I'm glad you appreciate the Thomas. I love his use of language.A lot of questions & a lot of answers, too, you are right, there!It's not precisely flashbacks; it's more that the story has a nonlinear structure. The Prologue is a sort of . . . flashforward? But not very far forward . . .I hope you continue to enjoy it! Thank you for the review! (Your name, BTW, always reminds me of "Tea with the Black Dragon," for some reason, even though I drink black tea . . .)

It seemed an appropriate poem for a number of reasons. And, of course, I just love Dylan Thomas's poetry, especially Fern Hill and Altar-wise by owl light. Fern Hill is great . . . Harry was not a very pleasant boy a lot of the time in his 5th and 6th year. I hope you enjoye the rest of the story.

The narrative isn't linear, so we do get to see some of what happened in between the epilogue of AAoL and the prologue here.Harry really doesn't like Severus much, does he? Well, Snape tried to give the kid a chance to rise above himself . . .Glad you're on board for the ride!Thanks -- glad you like the banner!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! And that you like the Dylan Thomas.  Thanks! Harry wasn't very nice there, was he? Nobody's happy . . .

It's not blasphemy to my ears! We'll see . . . Severus is one unhappy wizard here. No one is particularly happy here, are they? But it is a funeral . . .

I've been to some funerals, honestly, that were not very funereal at all.  I guess it's because we all handle grief differently.I have to add that my favorite student characters are Neville and Luna.  He's a gardener after my own heart (and a broken-hearted one at that, he is), and she's so feckin' daft she's BRILLIANT!  My opinion, FWIW...

Welcome back,

!It's good to "see" you. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the last few chapters and the epilogue. Thank you for reviewing! I've appreciated every one!

Welcome back,

!It's good to "see" you. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the last few chapters and the epilogue. Thank you for reviewing! I've appreciated every one!

Thank you.

Thank you.

First off, his ring: it was a gift from Blaise. He gave it to Severus after the awards dinner. Blaise had it made when he had the others made for Snape's Slytherins. Seeing it and feeling it does help him some, which is why he's been wearing it. And it's more convenient and less conspicuous than wearing a honkin' great medal on your chest! lol

You are right that a lot of people have suffered dislocations and are having to rediscover or reinvent who they are. Endings become beginnings.

Thank you for reviewing so faithfully! I've always enjoyed learning what struck you and how it made you feel. Thank you.

For someone who would describe himself as un-sentimental, Snape actually is--c.f. his feelings about the watch, and the ring. He understands symbolism.Two things I thought of after my previous review...Severus is letting himself dream, and while the nightmares/memories are awful, he doesn't seem tempted to go back to occluding.  Minerva will be very proud, and I think this is a crucial step forward.  I do think Minerva can continue to be a good resource for him--what we muggles would call a therapist! <g>The other is that the way he made the journey to Hermione's on the train is a very nice echo of one of the symbols that other author does use well--train journeys as symbolic of transitions between worlds...for Harry every year moving between muggle and magic, and then in a station at the end of a certain book we shall not mention. After reading that book, I really thought that several characters in it, especially Albus, could have benefited from therapists and confessors.  In your universe Severus has the same need, but you've signalled that he does have resources to draw on--most especially Hermione and Minerva, and perhaps Gareth in a way, and maybe even Albus, once he's come to terms w/ him a bit more.  You have given Severus life, and resources, and hopefully those will be enough to give him hope and a future, though it will be a long, hard journey.  Bravo!

First off, his ring: it was a gift from Blaise. He gave it to Severus after the awards dinner. Blaise had it made when he had the others made for Snape's Slytherins. Seeing it and feeling it does help him some, which is why he's been wearing it. And it's more convenient and less conspicuous than wearing a honkin' great medal on your chest! lol

You are right that a lot of people have suffered dislocations and are having to rediscover or reinvent who they are. Endings become beginnings.

Thank you for reviewing so faithfully! I've always enjoyed learning what struck you and how it made you feel. Thank you.

