Sinbad, thank you. I'm glad that it gripped you, as I worried a lot about having to write scenes that were mostly retelling. I agree with you about Harry--and much as I hate it, I think that Dumbledore volunteering exactly what he had done, as you say, made a big difference. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review.

Sinbad, thank you. I'm glad that it gripped you, as I worried a lot about having to write scenes that were mostly retelling. I agree with you about Harry--and much as I hate it, I think that Dumbledore volunteering exactly what he had done, as you say, made a big difference. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review.

Thank you, Mummy. xoxoxoxo

Thank you, Mummy. xoxoxoxo

Ogden is rather dreadful, I agree. I'm sorry! :)I'm glad you liked Harry's big moment. Thank you!ps. I love that little emoticon.

Ogden is rather dreadful, I agree. I'm sorry! :)I'm glad you liked Harry's big moment. Thank you!ps. I love that little emoticon.

Bwahahahah! You have just given me a big smile. And don't tell my husband, but writing this story, I fell rather terribly in love with Snape myself. The sulky bastard.Thank you so much,

! I'm so, so happy that you are enjoying it.

Bwahahahah! You have just given me a big smile. And don't tell my husband, but writing this story, I fell rather terribly in love with Snape myself. The sulky bastard.Thank you so much,

! I'm so, so happy that you are enjoying it.

I agree wholeheartedly. Thank you so much for reviewing!

I agree wholeheartedly. Thank you so much for reviewing!

Thank you, Mia! The Elder Wand stuff makes me want to beat myself over the head with a pot like Dobby or something. It's just so confusing and horrible to work with. I'm so glad you liked it, though! Thank you!

Thank you, Mia! The Elder Wand stuff makes me want to beat myself over the head with a pot like Dobby or something. It's just so confusing and horrible to work with. I'm so glad you liked it, though! Thank you!

Oh, dear! Yes, I was very sad when I learned that the law doesn't allow for doing the right thing here. But I believe that Kingsley has been deft in the way he handled the end of the trial, and I have hope.Thank you so much for reviewing!

Oh, dear! Yes, I was very sad when I learned that the law doesn't allow for doing the right thing here. But I believe that Kingsley has been deft in the way he handled the end of the trial, and I have hope.Thank you so much for reviewing!

Oh, Beth. Thank you. You've picked my very favorite lines to comment on, which always feels so good. *Does a little dance*I think that Snape's weariness, his... not inability, I don't mean to sound as if I find him unimaginative.... but, I think he's trained himself so carefully not to consider his own needs, not to consider the future... so I think he is having trouble finding hope, imagining what life might be like on the other side. And I think that idea got lost somewhere along the way--overshadowed by the things Snape says he feels... which is not always what he really does feel, I think. And so I'm incredibly happy that you feel it's coming through again now. Thank you so much, Beth.

Oh, Beth. Thank you. You've picked my very favorite lines to comment on, which always feels so good. *Does a little dance*I think that Snape's weariness, his... not inability, I don't mean to sound as if I find him unimaginative.... but, I think he's trained himself so carefully not to consider his own needs, not to consider the future... so I think he is having trouble finding hope, imagining what life might be like on the other side. And I think that idea got lost somewhere along the way--overshadowed by the things Snape says he feels... which is not always what he really does feel, I think. And so I'm incredibly happy that you feel it's coming through again now. Thank you so much, Beth.

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it. :) xoxox

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it. :) xoxox

*hugs

and swings her around in a circle* Thank you! :)

*hugs

and swings her around in a circle* Thank you! :)

Thank you, Hobgoblinn! I hate typos. They drive me bats. I think that the only hope in a true trial for Snape would be mitigating circumstances and a reduction of the charge from murder to manslaughter or some such. Jury Nullification, I believe, is the only true hope for a not-guilty verdict. But that's all I'm going to say for now, because I don't want to spoil. ;) 

Thank you, Hobgoblinn! I hate typos. They drive me bats. I think that the only hope in a true trial for Snape would be mitigating circumstances and a reduction of the charge from murder to manslaughter or some such. Jury Nullification, I believe, is the only true hope for a not-guilty verdict. But that's all I'm going to say for now, because I don't want to spoil. ;) 

Veronica, thank you for this review. Truly, there's no greater happiness for me than that you are enjoying the story. I'm so glad you liked Minerva here. I cried as I wrote her. She's such a tough and brilliant ally. Thank you so much.

Veronica, thank you for this review. Truly, there's no greater happiness for me than that you are enjoying the story. I'm so glad you liked Minerva here. I cried as I wrote her. She's such a tough and brilliant ally. Thank you so much.

I completely agree. In fact, today someone asked me what brought on SL and it was totally that--I was horrified at the end of DH that there was no plan in place for Snape. Furious and horrified.More very soon! Thank you for reviewing!

I completely agree. In fact, today someone asked me what brought on SL and it was totally that--I was horrified at the end of DH that there was no plan in place for Snape. Furious and horrified.More very soon! Thank you for reviewing!

