As odd as it sounds, many people who care for each other fight before a physical separation. It's a defense mechanism. They feel subconsiously that it will be easier to separate if they are mad at the person they are separating from. It has happened to me several times when I had to go off to college and leave friends and family, or move to a different place, or even when my husband would leave for an out-of-town job. We would fight just before he left. It helped make watching him walk out the door easier. But the instant the door closed, we both regretted it.

Making up was always wonderful, though. I hope Hermione and Severus get to make up. Or better yet, I hope they figure out what's going on before she actually leaves, so perhaps she won't go away at all.

Stubborn man! Great story.

I think our favorite Potions master is trying to prevent himself from caring that his apprentice will soon be leaving him and Hogwarts behind.  In as much as he already knew that she had received an interview with St Mungo's before she could have told him, I think his keeping her at arm's length is his way of not having to talk about it with her.  I'm sure he is afraid that if he had to spend too much time with her he would give himself away.

Poor Hermione.  Poor Severus.  When will he finally find the courage to tell her how he feels about her.  Poor Severus.  Poor Hermione.  *sigh*

Beth

no just before the confrontation!! Please write more soon :) You are all that I am reading in the Snape world right now :)

Oh, lets hope she doesn't become distant.  I don't think that is what he really wants at all.  I hope they don't play this game for too long.  She only has a few more weeks to get him to loosen up.  Not seeing each other is really not conducive to that.  Looking forward to more!

Another great chapter and glad to see another one in queue.  can't wait to see Severus' and Ron's reaction to Hermione when she makes her grand entrance.

LOL.  Expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed.

These two have a really fun relationship going on here.  I'm sure Hermione is one of the few who can talk to him the way she sometimes does and get away with it.  I hope the friendship, and whatever else may occur, continues to blossom between them.  Is it bad that  I'd love to see some high drama at the Ministry event?  Hope to find out what the evening has in store for them very soon!

I enjoy the give and take between Hermione and Severus.  I love it when he maneuvers something to "trap" her into do what he wants her to do, and equally I enjoy when she gets one up on him... like when she told him the buzzing in his ears was likely caused by being read the riot act by Poppy and Minerva.  That was priceless!

I don't know what to expect with the Ministry dinner and Ron being there.  I hope she doesn't go all soft and decide to give him a second chance.  Although that would probably get Severus moving.  Either he would leave early in a snit, or he would come to her rescue to save her from a fate worse than death.  Well, almost worse than death.

I'm really looking forward to the next update!!!
Beth

I like their banter.  Withot knowing it they are becoming friends. :)

I just love the dialogue you always have between Severus and Hermione, it's just first rate!

I don't blame her for not looking forward to the evening.

Eh.  Ron, go away!

Well, that's too bad about Ron and Hermione, but it is just as well as I suspect she will move on to bigger and better things.  As for Hermione, if she didn't take a peek in the desk drawer, just to be sure, I am so disappointed in her :)

OK, I'm a little late getting started on this one, but I am not disappointed that I did.  This is an interesting start, and I look forward to finding out what she was cursed with, how she ended up as his apprentice, whether she will recover her magical ability, and so much more.  Off to find out...

Severus and Hermione definitely have a good working relationship, which is a good start for a romantic one. I wonder what the letter from Magical Law Enforcement. I'm thinking it has something to do with Hermione's attack. I'm looking forward to reading more.

I really liked that chapter, even though it was just set up.  I like to see the day to day interactions of Hermione with Severus.

Perhaps the MLE want a potion to use for addiction? :)

Oh my!  I wonder what will happen next!  Snape has a soft heart lurking under all that snark and bluster.  I'm glad Hermione refused to participate in Snape bashing.

I wonder if Hermione will look? She might find something unexpected?
Look forward to the next chapter.

First wizarding world glam model? Oh please. Even in the unlikely event that there were no such models before, it's hard to believe that a non-Veela would be the first. Mind, I have no trouble believing Lav is a glam, just that she's the first.

Ron knows that Hermione's magic is gone - how long before he tells Lavender or some groupie during pillow talk, and then how long till the entire community knows?

Nice premise for a story, though.