Chapter Two: Faith in their hands shall snap in two
Chapter 3 of 34
MMADfanSnape undertakes an unpleasant task.
Note: AU. Not DH-compliant.
Chapter Two: Faith in their hands shall snap in two
26 December 1996
"What do you mean, he won't try any of the more effective potions? Why wouldn't he? Isn't it possible that the one he has you brew is sufficient?"
Severus resisted the urge to put his head in his hands, and he looked steadily at Minerva. "He hasn't told you, then . . ."
"What? What hasn't he told me?"
"I did not believe he had, but I had hoped that at least in this . . ." Severus fought the urge to look away from her. He owed her this much. Without flinching, he said, "The curse is killing him. The Headmaster will be dead within a year. Likely within six months, if he continues as he has done."
Minerva looked at Severus, unblinking. "No . . . no, you are mistaken. It is no worse. And he . . . he would tell me."
"Perhaps he plans to. I do not know. He will no longer discuss it with me, neither that nor the larger issue."
Minerva scarcely heard what he said; she shook her head. "No. He would have told me. He would have told me this. You are wrong. There is no change."
"I am not wrong. The curse is slowly killing him from within. I believe that up until the last few weeks of his life, he will look much as he does now, appear no more ill. But he will eventually succumb to it, and before he does, his body will begin to fail. His magic will gradually weaken. Then . . . he will die. In great pain and lengthy agony."
Minerva's breath came in great gasps; hardly would she exhale when she would take another gasping breath. "No . . . no." She attempted to stand, but Severus took her shoulders and urged her back into her chair.
"Breathe slowly, Minerva, please. Calm yourself. Just . . . just breathe."
"Why? Why! Why do you tell me this? And why didn't he? Gods, what is he thinking?" She shook off his hands.
"He is thinking . . . perhaps of you. But also of me and what he has asked of me." Severus sat back down across from her.
"What is this thing he has asked of you that would make him think that this . . . this course of action is remotely acceptable?" Minerva demanded. Her hands gripped the arms of her chair, but tremors passed through her as she attempted to regain control of herself.
"First, before I tell you...and I will tell you...I wish to give you some of the potion I have made up for him. There are two different ones. I believe both to be far more effective than the one he is currently taking. They are, by no means, cures, but they could extend his life quite comfortably for a decade or more. During that time, perhaps a cure could be found, or his . . . natural lifespan might obviate the need for one." Severus spoke evenly, calmly.
"His natural lifespan?" Minerva asked, voice cracking.
"All I mean is that, at his age, a potion that could fend off the effects of the curse for a dozen years or so . . . might be as good as a cure."
Minerva clenched her jaw but did not rebuke him. Severus rose and crossed the room. He opened a cabinet and removed two large bottles in a wire carrier. Returning to Minerva, he handed them to her, then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a parchment, which he also gave her.
"What is this?"
"The formulas, with some notes on some possible improvements that might be made. In case I am no longer able to brew for the Headmaster."
Minerva looked up at him sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
Severus sat again, drew a breath, and let it out slowly. "There are a few possibilities. The first is that, upon learning that I have informed you of these things, the Headmaster will no longer wish me to brew for him, even if you are successful, as I hope you will be, in dissuading him from his current course; the second is that I will no longer be able to brew for him through some incapacity or unavailability of my own. There are, of course, other scenarios, but those are the primary ones."
Minerva looked with unseeing eyes at the parchments in her left hand. "I don't understand . . . why would he do this? And why would he do this and not tell me?"
"You will need to ask him the second question. I cannot answer it. I can answer, in part, at least, your first question, however."
At this point, Severus was no longer able to look at Minerva. He had already imagined a thousand times what expressions would cross her face when he told her what he must tell her now.
"You see, Minerva, Albus . . . I . . . Albus believes I will kill him."
"What?" Minerva let out a snort of disbelief and Severus winced at her faith in him. "Have you lost your mind, Severus? He would never . . . why would he?" She paused, looking at him, and she shivered suddenly. "Or why would you?"
Severus looked up at Minerva and, knowing he was about to sever his last tie of friendship, he said, "Because at the beginning of the summer, I took an Unbreakable Vow to do so."
The parchment slipped from Minerva's fingers. Severus caught the potions bottles with an Arresto Momentum before they hit the floor and Levitated them to the table beside Minerva's chair.
