Well, I've been gone a while. I had gotten near the end of what you had written so I thought I'd step back and let you get a few more chappies out.Now on to the chapter--I'm so proud of Sevvie! He's acting all grown up and stuff. He was in an uncomfortable situation when Poppy got mad at him and instead of hiding behind anger he talked.  He COMMUNICATED.  It was a proud moment.AND he said the big three words at an appropriate time.Like I said, he's all growed up and even looking spiffy.

Poor Severus is doing his best to express his appreciation, but what strange, stiff letters! I wish we could see the reactions of the recipients when they read them. Perhaps it will get easier for him as he gains more practice at it. And I'm sure Poppy is right. If he were not stiff and grumpy with everyone, they'd be worried that he wasn't acting like himself and must still be ill.The chapter title preview was thrilling, not least because there are so many more chapters!

I would like to give Severus a kitten. Love your story, now to the next chapter

Bless Snape's awkward little heart. I'm sure each of those letters were hard, some more than others, to write but it goes a long way that he even attempted to write them. I'm especially glad he wrote one to Albus. The upcoming chapters look great and I'm greatly anticipating reading and reviewing part two of the story. It'll be interesting to see what you have in store for us. Cheers,the GLM

A bacon butty sounds really tasty about now. Wish I had some nice, fresh bread to go wiith it, haha. I love Gareth. He cracks me up, even when he's just talking silly. I bet his knees are truly something to behold. <wolf>And Hermione is still going on about house elves. If they didn't work for someone, they'd likely die from boredom. I think Wilspy had had a grand life, as has Blamp!!Thanks for posting the chapter!

“He said something to me about that on Saturday. Suggested I might come with him on Sunday.” Severus snorted. “That would be more likely to disturb Potter, and it certainly wouldn’t have made my day brighter.”I love that comment. It's simply Snape! :DGlad that your updates seem to get more frequently again. I always enjoy reading your new chapters!

If Severus has the chance to encounter or confront his Muggle father again, that should be interesting, especially given the many changes that Severus himself has gone through since that time. It sounds like Albus found out what happened to his own father, but it was too late for amends to be made. I imagine learning that he'd lived after disappearing was bittersweet.The name game sounds very fun. I would have guessed Panacea, myself, because it does have a medical meaning. Hopefully Severus will find out eventually!  It's interesting that having Moody still alive in the RaM-verse allows him to mentor Harry in the fine art of being an Auror. I'd imagine that it would help Moody feel still needed and useful, too. I wonder why Harry feels so drained?What play is Sharky from, anyway, just out of curiosity?

I'm very happy to see an update for this story. I'm still waiting on Charming the Scottish Garden, but in the meantime this will do nicely! lolSeverus had a productive and informative sort of day. I'm sure he would have preferred to have been left in solitude to work on his rooms but the chat with Filius and then Gareth was nice. It's always good when Gareth's in a chapter. tee hee.Hope to see another update soon.

YAY! an update! :D. Ahh I loved this chapter, I love the fact that Severus is making changes in his life to prepare for a future with Poppy, that's lovely! I loved Filius! He's so sweet and such a good friend, I hope he and Severus will stay friends for a while. I'm very curious to see what's going to happen with the viligante and that date Severus has with Gareth lol, that should be interesting :). Hope Poppy comes back soon, I miss her and I want to see if they finish the name game soon, I'm anxious to know her middle name, I even made a list LOL. Thanks for updating, can't wait for more! Have a wonderful day. Sam

its becoming obvious that hermione is starting to get a little sweet on severus.  and vice versa as well? :Djust wait til he hears why poppy isn't hovering over him as normal. lol

wow confused much?  its almost like his ten year old self came back into his adult personality. :/

intense.  i really hope that his coat wasnt the only one he owned lol

Poor Severus, I'd be happy to hover over him for a bit.  LOL.  Excellent story.  Keep writing!!!  I check for updates often and I have an update bookmark for this one. 

*I* wouldn't mind staring at Gareth's knees. I might even pay for the pleasure.I was hoping for a little more of Severus' childhood, so thanks for the extra peek. It looks like you're going for the slow reveal - I love it. I had wondered if you were going to synch the early memories of an affectionate father with the canon in The Prince's Tale, where Lily asks about things at home, and he says his father doesn't like anything much. And if so, what happened between.So, Hermione's embarassment over Albus trying to be discreet... very cute! Does this mean she's still harboring a little bit of a crush?

