Oh, what a delightful response - it persuades me that I really did manage to convey everything I felt about this story and its tragedy and hope. And most of all, that I lived up to the potential beauty of the characters. It felt very much at times like orchestrating a minuet, with Snape and Harry and Lily all crossing and touching and letting go at different points, being swept along by the rhythms of time and canon.
I admit, I smiled a little, too, at the idea that I was using the fic to seduce Lily into becoming a Snarry shipper.
Eileen! Yes, I can't help but sympathize with her. And I realize that it wasn't the point of the series - it was certainly beyond the scope of Harry's POV - but I always yearned to know who, if anyone, would be waiting to greet Severus when he crossed over into death. I'd hate to think that the answer was "nobody."
*blush* This is only my second fic, and I should warn you, the other one's twice as long. It's also much darker in tone. But I'm honored that you want to read more. Thank you, I'm absolutely thrilled by this marvelous comment.