Thank you so much for this review,

- I really appreciate your comments and the fact that you've taken the time to read this fic. :-) 

I'm sure he has the capacity to be exactly that when he wants to be!  Thanks for the kind review :-)

I thought you were the brave Slytherin type; surely it would take more than that to make you die on the spot?!Thanks for the review! :-)

Patience, my dear Sunny - all will be revealed soon (stay tuned as they say!)  Thanks you so much for the review :-)

Thank you so much!  I'm glad you are enjoying it so far :-)

I'd give your review top marks actually - thank you so much for taking the time to review!  I'm really glad that you're liking the story so far :-)

Thank you,

- you flatter me! (Can you see me blushing?!)  I really hope the rest of this story doesn't disappoint.  As I've already said, it was written quite a long time ago and I've never been sure if I should post or not but I'm so glad you like it so far.  It means a lot to me *hugs* :-)

Thank you for your lovely review and the shiny stars my dear friend.  I hope this story doesn't disappoint as it progresses.  (And stop looking at warnings - it's not good for you!) :-)

Thank you for your lovely review.  It's always amazed me that more people haven't connected this song to SS.  Chapter two will hopefully be up soon.  Thanks again! :-)

Thank you so much for so kindly reading and reviewing my story.  You have no idea how much it means to me that you did this and that you understood what I was trying to get across.  It is indeed a sad fact that people do become obsessed (with all sorts of things of course, not just another human being.)  And even sadder when they can't separate fact from fantasy.  I never intended this story to be really sad or depressing, but rather more of a thought provoking one with the message of hope (i.e. the eagle representing eternal life.)I'm really glad you 'stayed the course' and thank you again for your comments. :-)

I am so pleased that you understood my metaphor of the eagle and absolutely delighted that you have taken the time and trouble to follow and review this story!  It really does mean so much to me - thank you! :-)

I am so happy that you are still following and enjoying (or at least not too depressed by) this story and thank you so much for commenting on my notes at the end.  I just felt I should put them in somehow.  Thanks again! :-)

Perhaps this story is bringing out my underlying evil tendancies!  Sorry about that!  But thanks for continuing to read and review! :-)

Thank you again for your review.  I'm glad that you felt I had described Sara's nervous state accurately.  I know I would have been a bundle of nerves in her position! :-)

I'm glad that you like the start to this story.  Thank you so much for your review! :-)

Sara's suicide is not really absurd.  As far as she is concerned there was no reason to live.  If any one is to blame it is perhaps Dumbledore (or Severus himself) for not telling her immediately the truth of her recruitment and that Severus would be 'faking' his death.But that's just my point: We are all too busy going about our own lifes that we do not always realise another person's perspective on things.  And, even after her death, no one has actually managed to put two and two together and realise why she did it.I am so glad that you have taken the trouble to read and review my story - it really means a lot to me.  I hope I have not depressed you too much!  I can (and do) write other stuff - some of it even happy! - but this was my first and I wanted it to be something completely different! Thank you so much again :-)

delays and wrong decisions. sad sad story, but that is how many things end, no matter where.I found it very refreshing to have this new character in here.And that you showed the human side of Snape. But the ignorant, spy side, that could trust no one, not even the ones he asks for help. I meant absurd like: if she had waited a little more, she soon would have heard all about it, and have seen him again. no need to die. It is not always good to be such an able potions mistress, that can provide herself with poison like that.All those skills thrown away.

You are so right, people most definitely do sometimes (sadly) get to this point.  I am trying to be realistic here - her obsession is so strong that she would not be thinking rationally at this point in time.  She is so desperate to be near him again.  Once again, my thanks go out for so kindly reviewing! :-)

I hope I have not shocked you too much by this chapter!  Thanks again for the review and for following this story :-)

I think Severus is very 'human' (just unable to show that nice, normal side in canon and in view of the double life he leads.)  I think that Sara is probably one of the few people who have actually been able to see this and see through his 'protective armour'.I'm glad that you are following and liking this story.  Thanks for the review!

Thank you for your kind words!  I'm so glad that you like Sara and find her interesting!  I hope that you are now inspired to read on with this story.Thanks again for taking the time to review :-)

Thank you my dear morgaine.  I'm glad you have followed this story right through and felt that it offered hope.  That was certainly my intention, along with expressing exactly as you say - those who love us never truly leave us.Hope Switzerland is sunny - say 'Hi' to all your family for me!  Thanks again for all your support and loyalty with this story. :-)

Thank you

.  I'm glad you found this story bittersweet rather than intensely sad.  It was not my intention to be too depressing!If you read my response to Elizabeth, you will see that I was indeed trying to express that there is 'life after death' in some shape or form.  The eagle/wizard thing was a rather clumsy attempt at showing that!It is my intention to get in touch with you soon & I would have done so sooner but things are more than a little crazy here at present; my husband just found out today that he has definitely been made redundant, among other things!  Will contact you soon I promise!  Thanks again for all your loyal support. :-)

I'm sorry to hear about your hubby. I hope things get better for you both soon. Thinking of you. x

Thank you for your review and for your support and loyalty in following this story.  The point I was trying to make is that obsession  - to the extent that Sara had it - is not a good thing.  Severus was unaware of her feelings for him but, even if he had been, would almost definitely not have been willing or able to return them.  His life went on even after her death - he had greater things to think about.Whilst I wanted the tables to be reversed a bit in this tale by allowing Severus to live (at least for the time being), I wanted to also express the hope that Sara (in whatever realm she then existed) would wait for him.  Possibly even knowing that his own death (if canon is to be applied) is imminent. The 'mirrored' image of bird and wizard is my rather complicated and deep way of expressing that! (I have always thought that AR - as Severus - has rather hawk/eagle like features at times!)  I really hope that you did not find this too sad.  As I said before, rather than creating a depressing tale, it was my intention to be thought provoking and express that death does not have to be the end.  Hence she went from 'all encombassing black' (at the beginning of the story) to the 'all encombassing light'. Thanks again for the review :-)

It has been lovely this morning to wake up to a flurry of your reviews - you can't believe how grateful I am to you and how much this means to me - thank you for that!I am pleased that my point about the futility of obsession is coming across.  I hope you will now feel able to read the final part of this story - it's in the queue and should be on its way soon!  Thank you again for all your kind words and for staying loyal to this fic. :-)

Thank you again for the lovely review.  I hope it is not making you too sad!  I also really hope that you will continue to read and, hopefully, not be too disappointed by the outcome :-)