rate_review Reviews

#31. So yeah, Severus's outburst was a long time coming....I'm glad he got that out, shows him more human than he had been letting on. People can only take so much. And poor Harry, tormented with guilt but at the same time longing as well for absolution and forgiveness. It's good he was thinking of the lives of those who raped him, if only to save Harry from more guilt. He really does love that boy....and I don't think Harry will know how much, maybe it's good that he doesn't, it would drive him batty or to cut his wrists perhaps. Can't wait to see what happens when Ginny returns

Emily, you're writing was already sick! as in just devastatingly wonderful...but this last chapter, describing Severus's need for sleep and his thoughts about Albus...just superb. You really really are outdoing yourself with this one. I loved that Hermione came through for him in the end..and got a laugh at how she alphabetized his books...so Hermione! I like that Hugo remembers him and she tells him so. the last paragraph was really really cool though. I hope he gets all the sleep he needs, he deserves every bit of it. Question: does he still have the slave stamp on his forehead? Employment may be difficult...lol. Oops, Hermione already has a job for him. yay!

That's a amazingly written, deep fanfic. Congrats. I loved every word of it.

Now, I understand that Severus is a trained soldier who knows how to put personal emotions behind the task at hand and is experienced and hardened enough to not let personal beliefs and suffering hinder his ability to funktion, but still it's sad.
The war is over and not even the most trained spy can supress his feelings and wants for his whole life, without going insane at some point. He's still human, after all and humans have certain needs that are as vital as breathing. PTSD is still there, even if he learned how to cope with it.
True, Harry has suffered emotionally, I'm sure, but so has Snape. But again, Harry should be the only one to have problems with remorse and pain? I think that they are more alike now than ever and that they might need one another to finally let go of the past and heal (as much as it is still possible)

Harry has his friends, and Snape, if he really leaves, has no one. Not even Dumbledore who has been there before. Even a spy needs an outlet and some balance, somewhere and somebody he trusts enough to let himself feel without having to 'go on, as if nothing had happened and I think Snape is missing that at the moment. Harry, Hermione or even Neville or Ron might be willing to be there for him, but I don't think he would be able to 'let go' in front of Harry right now, even if I feel that Harry is one of the only ones who could fill that role now. Hermione and the others have been his students and other than Harry can't really have moved far from that emotional position. That Snape had to orchestered the whole aftermath is prove of that. Even if thei're adults now, thei are not on the same level as him. He would need at least an equal, (Like Harry who has suffered much the same, being under the influence of a dark master) or someone older, a mentor, who he could respect and trust to catch him, if he lets himself fall emotionally.
Also, I fear that he's in for a fall soon (physically) when Hermiones potion wears off. She did warn him of that, didn't she and he did refuse the more thorough healing by her.

That's interesting, because it makes the slave bond sound like the house-elves' bond, which is less onerous than Hermione thinks. It's more like a marriage between the elf and human families, and provides benefits to both so long as the human family isn't abusive.

Severus is cheating - he's just told Harry to do his duty by the Ministry, but *he* doesn't want to get into politics....

Hey, I really love your story and just can't wait to read what will happen next. But I really hope it will not change into a "Harry does everything what Snape wants story". Hope you'll update soon, because it's one of the best fanfics I ever read.

Of course, from Snape's viewpoint, since he was unconscious for the intervening period, he's gone from killing Albus, watching Charity's death, the horrible stressful year as headmaster, being driven out by his colleagues, being bitten by Nagini and then straight into Azkaban and then all this horrible stuff with not-Harry - it's not surprising he needs to get away from everybody and get his bearings.

Well that was an unexpected outburst from Severus, I guess he must really be tired and stressed out. I just hope he doesnt stay away for too long and Ginny doesnt stay with Harry at all.

Of the past three chapters, some things went very, very well. The way Harry begs Snape to kill him and the way Snape kills Voldemort instead was quite good. Harry and Snape's discussion with Dumbledore went fairly well. The explanations made a certain sense, except that it all seemed a bit quick -- easily explained and easily understood and accepted by all. Still, you took them back to the land of the living and there was all the pain still. But I felt Snape's overall reaction to everything is a weaker aspect of the past chapters. He's just *too* able to take charge, make decisions, etc. It's like whatever human reactions we keep expecting from him, he 's at least on the surface easily able to put aside all the horror and keep shouldering on. But the more and more he's able to shoulder on with such *apparent* ease, the less believable it feels to me.

Harry's collapse as soon as returning to his body made sense. But Snape being able to instantly respond to Harry as Harry, with no apparent residual feelings regarding the horrific torture he'd gone through under Voldemort/Harry, just didn't feel "right" to me. Harry is so horrified by seeing the signs of the torture and abuse, and Snape doesn't seem affected at all? I noticed in a recent response to a review you said:

"How much was Severus broken by his experiences, not only of the past two months, but the two decades of suffering/redeeming his one mistake?"

Well, yeah, I think you do intend to show that, but just how affected was he, to be able to squelch any reaction so quickly and thoroughly and for so long?

I was actually rather hesitant about reading this fic, since dark!Harry isn't a particular favorite of mine. Of course, most of the time they're just angsty and kinda dark for the sake of it. I'm glad that I looked in to see what it was really about. Your style really pulled me in, and seeing what was going on brought enough hope that I was intrigued. I can't wait to see what happens from here. Very well written.