As always with Fic Exchange stories, I waited to read the author's notes and warnings and summary until I had finished reading, so that I wouldn't spoil myself with hints of requests that I, myself, had made. And yet the beauty of exchange fests is that regardless of how perfectly an author makes use of the prompts - as you've done here - the story itself is always going to be a complete surprise: this story is something I never could have imagined when I made my request, yet something I am so, so happy to have received.
Do you want to see the notes I made while reading?
*Lovely metaphor to start: the way the sharp-edged stones are - like sharp-edged Snape - comforting to Harry.
*Great line: "It feels ironic to resent his resentment..."
*I adore the honesty of Harry's aged body: paunchy, arthritic, yet so eager - and able - to find physical release with the man he loves - and yes, it is only "the bending of his knees" that would be awkward, uncomfortable, painful...and would be as quickly forgotten once the two men were lying in each other's arms.
*Awww: "‘you are mine,’ and ‘you are beautiful,’ perhaps, even ‘you are the love of my life, of my death’"
*'It will not be that long" instead of "I will wait for you." Oh, yes...Snape knows, doesn't he?
And you know, the strongest indication of the passage of time is probably the knowledge that the kids in Harry's History of Magic class see him only as a slightly tiresome, possibly irrelevant old man (rather like the students in Harry's schooldays viewed Binns). The once-upon-a-time hero of the wizarding world no longer seems even a little glamorous in their eyes, but the truth is that away from their view, he's anything but beyond adventure and romance.
Thank you, oh mystery author, so very much for such a wonderful gift.