Aw, thank you so much for reading and commenting! I'm especially glad you found it not overexplained--I often felt the urge, while thinking on this fic, to explain--you know, because I wanted the reader to sympathize with Snape more than revile him (he's already been through so much!) and was tempted to 'help' by saying more on his behalf. But I tried to help by not helping, if you know what I mean. ;)