#But I am contrasting that with Harry Potter:

[saint-starflicker]

As noted in the comments, Dalton's actor does KNOW yk but that was on the pre-Musk bird app

Tom Schulman (screenplay writer) based a lot of it on his life, unfortunately I can't find the specific interview that I'm going by, and to my knowledge he didn't mention that dimension nor did Peter Weir (director) with whom they discussed significant changes—such as not having Mr. Keating die of cancer at the end of the movie, that sounded like it was an argument as much as it was a collaboration.

But at the same time, the main poet that the whole movie kept referring to was Walt Whitman...who the internet tells me snogged Oscar Wilde back in the 1882.

And a musical motif of the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky.

Sure, real life people can just so happen to like a famous 19th century poet or composer and that's not necessarily signaling that they like these gay artists because they're gay...but fictional characters are a narrative construction, and these decisions to reference these specific artists in this fictional world they're constructing is...a fine coincidence that it happened twice.

It could have been by accident because back in the 1980s or even the 1950s mainstream culture and education did take the artistic works of gay people and apply plenty of erasure. Schuman could have written it in, Weir could have conceptualized and shot a scene, and not known that aspect of who they were referencing.

But then if separation of an artistic work from the artist's personal life and the artist's intentions can operate against representation in that way, then why can't it also sometimes maybe operate in favor of—academic term incoming—queer readings?

The screenplay writer and director might not have intended it, but the movie by itself (that is, between the movie and us-the-audience, instead of between a creator and us-the-audience through a movie) bears an abundance of fruit.

All that said, I think discussion around it near the time of the movie's release was not as direct as compared with... a specific other Dark Academia intellectual property that emerged a few years later whose creator, for many other reasons, is too controversial to name.

But if I did name that other intellectual property's creator, it would demonstrate how even somebody that puts the gayness in there intentionally maybe should not say it out loud. Not because representation is bad nor because that would get a creator harassed by bigots or anything, but more that...this specific creator in my humble opinion kept on doing it wrong. And then kept finding more ways to continue doing that specific thing so very wrong, like, stop already Jo, stop it stop it he's already dead.

... It's from that moment in that fandom that I actually learned that sometimes it's good if some people that created a work that invites queer readings or intentionally/canonly has gay characters do not actually address it. By "some people" I meant that specific one. If it stays fanlore or interpretive and nothing more, that's fine. It's fine. This is fine. We'll be fine. It's fine.

I wonder if the people involved with dps, like the making of it, know that it's a media cesspool for homosexual children/young adults on the blogging website tumblr dot com

[mandg-readings]

Last spam of the day: I'm also a co-host with PaperCraneAudiobooks for a crackfic podcast where we read live and blind fics about obscure pairings or bizarre events. We're due to release Episode 6 later this week so you've got plenty to fill your boots with. It is an extremely NSFW listen! Being that we are British and swearing is a sentence enhancer here and we read some messed up stuff. Just realised I've mentioned this on my instagram but not on here😂 Also, if you follow my FB page, it won't let me post text... so if I've been quiet on there, that's why. I got Silencio'd. 😔

[dinarosie]

Re-Reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Snape’s Moment of Unyielding Bravery

The scene I want to highlight in The Goblet of Fire is one that carries so much weight, and each time I re-read it, the gravity of the moment only increases. Imagine the setting: the hospital wing. It’s packed with people—Cornelius Fudge, Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall, Bill and Molly Weasley, Hermione, Ron, and Harry. All eyes are on Snape as he steps forward, pulls up his sleeve, and reveals the Dark Mark burned into his skin.

“There,” said Snape harshly. “There. The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as it was an hour or so ago, when it burned black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burned into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of distinguishing one another, and his means of summoning us to him. When he touched the Mark of any Death Eater, we were to Disapparate, and Apparate, instantly, at his side. This Mark has been growing clearer all year. Karkaroff’s too.

Let that sink in. Snape isn’t just showing a Mark; he’s exposing the deepest, darkest secret of his life. He’s standing in front of his students, his colleagues, and—let’s not forget—Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, and he’s admitting something most people would bury forever.

What makes this even more remarkable is that the choice to do this wasn’t something Dumbledore told him to make. This isn’t part of some grand plan discussed beforehand. Snape makes this decision on his own, in the moment, fully aware of how it will tarnish him in the eyes of others. Why?

