What a wonderful story and particularly your absolutely perfect Minerva, who's not just "a teacher" or "a Gryffindor," but a fully-rounded person.And Severus, god, he's a fantastic combination of snapping, resentful aggression and passive, empty neediness.

That first night - the night he came back to Hogwarts - was especially good; I love those moments in fiction when Minerva takes a look at the dynamic between Dumbledore and Severus, and starts to see both of them with new eyes.

I also love awkwardness and honesty and truth in fanfic, all of which this story possesses in abundance. Minerva stopping Severus to make sure he knows about contraceptive charms, how vocal he is, Minerva forgetting to take down her hair, how not perfect their first coming together is - at least initially: all very real.

And hurrah for Severus 's flowers and his offer of a Quidditch bet the morning after, even if he'd already slipped away before she awoke. The future of the relationship between Severus and Minerva is so clear, right at that moment.

(And what an excellent adaptation of real dueling codes, complete with horrid anti-Squib prejudice - it could only have been written by two master duelists. Sebastian Prince, indeed! *g*)

Thank you so much for my story-and-stocking-stuffer, mystery author!