I will always think of him as the dark unicorn
After a story like this one, it is so hard to say anything, because there is so much to say so I don't even know where to start, and the emotions are so strong that I don't have a clue *how* to say even if I knew *what* to say.
So: it was all fantastic, everyone was great; but Severus... he is like the crowning glory of all Severuses ever written. (I don't know how to spell plural of Severus) He makes my heart ache, he is so wonderful. Dark unicorn... *smiles*
And how you wrote the powerful-deep-consuming love and desire, so that everyone can feel it so powerfully, that's the best thing about this fic, and in combination with the original setting, is what sets it apart. First and foremost the best thing is Harry and Severus and their powerful desire for each other. But I also really loved Lily's journey... and in the end when she saw Albus looking at her, and she concludes how he feels too about Severus not belonging to them any more. All this fills me with such strong emotions, love and sadness.
Also I loved that everything was just "perfect", at least for me: Remus and Sirius - while Tonks got something probably better in Regulus, Albus and Gellert (they were great!)... Albus was great, and I like him (in books) so I liked and appreciated how you had Lily reflect on how he feels about the results of his meddling.
Another thing I'd like to tell you, is that I honestly don't get the baby Tom at all...was that a bit of Voldermort's soul that was inside Harry? And if so, then how come he was there (amongst the dead) before Harry died? Or am I completely on a wrong track... I had another question about the baby Tom but I can't remember it now, but basically that whole thing I didn't get at all. (But it's awesome that Albus is going to research the soul fragmentation and its fate issue, and how cute that Gellert was so eager to change the field of inquiry - that was such a beautiful, intelligent, and endearing little detail.) That I didn't get baby-Tom doesn't take away from the magnificence of this fic, but I'm just saying it in case you wanted to know. :-)
So I ended up being able to say way more than I originally thought I would. :-)