Hahaha! Some one's on their side indeed!

What a wonderful break from reality before I have to head off to work!  Keep up the great work!

Harry really is quite dense... I hope you don't mind, but I almost hate him as much in this, as I do in JK's version ;pAgain, I look forward to your next update!

oh another wonderful chapter! this story is so brilliant i will definitely be rereading this instead of DH!! you handle the characters with so much more grace than JKR. Because it is obviously shorter there is an intensity as the plot build towards the culmination that was not as present during the extended camping trip in DH. I just cannot wait to see how it turns out. To see how you handle nagini you have made this plot so incredibly believable (I believe it) that I am wondering what you will do with his death scene, how you will write them confronting dumbledore, the boys finding out about snape and hermione, ron and hermione's kiss (maybe you'll just leave that out...i hope) Because we know the general plot as a reader I can get excited about specific thing in the future. Anyways what I'm trying to say is that I love your story and I am extremely excited to read the rest of it. Your writing so far is so masterful (I love the language you use and how you work the plot) that I simply cannot wait to see how you write and develop each part and then read through the whole thing again! Update soon!

I checked my mail at work today, and boy was the temtation hugh when I saw the mail with this update... But, I managed to not touch the link, telling myself that this update deserved much better than a hasty reading at work. I have rushed through dinner, got my favourite coffecup, and voila:-)) Another brilliant update,!!! I hope you have a Order of Merlin First Class reserved for Luna? That girl is so fantastic, you can't help but adore her! I am happy that Harry spins enough braincells to realise that someone is helping them, let us hope that he will still remember this when the truth is revealed at the end.  Boy, what a magnificient update! Even if you let Dobby die... I know I have mentioned a time or ten before that I hope you will not "kill" all the heroes JKR did, and I still hope you won't, and I realise that you "have to" let some die.... But, if you intend to kill Severus, please warn me, I will be headded for a major depression if this magnificient story ends as badly as DH with Severus, Remus, Fred and Tonks dead, Malfoys not only surviving, but not punished, and Hermione married to Ron.......... (I am probably going to have bad dreams tonigth with the thougth of Hermione with a slubbering Ron) I can almost feel like getting a little sick rigth now with only the thougth of it.:-)Over to something else; I have convinced a friend of mind that not only is fanfics a wonderful world, but Hermione belongs with Severus etc etc. She usually don't read WIP's, but I told her that this story is a Must Read and she belived me:-) The first 14 chapters where read in one go, and I haven't heard anything from her since so I guess she is still reading. I am so looking forward for the next update!!!

Once again, an amazing chapter! It was heartbreaking to see Severus so worried, and having Hermione sleep through it all... I'm really looking forward to the next chapter!

Such an emotional chapter in many,many ways!Thanks so much Lariope, xoxo

So that's why you were excited that I thought of Ch. 6 while Snape witnessed Hermione being tortured by Bellatrix.  Man.  Maybe I'm a genius too!  Or not.  Well regardless, I do love the callback and the symmetry.  Love that he finally (better late than never) formed an appreciation for her sacrificial care and was able to return the favor.Wow, the fear and desperation Snape feels while he's waiting for Dobby at the castle was palpable.  I have to admit though, I love Upset-Crazed!Severus--he's so determined and yet insane.  I know it wasn't supposed to be funny (at all) but when he heard her voice from his pocket and then thought: "Merlin had she been in there the whole time?" I couldn't help giggling.  You included so many details that helped us to really feel the frantic panic (poet and didn't know it) he was going through.Your Luna is truly a work of art.  I don't even have to think about why she's saying anything--it's all just so perfectly in character and I'm happy that she knows about their relationship.  I loved how you had her comforting Hermione and thinking so fast ahead of time with the Gurdyroots and getting Snape in and out of the cottage.  I also loved that Severus had a wtf moment that he was taking orders from Luna Lovegood--just perfection.  I am really rooting for her and hope you let us see a quick glimpse of her post-war.  (maybe at the "real" wedding?)Thanks for the fast update!  Thanks for being such a kick-ass writer and for gifting us with this story! 

I read this chapter 3 times, and I cried all 3! What an emotional heart wrenching chapter. OMG! I can't handle too many more like this. Poor Dobby. I can't believe that Harry is coming around to face the beginning of his new reality already. I wonder if this will make things easier later. Love it! Love it! Love it! Personally, I can't wait for the epilogue where Severus and Hermione are looking over the waves from the deck of their beach house on a cliff far far away from everyone, each with a wine glass in their hand, looking back on the last 50 years of happiness that they've shared.... Hint... Hint... Wink.. Wnk...

