I'm glad you've decided to post this story to TPP, even though I've already read it over at Our Mirror of Erised. I think it's very interesting how you're easing Severus back into a somewhat normal life and showing him with his ups and downs in adjusting.Looking forward to these chapters and the ones on OMoE. Cheers,the GLM

Yay! I'm glad you're writing the sequel. I'm looking forward to it.

So plsased to have a chance to read Severus' story! Thank you for continuing with this.

You know you've got me hooked! I'm very much looking forward to reading and reviewing the upcoming chapters! You have a way of writing the characters that makes me believe they're actual people with real ups and downs in life, true triumphs and defeats. I love that in a story!CFP from the GLM

Oh! I have been waiting for this one ever since I finished DD... If that story is any indication, this one will be pretty good.Looking forward to the next chapter!

Glad you are back with a new story. I hope it will be a long one, I know it will be an interesting one - you are a gifted writer

Where to begin ... First of all, let me say that I LOVED the last few chapters. It's nice to see Severus finally experiencing life to the fullest. He's been deprived of a normal young adulthood for so long that it's time he opened up and decided what HE wants and needs out of life.I have to admit that I have never been a fan of slash stories. I simply choose not to read them, but if the situation presents itself in a story (as it does in this instance) I will not shy away from it, nor will I flame the author for listening to the guidance of his or her muse. I simply trust that the person telling me the story has a purpose for the actions in the fanfic. Having said that, I honestly think the situation between Gareth and Severus was a natural progression. Do I see it becoming a lifelong love affair? No. But do I see it as a loving expression of friendship and affection? Absolutely! Do I want Hermione in the picture? Nope, can't say I want that either. I think Severus and Hermione would make great friends but not bed partners. I think she has a lot of growing up to do and I think Severus needs someone who has already experienced the world and life and can handle his new freedom.I, like many others, have read the chapters and also the accompanying reviews. I have to disagree with some of your other reviewers in their assessments, though I acknowledge that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I don't believe Gareth forced anything on Severus. This is a man who learned how to put his own feelings aside and to do many horrible acts (cutting off an old witch's arm wasn't exactly the stuff dreams are made of) and has done many more horrific deeds in his lifetime. I don't believe, for one moment, that Severus would allow himself to be pressured into any situtation, sexual or otherwise, now that's he's free from Voldemort's hold. And given his responses to the massage and then the intimacy he experienced with Gareth, I'd say he was enjoying the intimacy. If Gareth had made him feel anything other than wonderful, I doubt Severus would have allowed him the chance to "bugger" him or even offer to take care of him with oral pleasure. It just goes against the very nature of Snape to be bullied into doing anything.Now, at the end of your chapter, you raise an interesting little idea in the mind of your readers. Did I read correctly that Severus was mentally comparing Minerva (who we all know is unattainable thanks to our dear, sexy Albus) and Poppy??? Hmm, I think Gareth planted an unintentional seed in Snape's weary brain. lolAs always, I'm looking forward to more of the story!!!

Oh please don't leave me hanging at this. I know it's been quite a while since you posted this but I just now binge-read it over the last couple of days and I neeeeeeeeed to know what's gonna happen. Please tell me there's more to it sitting somewhere on your computer or on another website or something because I might die if I never find out how the story ends.
This is a fabulous piece of writing and I enjoyed every second of my binge-reading experience. Thank you so much for taking me to another world and I really hope you will end my suffering and give me (and all of tpp) a chance find out how the story ends.

Love, Lynn

Hmm.  I'd never thought that Voldie's death could leave anything but joy, relief, and survivor's guilt.  But Ginny's guilt, or whatever it is she's dealing with, is more interesting.  Well, I've always found the Ginny-Riddle connection fascinating to dig into and read about.  And what about Severus?  I don't really see him and Poppy keeping their hands off one another, and equally I don't see him calling off his thing with Gareth (I've really liked reading them though). I'm not sure what you're doing with Hermione; is this story going to be as long as RaM?  Because my head almost exploded with the slow plot unrolling and the angst, despite the fact that I liked it too much to stop reading. This fic's better though- there's so much else going on between the characters emotionally that the very slow pace of their relationship isn't going to drive me mad.  Then again, I've been operating under the assumption that this is a HG/SS fic.  Perhaps I'm mistaken...

Aah!  Severus!  Oh, that boy is taking his lessons too well!  He really shouldn't be messing about with Poppy that way, and really especially not when he's trying to date Hermione.  Perhaps this story ought to be called "How Sevvie gets his groove back," with all his learning how to flirt and seduce...

