This was - oh, this was brilliant, in a lucid, sly, stomach-kicking way. I have to leave for work now, but I'll come back later to make a stab at more detailed feedback. Let me just say that the ending tossed me between two poles. For a second, out of the blue, tears rose to my eyes, and then the last line made me laugh helplessly, ruefully, oh Severus you poor doomed awkward sneaky awful and endearing boy, and it was so perfect and all of a piece. I'll read this again tonight, for sheer hungry, heart-fraying pleasure - because it's too subtle and crafty to outright rend - and maybe by that point I'll be able to say something intelligent. God. I love this.