This is an absolutely lovely comment, the kind that thrills me to bits because you enjoyed the fic on so many levels. When writing a multi-layered story, it's hard to know what really comes across. So it's always a pleasure when a reader points to the things that worked for her; it gives me a chance to figure out what I did it right. I'm especially glad that a passionate and opinionated Lily seemed realistic to you, because all the judgment and perception and forgiveness in the story has to flow through her. And since she's the main character, she also had to change - grow up a bit - before the fic's end, and her understanding of Severus was the catalyst for that, even more than her love for Harry.
Thank you so much for taking pleasure in the fic, and for giving that pleasure back to me. I wanted to make something beautiful and at the same time address my issues with canon, especially the last book's cold heart. All the details you've noted make me utterly happy, like a cat with cream. :)