#hermione myth

[neoptolemid]

Final piece for 2022! A snow piece of Pyrrhus and Hermione, not sure if it would truly snow that much in Epirus but I can dream

[xjulixred45x]

Do you know something that honestly bothers me? that when they want to make retellings of Greek stories, they almost always go for the figures that really do not deserve their own story.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS BAD, BUT LISTEN.

Circe, for example, from this woman (who turned out to be quite controversial) Madeline, they try to sell you Circe's story as a "feminist" retelling and normally there would be nothing wrong with that.

The issue is that Circe (in the myths and from what I understand in the book) is not at all feminist.

I mean, she is a morally gray woman, I respect that, but is it really a good idea to use as an example of a "feminist" a woman who 1- killed a man who did not want to be unfaithful to his wife with her, 2- converted an innocent nymph in a MONSTER (Scylla) only for an unrequited love (again) and 3- in Telogony, after Odysseus dies (her supposed "lover" who in some versión she ENCHANTED, at the hands of the son they had together) she marries HIS ANOTHER SON.

Since when did a woman who tramples on men or hurts other women for her own benefit become a "feminist" or "girlboss"??

WITH SO MANY OTHER POSSIBLE SCENARIOS TO MAKE RETELINGS OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND THEY DECIDE TO GO FOR CIRCE?

"BUT JUlIx WHAT ANOTHER EXAMPLE DO YOU WANT THEM TO USE?? Circe is SUPER KNOWN, OBVIOUSLY it's easier to go for her"

other examples? let's see:

MEDUSA (old classic, a great allegory that still works today about how SA victims are re-victimized and blamed by the people who should be protecting them/they don't get justice because their attacker is more "relevant" and powerful than them). (Even if it's the Roman versión, You can't Say that a myth that reflects the reality of THOUSANDS of women and give streng to the víctims its not "feminist")

PENTHESILEA(Amazon queen who fought in the Trojan War, which she attended because she was depressed after having accidentally killed her sisters, but she did not leave without killing dozens of Trojans and fighting with Achilles himself. IMAGINE A BOOK ABOUT HER) .

THE AMAZONS IN GENERAL (Tribes of warlike women, daughters of Ares, whom he loved very much, who had a matriarchal system that existed without men, without competition, with a great sense of sisterhood and who participated in many velic encounters in mythology) .

HERMIONE OF SPARTA AND ANDROMACHA (the daughter of Helen of Troy and Menelaus and the wife of Hector of Troy respectively. Both were married against their wills to Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who was abusive (quite graphically) and they hated him. Imagine a story where the two become friends and team up to kill Neo, Hermione takes control of Sparta and Andromache is her second in command).

ATALANTA (The only woman of the Argonauts who, when the magical boar of Calidon appeared, was the one who managed to hurt him first and kept the home trophy (but FOR SOME REASON later there are myths that kill her in the stupidest way possible, thanks Aphrodite) )

In conclusion, let's give the spotlight to Greek women who genuinely deserve to be known about them❤️ (without trowing Hate to Circe, she DESERVES TO BE KNOWN, but not as a feminist story).

________

(ESPAÑOL)

¿saben algo que sinceramente me molesta? que cuando se quieren jacer retelings de las historias griegas, casi siempre van por las figuras que realmente no se merecen una historia propia.

SE QUE SUENA MAL, PERO ESCUCHEN.

Circe, por ejemplo, de esta mujer(que resulto ser bastante polemica) Madeline, tratan de venderte la historia de Circe como un reteling "feminista" y eso normalmente no tendria nada de malo.

el tema es que Circe(en los mitos y por lo que tengo entendido en el libro) no tiene nada de feminista.

digo, es una mujer moralmente gris, eso lo respeto, pero ¿realmente es buena idea usar de ejemplo de "feminista" a una mujer que 1- mato a un hombre que no queria serle infiel a su esposa con ella, 2- convirtio a una ninfa inocente en un MONSTRUO(escilla) solo por un amor no correspondido (otra vez) y 3- en Telogony, después de que Odiseo muere(su supuesto "enamorado", a manos del hijo que tuvieron juntos) ella se casa CON SU OTRO HIJO.

¿¿desde cuando una mujer que pisotea a los hombres o hace daño a otras mujeres por beneficio propio paso a ser "feminista" o "girlboss"??

CON TANTOS OTROS POSIBLES ESCENARIOS PARA HACER RETELINGS DE LA MITOLOGÍA GRIEGA Y DECIDEN IR POR CIRCE?

"PeRo jUlIx ¿¿QuE oTrO eJeMpLo QuIeReS qUe UsEn?? Circe Es sUpEr cOnOcIdA, OBVIamente es mas facil ir por ella"

¿otros ejemplos? veamos:

MEDUSA(viejo clasico, una gran alegoria que sigue funcionando hasta hoy sobre como las victimas de SA son re-victimizadas y culpadas por la gente que deberia protegerlas/no obtienen justicia porque su agresor es mas "relevante" y poderoso que ellas).

PENTESILEA (Reina amazona que peleo en la guerra de Troya, a la cual asistio por estar deprimida al haber matado accidentalmente a sus hermanas, pero no se fue sin matar a decenas de troyanos y pelear con el propio Aquiles. IMAGÍNENSE UN LIBRO SOBRE ELLA).

LAS AMAZONAS EN GENERAL (Tribus de mujeres guerraras hijas de Ares, a las cuales el amaba mucho, que tenian un sistema matriarcal que existia sin hombres, sin competencia, con un gran sentido de hermandad y que participaron en muchos encuentros velicos en la mitología).

HERMÍONE DE ESPARTA Y ANDROMACA(la hija de Helena de Troya y Menelao y la esposa ee Hector de troya respectivamente. ambas se casaron en contra de sus voluntades con Neoptolemo, el hijo de Aquiles, que era abusivo(bastante gráficamente) y lo odiaban. imaginense una historia donde ambas se hacen amigas y se alian para matar a Neo, Hermíone toma el control de Esparta y Andromaca es su segunda al mando).

ATALANTA(La unica mujer de los argonautas que cuando aparecio el jabali magico de calidon fue quien logro lastimarlo primero y se quedo con el trofeo de casa(pero POR ALGUNA RAZON después hay mitos que la matan de la forma mas estupida posible, gracias Afrodita))

en conclusión, demosle el reflector a mujeres griegas que genuinamente merecen que se sepa de ellas❤️(sin titarle Hate a Circe, MERECE SER CONOCIDA, pero no como historia feminista).

[hafrenfae]

she went to glastonbury in hopes of finding some inspiration for her final chapter

[sophiejanefostersilver]

Hermione's mum: Hermione, you named after the daughter of the most beautiful woman

Hermione: mother...?

[dilfaeneas]

Pyrrhus and Hermione, in a nicer world

[sholdthebus]

❄️𝓓𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝓓𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼❄️

I’m so excited for this month! The saucy Draco bonus sticker comes with every physical tier! 😋🎀🎁

Subscribe here!

