Thank you so much for your lovely and thoughtful comments.
LOVE that -- love that Aberforth has watched Severus since he was young and that he still sees all of it in him.
I hoped that bit would make sense -- it did in my head *g* Severus deserves someone who doesn't gloss over his past or his faults, but can see everything.
This story is a great study of Aberforth, and of Severus through Aberforth... and also of Albus through them both.
Yeah, I was hoping some of that came through. I'll admit I love writing Albus, and I had to physically boot him out of the story more than once. Fortunately he stayed out in the end!