Severus just made Albus very happy.  And Severus accepted a hug!Major progress is being made.

"well, you aren't being buried in it, so be thankful for that."*gigglesnort*It may be totally out of character for him, but Severus needs to learn how to accept hugs.  That could be his personal improvement project for the next year.

Male bonding over comfort food - a classic scene.  Even if Severus wasn't comfortable with Albus wanting to sort things through.

A very telling delirium.  Your healing magic was fascinating, both in technique and effects. 

You did a magnificent job of inventing the healing magic for this scene.

Whoa!  This is serious.  I'm panicking for him.

Throwing up on your Head of House before you're even sorted is a most auspicious beginning.

He's also in need of a date, when he gets some energy.

No wonder the man is depressed.  He feels lousy, thinks he's not carrying his fair share of the load, and doubts his value to others.  His life really does suck.

YAY!  A DATE!!! Woo hoo!  Poor Severus, will he ever forgive himself for the past?  Excellent story!

What a lovely chapter. My heart broke a little for both of them when Severus felt the need to offer himself in payment for his past misdeeds. I think he finally succeeded in hurting Gareth's feelings. I hope he understood Severus's motivation for doing it, and I'm guessing it also forced Severus to face that he had really enjoyed the intimacy with Gareth. I loved the way you let the events from the attack on Gertrude unfold in this story, letting the past and present meld into a more complete picture of what happened that night. More textured, somehow, than just a flashback or a verbal retelling alone would have been. And, finally, the open acknowldgement of his and Hermione's feelings for one another! It was very sweet. The developing relationship between them will be fun.As will the re-awakening of Severus's sexuality.Thanks for updating so soon. I'm sorry about the glitch in the previous chapter posting. A bummer for your other readers, but a jackpot for me, since I got the entire chapter uninterrupted and a bonus extra chapter for a welcome-home-from-work present!

I felt nauseated right along with him.  You made him so vulnerable, I wanted to hug him.  Except that would make him feel worse.He shouldn't be so afraid that he'll lose everything, except that he always comes so close to losing everything.

I loved Severus's uncertainty, it was so cute how they resolved if this was going to be a 'date' or not.

Gareth is certainly pushing Severus's boundaries.  I wonder what long term affect will come form this?  Will Severus be more open to physical contact, or will he become even more reserved and closed off?

Wizards in bumper cars boggles the mind.  I can imagine Albus on the Tilt-A-Whirl after one too many servings of candy floss.Bringing out Severus Snape's inner child is a challenge of major proportions, but Gareth is certainly willing to take it on.

Eeep, I can see a touch of myself in Gareth in the opening bit of this chapter. I love to cook but when I don't get the reactions I'm hoping for, I'm ready to chucnk the whole meal in the bin, though I know that's very wasteful and have never done so. I'm glad Snape finally caught on and gave him some encouragement about the lasagna. lolI would love to read the conversation between Gertrude and Gareth about Snape being in the house. I'm sure she was less than amused with the situation but she's much too classy to say anything to cause Gareth's friend any discomfort. Still ... I bet that was tense.It's always interesting to see how Snape and Hermione react around each other. Severus reminds me of a very young lad who's just learning how to interact with girls, and in a very real way I suppose he is. I'm sure he'll needs lots of advice from Gareth (maybe even Albus, haha) on how to woo the ladies!

YES! YES!  YESYESYES!   WOOHOOO!HurryHurryHurry with Chapter 32!!!

*dies*Another beautiful chapter! And thank you so much for such a wonderfully quick update!! The tension in these scenes is palpable, and so well-written. Along with Severus, I felt nervous and edgy with Gertude's arrival, and I loved how you depicted Snape's emotional turmoil due to her presence, as well as the recollection of his rather interesting (read "utterly fascinating!!") afternoon with Gareth, and how he perceives all this in relation to his feelings for Hermione. Most people have an "experimental" phase in their mid-to-late teens, but it is simultaneously amusing, moving, and erotic to watch Severus somewhat stumble through his own, much later in his life. I cannot wait for the next chapter! And I do very much hope that former-Professor Gamp is alright. I know this must have been a very deep shock, and in retrospect, it seems that Gareth might have been a bit too brash by requesting Snape continue to stay.

