Wonderful story! I love the way that you avoid all the conventional dramatic high points (battles, betrayals, Remus and Sirius getting together or splitting up) and yet create such drama out of everyday life. Your story feels absolutely like real life, but with wizards... and impending war... Bittersweet and lovely!

I recognize your name from hp_grads, which I've just joined, so I want to say hi. I'm always so happy to see such creativity in a fellow academic!