Because Snape understands the stakes. Fudge’s denial of Voldemort’s return endangers the entire wizarding world. By exposing the Dark Mark on his arm, Snape hopes to convince Fudge to take Voldemort’s return seriously. His goal is clear: to push the Ministry into taking precautionary measures and preparing the wizarding community for the battle ahead.

And then there’s this haunting line:

“…We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord’s vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back into the fold.”

What Snape doesn’t say, but what we understand, is that he knows he’s facing the exact same fate. When Snape goes back to Voldemort, he knows he’ll be met with pain, torture, and humiliation and even death. Where Karkaroff sees only a way out, Snape sees his duty—a stark contrast that underscores Snape’s resolve.

Here’s what makes this even more powerful: Snape is so determined to convince Fudge that he uses the suffering he knows awaits him as evidence. He stands there, knowing that returning to Voldemort will mean enduring unbearable torture, and he uses that as proof of Voldemort’s return. Snape essentially says, “I know what’s coming for me, and I’m still standing here to tell you the truth.”

Then we reach the next turning point in this scene:

“Severus,” said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, “you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready . . . if you are prepared . . .”

Look at Dumbledore’s approach here. He’s cautious, almost hesitant. This is a sharp contrast to Half-Blood Prince, where Dumbledore gives Snape direct orders about killing him. Here, Dumbledore knows exactly what he’s asking of Snape: to return to Voldemort, to put himself in unimaginable danger.

And Snape’s response?

“I am.”

That’s it. Two words. No hesitation, no complaint. J.K. Rowling describes him as pale, his cold, dark eyes glittering strangely. Dumbledore, too, is described as watching Snape leave with a trace of apprehension on his face. Both of them know that Snape might not come back. Both of them know he’s walking into the lion’s den. And yet, Snape doesn’t waver.

This moment is a masterclass in bravery, but it also completely dismantles the argument that Snape’s good deeds are purely motivated by guilt over Lily or his promise to Dumbledore.

This scene also shows us that the promise Snape made to Dumbledore after Lily’s death wasn’t just about protecting Harry. It was about choosing a side. Snape made the decision to fight against Voldemort, no matter the cost. From that moment on, he dedicated himself to sabotaging the Dark Lord’s plans, enduring unspeakable pain and danger in the process.

And let’s not overlook this: Snape doesn’t just fight when Harry is in danger. He fights Voldemort at every opportunity because he knows it’s the right thing to do. He does it not because of guilt or obligation, but because his own moral compass demands it.

This scene in The Goblet of Fire encapsulates everything that makes Snape such a complex, fascinating character. It’s raw, vulnerable, and incredibly brave. Snape isn’t perfect—far from it—but this moment proves that he is so much more than the sum of his flaws. He’s a man who chooses to stand and fight, even when it means sacrificing everything.

[marinettesaltprompts]

The Maribat deconstruction got me thinking: am I the only one who thinks Adribat is a more....plausible (??is that the word) concept than Maribat? Like, not even in a romantic sense but a familial platonic sense.

Think about it, he's :

got the tragic backstory & suffered from neglect

canonically been abused waaaaay beyond school bullies

taken for granted by adults (primarily his dad & Master Fu) and by his peers (LB)

dealing with the existential crisis of not being human if we go the sentimonster route.

Look, I get that trauma & suffering should NEVER be a competition but when you think abt it, Adrien's suffered just as much, if not more so than Mari ever did even with Chloe & Lila in the picture. You could argue that some of what she suffers in salt fics (isolation, no support system, emotional suppression, harassment) are ALSO things Adrien goes through bcz while he's a superhero like her, UNlike her, his home life sucks.

So if there's either hero the Bat Fam would empathize with more, it's him. Yes, they can hold him accountable for screw ups but if we go the Good Parent!Bruce route, he can give Adrien the physical & nuanced emotional training he needs to spot red flags & deal with them beyond passivity. The training is harsh but at least he doesn't play favourites, giving Adrien no excuse to slack off & proper motivation to mature. Plus, in the Bat Fam, everyone has clear roles & secrets aside, nobody strings anyone along, offering him a reliable structure to fall back on.