[deardoiloveyou]

Falling asleep on HP boys₊˚ʚ ₊

Notes: Fluff, really really soft, no mentions of smut/violence, takes place during goblet of fire, established friendship

Summary: basically just hp boys crushing over you

Characters: Harry potter (the man the myth the legend), Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy

A/N: when I was making this header i was somewhat giggling bc Draco is the only one smiling while ron and harry look so serious

*ੈੈੈ♡ Harry

After babbling for hours upon hours about quidditch and other topics that Harry just couldn't keep himself from spewing about, the thoughts that kept Harry's mind off of the tantalizing task of opening the shiny egg, you finally began to feel drowsy

A sense of relief washed over you once Harry finally took a much needed breath and paused, yet sadly for you he took that relief away from you again, but before he engulfed himself too much into his one-sided conversation, he realized how droopy your eyelids were becoming, how your breathing was so calm and quiet, and how your head suddenly started leaning closer and closer onto his shoulder until he couldn't do anything about it.

Harry softly whispered, "Sorry, y/n...I must bore you quite a bit"

Your eyes lightly fluttered open, "Not at all, Harry, I love your voice" you said in a quiet whisper

Harry couldn't tell if he was dreaming or not, he never thought such a simple compliment could have resonated so deeply within his heart. Harry of course got attention and praise, but when you did so he felt himself practically melting, he loved you dearly. And you knew it.

You closed your eyes again, moving your hand closer to his until he carefully put his hand on top of yours. The silence was almost comforting, just knowing you were both safe and together eased Harry's troubled mind.

In the end, you both fell asleep and it was an adorable sight to Ron and Hermione, they made sure to gently tease you two about it the next day♡

₊˚⊹♡ Ron

Ron absolutely loves cuddling with you, seeing you comfy and buried in a soft blanket practically melts his heart to the core

So he isn't surprised that by the time he's done ranting to you about how his day went, you were just about to fall into a deep slumber (that might I say was much needed)

Ron got extremely smug once you laid your head onto his shoulder, it was like a scene out of one of those muggle movies, so romantic

Ron did give a soft yet endearing laugh when you reached for his hand, saying, "Oh, darling, do you need sum'fin?"

That was Ron's way of saying "something"

Your eyes slightly widened at the sweet nickname, but you just wanted more of his affection at this point

You gave him a weak pouting face before he gently held your hand

Ron on the exterior was smug but that wasn't the case for what he was feeling. His heart was racing at an abnormal level, he found his breath hitching and his eyes trying to find anything to look at but you - mostly because he was so incredibly flustered

You both fell fast asleep, Harry and Hermione couldn't help but think you two were adorable and that made Ron very flustered

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ Draco

Draco was mumbling to you, you were so exhausted you could barely tell what he was saying at this point but you were able to make out Draco saying

"Pottah is insufferable"

Or something else about "stewpid pottah", you couldn't care less at this rate. Your exhaustion started taking over you, you unintentionally started leaning towards Draco's shoulder - which was looking quite comfortable

At first Draco was extremely apprehensive and flicked your forehead to which you swatted his arm, in the end he gave you his "you're an insufferable idiot" look, yet still let you rest on him

Draco's heart was pounding, it felt as though it was about to explode it was racing so fast. Although he kept up his cold exterior, even around you, he couldn't help but melt at your touch

Your warm and soft hand met his cold and tired hands, he flinched at first but realizing you were fast asleep already (so he couldn't lecture you about being "so idiotic", even though you had better grades than he ever did) he just gently placed his hand atop yours

Draco's eyes were lost in exploring you, he never realized how beautiful you were, being this close Draco took the opprotunity to let his eyes wander you for a bit, it was as though he was memorizing every bit of you. He ruffled your hair, gently and ever so endearingly, then his eyes met your lips - and oh my you made him go mad, psychotic even. Draco wanted to kiss you ever so badly, he wanted your lips to crash onto his, alas he knew you could never like him, well at least romantically (or so he thought).

Draco was teased almost all morning having been caught cuddling with you by Pansy, but he didn't care. Draco was replaying that night with you almost constantly, hoping that it would happen again - every night.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading these little skits, and have a good day ♡

[babyrdie]

I just read someone commenting that Odysseus is the most suffering of the Achaeans because… he's a father? Like, yeah, it's sad for him and Telemachus, but he's literally not the only father who misses his children. He didn't suffer more than anyone else because of it.

When Agamemnon went to Troy, Orestes was just a baby. And Agamemnon complains to Odysseus that Clytemnestra wouldn't let him see Orestes, so he didn't even get to see his son's face after 10 years. And contrary to popular belief, Agamemnon WAS saddened by Iphigenia's sacrifice (depending on the version, she is alive. But there is no way for Agamemnon to know this as we see in Iphigenia at Tauris, so either way for him she was dead). And he had other daughters!

Achilles didn't even get to raise Neoptolemus. And contrary to popular belief, he did care about Neptolemus. While mourning the death of Patroclus, he literally uses the idea of ​​losing Peleus and Neoptolemus as a metric for his grief. Not only that, he talks about how he planned for Patroclus to take care of Neoptolemus, which indicates that he was thinking about his son. He asks Odysseus about Neoptolemus, showing that he thought of him even after he died. Depending on the myth, his ghost appears to Neoptoleums after Odysseus recruits him.

When Menelaus went to Troy, he left nine-year-old Hermione behind. Unlike the others, she didn't even have a mother at home.

Nestor went to war with two of his sons, one of whom (Antilochus) was not only too young for war but also died in it. And Nestor is shown mourning Antilochus, it was horrible for him. And not only that, Antilochus wasn't even the youngest, Nestor had younger sons (and daughters!) at home.

So this whole thing about Odysseus suffering more because he's a father doesn't make any sense. Why does anyone need to have a "I suffered more" medal in the first place?

(It wasn't on Tumblr, no point looking for the post)

[cassiopeiasdaughter]

gold rush

Theodore Nott x fem!reader

summary: loving Theo in secret was not something you had ever planned

word count: 5k

warnings: swearing, no use of y/n, no assigned House (reader isn’t a Slytherin tho :/ ), not proofread , alcohol consumption , sexual themes (but for like a sec)

ao3 & main masterlist

Stolen kisses in broom closets, hidden touches in-between classes, laying alone together in the astronomy tower or the room of requirement; that was your relationship with Theo.

A relationship his father, his peers, no one from the magical society he associated with would approve. Of course you knew that when everything started, and that is why you curse yourself now; minutes from the Ball all your friends are attending, dressed in a beautiful gown you picked, crying your eyes out for the love story you will never have with the person you want most.

But let’s take this from the start

You two have known each other since your first year, you met him on the train; a quiet boy, with curious eyes. 

When you said goodbye to your parents and boarded the Hogwarts Express you were filled with excitement and fear. Overwhelmed by the many unknown faces you came across, you quickly ran to the first quiet room you could find and that is how stumbled across Theo. You were shy at first but introduced yourself.

“Theodore Nott”, he responded, with a tone too formal for a boy his age, that you think about it now and laugh.

He shared his sweets with you and you told him everything you knew about Hogwarts. Its founders, the architecture of the castle, the stories written about the Forest and the Lake. He showed interest, explained how the stories are fake and you shouldn't believe in everything you read but then, feeling sorry for spoiling your favorite stories and myths, he told you about the ghosts of the castle and their stories.

