And more wonderful characterizations! You make the Healer type of Maire come to life as perfectly als the Calliope type. And I can understand Snape SO well that he loses his patience with Calliope - what a menace she is, in her way! Of course, she means well, but she goes about it in an entirely wrong way. And of course she won't ever understand why, too...
Poor Snape, thoug. This is going to be hard for him. The way he gets aware of Hermione is very sweet, though.

Author's Response: Thank you, Alcina!  Yes, Calliope is a menace, especially for someone in Snape's position.  I am glad you can  understand where he is coming from, and I am really happy you enjoyed his thoughts of Hermione.  I appreciate all your lovely reviews!  

You manage really well to show the difficult times these four are going throuhg, and show it without bashing one of them or showing them in a negative light, too. It's so understandable for each of them to react the way they do!

Author's Response: It is so gratifying when a reader really connects to this story and really gets what I am going after.  Thank you for this generous review.  It's wonderful to know that you were able to connect with all the characters!

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: I'm glad you like my reviews. I had read the whole story posted so far about the time of my first review, but as there was a posting stop, I waited with reviewing, too, looking what was going to happen. Getting your review-answer brought me to re-reading the chapters, which I'm actually doing, really delighted that there is already a new chapter waiting! I'm so glad you didn't abandon this fic.

Wow they are so affected by the war - Dh does not touch on this and this was a way of looking at what they might have went though - I like the chapter.

This chapter was so intense and wonderfully written.  You could feel the enormity of pain that Severus was going though.  It broke my heart to see him so sick.  Hermione is like his angel in this story and I loved it.

Liked the first chapter - wished it was a big longer but cannot wait to see where you take the story

"Obsessive."  Only that red-headed prat would call attention (over)due to Snape that, and downgrade all the sacrifices He made for the cause, the war.  Poor Hermione--she keeps antagonizing Ronniekins cos they don't belong together!! 

I like this! No fluffy, easy, quick solutions or cheap romance this time (which can be very nice, too, of course), but actual people suffering real experiences and dealing with them in a convincing way (from denial and looking for distraction to supporting each other and trying to cope). Psychologically much more credible than JKR´s story (but then her story aims at other things, I suppose, and it's not fair to judge it by other standards than what it was made for). Very curious to see further developments!

Wow.  What a chapter.  Poor Hermione...Poor Ron...Poor Ginny and Poor Harry.  Very good.  I can't wait for the next one.

I'm really appreciating this story - your take on the life post-war. I can't see it being an easy thing to handle, for any of them, and it was one of the things I missed in DH, seeing any glimpse at all of them dealing with the aftermath.

I've never felt Ron and Hermione are right for each other, and I'm not the biggest Ron fan in the world, but here I can actually feel sorry for him and understand what he's going through.

Good beginning. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Maire sounds great--very McGonagall-ish.  Hermione's gonna need another female mentor,e sp. one so similar to herself.  Severus is very, very lucky.

Great teaser!  Compelling start.

Your prose is very sure and clear, and I think you have an excellent way of illuminating what motivates people, what their inner fears and hangups are.  I'm looking forward to reading more of this!

It just gets better and better.  I like the fact that you took this chapter to focus on the turmoil that Hermione is living in.  I suspect that since Snape seems to be recovering we will soon see his own internal battle.  He will, I am sure, have Hermione to lean on.  Will she in turn be able to lean on him?

I love the tone you have set for this piece. It is dark and painful, but you can see signs of hope, of opportunities. Great job!

Very realistic story! I often wish that JKR had gone into this bit in DH instead of just...well...stopping. Poor, miserable Severus! I hope his pain goes away soon. I'm looking forward to reading more!

I feel so bad for Severus and all the pain he is going through.  But it is good that he has Hermione there to help him through it.  And the wisdom that the older witch is brilliant and hopefully will help Hermione through this too. 

I continue to like this story a lot, and am very anxious to see what is ahead of these two.  I'm so happy to see that the next chapter is already in the queue.

I continue to like this story a lot, and am very anxious to see what is ahead of these two.  I'm so happy to see that the next chapter is already in the queue.

Really enjoying this.  I really like your depiction of Snape's in-and-out state.  very well done, I think.  (I don't have much experience on which to base my approval, but it seems right.)And I like that Hermione has not been in love with him for years, (as in some post DH stories) but feels the call to help him as an ally.Thank you for sharing!

Loved the 2nd chapter - sounds like Severus is going to take  while to get better and has a lot he will go through - sounds like a long good story to me and that is great - cannot wait to read the 3rd chapter.

Great 1st chapter - wished it was a little longer - cannot wait to read the next one

THank you so much for the update, this seccond chapter was very well written and intriguing, I look forward to read more!

This is a great start; thank you for writing. I'm looking forward to reading the whole thing!

I'm enjoying your story very much. Hoping for the happy ending without too much angst between now and then! Thanks for your work!