He doesn't come into the Bat Fam expecting to be in charge. Instead, the nitty-grittiness would push him to be more independent & decisive instead of impulsive.

If LB tries to call him out, he could point out how for all she claims to be the 'responsible professional hero', she REacted instead of acted & if real IDs are thrown in the mix, he can call out how she just went with the 'woe is me' route, resenting that everyone didn't jump on her call for a witch hunt when she could've communicated to them privately.

Sorry, this turned out longer & less explicitly mari salt-centric than I thought but I tried to stay objective. I hope you don't mind.

Technically everyone would have their own opinion about whether a Miraculous/Batman crossover could actually work. In my opinion however, I believe that the best bet for a good crossover would be through Adrien more than Marinette, in part because of the reasoning you gave, but also because Adrien would fit the idea of a Batfamily member more thematically than Ladybug ever could. If anything, he's like Catwoman but without the whole stealing bit.

Keep in mind that the whole Maribat AU was created with the goal of creating a salt fic (albiet with a crossover), and the OG creator even took a character that was no way romantical and turned him OOC to make their convoluted idea work, ironically in a method reminding me of the "My Immortal" Harry Potter fanfic. Regardless how it later developed, the original idea was pure salt, albiet one that took off because of everyone's hate boner for any character that wasn't Marinette, with people later trying to justify it for one reason or another. It's an idea that should have never worked in the first place outside of this context. In contrast though, Adribat would actually work because of a genuine commonality connection.

Also I don't mind talking about Adrien on this blog. In my mind, Marinette salt and Adrien sugar are the one and the same on this blog, because the salt of one character is usally sugar of the other due to how these prompts go.

Hell, my entire blog was made in opposition to the more well know Adrien Salt Blog made by another individual, which has both plenty of Adrien salt and LOTS of Marinette sugar, though I would call the latter justification for Marinette's own bad behavior as it never discusses her own issues, it just let's her go off scott free by pinning the blame all on Adrien.

In any case, I like your idea! If you or anyone else want's to share any Adribat prompts that you got, feel free to send them here!

[ncoincidences]

Parallels between Voldemort and Harry’s parents

Throughout the book series, Voldemort mirrors Harry. However, their parents’ relationships mirror each other too. I’ll be taking evidence from OoTP and HBP to draw out the parallels I've observed between Tom Riddle Snr/Merope Gaunt and James Potter/Lily Evans.

A small thank you to @pangaeaseas for discussing this with me <3

The “impossiblity”

“And they ended up married?” Harry said in disbelief, unable to imagine two people less likely to fall in love.

Upon viewing Bob Ogden’s memory in chapter ten of HBP, Harry conceives the notion of Tom Riddle Senior and Merope Gaunt coming together as highly impossible.

She had clearly loathed James and Harry simply could not understand how they could have ended up married. Once or twice he even wondered whether James had forced her into it. . . .

This is Harry’s reaction in chapter 29 of OoTP, after viewing Lily and James in Snape’s memory. Both are Harry's instantaneous impressions of their dynamic. In both cases, their coming together is stated to be as unlikely as possible.

2. One wants the other’s attention; the other doesn’t give it James’s free hand jumped to his hair again. […] “All right, Evans?” said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature. […] “I’m surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK.”

“Good lord, you’re right!” said [Tom Riddle's] voice. “That’ll be the son, I told you he’s not right in the head. Don’t look at it, Cecilia, darling.” “Always in the garden when he passes, peering through the hedge at him, isn’t [Merope]? And last night —”

Here, the narrative speaks for itself. The dynamics are clear; there’s one who is seeking the other’s attention, but the other greatly dislikes them, or any association with them, and wants to get away as soon as possible.

3. Popularity, social class differences and blood status 3.1 - Popularity

“You can imagine the gossip it caused when the squire’s son ran off with the tramp’s daughter, Merope.” “Look, Harry, what you’ve got to understand is that your father and Sirius were the best in the school at whatever they did — everyone thought they were the height of cool — if they sometimes got a bit carried away —”

Both male characters are quite popular and paid close attention to by the people around them.