I love Luna

Well, hopefully Harry will think through just who it could possibly be that was helping them. He needs to back off the anti-Snape behavior, and be set up to accept Snape's memories.

*sniffle* Poor Dobby. Thank god for Luna though, I really thought Sev was losing it for a while there, and Hermione's looking a bit fragile. Luna is a godsend to those two at the moment. Great chapter.

So is Harry going to figure it out after all? that would be a nice change to the original. :) I don't remember much of DH as far as Hermione healing. At that point I think I was skimming :) so it's hard to compare and contrast. At least the camping is over. LOL

Poor Dobby. At least Severus was able to reach Hermione and really heal her, including fixing the amateur job Fleur did. It's too bad Hermione did realize that he was there consciously. Harry has an epiphany!

I have no fear that those two dunderheads will ever figure out who is helping them, LOL.

Now onto more serious matters:

His heart would burst from loving her. Dammit. This chapter should've come with a "waterproof mascara needed!" warning. And then he didn't get to say he loved her. Yes, actions speak louder than words, and some part of her knows that he was here, for sure, but... My heart aches for him.

But still, he was so brave. They both are, but this was his chapter. And he was brave even though his emotions were like a tornado in his head, all of the thoughts, the confusion. I never felt like saying, "Get a grip, Snape!" because just when I thought, oh no, he might fall apart, he pulled himself back together. Practically breaking his hand, but what can you do?

And the "Hello, Albus," so coolly only moments later. Ha. Stupid Dumbledore.

Dobby's death hurts as much this time as before, only now, I will forever have the image of Snape bending over his little grave. And Luna was spectacular. She is always the epitome of calm and cool in any situation. Such a good Ravenclaw. I highly admire her, and you, for writing her so well without going into cliche.

Another excellent one. And so we move along....

Author's Response: hahah. Yes, you're probably right. Dunderheads.

I'm very glad that you weren't wishing he would get a grip. :) And so happy that you liked Luna.

Thank you, my dear.

I think Luna is going to be a surprisingly good person to have on their side.Again, one of them is able to be with the other one when they need them the most. It is great Snape was finally able to admit how much he does love Hermione.

How do you do it? This is so plausibly written that I am going to have a hard time keeping the real story sorted from your alternate version, but I love it:) I have a feeling my heart is going to take up permanent residence in my throat-or at least till you finish writing this...and it's going to be one of those stories where I can't wait to see how it ends, but also can't bear to think it's over.Thank you for a magnificant story:)Fizzabella

Yay for Luna! I do like Luna so much, and she was a perfect addition here - and I am glad she knows. Even if Hermione can't tell her everything (or much anything at all), I can only imagine it a relief for her to have someone else aware of Snape's role.Harry's being shockingly perceptive. ;-) I do wonder what he'd say if he knew who their guardian angel was!

YESYES! Someone is!!! Great chapter! I adore Luna. Fabulous job! 

This was so moving, so heartbreaking.  I loved the way you let us into both Snape's and Hermione's minds, and the terror and confusion they felt.  And I adored the comments about Luna.  They summed up her character so neatly.  All in all, this was such an exquisitely heart-rending example of our favourite characters' love for each other and determination to succeed.

I love how Severus took care of Hermione.  Luna is wonderful as well.  Will Harry figure out just who is helping?

Great chapter!!! Thanks for the tenderness! Looking forward to more!gab

This is my favorite chapter by far. It was emotional and it was exciting. Dobby passing, Snape sneaking in to heal his beloved during the night, and then Harry coming to the startling revelation that someone is on their side. Fantastic! I'm looking forward to more! :)

*sobs and sniffs*Poor poor Dobby!  (His death and Severus' were the only ones that made me cry in DH)Excellent chapter.  I love the way you have used Luna to help Severus.  She is such an amazing character that has been underused in the books.I'm looking forward to the next chapter and I forgive you for killing Dobby.

"Someone is on our side."  No shit, Sherlock.Oh, you made me cry over Dobby again!  Watching Severus come apart was fascinating and frightening.  I love love love Luna in this chapter.  You've written her perfectly.Another amazing chapter.  Thanks for updating!

Severus outburst and his tender healing of Hermione is so sweet