Ooh, wonder what the plan is? :)

Right back on track! Woohoo!

He'd better not wait too long to owl her.  She will not be able to think about anything else until he does.  Hopefully he can't think of anything else either.  Their date was very uncomfortable, but a necessary first step in... whatever is coming.  I'm hoping for the best.

Get with the programme Severus!

OMG - Angst, angst, ANGST!!!

What a heartbreaking chapter!

Don't ya just wanna smack him? I sure do. Didn't he ever learn the phrase, "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"?

So very, very Snape of him.

Oh keep digging.  Yes!  Poor Snape.

Now, she just had to decide whether to get out or to keep digging.   *hands Hermione a shovel*

I hope she will wrap her Gryffindor courage about her shoulders, take up her shovel, and not take "No" for an answer.  It's as obvious as the nose on his face that he is completely smitten with her. 

I can understand Severus' reluctance to "get his hopes up" and why her telling him of her feelings for him would change the dynamic between... and most importantly, I can understand why he said, 'I would rather have your friendship than nothing at all.'  I, too, would rather have a friendship than nothing, but they both care about eachother... it's not an unbalanced set of emotions... they both care, so I hope our Lioness will soldier on. 

Don't give up, Hermione!

Thanks for this great chapter, Hannah!
Beth

Sounds like she needs to get in there and have her wicked way with him.  Let's see him objecting after a mindblowing orgasm or two... ;)

I can't believe I just said that.  Slap me!

Hermione looks like she's ready to do battle. Which, she will need to be, if she has any hope of convincing Severus that he wants a relationship with her. He's just as stubborn as she is, but I think being a Gryffindor will be an advantage to her. It will allow her to be more bold, which Severus wouldn't know how to react to.

I understand where Severus is coming from, and I feel Hermione's frustration, but he needs to get his butt into gear and take a leap of faith that Hermione can be good for him  Great Chapter and I await the next.

Oh, poor Snape.  Stubborn Hermione - she's put her foot in it now hasn't she?  Enjoying this story very much!

He's afraid.  Well, she doesn't give up easily.

Oooh, I know what that Snape is up to.  Silly man.

LOL.  Cute.  They keep darting around each other.  Silly people.  I love it, though.

oh no.  Poor Hermione.  Poor Snape for that matter.  I wish Hermione had just let Snape do his thing and then Lav Lav's breasts would have deflated.  THAT would have been so much fun!  LOL.  Oh well, just the thought of it is hilarious.

Hermione is right he is being stubborn but I can understand where he is coming from considering his past.

ahh! you can't leave it there! Chase him, kiss him! talk to McGonagall!

Every chapter you leave me think 'what the hell is going to happen next?'
I'm glad he has cheered up a little. And the fact that he was very guarded when having a converstion about Hermione certainly tells you something.

Is he intending to persue her after she's finished with her apprenticeship, or just glad to see the back of her?

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

LOL. Brilliant she's achieved "very good" before the year was out and an apology.  No wonder she stood there for God knows how long just staring at the scroll.

If she is one ounce as confused by Severus' behaviour as I am, no wonder she is so frustrated.  I hope things work themselves out soon.  I think Minerva may have verbalized the things he was thinking and maybe that didn't sit well with him.  And I wonder if there is more to the counter curse than what he told Hermione.  Will be really interested to find out where we go from here.  Surely Hermione won't go down without a fight!

yay, more more! :)

Sigh, too old, too dark, how many other things does he think is wrong?

Is it too much to hope that he is pleased to see her apprenticeship end because THEN it would be ok to fancy her? ;)

What just happened?  My head is spinning...  Snape is back to being cordial to her and she doesn't understand what is different now... and neither do I. 

I'm sure he kept working phrases about the difference in their ages into the conversation to remind her that anything beyond a Master/Apprentice relationship should not be considered.  However, I think that Hermione will be thinking about him in a very special way for a long time to come.  Why else would she have had these thoughts as she left his office: 

"She shut the door behind her quietly, realising that she would have much to dwell upon in the very near future, though.

She would have to face it all at some point—it was unavoidable."

Arrrggghhhh!  Why can't he get past this and admit to himself that he is completely besotted with her?

Thanks for another fine chapter.  I'm looking forward to finding out what you have in store for these two.  Well done.
Beth