Still loving this story, really am. Incredibly done :)

I have thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's refreshing to see such an interesting take on the first book. You've managed to make Snape into a believable, parental character without making him the exact opposite of what he was in canon (i.e. mushy/overly doting).

I also like what you've done with Draco. Generally, I absolutely detest the character (canon or otherwise), but you're version made sense to me. I can easily see Draco acting this way if Harry had become his friend in canon. He's still assured of his superiority, but isn't anywhere NEAR as obnoxious about it as he is in canon/most fanfics.

Keep up the good work! I can't wait for the next chapter!

So, what did Minerva see?

That part about the witch trials was a nice touch.

Great fic! Looking forward to more!

You make a valid point with the witch-craft.

And I do hope it was Flamel who came; if it was Charity then I'd put it down as a terrible maru-su moment.

I think one of the best aspects of this story is that it reads like a story about attending a boarding school. The fact that a Dark Lord is attempting to make a return is a subtle theme. I don't think I have run across anything in FF quite like this. It is incredibly well written.

Will there be more than one year? The heads of the houses acting as knowledgeable and capable witches / wizards lead me to believe they might be able to handle the threat of the Dark Lord themselves.

-Melverne

Neat section, and did like to hear more about Flamel, and given how he was a supposedly great wizard, surprising that Dumbledore seems to be the one everyone thinks of, but as the Headmaster is more a political animal than he wants to be portrayed as, not that big a suprise after all.

Well, I do believe I'm as confused as Snape as to where Harry's going with all his leading questions. Of course, I can make a few educated guesses, but it's not the same as knowing. *sighs, then shrugs* Oh well. I'll just have to wait until you decide to reveal whatever nefarious plot Harry's cooked up.
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Good chapter. Calm, as opposed to action-packed, and with plot-enhancing components.

It's nice to see Snape mellowing out. For Charity and Harry at least.

Snape is ** awesome I wish I had had someone like him when I was younger.

thank you for the very sensible discussion of the historical witch hunts, and also for the equally sensible ideas espoused by Flammell in your tale, that humans are all humans. (I think it fits in well with cannon. Even Dumbledore called music a magic beyond any we teach at hogwarts, or something like that)

I should have guessed that Flamel left the note; it makes perfect sense. I'm curious as to why Flamel is being so elusive, however. Will Snape actually see him in the flesh at some point? I enjoyed the bit of background you gave about Flamel and his views on wizarding secrecy. His view on muggles is quite radical by wizarding standards, as even the most tolerant wizards, such as Arthur Weasley, view muggles with little better than indulgent amusement. Perhaps this is one of the reasons he went into seclusion, as few in the wizarding world could or would go as far as he did with his view of a magical/muggle integrated society.

I also like the way he divides magic into benign or neutral vs malign, rather than "Dark" or "Light". It's more descriptive and avoids the political overtones.

And how the wizarding world would have been different had Dumbledore finished his apprenticeship with Flamel!

Also an interesting history of the witch hunting craze and how it was fueled by sexism. It would make sense, then, that witches were the ones who pushed most strongly for seclusion.

Good thing Percy was there at the dinner table acting as a buffer between Harry and Ron. Good thing Ron is good at chess as he'd be completely insufferable otherwise.

And, again, Harry has proven to be as good for Snape as Snape is for him, in how Harry somewhat got Snape to see that it's ridiculous to be so paranoid about his relationship with Charity. Because Snape didn't get rescued from his dysfunctional family like he did for Harry, his social maladjustments have persisted into adulthood. Snape coming into Harry's life has really saved them both, as it's never too late for Snape to mature socially.

poor snape, i'll bet he almost blushed. can't wait to read more!

Good chapter--Harry is more Slytherin than he thinks (insofar as all children have a good little calculating streak alive in well, no matter how they're raised). Professor Burbage will be thrilled to have the club, and Snape is already thrilled not to have to run it. I think he's quite right about Dumbledore, too.

As for your A.N., I have to agree. The Wizarding World is _very_ small, about the size of my hometown, and if you start off on the wrong foot, your best bet is Amarillo in your rear view mirror. I think we can name at least one wizard whose life might have been greatly improved if he _had_ left it--at least in the Muggle world he might have run into some other people who might have liked him without needing to use him.

Ahem. Again, good chapter.