Minerva's mouth moved, but no sound emerged from it. Severus sat calmly and waited. Finally, she said, her voice barely a whisper, "You wouldn't have."
"I did. I did not know at the time what I was agreeing to do. But the Headmaster had made certain requests of me that made taking the Vow seem . . . prudent. I was unaware for a number of weeks precisely what it was that would be required of me to fulfill the Vow. The Headmaster . . . he was fairly certain from the moment I told him of the Vow. He told me that he had little doubt even when he first heard . . . he said he believed taking it was the right thing to have done. And that he would prefer it to any other outcome.
"It bothered me even then, Minerva, please believe me. And I tried to urge him to find ways around it. But he seemed to feel this was all fated to be, and he has never seriously considered any alternatives. However, I will not carry out the Vow. Yet if he is unprepared for that, it will go badly for him...he must at least begin taking the stronger potions. And Albus must prepare for what will happen when I fail to carry out the Vow."
"You will die." Minerva said, looking at him hard.
"I took the Vow. You said once that I make bad choices, that I am self-destructive. And here is your final, incontrovertible proof of it. But it was my choice. I made it. I will pay for it. I am sorry that it will make things difficult for the Order when they lose their spy, but this is the one final choice that I can make that will..."
"How could you! How can you!? How could you do such a thing...take the Vow, not even knowing what would be required of you? Of all the absolutely stupid, idiotic, boneheaded...Severus! And then to actually contemplate carrying it out? And you would have, wouldn't you? He would say jump, and you would jump, killing Albus and condemning yourself..."
"I did this for Albus, because he asked me, not because of the Dark Lord."
"I don't care who you are obeying anymore, Severus! I could kill you right now, I am so angry with you. And to think that Albus . . . he must have a plan. He must. He wouldn't just let you do that. How could he? How could he do it . . . to any of us?" Tears of anger, frustration, disbelief, and pain coursed down Minerva's cheeks. Severus thought that she looked a decade older than she had when she had entered his sitting room that evening.
"His plan is to pass on to Potter all he can between now and the event and, I believe, to sicken and to allow me to see him weaken. He also believes that events will force our hand. That it will be inevitable. That circumstances will come together so that either I kill him and live or I don't kill him and we both die, with perhaps others dying with us. Potter . . . and others. But because he believes this, he is creating those exact circumstances. And I will not conspire with him to bring them about. Whatever happens, I will not kill him. I will not do it to him, I will not do it to you, and I will not have yet one more death on my soul, and certainly not his. Yet if he is unprepared for this, it is quite likely that the only alternative course of events is the one that he foresees...both of us dead, and others along with us, the future of the wizarding world in the hands of the Dark Lord. I am quite willing to die rather than kill, but I do not want to bring him and everyone else along with me. That is why you must talk to him. He forbids me to even speak to him of . . . of the consequences of what he is planning. Soon, I fear he will not even allow me to speak of alternatives. Not," Severus spat, "that he ever considers any alternatives."
Minerva sat still now, numbly. "I do not know whom to be more angry with. You or him. And you have both known this. And you have both just . . . gone on . . . for months . . . as though I do not matter. As though I do not need to be considered, let alone consulted." She looked up at Severus. "You would have just gone ahead with this, wouldn't you, if it hadn't been for that spell? Wouldn't you?" Minerva asked harshly, not naming the curse that had afflicted Severus that September, and from which she had freed him at no little cost to herself.
"I do not know," Severus replied quietly. "Possibly. Probably. Albus . . . Albus has been most adamant. And he usually knows what is right, as you have pointed out yourself. But now . . . I cannot . . . and I have been trying to get him to take the improved potions for weeks now, hoping that he would see that there might be some other course if he took them and knew that . . . knew that the curse would not kill him within months. I do not know whether he refuses in order to make it easier for me or to make it easier for himself. And I no longer care. I will not kill him. And I will tell him that. You need not."
"I need not? You give me these potions," she said bitterly, gesturing at the bottles, "and you tell me that Albus has been plotting his own death for months, and you ask me to get him to change his mind, but you say that I need not tell him that you refuse to be the instrument of his suicide? For that is what you would be . . . how could he be so damned idiotic? And unfeeling?" Minerva began to weep again.
"I think he does appreciate that I do not wish to do it, he simply believes..."
