Again, Dumbledore is a weenie!!  For the most part I've liked Dumbledore (in the books), but always felt he was a manipulator and wouldn't have a problem sacrificing people in order to destroy Voldemort...but I'm with Snape here, I would love to rip up his portrait!I feel like a broken record, always saying the same thing...how much I love your story. I have hopes that your ending will be more to my liking than DH, but if not, I will not be disappointed...it's been an awesome journey!

absolutely fabulous! each chapter is better and better , can't wait for more!

Such a good chapter, such an evil cliffie!  arrghhh!

More! Please! It's very important that you keep writing!

Just exquisite!I look forward to their reunion.

How DO you do it?  Every review of this that I write starts with loud praise of your amazing characterizations! You've really captured Severus and Hermione's spirit in this. As for Dumbledore, well, I think you've portrayed him brilliantly.*loud cheers*

In this chapter, the ending gripped me. It was just so bittersweet to see Severus surrender to sleep with Hermione on his mind. I loved it and I will be looking forward to the next chapter!

Who could love Severus Snape?ME ME ME ME!!

I am continually awestruck by your talent. Thank you so much for this story. I have to tell you that I think you have really captured dumbledore; he's not the twinkling, loving old man he appears to be. The plan for severus and hermione to marry purely to help harry makes perfect sense. Dumbledore didn't plan on hg/ss having such a strong, deep connection, it almost transcends love in this fic. That being said, I do desperately hope for a happy ending *hint hint* :)

I really loved this chapter! As well as the whole premise of trying to make it canon compliant. I loved it how Phineas Nigellus lets Hermione listen in on Snape and Dumbledore's conversation; it's so in character of him, to do that, just to further frustrate Snape. As well as portrarying Dumbledore as such a Machiavellian character. There was one thing I noticed thought that I thought seemed out of character for Snape. I don't think he would have used Voldemort's name, but rather refered to him as the Dark Lord. Especially since it's "Big Brother" is out there watching for anyone bold enough to say it.But I can't wait for another installment and if Hermione will be able to remember that potion to save Snape in time. I'm also especially looking forward to how you will handle the Sword of Gryffindor scene!

Keepin' the faith! It's what Hermione does best! In Dumbledore's defence, the best leaders in war are generally the ones who can sacrifice those under them for the greater good (to coin a phrase). Look at Churchill, he was a bastard, but he got the job done.Another excellent chapter. Keep up the good work!

Dear God.   Utterly amazing. The complexity of the story you are weaving is especially compelling in this chapter.  Dumbledore continues to manipulate like a master (Severus may be the Half-Blood Prince, but Albus is Machiavelli's Prince incarnate!), and the fact that he must now be privy to all their exchanges through the portrait adds so much angst and restriction and richness to their conversation!I am sure that Albus knew the connection was still open - and he still underestimates Hermione.  If he truly believed what Severus has told him about her, he wouldn't let her hear half so much.  As it is, the fact that he believes her incapable of grasping his broader scheme works to her advantage.  Let him keep on thinking she is a little girl....  (Though I suspect, by that final remark, that he might just be starting to appreciate her, if only as a more useful pawn.) “I wish you were alive so that I could kill you again."  And if Severus could manage it, perhaps he could let Hermione have a stab or two, as well.  Oh, and why do I suspect that his Patronus could just as easily suggest his new wife as his old love?And what a marvelous detail to have let her get her hands on the marriage record while they were at the Ministry!  Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.  And did I tell you you're brilliant? 

Geez, but Dumbles continues to be an arse!  Doesn't trust his spy, doesn't trust Hermione's sense of honor.  I'm glad Severus bit at the portrait (Dumbles) and perhaps at that, the portrait was convinced?

Ggreat chapter, Phineas seems just as manipulative as Dumbledore ever was.

