One of the all-time great fanfics - subtle, spare, strong.

But TBH I've come around to thinking Snape was right about the "prank", and McGonagall wrong, and that it wasn't Sirius's trick; it was all of the Marauders'.

That would explain why neither adult-Lupin ("schoolboy grudge") nor adult-James ('be my family's Secret-Keeper') took the secret-betrayal seriously or let it influence their future actions. It always puzzled me that James chose a secret-breaker to Keep his family's Secret, but if Lupin was in on the trick then Sirius didn't break any trust, did he?

(Why did we always assume that Lupin, who "sat down every month to plan the next full moon adventure", must be innocent? What consequences could he fear, with Dumbledore in his corner? If Snape had died that night, it would have incriminated Dumbledore just as much as the Marauders, and he'd have hushed it up. As he did, in canon...)

Rereading this for the nth time and can't believe I never reviewed it.

Beautifully conceived and realized, one of the best here or anywhere. As thoroughly canonshafted as the Cruciatus aspect now is, the fic is extraordinarily perceptive and indeed prescient about Snape's childhood. You knew before Rowling told.

Major kudos!

The oldest story i have read but i realy like it.

Really, REALLY wonderful work! What this storey implies breaks my heart. (Sorry for grammar mistakes, I'm not a native speaker.

Well written.

This is an excellent piece of writing. Very well crafted. I come back often and reread just to appreciate and be moved by this beautiful little story

This story were good if it had been written after the fifth book. But this way it is simply stunning. It is accurate to a point I want to reread PoA and GoF just to find those hints you mentioned whish I obviously couldn't see even after reading DH. It has the perfect length and tells you something you already knew in a way that makes you believe you knew nothing

Well written.
So sad...and canon.

Simply brilliant.

Short and powerful.

I read this story years ago and it always stuck with me. I have spent so long searching for it, so happy I finally found it again. Upon re-reading it was even more beautiful than I remembered... This is the single most well-written piece of fanfic I have ever read. So simple yet so devastating. Thanks for sharing your talents.

Uwaa! It’s so sad!

Beautifully done. You are a very gifted writer.

Ouch, my heart.

Wow this is amazing well done

amazing!