Oh dear.  Poor little guys.  Severus is all confused with his suddenly (slightly) flexible heterosexuality, and Mc Gonagall's been ever so slightly taken advantage of, albeit willingly.  Messy, but hopefully our boys are grown up enough to handle it.  Also... you really can't have anal sex without lubricant.  Really. But aside from that, I like the very human feel to their intimacy.  It's not all fluffy marvelous sex- it's two guys, getting off, not entirely sure how the other one's doing- dunno.  It just strikes me as very real.

This was an incredibly intense chapter to read.  I'm not disappointed at the lack of Gareth/Snape- the buildup for Snape/Hermione has been too long coming for me to not want to see it happen- but there's no doubt that this was also really erotic.  Gareth... intrigues me. He was interesting before, but now even more so.  I wish I knew him. Actually, I think I might know someone a lot like him in some regards. Hard to tell though, since he's only an intermittent character and he only see him with Snape.  I'm not a really regular-updatey type, but I have been enjoying reading a great deal, and I'll definitely finish this tale.

Oh good on you, Snape!  I think he handled Ginny's distress extremely well!  Wow.

Okay, so the first part of this chapter had me cracking up! Poor Severus having to endure someone playing footsie with him and it's not even Poppy ... gasp!" ... She was trying to play footsie with me under the table.”“That is inappropriate . . . unless certain precautions have been taken,” Minerva said.Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like Minerva has engaged in a game of footsie at the staff table! She seemed rather quick to imply that it was okay if one had taken precautions. tee hee. I think there's a story there!It's truly amazing how much Severus had matured from the beginning of the story. He's actually trying to make a difference in the life of someone who needs a friend and I think it's very sweet. He was certainly very professional with Ginny and that was nice instead of his normal snarky side! And I think he handled her proposition very well. Can't say the outcome would have been the same if that had been Poppy's hand on his knee or her foot rubbing his ankle. Then again ... different circumstances.Thanks for updating so quickly for us!

I'm finally back to read some more of your work.  I would have sooner, but I had major problems with my laptop and finally got a new one last week.  I found out today that you started the sequel.  I'm so happy to read it.    I like how you started the intro to this story with Severus coming back to Hogwarts and seeing the memorial for Sinistra and the place where Harry defeated Voldemort  before going up to the castle.  I'm glad that Severus was happy to see Minerva when he entered the castle; it shows that he has forgiven her or has started to.  Now I will read the next chapter. 

I love this chapter – his conversation with Ginny was so touching. It's obvious how much he's matured, and how his own new friendships and relationships have allowed him to open up and reach out to someone else in need. Though I would be interested to find out, specifically, why he joined the Death Eaters – but I understand that he was there to support Ginny, and to do that effectively, he needed to keep the conversation focused on her, not him.Poor Ginny :( I wanna give her a hug.

Ugh!Yes, I really am a real life Sarah Duffy.  Always wanting what I can't have...no clue that I can't actually get it. Ouch. Poor Sarah. I hope she's resilient like me too.Except if that had actually been me, I would have said," Oh yeah baby, mmmm, raw meat!" and it wouldn't have been my foot on his ankle. It would have been my hand on his .... Oh dear.  What has gotten into me this morning?Annnywho... Great chapter! Keep 'em coming!

If Poppy could have seen Severus as he talked to Ginny, she would have fallen hopelessly in love w/ him.  He's come so far, and has compassion, and insight, and judgment . . . . and he cares about a Weasley! :-)

I got such a great chuckle out of the conversation at the breakfast table. Poor Minerva suffering from bad pasties. tsk tsk. Good thing the cure for bad pasties is also the same thing for a hangover. lol. Bless Albus' heart for thinking ahead.Guess that means Albus and Minerva will be camping out in Snape's dungeons for two nights. That should be interesting. And good grief. Hermione took that loss rather personally and she was very quick to call Snape out on offering a little advice. She needs to take a breath and calm down a little. haha.

I'm glad he sort of broke it off with Hermione.  He's not ready for a serious relationship.

They had to win, Severus can't wear red!  ~LOL~

I just love the rivalry between Snape and McGonagall!

"He nodded. 'I always try to pee in toilets. I don’t like peeing in the woods or into a bottle.'"OMG, how adorable is that?!

Oh m'gosh, that was priceless! I loved the party chatter with Albus drinking a Screaming Orgasm and then the banter between Poppy and Snape about Orgams and Screws. tee hee. I found myself chuckling out loud. And lest I forget ... the STEAM in the corridor. Wowzers. Those two really are hot together and it was fun to see them behaving a bit like horny teenagers who couldn't wait. The more I read of the PPSS pairing, the more I love it. It will never take the place of ADMM in my heart, but they're right up there near the top. lol

he's gonna get in trouble with poppy