Because there are two parts to this chapter, I will be separating the two sections with "Oooo", since asterisks do not seem to work. I will also do this with any future chapters, as well, if I need to separate different sections of the same chapter. Just to let you know.
Although he had just been prompted by Hermione's gentle instruction to begin, Severus did not make a motion to speak. What in Merlin's name could he say to her? Of course, he had been the one to suggest the discussion between them before they allowed themselves to continue any further in their actions, but this simple fact did not mean that he had even the slightest clue of how to simply talk with her. How to let all of his walls crumble into dust around him the moment they were triggered by her soft voice.
"I'm waiting, Severus," she teased, slowly stroking the pale skin on the back of his hand with her thumb.
"What should I say?" he asked her uncertainly.
Laughing, she replied, "You are the one that insisted on us having this lovely conversation. Pick a topic."
Sighing, Severus concentrated on this for a moment. What would be a suitable subject of discussion between them? Suddenly struck with an idea, Severus asked her, "Have you, by chance, read that book that I gave to you quite some time ago, Jane Eyre?"
Blushing, she answered, "Not exactly. At least, I haven't read the copy that you gave to me."
Severus frowned. "Why not?"
"Well… I didn't want to damage it at all. You kept it in such flawless condition before presenting it to me; I simply could not bear if I were to wreck it somehow. The value of that book, what it must be worth…"
"You have read the book at least once before, though, have you not?"
"Yes, of course. I have read Jane Eyre from first to last page so many different times to date, I lost count of them ages ago. It simply grows more enjoyable each time."
"That is good to hear," Severus replied. He had not expected this to be so awkward.
During the silence, Hermione took Severus' hand in hers and interlaced their fingers. Her skin was like velvet against his, and her hand was so small and delicate, it seemed as though if it were to be squeezed too hard, it would shatter like fragile glass. Hermione gazed at their hands, linked together, and a smile graced her features. Then she pressed their hands together, palms against each other, and lifted them into the air, still staring at them as though they were mesmerizing.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing?" Severus asked her.
"I love these hands," she whispered.
"Your hands?"
Hermione laughed, elbowing him playfully in his stomach, and replied, "No, you dolt, yours."
"Mine?" he asked, taken aback.
"Yes." She sighed. "I love your hands."
"How…flattering," he replied, staring at their hands that were still locked together. Hermione continued this for quite a while, moving their hands about in different positions and directions and smiling at them.
Perhaps she really has gone mad, Severus thought as she suddenly giggled at absolutely nothing, as far as he could see.
Then, her soft voice sounded and he tilted his head down at her. She had dropped their hands to lie on her stomach and she was turning her head to him slightly. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course," Severus nodded.
However, Hermione did not answer him straight away. Instead, she hesitated, contemplating whether or not she truly wanted to ask him this particular question. It would be a risk; there was no doubt about that. It might very well upset him, or even worse, make him terribly angry with her. Eventually, though, she took hold of the infamous Gryffindor courage and began unsurely, "Why… I mean, what made you…"
"Yes?" Severus asked her, one eyebrow raised. He wondered a bit nervously why she was so hesitant, as it was very unlike the Hermione Granger that he knew, who was always brimming with self-assurance, often on the brink of being conceited. This made him worry about what the question could possibly be, if she was this tentative about asking it.
Hermione moved one hand to his left forearm, where the Dark Mark used lie, burned into his skin, and touched it lightly. Severus nearly panicked, already aware of what her question was concerning.
"What made you… Why did you become a Death Eater?" she asked timidly, afraid of his response.
He shifted uncomfortably, as he always hated when people decided to ask him these sorts of questions. He always had. Why, he wondered, were people so determined to remind him of his disturbing past? They seemed set on never letting him forget it, no matter how much he wished or tried to, and no matter how much he redeemed himself. He clamped his eyes shut and growled through clenched teeth, "Why would you ask such a question?"
"I was only curious-"
"It is none of your concern, Hermione."
"But Severus-"
Cutting her off again, he repeated, this time more forcefully, "No, Hermione. That is a matter that has nothing to do with you. It is between Professor Dumbledore and me, and no one else."
For one brief moment, Hermione felt as though she was a student again, being chastised, but she shuddered and, luckily, the unnerving sensation quickly passed.