He said he wanted to be sorted in Slytherin, make his father proud; and secretly he wished you would be sorted there too so he would spend more time with you.

After arriving at Hogwarts, and entering the Great Hall you and Theo got separated, but you were too thrilled with everything around you to care. It was everything you had imagined and so so much more!

He was indeed sorted into Slytherin and for some reason you felt happy for him.  He was quickly welcomed by the other Slytherins, the older seemed intimidating and the ones your age scared you just as much. But he didn’t mind them, he looked like he belonged there with them, laughing and introducing himself, making friends that would have his back.

You could not help but feel a sting of hurt inside you, not knowing why then. All that faded into nothing after you got sorted into your House. Laughs and cheers welcomed you as you sat at your table, shaking hands and hugging your classmates, you felt at home. Then the feast began and life took off quicker than you could have imagined.

As the years passed you and Theo barely talked. He was friends with people you never liked, or understood. You hated the way they thought themselves better than others, or how they would put your friends down, because of their House or blood status.

They never messed with you,maybe it was because you were quiet; insignificant to them, never talked back, not much of a threat. That is what you considered yourself.

Well, until things got bad.

One night after a study session with Hermione, in the library, both exhausted but content with yourselves, you stumbled across Theo and his friends, in the halls. 

The usual came up, the word mudblood now something ordinary for you to hear. Everything went on as it always did, voices raised, stupid jinxes threat to be hexed, until Pansy decided she wanted to have more fun and cast an Incarcerous at Hermione.

“Get used to it mudblood, soon we will have you and your kind just like this”, she shouted.

The look on Hermione's face told you that for the first time in her life she was scared, felt defeated. The boys had stopped laughing and the expression on Theo’s face was unreadable to you; shocked and embarrassed? 

You felt an anger you had not felt in a long time, not since the first time you heard about blood purity, Voldemort and his beliefs; face flushed and hands nearly shaking from anger you cast and Expelliarmus at Pansy and then sent a Bombarda her way that had her flying across the hallway.

After casting a Finite Incantatem and freeing Hermione you went up to Pansy, now being dragged up by Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini and shouted:

“How miserable and pathetic are you really that you have to act this way? Did your parents sell you off to a rich, pureblood wizard, Dumbledores age that you have to take it out on us?”

Pansys face changed many colours, before opening her mouth to shout, “How dare y-”

“Enough.” Theo cut her off, speaking for the first time that night. His voice serious and louder than you had ever heard it be. 

“Come on, let’s go, curfew will begin soon”, Draco mumbled and they all left, Theo being the last one to walk away, his gaze fixed on yours, eyes speaking many things- none of them clear to you.

You paid more attention to him now, noticed the way he looked and acted. How he never raised his hand in class, but always knew the answer. He paid attention to many things simultaneously. He was a skilled wizard, that much you could admit; there was no spell in class that he could not perform, his potions always came out perfect and the way he flew was impressive. 

He was also handsome, tall figure, brown messy hair, he would occasionally run his hair through, and green eyes you could get lost in forever. These things didn’t mean anything to you, of course not, you were just being honest and fair, he was smart and beautiful, but also a Slytherin and member of the Sacred 28. 

Beginning of 6th year, some teachers agreed to take certain measures to deal with House rivalry. One of them being, mixed seating charts. As if Slytherins and Gryffindors sitting together for one hour per day will be enough to end the Wizarding Wars that have lasted so many years.

Your ‘partners’ were students you were on good terms with, some of them your friends and others classmates you were mere acquaintances with. There was one class though, Potions with Slughorn to be exact, where you were seated with Theodore Nott.

At first you hated the idea, dreading the awkward hours you would have to spend with him, judging you for cutting up ingredients with the wrong technique or not stirring your potion thoroughly; all these thoughts made you feel inadequate and self-conscious.

But you decided to get over yourself, ignore Theo and his remarks as best as you could and study hard to prove yourself to him. And that would be 6th year for you. Oh how wrong you were.

You had decided, Tuesday was the worst day of the week. Too many classes, too much homework, far too many extra curricular activities you foolishly had decided to take up and worst of all the dining hall served your least favorite foods, all together that day.

Immediately after waking up, you looked forward to getting into bed, after a nice hot shower and relaxing until falling into a deep peaceful sleep; but unfortunately that would have to wait. First class of the day was History of Magic, and todays subject would be “the 14th Century Wizarding Economic Bubble” -as if anyone cares about this, you thought to yourself.

After many failed tries at focusing in class and pay attention at professor Binns, you gave up and let your mind wander to many distant places, how you would spend your weekend, when your next Hogsmeade trip would be and what items you couldn’t wait to buy from the shops there; suddenly you felt the person sitting next to you smacking your arm in attempt to wake you up from your daydreaming. You gave her a confused look and then heard Binns call out your name, you slowly turned your head to him with a guilty expression on your face.

“So she can hear, great news, doesn't everyone agree?”

A few Slytherins laughed at that, but he quickly continued and said: “Enough now, would you be so kind and answer my question?”

“I am sorry sir”, you stammered, “Could you repeat the question?”

“Very well, remind us please what event lead to the Economic Bubble of the 14th century.”

Fuck me, thought, you had no idea what the answer was, and couldn’t really improvise. You looked around the classroom, embarrassed and not wanting to look anyone in the eyes, and let out a curse of “ummmm”s and “give me a minute”s.

Then, your eyes landed on Theo, who was looking at you so closely that you wanted to Incendio yourself and escape this mess; he was judging how stupid you were, and at that thought you felt your cheeks heating, after a few seconds you realized he was mouthing something at you, the words “1378” and “Soap Blizzard” being repeated slowly and silently.

The Soap Blizzard of 1378 you realized, but couldn't bring yourself to say it. You didn’t like the feeling of being pitied by Theodore Nott that he helped you in class, and you also didn’t want him to think you needed his help or anyones for that matter. 

You turned your head and looked at Professor Binns, calm now and serious.

“I don’t know sir.”, you exclaimed, eyes blank and looking forward.

“I’m sorry to hear that, that will be 5 points from your house, mister Longbottom, care to answer the question?”

Class continued, but Theos eyes never leaving your figure, looking puzzled and disappointed.

Your last class of the day had finally come; Potions. Professor Slughorn had explained to you the method to create todays potion and it was your turn now to brew it.

You were chopping up dragon scales when Theo, interrupted you; 

“You should cut them up a little smaller, like this.”

“Nott, I don't remember asking for your input. Brew your potion and let me brew mine.” you answer annoyed, picking up from where you had left form, ignoring Theodores advice (even if it was correct).

He scoffed and said “I just wanted to help, but you are so bloody stubborn that-”

“That what? I don't need help from you, I don’t want to owe you anything and I don't even trust you.”

“Impossible, that is what you are.”, he said with a sigh

“Excuse me, have you given me any reason to not be cautious around you? Do you remember who your friends are and what pretentious bullshit you believe in? Superficial, that is what you are.”

“And you are not superficial? You don't know me, yet you judge me for my friends and my family.”