For someone who would describe himself as un-sentimental, Snape actually is--c.f. his feelings about the watch, and the ring. He understands symbolism.Two things I thought of after my previous review...Severus is letting himself dream, and while the nightmares/memories are awful, he doesn't seem tempted to go back to occluding.  Minerva will be very proud, and I think this is a crucial step forward.  I do think Minerva can continue to be a good resource for him--what we muggles would call a therapist! <g>The other is that the way he made the journey to Hermione's on the train is a very nice echo of one of the symbols that other author does use well--train journeys as symbolic of transitions between worlds...for Harry every year moving between muggle and magic, and then in a station at the end of a certain book we shall not mention. After reading that book, I really thought that several characters in it, especially Albus, could have benefited from therapists and confessors.  In your universe Severus has the same need, but you've signalled that he does have resources to draw on--most especially Hermione and Minerva, and perhaps Gareth in a way, and maybe even Albus, once he's come to terms w/ him a bit more.  You have given Severus life, and resources, and hopefully those will be enough to give him hope and a future, though it will be a long, hard journey.  Bravo!

Thank you. I really appreciate your review. I'm glad that you liked the epilogue and found it moving, but I'm also glad that you were able to reread the story. It is different from reading it over the course of several months, certainly.It made me smile to see that you noticed what Albus said about Gareth. It is interesting. (Don't be too jealous, though. After all, we know that in the past, Severus has had a thing for Gryffindor witches, and as Gareth's neither a Gryffindor nor a witch, I doubt the long-term prospects for such a thing would be very good. Though I do think there's a friendship brewing, despite Severus's grouchiness about it.)You are right, many people have gone through significant, head-spinning changes in their lives, and learning how to live with them will be a task.I will think again about the sequel. As I mentioned, I have a few hundred pages of the draft written, but I'm debating posting it. I'll wait until it's finished before I decide anything.Thank you again for all of your thoughtful reviews! I have really appreciate them, and they've been very encouraging.

Thank you. I really appreciate your review. I'm glad that you liked the epilogue and found it moving, but I'm also glad that you were able to reread the story. It is different from reading it over the course of several months, certainly.It made me smile to see that you noticed what Albus said about Gareth. It is interesting. (Don't be too jealous, though. After all, we know that in the past, Severus has had a thing for Gryffindor witches, and as Gareth's neither a Gryffindor nor a witch, I doubt the long-term prospects for such a thing would be very good. Though I do think there's a friendship brewing, despite Severus's grouchiness about it.)You are right, many people have gone through significant, head-spinning changes in their lives, and learning how to live with them will be a task.I will think again about the sequel. As I mentioned, I have a few hundred pages of the draft written, but I'm debating posting it. I'll wait until it's finished before I decide anything.Thank you again for all of your thoughtful reviews! I have really appreciate them, and they've been very encouraging.

Thank you! It does -- lots of open roads ahead! I've appreciated your reviews!

Thank you! It does -- lots of open roads ahead! I've appreciated your reviews!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you! It is a beginning, really, just as you say. I'm glad you enjoyed it!Thanks for all of your reviews. I appreciated them a lot!

Thank you! It is a beginning, really, just as you say. I'm glad you enjoyed it!Thanks for all of your reviews. I appreciated them a lot!

I'm glad you loved the epilogue! And that it was leaky for ya! I am taking something of a break, at least. I do have two little one-shots that I will be finishing in the next couple weeks, I presume, and I started the sequel and am well into it, but I don't know what I'll do with it yet . . .Thank you very much for your reviews! I have really appreciated them!

I'm glad you loved the epilogue! And that it was leaky for ya! I am taking something of a break, at least. I do have two little one-shots that I will be finishing in the next couple weeks, I presume, and I started the sequel and am well into it, but I don't know what I'll do with it yet . . .Thank you very much for your reviews! I have really appreciated them!

Thank you! I'm very happy to know how much you've enjoyed it, and that you've liked the characterisations. I really appreciate your reviews!

Thank you! I'm very happy to know how much you've enjoyed it, and that you've liked the characterisations. I really appreciate your reviews!

Glad you liked it!As I've mentioned in various spots around, I've written a few hundred page draft of the sequel, but I don't know if I'll be posting it. We'll see after I finish the first draft. But I always think that some of the best endings are the ones that leave a few things open, anyway -- not essentials, of course, but ones that make you wonder what might happen next and how things might work out for all the various characters. I'm glad you found the Muggle adventure amusing. I also thought it was a way of emphasizing what Severus was going through, bringing it into relief, in a way.Thanks for all your reviews! TTFN!

