Hello Lariope!

Just wanted you to know I was still lurking about and enjoying your work! You continue to move me with your beautiful story and words.

You know, it boggles my mind how people can continue to condemn Severus and praise Dumbledore after the revelations in book 7. When in fact, if they looked beneath the surface of the text, they would realize they should be feeling the exact opposite. It boggles my mind as well that the very author of the series cannot make this distinction herself! I think your story definitely helps brings out a deeper understanding of what (I feel) was meant to be brought out by DH: the true nature of these characters. Somehow, DH seems to miss the mark a bit in regards to this, especially if what I stated above is still holding true among some fans (Someone had the gall the other day at LC.org to claim Dumbledore was the greatest role model in the books, you can imagine how outraged I felt!). Re-watching PoA yesterday as well, and seeing Dumbledore act the kindly mentor just made me feel incredibly conflicted and lied to. I sort of now wish I could still see him like that, but what is done cannot be undone I suppose.

It just breaks my heart to know the injustice done to Severus Snape goes beyond what any man should have to face, and that the author hardly worked (or hardly seemed to care) to right those wrongs. I think this is what disappointed me most about book 7…so I’m glad your story is working to correct these atrocities! :)

Is it strange to feel this passionately about fictional characters?

Now my head is just spinning in circles…I could truly go on and on, but I’ll stop rambling and continue to wait eagerly for your next chapter! Much love

Brilliantly plotted, my dear.  I think you covered everything.*applause*

Aren't you ashamed for this cliffhanger?*author smirk*Fortunately for me, I can just glide to the next chaper.*glides*

Devastation.  God, I remember reading that, in HBP, and crying and crying for the rest of the book.  I was so sure he was evil, and I felt as if JKR had stolen and smashed my favourite toy.  Saner heads calmed me down and taught me to believe otherwise, but that can only be one-tenth of what Hermione felt when she was first told her husband had killed the headmaster.  I am sincerely hoping that Moody's appearance and his words at the end gave her the message she needs to hear, and that she believes him.

Oh, good GOD, Lariope, this was exquisite.  The build up of months and months and chapters and incidents make this consummation so much more than the first (which was fabulous, as well, you understand) -- you have written it beautifully, and I am all undone by the agony and the ecstasy and the poetry of it all.Awesome, my dear, in the dictionary meaning of the word:  so impressive or overwhelming as to inspire a strong feeling of admiration or fear.Words obey you, love, a sure sign that the Muse is upon you.

Oh, GAH, my dear, that was LOVELY!  I have such a weakness for society manners and Snape at a ball; you paint him just as I love to see him, and I am all a-flutter.  And Hermione's last line!  GAH!  Fabulous!