I found this last year and was so happy when my e-mail notified me you had added more! Just wanted to say I think your writing is amazing and I can't wait to read your next installation! Keep Writing :)

A very nice chapter.  I rather like the idea of not sorting the students the first year, and you develop the idea and its corollaries - and the characters' realistic reactions to the idea - very nicely.

great chapter! I'm so glad you updated so soon! I'm a happy happy woman lol. I loved, loved Suzie's time with Severus, he's so sweet, in his own way! lol, and I truly like her alot. I can't wait to see where the story takes her. I love Minerva's idea for the school, I hope it happens. It could be very good if they were to put it in practice, I can't wait for the proposal to be made to the board. I was a bit sad that Poppy didn't make it in this chapter but the next chapter sounds promising so I'll be waiting for it! I hope you are having a great holiday. Thanks for updating! Sam

Ok, the title ... yeah, got me all excited even though I knew it was too early in the Snape/Poppy relationship to be true. Ah, cruel fate, haha.Love, love, love Suzie Sefton when she's interacting with Snape!!! There's such a fun dynamic to theiir interactions and it cracks me up every time. I'm glad Snape going to talk to Minerva about letting Suzie's great aunt in on the secret.  Wow. I love Minerva's idea about delaying the sorting until their second year. That should give the students time to settle in. Pomona was a bit more reluctant that I assumed she'd be, though I'm glad she's going to go along with the majority. Whew.Hope you enjoy your holiday and have a VERY HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

What a nice, relaxing chapter after the late angst and sorrow! It's very good of you to think not only of your protagonists and their well-being, but of your readers, too *fg*.
The culinary delights Severus enjoys sound typical and truly childhood-remembered-wonderfull. I think I understand what a bacon-butty is, but what is fried bread? Something akin to French toast?
I enjoyed your back-story for Wilspy very much. The funny thing - for me - is, I created a house-elf for my Minerva with a similar back-story, too. Her name is Tibby (in relation to Minerva the Tabby - yes, I know, 5 Knuts in the wordplay pool, but I couldn't resist) and she was given to Minerva as a playmate, companion and nurse in Minerva's childhood, too, and remained with her through her entire life. Minerva set her free, though, and from then on Tibby remains as friend and companion, taking care of Minerva out of friendship. I don't see Dobby's life and fate as representing usual house elf fate, though, too, but rather as an abusive exception.

Severus reacted rather calmly to the fact of his magical burn-out, but perhaps he was simply too tired to realize what Dumbledore really said to him or rather what that means.

Author's Response: Fried bread is something I never encountered until I lived in England. They slice bread and fry it, sometimes by melting butter or other fat in a pan and frying the bread, sometimes by buttering each side and frying it in a relatively "dry" pan. Eggy bread is like French toast, but the way I've had eggy bread, it has no milk added to the eggs, and French toast does. I'm sure different people do these old standy-bys in different ways, though -- for example, whenever I make French toast, I never put sugar in with the eggs & milk, but I always add cinnamon and cardamom. Fried bread often sounds disgusting to people who haven't grown up with it, but I found I actually liked it. It's gotta be really unhealthy, though! LOL!

I think that Severus was too tired and distracted to completely comprehend what Albus said. He's still got tomorrow to reflect on it, though!

Your method for picking house-elf names sounds more rational than mine -- I either play with different nonsense syllables and put them together, or I take a common word and twist it around, etc. Spinnet's name comes from the fact that she does like to tell stories -- spinning a yarn, so to speak -- but I can't think of another elf I've named like that. Although since there are so many of them, there might be! LOL!

Wilspy would be distressed if she were set free -- it'd be like disowning your grandmother! LOL! She's very happy belonging to the Dumbledore family. Minerva's family has house-elves, too, but Minerva never brought one with her, since when she lived in London (RaM backstory!) she didn't need one and was never home and had a small place, anyway, then at Hogwarts, there were other house-elves around, including Blampa, who shows up in the other RaMverse stories, too.

Thanks for the review!

