Okay, I'm mad at you. I liked this story. Until you made NEVILLE the bad guy. WTF!?!?!? Neville could never be a bad guy. Of course this was written years ago... so maybe, you didn't realize the awesomeness of Neville at that point in time. *shrug* I forgive you. :)

I do like the story, tho.

I've been looking for this story for years. I am so glad I found it. Thank you for writing it, most enjoyable. It's the first story I ever encountered that explored the idea that maybe an affair while Hermione was still in school might have repercussions in their relationship--that the sneaking around wasn't healthy or normal. Thank you.

Lovely. Remarkable. Etc. And only six years fresh. Aged like a fine wine.

Best lines:

"I'm coming, dear!"
"You damn well better be!"

... he looked at his wife's rose garden and the decorations she had put up for the party. Of course, it all screamed Hermione, but he didn't mind, because after all these years, 'Hermione' equaled home.

... his mother being the Potions Mistress and his father the Headmaster. Add in a godfather of a former Headmaster swooping through the halls as a ghost and "Uncle Harry" teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts and the poor kid had a tough hill to climb.

"YES! A Firebolt 2020! YES!" hissed the younger boy. "I'll act surprised, I promise. Thanks Dad!"

"I was just thinking what a great kid we have there," he said. "All of them, actually. How in the hell did that happen?"
"With us for parents? No idea."

"Let's just say I don't plan to hire any young and handsome men to teach before she graduates."

"Congratulations, Longbottom!" said Snape. "Thank Merlin I don't teach Potions anymore, if you're reproducing."

"Are you looking forward to having another brother of sister then?"
"I suppose. It's just - well, it's just gross, Dad. It's MUM. And -- You guys are old."
Snape laughed self-consciously and glanced over his shoulder at the group of adults pretending very hard not to listen to the discussion.

"If the story doesn't sound kosher, it's probably not. Owl me, I have the scoop."
"HARRY!"

"I thought maybe after we could do some more of that gross thing that creates these beautiful children of ours," she said, grinning up at him.

"Can you say anything, but nope, Severus?"
"Nope. I'm a bit preoccupied with the idea of making love to my wife in the grass."

best lines:
"Ah," said Snape, bitterly, leaning down into Neville's tearstained face. "And how many cauldrons did you tell them you melted in the process?"
"Severus!" Hermione interjected. "Back off -"
"But he -"
"Back off, Snape," she said. "I love you, but it's time to back off."

However, you were a savant of sorts in Herbology, if I recall correctly," said Snape, with a slight sneer. "I think I can find you an entry level position in their greenhouse division. Just don't blow anything up."

best lines:

"No, it doesn't. Harry and I aren't a couple, we've never been a couple," insisted Hermione. "We were just friends who had sex a few times. Things like that happen when you're both lonely, you know. "
"I know. You know. I'm just not sure that Harry views it the same way,"

But I do think you should have your own rooms officially. As a bolt-hole for the fights that we are going to have and for your own privacy and sanity. And mine.

Wow. You really ought to post this on ashwinder like a brand new story. It's such a fresh perspective!

Best lines:



"Yes, I'm terrified you are going to find a younger man and leave me."
"Well, Severus, I have to be honest that I *did* leave you to find a younger man, I just didn't find one that I loved as much as I loved you."

"Why do you need a younger man?"
"I want the fairy tale, Severus. I want the white wedding gown and candlelight and roses and I want to be that 'nice young couple' that moved in down the block. I want to have a young husband."

"I had such a crush on you and I didn't want you to think I was a child," she said. "God, Severus. You were an adult, a romantic and dashing figure. A war hero with a heart full of secrets and a dark past. The brightest man I ever met. The second most powerful wizard I knew. I thought you were so - Well, I didn't think I could be attractive to you. I still doubt it. I'll never be as mature or smart as you - you're so sophisticated. I'm just dumpy, geeky Hermione Granger. A kid.

