I can't imagine you aren't going to fill us in on Severus' side after he left Hermione to go home.  Has Hermione thought about that yet?  Even if Severus and Cordelia divorce, Hemione and Severus can't get married. They are both muggle born. Has Hermione thought about that? Does she really expect Severus to be OK with her marrying someone else and having to sleep with that person to consummate the marriage? And that's just for starters.  It seems rather impulsive for her to have rushed into the divorce after the magic of the rings was reversed without consulting Severus. Theo isn't in love with another woman that he wants to marry. He wouldn't have come back if it hadn't been for the burning rings. Could they have stayed married and continued on with their lives? I know Hermione doesn't like the idea of betraying her mother-in-law, and she doesn't like the idea of being "the mistress" but the only way to avoid that is for them both to leave Britain. There is a lot at stake including the business she and Severus share.  She fought for that house in order to stay close to Severus without thinking any further. Is Hermione oblivious to these facts? What a stupid, selfish, impulsive girl!I really, really think she should have discussed their options with Severus before she got the divorce finalized. Knowing him, I imagine he would have already explored this scenario in his mind when he thought about his feelings for Hermione and their circumstances at the time.  One more day wouldn't have killed them all. Severus does have a stake in this.  I imagine he is hurt that she is throwing their relationship to the sidelines and only thinking about how this affects her. She would be beside herself if it had been the other way around. It's like a kick in the teeth for Severus.  I'm feeling very bad for Severus right now.Can Hermione marry Lance?How long do I have to wait for the next chapter? I even went back and read a bunch of chapters over again to drag it out. Please update soon.

In an earlier chapter Hermione noticed that Severus and Cordelia seldom touched each other. Is this something Cordelia only does at dinner parties or is she doing this for Hermione's benefit?  Is it because she bothered by the fact that Severus and Hermione have become "friends", as her parting remark seemed to indicate when she had asked Severus to give the message to Hermione?

 
A thestral is perfect for Severus' patronus. In your universe, do every living witch and wizard in the entire world have a unique patronus? I know Harry has his dad's and Severus used to have Lilly's, but they were dead by then. Can witches and wizards have the same patronus as another living one?  Being able to send one's patronus makes it seem that each person's is unique. I could be confusing if two people possessed the same patronus. I have no idea what the cannon answer to that is, do you?

 
I'm glad there is some way to relieve the pain of the ring.
Lovely plot!!!  Awesome characters!

I am very drawn into this story.  I like that it doesn't have too much fluff (though don't get me wrong, I like a good lemon as well as any other girl).  I get excited when I see an update.  You are an excellent writer.  I don't remember reading this story when you posted it four years ago; I am so glad you are posting again so I can read it now.  Thank you.

His foul humours had lead to some heated arguments? I can't imagine Hermione arguing with a snarky Severus Snape and her employer at this point.  By the way, I just experimented with watching from under my eyelashes as I often read about in romances and I felt like I must look rather sinister with my head down and my eyes rolled up. (Confession... I'm a weirdo who likes to make the expressions sometimes while I read to assist with my imagination when I want to savor a moment in a story. I also often repeat some of the lines out loud the way I think they would sound when they please me. I adore the well turned phrase of a true word smith. Fortunately, I do my reading alone.) Seriously, is this a kind of peripheral vision type of watching?  Another annoying question for you: If Severus prefers honest toil to idle pursuits, why doesn't he work a little on the weekends? And what kind of idle pursuit would a man like Severus engage in, playing chess with Moe? I can't picture him sitting and reading a book he was bored with if he would rather be working on potions research. Is that just his justification  for looking forward to Mondays? And I guess you answered my question regarding Cordilia. She's jealous!  Strange from a woman that's shagging someone else, as I'm sure that's why she is gone all the time. But then again, I'd be jealous too. No matter that it isn't logical when I'm sure she's cheating, but one can't help but feel possessive of one's own husband, and it's right in front of her face all the time. He doesn't seem to pay as much attention to his wife as he does to his daughter in law. It's just like a man not to even think about such a thing, but then again, if it had crossed his mind, he obviously could care a less. She needs him as he needs her. He isn't worried. I admire the fact that she doesn't come down into the lab to see how they are getting on. I don't think I would be able to stop myself. I'd also be making time to share lunch with them on occasion. She is so much better at this than I would be. I've decided you shouldn't let me have a wand either.  I might be a hypocritical hag, but I wouldn't be able to mind my own business under the circumstances. Oh it would be a lovely fight! You'd find me a right bitch. I'd better stick to the straight and narrow. No marriages of convenience for me. I haven't the subtlety. 

OK. I understand and admire that Severus is feeling sorry for Hermione and is being nice to her, but why, pray tell, is he so worried about impressing her in his lab and feeling the need to make sure everything perfect for her. Men need women to admire them, don't they. ...Especially women they are possibly attracted to. Yet, he seems to have no idea. I suppose that is because he's a man and hasn't ever thought about the fact the men do not befriend women they find unappealing. It's just business as usual for that species. Now I totally understand why Hermione want's to impress Severus Snape. And why hadn't she ever noticed his elegant fingers before? She must have been a late bloomer in the hormone department. Lance has been around the block a few times and I imagine Moe has as well. They see something that Hermione and Severus don't see yet.  I can't yet imagine how they would work out a relationship with the circumstances the they are in as practically family.  I am looking forward to some quite conflicted feelings, thoughts and emotions in these two as they find themselves more attracted to the other. Will Cordilia notice? She doesn't seem like a stupid woman. Obviously, Severus wouldn't marry anyone who was stupid. Hmm.