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: I stick to my "Tibby" because of the word-game, but usually prefer elfen names not ending on an "y" - sounds a bit degrading somehow. I like your names a lot and the names I thought out so far are in some way related to the characters or stories of the elves. Tibby is a very resolute lady with a free spirit who could accept that Minerva had the urge to set her free - in an age where Minerva, similar to Hermione, was very intent about equal rights and such. She does now 1001 variations of ginger recipes, and cooking, particular exotic, is her hobby - much to the chagrin of Minvera who is not so very fond of curries and outlandish food.
Thank you for the fried bread explanation. Sounds indeed not bad at all. I will try it at our next camping trip where toasting on the gas stove is always a bit dangerous for the tent. French Toast I only know by name, so far, but we have a dish called "poor knight" (Arme Ritter) in Germany, usually served for children and teenagers. Stale  bread or toast is soaked in eggs with milk, raisins and lots of cinnamon before frying it in a pan. The adult version uses raisins steeped in rum and it's served as dessert.
Speaking of house elves, do you know the delightful story of Josan, "A man of property"? It's Snape-centric, but three house-elves feature prominently. The culture Josan invents for them is delightful.

Author's Response: Yes, it's a lot like Areme Ritter, but without the raisins unless you're using raisin bread. There are savory variations of it with cheese and so on that are similar to some sandwich-type things I had in Germany that were smothered in melted cheese (knife-and-fork sandwiches, you couldn't pick them up and eat them! LOL). Croque monsieur type sandwiches, if you know them.

No, I don't know that story. I read relatively little fanfic these days, and when I was writing RaM, I read almost none. Every now and then, though, I get in the mood to read something & I'll indulge myself -- usually when I'm taking a break from writing.

I adore curries, ginger, spicy food -- do you suppose Tibby could cook for me? ;)

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: I'll ask her ;o).
By the way, was it to you I mentionned Ginger Tam's as suitable drink for Minerva, when it's not to be a Whisky? My bottle finally arrived, and, well - now I do have a proper potion at home. The stuff is truly weird. But she being Scottish, I suppose the taste would be all right for her.

Author's Response: Yes, you did mention it to me. I like Scotch & I like ginger, but it does sound a bit strange to combine the two. ;P Maybe it's good for what ails you, though, as they say!

Never got a kitten, huh? I do hope that anybody will do something about this! Poor little Sevie! ;o)
No, honestly, I truly wish for him that at least this wish of his (him?) will be fulfilled by a kind soul. I always imagine him as being the perfect cat-person.
The Jet plane part is rather sad, though I like it that for once, it is not his father who's he abusive, rather his mother...

I do hope that the Nagini bite now is healed good and truly and he can finally start recovering for good. Can he?

This chapter was wonderful, but it makes me greedy for more...

Author's Response: Geedy for more, are we? You're in luck: there will be a new chapter up today!

Oh, he just may get that kitten yet!

Glad you liked the twist on Severus's family dynamic here.

Thanks for the review! (And it appears your computer hiccup didn't result in a double review! in that earlier chapter) Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Author's Response: And that should have been "greedy," but my proofreading was inadequate! lol!

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response:

Dumbledore being described as rather Victorian rather made my day! As well as this phrase:
"He’s an odd duck, but a lovable odd duck" *gigglesnort*
How good for Severus that there is so much help for him to be had, and so willingly, too. I wonder what he will make from this when he learns about, not only what happened but what it entailed, too. It will be a thoroughly good lesson for him, of that I'm certain.
Your inventing and telling of the treatment and the scene is brilliant!

Author's Response: Medicine for magic (and magical medicine!) is fun to imagine and work out, and I do enjoy it and work at the scenes involving it, so I'm glad you liked it!

Yeah, a true Victorian! haha!

I think you're right that it will be a good lesson for Severus.

Thanks!

Aaarhg, you did it! You did bad things to him! *looks frightened*
But of course, you are absolutely right: we have to send our beloved protagonists trough dark, dark tunnels before we can make it right for them. That's what good, proper hurt/comfort is all about. And of course it's a good "bad" what you did! ;o) It's very well done how you slowly work towards that "goal" and make us see a Severus feeling more and more exhausted and drained.
When I was reading the chapters, I had several already published to catch up with, but this was the last. What a cliffie that was! *gulps* The subject of magical exhaustion/depletion is a very good one, and the way Poppy and Co are acting and behaving shows very clearly how difficult and dangerous this is. As with AAOL, you manage rather easily (in a manner of speaking) creating a scenario with extreme danger for Severus without the involvment of Voldemrot, Death Eaters, the Ministry or whomever, just by something inherent to the world he belongs to. It's also very refreshing to see so distinctly that magic is not only goodness and light, even on the good side of it, but bears considerable dangers and risks no matter what side you are on.