“Better than judging you for your blood status.”

“I never-”

“Mr. Nott, if I may disrupt this interesting conversation with your classmate, your potion is fuming and the noise you are making is distracting the rest of your classmates, please now, stop chatting and continue.”, Slughorn said, not in the mood to put up with loud teenagers.

You rolled your eyes at his “Yes, of course sir. We apologize” and then resumed your work.

Your interactions with Theo shifted from utter silence to snark remarks, him calling you “a stubborn and pompous witch” and you responding with the occasional scoff, eye roll, threat to jinx him or all three. 

Unfortunately came the day when Professor Slughron assigned you to brew “Dreamless Sleep Potion”, a difficult task that you had to complete with Theo. This meant you would have to spend most of your free time, two or three days a week with him, but at least your chances at perfecting this potion were extremely high.

The first few weeks you didn’t really talk to eachother, just did what you had to do, kept notes and then bid each other goodnight. Then you realized he could be civil if he wanted to, so you talked about basic stuff; bonded over the boring classes you hated, complained about Transfiguration homework and discussed Quidditch games. After a few more weeks, he began walking you back to your dorm, not wanting to disrupt the conversation you were having and you let him.

One night, both of you sat at a classrooms floor facing eachother, exhausted from the worked you had done, you asked him a question. 

“You are nothing like your friends, w-why are you even friends with them?”

He looked at you and smiled, then looked back down at his fingers and toyed with the signature Slytherin ring her always wore.

“We are more similar than you think”, he says playfully.

“You are a bigger asshole than you seem or are they kinder than they look?”, you answer, not backing down, challenging him with sparkling eyes.

“So I am kind?”, he smirks avoiding the question.

“Shut up.”, you roll your eyes smiling.

“They are my family, they- they mean more to me than my real family does. I can't leave them, don't really want to.”

You turn your eyes to look at him closely, disappointed by his answer, but you have to admit that you understand him. Your friends are like family to you too. You don't know what you would do without them.

You then feel guilty, you have heard of Theos situation; his mother having passed early on, giving birth to him, his father being a bitter man, who blamed his son for his wife's death. Escaping that situation and finding people who love him and have his back, no matter what, at last you don't find it that odd- him being friends with them. 

“Makes sense”, you say, sincerely.

You walk back together that night, silence settling on you two, but not the awkward one; the peaceful one, where you are content and relaxed with the other person, just by being around them, not needing noise to fill out the void between you two.

You think about him as you doze off in bed and the thoughts put a smile on your face.

Ravenclaws knew how to throw a party. Maybe it was because of their ridiculously expensive and rare alcohol, or their choice in music. Maybe it is because their Common Room looks absolutely insane lit up and full of teenagers getting drunk and dancing like crazy; either way Racenclaw parties are a must. That is what your friends tell you. For one night students put away their differences and get absolutely smashed together. 

And that is how you ended up on a Saturday night, with a glass of firewhiskey in hand bobbing your head to the Weird Sisters and other rock bands.

“I am going to get a refill.”, your friends shout at you

Not bothering to open your eyes you shout “Alright”, and keep dancing. Moving your boy to the beat and feeling the music has always been something that you sought out. The freeing yourself aspect of it is what you love most; for once not caring what you look like or what others think of you.

After a few minutes of waiting for your friends and not finding them, you go to look for them. The room is dark and they are pretty drunk so you don’t blame them for disappearing. Instead you bump into a certain Slytherin you wished to see.

“Hello!” You shout out to Theo, smiling up at him, alcohol fueling you with courage, “decided to leave your lair for once?”

He laughs at that and replies “I was forced to come, this isn’t exactly my scene.”

“Oooh don’t tell me the Theodore Nott is too cool for a party like this” you say playfully, voice teasing him “are you more of a Ministry Ball type of man?”

He makes a face at that and says “Hate those even more actually”, “I just like something a bit more quiet”

And maybe it was the alcohol, or the fact that you were both alone and you can forget your differences for just this moment, but you extend your hand to him and say, “Come on let’s go outside”, and maybe for the same reasons as you, he accepted.

He let you lead him outside, at a quiet space looking at the night sky.

You both remain quiet for a while, savoring the silence and serenity of the night.

"You were the first person I met.", you say softly before turning to look him in the eyes, "In Hogwarts, out first day, we spent the train ride together."

"You remember that?", he asks surprised

"Of course I do.", you answer "I was terrified when I stepped on that train. I-I was so scared that this image I had created in my mind about Hogwarts would turn out to be nothing like I had thought."

He looks at you, waiting for you to continue, to open up to him.

"I thought everyone would judge me and hate me- no one would ever truly accept me. Not even here.", you continue, staring at his eyes, voice filled with complain.

"But I stumbled across you and you were kind and you listened to me babble about Godric knows what. But you-you didn't make fun of me and you stayed with me. And all those years I've wondered if-if you did that out of politeness and perfect manners or-or because you liked me- my company.", you laugh at the end, embarrassed. Your cheeks have grown red and hot and you can't look him in the eyes anymore.

"I am babbling still, nothing has changed after all these years."

You curse yourself for revealing all that to him, lowering your walls- letting him in. You don't know why you trust him, or if you should. Preparing yourself for the awkward response he will give you even better if he says nothing and just leaves, you think.

"I did like you", he says and snaps you out of your thoughts. You feel his hand on your shoulder, turning you to him.

You face each other now and his hand comes up to your jaw, thumb lightly stroking your skin.

"I do like you" he says, barely a whisper. And it stirs something in you, to slowly tip your face to his and he does the same.

You kiss each other, gently, as if both unsure and afraid to step into this new territory with eachother. But as time goes by you relax into the kiss, eyes closed, his hands in your face your at his shoulders; keeping close to one another. You let out a sound as you feel him open up your mouth, tasting you as he deepens the kiss.

You let go after a while, both out of breath

"I should get inside, I need to find my friends.", you say apologetically

"Alright, yeah, and I think I'm calling it a night.", he says, lips red and swollen, and hair a bit messed up from earlier.

You reach up and give him a quick kiss, sweet and filled with things you can yet put into words, "Goodnight." you whisper and he responds smiling "Goodnight.".

The next time you talk to him is at your Potion-brewing-dates in an empty classroom. It is a few hours after classes have ended. It is dark outside and you can hear the rain pouring outside.

You couldn't stop thinking about him after the kiss. Going to bed, with your hands inside your underwear pretending they are his, and the image of his face after you kissed him, glassy eyes and maroon lips.

You rush to the class you are supposed to meet him, a few minutes late- not something you typically do.

You open the door hastily, and say "I am sorry I am late."

He is waiting for you, arms crossed at his chest defensively, legs straight in front of him, back leaning on the wall, "It's alright.", he responds. "Shall we?", he points to the ingredients at the table.

You nod and get to work. Falling into silence both busy with what you are doing.

After an hour, while waiting for the potion to brew you are found sitting down, your legs crossed and arms leaning on top of your knees; his back being supported by the wall across from you while his legs are sprawled out in front of him.

You look at eachother, both silently daring the other person yo make the first move- say something about the kiss- or anything at all.