3.2 - Blood status One comes from an old, Pureblood family - Merope, James The other comes from the Muggle world - Lily, Tom Sr

3.3 - Social differences There’s a distinct divide of wealth between Merope and Tom Sr apparent to anyone at first glance, and even stated by Tom. The Gaunts are considered as “tramps” by the Riddles and all of Little Hangleton. The Riddles are incredibly well-off, owning a manor, substantious amount of land, and a horse, indicating prosperity that contrasts against Merope's struggling life.

James comes from an old, wealthy family, contrasting against Lily’s midlands lower-middle class background.

4. First glimpse I won’t be considering photographs and the Mirror of Erised as first glimpses of Jily here.

Both relationships, before coming to fruit, are viewed by Harry through memories. Then, he is given an interpretation and/or an explanation by someone with a clearly biased view, whether it be positive or negative.

4.1 Dumbledore’s opinion, critical of Merope -

“Personally, I am inclined to think that she used a love potion. I am sure it would have seemed more romantic to her, and I do not think it would have been very difficult, some hot day, when Riddle was riding alone, to persuade him to take a drink of water.”

4.2 Sirius and Remus - Being James’ best friends, and more involved in the scene Harry had witnessed, they have a forgiving opinion of James… However, the clarity that Harry seeks for regarding whether Snape’s accusations against James were false or not is not completely received and by the end of the discussion, we see:

Sirius frowned at Harry, who was still looking unconvinced.

However, James is also favoured by the narrative. In the following sequence, Sirius advocates for him,

“Look,” he said, “your father was the best friend I ever had, and he was a good person. A lot of people are idiots at the age of fifteen. He grew out of it.”

There’s no one to defend Merope. Her ugliness and desperate poverty makes her out into such a woman that only a man who is love-potioned or under the Imperius Curse could marry her. Any other notion is unthinkable.

I’m not suggesting that she absolutely didn’t love potion Tom Snr. Or that Dumbledore is way off the mark in his guesswork. He has evidence in the form of rumours circulated by the villagers of Little Hangleton. (Going on an aside here, but HBP is a book that focuses on the rumours circulating about Harry, his discomfort around it and its distance from the truth. I have to wonder why Dumbledore gives the rumours such substance while basing his theories of Voldemort's parents.)

Right off the bat, he doesn’t consider the idea that there may have been some “likeable/attractive” trait within her to catch Tom's attention, or a positive development in her character away from her family, like James “growing out of it”. He immediately tells Harry, “I think you are forgetting that Merope was a witch.”

5. Marrying young & conceiving early Lily and James die at twenty one, marrying very soon after Hogwarts, and expecting Harry at nineteen. Merope dies aged nineteen.

6. A love triangle Morfin taunts Merope with Cecilia, the Muggle woman who is seen with Tom Riddle Sr as they pass by the Gaunt’s house. Considering that Tom calls her “darling”, she is, most likely, someone he likes in a romantic sense.

From Deathly Hallows, we learn that Snape loved Lily and turns spy for her. A spark of his jealousy is observed in chapter 33 of the Deathly Hallows -

The moment she had insulted James Potter, his whole body had relaxed, and as they walked away there was a new spring in Snape’s step…

Of course, this is where the similarities end. Divergences like Tom Riddle Snr leaving Merope and her losing the will to live, create a bitter ending to Voldemort's parents' story, as compared to the ‘happy ending’ James and Lily lived for a few years before getting killed.

The differences between the two relationships lie in James' story reflecting personal growth and development in the relatively accepting environment of Hogwarts. While Merope, who has been denied and abused all her life in Little Hangleton's isolated village, finally gets the chance to exert her control and power on the life she can now lead by her own.

A difference in morals, setting, family background and the means they use to pursue their relationships contrast their stories.

[doodlelover]

Harry Potter fans on tumblr after finding out she's a TERF: Stop consuming her work/making fanart, because it means you support the legislature against Trans youth that she's endorsing

In contrast...

One Piece fans on tumblr after finding out Oda Eiichirou supports two convicted child predators: Stop making it everyone else's problem! Stop telling me! Making fanart and liking OP doesn't mean you support his decisions!

Is it the hypocrisy of tumblr? Or are anime fans numb to pedophilia because of all the lolicon (CSEM) in Japan? Or are they spoiled brats that can't find new hobbies?

You tell me! I am genuinely asking

Article about Oda supporting Watsuki, so you all shut the fuck about me apparently lying about your precious One Piece author:

Oda did this interview, saying he considers Watsuki a "comrade," AFTER WATSUKI'S CONVICTION.