"Are you all right?" Severus asked her, noticing when she trembled.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," she answered quickly, drawing his arms more securely around her for reassurance.
"I apologize," Severus said quietly, but Hermione placed a hand on top of his once more, and he fell silent.
"Don't. It is your past, Severus, and so it is yours to share with me, if that is what you someday choose to do. However, I will not force you into doing so. I will not pressure you or guilt you into it. Let it come in your own time."
It was quiet for a long time, when only the soft crackling of the burning fire could be heard, until Severus sighed and said to her, "Forgive me, Hermione, but I must ask you something."
"Of course."
"My, er, past… It is quite…haunting, to say the least, and it will prove to be a lingering memory in both our minds, should it ever be disclosed to you. The details… They are very unsettling. In my more recent past, I have encountered numerous wizards and witches who have looked down upon me because of what I used to be. Surely… I mean, won't it affect your feelings toward me?"
Hermione sat up and turned to face Severus, who was looking down into his lap, unmoving. Did this man honestly believe that he was completely worthless, she wondered. Did he think that she was not already aware of his past, that she had not known about it for many years? Since she was fourteen, she had known. Even then, it had not seemed to bother her as much as it did other people. Even then, she had trusted him.
She placed her hand under his chin to lift his head, until their eyes met. She said softly, "Severus, I am not concerned with your past, however lasting and troubling it might be. What matters to me is not the man that you used to be, but the man that you have become. We have all made mistakes that we have later deeply regretted, but does it mean that we should never be forgiven for them?" She sighed. "You have done all that you can to redeem yourself. I understand this. I also realize that after all that you have witnessed and everything that you have suffered, it is extremely difficult for you to come to trust another human being with your whole heart. However, I accept you as you are, and I only wish that you can show yourself the same forgiveness that all the respectable people of the wizarding community have granted you."
Severus did not know how to reply to that. She accepted him. Fully, knowing what he once was. No one had ever spoken to him like this before. No one had ever willingly touched him as she had. How could this woman, this beautiful, gorgeous woman, lie here with him, knowing all that he has done? Everything that he has seen?
But she doesn't know, the voice in the back of his head reminded him. Not everything.
Yes, and let's keep it that way, shall we? his other voice said to it. Perfect, now I've begun talking to myself.
That's the first sign of insanity, you know.
Shut it!
"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Is anything the matter?"
"No, nothing. Everything is…fine. Why do you ask?"
"It's just that you're so quiet. You've barely said anything."
"I was just…thinking."
Apparently satisfied with his answer, Hermione resumed stroking the back of Severus' hand with her thumb, back and forth. She could feel his breathing and heartbeat steady, and when she looked up at him, she saw that he had his eyes closed. She wondered if he was asleep already. Hermione slowly laid his hand down beside him and then stood up smoothly. She walked to the back of the couch, where she slid her hands down his chest and then back up, resting them on his shoulders. Beginning lightly, so as not to startle him, she began to massage him gently, loosening his muscles. She heard him groan and leaned down until her lips grazed his ear.
"Is the pressure all right?" she whispered.
"Yes, it's fine."
Hermione smiled and bit back a giggle as she leaned back up, moving to his back as he leaned forward slightly to allow her easier access to it. After a while, still massaging with one hand, she took his hand with her free hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed each finger, and then his palm, slowly. She ran a hand up his arm, onto his shoulder, and then to his face, pushing back the black wisps of hair that had fallen into his eyes. Then, her hand still clutching his, she kissed it once more, and then worked her way up to his forearm, laying kisses there as well. Severus grasped her hand and tugged on her arm, guiding her around the sofa gently and then pulling her down to sit beside him. Hermione threw back her head and laughed, and then she cuddled up to Severus, laying her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her once more, pulling her body close to his in an affectionate embrace.
"What are we going to tell them tomorrow?" Severus whispered, his eyes closed.
"Who?"
"The staff. They are going to grow suspicious, you know. It is inevitable. Dumbledore is aware of all the activities that go on in this school, and I guarantee you, he will know about this before the week is over with."
"I suppose you're right," she sighed. "Well, I presumed that we were not going to speak of this to them, to anyone, but if you had different plans…"
"No. None at all. I was simply wondering whether or not you wanted to-"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I do not wish to tell them. Not yet, anyway. Give us time before we mention anything to anybody."
