rate_review Reviews

Well first I had to look up dab hand, because all though I've heard the phrase a few times before, I never knew what it really meant. Word fun. I liked this whole opening scene between Luna and Hermione. I don't know how this will change their professional relationship, but maybe Hermione will turn a corner with her. Snape isn't the only one who can affect change. Had she been so concerned with avoiding Luna’s scars that she’d not allowed herself to really see the woman?—Ah, the therapist's dilemma. Maintaining professional distance can be a blessing and a curse. I don't think it was the scars that blinded Hermione, it was her inability to be fully aware of anything, including herself. It hard to look below the surface of others without facing your own demons (or at least being aware of their presence). "It was the Thestrals that saved me—they woke me up, helped me through the smoke and flames.”—Snape is a lot like a Thestral. "I became close with my grandmother,"—Luna's grandmother didn't happen to take her on wine tours, did she? :) I loved the bit about Snape recognizing her and Luna's assertion that he was a man of compassion. "You have been in the wars." —I have never heard this phrase before. My first thought was that it was a line from a movie, but a simple search told me I was an idiot who doesn't know her idioms. This is my new knowledge for the day. And Snape has been saying things about her to other patients...because he looooooves her :D She's stuck in his head. Like a bushy-haired tumor. “Yes, but you haven’t been spit-roasted.”—Hahahaha! And obviously George should be the one feeling up Luna in her bed now that she's getting better. It's the Weasley remedy. Cures what ails you. "In side profile, his frown was less visible, he appeared to be focusing on a distant object. Perhaps a memory."—I don't know why I like this so much, but I do. "But, then again, at least the way I was, didn’t have me hitting innocent people around the face.”—Feelings can be dangerous like that. I liked this whole pond scene. It seems like a turning point for both of them. Hermione is recognizing what she needs and is ready to explore other possibilities. Snape is letting go a little too, admitting he has problems by saying he's willing to work conjointly with her. They're both very honest with each other. And it was funny. :) Onto the spanking. I quite enjoyed your descriptions. I think you covered a damn good range of reasons for her to find release in the act. Excellent. The trust she found in it was great.("If anything it was caring, as the level of trust was higher than she’d ever allowed before."—Yeeeees.) Obviously I liked the part where he made her come too—particularly the writing/visuals.(Favs were: the sound of him stirring her honey pot made it even moreso, Her clitoris and labia were kneaded together in a mash of swollen flesh, she almost couldn’t believe that her own body could make such a racket, He was alternating between massaging her clitoris and rubbing it frantically, and when he started on the next set of rapid-fire jiggling, it pushed her over the edge." "I’m going to show you what that level of acceptance and trust had done to your body."—Love this. (Should that be has?) I can't wait to see what happens next now that things have all shifted a bit. What will he teach her next? When will George shag Luna? Who will Shaun stalk next? So much left to discover.