If you don't consider this man vile enough to find a new show to watch, you genuinely disgust me.

[thewisewill80sbyers]

BYLER PARALLELS GIFS NEW MASTERPOST

PARALLELS IMPLEMENTED INSIDE THE SHOW BETWEEN THE COUPLES / CHARACTERS :

BYLER + MILEVEN -> PART 1 • PART 2

BYLER + MILEVEN CONTRASTING PARALLELS

MIKE + WHO UNDERSTANDS HIM VS. WHO DOESN'T

BYLER + ROVICKIE

CRAZY + STUPID = LOVE THEORY

BYLER + JANCY -> PART 1 • PART 2

BYLER + JOPPER -> PART 1 • PART 2

BYLER + LUMAX -> PART 1 • PART 2

MILEVEN + STANCY -> PART 1 • PART 2

MILEVEN + STANCY + BOYCE + KARENTED

BYLER + JANCY + JOPPER + LUMAX heart-to-heart sitting on a vehicle before they get together

BYLER/JANCY/LUMAX calling for help in the UD + El saving herself

BYLER + ROVICKIE + JOPPER

MIKE / TED / STEVE PARALLELS

IDEALIZATION NOT LOVE ''she's special''

WILLELMIKE LOVE TRIANGLE

THE COUPLES BEING INTERRUPTED

PARALLELS WITH OTHER MEDIA THAT INFLUENCED THE WRITERS :

BYLER + LITTLE WOMEN (1994)

BYLER + LITTLE WOMEN (2019)

BYLER + BENVERLY FROM THE IT SAGA

BYLER + SYDINA ( from "I am not okay with this")

BYLER + SYDINA PART TWO

BYLER + ROMIONE (Harry Potter)

[piscesmoonpress]

Choices by MesserMoon (@sophsicle)

People make mistakes, but they also make choices. It’s important to James, that difference. He does his best not to confuse the two.

Fandom: Harry Potter Pairing (s): Regulus Black/James Potter, James Potter/Lily Evans, Remus Lupin/Sirius Black

AHHHH I am SO excited to share this bind—but first, I want to say thank you to Soph for letting me make (my first ever) author copies for this story. I'm definitely a beginner bookbinder but I truly hope I've done this fic justice <3

The design process for this bind was probably one of my favorite parts. I decided to go with some really simple design elements in comparison to my other binds, primarily because I felt it was more fitting for the story, and I was inspired by some of the design choices made in my personal copy of Song of Achilles.

Photographed here are the author's copies, so I've held off on posting about them until now:

(The dedications are all pulled from Soph's playlist for the fic, and each quote reminds me of that particular volume, given that there are three. Pictured above is the dedication for the first volume.)

624,188 words | 1,945 pages

Title Font: Cinzel Decorative Body: Crimson Text Headers/Capitalization/Dedication: Palatino Nova

Some elements of this bind were entirely new to me, such as the fact that it was an in-boards three piece bradel binding. It was also my first time painting edges, as well as rounding spines. Neither of these things turned out perfect, even after completing personal copies, but i did learn a lot of don't's.

One of the things that I did in the process of this bind that I LOVED was combining two different decoration styles. I've done covers that are either completely foiled, or completely HTV—but not both. For this cover design, I was struggling to figure out the best way to make the upside-down antlers on the cover pop. Adding HTV over a full foil cover was the perfect way to get the look I wanted:

(The contrast/shininess is best pictured in the process photo on the left.)

Special thanks to both @maybebabyplease for listening to my rants about this bind since July, as well as the @renegadepublishing discord server.

As large a bind as this was, it was so so much fun to bring to life this incredible story that holds such a special place in my heart as well as the fandom's.

[celestialseawitch-ff]

Alternate Interrogation Scene

There were SO MANY alternate scenes from this story. It could have gone so many different ways. I originally always planned for Hermione to meet alternate Harry in her office and them to make out for a minute. But while I was writing the interrogation scene between Hermione and Frank, it all sort of derailed. This almost changed the entire direction of this part of the story, but I decided to retcon where my imagination took me. I did keep the scene in it's very bare bones state. So here it is!