I always wondered why they took the portrait and then didn't use it thus

Ohh, I'd just want to punch Dumbledore. How dare he? This is completely in line with what we learned about him in DH, sadly... a master manipulator who doesn't even pretend to care about people when he can get away with not pretending.I'm glad Hermione got to overhear this, anyway! Even if Dumbledore seems to have been surprised by her support of Severus. And I'm glad she could reassure Severus and make him realise that the Ministry venture wasn't just a mad plan to free the Muggle-borns.

*smirk* And take that, you rude, manipulative bastard! Hehe, I love how Severus and Hermione snubbed Dumbledore. He deserved it. DH really made me hate Dumbledore, though really, if you look through the whole series it becomes obvious that Dumbledore is not the nice Headmaster he appears to be. But, I could rant about Dumbledore for hours, instead I'll tell you what I thought of this chapter.... I loved it, naturally! I really love how they find ways to say what they want to say without actually saying it. As always, I can't wait for more!

Yes, they need to stick together. Albus can stick it where the sun don't shine, even if he is a portrait. I love the line where Severus wishes Albus was alive so he could kill him again, this time with pleasure. That was so great.

Awesome story, Lariope.  

Oh my. Just grab hold of my heart and TWIST a few dozen times!!! I was on the edge of my seat reading this.I HOPE, HOPE, HOPE this is going to have a HAPPY ending, and I second what Severus said. I could happily kill Dumbledore, too:)Wow, what a chapter:)Fizzabella

Can I just joke first? If this was AUM, he would have wanked himself silly to get to sleep. HAHAHAHA!!!!!

All right, so this is not that piece of drivel-driven fiction. This is much classier. Look, there's a lot going on in this chapter (and how you pack so much into each one is a mystery), but instead of focusing on that-- because frankly, I'm going to need time to wrap my head around what HM Black did and that former HM Dumbledore might have realized and then played into another one of his infernal psychological traps-- I want to talk about something seemingly small.

It's the small details that make the reader feel as tho they are there, it's the crunching of leaves under knees, it's the flexing and relaxing of limbs that were held rigid all day with terror and anger, and so many more. Among other things, these are the mark of a writer who lives with their characters in that world, who lives there and knows these little details. More like, an educated observer,you are.

Snape's Patronus-- still a frickin' doe, huh? Not for long. And I wonder if he can change them conciously... hmm...

Author's Response: hehehe--you're totally right. I wish I could write that. :) And AUM is not drivel-driven fiction! Don't say that. AUM is very classy.

Onward... you are too good to me with these reviews--SL for me is a giant leap forward in living with my characters in a physical space, and I'm so glad that it's coming through.

I'm very interested in Patronuses (Patroni?) and how and why they change. Not sure I'm going to do that in this particular fic, as I've already written it elsewhere, but it continues to fascinate me.

xoxo

Great chapter... I love that the records Hermione chose not to destroy have resurfaced. It's been lucky for her to have caught that!

Thank you for yet another great chapter. This one was mesmerizing -- having Phineas enable a bit of constructive eavesdropping was a masterstroke! Going into this story initially, I thought it was clear it was another re-thinking of Snape's character and motives, and I always enjoy that :) But I didn't expect the great pleasure I'd take in re-thinking Hermione. The way you're de-constructing DH really recasts her as more authoritative, more creative. But she's still very much in character, especially because of her intense loyalty (to Harry and Ron, too, not just Snape). Thinking about what she'll do next (and what she *really* was doing offstage in DH) makes this story so intensely satisfying and exciting.

Just noticed something: Snape refers to Voldemort as "Voldmort" in this chapter. He did it in chapter 21 too, but there I let it slide since the DE:s weren't in charge of the MoM yet. So A) is the taboo on the name active? and B) Snape always refers to him as "the Dark Lord" in canon. Is there a specific reason to why he's suddenly all for the name DD used or did it just slide in there? Minor thing, but it bugged me. :-)

*sigh* You know the good thing about the real DH? I could just read it whenever I wanted to... With this story, I just want it to go on and on and on, and no matter how long the chapters are, I always want more, because they are just so beautiful. I get so excited when I see you've updated and I can't wait for the next chapter already, because they've never disappointed me.Great work, as always!gab