congratulations on winning your well-deserved award! i was so glad to see this update - i was just thinking about this story the other day. what a difficult chapter all around - to read, to write, and in severus's life. i hate the idea that dumbledore could be so indifferent to that level of abuse; i do appreciate that you've given minerva a soft spot for him. i know that it will take a while for someone this damaged to heal, but i do hope things start looking up for him before too long. he's suffered so much and for so long.

Very uncomfortable chapter but very telling in the history of Snape. Your viewpoint is one that most of us do not consider.

Very, very intense.   Severus Snape, the ultimate control freak (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) approaching meltdown.   Since he doesn't believe in angels, it's a good thing they believe in him.  I'm just a leetle worried about Pansy over there in the corner though. 

I am really enjoying this story and hope that you will continue on with it!

intense

LOL, love the emotion

aw... pain

*gasp* You evil cliffanger writer you!  I know you put a suicide warning on it, but no one actually tried to kill themselves in it, and if you hadn't put that there would have been no indication that Severus was holding a poison.  I don't know if you intended to do that, but I don't know if you need the warning if he doesn't really do anything.  Or you could mention that the liquid is a poison in passing.  That may not have made any sense.  Anyway, something I noticed. 

Very good. Thanks.

Delicious. What more could I possibly add.

Very good. Liking this a lot. Thanks.

Uncomfortable but basically acurate. Thanks. Good job.

There are definite overtones of Nottingham here. But enjoyed it still.

Aha! Getting much more interesting. Thanks.

different, but interesting. Thanks

Like this very much. But you are using gage instead of the correct gauge. You gauge someone's whereabouts or their feelings. Gage is a king of plum

Hopefully they'll be able to work something out. Perhaps Severus will actually believe Hermione? At least there isn't a strained silence between Severus and Hermione now.

I love the comparison of Snape to a frightened animal. Very well done!

I just discovered this story and read through the whole thing. It is amazing. I love the weird totally screwed up connection that is slowly being forged between Severus and Hermione. I really can't wait to see how it develops. If this Snape is capable of letting her in it will be so ridiculously intense I absolutely cannot wait. I admit I am a sucker for the cliche of Hermione saving him. While it seems like she has only hurt so far I hope that she is able to give him something he has never had in the terribly sad life you have constructed for him. Poor Snape! anyways you are a good writer and I hope you do not abandon this tale. Great so far!

i was very excited to see a new chapter to this.  and what a chapter!  hard to know what to say.  your snape is so damaged, which i find frighteningly easy to reconcile with what we know of his life from canon, and you write it so well.  i believe i got a little teary when you were talking about him being afraid.  he always seems so strong and competent.  one can only hope that eventually hermione will be able to get through all that defensiveness and help him heal.  i will be interested to see how you make that happen, assuming that's where this is going.and congratulations on your real life accomplishments!  i don't mind waiting for chapters when the story is this good.  as long as you don't abandon it - then i don't know what i would do!

Hello KP,I'm very glad to see an update on this story.  The plot line is compelling and almost painful to read.  You convey Severus' anguish very well; he really seems to be teetering on the edge.  I thought the description of Hermione's state at the beginning of the last chapter (her apathy and detachment) well done as well.  Clearly, you have a gift for conveying psychological states. I am wondering if there's any hope for Severus to recover "normal" functioning.  As an HGSS fan, I want to see them get together, but he doesn't seem capable of a relationship at all.  I did wonder, after the "Incident" chapter, if somehow his terrible memories would be transfered to Hermione or at least some of the pain.  Perhaps unintentional legilimancy funcitoning as therapy?  But doesn't seem to be going that way.Congratulations on your graduation and I hope you are able to update more frequently despite more school to come.RR

It has been a loooooonnnng dry spell.  (I live in a desert so I know what I'm talking about!) Very interesting portrayal of Snape being out of his depth and encountering Hermione with a backbone.  Keep up the good work.  And congrats to the graduate. 

Eek! I think I'd pee my knickers faced with that much rage.

Thank you so much for the update, I was so happy to see another chapter to this brilliant story!I look forward for the next chapter:-))

I am so delighted to see you return to this, and to hear the suggestion that we might not have to wait quite so long for, as you say, things to get interesting (they already are, but I want more, more, more!).  This strange connection between them is intriguing.  I am also fascinated by the suggestion of his fear, fear that seems to be of being revealed by her and, consequently, ridiculed for what, his perceived weakness?  Is that what he is afraid of?  And is he even capable of understanding that what she feels is not the desire to hurt him further but instead to help him, that she feels not pity but compassion?  Perhaps it is this curious connection that can be his salvation, the lifeline tying him to another being who is strong enough and caring enough to understand what he has suffered through and in fact survived, and can help him regain the life he has been denied.Looking forward to the next postings!!