*note: I never finished this scene. There is very little description and there are other obvious notes that it's an unfinished scene

“Oh, bugger it. I'm not your Hermione Nott.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“I'm from an alternate reality.”

“I'll admit, I've never heard that one before.”

Hermione groaned and looked up. “God, you're much more of an ass than your son.”

Frank snorted. “Now that, I believe. How about you tell me what you were doing in the DoM now?”

“I was trying to go home!”

“Miss Nott-”

“-No, see, I know it sounds crazy. I know it looks crazy. But it's true. I'm not a Nott. I'm a muggle-born. I'm not related to the Notts. My parents are Hugo and Helena, they're muggle dentists. They live-”

“-squibs.”

“what?”

“Your parents. Hugo and Helena are squibs. They're dead. Your grandfather took you in when you were eight.”

“No. That's not- that's not true. My mother is a squib, yes, but not my father. He has parents. Grandparents.”

“Charmed, according to your grandfather. They gave him a happy home in the muggle world. They kept tabs on him. They didn't know you were magical until you used magic to save yourself in the accident.”

“I- no. No, my parents raised me. I went to school as a muggle-born. Nott Sr never would have done that for my father. He's a Death Eater.”

“Is that an accusation?”

“What?”

“Allegations have been made but no evidence has been found since the… end of the war over twenty years ago. Are you claiming your grandfather is a Death Eater?”

“In my reality, yes. But he's not my grandfather. He's in Azkaban.”

She did not like the emphasis he had put on the word ‘end,’ as if the war wasn't actually over here. 

“Do you have any proof of this? Of any of this?”

“How would I prove it? I'd have to tell you something I couldn't possibly know, but I don't know you well enough to do that. But-” a thought occurred to her. She leaned forward. “-in my world James Potter and Sirius Black were Aurors. True?”

“Correct.”

“They're here. On the other side of that mirror, I bet.”

“That's not exactly impressive. They are high level Aurors.”

“Yes, but I know something that they know that they haven't told you.”

“And what would that be?”

“See, Harry Potter of my world was blood adopted by Sirius Black at fifteen. Harry is the head of both houses. And as his wife, I am also a part of both houses. They can both feel me in their family magic and knowing those two, they never disclosed that to you.”

The door slammed shut behind him as he stormed out.

Hermione smirked.

<>

They returned an hour later, Frank, James, and Sirius. Hermione swallowed down the overwhelming emotions she felt at the sight of James and Sirius. James was far older than he'd ever lived to be in Hermione’s world and Sirius, by contrast, looked leagues younger than her own Azkaban worn version.

“Mrs. Potter-Black?” Frank greeted tightly.

She smiled widely. “I take that to mean you believe me now.”

“You're inhabiting the body of this world's Hermione,” Sirius stated.

“Yes, and I imagine the other Hermione is inhabiting my body. Do we have any idea how this happened?”

“We were hoping you'd have answers,” James stated. “Walk us through yesterday.”

“It was Friday, so I spend the day at home with Lulu, my daughter. She's three. We dropped her sisters off at school-”

“-Where do they attend?” Frank interrupted.

“NAME. It's a muggle private school. I took Lulu with me while I ran errands.”

“What errands?”

“Uhm, groceries. I went muggle. We stopped by the town square in Tetwell. There have been issues between a few business owners so I went to make sure things were smoothed over. We picked Rose and Izzy up and went to dance class – muggle. They take ballet. And then we went home. Harry came home, we had dinner and spent some time in the backyard. I put the babies down and then Rose went to bed later.”

“Did you leave the house again? Did anyone else come over?”

“No. Harry and I sat by the fire and then turned in for the night.”

“Did Harry leave at all? Go anywhere? He's a bit of a night owl.”

“Uh, I'm not sure I'd say the same for my husband. He gets grumpy when he's forced to work late. He likes tucking the girls in and retiring together. What?”

“Sorry, just… doesn't sound anything like my son. He's not really the settling down type.”

“I've been a bad influence,” Sirius teased.

Hermione shook her head. “My world is different. Harry, my Harry, is an orphan. All he's ever wanted is a family. We got married after the war ended and got pregnant barely a year later. Harry was still in Auror training and wasn’t supposed to be able to see anyone from outside the training program. His supervisors were displeased to learn he'd figured a way around that. They were even more displeased when he refused to explain how he did it.”