Thank Merlin, Severus thought. I could never face my colleagues again if I knew that they were aware of our…relationship. Relationship. Is it really a relationship? No, it can't be. We haven't even done anything yet, really. No official dates. Oh, Merlin!
Hermione was also somewhat relieved by his reluctance to make the members of the staff aware of Severus and Hermione's feelings toward each other. We should get to know each other a bit better before telling anybody, she thought. After all, what if we told them, and then we were to break up? Break up. That would mean that we were in an actual relationship. But we aren't. Are we?
Hermione shook her head again, attempting to rid the thought from her mind.
"Is anything wrong?" Severus asked her, noticing her discomfort.
"No," Hermione said, sitting back up to look at him, her eyes meeting his. "Nothing at all."
As Hermione continued to stare into his eyes, she felt herself drowning in them. They were so overpowering, so black, and as she fell into their bottomless depths, she was sure that once she hit bottom, she would never be able to climb back out of them again. Truthfully, she didn't think that she would ever want to.
"Has anyone ever told you what beautiful eyes you have?" Hermione whispered to him.
Severus' eyes bulged, as he was taken aback. Evidently, he was not at all used to receiving sincere compliments. He quickly searched her face and eyes for signs of an insult or dishonesty, but he could find none. Perhaps she had truly meant what she had said. This woman would never cease to amaze him.
"No," he answered truthfully, and turned away from her.
However, Hermione had seen the shock in his eyes at being paid a compliment. She had observed fully his astonishment at her kind words. Indeed, it seemed as if no one had ever told him this, or anything even remotely similar to it.
"No one has ever told you that, have they?"
When he did not respond in the slightest, even acknowledging that she had spoken again, Hermione cupped her hand under his chin and forced his face up, until their eyes met once more. "Severus?" she whispered. He only shook his head.
"No one has ever…complimented me sincerely…on my appearance," he said then.
"Well," Hermione said, leaning forward to place a tender kiss on his cheek, noticing that he flinched slightly at the contact, "I simply cannot see why."
She then pulled away, so that she could take in his whole face, and smiled at him. Severus stared at her and cupped a hand over her cheek.
"You really are…very attractive, Hermione," he told her quietly. Just as it was an entirely foreign feeling for him to receive a compliment, for him to give one was nearly as painful.
Despite his hesitancy, Hermione beamed at his words and placed a hand on top of his, drawing it down to her lips once more. The corners of Severus' mouth curved upwards as he stared, awestruck, at the unbelievable woman before him. After one final kiss to the tops of Severus' fingers, Hermione leaned back against him once more, resting her head on his chest and dropping their hands to lie on her stomach.
They lay silently in each other's arms for a long while before both their eyelids began to droop. Steel weights were tugging forcefully at them, willing them to close. Hermione savored the feeling of his chest rising and falling beneath her calmly with each breath he took, and the steady beating of his heart thumping in her ears. Severus felt Hermione give his hand one last, gentle squeeze before he wrapped his arms around her and they both allowed sleep to consume them.
OoooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Severus hoped that the noisy clanging of the glass teacups nudging each other as they magically shuffled onto the tray would not disturb Hermione. She had been sleeping soundlessly since he rose from his place on the sofa.
That morning, when he awoke, before Severus had even allowed his eyelids to flutter open, he could smell her sweet scent upon him. He smiled as he gazed down at her; she appeared so peaceful as she slept. Her auburn curls were strewn about wildly, completely obscuring her face, which was squished against her hand. Severus pushed back the thick curls and laid a quick peck on the top of her head before, very carefully, sliding out from underneath her slowly, shifting her body so as not to wake her. Laying her head down gently onto the sofa, Severus glanced around the room for a quilt of some kind to drape over her. In doing this, he noticed that the fire had died down considerably, and so he pulled his wand out of his pocket and conjured flames to fill the hearth. Once the incredible heat had reached him, though, Severus decided that no blanket was warranted for now. At this, and with one last glance toward Hermione's sleeping form, he silently stole out of the room, unnoticed.
