Wow. I love this story. Just found it a few days ago and already read the whole thing. Fingers crossed for a sequel !

Hello!

Late review, I know but just a simple head canon detail I wanted to share with you because I have so enjoyed reading your story (3rd time!)
I kept seeing this person as Kneader- the tone of voice and mannerisms you have for him come out so clearly in the writing that I could begin to see and hear him, even though he doesn’t play a large part.
You may have fancast someone for his part already? So I have to tell you that Stellen Skarsgard (and Erik Selvig from the MCU!) easily kept popping into my head every time Kneader is on the page. Older, Sharp, keen intelligence, capable of careful cunning but also warmth and kindness after he’s observed enough.
Anyways! Just thought I’d share.

Thank you again for sharing this journey with us!

This fic remains still to have the best pace of Harry and Snape's platonic relationship! I love it, the slow-burn perfectly suits their personality! It is so realistic, they are so in character! The narration was written well that I could very well see it by my own eyes vividly. I love it so much! Still waiting for the sequel!

Very detailed description of Voldemort's mind between this and the last chapter. It's so damaged, it's sad. Everything that Voldemort was and what he became is just a very sad story. Interesting magical manifestation of the dark-mark bonds as mind-snakes. That does fit with everything, but I certainly had never thought of them like that! I'm glad Harry succeeded here. Memories can be powerful, and Harry does have some good ones in addition to the bad ones.

You last heard from me in January because ... I wasn't ready for this story to end? And I'm still not, but I think it's time for me to finish it, just as you finished the story for all of us.

I very much enjoyed this chapter, with the intensity of Harry's mentors here, including Kneader as an ad-hoc committee member. Harry gets to have agency here and also get good teaching. Harry has such firm support here. As you said, kind of like a warm blanket from Snape. I like this Dumbledore, who is with Harry and with Snape and able to act as the higher stabilizing force. The discussion between Harry and Snape was honest. They're both very stubborn. I'm glad you were able to find a path where Snape could still be his mentor, even if Harry is working with Dumbledore against Snape's wishes. Snape was able still to support Harry. Don't we all wish we had mentors like that, especially in our teens and young adulthoods?

That entire thing was wonderful, thank you.

*sigh*

I admit I was going to wait to the end of your tale to leave a review but I can’t hold back after this chapter.

I only recently watched the Harry Potter series in full for the first time (being a pretty devoted Star Wars fan- and also a Lord of the Rings fan so long it was almost difficult to want to share it with Harry Potter) and after watching them (no, I haven’t read all the books- just the first! Don’t glare.) it seems obvious that Rowing was greatly inspired by Tolkien, and Star Wars and Arthurian legend and all that.
Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, but Snape grabbed my attention *immediately*. An instant favorite, right after Harry. I just found myself *racked* with laughter almost every time he was onscreen- his mannerisms were just so… I dunno- but Rickman’s performance absolutely delighted me. I wanted to glare, and tease the character mercilessly. Poke him with a stick, as you will.
And also found myself wishing he got much more screen time than the screenplay gave him. I was seriously disappointed by the end of the series- not with the overall story, but that there seemed to be so MUCH story to tell, that Snape seemed to be nearly wasted. I gather there is faaaaaar more in the books concerning Snape.
My apologies for the bit of backstory, but seeing as you started in *bloody 2007 and finished it* LORD, you have diligence- I felt I had so much to make up for- and this is the FIRST Harry Potter fic I’ve read through, and it hooked me front to back. Sir or madam, you have tenacity. (Gosh I could use some of that!)
And your sheer LOVE for these characters shines light on them, needles in and weaves into their makeup, fleshes them out, gives them more life until you don’t need to make them dance- they dance on their own.

Anywho. Enough with that and onto your tale! Confession: I found this on one of my SW authors favorites list and as Snape grabbed me so much- call it the familiarity with being a Vader fan so long- I couldn’t resist a looooong tale about a budding mentorship.
I love the Force bond relationships in Star Wars fics and it’s neat to see the creativity of some authors deve into that, so it felt like, despite being new to the Potter verse, very familiar territory.

Ugh. I’ve laughed. Cringed, watched with bated breath, shook my head in exasperation, had my heart clench, have wanted to cry, but the sheer exhilaration of seeing your writing magic play out in such PATIENT form kept me from gushing too much. It may be my cup of tea, but I feel you reached a wonderful balance in this story of playing the emotion- their bond feels real, natural, the emotion doesn’t gush and take over the story- the bond begins like a quivering heartbeat, slow, but steadfast and grows gradually in greater strength, tiny bit, by bit, like a child growing.

That light blooming in Harry’s soul.

In a chapter a few back… you had Snape say “I am here….. I am alive again.” In response to Harry’s worry, and the joy faintly cracked through of the parable of the prodigal son “who, while he was still aways off, his father saw him and ran to him…” “my son, we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours, who was dead, is alive again.”
The light that cracked through in that chapter grew and thrummed steadily until it coalesced here… and it felt like you, with pen and ink, laboring to bring forth a child.
A renewed soul.
For Snape.

And… despite Harry reaching out for a mentor figure, and Snape awkwardly sending roots into parental ground… it *does* feel, at times, like Harry is a Father that *Severus* never had. Patient. Diligent. Flawed, yet Stubborn in his protectiveness. Despite the age flip. It was curiously delightful, and very welcome.

