Somehow I missed these reviews.  So sorry it took so long to respond.Lily had nothing to do with this story, so I'm not sure where you got that from. ;)  He bound himself to Hermione because he thought he would screw it up somehow.  He really had become quite unhinged after Hermione had declared her love for him.  I hope that explains it a little. If not, there were a few similar questions in previous reviews, and I gave more info there. :)Thanks so much for reading.

Thank you very much for your lovely review!  Creepy desperation ... what a perfect description!  That is exactly what it is.  And I'm so glad you liked the twist at the end, as well as the open-ended conclusion.  There is no good ending for Hermione.  It does beg for a sequel, doesn't it?  It makes me all nervous to think about, though! LOL  Thanks again! :D

Thank you so much for your insightful review.  You got it exactly right, which just thrills me to no end!  Hermione is really stuck between a rock and a hard place.  I can't imagine the turmoil she would be in with such a decision.  Thanks, again! I'm so glad you enjoyed my little journey to the darker side of things. :)

Hi! Hermione does not take the potion, and Severus did not make it for her, although as the writer I did lead you to believe that until the very last hundred words. Severus actually took the potion himself, believing it to be the only way to keep Hermione's love. It's sort of twistedly romantic in a way, but obviously he wasn't thinking clearly to make such a stupid decision. I saw it as a man who wasn't used to dealing with his emotions making a decision that was solely based on emotion ... and this drastic measure is what he came up with. He felt he had to change himself permanently in order for her to love him forever.

For me, the biggest question is what will Hermione do now? He's under the permanent influence of a love potion ... does she stay with him knowing that or does she leave him due to his actions? It's a horrifying decision for her, no matter what she chooses.

I'm glad you gave this one a try. I know it's very different from what I normally write, so it really means a lot to me that you gave it a read. I think the dark, angsty stuff is out of my system for a while now. It was so depressing! :)

Thanks so much!

Ok, I'm glad you explained that little misunderstanding.  Still, a very good job!

Thank you! :D 

Thank you!  Yes, it is a bit twisted, and the ending is supposed to be unexpected.  I think that Severus never thought to tell her the potion was for him because he never considered giving it to her.  If that makes any sense.  I'm glad you enjoyed it!  Thanks, again.

Thank you!  I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

Aw!  Thank you so much!  I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

Thank you so much!  Im so happy that you found it true to Snape. :)

That is a fabulous question, and I wondered if someone would ask that!  Love potions enhance the feelings someone already has, so it's possible that he would become even more obsessive.  But in my mind, I was visualizing that he would be more open, more expressive with his feelings, and so concerned with Hermione that he wouldn't be able to feel his own insecurities.  Really, it could go either way, and I think both are scary.  

:D 

Hi!  No problem.  :)

Severus is emotionally stunted in this fic.  He is a logical thinker, but as we saw in DH, have him deal with emotions, and he becomes obsessive.  He didn't see himself as worthy of Hermione's affection and was certain that she would at some point see him for what he believes himself to be (unworthy) and leave him -- much like Lily did.  He was willing to do whatever it took to make himself worthy (in his eyes). It's sort of romantic in a twisted way.  He certainly wasn't thinking clearly.

I hope that helps! 

Thank you so much!  Your review has me grinning from ear to ear.  I was very worried about this piece, so I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it. :)

Thank you so much for your lovely review!  This was so different from what I normally write -- I was a bit worried about it.  I'm glad you enjoyed it.  :D

No need to worry. You did such a marvellous job as if angst was your domain. 

Upon reading some reviews here and your replies to them, in my opinion, Hermione's only remotely happy ending could be to drink the same potion too. What a way to go! But sincerely, I hope you will leave this story as is. It is so great in this form. 

Thank you, again! :) 

Well, that was indeed what I was thinking, as well--that Hermione would choose to take the potion.  Really, it's the only way it would work.  But, after mulling it over, I agree with you, and I'm leaving this one alone.  It ends as I originally intended, and I'm very pleased with it.  Best to leave it alone! LOL

Definitely! It is great the way it is. Did I say it was wonderful, marvelous, and all that? Well, I say it again!

Ah, isn't that the question? 

Is it bad of me to be happy that this made you feel sad?  ;)   Thank you!

Thank you so much, Southern!  This was quite a departure for me.  I'm glad you liked it! :)

Thgank you!  I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

It is sort of like that, isn't it?  The repercussions for Hermione stayed with me for a few days after finishing this.  Does she stay or go?  What should she do?  No good answers.  It's just horrible for her no matter what she does.

Thanks for reading and commenting all the way through!  It's much appreciated.  I'm returning now to my more typical happy, fluffy writings. LOL

I think the guilt and the sense of obligation/responsibility would keep her there, but I don't think she'd be particularly happy about it.

Oh yes.  That is certainly possible and sounds like something Hermione would do. 

Thank you!  Well ... someone on LJ mentioned something today that had me thining of a short epilogue ... we'll see.  LOL ;)  Thanks again!

Oh, please do!  I felt bad for both of them, but I did very much enjoy this series of drabbles.

Thank you so much for giving this a go.  It's very different from usual writings (light and fluffy romance), but I had to get it out of my system. LOL 

Thank you!  It was quite different from the light and fluffy romances I usually write.  It was fun to go a bit darker for a short time, but now I'm ready to return to the happy side of things! LOL

Thanks, again!

ROTFL!  That is so true! :D

Thank you so much!  You have some very good questions. I really feel for poor Hermione.  It's a tough decision she has to make, to stay or go.  Neither will be a happy ending for her. 

Thanks, again!

Yes, it's very sad no matter how you look at it.  He had to love her before takign the potion, or it wouldn't have worked.  Love potions don't create emotion, merely enhance what is already there.  Very sad.  Thank so much for reading -- I know it's a departure from what I normally write! :)

Thank you!  I'm glad you liked the ending.  It was difficult not to try to make it happy! :D