Having connectivity issues, so I couldn't gush about the last chapter, without giving up time I perferred to spend reading ahead.  This has such a glorious flavor of Epic Quest to it now, as the seven find their way to a place of healing.  I love the forest of wand trees, all gathered in one place, and I do hope Neville's is a restful sleep from which he will soon awaken, renewed. 

On to the last (last! *sob*) chapter!

*hugs you*

I can't believe I'd forgotten how this all started and the not-witch who understood so much more than they did at first!  What will she have to say now that they are returning as she said they would?

As I've been reading these latest chapters, I got word that an old friend I've known for a very long time has succumbed to cancer--not unexpected, and she died peacefully, but it's still so odd to realize she isn't in the world anymore.  The accounts and comments from various mutual friends have provided a poignant and bittersweet counterpoint to this tale of loss and deep injury and darkness and reflection and trust and love.  Your words are resonating in the space left by the leaving of my friend.

I have to stop for a bit to deal with a busy weekend, but I will be back soon.  *hugs you*

I can't believe I'd forgotten how this all started and
the not-witch who understood so much more than they did at first!  What
will she have to say now that they are returning as she said they would?

As I've been reading these latest chapters, I got word that an old friend I've
known for a very long time has succumbed to cancer--not unexpected, and she
died peacefully, but it's still so odd to realize she isn't in the world
anymore.  The accounts and comments from various mutual friends have
provided a poignant and bittersweet counterpoint to this tale of loss and deep
injury and darkness and reflection and trust and love.  Your words are
resonating in the space left by the leaving of my friend.



I have to stop for a bit to deal with a busy weekend, but I will be back
soon.  *hugs you*

I can't believe I'd forgotten how this all started and the not-witch who understood so much more than they did at first!  What will she have to say now that they are returning as she said they would?

As I've been reading these latest chapters, I got word that an old friend I've known for a very long time has succumbed to cancer--not unexpected, and she died peacefully, but it's still so odd to realize she isn't in the world anymore.  The accounts and comments from various mutual friends have provided a poignant and bittersweet counterpoint to this tale of loss and deep injury and darkness and reflection and trust and love.  Your words are resonating in the space left by the leaving of my friend. I have to stop for a bit to deal with a busy weekend, but I will be back soon.  *hugs you*

I love the title of this chapter--so apt.  And I love the discussion of secrets and memories and the importance of telling, of saying things out loud in removing their power.  Keeping it inside, hiding, staying in the dark and the shadows--that is what poisons the heart eventually.  Now there is hope and peace.And I adore Severus realizing that Hermione's friends one day might become his own.... 

And there it is.  Magic might have brought them together, but what keeps them together is what they have learned about themselves and about each other, and that is greater than magic.  That is the greatest thing there is.

I know they need to see them and convince them and get them to come to Hogwarts, but I'm just as terrified as Hermione of the confrontation about to happen!  Bless Molly for understanding and for sticking by them all, despite everything.  It will be okay, I know, but it's about to get even harder, isn't it?  *shivers*

You make me weep for Vincent Crabbe.And then you make me weep for the balancing act that we all must learn to do.  Magic makes it manifest, but it is what even us nonmagical folk attempt anew each morning.So now how do they shatter these static mirrors and restore the others to the ongoing effort?  You make me weep, and this is a very good thing.

I ADORE THIS!  Mirrors and seeing and learning to look--it's all part of the healing process.It was his own image, but not.  Shrunken, twisted and grey, his features were distorted by a thousand nightmares and scores of losses.It takes real strength to learn to see, and they, despite their injuries, are strong.  So is the Room itself, a sentient being who has also suffered and, in helping them remember and find ways to move past all that senseless loss, can begin to repair itself and show them the way to join together to become whole once again.Beautiful, simply lovely.

There is a list. Brace yourself. 1. I like the idea you gave that the plants and gardening shielded Neville a bit. My flower gardens do that for me too. All I have to do is walk around the yard, by myself for 10 minutes and my happy self returns. 2. Once again let me just say how much I adore Minerva, Vector and Filus. All their efforts to help, getting substiutes etc...Amazing folks. 3. When all of them walked into the RoR it felt a bit like group therapy. Was that your intent? To talk and share stories to heal through each other? 4. Honor the bonds of the trio. ((nods)) H's friendship with Harry and Ron does not exclude Severus, it is different from it. Did you ever read Arsenci Jade's Body of Knowledge trio? There is this scene where H has a difficult birth of their 2nd son. While she is recovering Harry and Ron spoon her in the hospital bed. Severus looks on and nods knowing that this is what she needs. 5. I am reading the next chapter. I cannot help myself.

