What an amazing combination of ghoulish horror and hopeful charms. My emotions went up and down as fast as the snidget. It was so wonderful to see this wonderful charmer back again, and Snape's slow falling-in-love with the cheerful little bird was as deep and rich and whimsical as only you two can write it. The plot wove through the whole story ... I won't say satisfyingly, because frankly it was scary! rather I'll say it wound ominously through, like Moldiesnakewarts slithering through the ducts.
It's shudderingly amazing that you could make him a creepier Dark Lord than ever he was in canon or films. His insertion of the sword under Snape's skin was worthy of Lovecraft or the mad demon-priest from a Conan the Barbarian story. This fic had the same physical vividness, a fully dimensional feel that makes it all very real. This was enhanced by the marvelous illustrations, and the focus on the bird's actions and interactions with Snape brought all the senses into play. The resulting story is devastating at the start, eerie in the middle - and really sweet and fun at the end! I'll definitely read this again and again.