Oh, my dear, I have no idea how you are doing this, but each chapter is more amazing than the last!  There has been no question in my mind for quite awhile now that this is a true classic you are crafting before our very eyes.The moment at which Severus realizes what is happening and sees the whole plan laid out before him is masterful and masterfully written.  He would, of course, already know about Horcruxes, and his realization that Dumbledore does, too, and that this is what he has set the Trio to tackle (and that he might be able to help!) is astonishing and absolutely rings true.And thank you for giving him a brief moment to connect directly with Hermione without AD's interference.I do believe you made Ron's leaving scene stronger, more dramatic, and more heartbreaking than it was in the original.  By giving it to us from Hermione's viewpoint, with her own very heavy burdens to carry and her own private knowledge, you have made his desertion even more powerful than it was, because it really matters to her and her ability to do what needs to be done (all of what needs to be done, not just the mission to help Harry).And Albus would do well to heed Severus' reprimand that people are not chess pieces--they do indeed do the unexpected, they do not behave according to set rules.  If nothing else, hearts are unpredictable.  And that is, whatever Dumbledore may think, a very good thing....

This story is so much better than THAT BOOK.  Seeing these events through Hermione and Snape's eyes and having an alternative to the tripe we were handed.  You are weaving your alternative web very skillfully.Thank you.  Really.  Thank you.

Still a very awesome read!

This just keeps getting better and better!  *cheers*

Oh the torment and turmoil of Ron leaving!! In your version can he stay gone? Or if you must bring him back how about Hermione & Harry NOT forgiving him?IMPERIO: hot sexxors when Snape hands off the sword

One of the only bright spots of coming home from my trip was finding this update.  I adore this story, and I particularly loved the paragraphs begun by these sentences:The world had changed. Snape stood in the same place he had been a moment before...Who were these people she was living with? Why were they so willing to let each other go? I thought these paragraphs offered us such wonderful insights into their thoughts.  Of course, that is the greatest part about this story, and has been from the beginning!  You give their thoughts such wonderful wings with your well-chosen words.

Well I can't wait until snape and hermione can see each other again. Great Chapter. Update soon please.

Hi Lariope,As usual, the other reviewers have left me with very little to say except Brava!  And many thanks for the quick updates.  I don't know how you write so fast.I've been musing on fanfiction today since I saw the "save fanfiction" icon on this site for the first time ... it seems to be that taking an author's work and making it richer while still being faithful to the plot and characters is a tribute, nothing less, especially since its done without profit.  An author can't write *everything* in a book and has to choose a particular perspective to present ... and much as we grownups love them, the HP books were intended for kids so they had to have a certain simplicity to it (and lack of you know what, not to mention forced marriages, lol).  What you are doing makes the whole thing much more satisfying, especially since though you stay in canon, you add so much of your own invention.  And the satisfaction is there regardless of how one felt about the various portrayals/resolutions in DH (or the camping) --that is, many of us appreciate the way you've highlighted DDs maniupulation, given Snape freedom and so on ... but I think one could like your story even if one was more or less satisfied by DH.  Though I suppose one has to like Severus and Hermione ...Well I meant to leave a quick thank you and look what I wrote.RR

Oh, yes. Truly, excitingly wonderful. To paraphrase Oliver Twist, "More please and be quick about it."  Good job. Great job actually. Love the story and the characterisations.  I am enjoying very, very much. Thanks.

Perfect, is he jealous of Ron at all?

Uhoh, I wonder what will happen now that Severus knows the whole plan.  I wonder if Harry will figure out that he's a Horcrux as well. That does make sense in a way. The prophecy does say that both can't live at the same time. So if Harry's a Horcrux, that means someone will have to kill Harry while someone else kills Voldemort.

Oh, wonderful! Snape figures the whole thing out and the whole game looks different. You've tapped into a powerful post-DH wish of mine -- that at least some of Dumbledore's puppets could cut the strings loose and be their own agents. I thought that he and Hermione would get to meet when he returned the sword -- looking forward to that.

I love the way you're weaving into DH.  Great Chapter! 