Glad you liked it!As I've mentioned in various spots around, I've written a few hundred page draft of the sequel, but I don't know if I'll be posting it. We'll see after I finish the first draft. But I always think that some of the best endings are the ones that leave a few things open, anyway -- not essentials, of course, but ones that make you wonder what might happen next and how things might work out for all the various characters. I'm glad you found the Muggle adventure amusing. I also thought it was a way of emphasizing what Severus was going through, bringing it into relief, in a way.Thanks for all your reviews! TTFN!

I'm very happy your plane didn't crash!I'm glad you liked the ending. (And I agree about the realistc/believability, when we don't decide to put that aside and make-believe.) I'm glad you found the end of the story comforting. And they have come a long way in the months since Minerva had them begin working together, especially considering Severus's circumstances and his nature. There's hope for Severus!Very glad you enjoyed it! Thanks very much for reviewing!

I'm very happy your plane didn't crash!I'm glad you liked the ending. (And I agree about the realistc/believability, when we don't decide to put that aside and make-believe.) I'm glad you found the end of the story comforting. And they have come a long way in the months since Minerva had them begin working together, especially considering Severus's circumstances and his nature. There's hope for Severus!Very glad you enjoyed it! Thanks very much for reviewing!

Thank you. I'm very glad that you enjoyed it so and that you liked Minerva as much as you have -- and, of course, the growing friendship between Severus & Hermione. Thanks for letting me know!

Thank you. I'm very glad that you enjoyed it so and that you liked Minerva as much as you have -- and, of course, the growing friendship between Severus & Hermione. Thanks for letting me know!

Thank you very much. I'm very glad that you liked the epilogue.

Thank you very much. I'm very glad that you liked the epilogue.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you! I'm glad that his bus journey & the look into his thoughts and feelings affected you in that way. I'm very glad that you liked the ending. You're welcome!

Thank you! I'm glad that his bus journey & the look into his thoughts and feelings affected you in that way. I'm very glad that you liked the ending. You're welcome!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Haha! You are so funny! (But at least you went on to say something more!)I'm glad you enjoyed the story so well and that the epilogue was satisfying for you. That's very gratifying to know!Yes, Severus did appreciate having Albus give him the medal and his words, but he's still filled with confusion. He has a long journey ahead of him, but as Hermione reminded him, he has friends.Thank you and you're welcome!TTFN!

Haha! You are so funny! (But at least you went on to say something more!)I'm glad you enjoyed the story so well and that the epilogue was satisfying for you. That's very gratifying to know!Yes, Severus did appreciate having Albus give him the medal and his words, but he's still filled with confusion. He has a long journey ahead of him, but as Hermione reminded him, he has friends.Thank you and you're welcome!TTFN!

I can hear the cheering! Thank you!

I can hear the cheering! Thank you!

"Evil you" gave me a laugh!They finally registered their Muggle marriage with the Ministry and then Minerva told the Board of Governors at a meeting the previous week and the staff at that first relatively complete staff meeting Severus was about to go to in the last chapter. Necessary since Albus is moving into the Headmistress's rooms and people couldn't fail to notice that . . . Other than that, no formal announcements or anything, though new of it is no doubt spreading, probably somewhat overshadowed by other events, though.Yup, Poppy was told that unless Severus became genuinely physically sick, she was to make sure he stayed through the end because they had something special planned for him. A good loyal Hufflepuff! And one of the few people they knew Severus would tolerate bugging him like that.I'm glad you liked blushing Albus! Thanks for the review!

Erratum:. . . though news of it is no doubt spreading.(That's what happens when I should have been in bed three hours ago! )

 W/ no HoH duties, and no Dark Lord to be battling, and a competent Minister for M in place, and Albus divested of many of his former responsibilities....they'll have so much spare time they'll go mad!  And they won't even need to be hiding and flooing from sitting room to office! (Being Headmistress and a Professor would be enough to keep normal folks busy, but these two have been so overcommitted for so long, they'll feel hopelessly lazy after a fairly short while!)  Albus will be at high risk of meddling in his friends' lives to a degree not seen before, just out of boredom!  I guess that means they will need to have LOTS of STEAMING-HOT MMAD-sex, to keep themselves occupied, work out excess energy, and make up for lost opportunities over the recent busy years.  See why I'm anticipating the sequel?