I love this idea of the Room of Requirement being broken as well and needing their collective need to find a way to heal.

I am also very happy to see the staff welcoming Severus back into their fold and seeing this crisis as their own and a task that they are important in helping to mend.

I love this idea of the Room of Requirement being broken as well and needing their collective need to find a way to heal.I am also very happy to see the staff welcoming Severus back into their fold and seeing this crisis as their own and a task that they are important in helping to mend.

I love this idea of the Room of Requirement being broken as well and needing their collective need to find a way to heal.

I am also very happy to see the staff welcoming Severus back into their fold and seeing this crisis as their own and a task that they are important in helping to mend.

I see you are posting this story on OWL now. Will you continue to update here? Is the rest of this story in your head or hiding in an outline somewhere?  Oh the irony that Hermione is the teacher now, the one with all the answers and it is Snape who wants to learn. Too bad Hermione is too far gone to enjoy it.  And so the fortune teller was right he is her cure. Snape’s promises to stay with Hermione brought tears to my eyes. It was like suddenly Snape tapped into his emotions and offered comfort to another soul…SOUL MAGIC???  Up date sister I am on the edge of my see and my butt is getting numb.

“Stop fleeing from the shadow. You must embrace it... and then step out from the dark.” I like how the fortune teller’s comments could be applied to the Snape we know and the Hermione we are just meeting. Spooky. Your Hermione is snappy, irritable and in pain. I glad she isn’t apologetic for her mood or some how cowed by Snape. This feels very realistic to me.  Snape didn’t know about the horcruxes? Yet another piece of information Dumbledore should have shared with “the team.” I don’t feel a bit sorry for Snape discovering his bite will be a death sentence. It was his choice to bugger off and disappear. Its not like he made an effort to stay informed. I would have to think that war heroes like Neville, Ron etc...would have made the paper with their illness.  

Nice, Snape... I see the stellar social skills haven’t improved over a decade of being dead. I love that! You make me stifle a giggle when Im all up in arms and angry. Well written my dear.

A strong begining! This reader was appalled that Hermione had sunk so low as to go to a tarot card reading. It was at that point that I plugged in and you had my complete interest. Does the muggle know Snape is hiding in the curtains? Snape implies that his aura is the same as Hermione's yet he seems to be handling his situation better. Maybe he is just used to it? The mystery unfolds. 25 points to your house for forcing me to look up: inchoate. I have learned a new word today.

An especially beautiful chapter, as they come to a deeper understanding of the eternal bond that embraces them--and as they begin to allow the world to see it.  Was this written before or after the wonderful paper presented at Azkatraz about mirrors and reflections?  Fascinating material--did this spark the presentation you guys made?

Damn that Trelwney!  She manages to be deeply and perfectly insightful just at the moment you are quite certain she's bats...and harmless.  The other side?!  *shivers*

Even haunted and tortured, Neville remains heroic and reliable.  And how interesting that his way of beating back the darkness seems to involve managing to keep his intellect engaged--and that Severus would figure this out.  May they all be able to apply their unique ways of thinking to solving their dilemma!

Even haunted and tortured, Neville remains heroic and reliable.  And how interesting that his way of beating back the darkness seems to involve managing to keep his intellect engaged--and that Severus would figure this out.  May they all be able to apply their unique ways of thinking to solving their dilemma!

Now that you've been revealed, machshefa, I just wanted to say that I really am enjoying this story and hope you finish it!

I give your Severus such credit for his patience and willingness to be there for Hermione. I know its the shadow that makes her doubt. I want her to be self confident again. I hate the way the shadow swallows her and turns her into this shell of a person I don't know. I want them whole and sealed. Make it so! /demanding fangirl

I am so thankful for Minerva gathering up the rest of the senior staff. It is just so welcoming and inclusive of them. I may have felt a bit of sympathy for AD.  I'll try not to let that happen again. Oh the clock! love the clock. I am amazed that Harry and Ginny are still together after all this time. This next bit is going to be rough.

I’m wondering if the horcruxes are like dark sticky gum. They prevent the darkness from fading away. Severus’ comment that it can only be counter balanced makes me think that the darkness is not something that can be removed alone. Its like gum stuck in your hair, you need help or at least a scissors.

Burying Greg with bits of the RoR was a thing of beauty. Closure for all involved at last. Im not sure what Severus’ blood becoming part of the container symbolizes but I felt it was important.

I am really really enjoying Neville. That hardly ever happens.

I too wish they could stay here forever, giving comfort and drawing strength.  But there is something that must be done, even if they will have to figure of what it is, before they can return.  At least there is abiding love to look forward to, and that is certainly something.