Thanks Darcy! *hug* I couldn't help but notice the support VTM all, very quickly, rose to defend you against Duj (the b**** on fanfiction.net). We all love you and your fic here, so don't stop writing because someone decides they don't like a fic, but still keep reading it. Personally, if a fic bothers you, stop reading it. I tried a Draco/Harry one once, I was mentally sick for several weeks afterward. I didn't go back to finish it. If she keeps reading, there must be some things she likes a lot about it, she's just not commenting on them.

Something that can be noticed in you fanfiction.net reviews is that in the three pages of comments that you've had, the only negative comments are from Duj. So of the 40 readers, only one is upset, but she keeps on reading the fic...hmm.... So you actually have 39 adoring fans + however many fans you have on VTM + one secretly adoring fan but will not comment on the good, but only the bad. All in all, that's not too bad, especially considering I don't even get readers reading my fics....



That was the first thing I thought of and the thing that remained in my head since the first time Darcy complained of that ... SheWhoMustNotBeNamed. FanFiction is where fans get creative and not be stuck within the confines that the actual author is trapped within.

So...when someone is a jerk Darcy, don't listen to them. A person once told me that we cannot control what others say about us, only ourselves. So when insults come hurtling our way, we need to learn to toss them in the garbage bin where they belong. Because insults never help anyone, but praise can do so much. So if there's a fic I don't like, I just move on. That person doesn't need a comment saying that they're creativity isn't appreciated, they need praise for a job well done. And if you can't give that, don't give anything at all.

~Dianne

I'm finally reviewing!

ME TOO! I'd like to know his driving force! Especially when we can possible see it as something other than hatred of his persecutors!

I really like these moments: when she's experiencing something for the first time that we've experienced already with Harry. These are nice moments, Darcy.

You've pegged him perfectly! Slughorn is wonderfully done! Oh, and this line, in particular, makes me want to get on with the reading while you get on with the explaining!

OUCH! Painful! Poor Hermione!

Oh, how horrible!

Oh, the intrigue! Where's she from? Why'd she come? What the heck?


GAH. . .this was an emotional chapter, for sure! Very informative, in a non-informative way, too. Splendidly done, as usual. Thanks for the update, now give us another.

Darcy,
I love the way you have stuck with canon so well! I keep reading this and thinking this is third year for Hermione, but if/when she gets back to her own time, it will be like nothing happened, because you have made everything so believable! Brava! Can't wait till the next chapter is up!

Guin

I'm sorry Darcy, that I am writting so much. But I just couldn't resist when I saw this quote:



Funny comment about canon. Think that she can help you with the deliemma at fanfiction.com? Maybe a canon battle in your comments?

I thought the exact same thing. I thought, well just for a tiny moment there, that SpinJam might be 'the one'!!

PS...I still hate the word 'Canon'

hi...
your story was awesome.i read it so many times!!i think you should come up with chapter 8 soon...i am waiting like hell..really.
hope to see you update soon!

~vidhi

Thank you, thank you, thank you for such wonderful reviews and the comments regarding my 'Critic' dilemma at ff.net! It may have helped--at least, she found nothing to complain about in chapter eight! lol

Which is up by the way, even though I wasn't sure it'd work, what with VTM acting a bit dodgy lately.

Janet, I'm glad you liked the Slughorn! He was fun to do. I hope all of you like this new chapter too, and take me up on my invitation to hear Night Ride Across the Caucasus. It's one of my favorite songs.

Great chapter.. it was so sweet when they were on the carpet..aww
i love the way you have written this younger snape
Oh and i listened to the song...its really amazing i love it now!!:lol: and i could actually hear it when hermione and snape were riding on the carpet...*laughs*

Cant wait till you post more.
Great stuff

D.A

Oh, you wicked, wicked, wicked author! What a place to leave me literally hanging, yearning for more! Evil, Darcy! Very evil!

I love Lorena McKennet! (I love her Lady of Shallot. Beautiful.) Thanks for sharing the song.

Nice line. Interesting concept of light and dark in literature. Well used here.

I can just see third year Hermione doing this! Love it!

This is a very powerful line as well. It captures the passion and intensity (my word of the week for him) of Severus quite well. (I absolutely enjoyed the second paragraph after this as well, for the same reasons.)

