Hi!! THANK YOU so much for reading and for this awesome, terrific comment! I know we've talked before (probably over Cheat?) but alas, I haven't yet friended you! *friends* We seriously need to join forces and help bring more infidelity fic into fandom--and not the Harry-leaves-Ginny-because-he-discovers-he's-gay variety (or, for you, Remus-leaves-Tonks ;)--but, you know. The kind we like. :D I agree with you fully that solid infidelity fic is definitely worth reading outside pairings (and dare I say it--even fandoms?) for. Here's a funny thing I noticed in my reaction when I've read your Remus infidelity fic: somehow, in my mind, Remus is this inoffensive, mild character, and when he cheats on Sirius, or god forbid, Snape--it just breaks my heart. Because he's not a bad guy, in my mind--that's the thing about infidelity fics for me. The people in them aren't bad--it's a bad act, but it's not reflective of a deep and abiding psychic (psyche-related?) flaw. In The Blue Door, I couldn't hate either of them--but then, I rarely hate characters in infidelity fics. Mostly I feel sad for them, or chiding, or (in a weird way) hurt by them. Severus' actions were really hurtful, but then, I could also feel the unbearableness of Severus' anguish too. I mean, what could he do? What could he do? Only what he did, so I can't assign any blame. As for Remus, well--he was so thoroughly convinced it was The Wolf, and it was like existence was impossible without giving in to the lure. He could've resisted anyway, or told Severus "I can't exist like this--it's Bill it's Bill it's Bill"...but that would be so strange, almost as unthinkable as caving in. I guess the key word is almost, so maybe it would seem that Remus has greater responsibility in that scenario, and yet...I can't bring myself to fault him for his shortcomings. Not to say that I think he should've been spared the punishment that came to him...because I mean, that's just life, right? We're not perfect, but we're often supposed to be, and the fact of imperfection doesn't shield a person from all consequences.
Anyway. I love rambling too. As you can see. :D So! About your comment above. To be honest, in writing, I thought of Harry as someone who didn't know. He didn't know a thing. His youthful naivete is simply how I often characterize him, because I find it easy and appealing and his canon character to be kind of annoying at times, esp. in his later adolescence. :D I did intend to keep the fact of his knowing or not knowing ambiguous though, to the extent that it was possible for Severus to fear discovery. I mean, Harry isn't stupid. If Severus gave him a reason to suspect, he'd suspect. But I guess I was thinking that Severus gave him no such reason, none at all. Severus' conduct was perfect--the truth of his feeling was perfect. It was just the fact of his actions that, well, wasn't. I won't lie--I was never completely clear on Severus' motivations or his thoughts (though I have my views!). I couldn't tell whether Severus actually worried, or if he was simply telling himself he wasn't worried, or if he actually had no concern over the matter. It didn't really matter in the end because it was a 'cross that bridge when we get there' situation--and Severus was so sure of himself, so sure that he gave Harry everything he wanted and needed, that there was nothing that ought to have aroused guilt. The guilt would only arise IF Harry found out, and Severus certainly had no intention of letting that happen. Although, at the same time, it's not like there was premeditation involved...I don't imagine that Severus would've taken Secret-Keeper type pains with the shopkeeper, or anything remotely approaching such a thing. So. I'm not really sure. I agree with you that Severus has been with the shopkeeper before this fic starts, that it's not a new routine...while writing I thought about filling in more backstory, a short glimpse into how the whole thing began, but then it didn't seem necessary or even especially compelling, so I let it go.