful time in school, get good grades and write as often as you can!

LOL he's just got her invited to tea to the Malfoys without her consent, plus she'll have to work with Pansy. As if the atmosphere wasn't explosive enough.

Thank you for the update, it was well written as usual:-)) Though I know that Severus has "issues" excusing him for behaving like a idiotic prat, I have a fear that his latest actions are taking things to far. Pancy as a apprentice? With the pat he is  taken now he is probably back to his "good old days" with letting Pancy ruining things for Hermione, and even though knowing the truth, putting all the blame on Hermione. Heaven forbid that he would say a bad word against a Malfoy. His currage can only go so far... He migth have been sligthly insulted about Lucius offering money, but not more than he is going to take them. While I feel sorry for his childhood and the betrayal he received from Dumbledort, I have a limit to how much cruelty he should be allowed to hand to Hermione. It leaves him with such little honour that I would be inclined to whish him all the worst. At least make Hermioe strong enough, and selfrespecting enough to not take all his crap? If he and Pancy wrongs her, let her take them to task for it, pleeeeease? I think the only things that annoys me more than a abusive Snape, taking his revenge and anger out on Hermione because he doesn't have the guts to take on someone who can equally defend themselves, is a Hermione who cries a little tear, stutters and lumps her shoulders and forgive everything in the seccond to last chapter after a sloppy excuse. All due to pooor Severus having issues. (I do fear that the "guest" he wants to take to the Malfoys is Hermione so he can enjoy them insulting her too, he probably is going to enjoy seeing the "mudblood know-it-all" taken down a peg or two, because she obviously is to blame for every insult and mistreatment he ever received. I know I am ranting, but I have enjoyed this fic tremendlessly, and now I have a strong gut feeling that it will join all the others based on the same idea; Severus having issues, finding Hermione to be a suiting target for all his revenge, and her forgiving and forgetting in the seccond to last chapter. Not only has it been used so many times before, it is so classic for abusive relationships (and most abuser never change they ways, they stay abusive, not at least because the victem allows them to do so by "understanding" and forgiving time after time. Argh, please tell me I am so wrong that I make you laugh??????

This story is so gripping that it has me on the edge of my seat!  Good lord, what a mess, introducing the young Mrs. Malfoy into the mix.  What the heck is Snape thinking? ::Shudders::

In any case, looking forward to reading more!

Nice chapter, you really show Severus in all of his snarky glory!

Oh yeah! Keep it coming! I liked the part about how Minerva should have reached out more. Sad.

Livvy 

OK, just to prove that everyone is human, here's the little mistake that I found: 'Her heart *being to beat erratically as her eyes searched frantically up and down the corridor for any trace of her employer and finding nothing to ease her worry.'

I'm guessing  that  you  meant this word to be 'began' or 'beginning'.

Super intense so far! Can't wait for the next ch. 

You are evil! We know that Severus is upset, but that's about all you told us. *pout* I wonder what Severus wants to talk about? I'm sure he wants to sack Hermione, but I don't think he'd be allowed to do so. Apparently Minerva and Remus thought that Hermione needed rescuing. I'm glad that Hermione did not. Anyway, I look forward to the next installment and discovering what Severus wants to "talk" about.