Okay, my knees are going to jelly because of this! *dreamy sigh* Now I want a magic carpet ride! And this is exactly why I find your teasing us evil! I say that with the utmost love and respect for you, too.

Great work as always. Next.

Wow!! :-) I love this chapter! The flying carpet seems so romantic! Severus really does care about her if he stayed near the forbidden forrest just watching her winodows. It's so sweet that he waited up all night for her just to take her on a ride on his magic carpet. ~sighes~ young love, so innocent. Again, I LOVE this chapter. I can't wait until you have the next one out. Good luck with writing it!

Yay! I can post. Sorry, I read the new chapter as soon as I got the email notification, then I came over to post a comment and VTM crashed. As you said, it was being really slow... and annoying. Okay...

Aahhh, it is sooo good. I really wish I could write this well. And I wish I could think of something different to say... I just can't think of what else to say. I loved the flying carpet idea. Did that remind anyone else of Aladin? The Disney cartoon version, which I haven't really watched properly, but just the bit with the flying carpet. That's what it reminded me of.

QUOTE

They flew for miles, high in the sky. Severus had not felt so happy in years. He was in heaven, or close to it, with Hermione. There was no better place to be. His risk had been well worth the reward.

Loved that bit, it sounds so sweet. Ohh, you left it on a cliffhanger, now I really want to know what's on the other side of the mountain. And know I've got this little kids song in my head. The other side of the mountain...

Please please please post soon! I really love reading your story!

Edit: I just listened to the song Ride Across the Causcasus (I didn't gt a chance to when I first read it)... It fits the chapter really well... or should I say, the chapter fits it really well.

I love that song!!

Darcy you really know how to leave your readers with baited breath desperate for more...

Hope the computer problems don't stop you from posting again soon!!

ElaineXX

My turn to rant. So sorry Darcy, that the first part of my comment for your chapter will be so negative. I checked my e-mail inbox on Sunday night to find that it was flooded with messages. In addition to mail notification for your replied Owl, I also found an e-mail which I read with anger. After reading your comment accompanying Chapter 8 update, maybe this is the reason why she did not find anything to critise.



I really want to write more to yell at her, but not sure whether I should. I am not fully aware of the previous conversations you have held with her, but I want to justify my actions. It seems that she is accusing me of telling her that she is critising your work too much, which is the truth. I thought that this problem was over and could be dropped, and I am sorry that I have brought it up of the feedback page once again. What should I do Darcy? Do you want me to leave it be? If she had nit-pickingly commented on Chapter 8, I would have written something on ff.net already, but seeing as she hasn't....

Alrite, onto the chapter. Aww... you had to stop where you did!?! Hope com[uter problems don't stop you from updating soon. An interesting chapter where we found what Severus had done to break the rules. Not too much action otherwise and a fairly slow chapter. Can't wait for what Severus has planned for Hermione beyond the mountain. A beautiful spa-like bath in a cave in the moon-light? With a grand feast afterward on the plush carpet laden with food? Arg...update soon!

~Dianne

Ack! This is my second turn to try to get this posted, but it isn't the server's fault, it's mine! I was putting on some Carmex and the little tub slipped out of my fingers, hit the keyboard and basically erased everything I'd just written! Ack! Thanks to all who reviewed, especially with the server being so odd.

D.A.--I'm so pleased that the song worked for you as I'd hoped. It's so romantic, so tribal, and so full of passion. I just love it!

Janet--I really love the way you pick up on my subtle hints as to Sev and Hermione's characters. Hermione is a bit of a stickler for rules...all the longing she's had for this boy and the first thing she says when she sees him again is "Where did you get that? Those are banned!" Yeah... And then Severus and his liking the shadows--to me, it's almost as if Sev needs Hermione's presence to be comfy in the light--she gives him the courage to stand in it and be seen.

I haven't heard that other Loreena song, I'll have to look into that!

GryffindorMica!--I'm so glad you liked the flying carpet! There will be more about that in the next chapter! And you're right about Sev--he doesn't give his trust easily, so he becomes very attached to those to whom he does give it! So he won't give up on Hermione!

Katie--Thanks for trying to post and being able this time! I know it was probably frustrating--it was frustrating trying to get this chapter posted! And yep, it does remind me a bit of Aladdin! That was a great movie. It also reminds me a bit of Romeo & Juliet--forbidden love, kissing on the balcony (sort of), lol.