LOL! Well, it would have to be in another, parallel sequel if you're looking forward to HOT MMAD-sex. Which I had actually planned to write, but which now will be on the back burner, keeping warm . . . Anyway, the current sequel does not focus on Albus and Minerva, although they do pop up from time to time!Albus and Minerva usually Flooed between her study an his bedroom when they were doing most of their sneaking around -- his office might be occupied, hence their little private Floo network -- and he wouldn't have to worry about anyone in her sitting room and could sneak out of her quarters w/o going out there if she had unexpected guests. They'll have to work harder to have their "clandestine meetings"! haha!And you're certainly right about all that excess time! In fact, Albus does try to meddle a little in the sequel, subtly, but there are things he doesn't know, though he does guess, or hope -- although Minerva does know -- but he is confused by certain things. But that is a sub-sub-sub-plot. haha! And the story may never be posted, although I'll likely finish writing it, since it's three-quarters done already. However, if I do an ADMM sequel, I'll certainly post that! It will likely be shorter, though, and it's more probably that I'll do the RaM sequel first, or at least some post-RaM, pre-AAoL stories set in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. But in the meantime, I'll be taking something of a break from fanfic, I think. We'll see! But I'm sure there will still be some STEAMING HOT MMAD-sex in the future, so you won't be entirely deprived!

"Evil you" gave me a laugh!They finally registered their Muggle marriage with the Ministry and then Minerva told the Board of Governors at a meeting the previous week and the staff at that first relatively complete staff meeting Severus was about to go to in the last chapter. Necessary since Albus is moving into the Headmistress's rooms and people couldn't fail to notice that . . . Other than that, no formal announcements or anything, though new of it is no doubt spreading, probably somewhat overshadowed by other events, though.Yup, Poppy was told that unless Severus became genuinely physically sick, she was to make sure he stayed through the end because they had something special planned for him. A good loyal Hufflepuff! And one of the few people they knew Severus would tolerate bugging him like that.I'm glad you liked blushing Albus! Thanks for the review!

Erratum:. . . though news of it is no doubt spreading.(That's what happens when I should have been in bed three hours ago! )

 W/ no HoH duties, and no Dark Lord to be battling, and a competent Minister for M in place, and Albus divested of many of his former responsibilities....they'll have so much spare time they'll go mad!  And they won't even need to be hiding and flooing from sitting room to office! (Being Headmistress and a Professor would be enough to keep normal folks busy, but these two have been so overcommitted for so long, they'll feel hopelessly lazy after a fairly short while!)  Albus will be at high risk of meddling in his friends' lives to a degree not seen before, just out of boredom!  I guess that means they will need to have LOTS of STEAMING-HOT MMAD-sex, to keep themselves occupied, work out excess energy, and make up for lost opportunities over the recent busy years.  See why I'm anticipating the sequel?

LOL! Well, it would have to be in another, parallel sequel if you're looking forward to HOT MMAD-sex. Which I had actually planned to write, but which now will be on the back burner, keeping warm . . . Anyway, the current sequel does not focus on Albus and Minerva, although they do pop up from time to time!Albus and Minerva usually Flooed between her study an his bedroom when they were doing most of their sneaking around -- his office might be occupied, hence their little private Floo network -- and he wouldn't have to worry about anyone in her sitting room and could sneak out of her quarters w/o going out there if she had unexpected guests. They'll have to work harder to have their "clandestine meetings"! haha!And you're certainly right about all that excess time! In fact, Albus does try to meddle a little in the sequel, subtly, but there are things he doesn't know, though he does guess, or hope -- although Minerva does know -- but he is confused by certain things. But that is a sub-sub-sub-plot. haha! And the story may never be posted, although I'll likely finish writing it, since it's three-quarters done already. However, if I do an ADMM sequel, I'll certainly post that! It will likely be shorter, though, and it's more probably that I'll do the RaM sequel first, or at least some post-RaM, pre-AAoL stories set in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. But in the meantime, I'll be taking something of a break from fanfic, I think. We'll see! But I'm sure there will still be some STEAMING HOT MMAD-sex in the future, so you won't be entirely deprived!

Well, he had thought that Poppy had been seated beside him in case he had a fit of swooning! LOL! Thanks for the review!

Well, he had thought that Poppy had been seated beside him in case he had a fit of swooning! LOL! Thanks for the review!