Yes, but then she didn't really have a way out. Oh, I can't answer that about the Healer... sorry.But I really appreciate the review!

Lucius as a voice of reason and a source of books!  But if he was going to match Severus up, I don't think he'd have chosen Hermione. I'm glad you liked this one - I had it on hold for a while now waiting for the right time to slot it in! There is more - loads more... oh, and yes, you do!!

Thank you very much, Jen. It was fun using a 'secret code' between the men, especially since Draco was oblivious to them. The talk between Lucius and Hermione was written ages ago, but it just didn't fit in until now. Yes, it is very loooong over due!  Thank you so much on the compliments.

LOL I'll tell him you said so! Yes, it is very long overdue, and I'm glad it fit in here. I wrote this ages ago and it just didn't fit until now... but yes, answers. and he may have finally opened her eyes a bit... She will read them as soon as I get the next chapter in queue... and yes, she will try to, yes, he did and he hasn't yet appologized for that - not really, and yes, she is, but never saw it that way.One can only be in Rome when the street sisgn says so... LOL Kidding. At least now she will be more informed.Thank you for the review.

Thank you, doll!

Oh, doll, only time will tell - and the next few chapters...Snape will be Snapish toward Lucius, but then he expects that. I'm sure he knows what happened to Hermione during the war - but it was really Bella who tortured her - not a Malfoy until she and her frends tried to escape!Yes, there is a bit of a climb to go, but we didn't have another decline at least.I don't mind the questions at all. I love them!Thank you for the review, I enjoy answering what questions I can.

Oh, my gosh, thank you. *blushes* I'm glad you liked this one.  Thank you for the review.

Oh gads you did this too! lol Isn't it hilarious buying bedding when your guy has opinions? geesh And they should get a clue - let me buy what I  like and you'll be happy too! Besides, they only sleep in it - it's not like they have their poker nights in the bedroom! Next time, just get what you want and surprise him. If he complains - send him to the couch. Hugs, doll, and thank you for the review.

Thank you very much. Thank you for the review.

Yep, Thank you again.

I agree. Thank you very much for the review.

Chatelaine, beautifully put... Thank you.

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, Ron is taking things pretty hard, he really though he and Hermione would be together... In Regards for Severus, I have my boyfriend reading my chpaters as I write them (he's so cute - wnats to know what I'm writting and keeps giving me suggestions and comments - men!) anyway, I'm taking these 'I'd react like this' comments and giving a go. So, I suppose I sould say that he's my co-author in a way. You can blame the way Severus acts on my guy. hehehe Don't worry - this is a romance, it's jsut got a couple of dips, turns, plunges and lumps to go through first.

Oh! Absolutely ( pardon any mispelled words...sometimes not my strong suit)No relationship is ever really smooth. Glad to hear your boyfriend is helping out. You sometimes need an interrepter for men...hehehehehe, been married quite a few years now and I still need the interrepter??(spelling?) anywho, am really enjoying this a lot. Thanks again.

Yep, she was right to insist, this is one step to making them equals in this relationship. It took such a long time, but you had all the chapters at once, imagine having to wait for updates. This way they have worked out a happy compromise for the holidays and they both have to give and take a little. Yep, he honestly thought that he’d plan the whole Christmas holiday and she’d go along – simply because he is the man and older, her professor and knows better – and it backfired into a argument. But they have both learned something, well several things through this – they have to compromise and discuss openly what they want.  I think Severus does realize that she wants to finish school and be with her friends, he certainly doesn’t hold her back from revision or her friends, but he wants to be with her. I think he sees that a rough year now – a long life ahead, and a willing partner is better than a wife you brow beat down (like his mum was) So yes, doing it this way was harder, on both of them, but hopefully they won’t end up resentful for anything. The best of hopes.

