Ecellent timing on your and Severus' parts. I'm thinking that NOW would be that perfect time for Albus to stand up and PROVE that he truly trusts, respects and loves Severus the way he claims he does.

I'm sure that Ginny will be thrilled and be their greatest advocate. Neville will probably be OK with it, too ... Minerva, I'm not sure. She loves Severus, but that's one of her cubs! And then there is the Ministry; always a loose canon. They might decide to think again about Hermione's suitability for working with students if she's been seeing a professor on the sly!

oooh... imagine my surprise when i saw a notice of this chapter in my email box.  As it was posted after i went to bed... dangit!lovely chappy can't wait to see what happens next.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! OMG, OMG...I LOVE IT!!  So WONDERFUL!!!  And NOW I'M IN TEARS!!!  HOW BEAUTIFUL...Where did they go?  OH MY I hope Hermione's friends accept their relationship, and Minerva...OH MY GOODNESS!!!  OH WELL DONE...WELL DONE INDEED...YOU HAVE MADE MY DAY...Gotten this posted before my BIRTHDAY on Sunday..THANK YOU, WHAT A WONDERFUL present you have given me...WHOOHOO!!   HUGS HUGS HUGS!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

great chapter.  can't wait for the next one.

This chapter is awesome!  Brilliant!  I love it!  Albus' attempts to make peace with Severus don't go far enough, do they?  He still doesn't get it.  I have no idea what will happen now that the Headmaster realizes that the Potions Master and the star of Gryffindor have just become engaged to be married.  Woot!I loved the way Severus "asked" Hermione to marry him.  She was so surprised that he had done this on the stage at the end of their last scene... and though I suspected it would happen this way, I was a little surprised, too.  It was a risky thing to do, and I applaud Severus' courage.With all the people who are rushing from the wings and climbing on the stage "clamouring for explanations and exclaiming in outrage," I was glad that Severus could  Disapparate them from the Great Hall.  Who are the people calling for explanations and exclaiming in outrage, and who are the ones who are supporting our hero and heroine?Perhaps this is Dumbledore's final opportunity to redeem himself in Severus' eyes.Fabulous chapter!  BethPS- How many more chapters do you think there will be?  I will be sad to see this story finish, but I will be even happier for Severus and Hermione when they are married!

Bravo! Bravo! Such a fanastic chapter! I can't wait for the next one as this is absolutely a excellent cliffhanger.

ACK!  That was awesome.  Dumbledore's trying his best to placate but I just don't see it working.   I can't wait to see Minerva's reaction!  Have fun at Alcatraz.

YES!!! I have been hoping from the start that he would propose to her during the performance!!! I do hope the next chapter is up soon, though! I am anxious to see what the "fallout" is!

Geez.... you can't leave us hanging like that!!  Another great chapter for one of my favorite stories.  I hope we won't have to wait too long to find out what happens next.

Aww he proposed!! But it seems that not everyone is going to be on board with this. evil place to leave it, but I rather like the cliffhanger, it makes me speculate who will be ok and who will be outraged at this new development.

This was a beautiful chapter.But... what was Severus thinking? Aren't there rules against student/teacher affairs? Why couldn't he wait and have it come out quietly with a few spottings in Diagon Alley or something. OMG! I hope Hermione doesn't lose her job over this, or her diploma. I wonder if Albus will come to his  aide and be the 'friend' that he claims to be or victimize them as everyone else is sure to. My heart hurts for them. Please let everything work out okay.I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. I've been pretty spoiled with these fairly regular udaptes. Keep 'em coming!!!!Hugs, Muggle Mom

Naughty.. Good_Witch..? What a place to leave it. Oh and that was a wonderful way for Snape to propose to Granger! Wonderful! I really enjoy reading this and cannot wait for the next chapter.

he proposed! AWWW! ~grabs the baying horde and and squeeeees in joy!~

Absolutely fantastic ending to the chapter.  How romantic was that - pure brilliance.

A dramatic cliffhanger... I will be keen to see what happens next. :)

A magical moment - what a superb way of moving towards the grand finale - please don't be long before you post it!

That is the perfect place to end the chapter. Great!But now I CAN'T wait for the next one. I really DO hope that you will get the chance to write it soon.

I've just spent the past couple of days reading this entire story and it's great, especially the smut   I can't wait to find out what happens to HG/SS.  I hope we don't have to wait too long

Yay! That was like totally a birthday present, which was back on wednesday but whatever! Can't wait for more!

Yay! That was like totally a birthday present, which was back on wednesday but whatever! Can't wait for more!

