DS,

I'm wondering if a distressing period of your literary output is coming to an end yet? ;-)

You are a devious queen of unexpected twists! I fucking love this story. I have never seen much point in reading WIPs before, but I get it now. The experience is much richer, than when reading finished work. 

Come on now hurry up,  I'm dying to see what's next. 

Love Fox xx 

P.S.

London is still waiting... and today we have a rare day of sun and near-clear skies. It's looking up :)

Fox 

oh my gosh!! my mouth was gaping open, I didn't see it coming at all haha. hoping for some backstory on how it all came to that moment... :)

Zomg!!!!!!! I tried to read it slowly but it's tooooooo addicting!!!!!!

OMG......Mentioned in despatches but like Wayne......I am not worthy. Especially as it comes from being in a pub at closing time and panicking that they will stop serving booze!

And....OMG...Did that really happen? DD...after I have maligned him and called him everything under the sun...do a Sidney Carton and sacrifice himself...for t' greater good?

Oh wow, Dessie, powerful stuff and seriously did not see that coming.

Magnificent story and plot line...but where is Hermione? 

Best wishes, Love...a very chuffed...Ali xxxx.

DS,

I don't know what to say now. I cried. I really cried. I very rarely cry -partially, because I try to avoid things that make me cry... It was so tragic, that I am almost glad the chapter was short... poor Severus, poor Hermione... even poor Draco... maybe that will turn him away from Voldie? He's really still a child, I suppose he doesn't have much choice, having Lucius as a father... 

I can't imagine the extend of his grief right now. I think I would prefer to die, than to live with so much guilt and pain.

Harry must have had the shock of his life when Severus called him by his given name AND said 'thank you', I can imagine all the talk in Gryffindor common room now.

What made you do it? Was it the influence of yesterday's Blue Monday? Call me deluded, but I still believe you can fix it. It's a world of magic in the end, isn't it? And I have to admit that: "Dumbledore?!" gave me a new shot of hope. Pleeeease fix it. 

I will say hello to London from you IF you fix it. Only then. That's my last word.

Fox xx

Re: Chapter 29

Well, I certainly didn't see that coming.O_O

Noooooo! And in top of that, such a short chapter. I can't wait for more. 

I step outside house and there is a new chapter, I went berserk until I could get back home and read the chapter on big screen!

you are protective of your Severus aren’t you? - always ;)

I think that’s why these chapters have been so rough - this story is nerve wracking, I'll admit that but it is a good one :D

He is a much gentler soul than he has been in my past fics. - I'll take this as personal compliment XD, ppl around me usually debate do I have soul at all or where is it hidden :D

Perhaps she considered his failure to disclose the truth a betrayal? - perhaps, but (and, yeah still protective ;) ) it is still unrealistic from someone like him to just "spill his guts" on her whim, isn't it? Telling her, after how she reacted, is his only mistake. 

and it’s that conflict that is driving her decision-making - one thing that smart people know - never make decisions when conflicted or in emotional turmoil, those are usually very bad decisions. 

Take your insane creature back! - tnx, and yeah - she's back >.<...well, be careful what you wish for....

He stopped. Books. Everywhere. A nearly empty bottle of whisky discarded in the middle. Fuck. / He rolled his hand as though encouraging the bleeding obvious. - yeah :'(

Vulnera Sanentur - ok now I'm nitpicking but...that is a counter spell that works ONLY on Sectumsempra, created specifically to heal wound created with Sectumsempra ;)

The dagger’s vampiric properties had taken their toll.  - vampiric? Don't tell me you'll go there pls! And question - why the hell he didn't took out the dagger?

Dumbledore?! - ???

For the rest...all I can say is either too personal to share or I just lack the proper words. 

Just give us next chapter soon, please :(

You sneaky sneaky biotch. You made me think the sacrifice had to be a muggleborn witch. I had to go back and check the other chatper (because I obviously thought I was nuts).But Snape never confirms her accusation. Tricky tricky tricky.

I am still dying to know what happens next. Where is Hermione? How did Dumbledore wind up on the slab? What's going to happen to Voldemort? Bahhhhhh! Don't answer any of that. (BTW, I can see what this is fucking with your head.)

My only real question is how did he not see . . . oh, fuck me. Never mind. I think I just figured it out. Damn you and your trickiness!

Well it's always said it has to get worse before it gets better.......and we have reached that turning point now.....yes!.......haven't we? So is it Lucky Lucie or Desperate Draco she's contacting....or neither? Beautifully written as always my dear and you have even introduced me to a thoroughly likeable, lesbian Parvati. Trying to organise an afternoon tea in the ballroom at the Blackpool Tower ( about 50 miles away) and it is proving to be very popular. Will send you some cakes and sarnies if we get there.

Best wishes, Love Ali xxxx.

Desert, you are seriously one of my favorites. Here are some flowery declarations of love. You always leave a good amount of thorns on the roses that are your stories. It makes them so much jucier than a smooth transition from gitty snark to mooshy lemons.  You write the inner machinations that lead to Severus' and Hermione's rash decisions so well. I've not found another author who gives this pair Great Big Freak Flags to fly, while simultaneously endearing them to the reader with their sweetness/loyalty/insecurity/angst/flaws etc. You've a twisty, awful-lovely mind, Desert. And specifically to thisee story/chapter - I have never had much of an opinion about Parvati, but I love her like this! Hermione needs someone on her side besides the go-to friends of Harry and Ron. I can't wait for the next chapter. I'm guessing Hermione's off to visit Lucius??? 

