His depression and listlessness are worsened by the magical drain, so fixing that will help him to be able to cope better.He'll be safer than you may imagine in certain ways, but still reminded of things he doesn't want to think about, and the strangeness of his own situation will be thrown into relief.Thank you!

Gareth's always been honest with him from their very first meeting. He's also made obvious and honest efforts to get past his own justifiable anger and resentment toward Severus. Severus appreciates all that. Gareth's also relatively close to Severus in age. All that helps make their unikely friendship possible.Thanks for the review! :-)

He's pretty depressed. He is finding it hard to feel very much of anything other than despair. He soldiers on, though. There's more going on that complicates things, but we'll learn more about that later!Glad you're enjoying! I hope it continues to entertain you!Thanks for reviewing!

Yeah, quite incongruous, isn't it? haha!Thanks for the review!

Hi,

!I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!Severus certainly was reminded of his own past & was very uncomfortable.I'm afraid I don't have any idea when the next one will be up, although I do hope that it won't wait as long as this one did.Thank you very much!

Hi,

!I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!Severus certainly was reminded of his own past & was very uncomfortable.I'm afraid I don't have any idea when the next one will be up, although I do hope that it won't wait as long as this one did.Thank you very much!

Panacea is an excellent guess. :-)They do love each other, you're right about that. The L-word will soon appear . . .Thanks for the reviews!

Panacea is an excellent guess. :-)They do love each other, you're right about that. The L-word will soon appear . . .Thanks for the reviews!

Poppy's got a pretty good read on him -- he may still have some darkness and violence in him, but he'd never turn it toward her. He'd sooner turn it inward than strike out at her. But he has enough insight into his character to recognise that he does have that potential for violence in him, and having seen it rear its ugly head in his family when he was a boy, he doesn't have confidence that he wouldn't turn it on Poppy if he blew a gasket.The letter arriving at the end is a bit of an unfair tease for you, I'm afraid! It just seemed a good point to stop one chapter and pick up the next. :-)

It makes sense, after I gave it some thought. I've been away from the story so long that I've lost track of where Severus is in his recovery. I suppose he still distrusts himself so much and has not yet forgiven himself for his past actions, so I can see that he'd not trust himself in future. Goodness knows, he's prone to self-destruction and can be his own worst enemy at times.

Poppy's got a pretty good read on him -- he may still have some darkness and violence in him, but he'd never turn it toward her. He'd sooner turn it inward than strike out at her. But he has enough insight into his character to recognise that he does have that potential for violence in him, and having seen it rear its ugly head in his family when he was a boy, he doesn't have confidence that he wouldn't turn it on Poppy if he blew a gasket.The letter arriving at the end is a bit of an unfair tease for you, I'm afraid! It just seemed a good point to stop one chapter and pick up the next. :-)

It makes sense, after I gave it some thought. I've been away from the story so long that I've lost track of where Severus is in his recovery. I suppose he still distrusts himself so much and has not yet forgiven himself for his past actions, so I can see that he'd not trust himself in future. Goodness knows, he's prone to self-destruction and can be his own worst enemy at times.

He certainly does trust her, that's true!

He certainly does trust her, that's true!

Poppy's pretty good at that positive reinforcement, isn't she?

Poppy's pretty good at that positive reinforcement, isn't she?

I'm glad you liked that little detail. It seemed the sort of thing that Poppy would immediately notice, think of Severus, and want to get him, and then something that he would really admire, as well. The history of pottery, ceramics, and the like, is really interesting, and the way it was done & used in different parts of the world at different times, too. Not that I know much about it, but enought to marvel at it and think it's really cool.

Of course, Minerva had it best: she got Albus at the end! (How about kissing all the men & then ending up with Albus? Rather nice, I think!

*fumes with jealousy*

She just made sure there was some on hand this year because of the vegetarian members of staff, which there hadn't been any before.

However, you're right: Minerva made excellent selections!

I'm glad you like Twiskett -- I think he's secretly my favorite -- btw, have you figured out whose son he is? There are more hints in the birthday chapter.

Oh NO! I have no idea, but now that you mention it - the only guess I'd have would be Wilspy! But, please let me find out as I read - as I know you won't spoil any surprises for me! Tee hee, he's adorable - which is such a contrast to the wizard he serves!

Nope, I won't spoil it for you!

LOL! I'm glad you liked that bit -- and that you like how very fond Severus is of Minerva. It is a leavening influence in his life. I'm glad it has changed your view of him!

