That "You truly are a witless imbecile" is how Snape says "I love you" is wonderful!!! This was a compelling story and it brought up some interesting questions too. It's a happy ending in the sense that we get our favorite snarky potions master back, and he says that the curse had allowed him to express his need for affection with Harry, but it also makes sense that this sweet, loving *and* snarky Snape is exactly what Harry wanted and which, through his sharp tongued retorts, would placate Harry's guilt by not seeming too enslaved -- that is to say, that it looks like the bond has created the perfect version of Snape for him, which is a little more chilling and a little less romantic. (Not sure I expressed what I was trying to say at all there -- I guess just that it was intriguingly ambiguous to me whether Harry really did escape transforming Snape into his desired version of Snape at the bonding).