After he had made the tea and situated the dishes on the tray, he carried it carefully into the sitting room and gently set it down on the table. Beside him, Hermione stirred, rolling over and mumbling an undecipherable phrase, and Severus instantly froze. However, after seeing that she was indeed sound asleep, he quietly slipped out of the room, breathing a sigh of relief at not having woken Hermione from her calm slumber.
After that, he entered his bathroom, closing the door securely behind him and making sure to ward it, should she awake, and began to strip off his clothes. Tossing them carelessly into the far corner of the room, creating a heaping mass of black fabric, Severus stepped into the bathtub. He said quietly, "Hot water," and indeed, near-searing water spouted from the head of the shower. Severus closed his eyes and allowed the water to wash over his entire body, soothing him. Then again, what did he need soothing for? He had just spent the entire previous night with his arms wrapped around a beautiful woman, after all.
Hermione Granger, he thought, smiling as he quickly shampooed and rinsed his hair. Who would have thought that the Gryffindor know-it-all and myself would possibly end up together? Of course, we aren't together, together. Not yet, anyway.
Severus shook his head as he muttered, "Water off," and the water immediately shut off at his command. Then he stepped out of the shower, and had just begun wrapping a green towel around his waist when a sharp rap on the door startled him and he nearly dropped the towel to the floor.
"You didn't drown in there, did you?" came Hermione's sweet voice, chuckling.
"How long have you been awake?" he asked, raising his voice slightly to be heard through the door.
"Long enough," she replied. Even through the thick wood, he could hear her lovely smile.
"Did you find the tea that I left for you?" he asked, drying himself. Then he conjured a set of clothes for the day, and they promptly appeared directly beside him on the counter, neatly folded; a black pair of trousers, black socks, a white undershirt, and his black frock coat.
"Yes, I did. Thank you," she said.
"Wait outside for me, please," he said to her through the door. "I shall be out shortly." Just as he slipped the frock coat over his shoulders and began to fasten the bottom button, he reconsidered and decided that, for now, he would leave it off. After all, he would only be in Hermione's company. Thus, he removed it and set it down on the counter again, folding it back to the way that it had been when it had first appeared before him. Quickly, he used a drying spell on his thick black hair and sighed. Throughout this entire process, Severus had not so much as glanced at his reflection in the mirror opposite him, either keeping his back turned or simply averting his eyes. Running his fingers through his hair several times, he decided that he was now fairly presentable, and, lifting the wards, he opened the bathroom door. To his surprise, he found Hermione leaning back against the wall expectantly
"Are you aware that when I directed you to wait outside, I had not meant directly outside this door?" he asked her.
At the sound of his smooth voice, Hermione looked up and instantly brightened as her eyes were drawn to his white shirt. It hugged his lean frame just right, she noticed.
Gods, how sexy, she thought. Then she blushed at this, though she quickly managed to repress her face's ever darkening shade of red.
"I know," she replied, pouting as she continued, "but I was hoping to get a glimpse of you clad in nothing more than a towel."
Severus raised an eyebrow as he attempted to suppress a grin. Hermione ran her hands up his strong chest and then snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him down closer to her. Leaning up to him, she pressed her lips gently to his.
Severus wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her body close to his and pressing them against each other, while his other hand cupped her cheek. While one of Hermione's hands raised up to the back of his head, tangling itself in his hair, her other hand moved to his back, clawing at the white fabric hungrily. She leaned her head back and moaned quietly as Severus transferred his lips down to her neck, kissing it softly. He pulled away for just a moment to look down into her emerald-brown eyes, and his hand trailed down her cheek and neck, and then the length of her collarbone, until he reached to just above her cleavage. At this, Hermione reached up and took his hand in hers, and then brought it to her soft, full lips. Severus smiled at her and, before she knew what was happening, had picked her up in his arms and was carrying her down the hallway. Hermione's arms were clasped around his neck as she threw back her head and laughed.
"Severus! Severus, put me down!" she squealed.
Grinning and burying his face in her neck, Severus growled, "Never." Hermione screamed again, laughing, as he brought her into the sitting room with him, tossing her gently onto his sofa. She lay down, staring up at him for just a few seconds before she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him down on top of her. His lips met hers as she wrapped her arms around his waist, but he took her arms and held her wrists above her head, leaving her helpless beneath him. She smiled at him and leaned up to push her lips hard against his. His tongue licked at her bottom lip, and she allowed him entrance, opening her mouth for him. Severus' free hand was now tangled in her hair, and Hermione's hands were still being held above her head, though she was not even making an effort at freeing them. Not that she would have been able to under his strength, even if she had attempted it.
