*grins*  Glad it was still just as shocking the second time 'round.  I'm not sure what it speaks of, but I'm glad you like it either way!  *hugs you*  Thanks, hon!

Yeah, that was pretty much it.  When she told him, he sort of went off the deep end.  *nods*

I know.  I was really not nice to him in this fic.

It makes you cunning, love. *nods*  ;)

Yeah ... and Shug will not be doing that again.  Probably.  Most likely.  *nods*

*muah*  Thanks, honey!

Thank you very much!  I'm so glad you liked the twisty ending. As to your questions ...

In my mind, he drank the potion because he thought it was the only
way to keep Hermione's love.  He wasn't used to dealing with his
emotions, and here he is making a decision solely based on emotion ... and this is what he came up with. He felt he had to change
himself permanently in order for her to love him forever.  Given his obsessive love for Lily, and how that ended, I thought this sort of twisted thinking worked for his character.

Hope that helps! Thanks, again! :)

He hadn't intended for Hermione to see him brewing that, had he? He wanted to keep it from her, and suddenly emerge a love-bound er, lover to her. She already said she loves him... so we know that she won't leave him. Hermione's not like that, Severus would be more likely to push her away. That's it. He's good at potions, so naturally he felt the only way to secure his love for her ( and like you said, deals with his emotion) is through potions... He wants to keep himself from having thoughts that he didn't deserve her, from wanting to push her away. He's more twisted for wanting to go through with it even after Hermione had found out. Hermione will have to face the fact that any endearment he shows was from the potion.

Yes, that's exactly it! And poor Hermione.  It's just horrible for her all the way around.

Thank you!  I'm glad the twist at the end surprised you. :D