Elaine--I'll bet poor Jordan has spent his whole weekend working on this site! I couldn't even imagine. I'll bet by the time I have another chapter ready, it'll be all set to go again. Hope so!

About the cliffhangers--sorry about that, well, I am, sort of. Part of it is the challenge of writing each chapter from either Sev's PoV, or Hermione's. I have to guide it carefully so I don't get stuck. I had thought to write all of this part of it from Sev's PoV, but it wouldn't have worked out, so I had to divide it.

Dianne--Whoo...poor thing. Seems you've had a dose of the 'Duj.' She cannot just let anything go! She perhaps means well, but if you contradict anything she says, she'll just keep buggin' until you give in, or just let it go--that way she 'wins.' I wouldn't write anymore to her. What she didn't tell you was that I haven't replied to her reviews for the last three chapters because it's just pointless. The only way I can reply is to agree with everything she says. Problem is, she's usually wrong, but will defend herself regardless. This is exactly what I meant by how she makes me looney-toons! Like I said, if she doesn't find anything to criticise, her reviews are one line long. If she does--they're a paragraph, or more, with follow-up emails if you don't agree with her! Ack! I'd let it go, if you can. It doesn't reflect badly on you at all if she doesn't agree with you, and you'll never convince her you might have a point!

What the heck is AU?

To be honest, when I read your first few lines, my heart started to pound so hard! I thought you had something bad to say about the chapter and it would have bummed me out no end! But you liked it. I'm glad.

I'll try to update by Friday if I can, since I know what happens next for the most part. It will be, stangely enough, informative, and steamy....

Thanks for reviewing! It means a lot!

aww.. this chapter is very good, i enjoyed reading it. I like the idea of the flying carpet very cute.. hehe.. wonder what will happen next.

Yay!! Finally able to read this! Like you said, VTM is acting pretty weird in the last couple of days...

Great chapter, the flying carpet was just a fantastic idea, so romantic... I don't know what else o say, just, keep up like that!! I hope you'll update soon!!

Maya

Darcy, it's an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem "The Lady of Shallott." The melody is just hauntingly beautiful, as only Lorena can do it! I tried to find it online to link for you, but I can't find it. Silly internet.

AU = Alternate Universe.

Glad to know I'll have something to look forward to while digesting my turkey.

Oh YEA!!! It's Thursday. So...one more day till the update. Right Darcy? Yipeee!!! I'm going to check out VTM twice a day till the update....


Aww...I'm so sorry. I should have worded it differently. I'll make sure that I re-read my post next time before posting it.


Hmm...should I make it a personal goal in life to make her see defeat? That would be very interesting...not to mention a chance to hone my debate skills. I will seriously beat down each of her critisism with a clear point along with reference. But first, I should probably do some research on what the heck canon is.

I will be back!...with a vengence? lol

~Dianne

Happy Day after Thanksgiving! Janet, are you all digested now? Did you even eat anything over there?

Maya, Harry#1fan4eva, and hermione_4ever, thanks so much for reviewing even if it was to say you just liked it. It's still so wonderful to hear it, and I'm so glad you like Sev's magic carpet!

Dianne, you sassy little ol' thing! Are you going to start a feud on ff.net? I leave that up to you. I feel a bit, well, not sorry for her, but I know how hobbies can get when people become experts on them--they get kinda like that, you know, finding fault with other people's stuff, not always realising it can come off as pompous. I don't hate her or anything, I just wish if she was going to correct me she'd at least have the right info! lol I do promise not to complain about her anymore on VTM!

Janet, I found some of it on You Tube, it's from the film, in German, Pretty cool! A bit chopped up, but better than nothing:

Lady of Shallott

I feel like a dork. I actually have this song, I just didn't look closely enough at the title--it's on a compilation album I have.

Off to post Chapter Nine.

Wow! I'm the first to review!!! Great chapter, Darcy. Great plot, great sensitivity in handling historical facts, and the right dose of exoticism to explain Severus' charm....
I liked this chapter very much!!!
Well written as usual. the adolsecents' behaviour is perfectly outlined, their doubts, their feelings, their curiosity about life, past and present.