Holy fuck yesssssss! Such a good chapter. I'm loving this story so much. The scene with Snape was magnificent, and I loved Hermione's inner turmoil. I take it she's going to get Draco to sacrifice her. Oh God, that's so fucked up. (And now that I think about it, this whole story has just been waves of "fucked up" smacking us all in the face at regular intervals.)

So many good words in this chapter too. My word notebook runnith over.

Embedded

Fraudulent

Contrivance

Noxious

contemptible

Deplorable

And you used embedded with both characters, mirroring their attachment to one another. I love that (whether you did it on purpose or not--but I assume you did.)

Favs

Perverti--*Snort-choke* I also loved Vati's defense of Hermione.

that moment when the fragile threads of hope would emerge from the depths of his black eyes--Unnnnnh! Love this.

You're killing me :'(

and feeling like she wasn’t the one he wanted. - would she rather be the one for which enchantment is created for?

whoa now that’s harsh! - maybe, but I was in a bad place that day XD. After 2 days of pure hell I could understand HIM absolutely (when you rewrite presentation for 10th time you start thinking voodoo dolls, and after 50th - you are for some blood drawn in most painful way).

Always feel welcome to rant - I hope I won't have reason for that (read: ppl from work will just fcking made up their minds)

They had been all he had—for so much of his life. They were his source of inspiration, they'd challenged him, he’d engaged them in, admittedly one-sided, conversations, questioned them, debated with them, and often dreamed about them. - I can so see myself in this, it is scary 

It was impossible to wipe the slate clean when its bitter remnants were embedded within him, tattooed upon him and even carried in the hearts and minds of those few that mattered to him. - beautifully said, and I'm crying again (don't worry yourself - still bit hormonal)

Lunging at the shelves, he tore them down—book after book plummeted to the ground. He frantically clawed at them, raw shrieks of agony bursting from him as he plunged into the rows, sweeping armfuls across the room, hurling them against walls and furniture until there was nothing left to destroy. -oh my.... :''''''(. I understand him, ben on that spot couple of times myself, and I'm hurting for him already, cos later on - regret is...even bigger :'(

And then he collapsed, holding his bleeding hands across his chest. It was the worst pain of all and no amount of healing was going to touch it. - :'( :'( :'(

After this part I can finally understand why my reactions to her actions are harsher than it would/should be - in all your previous stories Sev had equal sight to someone else from my past.  In this, he's more like me in so many ways. 
And she better have some really good idea how to atone for her outburst, so much better than plain "I'm sorry".

Way to go Parvati :)

He’d betrayed her - ok, I know it's her pov but...people did not betray you if they didn't manage live up to your image of them, it is kind of a selfish way of thinking that your "truth" is the only one correct :(

But the enchantment had so tainted everything between them that it could never be her.  - I don't know where you are going with her but - she still sounds to me like her biggest problem is that he actually loved someone so much, and that someone wasn't her. 

The thought of him with another woman tore another ragged hole in her heart. He was hers. - does she know what she wants? She's like a dog with a bone - she doesn't want it anymore but she won't share it because it's hers... :/

She wasn’t a martyr but she was a proud Gryffindor. - ok in my book this is an oxymoron :D

She knew exactly the person to make it happen.  - my dear are you trying to destroy her title of "smartest witch of her age"? Because her idea isn't smart, isn't even noble, it's just plain - stupid. And she will put Draco (not that I care too much) in danger as well. Please, allow Parvati to be smart enough, cos, the one that should be smart just said "goodbye" to her brain (don't get me wrong, I'm not changing the tune, I'm just thinking of him ;) ).

Now you have me on the edge of my chair again, you truly are the master of cliffhangers - so hurry up, pls ;)

P.S.: Is that insane creature of mine still with you? I kinda need her one of these days for the next chapter ;)

DS,

, 

Severus. In such a sorrowful place. She took away his very fragile hope for any lasting happiness, that all his service and pain justifies some peace of conscience. She judged him impulsively and harshly, judgement based on his mistakes only... so wrong. He's protected himself for so long, that he didn't show much of himself to her over those months together. It is his fault, that she doesn't know him. Now, if he wants any chance with her at all, he will have to try to show her all of him. Logically it should work with no problem, I believe the scales of justice are tipped to his favour, but when emotions are involved, the outcome is unknown. My heart goes out to him. I hope he won't try en easy exit -into nothingness...

Hermione. Poor thing. So much lies on such young shoulders. And so she admitted to herself, that she said a despicable thing (you deserve to be alone), if such a good person couldn't hold back her response to manipulation and betrayal... How can she judge him, then? His response was darker, because he had knowledge of the darkness... She must forgive him. It's always the only way to peace. And then go back to him.

OMFG she's going to contact Draco... if she goes ahead with the sacrifice Severus' guilt will push him to do unspeakable. 

DS have mercy!

Thank you for the update and for meeting my need for this story. Now is the time to take care of my emotional state, I'm sure, you realise how heartbroken and anxious I am at the moment. Please update soon. My faith in you remains unchanged. 

Love Fox xx

P.S.

I started In Their Hands, gods that thing is heavy! I do enjoy it though. So different too. Snape in a woman's clothes was hilarious, but this Snape is so powerful, frightfully intelligent and knowledgeable and experienced. I have no idea, how this Hermione is going to manage... I mean who is the patient in that story...

P.P.S.

I wish I was in your sunny down under, the skies in London are particularly gloomy today ;-)

Fox

Gah! I check for updates to the story way too often, and when I see one I pounce like a cat on a mouse! Then, it's over, and I'm left alone again, and back to obsessively checking for the next chapter  ;)