Thanks for the review - it's fun to get some even though I've been on a rather long break lately (about which I'm very, very sorry - I know how hard it is to get into a story and then not know when to expect the next update)!

It seems like one thing after another is conspiring to delay my working on it, but I promise, even though it's been a while, I'm still going to finish the story. I wrote the first part of the next chapter some time ago and am hoping to get back to it within the next couple weeks after I finish moving.  Thanks for your patience - it's in the works, I promise!

P.S. You can look forward to a few familiar faces in the next chapter.  I think Harry and Snape have been all alone for quite long enough in one stretch, don't you? ;)

Thank you for the review!  I hit a few snags over the past couple months which have prevented me from working on the story, and I plan to begin again mid-April.  I'm reviewing my notes in order to make it as seamless as possible.  You can look forward to a few familiar faces in the next chapter - I think Harry and Snape have been alone for quite long enough in one stretch, don't you? :)

Thanks again for reading!