This was a fabulous chapter!   Severus' home is almost ready for them to move in, and Hermione has negotiated the contract she wanted and got the job.  Hooray!I've loved PoH from the very first chapter, and I can't believe it is almost finished.  I'm certain that I, along with many other readers, will go through a period of withdrawals.  You have done an amazing job with this story.  Brava!Beth

I must say, you are getting really good at those cliffhangers. I caught up finally and am sorry there is no more! I cannot wait to see what Ginny says to Hermione and what Severus's reaction will be!!

I'm so so sad it's over! It was my nightly ritual to come home late from work, get in a chapter or two then go to bed for a couple of months, I think! I become very attached to you.  Thank you for your 6 long years crafting this story! And thank you so much for the happy ending! 

Did Severus technically brake a rule with Hermione when he noticed she was a brilliant and beautiful woman who was attracted to him? But if so, the punishment was way too extreme! Why did the other members of the Wizardgamot agree to such an unfair fine?  I suppose it was because Severus was so unrepentant. But how early did he tell Albus he was resigning? His intent to do the right and honoralbe thing was evident early on as soon as he knew he would prefer to be with her than to continue to teach at Hogwarts, but Albus wouldn't listen. I think that his early resignation should have been taken into consideration.  And it is very possible for people to carry on a deep love affair honorably without any sexual congress what so ever. Shouldn't that have counted for something that Severus had planned to do the honoralbe thing as soon as he realized he was having feelings for a student? And that horse's ass at the Ministry didn't prove Severus had had any other interactions with Hermione other than in his duties for the performance of the play and that he and Hermione developed an emotional attachment during the rehearsals. Falling in love isn't a crime. Emotional attachment isn't a crime. There was no proof that they acted up on their feelings while Hermione was a student and Severus was a teacher. Seriously, I ask, was it technically a crime for them to admit their love to each other and express  their intent to be together after Hermione graduated and Severus had resigned even if they had not had any other association other than that which took place during rehearsals and doing the play? For that was all that was proved. 

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore should have helped pay some of that fine in my opinion.  He had a big hand in throwing them together just for the enjoyment of pushing Severus out of his comfort zone.  Initially, he knew Severus didn't like it but would do what was asked of him for the sake of Hogwarts and Albus got the added amusement of manipulating Severus.  It started out as a contest to not be less prepared than she was.  Can they be fined for giving their breast performance? To act out a scene, one must feel what his character feels. These characters feel mutual love at first than the phantom feel unrequited love. Many a mail order bride has been proposed to and accepted said proposal with less interaction. My great Grandmother was a mail order bride. She and grandpa Jack fell in love and stayed married until the end of their days after he responded to a letter and come to California to just to marry her.  There are thousands of other examples. That dick head was a nasty man who just assumed they were being indiscreet simply because he would never purpose marriage to a woman who's wares he had not tested first.

After school ended,  I think it's cute and funny that some people still called Severus "Professor" after he had resigned. I suppose it was better than Mr. Snape and I know they were just being respectful. Just "Snape" or "Macgonnagul" and "Dumbledore" sounds like the disrespectful way high school coaches speak to their students. 

Didn't I tell you I'd known he would  end up in business with the twins! It was only logical!

What will I do with myself now? Thank you for being so gracious and answering all of my reviews. It really made me feel special. You are a wonderful story teller and a wonderful person! Hugs and kisses and blessings and chocolate be upon you in massive quantities because I love you! And I feel like I've made a new friend!  Your friend, The breatlady

*whimper*  Want more!!Yeah, yeah, I know; I'm a lucky, privileged beta git, and I shouldn't whinge.  But damnit, woman--this thing is ADDICTIVE!!*debates kicking your spiffy writing chair, then decides to refrain; doesn't want to disturb any cats*~Lotm

I have skipped over this story numerous times. I'm not a big Phantom fan. It's okay but that's it. The idea of it being performed at a school makes it even less appealing. The first few chapters were torture to read due to the improper use of 1st person. Hermione's immaturity in the begining adding to making it unappealing to me. I've started this story on one other occassion and quit two chapters in. That being said...I find that once you get past that it's a story worth reading. You stop using 1st person incorrectly after a few chapters. The plot actually develops instead of being all about the play itself or a rote recreation of it. (See most fanfics using Disney's Beaty and the Beast as a plot)This is one of the rare stories that surpises you in a GOOD way. I find myself eager to see the final chapters and am thrilled that I gave it a 2nd chance and stuck with it past 2 chapters.Great job.