I am so addicted to this story. I didn't realize it till I got the the end and said, "Nooooooo. I need more." (Which seems to be a popular phrase for me.) This whole chapter was delightfully intriguing. So Mollison is a guilty stalker (?). Oddly, it doesn't make me like him less. Who hasn't had an unhealthy obsession they liked to masturbate to? (*cough*AlanRickman*cough*) I'm not sure I followed Hermione's logic about accountability. Is she saying that guilt doesn't make you more accountable, it's just skewing your perception until your mind is a twisted distortion that can't see reality? If Mollison feels guilty then punish him. Snape might be able to help. Or Hermione could come into her own and take command. I like to think of it as paddle therapy. The part with Dennis was interesting on several levels. He's moving right along. He took the lead in their hike, he took an active role in physically helping her, he discussed his mother and his own issues honestly and succinctly. “When you love someone, you let them use you in the ways they need to. (Ooooooo. Foreshadowing.) "Being useful, needed by a person can be part of who you are, like your identity. (Starfish boy.) And when I finally left home, when I did it for myself, to give myself the space I needed, I felt like I’d lost something and that I’d betrayed her. (Good thing Snape taught him the lost song.) I still feel guilty." (He needs sex therapy too. Probably not from Snape. :) And probably not a spanking. He needs to fuck somebody and be his own man. So many choices.) Her correlation of Dennis's comments with Snape was masterful. There's too much goodness for me to pick it all apart. "Maybe he didn’t have trouble using people he didn’t care about."—Baaaaaah! How can she be so dense? When has he ever given the impression that he didn't care about anyone? You don't help people if you don't care. Just because people maintain a safe distance doesn't mean they don't care. It usually means they care too much. (Empathy is a confounding bitch like that.) The fear of rejection part of her musings seemed logical, but she still has this warped vision of him. The session with Snape was interesting too. "I left because I was confident you could find your own way back.”—Tricky. But she doesn't get it. She says he's avoiding the question, but she just wasn't listening to the answer. ("I thought I explained that last night?"—This is a statement not a question. Switch to a period.) Even when he blatantly tells her that her focus on him is distracting her own growth and negating the point of their "arrangement," she still doesn't catch on. Then, with what little she has probably guessed right about him, she proceeds to pry out a bit of the truth. I think she's right about his fears of rejection, but I think she's wrong about why he's doing it. And I don't know if denial is quite the right word, but it's close. I think he knows very well why he does the things he does. He may not want to talk about it, but that doesn't mean he's unaware. He is obviously fucked up, and she could help him...if she weren't so fucked up and blind. Maybe she'll be able to help him if he can help her find herself like he did with Dennis (and Sarah...and Jaeger/Katherine). Oh shit. He's helping everybody find themselves. That's bloody genius. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that he'd helping her find herself so she'll be good enough to actually help him get better. (I don't know if he's conscious of that desire of not. I'm going to guess not, since he's so resistant and angry when she hits on something true.) Now I'm curious if he's done something to make Lynch find his own truth (and stop obsessing over Hermione). But what about Ellory? Is she just a pawn, or is something else going on? “I don’t deserve anything,” he spat, before rising from his chair and storming out.—Oooooo (I'm feeling Frankish tonight). Someone just showed his hand. :) (And take out that comma after spat.) I can't tell if Snape is using Ellory and Sarah to punish Hermione for getting too close to his secrets, or if he's still just helping Sarah (and doing god knows what with Ellory) and is just pushing her with the jealousy. And now Emily is Luna. WTF? I didn't see that coming at all. Was she just going to keep her identity a secret the whole time? Why did they think her name was Emily in the first place? Did she tell them that? "she’d also revealed that she’d managed to get a few hours’ sleep and was interested in taking up meditation."—Gee, I wonder who that sounds like :) I fucking love Luna, so you can mould me into her as much as you like. "She’d found the woman to be extremely insightful and an excellent listener and, to some extent, confidant."—If Luna/Emily starts compulsively masturbating and singing, you're just going to have to start calling her Oracle. :) ( and now the raw pink scars scoring her pale face, shocked her all over again.—Take out the comma between face and shocked.) "...tears trickling down the chaotic rivulets of her cheeks."—I love this description. Chaotic rivulets. So I take it Snape knew it was Luna. But for how long? (BTW, don't capitalize love.) And how long has he been helping her? (Once again he has helped someone find themselves.) Now I'm dying for backstory even more. What the hell is going on? While I don't know if Hermione was hitting him to protect Emily/Luna or because she was jealous (or both), I found the scene enthralling nonetheless. He has no visible reaction, but I'm dying to know what he's really thinking. Is he pissed off? Is he impressed by her passion? So much drama :) I definitely need more.

Ahhhhh, what a cliffhanger! Emily is Luna???? Thanks for the beautiful chapter. I loved the sensitive characterisation (especially Dennis). I'm looking forward to read more.

Dear writer, I just want to say THANKS for this wonderful, complex Story. I love how Snape turns the table on Hermione.I gotta read with a dictionary, because I'm not a native speaker. But It's so worth the effort. Can't wait to read more! Greatings from Germany!