(and, by the way, the Avalon series by Zimmer Bradley is sort of sacred for us witches...)

xoxo

Clara )O(

Okay, I'll have to say it again... I love it! That was a really informative chapter, I'm so glad we were able to find out more about Severus's history. And you explained the gypsy princess thing. It was great because it seemed as if that's who Severus's family really were, as if JKR had come up with those ideas herself. To me, it just looked so believable... I'll probably be thinking about that when I read any of the books again. I've just realised, I don't think I will be able to read any scene with Severus and Hermione without thinking about the stuff that happens in your story. But that's a good thing, it means I'm not going to forget it.



I had to re-read this a couple of times before I fully understood it. I think I read to fast to pick up the finer points. But Severus is going to get found out, I think. By who though? Another cliffhanger...

Thanks for updating so quickly, by the way. It's really good to have something this interesting to read.

Katie

I really love this chapter Darcy! It's so wierd because I have just read a book called The Historian which is all about Vlad Dracul and The Order of the Dragon. When I was reading it I could almost smell the connections to the HP verse!!

I love the fact that Severus is a Romany......that would explain those dark features!

OK I'm not Janet and I can't write about specifics...but boy this is good!!

Love it, love it, love it!!

Elaine

I'm enjoying this so much, I can't wait to find out what happens next!! To start with, I was shocked to read that Hermione and Severus began to like each other, but the way you tell the story, it's amazing, I wish I had your imagination!

Please give us the next chapter soon!

Yay, finally an update!!

Fantastic chapter, well writen as always... I see you made some research about romanian history etc, very good .. Although i never liked it(romanian history), you blend it perffectly with the storyline and it was fantastic!!

Also, I love how you made Hermione talk about Snapes "exotic" side.. That was great!! Hope you'll update soon, i have to see what happens with Severus after he left Hermione, and that necklace.. Hmm.. tricky..

Again, congrats'


Maya

argg! you can't leave it like that!! what happens???

keep up the good work!

Awww.... Now I'm left wondering what will happen next... It's all good though.

This one was so romantic! I loved it!! Severus and Hermoine are so good together. I hope that at some point, he will tell her what the ring means. I could totally imagine what the ring looks like in my mind. It's facinating! It's a troubling secert he's holding, but I feel that you'll have him tell Hermoine what it's about. He trusts her. Now, I'm just worried about what will happen now since the time turner got turned back six hours... Over all, i loved the chapter!!! Amazing!!

Thanks everyone, for the wonderful reviews, and for putting up with the slew of typos in this chapter! Ack! I went through and fixed them all, and Dianne said my last paragraph wasn't worded quite right, so I went back and fixed that, too. Katie had trouble with it as well, so I knew I'd done something wrong. It was too important a point to make difficult for people!

Clara--Thanks for honoring me with the review--I know you are sooo busy right now! I am glad you liked the Romany references. I did some research for it, but I did change real history just a bit on Radu the Handsome. It was actually his brother Vlad and his father Vlad who were hostages with him, but I left the dad out, it just felt like it would complicate things too much.

The Romany are far harder to learn about, there is such a lot of lore connected with them. I just read that in the last few months studies of Romany DNA have led geneticists to beleive their original ethnicity is Indian! It makes me really curious as to how they came to Europe, and why.

I haven't read the Zimmer Bradley books! Another thing I am a dork about! I am finally reading the books of Douglas Adams!

Katie, thanks for your kind words about the gypsy idea. It just always seemed to me that Sev just does not have the kind of face that would be termed classically English, though of course there are many different types. I think the Phelps twins look very British, with the narrow nose, large eyes, and friendly, open features. Snape is the very antithesis of that kind of face! I couldn't help but think that his mother's family must have originally come from somewhere else.

Thanks for letting me know how awkward that last paragraph was. Dianne let me know too!

Elaine, thanks! I started researching Romanian history and saw picture after picture of guys who looked like Sev! Dark hair, dark eyes, long face, strong noses...it had to be his family's birthplace! I was hooked. lol

Remember Adam Ant? Gorgeous Man, he is Romany.

Nymphodora--I haven'r read any HG/SS fictions, so was kinda surprised how popular the SHIP is! And I couldn't see her falling for him if he acted like he did in adulthood, though some of that shows. The thing is, Hermione's actually pretty tolerant of boy's foolishness, it seems. She certainly puts up with a lot from Ron! Ha! Glad you're enjoying it so far!

Maya--You don't like Romanian history? I don't think I ever had occasion to study it before now--other than what I've read on my own, here and there. It sounds like it's never been an easy place in which to live. There are still problems--recently a Romanian Romany family was forced to leave the home they've had since the 1960s, by other townspeople who decided they didn't want them there. The government relocated them, but still...that shouldn't have happened. The Romany are still widely discriminated against.