Hi

! Yes, I wondered if there would be a way to use assisted suicide  or "homicide upon request," as a defense, but it still seems to be a sort of "reduced charge" rather than an all out defense. But I thank you very, very much for thinking in practical terms about Snape's trial. It's hard, I think, when we all want so badly for the Wizengamot to see what we see so clearly.Thank you very much for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it.

Hi

! Yes, I wondered if there would be a way to use assisted suicide  or "homicide upon request," as a defense, but it still seems to be a sort of "reduced charge" rather than an all out defense. But I thank you very, very much for thinking in practical terms about Snape's trial. It's hard, I think, when we all want so badly for the Wizengamot to see what we see so clearly.Thank you very much for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it.

! I'm really glad you liked it. I was so proud of Minerva and Harry, too! I know that my opinion of Harry is unpopular, but I do find him honorable in his hotheaded way, and of course Minerva is the soul of decency. Thank you so much for reviewing, my dear!

! I'm really glad you liked it. I was so proud of Minerva and Harry, too! I know that my opinion of Harry is unpopular, but I do find him honorable in his hotheaded way, and of course Minerva is the soul of decency. Thank you so much for reviewing, my dear!

Thank you,

.And I have come to agree with you about Kingsley. I realized today as I wrote reviews that somethings aren't meant to be relived in fanfiction, and that sometimes our best impulses are the right ones--something you remind me of all the time.All my love.

Thank you,

.And I have come to agree with you about Kingsley. I realized today as I wrote reviews that somethings aren't meant to be relived in fanfiction, and that sometimes our best impulses are the right ones--something you remind me of all the time.All my love.

I wish I could give you a direct connection to my brain right now so you could see the absolute joy this review has brought me. Thank you, Aeron. You've sliced cleanly (more cleanly than I could) through the knot of canon and revealed the truth--to try Snape is to try Dumbledore. There's been a kind of sub-theme throughout the trial, and I guess throughout canon too, of whether the means justify the ends, for Snape, and I wonder if we think it does, if that means they did for Dumbledore, too?Thank you for your review. It really made my day.

I wish I could give you a direct connection to my brain right now so you could see the absolute joy this review has brought me. Thank you, Aeron. You've sliced cleanly (more cleanly than I could) through the knot of canon and revealed the truth--to try Snape is to try Dumbledore. There's been a kind of sub-theme throughout the trial, and I guess throughout canon too, of whether the means justify the ends, for Snape, and I wonder if we think it does, if that means they did for Dumbledore, too?Thank you for your review. It really made my day.

I agree that the spirit of the law should be what matters, of course, and I too am a hopeless (or hopeful!) idealist. I'm glad the trial makes sense to you. That makes me very happy.Thank you so much! More as quickly as I can get it right! xoxox

I agree that the spirit of the law should be what matters, of course, and I too am a hopeless (or hopeful!) idealist. I'm glad the trial makes sense to you. That makes me very happy.Thank you so much! More as quickly as I can get it right! xoxox

I'm so glad you liked it, Fizzabella! And I think Hermione has learned to read him well enough to know, now, what he feels even when he won't admit it. :) I'm delighted beyond words that you felt peace between them. More soon!*very tight hugs*

I'm so glad you liked it, Fizzabella! And I think Hermione has learned to read him well enough to know, now, what he feels even when he won't admit it. :) I'm delighted beyond words that you felt peace between them. More soon!*very tight hugs*

Thank you so much, Potterbrat! I really appreciate that! :)

Thank you so much, Potterbrat! I really appreciate that! :)

Thank you,

! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. And curse Dumbledore, indeed! I know that it probably won't change the wizarding world's opinion of Dumbledore too much, but I hope the people in the courtroom felt it. Severus cannot dare to hope, I don't think. What he knows is how to plan for the worst, how to avert disaster. I don't think he's had much practice in anything else. Thank you!

Thank you,

! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. And curse Dumbledore, indeed! I know that it probably won't change the wizarding world's opinion of Dumbledore too much, but I hope the people in the courtroom felt it. Severus cannot dare to hope, I don't think. What he knows is how to plan for the worst, how to avert disaster. I don't think he's had much practice in anything else. Thank you!

Hugs from America, right back at you! :)I don't pretend that I thought through it anymore clearly than JKR, who created a world and characters that stand up remarkably well. She was just unwilling, I think, to validate Snape at the expense of Dumbledore. Maybe it comes down to who you love more--or maybe, as readers have such incredibly different reactions to Dumbledore in these chapters--maybe it has to do with the choice that an individual would make--would you rather save the world, or the person you love, who is your world, maybe. I don't know. Rambling again, as usual! Thank you for reviewing, my friend!

