foreverfreeseahorse

[foreverfreeseahorse]

tis the season

hello friends! while i didn't have the time this year to participate in any seasonal fic writing (boo!), i did still want to celebrate my favorite season for fanfic somehow (yay!), so i've pulled together a short list of some of the seasonal fics i've enjoyed over the last few years. hopefully some will be new to you and/or fun jaunts down memory lane. either way, i wish you wonderful reading and would love it if you shared some of your favorite seasonal fics too!

(and don't forget, like every year, d/hr advent is ongoing, and an excellent place to start if you're in search of seasonal dramione vibes)

i'm never lonely when i'm with you & keep it like a secret by @pacific-rimbaud

new years resolution by @sodamnradd

and the bells were ringing out by @ifyouwereamelodymeg

once upon a december by peanutbrittles123

now is a gift by @senlinyu

the nutcracker pas de deux by @heyjude19-writing

not what it looks like & lattes and larceny by @eveningstruggle

in want of a wife by @ambpersand

the warmth at our backs by @malpal132

not safe for work by @eggbagelsjr

against sure winter by @skiitter

some collections to check out too: d/hr advent full collection (since 2011!!), cdc secret santa 2022, hp festival of stars (2022, 2023), winter wonderfics

happy reading everyone!

[foreverfreeseahorse]

Best Feeling Ever...

[foreverfreeseahorse]

Do you sometimes read a fic writer’s work, and just… thank all the gods this person managed to get obsessed with the same fictional people you did?

[foreverfreeseahorse]

Tunnel Vision

Draco bumped his head yet again against the low ceiling. This had been happening ever since he entered the bloody tunnel behind Granger, and honestly, he had stopped counting after the fiftieth hit. He was currently on all fours with Granger's pretty little arse swaying in front of him in the dim light as they crawled.

"How much longer do we need to keep this up?" He groaned.

Granger's voice echoed back "Be patient, you idiot. How am I supposed to know?"

"I thought you had a plan before leading us into this death trap!"

Draco saw her brushing cobwebs out of her way before crawling in further.

"This isn't a death trap! It's a secret passage!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "And what secrets is it supposed to be hiding, may I ask?"

"I wouldn't be crawling through spiders if I had known, now would I?"

Draco groaned in frustration. "Speed up then, will you? Even if death is waiting for us on the other end, I'd rather prefer that than this hellish torture." He could practically hear her eye roll even though he couldn't see her face.

His wand was tucked snugly over his ear, the bright lumos illuminating Granger's denim covered arse. He couldn't help but appreciate muggle clothing. They certainly had a few tricks up their sleeves.

"I still can't see the other end. Either it's too dark or we have a long way to go." Hermione voice rang through the damp, musty walls.

"Why are you so interested in this tunnel?" He asked, irritated.

"It just popped out of nowhere. I've never seen it in the marauder's map."

"The what map?"

"Nevermind."

Draco decided that it was better to keep quiet and save his energy for crawling. He looked down at his grime covered fingers and ran a list of how many varieties of soap he would need to get himself clean again. He didn't realise Granger had stopped moving until his nose and mouth collided violently against her plump arse and she slipped forward with a surprised yelp that echoed down the path they came through. They fell down together in a tangled mess of limbs. So soft, was the only thought in his head when his chin bounced and came to rest on her bum. She harshly shoved him back and Draco frowned.

"I swear I want to take you right here on the floor." He confessed.

"How many times did you bump your head?"

"I stopped counting after fifty."

She huffed a laugh and got up on all fours again. "I think we've reached the end. There's a wooden board blocking the way out." She pushed with all her might and the wood went crumbling down.

Draco breathed a sigh of relief at the fresh night air that met his nose. Granger crawled out and Draco followed.

"Is this the forest?" He spun around.

"I think so..."

"You mean to tell me that we just crawled all the way to the forest from the castle?!"

Granger grinned sheepishly.

Draco looked around and an expanse of trees, grass and bushes caught his eyes, all washed with the rich indigo paint of the night. A beautiful lake rippled in the starlight; the moon a beautiful crescent in the centre. Granger went and stood above the water mirroring the night sky; the light from her wand making her glow like fireflies in a glass jar. Draco went and stood beside her. He glanced back at the hollow trunk of the dead tree they had climbed out. They were all alone.

He decided to take a chance. Threading his fingers through hers, he caught her gaze and smiled. His heart fluttered when she smiled back. He dipped his head and kissed her - soft and sweet. He felt her smile against his lips and his heart bloomed like a fragrant night blossom bathed in moonlight. Blinding white and pure. Just like her love.

