Canon simply passes over sending the Grangers off to Australia, as though it were an easy thing--physically easy, magically easy, emotionally easy. You have shown us that it could not possibly have been, and that it must have taken a great deal of planning and skill to pull it off, even if it wasn't necessary to also make it seem they were dead. You have also shown that it must have been extraordinarily difficult to allow herself to be erased from their memories.The moment when she decides the one thing she will take from the house to preserve her life with her family is so absolutely right and so absolutely sad. In fact, this chapter had me in tears pretty much throughout, including the coda. He has not left her homeless after all. Indeed. The only home she truly has now is with him.

Good lord, this story is amazing. Two things stood out this time as most compelling, though the entire chapter was incredible. Hermione waiting for him to speak: Of course she spoke over Ron and Harry! She could never trust them, trust their judgment. The fact that she behaves like this toward Severus says so much, and he understands that!  Also, his sort of testing her understanding of "double blind". She hated it at Hogwarts, but I think things weren't truly "real" before. Well, they certainly hit home this chapter-- didn't they?

Beautiful and tragic. My chest constricts more with each passing chapter, knowing where we must go. (Must we, Lariope? Are you sure?)

Author's Response:

I'm so glad you noticed that moment of her waiting to let him speak. I do love that she waits for him.

I've said this before (and I am the master of spoiling my own story) but it bears repeating--I will only follow canon so far. ;)

Thank you for reading, Lulabelle. Your work gives me so much pleasure. I'm so delighted you're reading mine!

Thank you for saving Hermione from Mary Suedom.  I found it pretty amazing that in HBP, Hermione seemed to exist only for the purpose of mooning over Ron Weasley.  Ron Weasley!  Of all the males in the HP universe, who could possibly moon over Won Won?  Lav Lav, that's who.But this amazing thing happened in DH.  Suddenly, Hermione was intelligent again.  She'd put everything into her handbag except food.  She did everything except write a fungus cookbook.  She had the wisdom of Solomon and the magical skills that were only rivaled by Ron Weasley's ability to speak Parseltongue after hearing it once.  Thank you for saving us from a Mary Sue. 

wonderful and heartbreaking- other words this was perfect

Ah, bravo. So an explanation of how she supposedly performed a memory charm on her parents but then later told Harry she didn't know how to perform memory charms - very good attention to detail there. I know you said you aren't following the books completely but I keep seeing these little details, like the one mentioned above, and I have to say it's bloody brilliant. Whether you are specifically following canon or not, you story fits in to it as if you could read the books and your story in tandum without missing a beat.

I hope Severus has sense enough to stay away from Peregrine! I have a bad feeling about her.Your description of the little get-together was wonderful. All that posing and postulating. I wonder who the guest of honour was?

I would call this your "epiphany"  chapter---for both Severus AND Hermione.  Up until now, Hermione has been desperately trying to both deny her own feelings toward Severus and to push away HIS for her---but this incident has pushed her beyond her limits, and forced her to face the fact that she DOES care, most desperately, for only HIM, to blazes with the rest of the world.  And Severus has been forced, by extreme contrast, to weigh what he "used" to desire above all, and to determine what he "now" desires above all, and has learned to fully distinguish glitter from gold. And in a way, all that is a pity, because I think what her ending statement in this chapter will make him WANT to do, is grab her to him, cup her face in his hands, and absolutely drown her in kisses.  But she is in no fit state for him to simply do that, not without a LOT of bridge-building first!  But I hope they DO get all the bridges built between them that they need to, and that the next chapter will end on a note as sweet for them as this one was bittersweet.I'm counting on your promise for "the end of the week"!  :-)

Ack! I sooo knew Hermione would be seeing her ring from the moment Narcissa touched Severus's arm! Ugh, though, that show the Purebloods put on is absolutely nauseating! I'm absolutely not surprised that Severus left early, in fact I'm very glad, for I don't think I could have stomached any more of their parading about. Though I must admit, Severus's flawless compliments were very entertaining. Even though I absolutely despise those Purebloods, I still love your writing. This chapter was as well-written as all the others and I am so excited that Severus isn't interested in anything he could get with that crowd. His focus is slowly shifting toward a future with Hermione, yay! Can't wait for next chapter!