You are the one to break the silence, "Do you regret kissing me?", you ask scared.

"No.", he responds and then asks, "Did you hate it?" now him being the one to sound scared, self-conscious, not typical of him.

"No", you respond by shaking your head, and then having found the courage you ask what you most want to know, "Do you still like me?"

"Yes." he exclaims, with a sigh, not comfortable with sharing his emotions, being this vulnerable with someone.

You smile and then move to straddle him. "I like you too.", you say.

His body is now between your legs and your hands find purchase on his shoulders as you kiss him deeply. He sighs and closes his eyes as he kisses you back; his hands roaming down your back, tugging and holding you close.

You stay like that, kissing and eliciting sounds out of one another, until the noise the potion makes after being brew scares you and you have to pull back. You laugh at eachother, Slughorns assignment completely forgotten.

You both get terrible grades in Potions, but couldn't care less.

After that, you can't get enough of eachother, always craving each others touch. He drags you into empty broom closets and kisses you in between classes. You sneak out and meet him at the astronomy tower, holding back noises every night- not wanting to get caught. after Quidditch matches he pulls you into the showers with him; one hand on your mouth and his other inside of you.

He knows you now. Knows exactly what to do in order to drive you insane, get you to lose control. Savors the sounds you make as he whispers praises in your ear every time he moves inside of you aor when he kisses the spot underneath your ear. You love how he orders you to open your eyes and look at him everytime you come undone, because of him.

But you also know how to turn him into clay, what buttons to push to make him lose himself to you. You know now, that it turns him absolutely crazy when you turn your eyes to look into his when you take him in your mouth and you love to feel his reactions when you say his name as you move with him inside of you.

You are his and he is yours, but only in secret.

You lay on top of him now, face nestled on the spot under his jaw, breathing him in, your hand drawing patterns on his chest and his hand running up and down your spine.

"We should get going." he says, with his eyes closed and with a smile that still hasn't left his face.

You always hate it when this moment comes, how you have to go back to acting like strangers, not saying anything when he sits next to you in class, or when his friends are around.

You hate the anger you feel when you see him talking to other girls, knowing you have no right to these feelings, because you have chosen this. This, being something you don't even know how to call.

"Why do you even care? We are just fucking", you had shouted one night, angry at him for showing he cared when he found you crying in an empty classroom over something ridiculously insignificant. You knew it wasn't true later that night; your back hitting the bookshelves as he took you over and over again, with his voice in your ear whispering "you are mine" over and over again until you came.

You remember that now, as you are dressing up and getting ready to leave him and it hurts how you are only his here, closed off from the world and the people that clearly mean more to him than you do.

"The Ball is next week.", you say, hopeful he will skip it or jokingly ask you to go with him.

"Yeah, you have a date yet?", he asks as he puts on his tie.

"No, you?", you respond, curious and hoping- wishing for him to say no.

"I think I'll go with Daphne", he replies and continues after pausing to look at your reaction to his words. "It's like a tradition".

"Oh.", is the only think that comes out of your mouth. You hate yourself for feeling like this, second best, not even a choice you realize. You are just something for him to play with in his free time.

Eventually he will grow bored of you and move on with a girl his father approves for him. Someone like Daphne, rich, pureblood, a Slytherin, with great manners and parents who raised her to be proper and civil.

The worst thing is that Daphne is actually nice. She has never said anything bad about other Houses, made comments on blood purity, she is smart and beautiful and kind. She is someone who would make Theo happy and that makes you sick.

As you walk over to the door, ready to leave him and run straight to your dorm room and cry your eyes out he asks, "What is wrong?"

“I don’t want to do this anymore.”, you exclaim loudly, trying to convince yourself as well as him.

“Don’t do this, not over something so stupid like the Ball.”, he says, startled after what you just confessed.

“It isn't about the Ball, I can't feel like your whore Theo, I want something more. You don’t get to have your fun with me and then hide me away, like there is something wrong with me.”, you say crying now, hating yourself for letting your emotions show. 

“Like you would be proud to be with me around your friends? The ones who call me and my family Death Eaters?”, he replies annoyed and shaking his head.

“Are they wrong? Have you seen the way you and your friends treat them? Treat anyone who isn't a pure blooded Slytherin? Have you thought that maybe, everything you have been told in your life needs to be thought, checked? That you need to rethink your values? You can't stand and do nothing when people have died because of your beliefs!”, you shout at him, knowing that not everything you are saying is true. You know you are being unfair and hurtful; but you want him to also feel the ache in your chest.

“You knew who I was before we started this, why did you start this with me? Did you think you would change me? Fix me? Did you think I would drop everything to be with you? Well, I will not.”, he says. His voice is stern and cold, as if you two are strangers once again.

“Fine”, you say, “Goodbye.” you shout walking away, not bothering to look him in the eyes.

The next few weeks are unbearable. 

Every time you see Theo you feel your insides turning, your heart leaping out of your chest, tearing into pieces. You see him laugh with his friends, with other girls, acting as if nothing has changed in his life. As if what you had was minuscule, meaningless. As if you were just another girl, disposable.

You feel betrayed, mostly by yourself, for allowing you to let him in, trust him, trust that what you had was as important to him as it was to you.

And what did you have?

Stolen kisses in broom closets, hidden touches in-between classes, laying alone together in the astronomy tower or the room of requirement; that was your relationship with Theo. A relationship his father, his peers, no one from the magical society he associated with would approve.

Of course you knew that when everything started, and that is why you curse yourself now; minutes from the Ball all your friends are attending, dressed in a beautiful gown you picked, crying your eyes out for the love story you will never have with the person you want most.

Your friends forced you to dress up, snap out of whatever was happening that you didn’t want to tell them. They helped you fix your hair, put on makeup and jewelry, get a beautiful gown from Hogsmeade; all ready. Dance, drink and forget; that is what they told you. 

Dance, drink and forget, then; that is what you will do. 

As you enter the Great Hall, Theo is nowhere to be found. Good, you think, for all you care he could sulk on his own, down at his pathetic common room, with his depressing friends. 

While heading to the dance floor you spot Daphne Greengrass swaying with Blaise Zabini, odd you think but decide to ignore any more thoughts that could lead to Theo.

You hug your friends after you find them and let them lead you to the dance floor.

You laugh and sway to the music, carefree, until you see him enter. His hair is messed up and his tie is tied up as if he did it in a hurry.

When he sees you he comes running, bumping into classmates on the way to you, shouting apologies left and right.

He stands before you now, breathing heavily, pupils blown out, skin flushed, hands moving nervously. You realize he isn't wearing his ring and that confuses you even more than him, standing here, in front of you and the whole school. 

“I was wrong”, he says, looking at you sincerely, his green eyes sweet and kind once again.

“About what?”, you ask thunderstruck, afraid to move or speak, scared that everything will disappear.

“I would drop everything for you, I-I will do it. Ask me anything and it is yours. I am yours.”, he confesses. 

And you want to tell him to stop, take it all back, he can still pretend nothing is going on between you, he doesn't have to ruin his life for you. Because no matter what you think of his friends and family, he loves them and they make him happy. That is all you want for him, to be happy.