Wow, it's only been two weeks and you're 6 chapters further in this story, already - I am impressed! And happy to have something new to read on my first free day in a while. My thesis project is coming along quite well: I've been planning a little perception experiment and it is now just about ready to go online :-) The theoretical writing part will fall into the next two weeks, while everyone can take part in my listening test and afterwards I can evaluate the results - In short: All is going according to plan. Reading The Count ist still just that, a plan for when I finally have the time to read and concentrate - but I'm working on that. As to your story - I am finding myself more and more confused. For one I'm really not good with new names (that is just one more reason to read fanfic - not so many unknown characters), which results in me constantly thinking along the lines of "Wait, wasn't she the one who...no, that doesn't work. Hmmmm." Also, how can Hermione be a sex therapist without actually knowing and understanding the subject in all its facets? At least, how could she have been successful, so far? Another point I can't get out of my mind is, why is starfish boy actually there? Did he have an agenda coming there or was he really tricked/persuaded? I think it rather likely that he might have some issues that need solving - and real therapy, not (just) massages or hypnosis (which obviously didn't work, anyway). I do find it his advice and methods interesting and quite clever, of course, but if he needs therapy himself, what exactly is he doing? Does he know himself well enough that his "helping" the other patients and H. is beneficial to him as well? Or is he (in my opinion the more likely option) in denial? And perhaps trying to evade the only person with the intelligence to actually be able to give him what healing he needs without being constantly outwitted? While it is true, that psycholoists may sometimes need help themselves, why does he offer that help? Doesn't H. feel like a hippocrite now, for sending the other 2 away? And finally, did either of those 2 really think, they and/or the other could keep this arrangement detached and professional? Okay, he, maybe - he is practiacally a therapist, already, while she's got the title. But on her side, I believe, that would me more denial. Then again, she did acknowledge her own jealousy (finally, she has behaved like it almost from the beginning). Oh, and I really like George in this story :-) Well, that is all my unstructured mind can think up, for now. And, as ever, I will be waiting for new chapters. Have a nice weekend!

I always forget to respond to your A/N. I've remembered this time. Hahaha! I did know Raspail's name without looking it up (Garden variety manic-depressive, Tedious. Very tedious. Best thing for him really. His therapy was going nowhere.) I did have to look up how to spell it though. I never knew if it was Ras-pail or Ras-spell. Yay, more yummy sex scenes. Sir Snape suits my tastes just fine. I love this opening scene with George. I need the comic-relief/sweetness. “Why? Does it have words?” made me snort. The whole back and forth was great. “I’m not sure of whom you refer but she does sound like someone with taste.” Too true. I know what else she has a taste for. :) Moving on from my George/Emily campaign, I liked the whole ear and Fred-loss part of the conversation. A nice heartfelt moment before the sexual games begin. Then we jump right into the continued dismantling of Hermione. “In your bedroom . . . Now.” Mmmmmm, that’s my kind of Snape. I freaking love this whole sex scene. Making her get off with his hand is hot and diabolical. This has to be one of my favorite ideas of yours. I also love the part about keeping her shirt on so the focus is on her pussy. That's brilliant. I've never thought of it that way but that is why wearing some clothes can make you feel more naked than wearing no clothes; it highlights the missing element even more. You already know how much I love saying "yes, sir"; so you've already won me over on that front. "They would have some power over her? They could use it against her? She would be vulnerable to blackmail, to betrayal?"—This is such an interesting train of thought, and says a lot about the character. I can't tell if these are really her fears or if if they are projections of her fears. She's not focused on the personal humiliation per se; she seems to be seeing it from an almost professional standpoint. The fears aren't centered around her feelings or anxiety about what he'll think of her, but around how it will be used against her. I don't know what that really means. (Avoidance?) Her fears are legitimate, but she not seeing the deeper possibilities (good and bad). She does see that sharing the experience of vulnerability will help her empathize with her patients, but she's missing the emotional connection to that vulnerability. But then she can't get herself off without touching him because she feels disconnected, which suggests that, even if only subconsciously, she does sense the emotional aspect. She's searching for a sense of safety and emotional support (literally holding his hand to take her first steps). (not only her core, but her thighs, back, buttocks and abdomen started to clench ready for take-off. --Comma between clench and ready.) I like how he made her taste herself. It seems to be a pretty common opinion (even among those less uptight than Hermione) that sexual fluids are gross (and you've already heard my rants on how disturbing I find that sentiment, so I won't go into again). Being open sexual means that you are open to all senses being immersed in the experience, and that includes taste. Denying that sense is a denial of pleasure. Snape agrees with me and tries to explain it to her with "...when you desire your own desire..." That is a great line. Hermione does not desire her own desire (yet). She doesn't even seem know what her desires are. She's a passenger, an audience, of her own sexuality, passively observing her life without ever getting her hands "dirty." I had to read the part about "What desire are you trying to express?" several times to follow what he was trying to say. I forgot the theme of the day's lesson (that her core was to be the center of her attention). I think my slowness was influenced by own predilection for finger sucking. If Snape asked me if I was sucking his fingers for my arousal or his, I'd honestly have to say both. (But I concede that I wouldn't have been focused on my core.) Obviously I loved the ending. The descriptions were fabulous, and who doesn't love an oral finale. Bravo. And it rewarded her vulnerability with pleasure and breaking down her walls even more. Tricky. Now that I've gotten my sex fix, I'm dying to know what's happening to everyone else. Eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

