Thank you!  I'm really glad you like it cause when I was writing it, I kept thinking it wasn't all that good really...I guess I need to worry if I ever do write something that I think is good cause then people will probably hate it, lol.

Yes, it is kind of mean of Sev to sort of want Harry to stay a slave...or maybe not mean,  but I wanted to show some of Severus' flaws too.  He hasn't just become a perfect person, but he isn't trying to be 'mean'...he feels quite ashamed really, because he knows how wrong it is to want to keep Harry under the spell.  It's just that he's so afraid of losing Harry if Harry were freed now.  Severus hasn't had very many people in his life that he could care for and become close to, and now that he's let Harry into his heart, he can't bear the idea of losing him...and Harry probably would leave Prince Hall at this point if he were able.  Harry doesn't realise how much Severus cares, doesn't fully trust him, and doesn't see Prince Hall as his home.  Harry's not quite as miserable as he was at first, but he's still very focused on the idea that all this is just temporary until he can go and be with his 'real' family.

Severus' jealousy of the Weasleys is also related to his insecurities about Harry, and about personal relationships in general.  I think he still needs to internalise the truth that when you love someone, you do what's best for them and not what's best for you.  I do think that if push came to shove right now, Severus would do what was best for Harry, because he does genuinely care for him now, but on a conscious level, he's still got some learning to do, if that makes sense.

Thanks again! 

Thank you!  I wasn't sure about that line, but I am glad I decided to go ahead with it.  You're absolutely right about Harry's being surprised that people would care about his welfare...it's just not something he has a lot of experience with, with a guardian anyway.  He's too used to taking care of himself and having to handle things alone.  The Umbridge/Severus confrontation will probably have to wait til the sequel...I'm sorry to disappoint all the people who want to see it sooner, but SC is pretty well planned out, and I really do think it would seem out of place to stick that in.  On the other hand, in the sequel, I do have the idea that some of the Azkaban prisoners will escape and there will be some threats and conflicts from that, so I think I could work in Sev and Umbridge having a showdown better in the sequel.

Yes, I can see  that dealing with a suicidal person can be very difficult and cause lots of conflicting emotions.  Severus may show some of that, but I think after some initial anger he will try to understand the causes of Harry's behavior and try to meet those needs and heal the wounds that have driven Harry to such a dangerous depression.  He may feel some anger and guilt at first, though.

>>>his heart might be warming up to Snape faster than his intellect is.>>>  

What a great line, and I think it's a good way to describe what's going on with Harry.

Oh, I didn't even think about "Roots".  I was just a wee little tyke when that originally aired, and though I have heard of that scene, it never crossed my mind.  "Toby" is, as you said, one of Severus' jabs at his own father.

The part dealing with Harry doing underage magic is in chapter 14, when DD and Poppy come to dinner, and DD is talking with Harry and Severus about Sev working with Harry on Defense.  He lifts the Trace from Harry so Harry can train and practice.  I decided that since DD is head of the Wizangamot, that I would give him that authority.   

Thank you so much.  My SC muse is going strong right now and it's hard to deny it.  I don't know which story I'm going to work on next...I may even write a short Trio vignette for another group I belong to, but SC is my favorite story that I'm working on, and I'll try to update again within a week or so.