“No Theo, you don't have to do this. I don't care about it anymore, I am sorry we fought. I am sorry, you were right; I was jealous and insecure, but it doesn't matter now. I just want you to be happy, and I don't care anymore if they make you happy and not me. I can live with that.”, you say to him. Hoping he understands how you feel about him, that you love him, truly.

“You. You make me happy. And I want to be happy with you, I don't care who sees, I don't care what they say. I want everyone to know I love you. I want them to know”. he says, smiling and holding your face in his hand, gentle and steady. 

You can only smile and say “I love you too.”

And you don't see Pansy smacking Draco in the arm and then pointing at you; or your friends coughing up and spitting out their drinks. You don't see Daphne Greengrass whispering I told you to Blaises ear. 

No, you don't see all that, because you and Theo kiss eachother for the first time after all those weeks, and it is as if you two are the only people in this world.

fin

SORRY FOR MISTAKES, I WAS TOO BORED TO READ THIS AGAIN AND ENGLISH ISN’T MY FIRST LANGUAGE.

feedback and criticism are appreciated and needed! 

divider by: @saradika​

[drarryspecificrecs]

2024.05 ~ Top 10 longest fics posted on AO3

1. Extraordinary Labor by Miershooptier [E, 259k]

►Set long after the Battle of Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy is abruptly and unwillingly called home after spending the last twenty years living and studying abroad. It seems that there are things at Malfoy Manor which need to be put to rest, and the Ministry of Magic has determined that as the sole remaining Malfoy by blood, Draco is the only one who can do it. But curse breaking is not Draco’s area of expertise, and so the Ministry has found someone willing to help.

2. Saviour by @whumpitlikeyoumeanit [E, 204k]  *typo

►Several years post-War, Draco is found wandering, incoherent, and ill, in the aftermath of an extended bout of the Imperius curse. Harry Potter brings him into his home to protect him while the rest of the world thinks he's dead.

3. A Dark and Savage Magic by @tessacrowley [E, 124k]

►They say that the earliest spells were cast without wands, that they were bargains made with the earth. They say that the magic was theoretically limitless, equal only to the price the caster was willing to pay, strong enough to move mountains and reshape the sky. They say that omegas were pioneers of that magic, its scholars and its stewards. But that was many thousands of years ago. Ages have come and gone since the last of the druids drew breath. Their knowledge, and their power, has slipped from history to legend, from legend to myth. Omegas are now an underclass, and druids a relic of an idealized but unattainable past. Draco Malfoy, an omega himself, has a natural skill in the old magic that will do him no favors.

4. The Rehabilitation of Draco Malfoy by sayschu [E, 119k]

►Harry Potter spent the first year post-war being the hero everyone needed. Draco Malfoy was abandoned in Azkaban, where a plot to punish Death Eaters has left him more vulnerable than ever. Now they're both returning to Hogwarts, and while Harry aches for a connection, Malfoy can't bear to be touched.

5. Mute series by Wendy_Noire [T, 106k, 2 works]

►While the wizarding world were led to believe that Harry Potter was treated like a prince, the reality was much worse. It was a shock for Draco to realise the other 11 year old in Madame Malkins' wasn't simply uninterested in him, but couldn't speak. He was even more shocked to discover that this child was none other than Harry Potter, someone he had been expecting to be as cocky as Snape had told him James was, not this small, shy, mute boy. From that moment on, Draco swore to himself that he would protect the smaller of the two, even if his parents disagreed with his decision.

6. Follies of an Ornamental Hermit by @mallstars --- ART by @itsphantasmagoria​ [E, 103k]

►Potter still wasn't looking at him. Instead he faced the windows, watching the snow and the sunless sea. Behind the welcome desk, standing tall amidst the wisdom and glistening magic, Draco controlled the spheres of restless light and the flustered books, all with gentle flicks of a wand that had once served Potter without a beat of hesitation. If Potter were to look, Draco would be ready. He had a right to be here. The library was his, if only after hours.

7. Harry & The Slytherin Six by @youhavemyswordandmybow [M, 100k]

►Three things happened after the war. Hermione lost her memory. Ron didn’t handle it well, started to wear lots of black, work-out relentlessly, fix up Sirius’s motorbike and sleep around. And Harry let homeless, ex-con Slytherins move in with him until their homes and Gringotts accounts were released. Because, he's a f--ing idiot. Oh, and Andromeda made him take parental classes - in order for him to have Teddy overnight.

8. Protego Obscurial by @sightedkarma [E, 90k]

►As the Founder of Protego Maxima, the top-rated Mixed Magical Security Firm in England, Harry is a busy man. He has a policy that states he no longer takes on clients personally, as he, Ron and Hermione continue to grow the business. So when Pansy Parkinson appears in his office requesting he takes on a special case, one would think he would reject her. You would be right, if that special case didn't include a huge donation to his charity and the opportunity to work with his favorite band. But when he finds out just how familiar the men behind those masks are and how personal this case will be, he may wish he had stuck to policy.

9. An Exercise In Forgiveness by @pepperpaperpopper​ [M, 74k]

►Seven apologies in seven years. A down and out Draco is on a quest to become a better man while trying to find his moral compass. Meanwhile, Harry struggles with regret and resentment and is unable to leave the war behind. Can they find grace and forgiveness? [...]

10. The Future Is Guaranteed by iima_k [T, 40k]

►Over two years ago, Harry and Draco made big life changes: Harry moved away and Draco ended his marriage. Now pessimistic about life, a chance meeting has them learning about love, purpose, and family. For once, they begin to honestly question, what is it that they want?

—

※ Word count: 1k ~ 10k

※ Word count: 10k ~ 40k

At least I'm trying. by carelesspeaches [E, 17k]

An Eight-Headed Snake by Otherain [T, 30k]

Goodbye Pond by @handledwithgloves [G, 18k]

How do you spell ‘love’? You don’t spell it…you feel it. by skotini [T, 20k]

How to live with Malfoy by ProseMary [T, 16k]

Mordax Afectium by maxallover [M, 14k]

The Risk of Falling by @siobhanhazel [T, 19k]

Tastes Like Commitment by Reloumi [E, 21k]

that's the beauty of a secret (you know you're supposed to keep it) by @autisticnightfury [E, 39k]

The Third Son series by Runner3434 [E, 31k, 3 works]

Walked In and Dream Came Trued It for Ya by CheatsatUNO [G, 12k]

—

Ongoing Fest/Exchange

※ Fics would be listed elsewhere.

HD Mpreg 2024 | @harrydracompreg

Lights Camera Drarry 2024 | @lcdrarry

[neoptolemid]

Line work for a drawing I've been doing in the mean time, it is of Hermione at her wedding

she is all fancied up

[mask131]

Everybody loves to consider Greek mythology as a world of clear-cut deities with specific roles and defined limits between them, but it isn't true - and looking at how the deities changed, evolved and mixed together throughout the times is always a deeply rewarding experience.

One example I can give you are the "alternate Aphrodites". Aphrodite was one of the main and most important goddesses of Greek religion - as such she existed with many local variations, specific epithets and alternate cults. But many of these alternate deities ended up actually fusing Aphrodite with or having her replace other gods - a confusion between deities reflected by their very myths and legends.

