Another Brilliant Work!
This was truly an amazing story--totally unique, fascinating, satisfying...please sir, can I have some more?
I loved the conceit of this story--Lily surfing the channels of Harry's life, stopping on fairy tale endings, soft porn, difficult moments, being repelled, yet strangely compelled, then finally getting completely enrolled in the drama and love story that could be Snape and Harry's life together. And overcoming her adolescent reaction to Snape that she never grew out of, and seeing who he really was.
And that final scene with her and Severus at the swings was brilliant--playing the part of adolescent pique, instead of really believing it, to goad Snape into going after the happiness he was denied all of his life.
Thank you for giving a plausible and interesting explanation for the Tom baby, and making it way richer than JKR ever could have dreamed of.
Other things I loved: --James and Sirius never growing up and her amused tolerance with it. --The incredibly rich portrait of Severus's defensiveness and humanity and worthiness. --The detailed, rich, so clear you could feel it experience of watching things on TV that you are compelled by, want to avoid, can't help watching, know you shouldn't watch, know you should be doing something else, hiding it from friends and family--it's kind of like me and the way I am about reading Snarry! ;-) --The relationship between Albus and Gellert--and the way you portray Albus's selfishness and ruthlessness--no soft sell for him in your story. --The beautiful picture of Severus and Harry's relationship after 20 years--the way the Severus finally has confidence and peace about how much he loves Harry and that Harry will never leave him. --the fierce protectiveness--I love Snape as avenging angel, kicking ass and taking no prisoners. Sooooo sexy.
Just awesome--a story I will read again and again.