Dear Lariope,Like many of the previous reviewers, my first reaction on finishing the chapter was "wow." With a period, not an exclamation point, because, to me, the chapter is too profound for an exclamation.So Dumbledore *is* basically using Severus as a decoy, isn't he? I found the way Dumbledore discussed the situation with Severus chilling -- he takes for granted that Severus will die and that Severus will welcome death and, if not, well, Severus' feelings are not something Dumbledore needs to concern himself with. You conveyed Dumbledore's ruthlessness very well through his words, for example, in the way he speaks so dissmisslvely of Hermione, when to her face he is all kindly concern, and in the way he excitedly describes how the original plan backfiring is actually an improvement.In a response to an earlier review, you (and perhaps the reviewer?)  made the distinction between the kind of strategic planning that a general does, which can appear quite ruthless, and the way said general motivates his minions to do their jobs. In Dumbledore's case, he relies on manipulation to motivate his troops. I think this distinction is right on target. The ruthless strategy seems much less troubling than the emotional blackmail. It's the latter that makes Dumbledore like Voldemort -- because it  creates and exerts power over others, whereas strategic planning is necessarily rather detached from people.  Even though a general may treat people as pawns to some extent, the pawns usually know what they're getting into and why.  Though I suppose many, many armies have marched to war blinded and motivated  by ideology.You gave Severus a great Last Word when he tells Dumbledore he's equal to Voldemort. As I've told you before, my favorite thing about SL is the way you are mapping Severus' emotional landscape and, for that matter, telling us what he's thinking through all of this. You've given him a believable, logical epiphany/crisis in this chapter: since he left the Death Eaters, Dumbledore has been his confessor and he has looked to Dumbledore for eventual absolution. Suddenly, that's come crashing around him as he realizes just how manipulative and ruthless Dumbledore is. No wonder he tumbles into despair. But as another very insightful reviewer commented, Severus needed to be shattered in this way in order to let go of the past -- which Dumbledore has done his best to mire him in. You are dealing with an issue that I think is central to Severus' character -- what is left for him *after* the war? His whole life has been focused on one task and everything made subservient to it -- job, manner, dress, habits and so on. By destroying his illusions, you are giving him a way of surviving after the war -- provided he can survive the destruction of his illusions.You conveyed Severus' state beautifully, as well as Hermione's. Throughout the story, your abiltiy to put complex feelings, thoughts and emotions into economicial, vivid words is amazing -- no use plotting them if you can't write them, and you can.I liked the plot devise of Dobby fetching Hermione and the way they retreated into the separate room (or Severus retreated and found them there) was a very nice representation of them hiding away, from Dumbledore especially.I'm going to have to pull out DH to figure out what happens next. I know you are masterfully weaving this tale into DH, but I'd probably appreciate it more if I looked at DH again. If I recall correctly, though, it seems that you are having the scene at Malfor Manor when Harry disarms Draco be Severus and Hermione's Plan. Brilliant! It takes a very logical mind, as well as a creative one, to weave this all together.  Do you have a diagram?  An excel spreadsheet?I find reviewers' attitudes towards DH and JKR intersesting. One book can't do everything ... you are filling in characters and POV that were left unexplored ... but I find it hard to fault an author for focusing on the story she is telling, especially when the book is already so long. But I am so very glad you are telling Severus' story.Hope this isn't too rambly ... I'm quite tired but wanted to review now as I won't have time tomorrow. Write on!Red Roo

Had Hermione not been there, I'm afraid all would have been lost. Thank goodness Dobby went and fetched her. Everyone has a breaking point, even someone as rigid and strong as Snape. His dispair was palpable, and indeed the magic of the two of them was the only thing that could bring him back. It was very interesting to me, when he had the realization that Dumbledore isn't the man he thought and it left him feeling broken and unsure. I think everyone had a moment like this when reading DH, and that betrayal cuts deep. Wonderfully written as always, just a breathtaking and moving chapter. I'm all caught up on my re-read now, whatever will I do now? Can't wait for more. Thank you so much.

Ron isn't usually my favorite character, because he's often characterized as an immature brat, but I love him in your story. The explaination of his reaction to the Horcrux is so uncanny, really makes sense. Great chapter, as always.

You write your two as if there is a deeper connection btween them than just matrimony or a shared secret. This is something much deeper that allows them to actully be ther for the other in their darkest hour and time of need. this is a truly amaizing fic.

Mmm this chapter I have been waiting for, and it's left me speechless. Just beautiful, the longing for what could be, for what they share. So romantic. I'm so glad they got to see each other, I could feel so vividly how Hermione felt as Snape approached her from the trees. Oh God she was waiting for him. Not so speechless after all, *hugs* just because.

Lucius strode from the room with the air of a man who would very much like to slam a door.Such a great line, hahaha! The chapter is superb of course, ooh the Nagini scene is so scary! Sheesh that snake is so creepy.

Ooh Severus is my hero. I love his confidence in this story, lacking in others. Upon reading DH, I was so angry that the real hero of the story had been so neglected and his character not developed as it should. And I think I've probably, by now, expressed to you how much this story fulfills my wishes as to how the story should have been, but I'll say it here again, this is the story DH can never be.

The horrors of the horcrux are just chilling, makes me all shivery. Great depiction of how it gets to each of them in different ways.