And there will be more about the dragon ring later!

Clara Morgue--welcome, glad you're enjoying it! Well, my son is off to visit his dad for two weeks come Tuesday, so I won't have to share the computer at night, wich is when I usually write, so an update shouldn't be too long in coming!

Mica--It's OK with the Time-Turner, it's just so Hermione can sleep. The worse thing is the secret visitor in her room who not only saw Sev bring her back, but saw the Time-Turner and what happened when it was used! Spooky!

Well, I've gone on long enough, lol Thanks again, all of you, your reviews made my day!

Sooo....
Assumed that Gypsies (I call them so, because there are too many tribes...) came from India (but it seems that actually they came from Egypt), and that explains their amber coloured skin and their caucasian facial traits, they spread all over the world.
Their culture is very conservative and they don't mingle with the culture of the place where they stay. Marriages among Rom and gagè people are rare. They tend to marry within the group.

There are several gypsies among famous people, even people you could never suspect.
Go here! The site is really interesting. There are other people whose Gypsy origin is not confirmed, so I didn't mention them.

Since the very beginning of my career as a teacher I have taught several Gypsy students and met their families, and have studied their culture. It's a very complex one. If you feel you need first hand infos, please ask.

Have a wonderful Sunday

Clara )O(

this time i might try to go into some depth when i review.

I thought the new chapter was excellent. It clearly demonstrated how snape trusts hermione as I highly doubt he would tell many other people (so openly) about his family/ and his heritage. I think what he said about his family was really interesting, it must have taken a fair while to write. I also think that the fact that hermione seemed interested helped too. Overall i think there relationship is very cute. The fact that snape would go to such means to see hermione also places emphasis on thier closness. Im thinking, and am probably wrong that its all going to end in snape getting hurt. ahh.. and i liked the way you ended the chapter, leaving an air of mystery..

please please please please please please x 1000 update soon..

xx sarah

Aww...such a sweet update. Filled with Romanian history too. You did your research well Darcy! I know that I said that I would post on Saturday night. I didn't get a chance to before I had to get off the computer though. I'm sorry.

*scratches head and look around* Is it just me, or is the last paragraph just as confusing. Probably just your way of a cliffhanger though....

Yes. Yes. I will start a feud on ff.net. Or rather, launching a compaign against Duj. I already have my e-mail half-written. It's...about a page long on Microsoft Word. I'm having a lot of fun! And go ahead and complain next time she bothers you; I'll give her another one. Though, I will be keeping an eye on your review page as well. More comments to post! lol

~PhoenixTears

Ok I havent been on VTM for ages...ok a couple of days!!! But i came back to an excellent chapter
I absolutely loved it! It is by far my favourite chapter yet!
Also i like the background to Snape's ancestory
cant wait for more!...I love your fic

D.A

Hey Clara, thanks! I am not sure how deeply I will go into his Romany origins, but time will tell. It was fun learning some new things when I did the research, though.

harry#1fan4eva--I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel you needed to leave a lengthy review. Sometimes a person doesn't have time, or really hasn't much to say, and that's OK too! And you're pretty astute--Snape does seem to be the 'tragic' hero, doesn't he?

Dianne--Well, I got another lukewarm review from her, which are the kind I get when she doesn't have anything to pick at me about. So, I'm safe for this chapter! The next one will be terrible though, I already know it! And then I finally let loose this morning on someone else who keeps telling me she doesn't like my Snape. Geez Louise, it makes me hate this fic. *Sigh* I'm never doing another Snape fic, there are too many people who are way too obsessed with him and have a hissy fit if anything departs with how they see him! Ack! But hey, if it gives you pleasure to write that email, go for it (even if it never gets sent--lol!). And I did change my profile info since you showed me her last email to you...I wonder if she'll find it?

D.A.--thanks so much. There are times I really need to hear someone saying how much they like it! The next chapter might be a bit difficult, as it deals with Sev's day and therefore must be absolutely canon-precise , because now I'm a nervous wreck about it, but hopefully I'll heve it done in the next week here.

Thanks!

