I was hooked from the first scene with Eileen in her kitchen. It’s pitch-perfect ! Eileen jumps out of the page with life – she’s both intense and nuanced, and instantly recognizable as « her son’s mother ».
And then there was that beautiful, complex confrontation with a past that felt almost like a stranger’s, and with the house at Spinner’s End, and the people that had almost replaced her in the maternal role towards Severus. As she comes to terms with both her flaws and her potential, she opens to life again and regains not only her motherhood, but also her womanhood. She’s lucky too, because the Tobias you have created for her is quite lovable in his clever simplicity and resilience. He’s not afraid of being a fool !
Wonderful characterization throughout the story, with an instantly recognizable Hermione, a delicious Luna, and just the right amount of Severus. And, of course, the grumpy but protective semi-sentient house that slowly relents and finally allows some plants to grow in the garden. That was a splendid ending to a beautiful story.