"I do not mean about you, man! Me! What of me? Almost forty years together, and now...how do I believe in anything now?" Suddenly she was heaving great, violent sobs, her head in arms, and her magic began crackling around her.
"Shh, shh, Minerva, please, shh, shh," Severus said, alarmed and without a clue of how to calm the nearly hysterical witch. He reached out and touched her shoulder, trying to offer some little comfort. His hand was thrown back with a bright burst of yellow sparks.
"Do NOT TOUCH ME! Never, ever, ever touch me again!" Minerva shouted, raising her head and glaring at him, tears streaming down her face, scarcely reining in her magic. But as she collapsed back into the chair, cradling her head in her hands, she seemed to regain some control over herself, although her sobs did not cease.
"I . . . I will be in my office," Severus said. "You may stay or leave, as you wish." He turned and went to leave. Reaching the door, he paused and said softly, "I cannot ask and do not deserve your forgiveness. But please believe me when I say that I knew of no other way. Not today and not last summer." He waited a moment, and when there was no sound but the continued quiet weeping of the witch behind him, he opened the door and left, knowing he had wrought the destruction of his last tie to human warmth and friendship.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Death's Dominion
559 Reviews | 6.1/10 Average
love the award cermony!! love hermione & severus's discussion.. severus need long rest, stress free future!! overall wonderful storyline!!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Thanks very much!
The sequel is A Long Vernal Season. I'm actually working on a new chapter of it today! There's still a lot of it posted for your reading pleasure -- it's definitely a Severus story, and picks up a couple months after Death's Dominion ends.
Thank you for your reviews!
the bomb will drop, once severus find out that albus is alive!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Oh yeah, definitely!
sad for injuried & dead witches/wizards!! onward if mineverus and garth is okay or nor.. great battle detail..
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
I'm glad you liked the battle-- it's one I spent a lot of time working on and polishing. :-)
what a clever plan that minevera change at the last minutes.. happy that albus and hermione found severus, nad hopefully he will be okay.....
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Minerva certainly laid her plans well. Glad you're enjoying it!
robbie removing his patch for some reason (his pretending to be him), severus dying to too much... onwqrd to find out, what happen
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Yes, lots of mysteries culminating here!
love the progressing of the story.. especially the plan to kill the MoM, minevra.. like plan love scene with poppy and robbie!!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Thanks!
not sure whether crouch should be trusted of not? great severus' pov, in the last chapie!!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying Severus's pov here!
Indeed, Crouch is a bit ambiguous.
Hope you continue to enjoy the fic!
This chapter was my Ah-Ha! moment, well there were a few, a big one while Robbie was helping Neville with offensive spells while training the DA, but this chapter was the clencher for me to finally understand just WHAT is going on with our dear Mr. Crouch. *grins*
And I'll just keep my yap shut so I don't spoil anything for anyone.
OH I do think its cute that Moody is all paranoid of Crouch ... tee hee
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Yes, there were pretty big signals in this chapter about what was really going on, particularly for anyone who was already familiar with the RaMverse fics.Moody is a very suspicious character! And wait till he finds out ... haha!
*snip*“Mmhm.” Severus would have agreed to almost anything at that moment. If the Dark Lord really wanted his cooperation, he could do worse than follow Poppy Pomfrey’s example, he thought, trying not to laugh. “What’s funny?” She had moved off the bed and was pulling the sheet up to cover his legs and buttocks.“Just thinking that if the Dark Lord really wanted more power, he could take a lesson from you,” Severus said, not suppressing his smile. “Putty in my hands, are you?” Poppy asked with a chuckle. Did I mention already that I love that?
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
I don't know as you specifically mentioned that bit before! I am glad you like it so well. It is one of my favorite scenes in all of my stories.
*snip*“The attacking Death Eaters would have killed and injured far more if it were not for the leadership of one person, a witch whose foresight and strategic planning brought the defenders rapid success. Though it no doubt felt much longer to those who were fighting and who were falling, the attackers were overwhelmed in number and in tactics, and from the spell cast by Arthur Weasley shortly after sunrise to the moment the final Death Eater ceased resisting, the primary battle lasted less than an hour. Her leadership and her bravery were instrumental not only in the success of the battle, but also in Tom Riddle’s ultimate defeat. For the great debt of gratitude that the wizarding world has, I am proud to present this Order of Merlin, first-class, to Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.”Severus needed no prodding to stand when everyone in the hall who was able stood and clapped. Ogden placed the Order of Merlin around Minerva’s neck, the heavy medal resting on her chest, then he leaned toward her, kissed her cheek, and whispered something in her ear. That was all it took for her self-control to waver, and her tears spilled over. Albus, standing now beside her, handed her a surprisingly staid white handkerchief, and she wiped her eyes.Awesome! Only thing that could have been better would have been if angels presented the award to her... but Albus was there and that's about as close to a living angel as I've ever seen.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
She deserved that, and more! But she will go down in history as the lead architect of Riddle's defeat, even more so than Albus, and that's just as he would have it.