Suddenly, a knock at Severus' office door startled the two professors from their position on the couch as Severus suddenly shot up and began to climb off of Hermione. However, he had made the mistake of releasing her hands, and she grabbed at his collar once more and pulled him down to her.
"Ignore it," she muttered, her lips pressed to his ear, her hot breath very enticing to him.
He groaned as his hands drew dangerously close to her chest, but then stood up once more, straightening his shirt and trousers. Shaking his head, he said to her simply, "Sorry," and held out his hand. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly, but then slowly reached out a hand to take the one that he had offered to her. After she was on her feet, she began smoothing down her hair and robes. There was another knock at his door, this one noticeably more impatient than the last.
Glaring at the door, Severus snarled, "Just a moment," before glancing at Hermione. He quickly snatched up his black robes, which had been draped over the back of the sofa from the previous night, and slipped it over his shoulders before motioning for Hermione to follow him through the door leading to his office.
Understanding what his intentions were, she hurriedly chose a book concerning the subject of Potions from his shelves and then followed him into his office, immediately taking a seat in the chair in front of his desk, while he sat behind it.
As Severus growled, "Enter," she opened the book to a random page and stared at it as though she was transfixed, although she was not really digesting the information inscribed on the page at all.
Minerva McGonagall strode into the room, glaring daggers at Severus. "Well, it took you long enough-" she began, but stopped short when she caught sight of Hermione Granger. A sly smirk crossed her lips as she eyed the younger woman.
Severus followed her gaze and then glared back up at her.
"Was there something that you required, Minerva?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"Oh, no, Severus, because you know how much I enjoy your pleasant company," she replied, her words dripping with sarcasm. Then her eyes settled on Hermione, who still had not yet glanced up to greet her former Transfigurations professor, and she genuinely smiled. "Why, hello Hermione. Good morning."
Looking up and twisting her body around, Hermione tried to fix a surprised look on her face, as if she had been so engrossed in her book that she had not noticed the woman enter the room and begin speaking. "Good morning, Minerva. Severus and I were just discussing, er, new potions to try out in his class with his sixth years."
"I did not ask for an explanation as to your presence here, Hermione," Minerva replied, raising an eyebrow. She took a step closer to the Potions book and peered over Hermione's shoulder at it. "Love potions, Severus?" she asked, still smirking, as she looked up to him, who could have kicked Hermione under the table.
However, he somehow managed to restrain himself and glared at both women. Horrified, Hermione quickly began to flip through the pages of the book, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red with each passing second. "I must have…lost my, er, place…" she muttered, trying to keep her face well-hidden underneath her hair.
"Of course you did, Hermione," Minerva said, in an attempt to calm the woman, placing her hand on Hermione's shoulder.
However, the rustling of papers continued, until Severus finally reached a hand out to grasp Hermione's wrist firmly, and then there was only silence. Unfortunately, this peace lasted for mere seconds before Minerva spoke once more, "Well, Severus, at any rate, I did come here with a purpose. Albus asked me to remind you that the full moon is approaching."
"I was quite aware," Severus snapped at her. "Do you think I am entirely incapable of keeping track of simple dates?"
"If you are even thinking about complaining, Severus Snape, take it up with Professor Dumbledore," Minerva snapped. "It was on his request that I traveled all the way down here, to your dungeons, apparently interrupting quite an important…meeting…between yourself and Professor Granger."
"Was that all, Minerva?" he sneered at her.
"Yes, it was. Are you two planning on attending breakfast, or do you have more pressing matters to attend to?" she asked, smirking more now than ever.
Severus scowled and glanced at Hermione, asking her silently whether or not they would indeed be at breakfast in the Great Hall. Their eyes met and she nodded slightly, just enough so that Severus could see it, and he turned back to Minerva.