I totally agree with you, dear, but that's not what I meant. When I read book 7 I couldn't grasp what she wanted to tell - where the flaw in the plan was - and I doubted then and still do now that her explanation for everything (Elder Wand/Draco/Ownership/Snape/Snape's death) totally fits. It seems all a bit hurried, and that has nothing to do with the fact that I like Snape. I am a big fan of old Dumbly and cried bitterly when she killed him. She is remarkable, and her world is a masterpiece. Still, I prefer your explanation simply because it makes more sense ;-)Ramble as much as you like. I am always here to answer *g*

Hugs from America, right back at you! :)I don't pretend that I thought through it anymore clearly than JKR, who created a world and characters that stand up remarkably well. She was just unwilling, I think, to validate Snape at the expense of Dumbledore. Maybe it comes down to who you love more--or maybe, as readers have such incredibly different reactions to Dumbledore in these chapters--maybe it has to do with the choice that an individual would make--would you rather save the world, or the person you love, who is your world, maybe. I don't know. Rambling again, as usual! Thank you for reviewing, my friend!

I totally agree with you, dear, but that's not what I meant. When I read book 7 I couldn't grasp what she wanted to tell - where the flaw in the plan was - and I doubted then and still do now that her explanation for everything (Elder Wand/Draco/Ownership/Snape/Snape's death) totally fits. It seems all a bit hurried, and that has nothing to do with the fact that I like Snape. I am a big fan of old Dumbly and cried bitterly when she killed him. She is remarkable, and her world is a masterpiece. Still, I prefer your explanation simply because it makes more sense ;-)Ramble as much as you like. I am always here to answer *g*

Thank you,

! Those lines were so important to me, and I'm so glad that you liked them. It's hard for me to process the end of DH, to figure out exactly what JKR was trying to say, what the moral of her tale was, so to speak. She did such an amazing job raising so many different themes over the course of such a long work, and then, I think, things got very simple at the end, which was confusing. Really, I've chosen only one of the major themes--I can't be too hard on her. But thank you so, so much for such a lovely review. xoxox

Thank you,

! Those lines were so important to me, and I'm so glad that you liked them. It's hard for me to process the end of DH, to figure out exactly what JKR was trying to say, what the moral of her tale was, so to speak. She did such an amazing job raising so many different themes over the course of such a long work, and then, I think, things got very simple at the end, which was confusing. Really, I've chosen only one of the major themes--I can't be too hard on her. But thank you so, so much for such a lovely review. xoxox

, I can hardly respond to this because it makes my heart so full. It thrills me beyond believe that you see Dumbledore as vindicated here--that his choices were justified in some way. I have such a hard time with Dumbledore. I know what he did and I think I know why, and yet, I can't stop being angry. I feel, as Minerva said, that it just wasn't decent. But as you say, maybe decency wasn't the point. Dumbledore says in chapter 33 I believe that he had to do what he did because someone had to. I respect that, but I admit that I don't like it. Not at all. But I'm happy that both things are coming through. And I'm happy that you liked the imagery. The Snape at the end is my favorite--it gives me great hope, and I'm glad you liked it too.Thank you so, so much,

. You've made my day.

I understand it is hard to see how Dumbledore was justified.  I graduated with a degree in political science and have worked with local politicians, and while I am no expert seeing politics in action gives you a whole new awareness of what our leaders local or national go through.  Often working for the public is a balancing act, trying to meet individual needs with the greater good in the long run, and more often than not these come into conflict.  To put it simply I quote Spock from the Star Trek movie "The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few." This is often the case and to be the one who has to look at all the angles and make the decision to deny a petition or do something as drastic as send soldiers to war is not as easily done as most people think.  It is usually done with much forethought and a heavy heart. Of course this only applies to the "good guys." Thank you for such a wonderful story it's been the highlight of my ff reading.

, I can hardly respond to this because it makes my heart so full. It thrills me beyond believe that you see Dumbledore as vindicated here--that his choices were justified in some way. I have such a hard time with Dumbledore. I know what he did and I think I know why, and yet, I can't stop being angry. I feel, as Minerva said, that it just wasn't decent. But as you say, maybe decency wasn't the point. Dumbledore says in chapter 33 I believe that he had to do what he did because someone had to. I respect that, but I admit that I don't like it. Not at all. But I'm happy that both things are coming through. And I'm happy that you liked the imagery. The Snape at the end is my favorite--it gives me great hope, and I'm glad you liked it too.Thank you so, so much,

. You've made my day.

I understand it is hard to see how Dumbledore was justified.  I graduated with a degree in political science and have worked with local politicians, and while I am no expert seeing politics in action gives you a whole new awareness of what our leaders local or national go through.  Often working for the public is a balancing act, trying to meet individual needs with the greater good in the long run, and more often than not these come into conflict.  To put it simply I quote Spock from the Star Trek movie "The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few." This is often the case and to be the one who has to look at all the angles and make the decision to deny a petition or do something as drastic as send soldiers to war is not as easily done as most people think.  It is usually done with much forethought and a heavy heart. Of course this only applies to the "good guys." Thank you for such a wonderful story it's been the highlight of my ff reading.