I think piece is powerful in its briefness. Because at this point...that's how Sev's anger is. Distant...detatched...he can't bring himself to care anymore.

And I could smell that horrible stench...feel the alcohol ridden air sliding down my neck...so good descriptions on that front.

Paddy

I love this. The counting is so very typical for Severus. It's so hard and mechanical it just seems to *fit*

And that last bit really is the essence of their friendship..because there's no better feeling than going over to meet somebody and having the door open as you close that final distance, no better feeling than that of being wanted and anticipated and loved. You captured that beautifully.

Paddy

*runs about sporadically*

Fray you've done marvelous with both of these prompts!

I love what you've done with this story...the connotation to every sentence. How Severus tries so desperately to understand the mirrored beauty...how he is trying to see the world through Lily's eyes. Then how he fails to see anything but himself in the ornament...how he fails to see anything but himself alone in the world. GORGEOUS! Plus the image of the glittering tree is just so symbolic of Lily's inner and outer beauty.

And the physical description of Sev was a nice touch...it just slid into your story. Not a word was wasted in this story :)

Paddy

*stunned*

Fray I am floored! That was spectacular! That last sentence was so beautiful and foreboding it made me want to cry! I mean the harsh coolness and the *acceptance* in his voice was chilling. You also did an amazing job at portraying the strong bond between Sev and his Mom.

*still stunned*

Paddy

Oh! so sad. But very good. I love the sudden appearance of Snape and Snape/Lily centric fics now that DH has come out. I may join the fad soon. But this really is wonderful, and so sad. You have succeeded wonderfully. - Lua

*cries for Severus*

This is so wonderfully angsty and tragic, and your use of the prompt is fantastic. I love it!

-Huffie x

Oh, how sweet! And sad too. But mostly sweet! And yay, because Lily and Severus are a couple here, and that is very very awesome. The descriptions are so fantastic, I'm in love with your writing! =D

-Huffie x

I love the latest chapter -- the Patronus and the traces of grass, symbols of hope and life in the frozen cold. Beautiful!

I really like this one. I like how simple it is, and how it is a stepping stone to Sev truly growing up and becoming independent. Wonderful.

Amazing. I love how you can say so much in so few words, and yet still manage to leave an element of mystery. I also love how close they are, their last Christmas together...

Very well done. I can picture the scene, you've written it so well.

That is really good. I love how knowing him means she won't ever pity him.

These continue to be very good and touching. I'm not sure about the dating though. JKR has pegged Severus's birth to 1960 (even though that's not compatible with what's in OotP which would have made him born in 1959) and he split with Lily at the end of 5th year, when he was 16. So the first Christmas he spent without her was 1976. Or do you mean this was the first year without her *and* without his parents?

Aww ... that's so incredibly tragic. =D Beautifully written though, of course. I just tried to pick a favourite line, but I couldn't, because every word means something in this chapter, and they're all building up a wonderful story. =D

I've never really thought of Lily pitying Sev for having such an unsatisfactory home life, so that's brilliant. =D I love the way they're so innocent, it makes what happens so much more heartbreaking, and you're preparing your readers for the stories set after the lake incident so well ...