I hope they can keep Lillys pregnancy a secret for a time and that Severus in the meantime can stall Riddle, althoug it does not seem likely. A good thing Severus can have some good time with Lucretia, his days are so troubled with Riddle allways lurking in the background

So many of the irritations and pains of school days filed down so that former enemies can work together.  Interesting that the book had waited until that moment to share its secret, but perhaps it had to get to know Snape before it was ready.

He is lucky Lucretia is a gentle and wise woman. One can hope they will get along well and he can have some peace and gentlenes in this horror-time

It takes a lot of cheek to tell Lucius and Sirius they're not smart enough when he's caught on his own overreaching attempts at being clever. Perhaps it's because he knows the trouble that can come from being over-clever. I love the way he works completely around the wedding without actually describing it. It's completely in character for him to try to get through it without actually having to live the event.

that was a very angsty chapter. Poor Severus another heavy burden of guilt to carry with him - and what ominous plans has Riddle in store for Lucius and Sirius?

On the one hand, this moment is cheep at the price. No body really loses anything and Severus gains much from Riddle.On the other hand, Snape did lose so very much of his own sense of himeself here. So much of this story is about how he finds himself stripped bare of his desires and pretensions, and this may be the most important one in his own mind.There's so much in this chapter. Fear, a sort of creepy comedy, and then that loss at the end that Severus feels even as the others are sighing in relief.

Ah, clever Potter! At least Severus now knows he has one more person on his side, as it were.

I can't help liking Henry and the way he so easily turns the tables on the younger men. It's clear that he's been playing this sort of game since he was their age. Severus has finally admitted the worst fact about his future to himself.  Hopefully he'll come to understand the compensations will be more than worth it.

A great chapter again Scaranda.I know I've said it before but I love the history you give everyone, so they've all got depth that makes us understand why they think and do as they do.A great job in characterisation as well as a great story.

They interrogate an enemy and find a friend. It's a bit rich that Potter was willing to hang Severus in order to make the whole thing work... especially after the way his son treated Severus all those years.

that was interesting news,( that Henry Potter murdered Abrahax) looking forward to learning more. I think Lucretia and Severus are good together, he could use some moments of peace and joy in his life. Also looking forward to learning what James Potter is up to

Having read further through the story elsewhere, I have to say that what really strikes me hard in this chapter today is that visit to the crypt. I think I'll leave it at that and hope you understand my train of thought.I love that Snape thinks he will be happy with Lucretia.  She's bold in the ways that Andromeda waited around for years.  He seems to need that.

[cue dramatic music] Dum-dum-duuumm!

Lucretia means to start by helping Severus figure out all the grand schemes the other just expect him to come up with, doesn't she? I do hope he will give her a good hard look and realize that she has much to offer.Meanwhile, Lucius is going to have to choose between what he would rather and what will save everyone's neck.  He hates what that means in reputation, at least for now, but what other good choices does he have?

Ahhh, Lucius, you crack me up!

I love how at the beginning of the chapter, he's not sure that he's in control of his life and at the end of the chapter he's sure he's not, except the people controlling his life hope he'll come up with a plan to make it work. I think he'll find that what they all intend for him is a lot pleasanter than what Riddle wants.

Sirius has a brilliant sense of timing; I'll give him that. That's a very tense bit of time from the warehouse all the way to hexing Barty.  Sirius didn't make it go away, but somehow he made it better.

Like Rose of the west I like the thought of Spinner's End cocooning Severus, especially when it was portrayed as just an impoverished building in canon.Everythings got a history here though and I love that. The stone and Ethel and the house, even Nicholas Flammel and Lucius have all got depth so that we know where they came from and why they're the way they are.A great piece of work.

Wow..... a powerful chapter.It shows just what Riddle is capable of. It's so long since I read it that I'd forgotten the bit about Abraxas and his pals though. I think all they have succeeding in doing strenghtening Snape's resolve and whatever bond is forming between Sirius, Severus and Lucius.Thanks for sharing.

I adore the painstakingly slow way that you portray Lucius' character, how the moment that the reader feels they know him, you peel back yet another layer that reveals his depth. I also love how both Malfoy and Black tend to Severus... He truly needs friends like Sirius and Lucius to help him survive the constant tug-of-war between two masters.I love, love, LOVE this story, and can't wait for the next update!

How he struggles with the thought that there were at least people to help him in his lowest moment! Had they not there, the humiliation of what the older Death Eaters would have done would surely have killed him. He may be more used to suffering than Lucius, but he lacks Lucius's flexibility under pressure.I had forgotten how well he admires Malfoy so early in the story. I'm sure it will do their relationship credit as things progress.Meanwhile, I love the image of the way the house reaches out to care for him. It's a little sad that he doesn't recognize it's a motherly behavior to care for someone in that way, not just because one feels responsible or a sense of duty, but because of love.

it is a strange universe, the group around Voldemort. He humiliates them all, they are all afraid of him but they stay waiting for more of the same. They are afraid of each others and many of them hate each other too, I know they stay in the hope of gaining more power although it is quite clear that Voldemort do not share. And here it start, the awful sacrifice that Severus has to offer and only small periods of peace and now Andromeda left too  so those moments are lost. but I still enjoy your story and are looking forward to updates

This is the most heartbreaking chapter so far, where we learn the full price expected of Snape. He's completely submerged in this with no apparent way out.

Brilliant chapter, incredibly emotional and deep... I, too, am curious about Luscius' reaction and behavior surrounding Riddle and what his father and company just let slip. I hope for a quick update, as I am hopelessly addicted to this story!

It does seem to bad that all the mess has to fall on one set of shoulders while everyone around him gets to have a lovely time. Still, Snape created parts of the mess for himself. Now all he can do is move forward, daunting prospect that it is.