You know, this is perhaps the most intense and fascinating chapter of the whole story. I suppose it really can't have been easy to write, because it would have been very easy to miss this delicate balance between non-sexuality and friendship-based eroticism, between intimate tenderness and simple, chaste feeling and sensing. You did brilliantly, though.
At the beginning, I was rather surprised and wondered where this might lead, and am still a bit surprised to learn that Gareth prefers men - either I had the literal blinders on or you didn't give us enough clues yet. Not that I mind, not at all. I suppose what he did wouldn't have possible for a hetero man, and I also think it was one of the greatest gifts one can give, as well as signs of forgiveness, too. What a special man he is. And how dear it is that Severus was able to accept it, let it happen and even enjoy it. The whole experience will be integral to his emotional growing and reconvalescence, I'm sure - and wouldn't be possible without a similar experience.
I have often picutred a similar experience for him myself, though never with another male so far, and never on the base of a solid and true friendsip and without wanting to go any further. This is really unusual and unexpected, and it is delightfully good.

Author's Response: Back in Death's Dominion, there are a couple of hints about Gareth's flexible sexuality, although especially without knowing that he will grow in importance as a character, it can be easy to miss them.

One of them is in this exchange between Minerva and Albus (at a time when the overriding issue in the story was Minerva getting 'round Albus and forcing his cooperation):

Over breakfast, they discussed mundane school matters, then Albus asked, “How is Gareth? I haven’t seen him in at least a year. I didn’t even know he had returned to the country.”

“I had Calum send him an electric letter thing. They do that all of the time. I asked him to return,” Minerva said, taking a sip of tea. “He’s fine. I think he’s unhappy to be back in the cold weather, but he was looking forward to seeing his mother.”

“No romantic interests yet?”

“None that he mentioned. He is a bit like his father, I think. It may take him a while to settle down with one person.”

“And one gender,” Albus said wryly. “I think he’s a confused boy.”

“He’s hardly a boy any longer, Albus, though he is still young,” Minerva replied, spreading lemon curd on her toast. “I don’t think he’s confused, I think he . . . he just has eclectic taste. He has a lot of life in him.”

“Hmmph. He doesn’t have to go about sharing it with anyone over the age of consent, though.”

“You are getting old, Albus. You normally have such a flexible spirit. And I really don’t think it’s as extreme as you paint it,” Minerva said. “I hope you don’t intend to lecture him about your own misspent youth again. The circumstances are entirely different, and all it does is make him less willing to talk to you about personal matters.”

The other is this shorter bit between Gareth and Minerva:

“I also wanted to tell Severus that he can shower today as long as he has help. Poppy said that someone should stay with him and that his back should have an Impervius cast on the healing area. She is willing to come by to help him tonight, but Robbie said he can do it after dinner. I think that Severus would prefer that.”

“I’ll let him know when he wakes up,” Gareth said with a nod. “Personally, I wouldn’t mind having Poppy’s help in the shower.” He grinned.

Minerva smiled. “You are incorrigible, Gareth.”

“I hope so! But a mediwitch or mediwizard or Healer always has added points of attraction,” he said brightly.

So as you see, Gareth doesn't necessarily prefer men, but he's very sensual and can find men as erotically attractive as he does women.

Gareth certainly hopes it will be good for Severus, but knowing Severus, it won't be simple! lol! He'll be rather confused for a while, but he'll muddle through!

Thanks much for the review!

I like rides that spin around, but not ones that go way up high or flip you upside down.  Severus is in for a treat.  I think.That was quite a visit to the Malfoys.  I really respect Narcissa's efforts to make a life for herself.  She must love Lucius not to have abandoned him after all is said and done.Excellent restructuring of the penal system.  There might even be hope of rehabilitating some ex-Death Eaters.

Oh – and I forgot to write this in my previous review... The chapter ended with "He felt Gareth nuzzle aside his hair and 0" ....??? I'm dying to know what the rest of that sentence is!!

I. LOVE. This. Chapter! You made it so in character with Snape, and it was both erotic and moving. Amazing, amazing!!

Such a strange fate for an arrogant Malfoy.  Not that he doesn't deserve it, but he has truly been brought low.Gareth is being remarkably perceptive and tolerant.  Recognizing the utterly frazzled Snape beneath the defensive snark.  Most people wouldn't understand and would've left after the second sniping remark.

You write so descriptively.  I could feel his panic and sense of bleakness.  It's like the universe conspires against him when he's already so off-balance with his life.

Severus has a friend, whether he wants one or not.  Actually, I think he wants friends but just doesn't know how to deal with them.  It's a good thing Gareth isn't one to take no for an answer.Lucius.  What's he up to?Catching up on reading - this is such a good story that I needed to start from the beginning again.