Well, at first I was dearly tempted to call you names. They were *not* nice names by the way! Then I pulled back a little and reread it knowing what was going to smack me in the face at the end...
This is really gorgeous writing. I do have to admit though, that I prefer when you use that incredible talent for description to write exquisite sex scenes than when describing heartbreak and despair.
Great job though. I am sure I'm not the only one who had tears flowing on this one.
I have to ask, was it just me or is there an implied suicidal aspect to this? Because I read Severus selling his flat and "drifting away on a boat" to mean he planned to just sort of drift away on the boat to die.