With a troubled smile, she strolled to the next fireplace, feeling simultaneously freer and entirely more trapped than she ever had in her entire life.

Oh my goodness... the clock is ticking... and I just know that Cordelia won't go quietly, will she? 

All told, Theo got off lightly, and I liked that Hermione didn't want to take half of everything he had.  It wouldn't have made for a happy future for either of them.  I could have kissed Lance for the way he reasoned with Theo about giving his half of the house to Hermione. 

I wonder how long it will be before Cordelia blows her stack?  Like Theo, she can dish it out, but she can't take it.  I am so looking forward to the next chapter!!!  I adore this story. 

Beth

The Xiao Tiang Mei cauldron was such a thoughtful birthday gift for Hermione.  Severus couldn't have made a better choice for her if he'd had a thousand years to think about it.  However, he couldn't have made a bigger blunder during the dinner party if he'd spent the last ten years practicing being stupid. 

I give thank for Lance everytime I think about him, and right now I'm cheering for the knot he jerked in Severus' arse.  I don't think for a minute that there won't be hell to pay when Severus next sees Cordelia, but there is no doubt in my mind that her chickens will be coming home to roost.   With Theo back, perhaps there will be a lot of different chickens coming home to roost.

Thank you for another fabulous chapter!
Beth

I probably shouldn't have enjoyed the violence against Theo quite so much... you may have just invented the trope of Theo!bashing.

Six month - Severus needs to get his act together!

I wonder if Theo is going to have a wee word in his mum's ear about getting her act together and divorcing Severus. :)

Quite a satisfactory chapter thank you very much.  I suppose Theo was punished enough with the ring.  Now he just needs to convince his mummy to divorce Severus and marry her love so everybody can have a happy ending.

First let me say that there are plenty "porn without plot" fics out there for those who want constant shagging.  Your story is very engaging and I think the 'tartness of the lemonade' is quite appropriate for it.

Next, I think my heart broke just a little when Severus said what he did to Hermione. 

Theo is back!  All I have to say is "bout time!"

Mmmmm, tasty chapter.  They made a lot of progress in this one.  And Lance got his moment of glory.

Hmm, Theo was far more reasonable than I expected. He's not a bad guy, I guess, just an overgrown child in many ways.   Looking forward to reading the next update.

Oh man! I'm getting so excited over again! Hermione's finally divorced, and we're getting closer toward the end.

This was a great chapter, but it is so emotionally draining, that I find I don't even have much to say.  This, of course, really sums it all up:

With a troubled smile, she strolled to the next fireplace, feeling simultaneously freer and entirely more trapped than she ever had in her entire life.

Fabulous chapter, as always.

Oooh, both birthday gifts are wonderful in their own way.  I want to know what she would have picked if he had made her choose, lol. :)

Cordelia is infuriating.  She doesn't want Severus, so why can't someone else have him?  I can certainly understand the need to keep up appearances in polite society, but it could be done in a much less catty way. 

And Severus ... *puts head in hands* ... what was he thinking?  It is bad enough that he was all over Hestia, but then the things he said to Hermione.  I really wanted to kick some sense into him.  Of course, I don't have to because there is Lance.  Sigh ... I adore that guy.  Usually we see wise, loveable Lance, but this chapter we got badass Lance.  Does it get any better than that?!?!

I am glad that Hermione forgave him, but only after making him sweat it out a bit.  It really was an awful thing he said to her.  Lets hope they learn from this.

And Theo ... *gulp*

Ooh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Such good news, yet not... Looking forward to the next re-post!

Well, that certainly could have gone worse! I'm hoping that the Law will be repealed or amended within the next six months. Or some other resolution to the whole sorry situation.

And do you know what irritates me most about that anonymous review on ff.net? That they called HERMIONE a whore -- THEO cheated FIRST! Damned misogynist!

Theo really is a twit. Hes luck Hermionie didnt take more from him for the pain he caused her.   His worry about where he would stay showed how petty & small he is,  I hope he will keep his mouth shut as he said he would.  although I think Cordila already knows.  I think she will be very rude to Hermine now.

Duh duh duhn....Hacked off Cordelia, Clueless Severus, Confused Hermione, Duplicitous Lance, and Suspicous Theo.  So many loose threads.  Naughty author indeed...

Oooh, took him long enough to return!  Looking forward to the next chapter!

I'm not sure I could have brought myself to forgive him - especially as he didn't even seem to realise just how badly he'd hurt her. And now Theo is back! More please!

Poor Severus, so broken. But things get better, yes?

Hee! I still think he's an idiot! I wonder how long it will be until he takes that advice and returns to London?

It's an impossible situation to be in, but I'm glad they're finally together! And I'm also looking forward to reading the Ring of Fire - at the moment it's impossible to think of Theo as anything other than a selfish little boy... let's see if that changes!