Another fabulous chapter, and so quickly!I love the way you have chosen to tell this section, starting immediately with the morning of the wedding and then skimming past it to give a whole new focus to the events in canon.  You've focused on the moments that are important to this story, where you have entirely new things to add, and it's yet more evidence of incredibly skilled storytelling.And you have given them the chance to actually speak to one another - but not alone!  Chaperoned by the manipulative-even-in-death Dumbledore, they might still be able to connect.  One hopes that, through sitting in on their conversations, Albus may begin to recognize that this shift from a plan in the form of a marriage to a real, deep, committed relationship can serve the greater good, too.  Unlike loyalty to Lily's memory, a real living woman might actually provide Severus with a reason to stay alive and continue to fight, and perhaps Albus can come to see the value in that.And maybe, just maybe, Albus can bring himself to thank Severus for actually doing all the terrible things he has been asked to take on.  But I'm not holding my breath!

Story going strong. Well done.

I really want things to work out for Severus and Hermione. 

Yet another chapter in just one week.  How fortunate we all are.  I still feel for poor Severus.  He is so cut off from anything positive.  How are you possibly going to bring them communication.  He needs human contact and confirmation from Hermione.  Well done as always dear Lariope.  Irish

Holy cats woman 2 chapters in one day? You are spoiling your readers!!! I read DH, I know (sort of) what is going to happen next. Can you go wildly AU and give us a happily ever after with the naked parts? 

Great chapter, I loved how you took direct quotes from JKR and used them in your story.

Well Dumbledore is just as bossy and manipulative in death as in life isn't he! Still has to direct the show.

It's quite neat that Hermione and Severus are able to actually talk to each other through the portrait. Too bad Severus cannot move Phineas' portrait somewhere more private for their conversations. Hopefully Dumbledore won't be too disappointed that Severus and Hermione might have formed an attachment. If he is upset about it, then bugger him.

Oh, ouch.  His communications with her won't be private.  Ouch-ouch-ouch.Another terrific chapter (and so fast, too)!

Oh, this will go much better this time around.  Not just the whole plot, but seeing some things from Snape's side.  I'm looking forward to it.  And nice, creative plot device you've got going there, to allow them to be able to speak directly.  As always, looking forward to more.  Thanks for the quick update.

Oh, clever of Dumbledore to discover the side effect of being a portrait.

Another excellent chapter.  You write the tension that the characters are experiencing so well, especially the transition for Severus between the last chapter and this one.

hmm, I didn't notice that bit about the memory charm 'til now. Interesting. I am enjoying this story very much! I find myself constantly surprised, despite the general faithfulness to DH.

Oh wow! The ending of this chapter was simply heartbreaking! I'm looking forward to the next update :)

Dear Lariope, I know that everybody has already read it, but I only now started to read Second Life. I had other reading plans for Easter, but I told myself, "Why not finally read a SS/HG epic?" and so I opened directly the SL file I had in my kindle. I'm enjoying it very much, so far. All the best and happy Easter.

This may be the best chapter you have written yet, and that is high praise indeed. First, giving us a key scene from an entirely new perspective drives the action in an astonishing way. You have made it even more compelling and dangerous by adding in Hermione's fear that Severus will be killed or injured, and his that he will lose her in the melee, as each tries to carry out the mission without blowing their cover.Then to provide the followup before Voldemort (who berates them all for being useless, yet didn't manage to do much damage himself, either!), which is an inspired piece of theatre.But the final scene, will Severus laughing almost hysterically and then weeping over the pitiful little box of treasures that represents his life, including the one true treasure he has found - that is utterly brilliant. Especially as he realizes that he is responsible for who she has become, that, even if he can find the strength to go on and they both manage to survive, it may not be worth what they both have lost. Thank you for letting him find the strength to lay down his wand, if only for the night.This is tragic, beautiful, moving, and amazing.

Yet another wonderful, powerful chapter. However, I'm very upset by Severus's attitude at the end of this chapter, even though it is very understandable. I wish he wasn't so ready to give up what he could have with Hermione after the war ends, and I really hope that Hermione doesn't let him give up. Lovely, can't wait for more!

Ohmigod.  I've been internet-less for a few days (oh the horror), thus no reviews 'til now.  Hold on....[wipes tears away]Have you heard Kelly Clarkson's "Irvine" (from the My December album)?  Okay well if you haven't, (or you have) try to listen to it while reading this chapter.  It applies to both Hermione's prayer/plea in the bathroom at the Burrow as well as to Snape's grief and emptiness at the end of the chapter.  I was in tears at Snape's grief and "not tonight."  And Hermione's clinging to her desperate faith in someone/something that could make everything turn out all right.  Then it all came crashing down when she heard about Moody.  Gah!  The angst--it burns!  But in a good way.I was sitting up so straight when reading the escape part--you rock at dramatic tension.  The writing of course, is stellar, but what makes me remember your chapters more than anything else is the way you reach in, grab our hearts, twist them to shreds, and then leave us gasping for breath.  Okay that sounded really violent and scary. (It made much more sense when I first thought it)  Point being--it's the emotional punch that makes the story a must-read, a NEED-read, I should say.  Keep on rolling....we'll all be there til the end.  No choice now.

Oh but Severus does not realize that truly the best gift he could give her is to live allowing them to love one another in the open for all to see without shame.  To love and be loved openly and honestly is the greatest gift of all.  Well done.  Irish

So the plan is in motion.  I am back and getting my fix of reading in 2 chapters of Second Life...how lucky I am.  Well done as always, my dear.  Irish

You're following canon SO wonderfully and I think you're absolutely 100% correct to have Sevvie feel the way he does at the end, but ... guh ... if Sevvie dies at the end  like in canon, I'm going to be so heartbroken.Great job, as usual, and keep it coming!

Very interesting to see the evacuation from Hermione's POV. It shows juct how scared she was and how crazy this episode was for the others as well. I love that Snape had to check straight away that she had survived.When will he realise he has something to live for, and that Hermione really does care for him?

I just had to read this again. I just love the Battle of the Seven Potters from your angle. You've cut out most of the stupidity and gone straight for the action. (If you'd cut it all out, they would have had to abandon this plan :-) Seriously, what's wrong with side-along apparition? How on earth would anyone track that? Or to polyjuice Harry into Hestia Jones and have him "evacuate" the Dursleys while the real Hestia Jones stays inside no 4 for enough time for them to get to a safe house and then apparates out?) Soooo, anyway. Yey you!

has he still not come to grips with the fact that he now has something to live for ?

"He had taught her to hit fast, to hit hard, to hit first." This line is absolutely incredible. Now, all I can hope for is that she'll manage to change his mind, to make him wish to live through the war and very long after it.