Severus thinks, "Surely it would not be disloyal to have a new friend, forty years after losing Lily?" Albus was right about Sev having been Sorted too soon: he's a Hufflepuff to the core, which is a much finer and nobler thing than being a bold Gryff.

It's good that you had Luna run from Snape's love at first. It would have been a much weaker story if she had immediately fallen into his arms, understanding and accepting everything, as so many fanfic writers would have done. Too often Luna is depicted as omniscient about other people's emotions, and at the same time somehow invulnerable to emotional pain herself.

And I feared for a few moments that the story would end with John Grey returning to his solitary life, dedicating his future books "To Luna." That would have been a good story, too, but not so good for our beloved potions master. Or for Luna, for that matter. 

Hi Annie....absolutely loved this story although I once very uncharitably described Luna as the Jar Jar Binks or Wesley Crusher of the Potter lore.....you have changed my mind. Your Luna is compassionate, has known real pain and very likeable. We live in Lancs but have a cruiser and static caravan at Coniston and know Grasmere and the surrounding area very well and I agree Grasmere is magical and has its own real live storyteller laureate. OMG can you imagine Rickman/Snape reading bedtime stories? Gorgeous, beautiful and redemptive tale....well done. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxx.

This is really a gem!  I have trouble imagining Snuna, but you've made me imagine it in a way that would make sense to me.  Well done! :)

Just lovely, thank you.