The most famous case is the "Aphroditos" that was honored in Chypria: the "phallic Venus", the "bearded Aphrodite", an Aphrodite with male and female attributes honoring a mix of both female and male sexualities - and which according to records was linked to rituals of genders exchanging clothes, and other ritual crossdressing. It has been attested and confirmed that the "male Aphrodite", "Aphroditos" was the source of "prototype" for the figure of Hermaphrodite, the source of "hermaphrodism", and the male-female androgyne born in legends of the union of Hermes and Aphrodite - while also acting himself as an alternate form of Hermes in some places.

Hermes isn't the only lover of Aphrodite the goddess ended up confused with. Everybody likes to talk of "Aphrodite Areia", "Aphrodite of war", "Aphrodite in arms", the Aphrodite bearing weapons honored in more war-like cities and cultures of Ancient Greece, notably Sparta. This Aphrodite was usually coupled or paired with Ares, and legend does notoriously point out how the two were lovers. But in some areas, Aphrodite Areia was more than just the companion of Ares or an "Ares-influenced Aphrodite" - she was LITERALY the female version of Ares, replacing him. One same idea of a deity, for two genders.

And a last example I will point out is the Aphrodite Thalassa, or Aphrodite Pontia. "Aphrodite from the sea". We all know Aphrodite has a strong connection to the sea, since in the Hesiodic version she is supposed to be born out of it, and in religion she was considered a protector of sailors and ships. But further than that, you can see how deep her connection goes due to how in Greek religious (or non-religious) art, Aphrodite was often paired with Poseidon. It is something attested (you can check the book "The Twelve Gods of Greece and Rome", which studies the various depictions of the Twelve Olympians) - among the Olympians, when Aphrodite isn't depicted paired with either Hephaistos or Ares, she was usually paired with Poseidon - and when Aphrodite wasn't among the Twelve, she was replaced by Amphitrite, Poseidon's wife and queen. To the point that in many depictions it is hard to tell them apart - if they weren't fused in one...

Aphrodite's alternate self and "combo fusions" can even go in unexpected ways. Take the local cult, at the Hermione town, of Aphrodite "Nymphia" - Aphrodite the Bride, an Aphrodite of weddings and wives honored both by maiden virgins who were to lose their virginity upon their marriage night, or by widows who prepared themselves for a second union. This marital Aphrodite is the first step in the existence of another alternate self usually described as... "Aphrodite-Hera". And if you recall, back in The Iliad, Homer himself talked of how Aphrodite shared with Hera her belt of seduction to awaken the desire of Zeus... (Plus the fact that Aphrodite was said in the Homeric tradition to be the daughter of Zeus and Dione - Dione herself being literaly just a female verson/counterpart of Zeus ; and by extension later some people called Aphrodite herself "Dione" in reference to her mother, the same Helios in the Homeric traditon is also called "Hyperion" despite Hesiod splitting them in a father-and-son duo)

So yeah, sorry all of you who like neat classifications and little boxes that never get mixed up - but by the real facts, while Greek mythology as quite stable, it was also more fluid than you'd think, and the gods did have a tendency to fuse together...

(Cut to a long post about how Selene, Hekate and Artemis ended up all fused into the "Diana triformis" and the "Triple Moon" by Roman times)

[littlesparklight]

What are the specific sources that say Helen went willingly with Paris? Was discussing with a friend but all I could remember was Sappho fragment 16? Ty!!

Let me start with a quote from the preface to Ruby Blondell's Helen of Troy: Beauty, Myth, Devastation:

"Though her [Helen's] departure is typically referred to as an "abduction", none of our sources claims that Paris took Helen by force against her will. Her complicity is essential to her story."

I could, in short, give you almost any and all sources possible, anon! Even the late sources like Dictys and Dares include mutual attraction and desire, even when Helen is, actually forcibly taken. And sure, some might protest about Aphrodite's (implied, usually) forcible meddling in Helen's psychology, but that is never what we really see and that is, secondly, not really how personal responsibility, even in the face of potential/actual divine interference, works. (In that case you'd have to absolve Zeus of a lot of his escapades.)

Anyway, I'll try to give you a selection, vaguely arranged in chronological order.

The Iliad - I could pick several different lines from here, and they'd all be from Helen herself. Sure, if one's interpretation is that she is not honest about what she's saying, you might not agree, but I'm going to insist on allowing Helen the agency she is claiming for herself. So, here, from Helen's conversation with Priam in Book 3:

"Honored are you to me, dear father in law, and revered, and would that evil death had pleased me at that time when I followed your son here, abandoning [...]" (trans. Caroline Alexander)

Elsewhere Helen uses "I went". But for this the pertinent thing is that "had pleased me" because the clear implication is that what pleased her back then was Paris, not death.

The Kypria; fragmentary, here's a quote from Proclus' summary: "Aphrodite brings Helen and Alexandros together. After their intercourse, they load up a great many valuables and sail away by night."

That "brings [them] together" isn't a language of force in the terminology used, and it's clearly both Helen and Paris who takes the valuables, not Paris alone. In fact, lets compare a directly comparable sentence from the (much) later Bibliotheke, Epitome 3.3: "Alexander persuaded Helen to go off with him. And she abandoned Hermione, then nine years old, and putting most of the property on board, she set sail with him by night."

'Persuasion', 'she abandoned', '[she] put most of the property on board', 'she set sail'. You see the point here. Helen is not baggage that Paris has picked up like an inanimate object and left with, no matter what its will. She is doing things.

You already mentioned Sappho 16 yourself, so let's turn to her contemporary Alkaios, fr. 283 (taking the translation of the quote of this from Blondell's book): "... and [Eros?] excited in her breast, the heart of Argive Helen; and driven mad by the Trojan man, the host-deceiver, she followed him over the sea in his ship."

The rest basically reiterates these opening lines, and you can see some of the similarity to Sappho 16, but Alkaios is a lot more condemnatory. Of Helen and Paris both.

Euripides next. Iphigenia in Aulis: "[...]and he, finding Menelaus gone from home, carried Helen off, in mutual desire, to his steading on Ida." (Agamemnon speaking.) and "[...]that Hellas might exact vengeance on the one who had fled her home to wed a foreigner." (The chorus speaking.) Trojan Women: "Their captain too, whom men call wise, has lost for what he hated most what most he prized, yielding to his brother for a woman's sake—and she was willing and not taken by force—the joy he had of his own children in his home." (Kassandra speaking.) I'm not going to quote all of Hecuba's speech in the agon against Helen, but her whole argument is that Helen went willingly... and some of Helen's own arguments are less to deny this idea of mutual desire/having left willingly and more to say Aphrodite is impossible to resist (but then we have to absolve Zeus, for Helen uses his vulnerability to Aphrodite as her thrust for as to why she should be excused).

Herodotus in his Histories is another that speak of abduction out of one side of the mouth and implies something far more willingly/mutual with the other (from 2.115):

"gave wings to and were gone with her"; the phrase really is that, quite literally, and I haven't been able to find anything that actually discusses this. (Another translations goes with "did stir her to desire" which, while that isn't what the text literally says, does, like, get the idea of something mutual happening/the usual focus on Helen's desire for Paris across to us better.)

