Perfection
First of all, your title is perfect. The rest of the story was wonderful. It was absolutely believeable, in-character, the characters' voices were perfect, the descriptions and imagery were so visual and gorgeous. The way you wrote Firenze was just alien anough to remind me that he is not human. His choice of vocabulary so delicate and strange. Calling Snape "you darling" was perfectly odd. Saying "Watch!" instead of the usual "I'm coming" was again, perfectly different. His entire being was was preternaturally still and otherworldy while being so very, very flash and bone. This Snape was dead-on canon. The flashback to the Prince's farm was so stirring, and the intimation that he traveled alone due to money problems, and that he was so young, but old enough to have absorbed the family rule of silence about such issues was very touching. The comfort and security you described at the farm made me long for another fic from you delving into little Sev's mind, covering just that interlude with the grandparents. How strange it would feel for him to feel safe and peaceful. But I suppose you did, after all, since Firenze represented safety, and peace, and the animal sexuality he witnessed there. I loved the name of your hangover remedy - Pilus Canis. LOL! And that remarkable wanking scene was even hotter, imho, than the actual sex later. Oh lordy! *fans self* And brought a level of bittersweet levity to the proceedings. You walked a perfect line with this Snape of his self-acceptance of his undesirability and 'neat' management of his sexual needs, without falling into self-pity. I am always up for unlikely pairings and enjoy them greatly as long as the author can convince me. I'm better than convinced.
As for the art, well, I friended Fanlay after seeing "Rain" and I'm so glad, since it brought me to this fic and even more of her art. The watercolor quality of it reminds me of the Peter Rabbit books. Such delicate creatures so delicately colored. I love your Snape's face and the viewing angles you choose make me feel like a voyeur up in a tree. I particularly noticed Firenze's hand on the inside of Snape's thigh. It was so ethereal, yet had so much weight, so palpable. Absolutely stunning and perfect for this story. Couldn't be improved.