Mmm...I'd better go check it out. That way I'd have my referrences right. My theory is, Darcy, that if I give specific proof along with the quotation and where I got it from (book, page number, paragraph, line or direct link to site), she can't exactly say..."Nope. That's wrong." That's what I'm hoping anyways.

Got more on the other thread where you went on a tangent!

~PhoenixTears

Don't you dare hold to that! Your Snape is fantastic, and don't let a couple of overly obsessed puretical people make you feel bad about your fic! It's absolutely amazing and very well written! What's the point of a fanfiction if we can't change some of the things to suit our needs, or if we can't make things the way we'd rather them be?! It's a fanfiction, and I think you honor Snape and the HP universe quite well. If for every 2 people who don't agree with the way you take his character, you've got at least 100 more who love it!

Sorry this isn't a review. Check this space, I'll add one in later when my kids are gone!

Are you kidding? well I am a canon-Snape fan, and I have my own idea of how he is, but this doesn't block me in enjoying other points of view...
I definitely wouldn't have written Snape the way you did, because my way of feeling the character is different, but the wonderful thing is, that I liked your Snape very much! He's a thrilling and moving character, and he's so sweet and still open to people and feelings, and fragile!
A lovely Snape.
Go on with your work, and don't care about fussing purists.

xoxo

Clara )O(

You know what, sweet ladies? You're all right! Thank you.

I've really had it. Enough of this whining and drama-queening, I HATE it when I get like this! So I will write my chapter 10 the way I want to write it, and if she says anything critical, I'll tell her where to shove her advice! I had a really nice email from Greg, and it was good to hear what he had to say, which was, upon reading the list of her reviews, that I had every right to be peeved. Her reviews are not really flames in the classic sense, but they are not kind, and they are not helpful. I have a new term for what she's doing, I wonder if it will catch on--

Scalding! Drenching my tender little ego and making it sting! No permanent charring, just getting dumped on over and over and over, keeping the burn fresh!

Hey Janet, I heard a funny one in researching what flaming really was--jossing! From Joss Whedon, it says. It's when you write a fic and new evidence comes out to refute your fanfic so it no longer is canon-correct. So when JKR said Dumbledore was really dead, "Summer Chill" got 'jossed!' Ha! That cracked me up.

So, anyway. No more whining from yours truly, drama queen extraordinaire. If I have to vent, I'll whine privately to Dianne, Elaine, and Janet, you lucky girls!

*jumps up and down giddily and claps hands*

Oh! That is just what I needed after the month I've had! That was wonderful, Darcy! I wonder about that ring, though... hmm...

I love how Severus is a gypsy prince! Wow! What a great way to account for his character! That was wonderful!

Who was that visitor in her room? It was Sirius, wasn't it? That dirty, rotten...

Oh, please post again!

*Smiles*

You go Darcy! Don't worry about what she says at all. Your stories are great and I love your rendition of Severus. It's wonderful to see the characters from different points of view in different writing styles. I'm sure Ms. Rowling would be impressed. :-)

Emily, it's so good to have you back. I hope December is kinder to you than November was! I'm glad you enjoyed chapter nine, too!

Mica--thanks, hon! I think I am probably over getting upset at her now, because my friends have convinced me that I had a right to be upset! Does that make sense? lol

OK, Chapter ten up in a few minutes!

Yay! I love it when you post because it's always at the time that I'm usually on the computer. Okay, this time I'm going to think of something better to say than "It's really good" again. Hmm... You made this chapter funnier than the others and there isn't as much romance, which I think is a good thing because it gives people a change from all that Hermione and Severus stuff... not that that's a bad thing, I love all the Hermione and Severus bits... It was really sweet when he grabbed Hermione's hand as she was leading McGonagall to the hospital wing...

QUOTE

and finally Evan could no longer resist. “So…looks like it worked.”
“Um-hmmm.”
“So…Lupin’s parchment was embedded with…?”
“Babbling curse.”
And Pettigrew’s?”
“Color-change charm.”
Um-hmmm, yep. Definitely worked. Wish my mum could have taught me how to do that.”
“Um-hmmm.”
“So…that’s Hermione, then?”
“Um-hmmm.”
“She a pure-blood then?”
“Um-hmmm.” Severus lied. “Not that it should matter, Rosier, even I’m not a pure-blood, remember?”
“All the more reason you should marry one.” his friend retorted. “That Hermione though…bit of all right, I dare say…highly beddable.”
“Rosier?”
“Um-hmmm?”
“Speak that way about Hermione again and I’ll give you a babbling blue face, all right?”
“Um-hmmm. Understood, mate.”
They clipped along another fifteen feet…
“Besides, she’s more than a bit of all right, Rosier. She’s beautiful.”
“Um-hmmm…agreed.”
“And she’s mine.”
“Um-hmmm.” Another few seconds then, “Share?”
“Rosier!” Severus laughed, as they chased each other down the corridor, gleeful in their success.

