Part 1
This Snarry masterwork had me fully engaged from beginning to end. You write with such amazing facility. There was so much to love in this superb story.
Here are some of my favorite lines and scenes:
Inside he is a good man, who I have placed in an impossible situation.
::righteous indignation:: Yeah, you old fraud! Impossible situation is exactly where you placed him and with precious little help to get him out again! ::shakes tiny fist of fury:: If you were still alive, I’d give you a piece of my mind! :P
Drinking the last bit of his false courage,
I loved this line. It was very poetic.
Slowly, painfully, he worked himself out of the chair, half-pushing on the cane, half-pulling on the chair's arm. Both hands on the cane's head to steady it, he pulled, then pushed himself upright, the series of ensuing pops in his hip as unpleasant as they sounded.
Hasn't he suffered enough misery in his life. :(
I do so wish I could be there, son of my heart, to thank you in person for granting my last wishes, but, alas, as you well know, there is no stopping time.
::huffs:: Oh stuff, you old coot. This had better be something that’ll help Snape out of his dire predicament!
Heart's ease, indeed.
Yes! There’s hope for Severus!
Beyond tired, he watched her lick her paws clean, her miniscule teeth biting at the claws. Obviously satisfied with her grooming, she waddled across his palm and, flipping her now-dried wings securely against her back and haunches, she crawled into the sleeve of his robe, turning about so her snout faced his wrist.
Ohhh, Chloe’s such an adorable lil baby dragon.
And he didn't dream.
That’s a good thing! He gets some nice rest, things will look better in the morning, he starts to feel better, feel more like he can handle the struggles of living despite his pain and disability.
he planned the rest of his empty day
Poor Harry. Empty nest syndrome is hitting him hard and Ginny is busybusybusy. ::sighs:: However, there’s Norbert - who is so cute! - to provide some company for him.
Incredulous, he stopped his sorting to rescue Norbert from Al's smalls, bursting out in laughter as he tried to untangle the drake's head and long neck poking out through the slit in front.
::lol!:: Silly Norbert. Lil dragon with smalls stuck on his head. ::snickers::
Was the change really her doing, or more the work of his criticism of her mother? How else had he made her feel insecure?
Oh no, Harry’s blaming himself for the way Ginny is. Nonono, it is not your fault, really it isn’t.
The smooth gold of the head fit perfectly in his left hand, the magic tingling through it, activating its balancing charms and its affinity with the faerie fibre brace he wore against his skin under his clothing.
::pleased:: Twenty years later and Snape is a much improved man, healthwise as well as financially. This is a good thing!
Severus sighed. "I know I'm not very demonstrative--" both Chloë and Wiltshire snorted "--but I would certainly hope you realised the level of my... esteem."
Huh, no kidding. But I like to think that it’s part of your charm. :D
He shook his head. What a eunuch he'd become.
::narrows eyes:: That’ll have to change. I like George Wiltshire. He seems like a good person. He obviously did well by Severus and for that alone I appreciate him greatly.
"Of course, George," he replied, taking the hand that had fallen to his thigh. "I've this time only for you."
::swallows:: That's so beautifully said. I...wish that Severus and George had gotten together. I think that it would have done Snape a world of good and George would have been so happy.
This was about control and the perceptions of equality. Ginny wanted his everything, but was unwilling to give anything in return because, to her mind, she already had.
What had he done to make things this way? As he frantically searched for an answer, it dawned on him it wasn't that simple, nor was there any blame to assign. It just was.
Oh poor Harry. Reality lands with an ugly thud. I hope he’ll be all right.