*chuckles* You got me... you got me... surprise, surprise, surprise.... and of course, Severus is back to being barely tollerable, now that he's well and healthy... *groans* I guess I'll have to tollerate his sulking nonsense a little longer. *winks* Oh, and Albus and Minerva were bloody awesome here... as usual - and Potter was respectable.Love the Minerva smooch that made Albus blush.Love that Severus was being selfish and intollerable and Poppy had to keep elbowing him... until he probably came very close to fainting in shock... haha!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Poppy did keep him in line -- and from bolting!
*snip*Minerva smiled broadly. “I may miss our clandestine meetings, though.”“Whoever said we had to stop those?” Albus replied with a grin as he pulled her down into his lap.YUmmmmm
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
*snip*As the tall Irishman turned and left, speaking a few more words to Minerva and Albus on his way past, Severus took his seat again and looked over at Poppy. He had expected to see her watching Quin, but her eyes were on the doors again, and Severus followed her gaze. Immediately, he thought that his heart stopped as surely as if he had been hit with an Arrestocordis. His stomach seemed to drop and the blood drain from his face.Gareth was now out of his seat and walking rapidly toward the three who had just come through the doors. The older witch seemed to scold him mildly for exerting himself, but he took her arm and led her to his table. Robert and Thea Crouch followed. I was wondering when Severus was going to have to confront his overwhealming guilt with what he did to Gertrude... I can't blame him for wanting to run away, I think I would too.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
I'm sure he felt pretty sick. But it's good for him.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
And I mant to say, too, that I'm glad you like Albus and Minerva planning for more clandestine meetings! 
*snip*“Lovely.” Surviving the Dark Lord was just one party after another.LOLOLOLOLzzzzzzz
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Glad you enjoyed that!
*snips*“You aren’t him. You can’t be! I know that old fool is dead,” Voldemort hissed.“Oh, Tom, Tom,” Albus chuckled. “You needn’t have a Horcrux to defeat death, you know; you don’t need to destroy your soul. Sometimes love and a little modern wizarding science is all you need. But then, you have to have someone who loves you and you have to be able to fully trust yourself to someone else, give yourself over, lose all control. You are incapable of that, I am afraid. I am indeed the wizard who met you all those years ago in that Muggle orphanage, the one who was your Transfiguration teacher, the Headmaster of Hogwarts who refused you a teaching position. I am the Albus Dumbledore who died. And I do beg the forgiveness of all those who mourned me aforetime, but as you see, I am now quite alive!”Voldemort backed up slightly, coming even to where Gareth still knelt in the trampled, dark-stained grass. The Dark Wizard’s breath was coming faster, and despite the twisted wizard’s inhuman features, Gareth believed he saw fear on his face.*sits here grinning like a fool* How long I've waited for this moment... such satisfaction...
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
A little bit of a shock to "Tom" there! lol! Glad you're grinning!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Ahhh, the battle scene was absolutely fantastic, bloody brilliant and I loved just about all of it, Charlie on the dragon, Nick searching the wounded, the house elves saving people, Gareth's bagpipes, the centaurs, Alroy turning into a flying horse, Minerva and Albus on either side of Harry as Harry destroyed Riddle... Arthur at the begining, standing brave and speaking for Hogwarts after his dear wife lie dead, Neville embracing rage and hatred... all of it. Even Peaves having the time of his life...
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Thank you! It was quite chockful of activity, wasn't it!
*snip*“And I still had hope you would live and we would be able to become better friends, out in the daylight and not shut up in the library.”I have to laugh at this.... it so fits Snape, and I just can't picture him in sunlight, at all! I can imagine him living his entire life shut up in a library... I really can, and Hermione as well! But obviously, for different reasons - him hiding and brooding, her studying and unable to break from her rabid thirst for knowledge.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
LOL! That is true!
