Evil, pure evil....
...to write such a compelling story that I was a naughty girl at work and couldn't help but keep reading it off-and-on all day instead of working. And when I was actually doing the job I am being paid to do, I couldn't stop thinking about Norbert and Chloe and Harry and Severus. What an AWESOME story!!!! I knew I was saving my perfect 9 scores for something, and you are it!! Wow--so much richness and tenderness and forgiveness and fun and hesitancy and slowly unfolding wonderful love and romance. Totally satisfying, totally fabulous.
I, too, want a firedrake--made me think of fire-lizards from Anne McCaffrey, one of which I've wanted since I was 10. That's 30 years of longing, and your story made them so real and wonderful for me again (and made me so jealous of Harry and Severus). Also, my birthday is tomorrow, so I'm just going to consider your fabulous story a slightly early birthday present.
I've got to say, I can understand Ginny being jealous of Norbert--it would be hard to compete with someone that cute, loving and bonded. But she was an idiot to shuffle off all of Harry's love and affection (as well as the kids) in favor of her status and career, which was the real problem, cute firedrakes aside. I like that you didn't make it about Norbert, really. In post epilogue fics, I like it when the cracks in their teenage-romance-turned-into-marriage widen so far that they don't belong together anymore. Makes it bigger and more interesting than just adding Snape back into the picture.
And what a wonderful Severus yours is. Finally successful in the way he deserved, yet still haunted by the past behind his new nose, scars, manners and fancy robes. That he feels so undeserving is so heartbreaking, yet wonderful.
Anyway, now I REALLY have to finish work! Thank you for a marvelous read. I love all of your stories, but this may be my favorite.