Hmm, not such a mystery author. ;-) Your stories are always "sticky" -- they stick with me, sometimes long after I've read them. I like that. This felt bigger than its 7,300 words. More than just a slice of life, it's a story already in progress that we happen to poke our head in on; one that also includes something comfortable for the future. Snape is such a Slytherin here, and his line about how many years he had left caused me to bark out a laugh. I always enjoy a mature Harry, and their banter and dialogue was delicious.