*snip*“Molly died,” Remus whispered. “I just heard someone telling Ron.”I don't mind you killing Percy, but THIS IS NOT COOL! *snorts* 
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
No, it's very sad, actually. Very, very sad. She was the real center of the family, the wonderful mother, and a mother-figure for Harry.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
And you didn't give a moment of glory.... *sighs* She deserved to show her mettle.... *sighs*
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Sorry 'bout that! It was a very nasty death, but Voldemort is a very nasty . . . thing. And he believed that targetting her would be demoralizing for all of the Weasleys, as well as others who had known her, including Harry. He is very aware of who the Weasleys are.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
.............
*snip*“Look! Look!” One of the twins, Minerva couldn’t tell which one, began to shout and point. “A phoenix! It’s Fawkes!”Minerva held her breath as the phoenix landed on Harry. Oh, gods, Voldemort was raising his wand again, and so were the Death Eaters around him! Please, please, please . . . she did not know with whom she was pleading, but then there was another shouted curse, this one from her nephew, who had turned, still with Ginny over his shoulder.“TERRAQUATERE!” Gareth roared.A bronze-coloured spell issued from his wand, spreading out and flowing toward the Death Eaters. McGonagall stood facing Voldemort, the spell continuing to course from his wand. The ground began to tremble and a fissure opened up at Voldemort’s feet. The earth heaved and threw the Death Eaters to the ground, Voldemort himself losing his footing, stepping back, and then landing hard on his arse. Even as the earth cracked open, the phoenix rose into the air, singing loudly, almost trumpeting, Harry’s limp body held by one arm. Voldemort tried to follow the bird and the boy with his wand, but cried out in frustration when they seemed to vanish without a sound, the phoenix call abruptly ending. Voldemort took to the air himself, rising straight up, seeking his prey, but they were nowhere to be seen.That is BLOODY AWESOME!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
I am very glad you like that scene. It's got some impact, I think! And it was good to see Voldemort land on his arse! lol
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Very! And if Tom had any brains at all, he'd realize - if Fawkes was there, so was Dumbledore... and he had best get his arse out!~I'm still not forgiving you for killing Molly - that was NOT COOL~ NOT COOL - she deserved much better! She didn't even get to fight... *sighs* She was the stallwart matron of the Weasleys' and worked her whole life to raise kids, she deserved her moment... *sighs*
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Well, the twins thought it was Fawkes, anyway . . . LOL! But you're right -- how common is it for a phoenix just to appear like that! But Tom is filled with hubris and too convinced he is invincible.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
I had a notion it wasn't Fawkes as well... still not letting you off the hook for Molly...
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Well, can't change it now! But I hope you can still appreciate the rest of the battle. :-)
*snip*“No, Harry Potter! The Headmistress tells Dobby, ‘Harry stays here, Dobby, he stays here with you until I call for him,’ and so Harry Potter must stay here! The witch-who-is-a-cat knows much that Harry Potter does not. Harry Potter must listen and stay here with Dobby!”Harry looked over at his other minder. The Bloody Baron simply floated in a slight turn to look at him. Harry thought that if a ghost had breath to sigh, the Baron just had, deeply.AHhhh, even the Baron is working for Hogwarts... and Dobby is adorable... and brave as usual. I can't even go three lines into the stupid chapter without commenting... sheesh! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
LOL! I'm flattered!
*snip*“Celebrare Adfectus Amor Ultimus!”Albus blinked in confusion. Melina’s spell hit Minerva, then as colour arced around Minerva and began to spread toward him, Melina was out the door and gone.“Oh, Minerva, you couldn’t,” Albus said, sounding anguished as the colours swirled around her and rolled toward him, beginning to tickle his magic. “You didn’t.”down to here*snip*“I spoke with Pomona and told her we would likely not be there for lunch and possibly not for dinner, either. She and Filius will look after everything for us.”“Good. I think we can fill that time quite well as the Celebrare lingers, don’t you, my dear?”“Absolutely.” And Minerva began demonstrating one of her ideas for filling that time.So beautiful.... sooooo soooo beautiful.... 
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
I'm very glad you liked it. 
It was a pleasant flashback in the midst of all the more grim stuff going on at this point in the story, and it explains much, too. And I'm glad you found it beautiful! Thanks!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
I just wish I understood it better.... some parts of it are very misty and gray... like how does it heal the curse, and how long does it last and why was Albus so upset about it... and so forth...
