rate_review Reviews

I enjoyed the opening scene. I like the whole power play between Hermione and Severus. And I like how complicated Snape is as a patient. Not just the sarcastic dismissal of institution rules (which I love), but the conflicting persona he presents to Hermione. He's like one of the staff rather than a patient. He's smart and understands what's going on with the other patients, but he's also irreverent and difficult rather than totally helpful. For instance, he obviously cares about his roommate and is disturbed by his suffering, but he also goes along with Calder's flirting in what I can only guess is an attempt to rile Hermione. He's not cold and heartless, but he is playing a game. And he avoids her question about whether he wants to return to Hogwarts, redirecting her attention to Mollison; which just makes me more curious about his mindset. Is he pissed off that his motives are in question after risking his life for so many years? I would be. Is he reluctant to return to a school where so many bad memories have played out for him? Or is he just ambivalent about life? (I think fucking Hermione would reaffirm his desire for life :)) And then there was the whole bit about what did he say to Lynch. So I'm guessing Lynch's thoughts were of a sexual nature. Which makes me wonder what Snape said to freak him out so much. Did he threaten to reveal his fantasies? Even if they were criminally perverse, did Lynch think a sex therapist would be that surprised by something as common as a fantasy about a co-worker. Or is he just worried it would ruin their working relationship? Then there was the bit about Creevy, which took the whole scene in an obliquely sexual direction. (The Master Oedipus line cracked me up.) He's, once again, making her talk about her sexuality (and drawing attention to his own via Calder). He already knows she's jealous of Calder, so he knows she's attracted to him. Is he trying to leave her self-conscious about her appearance by pointing out her attire? Is that just to torture her, or is he throwing the therapy back at her so she'll analyze her own sexuality? Is he motivated by selfish reasons (fucking her) or is the starfish boy? If I have to go by what I've seen so far, he is the starfish boy but in the most irreverent way possible. Like most things dealing with Snape, I suspect his motives could be a complicated compilation: he does want to fuck her, but "rescuing" her is equally important to him. I don't want Ellory massaging Snape (that's Hermione's job). But if she does, I hope Snape humiliates her in some way. Favorite line this time was "Ellory pulled a face as if she had just popped a piece of buttered turd into her mouth." Classic. And then Hermione wonders why she's relieved Ellory was denied her request. I hope Snape makes her realize her latent sexuality soon. Denial is no way for a sex doctor to survive. “Degrade?” Ellory blinked. “Perhaps you should ask her if she found it degrading or erotic before you apply your own judgements.”—Finally Ellory says something I can agree with.

Yeeeeees! So Hermione's seen some of the light now. And she wants Snape to help her. Very interesting. I loved the scene between Sarah and Snape. Unlike Hermione I knew exactly what he was doing ( I think I need some similar sessions). That's sexual therapy. And the scene was just fucking hot. I don't know if you planned it or not (I suspect you did), but although Hermione was appalled by what she saw, as the reader, I wasn't. Maybe I just like Sarah, but unlike Ellory, I felt no indignant fury that Snape wasn't with Hermione. Of course we're made to feel protective of Sarah, so it's no surprise that when she has this "oral" breakthrough, I'm in her corner. (And was I the only one answering Hermione's "isn't this the same as Calder and Jaeger" question with a loud no? They were worlds apart in intention...but I didn't see either as wrong.) Then Hermione and Severus have the enlightening conversation/argument, and that was great too. It's clear that he's trying to push her to overcome her own issues now. And I'm guessing he wanted her to see him with Sarah to push the impending revelation out into the open. Sneaky Snape. Hermione is finally being honest with herself. She obviously has some serious sexual repression. (Or possible trauma? Puking is a pretty violent reaction to a sudden sexual revelation about oneself.) For a sex therapist she's awfully judgmental towards Calder and Jaeger (but more Calder...which is probably because of her hidden feelings about Snape; but she also seems repulsed by the idea of submission, which I would think would be a red flag for a sex therapist since they're taught to not judge anyone's kink.) I liked the piano bit at the end too. Very nice solidification of her suspicions that Snape is more starfish boy than sexual deviant. I liked the opening part with George and Emily too, and it contained one of my favorite lines, “Sometimes I go for a whole day without feeling myself.” But my favorite bit of writing this time was "His words hung in the air between them like the dark mark after Morsmordre." Excellent. I'm eager to see how Snape "helps" Hermione. So many possibilities.

Man I love this story! It's like everything is in reverse. Hermione is the stoic one rigid, unfeeling while Severus is the one going around and helping everyone the only way he knows how. This is AWESOME! If I stop talking for a while, can he do therapy for me too? That seems like the bestest therapy ever. I am so curious as to what Calder said to him? Are we going to find of soon? Until next time...

Well, let me start off with this: Guess who's not anonymous any longer? And at this point I've got five chapters to review because I was slacking waiting to get my account up and running again. I think this could be my favorite story so far; do I say that every time you start a new one? It seems to me your writing style is totally different with this story. That's pretty impressive. The set up is great here--impersonal, inexperienced sex therapist gets thrown in the deep end and is (presumably going to be) rescued by a patient that is better at her job than she is (this is kind of the trend I'm seeing in chapters 4 and 5). That has to hurt a girl's ego. I'm no fan of Ellory (not that she's not written brilliantly, just a personal dislike), however she has a fabulous name and hypnosis is fascinating. I'm loving George--the idea of him using some sort of humor therapy on Snape makes me feel like there could be a whole other story written... anyway, that "Why would I need a man when I've got you?" made me actually snort. I find it interesting that "after all this time" Hermione is still marginally terrified of Snape. It is totally pavlovian. And enjoyable. One expects she'd have grown up a bit more than that, the fact that she hasn't adds a nice layer to the story. So, some of my favorite moments: Helium Gum, obviously. "she knew enough of his history--his sexual humiliation as a student and unrequited love for Lily Evans," I somehow think she doesn't know as much as she thinks she does. "She sometimes wondered if this bubble of sanity they were attempting to create was, for some clients, nothing more than a half-way house for a soul already on its way out of this world." DAMN. Insubstantial case file, eh? Mr. Quidditch and the Museum of Abominations--Snape's humor is priceless. "I found him to be... enigmatic." You don't say. This is getting really long and I need to pack it in--I can't wait to see what happens next.