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: I hope you didn't get this double times; my online connection hicckuped and I may have sent it two times.

Author's Response: I haven't noticed a "computer hiccup" yet, but I have some reviews yet to view. If it hiccupped, I'll let notsosaintly know, and she can delete the repeat.

Yes, bad things happened to him! Hope you weren't too terribly frightened for too long!

There are dangers in the world, and inherent in magic, that are apart from those entities you mention. I'm glad you liked the way it's dealt with here.

Thanks for the review!

"Don't frighten the firsties..." *snort* That's brilliant! *g*

Are there particular reasons you used "theurgus" for "mage", as I suppose you did? I'm not firm enough with latin for knowing theurgus on the first hand (though I had much fun with my studies in medieval latin, particularly with words like "lodderpfaffus". No, I didn't make it up, honestly! *g* )

Severus doesn't seem to be well. I don't like it, you're going to do bad things to him... 

Author's Response: "Lodderpfaffus," huh? Yah gotta wonder what those medievel scribes were drinking! LOL!

I liked the nuances of "theurgus," and that it's got the sense of "summoner" in addition to "magician." The other term I considered was magus, of course. I'm sure that there were additional reasons I didn't choose "magus" other than that it was more mundane and "Three Wise Men" sounding to me, but I came up with that phrase over a year ago (it never made it into DD, though that's when I first put it in my story notes). I rejected "incantator" simply because it sounded more narrow to me -- it evokes spell-casting to me, but not the greater panoply of magical arts. Other possible Latin words had negative connotations of poisoning, etc. Anyway, that's what I remember considering at the time.

I took Latin in junior high and high school, then again in grad school, but it was mostly classical, so I missed out on fun words like "lodderpfaffus"!

I don't like doing bad things to Severus! Honestly! Sometimes bad things have to happen for more good to come out of it. And I'm glad you're finding yourself in sympathy with Severus!

Thanks!

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: I had classical latin only at university, as I was in the natural science branch at school and had french for third language. I needed the "Grand Latin Exam", though, for getting admission to the PhD study path (?) in art history, my major subject, but for one of my minor subjects, medieval history, I needed classes in medieval latin, french and english, too. The english and french were rather short and sparse, but the latin was much fun. It's rather easy in comparison to classical latin, and we've been reading some texts with truly entertaining parts. Latin written by ill-educated monks in central europe...

It must be difficult to fear that one's magic is probably in danger. Of course, we Muggles can't really imagine that, but I suppose it's similar to loose one sense, particularly visioin.
It's good that he has a certain distraction in Hermione and her visit.
Cute that Hermione can cook Muggle-style. I find this very plausible; interested as she is in everything cooking and/or helping her mother when she was small must have been important enough. After all, spending time in the kitchen is really quality time with one's mum if one is lucky.

Author's Response: Yes, you're right about that. Time spent in the kitchen with my grandmother or my mother when I was growing up was always great. I still enjoy cooking with my sister or my mother. A bonding sort of time, I guess.

I imagine losing one's magic might be sort of like becoming partially paralyzed or having debilitating joint disease combined with losing a sense, such as vision or hearing. There's so much that he can't do without his magic that he used to take for granted.

Thanks for the review! You've been reviewing up a storm tonight! Hope you get sleep, too! :D

Alcina vom Steinsberg's response: *g* Had to catch up at least a bit before I forget all the cute details and such, but I'm off to bed now - with another chapter of my current drug, a MMSS story by Selmak. It's half past two am already, going to be another short night..

Oh dear, I do feel so with Severus. It's so bad when a treatment does unpleasant things to you, and you definitely don't want to see anybody frowning about diagnostics, too. And having to get by without magic, being tired and exhausted and all that... what exactly are you going to do to him? *frowns* ;o) But at least there is some light in his otherwise rather dull day.

Author's Response: He's got to go through it to come out on the other side, right? ;)

There is some light in his day, and there will be more to come!

Thanks!