It's odd, but I'm not sure I see this crux as a change, or a decision of new identity, for Sarah. Yes, it's a bit of a behavioral departure, but...it seems like she's spent a lot of effort and angst from the very beginning of the story fighting against her own nature. Both suppressing her feelings for Severus out of the fear of becoming her mother, and suppressing her darker nature and desires out of the fear of becoming her father. So, this development seemed very natural to me, in that she's now realised the true level of the stakes, and stopped fighting--become more herself, not changed. Does that make sense?

Anyway, the other interesting thing here is that she and Severus seem to be more fully equal here than at any other point (equals in pain, equals in angst, equals in the ability to hurt each other...which says something rather depressing I guess) so even though on the surface this is one of the more twisted lemons, it's one I somehow feel better reading than the other ones I can recall reading. (Hope you had a good long weekend, even if you wrote fic instead of travelling. Especially since you wrote fic instead of travelling! -TS)

Author's Response: Thank you for such a thought-filled response! Your take on Sarah's transformation is interesting--it gives me a lot to think about. I think to some extent you are correct. Sarah has, all along, been fighting against what she fears she might become. And at this point, she does, in fact, accept the need for *all* of her heritage. But I also think that her fears have been worse than the reality. She is far too strong and independent of mind to become her mother, and far too good at heart to become her father (who was, himself, not an *entirely* evil man).

It was my intention, with this sequence, to bring Sarah and Severus more into equality with one another, so I'm glad that worked for you!

I was, indeed, able to spend the long weekend writing instead of traveling (which was the original plan). Now I'm just anxiously awaiting the release of HBP, so I can see what I can and can't do with the ending of this story. *frets*

Very nice time with Miriam, and very intriguing hint about Sev's parentage. I hope we find out more eventually. The ravens disguised as owls are a riot.

How is Sev going to take to the addition of a cat to his life I wonder :*)

Author's Response: Since no one living knows the real story about Severus' parentage, I fear that it will not come into AMA, even as backstory. Someday I may write it as its own tale, but it would be darker even than the darkest bits of AMA, with lots of warning flags.

I can't imagine that Severus is a cat person. That should prove interesting. Even good for a laugh or two. :~)