God, how much do I love this? 8th year fic is probably my biggest kink, and you dig so deep into it here and bring up such treasure - I love how everyone doesn't walk away unscathed, but instead has to find his or her own way back to the world of everyday dreams and life, one step at a time. Of all things, I think one of the things I love best here is how palpable Fred's absence is - you show it, rather than describe it, in the ways he's missed by his family and friends, and it just works. And, of course, the way that Harry and Snape almost seem to back into their relationship - knowing and yet not knowing why they're drawn to each other, needing the touch of the other to feel grounded and connected. I love best the time that Harry gives Snape to tend to his Slytherins, and the way that Snape makes himself so available to Harry when the Ministry invitation comes, just knowing what it will do to him - to them both. This is just such a wonderful story - truly lovely.