lovely!

Very good story. I appreciate the point that those forced to use crucio also suffered. One of the things I like about this story is the idea of Hermione and Snape, post-DH, uniting *within* the walls of Hogwarts. It provides a symbol of unified leadership that is real because it is based on true care, not just a desire to form some public alliance.

It's good to see Snape's own take on that miserable year, and I especially like the way that he distrusts his colleagues' new-found friendship, and feels trapped behind the impassive mask he no longer wishes to wear.

Well done.
Your story is an excellent way to correct some failures of the book (and in the same time, to magnify them).
It’s really comforting to listen to Snape speaking of his miserable year as headmaster, as you say in your notes, survived and alive to tell someone caring and sympathetic.
It’s a disenchanted sight on the people not so magic or unquestionable that lived and ruled at Hogwarts. War makes mature children and adults who learn to be more disillusioned but even more tolerant and open, like Hermione in this fic.
With Snape’s project for the future, you have caught the most important intent that the book unbelievably missed: the unity of the houses.
So many times JKR said that children must understand and accept death because is part of life. Nevertheless if she really wanted to give lessons in life, in the end of her story she forgot to show that world is not black or white but it’s grey, like Sirius said to Harry in a similar way in OOTP.
I feel that your story puts in order some, for me at least, important aspects.
Thank you very much.

Unfortunately, most of the people who read her books will not hear of her interviews, and will go on thinking of Slytherin as scum--even 19 years later in the Epilogue, they're still hated. (Harry's message to his son Albus Severus is mixed at best, and Ron's rejoinder is quite explicit--one can imagine what Ginny, Albus's mother, thinks of Slytherins--Harry kept his voice for a reason, I suspect).

But this is a wonderful story, and I'm so glad I read it.

I wish we could accept JK's interview comments about Slytherins returning to fight with friends and family in tow, but alas, they contradict canon. Phineas's comment refers to Snape's hefty contribution and the people who fought behind Slughorn were "those who had remained to fight" which excludes the Slytherins.

If she can rewrite it, we can too, without qualms. It was good to see Snape reassessing his year as headmaster and deciding to take up the burden again.

Well done. I am pleased to see what use my quote was put to here. Thanks for writing this. If you want to direct people to my profile page, Lost boys is now out here as well as on Live Journal-- so anyone who wants to see it can find it easily enough. Thanks for the lovely acknowledgement.