And, despite everything, I'm glad we did. Even if, in retrospect, I was too young. We should have waited until after I graduated. I wasn't ready to be in a serious relationship back then."


"I am sorry that I wasn't man enough to wait until you were truly a woman and ready for a serious relationship," he said. "And I'm sorry that I played a part in the destruction of your innocence and the loss of your last year of childhood. I have no excuse except that I loved you."

"This isn't pleasant but it isn't hurtful and we *are* clearing the air. And from what I've heard from you -- I'm not sure that I can be what you want. I'm just an old, broken man - old from too many wars - and not the young husband you want."

"I'm telling you that I wish we hadn't become lovers when I was still in school. That I wish we hadn't snuck around for a year and had to hide how we felt from everyone, because it was neither healthy nor normal. That I wish I could have stayed a child longer. I wish I hadn't lied to you about my virginity, because the lie affected our relationship even if you didn't understand it at the time. And that I wish you had never proposed to me."

"What about babies?"
"I want one."
"Well, I want more than one, Severus."
"With me?"
"Well, that would be preferable to hatching one."

Best lines:


"I can't believe that I liked that," she said, as they walked hand-in-hand afterwards. "That was completely weird and I think Shakespeare is spinning in his grave, but that was interesting. Do I want to know how a Slytherin knows about fringe Muggle theatre?"

"Yes, that's 20 years or more that I'll be alive and mourning you after you die. I'm not sure I can handle it," she confessed, feeling rather relieved.

"You looked ten years younger, Severus."
"I've had a rough life, Hermione, that ages people...And I'm sorry that my age bothers you."
"Your looks shouldn't matter to me."
"But they do."
"Yes." There, she said it.
"Feel better now?" he replied, one side of his mouth quirked up in a forced half-grin.
"A bit."

best lines:

"I said you did seem to take a lot of bathroom breaks last night," she said, wryly. "At one point, I thought to ask you if you were pregnant, you were going so often to the loo."

"Don't get me off track, here though - you went to a stag party."

"I know. Just hear this now," she said softly, leaning towards him. "IF we do reconcile and IF we ever decide to marry - you will NOT have strippers at your stag party, do you understand?"

Best lines:


"Hermione, think about the potential Dark uses for it...truth serum - one that targets emotions and desires rather than actions or facts...You don't think that way, I know. I still do."

You left me alone for - for your little blonde bit of stuff."
"Blonde bit of stuff?" he retorted incredulously. "Are you referring to Sylvia or her daughter Diana? Or are you perhaps referring to Sylvia's husband, James? The whole family is blonde, if I remember correctly."
Hermione was stunned, but at least had the good grace to look sheepish.

"No World War Three, Hermione," he smiled. "Perhaps, however, we do need a better peace treaty."

This fic really is different. Or maybe it's how fics were written pre=HBP?

best lines:
"And, although I am sorry I didn't - um, follow through last night; it is probably for the best. Don't you think?"
"I do not." The smile vanished and the icy mask fell instantly.

He repeatedly shoved his hair from his eyes and his lower lip pouted further and further out as he pursed his lips in thought.
'He looks like a little boy when he does that,' she mused with affection.

"Believe it or not, I do have friends outside of Hogwarts," Snape interrupted. "In fact, a classmate of mine lives near the center of town, perhaps I shall go visiting tonight. Go have dinner and see the movie with Harry. I'll be fine."

"Hermione, I really think you need to rethink your decision," he said. "Try dating him again. You looked positively jealous when she stepped out of the Floo."

Best lines:
The little redhead apparently thought she sounded just like Pat Benatar, however, Snape thought she rather resembled a cat caught in the Cruciatus curse.
"Exactly WHY do they let these people get on stage and sing, Mr. Potter?" he asked.
"Drink some more, Snape, and you'll understand."

great story./ really enjoyed it!

wow. just wow

no. no. not him! you're kidding!

harry? no!