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
It's meant to be a bit misty, so it is a little obscure, but the cure will be permanent, as will the binding that occurred afterward (though a binding doesn't always result). The cure of the physical damage of the curse was effected through Minerva's intentional use of the magic of the spell to bring Albus's body back into its state of health, which she was so familiar with. The curse itself was driven out by the spell itself, once it was acted on -- the spell is all about love and light and wholeness, and there is no room for the curse once that magic begins flowing through his body and out the arm. Once the curse was gone, Minerva was able to cure the physical side of it.Albus had been upset about it for the same reason he had been telling Minerva that he didn't want to use the spell in the first place: initially, he believed that the curse and his fatal illness would enable Severus to kill him more easily, knowing that Albus would be dead soon, anyway; after that, he believed he would prefer to die of the curse than to meet some other end, for example, by being captured and brought to Voldemort, etc.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Hrm.... so its Albus being stubborn again... that fits him... stubborn lion that he is...Thank you for that explanation.... what an interesting spell... I take it its not canon? One of your design? I like it... but of course I like anything that keeps Dumbledore alive and well and sexy as hell.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Yes, it occurred to me when I came up with the Adfectus Amor Verissimus that there would be other similar spells, including ones for "greatest love," and then when I decided to write DD, I mentioned in AAoL that Minerva had found another spell that she thought might help her cure Albus's hand, but that he wouldn't consider it. But until Melina cast the spell, back in whatever chapter of DD that was, the spell's incantation hadn't yet appeared.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Well personally, I love it!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
I was glad to find an excuse to write a fic that would keep him alive, myself! (And sexy! 
HOLY........ ROCK AND ROLL - I LOVED THE LAST BIT WITH SEVERUS! 
And his Gryffie witch - cause he's got a thing for Gryffie witches and then... OOoh but could it be that wonderful, adorable, sweet, fabulous, silly, silly 
*keels over in a swoon*
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Blue eyes in a field of stars -- that does sound like it might be!I'm glad you so loved the bit with Severus. He got to have his moment of revenge and his moment of showing his true loyalty, declaring it loudly even in the face of certain death, his love for Minerva.Very glad you liked it!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
You know, I think you actually may have changed my view of the man.... in this fic... I started out tollerating him, then got impatient, then got down right flat out, pissy with him, then got impatient, then started sympathizing, then started to grin a bit here and there, then started to tollerate him more, then started to look forward to reading his bit, then started to empathize with him... then.... holy cow... but I think I like the guy.... wonderrs never cease...And blue eyes in a field of stars! AHHHHHH paradise! IN Hermione's arms no less... I did love that bit - she's breathing for him and blood letting and what not, delivering anti venom - nasty stuff that - but it helps sometimes - if you're not allergic, but I'm sure he isn't! HAHA!Lady if I haven't said it already, you are one HELL of a yarn spinner!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Aaand I have to say it again, that was BLOODY BRILLIANT! *bows* You have certainly outdone yourself.... blue-eyed death in a field of stars... a kind face, a kind Death... and the precious face breathing for him... *grins* Even this grizzled old witch can't help but grin like a fool at that... so good, so very, very good.... and the build up was BLOODY PERFECT! For once, I didn't feel like I was on the edge of the couch for weeks on end... you hit the sweet spot for build up and suspense but didn't over do it - THANK YOU! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
*insert blushie emoticon here*Thank you!And I'm glad that as Snape went through his trials and suffered to change, your view of him changed, too. That was one of the satisfying things about this fic: giving him depth and allowing him to grow.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
And to your second comment (our posts crossed), that was my intent in this story, and particularly in these chapters here, so I'm very glad they hit the mark.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
*bows to the angel* Aye, you did indeed, good job! *winks*
*snip*After he left her office, Poppy picked up a small object from her desk, put it in her pocket, and left the infirmary.OOOH! My Spidey senses are tingling! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Ooo, yeah! Good place for them to be tingling!
