I found this inordinately bone-chilling: --- The Dementor was still behind him, its odor sickeningly sweet, a putrid concentration of happy memories stolen from their owners. ---
ANd here are some other favorites: --- And Harry hated that Snape's voice caught, that his hand wasn't steady. Hated his weakness. Snape was not allowed to be weak, not even if he were still healing from the curses, his pupils dilated from pain or potions. Because Snape was the solid foundation everyone piled their bullshit onto -- from Narcissa's Unbreakable Vow to the last, monumental request Dumbledore made of him. Snape wasn't allowed to break under pressure, he was meant to bend -- changing his morality like a chameleon to stay one step ahead of the enemy. --- Skin-on-skin contact acted as substitute, soothing the guilt until it retreated a few steps back from its crushing grip on his heart.
It was almost enough. ---
ANd that's how this story feels. "Almost enough." Because it was so fullfilling, yet left me wanting more...