I’m sorry about your man, but there had to be something there since you married him. (it wasn’t an arranged marriage was it?) and if that’s the case if you wanted to you could find that in him again. Too many times we grow up and see what others have and lose focus on what we have. Take it from someone who lost their love, you’ll regret when he’s gone. There are all the good things to remember, like the jewelry and I’m sure others. We all have faults, and years of marriage those faults are easy to see. And there are many women who read fanfic because their men are not romantic – it’s why Romance novels are such big sellers and always on the top novel lists. Most men are not how we write Severus (or any Potterverse male) are portrayed. We want romance, we write it. we read it and dream about it, but reality, Severus – a real life Severus wouldn’t really be how we want him. Men don’t change as much as we’d like them to, and we as women have to earn to accept men as they are, not take them on as a project. Too bad this church you’re going to can’t benefit from your singing, or your bible study and teaching Sunday school. Why did it given him anxiety for you to have your outlet? Take one and do it again, if only for your own soul and happiness. Yes, I know.

Thnak you for reading and for the review. 

Thank you very much. You're absloutely right, about time. Things are getting better. Thank you for reading and for the review.

Thank you very much. I'm glad ou liked it. Thnak you for the review.

Thank you very much. You'll see him in action again, I promise. Thank you for the review.

Hmmm, good point. At this point, Hermione is still closer to her friend than to Severus. He's being curt and demanding with her, while Harry was showing/expressing real concern. She doens't know Severus well enough to realize he IS showing concern, only in his way - not as emotionally open as she'd used to. So she wasn't responding to Severus like she did to Harry. She's still getting (emotionally and psychologically) used to her situation and not as responsive as Severus would like... but in time, things will get better. At least she's not totally withdrawing from him.  Thank you for reading and for the review.

Thanks. I love them myself!

Thanks. I love them myself!

Thank you. I thought it would be far more realistic this way... then develope things out from here.

Thank you. I thought it would be far more realistic this way... then develope things out from here.

A lot. You'll see... :D

A lot. You'll see... :D

Sunny, Thank you for the review. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story as well.

Sunny, Thank you for the review. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story as well.

‘She went from really trying in the beginning to not giving anything at all that he didn't pull from her.’ } And he went from being an abusive ass and complete git, taking her where he wanted so he could fuck her as he wanted. If he hadn’t been such an asshole in the beginning, I could so agree with you, but he treated her like a free whore. Grudge sex – angry, using, get back at you sex the first month of their Bonding. For months. Until he was arrested and she stood by him, even defended him. Then after getting his freedom and his life handed back to him, he completely ignored her and left. (granted he was in shock, but Hermione didn’t know that – all she saw was his rejection) By that time she was through. Even though Ginny, George, and Lucius told her annulment isn’t possible, that it will work out, she’d been treated like his sex toy.

So she drew a line and held her ground. No more using me.

And she’s in school, carrying 11 courses and doing 7 NEWT level projects… and if you remember in the books, OWL year the teachers (Severus included btw) piled on the workload and homework assignments. Can’t you imagine how much would be piled on the NEWT level seventh-years? These marks reflect not only on individual students, but on the school as well and is reflected in the teachers’ performance records.

All the girl wants to know is that he’s not doing this to get shagged. There is six – 6 years of hurtful remarks and derogatory comments she’s endured form this man. Form the first day he consummated the spell that Bonded them, he had been a arse. Even using her brutally (he walked out and let her in tears, remember?) with no regard to her feelings at a home she’d loath to be in. His time in his house (now theirs) was better but only by slightly in that he at least was kinder to her needs, but it was still grudge sex. Sex. Not love making, not making love, sex.

So in perspective, poor girl is slammed on the brakes and decided to wait for a while. She has almost no income now. Only what was in her personal savings account, so there would be no presents from her, and thank you is an appropriate response. (BTW – he tore her underwear. He was only replacing them with ones HE liked better – front closures because they are easier to get undone. I don’t know if you’ve reached that chapter yet – TPP is behind the other two I post on)  All she wanted was to know he loved her, not just trying Slytherin ways to get in her knickers, and he’s not one for showing emotions and she can’t read him well yet. She can’t read him well at all.

All that said, things turn around at her admission.  Physically. When he admits that he loves her or is …

Next, she wants his respect. And so far he hasn’t really shown her that. Oh in little ways on small matters but not that he respects her.

His trust in her, wants him to trust her.

Isn’t that the basis for a solid good relationship?

Give me some time, they were so stubborn, both of them, but I’ve made strides in this (and the next one) chapter and it all works out.

Well, physically, love, knowing that he loves her and cares about her. Respect is next….

Thank you for reading and for the review.

Yes, one step forward. Thank you for readign and for the reveiw.

Thank you very much.