I too hated all things camping in DH, but I had to admire the tension and suspense in this version -- also, I'm looking forward, like Hermione, to the day Dumbledore's portrait gets a good talking to. Great chapter.

A terrific chapter yet again - possibly one of my favourites so far (and this whole fic has been so very good that it's not an easy thing to even consider). I just loved the way Severus realised the plan - and making his choice, there and then. And that he got to speak to Hermione without Dumbledore present, even if only for a few moments... she needed that.

I loathed loathed loathed the camping part of DH. It was a waste of paper. Please tell me your camping adventure has an end and it is almost here? pretty please?What is the deal with the horcrux necklace again? Why can Hermione just toss it in the beaded bag and be done with it?

I am in awe of how you have taken DH and made so many improvements to it.  I love how Severus is making all these connections in his mind, Dumbledore's frustration (manipulative git), and Hermione's constancy.  That conversation at the end is both heartbreaking and enlightening.

Phineas Nigellus is now my most favorite portrait in the whole world. AD is a scheming pillock. I am glad he is already dead and of course Severus needs a hug.

I almost feel that Dumbldore has underestimated Snape (or did he wish for him to decipher everything).I suppose it remains to be seen.Did I remember to review last chapter to tell you how amazing I thought your horocrux dreams/images were?  If I did, it bears repeating - if not, I think Snape should punish me.

I have only started reading this late last night (as I usually enjoy your fics) and well it is 2:30am and I just had to read EVERYTHING you had posted. No disrespect intended to JKR or other FF authors, but this is truly AWESOME, so far you have 'righted' the world (in my mind), being that in the canon DH Severus truly got the rough end of the broom and that Dumbledore was (as you very succinctly put it) a chess player, rather than the carefully crafted eccentric, slightly doddery, benevolent, headmaster persona. My very favourite scene so far (out of many) is the scene in Dumbledore's office when Hermione agrees to trust and be married to Snape. Absolutely spot-on characterisations and brilliant dialogue. Oh but then there is the exchanges between Snape and Dumbledore. My heart now fears for Hermione as she sees Snape's patronus...or will you have something up the sleeve of your robe?I am truly looking forward to reading more :-)

I like the descent into horcrux madness, much more detailed than JKR gave us, but obviously she had other stuff to be getting on with. Cool chappy, would continue, but lunch is over in three minutes, just time for a fag then back to the idiots! Cheers!

You are doing a superb job with this:) This is exquisite craftsmanship to weave your tale into the fabric if what is already there, and your tale is making the original far richer:) This chapter really had me sitting here holding my breath as I read:){{hugs}}Fizzabella

wow wonderful chapter as usual my dear you are just making this story so much hermiones that its funny to think there is another book 7

Such a great chapter again! Wonderful, how you let Snape discover the secret Dumbledore is hiding. It's rather cute, though, that Snape still thinks Dumbledore would be capable of such a whiteness of soul that he would't have known about Horcruxes... the chesspiece phrase is awesome!
I'm really, really curious what you are going to let Snape do and decide now, as he knows it all, as well as I nearly can't wait to read how Hermione is making her decision when she is confronted with the attacked Snape - having the potion about her...

Author's Response: Well, don't start thinking about attacked Snape yet...we've got miles to go before we get there. (This is the speech I give myself all the time). :)

It is funny that Snape would underestimate Dumbledore in that way. I hadn't thought about it quite like that.

I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thank you so much for reviewing!

"I told her that the last thing I could tell her about the sword of Gryffindor was that I had seen you use it to break a ring.” Black smiled. “You are bound to keep the secrets of this office, Phineas,” Dumbledore roared. “And so I did,” Black said stiffly. “I told her nothing about what Headmaster Snape had done with the sword. You are no longer the Headmaster; I was not obligated to keep your secret.”Oh, SNAP!  Ha ha ha ha.  I can't get enough of that old fart.  Really.  Keep putting him in! ;-)Okay, so great chapter, I really felt Hermione's grief and fear and need for some comfort at the end there.  And Sev's longing to comfort her, but his panic that someone might hear!  You're building up this suspense and tension that when they finally do get to fall into each other's arms--it's going to kick ass.  Yes!