I had an absolutely miserable migraine yesterday, and only just had the chance to read this. Eileen and little Severus are very sweet and poignant, particularly with the flash-forward interludes that so beautifully depict how much his mother meant to him. Your take on his childhood is fascinating and I particularly liked the shadings you brought to Eileen and Tobias's relationship - so much more there than meets the eye, but it would explain a great deal.
Thank you so much for this sweet and insightful story! Well done!