Oh, I'm so glad you like the story!

 There are many, many more chapters than four to read.  ;)   Hermione isn't even born yet, so we've got a long way until she gets in anything resembling a relationship with Snape.  I just hope I can hold everyone's attention until then!

Thank you for the comments on Tobias and Eileen.  I know it's not canon and I knew it wasn't *likely* to be canon when I came up with it but I really thought the story could be very interesting and not 'lose anything' if Tobias weren't the drunken wife-beating abusive asshole he's not only been portrayed as in canon, but in so much fanon that it became cliched.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!  Thanks for the review! 

Thank you so much!  I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

Thank you; I always make it a point to pass on words to my beta and plotting team, because I greatly appreciate that they can tell me "hey you.  This segment?  It sucks.  Fix it." and someitmes in so many words (and believe me . . . it sucked.  And needed to be fixed.  Unfh!)  They really do catch things that I just . . .  well, don't.  And as much as I railed against DH; well, that would be embarrassing. ;)

 I was trying for a similarity with Draco & Harry versus Lily & Severus, so I'm glad it didn't completely fail!

Thank you so much for your lovely reviews.  I do hope that you continue to enjoy the story.   The next chapter is already finished, and I made some serious headway on the one after that.

Heh, well . . . the next chapter (which is in queue) goes straight to his first day at school, so any thinking done is left up to the reader's imagination.

But yes, I think he'd have to have a wand fit for Dark Arts.  This is Snape, after all . . . ;)

I'm writing...well, not so much this week because I've been busy, but the story is NOT. ABANDONED.  If for some inexplicable reason I choose to do so, I'll post that I have done so.

I'm so glad you're enjoying it—I hope I can continue to hold your interest. :)

Thanks for the review! 

Aww, thank you!

Yes, there is a great deal of "work" to be done between now and then.  I just hope I can do it justice.

Thanks for the review! 

Thanks for the review! I hope I can live up to expectations. I do have the next couple of chapters ready. :)

Thank you. I'm hoping the rest of the story can hold that interest level . . .

Fairly long, yes.  Chapter 2 is at one of my betas right now, and after that my basic plan is as follows: chapter 3 (mostly written) will be Severus' trip to Diagon Alley, chapter 4 (also mostly written) is arrival/Sorting/first day, possibly first flying lesson. It gets a little more vague after this, but chapter 5 should be years 2-4/5 ish for Severus, and chapter 6 or 7, which is complete, is a horrid, angst and tragedy scene around OWLs.  I've got something planned (and partially written) for the werewolf attack, and I've got his indoctrination into the Death Eaters mostly written, but after that, I have work to do.  I have to do the years between the fall of the Dark Lord and Harry's arrival at Hogwarts, and I'm planning (at least) one chapter per Harry's year at Hogwarts.  So, by my calculations, the SS/HG doesn't even get introduced until chapter 17 or so.  And there's a whole bunch of stuff to follow that, too.  Obviously.  So yes, it should be fairly long - I've got it guesttimated at about 25 chapters.

*squeeflail*

 Intellectually, I *understand* that there's an exceptionally good chance that Severus had a rotten home life — this comes through in many aspects of his personality.  He's downright cruel to children and he learned that somewhere, and most adults learn that as children, when the adults in their life treat them that way.

However.

 Since the publishing of <u>Order of the Phoenix</u>, Tobias has been turned (and somewhat justifiably so) into somewhat of a monster, even though we aren't *entirely* sure that's him.

I'm personally preferring to make him a dedicated and loving father, because I think Severus' story could be just as (if not more) tragic if that were the case.

Thank you for the review.  I'm trying desperately to finish chapter 2 here, and I swear, it's killing me.  *flail* 

Thank you so much for the lovely review.Yes, I intend on continuing this story but I have been fighting the same chapter since I finished the last one.  *facewall*  I even tried to talk myself into just PUBLISHING the damned thing as it was, but I couldn't bring myself to even finishit because it wasn't how I want it. I know what I want to say, I know how I want to say it.  I have no idea what the mental block is here.  I'm going to end up having to post a review if I ever DO get the thing published, just to bring people up to speed!

Oh, I see... Perhaps your beta readers could help or give you some ideas? Anyway, I'm sure the block will subside very soon! I'll be happy to read your next chapter whenever you feel it's ready to be released. Until then, I'll be discovering the rest of your stories!

Thank you so much for the lovely review.Yes, I intend on continuing this story but I have been fighting the same chapter since I finished the last one.  *facewall*  I even tried to talk myself into just PUBLISHING the damned thing as it was, but I couldn't bring myself to even finishit because it wasn't how I want it. I know what I want to say, I know how I want to say it.  I have no idea what the mental block is here.  I'm going to end up having to post a review if I ever DO get the thing published, just to bring people up to speed!

Oh, I see... Perhaps your beta readers could help or give you some ideas? Anyway, I'm sure the block will subside very soon! I'll be happy to read your next chapter whenever you feel it's ready to be released. Until then, I'll be discovering the rest of your stories!