Simply magnificent. As a student of behavior who is interested in psychosexual disorders and how their effects can manifest this story is wonderful to me. I adore how the old adage that every good psychologist needs one themselves. Admittedly I sneered at Dr.Ellory, but she made good points. The Hermione we know is very rigid and while she might be enlightened with sexual mentality, sexual physicality flusters and is somewhat alien to her. Her handling of the Dominant/submissive sexual activities shows her bias of assisting sexual fetishes that are out of her comfort zone. She herself is guilty of sensual projection and that causes her to retreat into denial. Personally I believe it would have been her time to shine and to broaden her horizons by listening and perhaps doing a group session with the duo. Severus is amazing because with his history he is able to manipulate and categorize. Forget Potions Master, he is a Behavior Master. Knowing and accepting behavior and what it might mean to others and us is very different. He knows his flaws and accepts them while Hermione locks them away under the guise that makes life easier and adopting a cool, unaffected countenance that boards on severely repressed. It is always easier to focus on others' issues than to bring forth perzo al ones. The new wahs of thinking tbst Severus has her engaging in is poetry in motion. Please,keep up the phenomenal work.

Oh sweet lord, yes! I loved this chapter. And I'm not sure why. Perhaps I'll figure it out as I write this. Oh, and yes, Lecter does sound like Snape. I often think of Lecter when writing "serious" Snape lines. And no I didn't notice that you weren't cursing in this story. See how observant I am? I'm too immersed in the story to notice such things. It would probably seem odd if you did. (Cursing's not very fucking professional, it it?) I liked the whole first bit with her reflections on her uncontrollable arousal when in his presence. Been there. (Although my arousal is cued by talent, most notably of the music and acting variety. Auditions were always surprisingly erotic for me. Damn tricky boys with their voices and crotches.) (and had been on the receiving end more times that she could remember.--than she could remember.) "and perceive it intellectually, adding to its value as a tool that might be employed with greater precision and, hopefully, more beneficial outcomes in the future..."—So she's kind of got a mixture of personal and professional growth going on now. Almost there. He's told her several times that it's all about her; when will she see that the point of this isn't to be a better therapist? That that will come naturally when she's more whole as a person. "He was so accepting of other people’s diverse sexualities. She sighed deeply. Everyone, it seemed, except hers." *Snort* You have to have some sexuality before he can accept it. The scene with George was, once again, fabulous. Carefree and follicularly abandoned might be one of my favorite lines this time. I like how she's already loosening up. The hair is coming down and she's a bit freer. And I'm loving Sarah's poem (which could be about a lot of things). I see Hermione is still jumping to conclusions and letting jealousy skew her perceptions. And in wonderful contrast to Sarah's poem we have George's Sprout limerick. God, I love limericks. :) And then on the touching/serious side we go back to Creevy and his "lost song," which is obviously helping him find himself. Wonderful. And Hermione is already seeing him differently. The Snape sex therapy is paying off. I found the staff meeting very interesting. First there's the bit about Spout, and then there's the bit about Sarah going into the woods (which Hermione is shaken by, but I see as a continuing attempt to ground herself). Then Ellory drops the bomb about Snape's massage therapy session and there's the whole part with Lynch being short with Hermione and Hermione freaking out. Very, very interesting. Was Snape's "release" the "handiwork" of Ellory, or just a natural outcome of his relaxation? Is Lynch no longer enamored of Hermione now that she's getting "therapy" from Snape? Is he jealous, or has she lost her mystique? And then you end the scene with “Do not mistake our ‘arrangement’ for a relationship,” he hissed. “I will give and receive, to and from, whom I wish. And never attempt to make me fit into your narrow view of the world.” Damn! Harsh. For Hermione that is. But she should know to keep things professional. (But I know she's becoming emotionally involved in all this. She can't separate the two. But maybe he knows that too.) I loved the whole ending scene. I see the fire as representative of her passion. And, surprise surprise, she runs away from it. But Snape is there to keep her from fleeing too far. He becomes the therapist again, reminding her what her jealousy really means, and suggesting a way for her to cope with her burgeoning feelings. And then he fucks her against the tree, which was incredibly hot and well-written (...his iron cock shining in the light of the Lumos spell.--Loved it!). I assume he's trying to ground her too. She's in her head too much and not enough in her body. Sarah should share the secrets of the forest with her. But Snape's cracking a little too. He may have called things off early, but he's enjoying her awakening. I'm curious to see how far he takes their relationship, because no matter how hard she tries, I don't know if she can open up all the way unless he breaks down some of his "professional" boundaries. "This is not about me," No? You're completely without feeling on the situation? Starfish boys have feelings, hence the reason they help. Is Snape in denial too? (Or just stubborn?) I can't wait for the next chapter. You didn't talk about Emily much this time. I'm still jonesing for backstory :)

