well hello there... ;)
I did sort of think of this as a little note to H/Sc nay-sayers that, yes, I do get it your point. :P

The darkness didn't rip my heart out, mostly b/c the length of the fic didn't lend itself to crushing character identification
Thank you. yes, that was my intention - for both myself and my readers, just to taste of Draco's emotions but not drowned in them.

Thanks, sweet. I really appreciate your thoughts.