And for something a little later, Gorgias' Encomium of Helen: like Blondell points out in her book, Gorgias' suggestion of actual force/violence as a potential factor in Helen leaving Sparta is quite singular. (In fact, all of his arguments turns into force/violence against Helen and make her basically an object who doesn't so much have no agency as no will or personhood that might react independently at all.)

And Ovid's Heroides certainly has Helen inviting Paris' attentions, even if she does so in a circuitous manner, circling up on saying "yes, come here, now that Menelaos has left".

Anyway, I could probably have gone on, but there's a couple sources, at least!

And I'd like to point out that whether one wants to insist that Aphrodite's potential direct influence means any "willingness" of Helen's is meaningless or not, there's a whole galaxy between "Helen went off with literally no thought to what this would cause or to her daughter and Menelaos and her family, and didn't care about the consequences/intentionally meant to cause all this destruction to both sides" and "she cares about this, and is/will be conflicted over it, yet is also attracted to and leaves with Paris".

Like, just because she wasn't violently kidnapped against her will, and was/is actually attracted to Paris (which she is still in the Iliad! That is part of the point of her confrontation with Aphrodite!) and so on, doesn't mean there aren't a lot of nuances (as the Iliad itself shows) that can be put into Helen being attracted to Paris and leaving willingly in some manner.

[justvea18]

In my AU, I'm trying to piece the timeline together of Iliad and the Odyssey and other myths/events relating to the characters such as (I just did this during my free time for fun so it's probably HISTORICALLY INACCURATE):

Helen's suitor era, the time between Helen and Menelaus' wedding to Helen's abduction may be 8 years in between at the very least because of Hermione being a woman already by the time of Iliad (Helen's words) so I assume she Hermione was 8 when Helen was taken and 18 at the time of Iliad (I based this on Spartan customs)

Odysseus' marriage proposal to Penelope and Telemachus's birth - this is kinda difficult since usually couples like them have a child after marriage. But I just figured that they must've had Telemachus 8 years after the suitor era and were married and childless for quite a while (?) and they had Telemachus a few months before Helen's abduction since Telemachus was obviously an infant when the entire thing happened.

For their ages (approximately):

- Married - Odysseus (26) & Penelope (24)

- Telemachus' birth - Odysseus (32) & Penelope (30)

- Iliad - Odysseus (41) & Penelope (39) & Telemachus (9)

- Pre-Odyssey/Post-Trojan War - Odysseus (42) & Penelope (40) & Telemachus (10)

- Post-Odyssey - Odysseus (52) & Penelope (50) & Telemachus (20)

Hector and Andromache's timeline is quite easier since Astyanax is a baby/toddler during the events of Iliad. But I'm still not sure on Hector and his siblings' age gap

Achilles' time in Scyros is also difficult to count but I assume that Phyrrus was 13-14 when he was drafted. I'll be honest I'm quite confused with the Achilles' timeline in terms of his age and it deserves a different post itself

but so far, the age I've come up with his (and Patroclus' for reference) age(s) thanks to half-assed math:

- Achilles - 17 (Scyros Arrival), 18 (Marriage to Deidamia and Phyrrus' birth), 22 (Pre-war), 31 (Iliad - 9 yrs into the war) early thirties is considered young right

- Patroclus - 13 (Exile), 17~18 (Helen's Suitor), 25 (Pre-war), 34 (Iliad - 9 yrs into the war)

[redstarjuly]

I was reading discourse on achilles yesterday and I'm still thinking about some people calling him a r*pist and others saying that other books they've read that are from a woman's perspective completely shifted the perception they have of TSOA's Achilles. And to me that makes little to no sense.

Here's what I come from: Achilles is a character from the Illiad, and the poem itself is pretty much fanfiction. I mean, the person and warrior that Achilles is based on probably existed, and it might have been called Achilles even, but i think we all agree that the rest is dubious.

Since the illiad is like the OG story, people tend to look at it as if it's canon and we'll go with that logic. You have the canon work and poets go off on their own versions of these characters writing tragedies, more epics, thesis, all sorts of stuff, and it goes on for centuries until we reach The song of Achilles and Percy Jackson and all the other 100s retellings coming out which are fanfiction of fanfiction.

And you're letting one fanfiction distort another fanfiction? It's bonkers to me because as someone who has to read the classics and grew up on fanfiction, I don't see that happening elsewhere. Between academics, if we're discussing a myth, we mention the different versions, and we can choose one to go on from, sure. But even so, I never saw someone sound so affected by different perspectives on the same character in class.

And if we're talking on the world of street fanfiction, I most definitely don't find people going "Oh this fanfiction of hermione betraying the order and marrying voldmort changed my perspective of Harry Potter's hermione" you know? -- if that sounds like a stupid example, it's because it is. It's just to show that my whole point is that it's insane to me to let a book ruin another book when the authors are creating different versions of the same characters, which basically turns them into different characters with the same names. Especially since you know, it's all made up. And this isn't real criticism to the people forming their opinions or the authors, respect to all of them.

But it’s a little maddening watching people roll into arguments to discuss what piece of fiction is more real and relevant when they're all in the same level of glorified AO3 works.

I hope this makes sense to someone else

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2024.05.07

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. A Dark and Savage Magic by @tessacrowley [E, 124k]

►They say that the earliest spells were cast without wands, that they were bargains made with the earth. They say that the magic was theoretically limitless, equal only to the price the caster was willing to pay, strong enough to move mountains and reshape the sky. They say that omegas were pioneers of that magic, its scholars and its stewards. But that was many thousands of years ago. Ages have come and gone since the last of the druids drew breath. Their knowledge, and their power, has slipped from history to legend, from legend to myth. Omegas are now an underclass, and druids a relic of an idealized but unattainable past. Draco Malfoy, an omega himself, has a natural skill in the old magic that will do him no favors.

2. Harry & The Slytherin Six by @youhavemyswordandmybow [M, 100k]

►Three things happened after the war. Hermione lost her memory. Ron didn’t handle it well, started to wear lots of black, work-out relentlessly, fix up Sirius’s motorbike and sleep around. And Harry let homeless, ex-con Slytherins move in with him until their homes and Gringotts accounts were released. Because, he's a f--ing idiot. Oh, and Andromeda made him take parental classes - in order for him to have Teddy overnight.

3. Saviour by @whumpitlikeyoumeanit [E, 204k]  *typo

►Several years post-War, Draco is found wandering, incoherent, and ill, in the aftermath of an extended bout of the Imperius curse. Harry Potter brings him into his home to protect him while the rest of the world thinks he's dead.

---

Fest/Exchange

1. Slipping through my fingers all the time by Anonymous [T, 11k]

►Recently-divorced Harry returns to Serenity Commune, site of his wildest youthful romps and the beginning of his recovery from trauma, to get out of a rut (and because Hermione made him). Unfortunately, sex, drugs, and dancing aren't all that await - he'll have to confront his past and what life might have been. ★ Lights Camera Drarry 2024 | @lcdrarry