*snip*“Before you go, perhaps you will help me with one last task?” Severus asked.“What’s that?”Severus pointed to the black robes heaped by the door. “Destroying those.”“You may need them again.”“No. I am never putting them on again, Minerva.”“Then it will be my pleasure.”Pure awesomesauce.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
He's begun to shed his skin. Good to have a friend with you, especially for something like burning your DE robes.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Can I get an AMEN? Lets have a few Amens for brother Severus! HE HAS COME CLEAN!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
He is getting there! And I'll give you an Amen!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
*snip*Down in the Headmistress’s Office, Minerva and Severus emerged from the Pensieve and Severus restored his memory.“You did very well, Severus,” Minerva said. “When you told me about it, you underplayed your manipulation of him. It was impressive.”Severus could not hide his pleasure at her words. “It was satisfying.”“I enjoyed the way you sprinkled the truth in your statements, particularly when you declared that Malfoy’s downfall would not be yours.” Minerva smiled at him and gave his arm a squeeze. “I cannot sufficiently express my pride in you. I admire your strength, loyalty, and cunning. Thank you.”Severus inclined his head slightly. “I wish the Headmaster were here to share our successes,” he said softly. “But it’s his sacrifice that has enabled me to continue as I have. Any gratitude should be to him for that sacrifice. I just . . .” Severus swallowed. “I just wish he hadn’t had to die and leave us both.”“You miss him. I know he would be proud of you, though,” Minerva replied, rubbing his upper arm. “He had great faith in you.”Severus looked away, but did not pull back from her affectionate touch. “I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand until it was too late. I didn’t want to understand.” He gave a mirthless laugh. “The story of my life, isn’t it, Minerva? To discover only after I’ve lost someone . . . lost them, driven them away, killed them . . . I used to tell myself that the Headmaster was just my other master, a master like him, the only difference being that I really did serve the Headmaster, though only because doing so also served my own purposes, which I defined narrowly, deliberately ignoring . . .” He let out a shaky breath.“Albus did not think of himself as your master, Severus,” Minerva said softly, her hand resting on his bicep. “Your boss, your leader, perhaps your commanding officer, to use a military term, and he wanted to believe he was also your friend, although that was hard for him with all of the other roles he had to play. He loves you like a son, despite the difficult road you both travelled to get to that point.”Severus turned his head, gazing down into her eyes with some amusement in his own. “Your habit is back, Minerva.”“Habit?”“Referring to the Headmaster as still living.”“I didn’t.” She paused. “He does still love you, though.”“And you?”“Me? Of course he still loves me.”Freaking awesomesauce - THAT is awesome there *points* right there... I am actually starting to loath Severus less, much, much less, not sure I can love Minerva more but its possible, I do like how she's not so concerned about letting the truth slip out - hehe - more the fun later on when... yeah... what ever that is...
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Loathing him much less is quite a good step. Yep!
*snip*After they had left the Headmistress’s sitting room, Robbie opened his eyes. He took a long, deep breath and let it out slowly. He stood, stretched, and poured more tea into his cup, passing his hand over it to rewarm it, then he took a gelatin capsule from his pocket and swallowed it, washing it down with the tea, then grimacing slightly. He crossed over to the window where Minerva had stood in the dark and waited for Severus to reappear. AHA!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
AHA indeed!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
*ssssssnip*In the bedroom, he stripped off his robes, then, holding his breath, he tore off a large white adhesive patch from his hip. He removed his wand from the wandpocket of his outer-robe and cast a nonverbal spell, incinerating the patch. He took another apparently identical patch from a small, password-protected drawer in the wardrobe, then snagged his silvery-grey dressing gown, tossed it over his shoulder, and proceeded to the bathroom and a bracing shower to prepare him for the day.Uh huh! And in Scotland, they wouldn't be sweating to death and making these patches useless! HAHA!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Nope -- I do rather like the climate there, for the most part -- they think that temps in the 80s is a heat wave! lol! So the patch stays put nicely. Magic helps, as well.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
I can only wear my patches if I'm immobile and don't go outside at all, since room temp here is 80 to 82 degrees.... ugg.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
In the summer, if I have them on before I go to bed, half way through the night, they've wrinkled and stuck to each other and to my shirt more than to my skin. Bah! Not too bad if I keep the bedroom itself cooler than the rest of the house, but they still tend to sweat off. So I know what you mean!
*snip*“The Headmistress has a very strong will,” Severus said. “It is natural that she would find it easy to learn.”“She certainly is an obstinate, hard-headed one,” Poppy agreed with a grin.Minerva snorted.“More tea, anyone?” Robbie asked mildly.*grins* That's my Minerva!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Death's Dominion)
Yeppers!