Interesting story so far! I look forward to were this goes next.

This chapter was very interesting. I liked learning about some of the other patients. I'm enjoying all this set up. Something is going to happen, and I'm dying to know what. What will be the igniting spark? How is she going to deal with Snape? Why won't Sara talk? How did Emily get burned? (Or have you already told us and I forgot?) What did Snape say to Lynch? How long is he going to play along with Katherine's flirt routine? (And why is he playing along? Is he trying to make Hermione nuts? That sounds like him.) (And stop modeling characters after me :D I don't flirt. I'm missing that gene.) My favorite scene this time was Snape grabbing Lynch. I have no idea why. Perhaps just the excitement of the moment. Or maybe I'm turned on by the mystery of what he said. And it sounds like Hermione's jealous of Katherine. When will she admit to herself that her visceral reaction to his person is sexual attraction? I also liked George's joke. I haven't heard that one before. And I like George. I kinda want to fuck him. (What's your diag-nonsense, Dr Granger? Promiscuous? Looking for a care taker? Escaping reality with literary men? Guilty :)) Or maybe I just want him to find a woman. I know one who needs some Weasley love. (Not me, Emily.) I know it would be unethical to screw a patient, but I want them both to have some fun. I had three favorite writing parts this time. -"Trying to open up someone who could expertly thrust and parry, before stabbing you between the ribs with your own argument, required both the mental agility to tap-dance along that sword edge..." -“Well, whoever’s flocking has got a flocking screw loose,” muttered Hermione. -"her white dress blooming around her like the translucent bell of a jellyfish." I'm so looking forward to the next installment.

You don't just write sex beautifully you also do pain well too. My heart just went out to Emily. You can just imagine the pain and heartache for this poor girl. When she mentioned the cooking, I didn't know whether I wanted to throw up or cry. I think I did a little bit of both actually. That is not an image one forgets. Her anguish just reaches into your heart,grips it real tight and then twists. Argh. You know at first I was like where's the heat? Usually by now there's some tension and mind blowing sex, but I am really liking that there isn't. It's so much more in depth. You're really getting into the psyche with this one. We're covering all kinds on the spectrum here. Pain, fear, jealousy, laughter, loneliness, grief, I could go on. I can't wait for what's next!! BTW,the flower vase joke was absolutely priceless.

Since you wrote a different kind of story, I'm going to give you different kind of review. I enjoyed the set up, and I'm intrigued by therapist-Hermione (especially sex-therapist-Hermione). Your writing this time seemed very story-centered, which I enjoyed. There was less of me drooling over words (although I still did), and more of me getting lost in the plot. In fact I read it through the first time without even trying to make notes. I wanted to get the full effect without breaking it down. The whole idea is engaging. I think everyone likes to see Hermione in a career where her brain is her greatest asset, so having her be a doctor is excellent. And she's also helping people with her "brain power," another plus. I like George's part in this too. He offers the tension relief of levity--a much needed skill when faced with mental illness. (And I loved the "why would I need a man when I have you around?" line) Besides the obvious questions of 'what's going to happen with her and Snape,' there's already some foreshadowing of more. I won't predict here, but I'm already eyeing the other characters. Now for my rambling musings: Is Galladon just a word you liked, or does it mean something? Is Ellory just a bitchy quack? I kind of want to spit in her coffee. Helium gum. You've been watching AR YouTube clips again, haven't you? Toot, toot indeed. --I loved this. My favorite bit from a writing perspective was "Now gusts of it plucked at the limbs of saplings waving at her helplessly beyond the glass. If she’d been more maudlin, and she wasn’t far off, it might have struck her as symbolic, premonitory." I liked the whole part where she was looking out the window at the scenery. For some reason, I loved the part where Snape hands over his wand by balancing it on his finger; and his line "Or is this, in fact, the aforementioned location, whereupon the abominations in question are a gaggle of former Hogwarts students masquerading as professionals?” was hilarious. You already got the next chapter up, so I'll see you in the next review.

I enjoyed the scene between Jaeger and Hermione to start off this chapter. It's not only interesting just from a psychological viewpoint, but it's also setting the tone of her work before you introduce Severus. Clever girl. The masturbation accusation cracked me up and made me hate Ellory even more. Marvelous combination. Is that bitch hot for Severus? (Doesn't she know that Snape and Hermione belong together? :D) The tension between Hermione and Snape was great. I loved how he went on the offensive and took on the role of therapist by using her own psych-speak against her. He's toying with her. Cat and mouse. And he knows just what to say to cut her the deepest. His insults are pinpoint in their accuracy. I also like how he's managed (or you've managed) to build sexual tension without talking about anything overtly sexual. Just the mention of her sexuality is suggestive when they're in such a dynamic situation. I loved how she used the allegory to illustrate her point and throw him off his game. I don't want to ruin any storytelling by stating my suspicions here, but I'll email you in a minute. I see lots of possibilities for Snape to make growth in this story. Can't wait for the next installment :)

Wow, you are full of surprises. This story has a complete different tone and structure ... melody ... to it than your other stories. I'm looking forward to reading more chapters on that and see how the story evolves.