You do love to have a little dose of ADMM every now and then, don't you! Glad you liked that!

Now and then? *chuckles* In that regard, I'm a glutton!

You said it, not I!

Yes, Severus was reminding Albus that he's got some talents -- a bit of childish showing off there. He was also burning off a bit of excess energy as well as boosting his own self-esteem by doing it.

Yep, Gareth's going to wring some fun out of Severus, or into him, whatever it takes! haha! Glad you liked it! Thanks, Truly!

There's actually going to be a special orientation for Muggle-born students, but I haven't worked out how that will work yet. I've thought of everything from a booklet with an introduction to all the things that puzzle Muggle-borns, to a separate, short-term class for them, but I decided that a separate class would segregate them & mark them out too much as "different," so we'll see what they end up with. :-)It did seem as though nothing had changed from the 1940s to the 20-whatever the epilogue was. They didn't learn much, as you say.

Maybe a summer orientation to the wizarding world, before the first year begins?

Not a bad idea. :-)

There's actually going to be a special orientation for Muggle-born students, but I haven't worked out how that will work yet. I've thought of everything from a booklet with an introduction to all the things that puzzle Muggle-borns, to a separate, short-term class for them, but I decided that a separate class would segregate them & mark them out too much as "different," so we'll see what they end up with. :-)It did seem as though nothing had changed from the 1940s to the 20-whatever the epilogue was. They didn't learn much, as you say.

Maybe a summer orientation to the wizarding world, before the first year begins?

Not a bad idea. :-)

Welcome back,

!Well, the good news for you is that I've been "mentally" away from writing for a while, so there's not as much as there may have been! LOL!Lucius is still a jerk, even if he thinks he's reformed. I like "Scribonius." hee!

Welcome back,

!Well, the good news for you is that I've been "mentally" away from writing for a while, so there's not as much as there may have been! LOL!Lucius is still a jerk, even if he thinks he's reformed. I like "Scribonius." hee!

Thank you very much, gurliemargrethe!

Thank you very much, gurliemargrethe!

Hi, OFG!Gwen is, at least, an example of why the Prophet didn't publish the screed that the vigilante sent them -- too many people might have some sympathy stirred up by it, unfortunately, and they don't want to encourage that.I'm glad you enjoyed seeing Twiskett. He's fun for me even when all he's doing is wearing his tea towel poncho and rubbing sleep from his eyes! I'm glad that I finally had a little something to share with you all!Thanks for your review!

Hi, OFG!Gwen is, at least, an example of why the Prophet didn't publish the screed that the vigilante sent them -- too many people might have some sympathy stirred up by it, unfortunately, and they don't want to encourage that.I'm glad you enjoyed seeing Twiskett. He's fun for me even when all he's doing is wearing his tea towel poncho and rubbing sleep from his eyes! I'm glad that I finally had a little something to share with you all!Thanks for your review!

Thanks! It was good to get back to them all for me, too.Yes, Gwen certainly was damaged and bitter, and she didn't bother trying to cover it up with any courtesy! Yes, Poppy's back after only half her little witches' holiday, so she and Severus will be spending time together in the next chapters!I will try to keep my muse happy! (Dove Dark Chocolate helps!

Thanks! It was good to get back to them all for me, too.Yes, Gwen certainly was damaged and bitter, and she didn't bother trying to cover it up with any courtesy! Yes, Poppy's back after only half her little witches' holiday, so she and Severus will be spending time together in the next chapters!I will try to keep my muse happy! (Dove Dark Chocolate helps!

Thanks! I do so enjoy writing Filius, especially in this story, though he only appears occasionally, so I'm really glad you like those bits.

I think that compared to the last few days, even Filius would agree that their storm was practically a gentle rain! lol! But it's pretty close!

Time to start making plans with Noah! *winks*

Yes, and keep this little prophecy in the back of your mind as the story progresses. I'm glad you noticed & liked it!

*chuckles* You and your prophecies.... *grins*Oh I won't forget it...

The same story could be told without them, but it makes it more interesting, gives it more texture -- and a bit of foreshadowing for the reader, too. I don't like prophecies that are merely a kind of deus ex machina, or a quasi-McGuffin, though -- at least not for my own writing. Though the one that Dumbledore believed in DD was a tad more like that, but it tended to explain his psychology more than anything else.

Have I bothred to tel you how brilliant you are, lately? If not, consider yourself told! Your work is layered and rich.

Thank you! *blushes*

*winks*