"Of course we will be attending breakfast." As Minerva began to leave, he called out with a sneer, "And if you would be so kind as to wait for us, we will join you." She turned around to face him, her brow furrowed in confusion, but she didn't say anything, merely waited for him and Hermione to stand from their chairs. Hermione snapped the book shut and followed her colleagues out the door, up the stairs, and through the hallways on their journey to the Great Hall. Hermione wondered why Severus had not simply remained in his office with her for the time being, but she could not very well ask him right in front of Professor McGonagall; her question would have to wait until later, when they could speak more privately.
For now, Hermione merely followed Minerva and Severus through the doors leading to the Great Hall, wondering if the staff already suspected anything. She glanced up at them, trying to read their expressions, and came to the conclusion that either they were very talented actors, or they were unaware of her and Severus' relationship. Hermione nearly shuddered at the word, but decided not to dwell on it; after all that had happened, this one word was not quite as intimidating as it had been last night.
Severus chose his seat at the High Table carefully, sitting close enough to McGonagall so that if he wished, he would have the option of listening to her conversations, though if he wanted to whisper to Hermione about more private things, he would not be overheard by her. Hermione sat in the chair beside him, with no idea why he had chosen the seat that he had; she had assumed that it was because it was the only space with two chairs empty, side by side.
Anxious about the answer to her question, she asked him, "Why did we have to follow Minerva to the Great Hall? Why could we not have waited?"
Whispering to her, he answered, "Are you not aware of how quickly gossip spreads throughout this school? I wished to stay nearby her to prevent her from telling anyone how she first discovered us this morning, should she even so much as consider it."
"Oh. That makes sense, I suppose," Hermione said quietly, helping herself to the food before her.
Severus quickly glared at her before returning his attention to his own plate. After nearly five minutes of total silence, Hermione tentatively reached her hand over underneath the table to hold Severus' hand, which was resting on his thigh. She noticed him tense slightly at her touch, but then he relaxed and continued with his meal as if nothing had happened. However, underneath the table, he returned the affection, clasping her hand in his and stroking the back of it slowly with his thumb. Hermione smiled at his simple showing of affections, though she concealed this by bowing her head and allowing her hair to fall into her face and obscure her features.
Leaning down, Severus whispered to her, a hint of a smile playing on his face, "I would suggest not slouching in your chair as you are now, Professor Granger." When she looked up at him inquiringly, he replied, "It does not become you."
Hermione beamed at him and straightened up, though she still kept her head tilted downward slightly. The remainder of the meal was spent in a comfortable silence, a smile never abandoning Hermione's lips, and Severus' hand never leaving hers.
I didn't think that I would be able to post this chapter before I had to pack up my computer, but here it is, so yay!
Just to let you know: This will definitely be the last chapter that I will be able to post before my computer is packed up and I move, so after this, it will be about a month before I am able to post another chapter, maybe longer. But sadly, I have no control over the situation. pout
Thanks to everyone so much for reviewing! I can't believe that I have over 260 reviews! You people rock!
HermioneGranger91- Yes, well, Hermione has definitely…matured since Hogwarts. Lol.
charmed piper- Thanks. I appreciate it.
SwissMiss1- I am glad about everything that you liked. I think that Snape does seem the type that would be gallant, don't you? Also, I thought that their scents would be very enticing to each other. Lol about what you disliked. The sentence that you mentioned in the grammar thing: Yeah, I was a little iffy about that sentence before I even posted the chapter, so I agree. Thank you, and, again, I will take everything you said into consideration and remember it when writing my next chapter.
SeverusSnape'sLove- Yes, that does make sense. Thank you!
aniamifan1988- Thank you. By the way, is that a country song?
PhantomPhluter- I don't mind if anyone corrects a mistake that I have made. In fact, I welcome it. Whether the mistake is a grammar error or that I have used the wrong word (fall/autumn- because the American meaning is different from the British one), I welcome criticism or corrections. Thank you sooo much for saying that my story is "REALLY good", but nobody's work is ever perfect. There is always something that can be done to improve it, and my story is no different. The criticisms that these reviews provide help me in making my story much better and more enjoyable for you readers. At least, I would hope so. Lol. Thank you so much again for saying that you like my story! I really appreciate it!
Disclaimer- (See Chapter 14)
As always, Remember: Review, Please! Even if you don't like my story, tell me what you dislike about it and I will try to work on it! Thanks!