Mmmmmm. Tasty therapy. Now to start back at the beginning so I don't forget anything. I'm curious about Emily's backstory, so I'm looking forward to her therapy. Why is she all burned up? (BTW, "Are you sleeping,” she asked quietly...—should have a question mark in it.) I'm going to continue to cheer for George's help for her (also finally remembered to ask is George's ear missing? Or were you not going canon on that bit?)I also feel for Emily's sleep problems (as I'm sure you do too). I'm not sure which scene was my favorite—the sex scene or the "bath" scene. I love the whole calm, carving, meditative Snape. I like their ideas (or your ideas) for Mollison and the mirror. I liked their discussion about Sarah, and his explanation of receiving gratification from it. His response about avoiding attachment by dressing like a farm hand cracked me up. I'm enjoying Hermione's self-realization as the story progresses. She's trapped herself in a box that is slowly shrinking. She wants to break free, to be a better/more open version of herself. The psychological sword fight with her own wants and shortcomings keeps me on the edge of my seat. His decision to take all control from her by not offering her an out is the kind of extreme abandon she needs to break through her self-imposed barriers. Obviously this would dangerous with anyone NOT a Legillimens or anyone with questionable motives; but I think he's proven that he does have good intentions and that he does know what he's doing. And now we get to Lynch's secret. I suspected lust due to his visceral reaction and horror, but having your heart outed would be equally horrifying (especially if you're married). "The world twisted and warped around her like a kaleidoscope." This was one of my favorite writing parts. I love the butterfly symbolism. (But now I can't stop thinking about Benjamin Raspail's head in SotL and hearing Anthony Hopkins asking "Was it butterfly?" I know. I'm fucked up.) Then you end with this aggressively wonderful sex scene. Honeyed baritone was a wonderful description. Besides the carnal delight of reading this, I very much like how his opening move with her was to force her to witness and face up to her own desire/arousal. For someone who spends so much time denying her sexuality, this is a brilliant way to not only keep her from hiding but also to keep her focused on her own animal abandon. (He delved in, rhythmically—take out this comma.) I feel like she thinks sex should fit into this narrow definition of what she thinks is proper/acceptable, but sex is messy and wild (two things that are anathema for any asexual, perfectionist, control freak); it's never neat and tidy, it's spontaneous and resistant to societies rules. Looking at it from that perspective, it's easy to see why she has such an aversion to anything kinky. Missionary is predictable and safe; doggie style leaves you vulnerable to the unknown. And she seems to avoid vulnerability like the plague (which isn't surprising given her past). Her rigid rules come into play with that idea too. She does like vulnerability when it fits with what she deems acceptable (Sarah and Emily and Creevy). But when Calder uses vulnerability in a sexual situation, she freaks out. As long as she feels sympathy for the person's plight, she's okay with it. So now Snape can help her see that there's more than one way a person might experience vulnerability. Sometimes you have to embrace it to find freedom. (Your last "yes" has one single quotation mark and one regular.) You know I can't wait for more. I want to see what he does to her next, but there are so many other little stories going on I want to know what happens to everyone else. And I want to see how her shifting perception changes her professional approach. So much to look forward to.

That's it! I need therapy too! Cause that was HOT!!! Okay... I really liked the whole " the bath" conversation. I especially loved that when he left the wood that he was whittling was a butterfly. That was beautiful. By the way, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the names of your chapters. With Grape juice and this one the titles and the title of the story all correlate. I think it's BRILLIANT! I can't wait for more therapy, I mean the next chapter.