"Do you intend to keep your promise?" She asked after surfacing for air.

"I do, but...", he fell backwards and thumped onto the dewy grass, "my knees and back hurt like hell."

Hermione laughed. "Later, then." She said and lay down beside him, resting her hand on his chest and her palm over his dancing heart.

"But definitely tonight." He said and pressed his lips to hers to seal the deal.

[foreverfreeseahorse]

Pets and Passwords

Hermione walked with a spring in her step. It had rained early in the morning and now the sky was cerulean with whispy white clouds. The tiny droplets of rain on the lush green grass of their grounds glittered in the sunlight. The hot and sticky atmosphere up until last night was truly becoming insufferable and rather irritating. Now that the weather was better, she could finally breathe freely. She took advantage of her suspended classes and made her way towards the lake to study under her favourite tree. She couldn't wait to feel the fresh breeze playing with her curls and ruffling the pages of her books. Nothing could ruin her mood today morning. She grinned at the wonderful thought.

"Granger!"

Well, something could ruin her mood, it seems. She groaned in frustration and slowly turned around to face the approaching figure of Draco Malfoy. She narrowed her eyes when she noticed a strange orange, furry bundle in the young Slytherin's arms. She gasped when the bundle moved and revealed familiar yellow eyes. Malfoy came and stood before her.

"I've been told this abomination is yours." He drawled and extended Crookshanks towards her.

Hermione glanced down at the lazy face of her pet and then her eyes caught on the pale, scratched palms and knuckles of her childhood tormentor. She looked questioningly at him and made move to take her sweet cat from his outstretched fingers.

"How did you know he's mine?" She asked quietly.

"Theo." He replied curtly.

Hermione cradled Crookshanks and then asked again, "How did Theo-"

"He's sleeping with Potter." Came his reply even before she completed her sentence.

She stood still, as if turned to stone on spot. "What?!"

"He claimed to have seen the beast roaming in the Gryffindor common room."

"He entered our tower?!"

"Nott doesn't like the beast much either. Said the thing sat and stared while the two of them were going at it."

Hermione shook her head. She needed to clear her head of that image.

"Where did you find my cat?" She asked instead.

"In my dormitory." He said, shifting uncomfortably.

"What?!" Merlin, will the surprises ever stop?

Malfoy had the audacity to shrug. "He must have gotten out when you weren't looking."

"But how did he get into your dormitory?"

"By using the password."

"Stop being ridiculous."

"I'm nothing but serious."

"Godric help me. What's the password?"

"Why would I tell you?" He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Then explain."

"I already told you. The password."

"For Merlin's sake! What's up with you?!"

He muttered some nonsense under his breath.

Hermione leaned forward. "Come again?"

"The password is 'meow'!" He spat out.

Hermione blinked twice. Then once again. Then she burst into laughter. "What the bloody hell, Malfoy?!" When he stood staring at her in silence, she realised that he was, indeed, nothing but serious. Her eyes widened. "Can you blame Crooks for entering? All he had to do was go infront of the entrance and yowl!"

"I'm not the one responsible for setting the passwords." He blushed.

Another wave of laughter bubbled out of her again. This whole ordeal was so ridiculous, it almost didn't seem possible. But knowing the Slytherins, the idea didn't seem so far fetched. Hermione adjusted her bag and beamed at him.

"Where are you off to?" He quirked his eyebrows.

"To the lake. I'm going to read."

"Oh."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just asking."

"Are you waiting for an invitation?"

"You do owe me one for returning your cat." He smirked.

Hermione rolled her eyes started making her way towards the lake again; with a spring in her step and Malfoy trailing behind her.

Read more of my work here.

[foreverfreeseahorse]

Bois Enchanté

Fury bubbled at the pit of her stomach, and she didn't even bother correcting him. "What I do is none of your business, Malfoy." She took a step closer to him and was immediately surrounded by his rich masculine fragrance. She struggled hard internally, as she tried not to let her eyes flutter shut and inhale a lungful of his scent.

"Listen here, Granger, I am here on an extremely important duty, and I will not let a silly lovestruck couple ruin something that might affect the entirety of the wizarding population. I'm telling you once, and you'd better comply. Get the fuck away from here."

Hermione tried to maintain her stance. A lump formed at her throat and she gulped involuntarily. He possibly couldn't be talking about Bois Enchanté. It was a highly guarded secret. No one knew about it, except her and Rolf. They were careful not to even let a soul suspect what they might be up to. "What are you talking about?" She faltered.

"You don't bloody need to know. Go away before I force you to. And take your idiot with you." He forced out, venom laced with his words.