Forgot to say this, too - I was really taken by the initial parts, Severus slowly recovering, and struggling to re-connect with the people and events around him. This really seemed to be how it might feel for someone in Snape's position. A+ for convincing *and* compelling depiction! There are so many scenes of this in fanfic and pro-fic too, and I don't recall ever reading a more realistic portrayal of such a situation than this one.