Gah leave it to Dumbledore to persist in his controlling ways even as a portrait. I would AK him myself, sometimes he's maddening. Hermione is a fierce warrior and she is so strong to take what she hears in stride. Love it! So lovely how Snape drifts off to sleep imagining the woods and Hermione, steadfast in her trust and faithfulness. Aw, romantic.

Oh, thank god they are going to ignore Dumbledore! That man is just as much a manipulator as Voldemort is. There is no difference between them- Dumbledore sees sacrificing Snape as a means to an end, and feels no remorse at ridding Snape of his life because Dumbledore has cast his judgment and determined that Snape deserves nothing. Voldemort is the same way, determined to protect blood and rid the world of the threatening Muggles.

Now we're entering the most interesting part of DH to me, Snape as Headmaster. I was crushed that it was glossed over so much in the book, so I love that you've given us a window to Snape's thoughts here. Totally makes sense, the paintings. Moving onwards! :)

You know, Moody's death in the book didn't really phase me, but here I cried for him. He was their ally, the only who shared their secret. That made his character more real to me than the books ever did. To Mad-Eye.*salutes with whisky glass* (no whisky for me cus I'm preggers, lol).  The end of the chapter is fierce emotionally, poor Snape to feel so helpless.

Somehow, in a single statement, he had managed to imply that she had misidentified a mushroom and poisoned him and that he found her so repulsive that only neurotoxicity could have brought him to kiss her.That was brilliant.  And I loved the end of the chapter.  And I can't stop reading even though I need to do something else ...Bad Lariope for writing such a mesmerizing tale!

There's a really interesting foil-type thing - or symmetry, I don't know what to call it - going on with Snape and Dumbledore. For most of the series, we think of Dumbledore as the one who's fighting for all the right reasons, but now Dumbledore is being revealed as the callous manipulator, fully prepared to send everyone to their death for the greater good (so then who's left to enjoy the greater good?). And all that time, Snape was forced to put on a mask to distance himself from the world, and he eventually became the callous thing he was pretending to be - so much so that he was prepared to die (like Dumbledore!). And now he's waking up and starting to fight for love and for the future, and he desperately wants to stay alive. It's just a cool thing that's happening as the truth about both of them is developed. If that made any sense at all. But yes, awesome story! It's spectacular how tightly it fits with canon and improves on it.

My daughter came storming out of her room to find me-- actually storming.  You see she got to this chapter before I did.  Her comment was "If Dumbledore wasn't already dead, I would strangle him myself, and I've only read about half of the chapter!"  If you had any idea how absolutely nonconfrontational she is and she's breathing out murderous intent...Well, now I've read the chapter and I'm ready to aide and abet...Loveitloveitloveit!  ^_^

Oh man, this is potent stuff. It's hard to imagine the chutzpah Hermione has to muster to go through with this plan, however necessary it is. But this chapter is perfect, really. Poignant and then soooo uplifting at the end. Horray for Fidelius!

'If they made it, they would have Snape to thank. But what of his survival? Who would tend his wounds, worry at his bedside? When he returned to the Death Eaters, who would even know or care if he was in trouble?'Who, indeed?I love the pace of this story and the way you've very neatly tied it into canon (only better!)What a joy to read.

Wow, what a life-affirming reunion.  I'm so glad that Hermione dragged Severus back from the edge of madness and despair.  Damn Dumbledore.

“Hermione.”“You can’t,” she gasped, trying to wrench free of his grasp. “I want you to so badly, but you can’t. It’s too dangerous.”“Do you really think I would let him hurt you now?”“Not me, you sodding imbecile! He’ll kill you. He’ll find out, and he’ll kill you.”Something inside of him shattered as she threw him off and ran for the Floo. He watched her robes swirl as she disappeared into the flames. Staggering to a chair, he sank into it. He’d looked into her eyes and hadn’t needed Legilimency to read the truth there. She cared for him. No, he didn't need Legillimency -- but maybe a Bludger upside the head wouldn't be amiss!Sigh ... poor, tortured Severus.I simply love this story.