Haha, how many times did they say "Um-hmmm" in that bit? Not sure if it was meant to be that funny but I thought it was. I find lots of things funny.

Hmm... Okay, I'm a bit confused now because this chapter didn't really lead on from the last one. I guess I'll just have to wait to see what happens next. Please update soon! (Why do I always say that?)

Katie

You're right, Katie. Chapter ten was a huge departure from Chapter nine. I was hoping to show how Hermione isn't the only one who straddles two worlds. We all do, sometimes.

Severus is in love with Hermione, and in dealing with her he can be very adult. But he is also still a schoolboy, still dealing with classmates and teachers, that still matters to him. And that's kind of what being a teen is all about, to my thinking--it's the bridge between childhood and adulthood--fairly tricky to navigate sometimes! Sometimes we go back more toward childhood, sometimes further forward than we're sure we're ready to go.

What part did you find confusing?

And yeah, lol, the "Um-hmmms" are kind of a running joke, Sev and Evan trying to act cool when what they really want to do is whoop in triumph at how McGonagall got hers!

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What part did you find confusing?

I think it was just the cliffhanger you left on the end of the last chapter, and then it just suddenly went onto a different part... I don't know, I just got confused for a second.

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And yeah, lol, the "Um-hmmms" are kind of a running joke, Sev and Evan trying to act cool when what they really want to do is whoop in triumph at how McGonagall got hers!

Yeah, I loved that part. You got the idea of them trying to act all cool across perfectly. I can actually see it now... this is what happens when I read the books, I start imagining what certain scenes would be like in the movie, and now I'm doing it for your fanfic. It should be made into a film. Um-hmmm...

Wow, that chapter was a bomb! After all the romantic, peacefull scenes you got into action and adventure (sortof). Loved it!! Although i fell kinda' sorry for the marauders (besides Peter) they deserved it, maybe Lupin didn't but, well doesn't matter anymore.

The scenes with the "Um-hmmms" that Katie mentioned were indeed brilliant. Really funny. i also like the scene where he apologizes to Lily, that was really sweet. I'm glad to see how many friends Sev has, although it seems a bit weird being used with the book adult, cold, unfriendly Severus.

Hope you'll update soon...

Maya

i never liked snape, but i just love this story!!!! I really cant wait to find out what will happen next!!!! i know that she will not stay, but i wish she could snape and her are so happy.

This is great! I'm surprised at how he made a truce with Lily. Good work though! It took me a while to read it because my contacts are irritating my eyes. :-( But I got through it well enough. :-D Hope to read the next chapter as an early Christmas surprise for all of us!

And yes, your comment made sense to me. Perfectly. :-)

Oh, happy day! A fresh chapter to read!

First, I love Severus' dream of gypsy Hermione! So carefree and unconsciously provocative! I can see him having this dream of her!

It's funny to see this to me because we are so used to this scene, only Snape would be Harry and James and Sirius would be Malfoy and Crabbe/Goyle. It's fun to see the shoe on the other house's foot!

For some reason, this troubles me a bit. I totally understand the all encompassing obsession and desire for a new love, and a newly discovered ability to love . . . but this just seems a little dangerous for Snape. Hopefully I'm just imagining things.

From what little we know of Lily, I love this line of yours. She's not one to be bullied or walked on from anyone, and that was apparent in Snape's Worst Memory as much as it is apparent here.


Oh, my goodness, he's impossibly cruel, isn't he?! Hermione had better not get wind of this!

For the sake of my own personal opinion, Teehee, you know I love you, so I'll forgive it. (Since it really matters, huh?)

Okay, you've redeemed him a bit. Still. . .I wonder what his original intentions in the act were. . . .Oh, I bet it is distraction so that the other guy (that I've already forgotten the name of) can steal some ingrediants for polyjuice potion!