Now that's an evil cliffie.  Wonderful chapter although I'm in a bit of a sulk about not knowing what will happen next. *sighs OK update soon? Please? with sugar on top?

Just a word to say I still like your story even if the end is a bit confused. But I don't worry as I'm sure everything will be explained.

Someone's going to have to do some fast talking here, an angry Hermione is a scary Hermione!

I wonder how easily Hermione will be swayed by Severus's explanation of dancing. Since she will definitely see that he's not hurt, she's not likely to go down to the dungeons to comfort him. Perhaps Severus will still be able to convince her that he wants her and not those other women?

I saw a rec for your story and read all 14 chapters straight. I enjoy stories that show us what happened in the books from another POV, and you've come up with many unique twists. I look forward to finding out what will happen to Snape and Hermione.

Boom! What the hell just landed there? Excellent cliffie. The next update best be up soon or I may go mad!

I've been meaning to say for ages, I love the way you contrast the OotP with the DE. The path of righteousness is never easy or attractive, which is what makes evil so powerful and dangerous. Not many people realise that, and even fewer express it. It's one of the things I really love about this fic.

Uhoh, Hermione's definitely pissed off!! I'm dying to know why she was able to see her ring all day, even though this was the first time it was mentioned since he left. I wonder why that would make her angry, unless she has some idea of what Severus has been up to when he was summoned. I can't wait until the next chapter.

Oh dear, me thinks Severus is in big trouble now.

Your portrayal of the gathering and all it's social gracies and niceties was excellent, very well written.  A totally different side of the Death Eaters than we normally imagine.  Got a feeling that Peregrine is going to be a whole heap of trouble though.

Holy smokes!  Severus is so freaking capable and intelligent and worthy of Hermione!  I am in awe of how smooth he is able to go from one world to the next, sliding into his assigned roles in a single breath.  And the comparison you reached is truly illuminating: He slunk when he attended Order meetings. There was no other word for it. But here--here, he strode.  Wow!  That's great stuff, there.I especially liked the beginning where he toyed with the idea of alerting Hermione that he had been summoned, hoping for her concern and comfort on his return!  Aww...that sweet vulnerable side of his personality is what really keeps me coming back for more.  But his powerful, keen mind and ability to put up with so much from both sides of the fight are what truly put him above every other character in the Potterverse.  Okay I promised last time I wouldn't ramble on and on....<oops> so I'd better stop now!  Can't wait for more...poor Hermy!

Well, someone is in trouble... I'm looking forward to seeing her reaction fully. Great work, please update soon!

gab

Would he not see his own ring?

You know, I've read a lot of Death Eater Party scenes, but can't think of many that portray their gentility and amorality as well as this one does. Great scene, and great touches of perspective on Severus' character and past. That said, the cliffie was the truly evil part of this chapter, but you already know that :)

Oh my! Well, actually, I think Severus deserves to have a jelous Hermione on his hands. Not in a bad way, absolutely not, I just think I deserves to know that Hermione really cares about him and that she will be jelous when other women tries to move in on "her" territory:-)I must also state that my admiration for Severus raised even more when thinking about how he is treated by the Order compared to among the Death Eaters. Not that he ain't smart enough to know that the DE's would turn on him as soon as the see an uppertunity, and knowing how false they all are, but the Orders treatment of him would have turned most men away, instead he does his very best to protect them all. Yup, this Severus rocks:-)  Just make sure that he understands Hermiones reaction for what it is, jelousy because she cares for him and want him all by her self. Update again soon!!!

Very well written chapter! And what the hell is going on with Hermione's ring? I was happy to read that Snape in the end wanted only the simple lovliness of Hermione and not all those trussed up hussies.

Livvy

Whoops, Sev! Hanging out with all those flirtatious "society beauties"...  It's coming back to bite him in the butt...

I'm glad Severus has enough sense to see through the masquerade going on among the pure-bloods. Still, I've reread the chapter about the ring. It can be seen when removed, and Hermione's question didn't have an answer there, so what is it?

All day? What else has Severus been up to besides the party where the purebloods were after him, and let's be honest Severus was considering his options. Even though he discarded the idea of his climbing the social dark ladder those thoughts were a threat to his marriage. So do they count as possible infidelity?