I am absolutely thrilled at this comment. Thank you so much for taking the time to detail what you liked about the fic. :) And no worries about the delay in replying, I'm just glad you're feeling better. :)
I really am ecstatic that you enjoyed the fic so much. I was a little worried because I feel that I tamed down your prompt quite a bit. And I didn't get all of the prompt or most of your kinks in the story. The angst just kind of took over. XD
Ok, first: I love a perfect title. Your title, and the quote its taken from, is powerful and succinct.
Thanks. :) I definitely have a thing for quotes and titles that play a part in the story. I actually had a different working title for almost the whole time I was writing this and then I came across that quote. And it was just too perfect. XD
the red ink was so angsty-hurty-perfect!
This scene seemed to take forever to write because of all of Harry's emotions and because I'd never written Dumbledore before. But the bit with the red ink just... wrote itself. I really loved that part, I'm glad it stood out to you. XD
the whole of a conversation being carried by body language and expressions - wow!
Thanks you. :) I had to actually stop and think about which scene that was because I didn't realize they never speak when Harry heals Snape.
the hot, almost climatic scene between them
Haha, yeah... almost there but not quite. I've never written smut before and honestly it didn't really fit into where Harry and Severus are in this fic. Another 20k words and we could probably get to it. XD So, I hope you weren't disappointed in the lack of sex - I tried to make this scene as hot as I could as compensation. ;)
and the final step in Ron's note, I just needed someone to blame, driving the lesson home and bringing the story full-circle.
I love putting an element in the beginning of a fic and then using it to show the resolution of the fic. The whole thing with Snape's wand is my favorite part. And Ron's note mirroring Harry's feelings is probably my second favorite. XD I'm glad you like it.
It was brilliant, it was hurty and angsty and compelling and driven, all conflicts and black and white swirling together in a cacaphony of hard truths and palatable fictions.
Thank you!!!
I'm very glad you enjoyed the fic, and thanks for your wonderful prompt. It gave me an opportunity to write something I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise, and I had a blast with this fic. I mean, it ate my brain and drove me nuts for a few weeks, but god, I wouldn't change the experience for the world. XD