Sigh, nevermind. Oh, I guess maybe Snape thinks Lupin was in on it? Can't remember. No, wait. It still peeves me a bit that he said this. Regardless of whether Remus sat on the ground or not; Snape had not been pleasant to the lot of them even before that incident, so I don't think he's being fair to Remus here. Of course, fairness doesn't really matter to him. . .just a personal opinion on my part. (Not a criticism of your Severus or your story, by the way! Just a random response!)

I couldn't have laughed louder at this irony.
Dang, he should have felt more than vaguely guilty. GRRR.

It's very interesting to see a playful Severus. We always tend to imagine him as never having had a light moment. This is a, hate to say it in this particular context of the story, nice side of him.

I'm interested to know what happened with the cloak. Did I miss that part? I feel a bit bad for the Marauders. Gah. I don't know. I went from enjoying Severus' revenge from one sentence to really wanting to kick him in the next! Talk about an emotional read-through! Nicely done, Darcy, as always! Maybe I should have saved it for a couple of days. . .now I have to wait again. Sigh. Get to work!

This is such an amusing scene. I can just imagine a young Severus doing this!


Aww...a carefree Sev chasing his friends! Such a sweet scene.

That's all I really remember right now Darcy. I'm so very sorry. Why do you always post on the night I have homework? I gotta run now, but I can definitely see why you said you were kinda nervous in writing this chapter.... However, as usual, very well writen and shows a side of Sev that makes the reader wonder why he has turned into the cold, calculating person he is in Harry's time. Oh yeah. And that bit about Severus dreaming about Hermione sounds very familiar...very very familar. Kinda like...another beautiful lady with lovely black tresses who spins around and around gracefully?

~Dianne the who will keep eyes upon ff.net

LOL--Dianne! You're never happy! I know. I'll wait and finish this story in summertime when there's no school! No? It wasn't as long as the last one at least. So hopefully I didn't put you too far behind. Yes, I love the dancing women! It reminds me of belly dancing, which was never meant to be for men's amusement, but for women to celebrate being women. I love to dance. I think men pick up on that sense of freedom women feel when they dance--it attracts them to us.

So far, no comment from the Snape Dementor. Muahahahaha...funny though, I searched her under a new term and found another person she's done this to who is bummed out about it as well. She's building a reputation for being overly critical!

Katie, Yeah, I had started to write this chapter with Severus flying the carpet to the Gryffindor dorms and summoning everything he wanted to tamper with, but it just didn't play right, so I moved ahead a bit and implied what he had done. Sorry if it sounded disjointed. It's kinda why it took me so long to write this one--trying to get things arranged properly without it dragging. I think I need to work on this though, there's something...I'm not sure what it is.

Hi Maya, Yeah, I think it was harsh on Remus. But Sev was right--if Remus is going to be a prefect, he's supposed to deal with such things as Snape's Worst Memory. It was cowardly of him to look the other way and Sev has resented it ever since. He doesn't really care if he hurts Remus' feelings now.

PolandBaby, thanks! Yeah, she'll go back, it's inevitable, but it would be nice if I could suddenly go AU and change it all! lol

Mica, I hope your eyes feel better tomorrow! The next chapter shouldn't take as long as this one did, thanks!

Janet, astute as always. This chapter has two levels...the joy a young man might feel at getting revenge for the bullying he's been forced to take, enjoying time with his friends, laughing, etc. It was nice that he has friends who would cooperate and help him. But the lower level...scratch the surface of revenge and it's always rotten underneath. That's his companion too, every step of the way, and he is stalwartly refusing to face it. More on this will follow, but you're spot on!

Oh, the cloak! Yeah, that's a hard one--easier for readers who don't have to wait a week or two between chapters! The grey velvet cloak is the one Sev gave to Hermione, the one he draped around her shoulders when he took her for the carpet ride date. Paige pinched it for him. Kind to one girl, mean to another...Sev is being Sev?

The daydreams, the growing obsession with Hermione, his behavior today...yes. In chapters to come what you've sensed about Severus' emotional stability will start to manifest itself in much more overt ways.

Thanks for reviewing, everybody. It's much appreciated!

i find it very interesting that snape is a dementor! well good job!

Mod Edit: Check your inbox.

Um...he's not a dementor. That's just a naughty name I've made up for someone who always finds fault with my fic because she thinks she knows all there is to know about Snape. This is actually a feedback thread for a story I'm writing--might want to check that out sometime, you might like it!