This was brilliant. The banter, the wit, the meta--oh my God, the meta! I'm a bit flaily about the meta!--the charm, the snark, the sweetness, EVERYTHING.
I love that you began it in medias ras, then tied that back in at the end, bringing it all full circle--that you mirrored the wall in Harry's memory with the wall in his reality with Severus--that you made them committed gay art dealers, oh my God. Seriously, you had me at that point. :D
And the bittersweet hope of the end, the commentary on why we tell stories, yes, of the heart's resilience in the face of life's pain...oh, yes. What a lovely, perfect coda.
This was such an amazing, truly beautiful gift--funny and sweet and touching and hopeful. Thank you so very, very much. I'm beyond delighted. *hugs*