This fic EXCEEDED my expectations. (Is that a grade of E…? ;)
I normally don’t set my expectations high at all in the world of fanfic, but with nearly every chapter, there was something in it to surprise me, touch me. You nurtured such a deep tenderness for these characters while not sacrificing keeping them IN character. Loved all the little details- especially of Potion making and Snape’s attention to it- and the forethought you put into that substantial part of the story. (Also, being a student of herbology myself, and a naturopath, that appealed to me. Ha. I even found myself learning a few things, albeit indirectly! Mainly cringing that I’d totally fail Snape’s classs because of my careless “oh well wing it- nothing in there will hurt you” attitude when putting together salves. *blank guilty grin*)
(AND Harry’s growing N Magic core! Ha. Don’t know if you’re a SW Fan, or if that’s how a lot of folks in Thai fandom write magic, but when Harry is reaching for it, feeing it, it feels very much like how the Force is written in the SW Universe at times. It was neat.)

And the delving into occlumency- the main thing to really grab me out of the whole HP series, was delightfully expanded on and even… educational. You didn’t go the direction I expected, and I enjoyed it. Enjoyed the surprise. And found myself secretly hoping and wishing for a certain kind of redemption that normally only ever remains in my head, but that few, FEW authors EVER bring into being.

And you did.

So THANK YOU.

Thankyou so, so much.

This is the First HP fic I’ve read, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it remains the only one, because in my mind, you’ve set the bar so high for me, I’d only be wasting my time rifling through fanfic. (Though if you ah e any growing recommendations that you found truly touched your heart or inspired you, I will take them. :)

Anywho, I don’t mean to gush or flatter, but I’ve just been so… so touched, Kirby, truly.

The end of this chapter.

This story became so meaningful to me. I am glad it was so long! A relationship so deep and meaningful (and often, the most meaningful relationships DO happen because of a great deal to forgive- the love debt, perhaps) can only be made so by diligence, patience, conflict… forgiveness. Repeat. Trust like that deserves to take time.
alllllll the things. Ah. My heart.

The end of this.

Agh.

It was EXACTLY what I secretly began hoping for like 20 chapters ago and YOU WENT THERE.

I haven’t been able to get a stupid smile off my face and probably won’t be able to for several days.

Because.

You know.

Someone loving you that much. To get that Dark mark off. Sin you accepted. Guilt you feel the weight of. I don’t think I need to put into words what I’m feeling.

I relate to Harry much more than to Snape, so I didn’t expect to relate to Severus so much by the end.

It… it wove a picture in my mind of how far Jesus was willing to go to split that dark mark from our being. Maybe some of us on this earthly plane have darker marks than others, that fester deeper but all of them are unto death.

And the joy.

The Joy.

When you realize the utter *cost* of how far that Someone was willing to go for you, into your soul, all that he was willing to take on to free you…

That deserves *all* appreciation, all sacred gratitude. All worthy praise, all limitless joy.

When the very thought of every having that stain removed was inconceivable. You wouldn’t even consider the possibility. Just learn to live with it.
And then…

Gone.

Because of *love*.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And Godspeed your pen wherever you may choose to put it next!

Affectionately,

Aimee,
Kungfu Jedi.

WOW! This has been a great read that was recommended by a friend. I really am interested in the sequel (going to click on that now). Ron may go berserk over Severus as Harry's guardian, but Hermione will completely support it. He needs his friends. My only complaint is filling up the story with review responses. It pads the word count unnecessarily. It is your story, though, and I respect it.

I have just finished this story (again!) and must say that I enjoy it more with each re-reading. Thank you for sharing it. I am looking forward to the possibility of a sequal.

I loved this story, thank you so much to take the time to finished it
Is really amazing since I started reading it I couldn't stop.
You are a very fine writer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you

PD: I'm sorry for the spell and grammar errors in my message, I'm not an English speaker

What? No Vulcan mind meld? Lol

I wonder if using a metronome would give him something to focus on. Having tried various relaxation methods, I know how hard it is to try and focus on just one thing.

I know you know this by now, but this is utterly brilliant - in the plotting, in the evolution of relationship, in the writing... You had me in tears a number of times. Just brilliantly written and conceived. Thank you for a lovely story.

I've been reading avidly and going through all the ups and downs of emotion, but... these last two chapters have had me in tears, have touched me so deeply. I love it when stories do that. Well done, dear author.

Guest.
Lovely story. Sometimes when a story is this long, I lose interest some of the way in especially if it's a theme I'm kinda used to like Severitus... But not with this at all. I read each and every word and loved it. The grammar was clear and concise which always adds to the enjoyment of a story (no cussing... I know that's not usually a thing with hp fics but it's ALWAYS a good bonus for me), slow build, plot(there were times in later chapters that things talked about earlier were shown as not random but established in an offhand sort of way that played into the entirety of the fic), infact everything.. even the angst (especially the abuse) wasn't drawn out and flourished for maximum effect just cos.. but it fit in well and I enjoyed this story alot. Sad to finish and also to see there's no more. You are talented and I thank God I got to share in that. Thanks for sharing.