Dacro, wow. This was so rich with detail--all your efforts really shine through. And your characterization of Severus--so quiet and yet full of warmth--was beautifully gentle and careful. This fic convinces me that Severus would be, or at least could be, a wonderful father--and I really like picturing him in my mind that way. I think I forget how much I can like him as a caretaker; his love for Harry was unquestionable here, despite not being romantic at all. Here are a few of my favorite lines:
He was small and lean, wearing too-long knickerbockers, a greying shirt that hung from his shoulders like empty sails, a cloth cap that would have swallowed him whole if not for the fortunate placement of his ears, and a pair of beaten-up leather shoes sporting a considerable gap behind each heel.
That's just perfect! It not only captures the character, but the time period as well--very Oliver Twisty (in my mind--not sure if Oliver Twist is from the right time period exactly!).
"I'm sure he's found a way to continue his meddling," I said, picturing in my mind the old man stirring his oar to rearrange the stars to his liking.
Ah, I love this image! It totally makes me think of Dumbledore as an animated constellation, a Greek-type mythic hero boating around in the ocean of the sky. Fantastic.