Well now that's torn it! I know they mean well but after Severus had worked so hard on calming her down, I can't I can't blame him for losing it a little.  

My heart breaks for Hermione, so much loss is difficult to deal with, hopefully Severus will be able get her to open up.

Brilliant! I am enjoying the way you are slowly drawing them together.  I hope that you are able to update soon...!

I'm with Crookshanks - thank goodness.

Don't quite agree with Snape's assessment, I think.  Hermione could have died.  On first reading he seems a little less alarmed than I would have through he'd be upon seeing her appearance.  Forgetting to feed and clean up after her beloved Crookshanks is the strongest indication she was close to sleeping forever.

This was the first of your stories that I discovered.  Your note that it was darker than what you usually wrote intrigued me.  Yesterday I finished the Master of Enchantment cycle, so I had something to which I could compare Owned.  I truly enjoyed the Master of Enchantment, and reading it increased my appreciation of Owned.  In RL I do trauma work.  My experience is that your understanding of Hermione's emotions and psychological dynamics is very perceptive.  I also appreciate the way Severus understands her and his restraint and finesse in healing her.  Bravo!  I look forward to the rest of the story!  And thanks for updating often enough that I can remember what's going on in the story without re-reading earlier chapters.  Thanks!

Ah, Crooks gets it.  I hope Severus isn't going anywhere.  I think he knows he ought not to.

The needed protector has arrived, indeed.  While there was no doubt in my mind that he would in fact knock, or get in on his own if need be, I was afraid of what would happen once inside.  I needn't have worried.

One thing I love about your Snape is how he always makes the right move where Hermione is concerned and does so with such confidence that had we not gotten his perspective a few chapters back, I would think he had some experience with this and truly did have a calculated plan.  It makes it feel as though he couldn't make a wrong move, because when you peel away all of the layers, she just needs him.  I also think it helped his confidence that she ran out in search of him when she thought he was leaving.  That should cement the fact that he is more than welcome there.

At the end, when they are cozy on the couch gave me such hope.  This story has been so packed with intense emotion, that something so simple and sweet as them snuggling on the couch was a joyous thing. 

I love that Snape feels both annoyed and contented by Crookshanks presence on his lap.  And maybe the feel of this chapter is best summed up by the cat himself:

The food dish was full, and the girl was out of bed.   All is right with the world now. 

This chapter was just lovely.  I don't remember if you have told us how long this story is, so I don't know whether to think that we are on the upswing towards a happy ending, or whether to expect to spiral downward some more before we get there.  Either way, I am anxiously waiting for the next chapter. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I loved this chapter and the way that Severus handled Hermione was perfect, not too strict and not too nicey-nice. 

I was amused by Hermione's reaction when he offered to leave.
As unsettled and irritated as she felt, she was nevertheless happy to have him, the comforting, living, breathing bulk of him taking up space in the middle of her sofa.

And even better than Hermione's reaction was Crooksie's: planting his back end on Severus’ lap, his front paws on Hermione’s jeans-clad legs, and beginning to purr with a violence surely sufficient to register on the Muggle’s Richter Scale.

Purrrrrfect!

Wonderful chapter, Very lovely scene with Severus and Hermione at the end.  This has been up till now a very emotionally draining exasperating tragic story. LOL This was a breath a fresh air.  This story is extremely well writiten and very entertaining. It wonderful to read somthing new from you.  I became a HG?SS fan reading your wonderful stories.

Turn Up Elves! Who thought that up? Its brilliant. Sign me up!! I need a small army of them yesterday. Move!


PS: thank you for not killing off Crooks. I was worried.

'I am here for tea, of course.'  (Translation:  I'm here because I was effing worried about you!)  Woo hoo! 

Turn-Up is adorable, and I can't help but wonder if he has another name.  Don't you wish we could have Terence’s Turn-Ups in our world?

I thought Severus did a wonderful job of not showing his emotions when he first laid eyes on Hermione.  Gracious, she looked like a scarecrow.  The first sign that Hermione still had some gumption was that she jumped from her bed as soon as she thought Severus was was about to leave.  But the most delightful thing for me was that they slept together on the sofa with their arms wrapped around each other.  YES!!!

Crooks is the smartest kitteh ever!  He knows what he and his mistress needed has manifested here in this dingy flat:  The food dish was full, and the girl was out of bed...  The needed Protector had arrived.
Thank you for this truly fabulous chapter, Subversa! 
Beth

Gently done... had he moved too quickly, he'd have lost her... and in his own way, he's fragile as well... He'll give her strength... and I hope he'll accept some from her as well - when she is ready.

And I wonder what the morning shall bring?  Will Severus get his answers or will Hermione get hers?

Wow, Hermione is in a bad way. I'm so glad she was able to call Snape before it was too late. Crookshank's approval is, of course, vital.

awesome ... simply loved this chapter ... have to say I love all your stories, but this one's definitely on my top 3 list

I think Crookshanks is somewhat more switched on than his owner at present. :)

<blockquote>ginning to purr with a violence surely sufficient to register on the Muggle’s Richter Scale.</blockquote>

Ah, youve met my cats, I see...

Jiminy cricket, when they get going I'm afraid the house is gonna fall down!  And my familiar adopted my boyfriend within about five seconds of boyfriend's arrival on scene.

"The needed Protector had arrived."

Aw.  Now, does Severus fully realise that without him, she'll just keep reverting?  Is he going to have to drag her back to his house or will he be making frequent trips to see her now?  Or will he hire her or something to keep her close to hand?

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Another fantastic chapter. They always seem so short. *not a complaint of any sort. That just means that your writing is very engaging. Well done.

Just in time!  Severus is going to have to accept that she is not going to come to his house, that he just needs to barge in to her house.  Poor Crookshanks, totally abandoned; too bad he cannot summon a Patronus himself.  I love the Turn-Up elf!  But I expect Severus will take care of her himself, rather than use a Turn-Up elf for everything.  Fingers crossed that things go smoothly in the morning when they all wake up.  Thank you for the new chapter!!

ah, that's lovely.  i loved the highly significant jam moments, and snape being nurturing in his snape way.  and crookshanks.

i also liked hermione being sort of cranky and unreasonable at least in her thoughts when he said he might go. 

very sweet.  I can't wait to see what happens when they awaken!

Okay.  Now we're getting somewhere!

(squeeeee!)

Crookshanks is a very obliging sort of cat.

And unusually practical as well.

He should have a song of his own, I think.

Yay for the arrival of the Protector!

Loved this. Loved it. Snape's actions here are perfect. Crookshanks as matchmaker is love. I'm just ... so happy! My charges for the day are presently watching Olivia on the telly, and this was just a delicious afternoon read ... and given how much more regularly you update than others (myself included), no apology is required. Every chapter is a treat. :-)