Sirius snorted. James smiled sadly. 

“Harry is going to figure out something is wrong immediately. He won't be fooled by any alternate version of me.”

“He'll figure out she's from another world?”

“Someone will. Maybe not him, but he'll know the moment he wakes up. We had security measures during the war. Mistaken identity was a real risk. And I doubt a pure-blood princess could ever get away pretending to be me.”

“That's the second time you've mentioned a war. Ours ended in the 80s.”

“The First Blood War. The Second Blood War ended the summer of 1997.”

“Another dark lord?”

“Voldemort came back.”

“How?”

“I know how it happened in my world, I can't say the same for here. Too much is different. I don't even know how your first war ended. I mean, mine ended with the deaths of the Potters. Clearly, that didn't happen here.”

“No!” James exclaimed, alarmed. 

Hermione gestured to him. “Right, so I don't know. But I do know that Harry is going to come after me. You should warn the DoM so they don't attack him.”

“Why would they attack him?”

“Because they won't be expecting him.”

 “I'll go!” Sirius offered and dashed from the room.

“How do we fix this?” Frank asked, gesturing to her.

Hermione shrugged. “No idea. I didn't do this. I assume it was your Hermione or something someone did to her. Hopefully, Harry will think to bring her with him and we can sort this out because I really don't enjoy being a blonde.”

[sitp-recs]

HP Rec Fest 2024

day 9: a wip

so very excited to be reccing two of my favorite authors for @hprecfest today! what a privilege to have WIPs from both of them this year. it feels like an early Christmas gift and I’m so hyped up. I’ll try to keep this short & sweet (LIES) and not give too much away, but I’d love to scream about these with anyone else who’s following them!

First Watch of Night by @tackytigerfic (E)

Harry Potter defeated Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts on May 2nd, 1998. But what if he didn't?

Tacky’s FTH started posting a couple days ago and it’s already consuming everyone’s hearts and minds (as it should). this is the Voldemort wins AU meets time travel multiverse we’ve dreamt about and deserve. the tags were clearly crafted to meet my cravings and paint the most exciting scenario: wartime politics, magical theory, undercover, the list goes on and up to perhaps the most important tag of all (This Fic Asks the Question Would Harry Potter Have Sex With Himsel ‼️) and I am ready to inhale this in an obsessive frenzy. Tacky is my reference when it comes to Drarry romance and gorgeous prose, so I just know this is gonna be epic, heart-wrenching and potentially ruining in the most satisfying ways. I’m extra excited bc (don’t ask me how) I was able to avoid all excerpts posted this year hoping to stay in the dark and I’ll save the experience for my birthday as a lil treat!

I will also say (this time as a personal note) that having been friends with T for some time now, I know what this accomplishment means and how much this journey took from them over the last few years - there’s a renewed sense of pride and appreciation you develop watching your friends achieve something massive like this, I couldn’t be prouder of them!

Little Gods by @the-starryknight (M)

The Ministry claimed that the restrictions on magical education were for the good of wizard-kind, but it doesn't feel like that when Harry works his dull machinist job. With a new mission and the advent of a snowy winter season, Harry and his compatriots might find a way to keep their underground organization alive and plan for future teachings one banned artifact at a time.

my second rec is Starry’s advent fic, which caught me completely off guard and made me scream at my phone in excitement for about 5 minutes. their Christmassy fics have a little altar in my heart and figure in all my comfort lists (see also: A Room Up There). something about the tender and unhurried slow burn, quiet contemplation and wistful tone hit a deep personal place for me. this fic opens up with such an intriguing vibe it got me immediately hooked and in love with this melancholy Harry. I wanna learn everything about his post-war life, his mysterious job and this grim corrupted world that Starry crafts with such impressive detail in about 3k (so far), contrasting with the merry holiday aesthetics. the mood is tense and enthralling, the world building perfectly executed and the hints of a complicated Drarry relationship got me at the edge of my seat yearning for more. now excuse me while I go check ch 7 and you should be doing the same 🫡

[forestdeath1]

you've cursed me with thoughts of sirius punishing severus for his bratty behavior <3

I mean... Yeah. He's such a brat here haha no wonder Sirius wanted to put him in his place. I mean Snape's not an idiot, he knows he's provoking Sirius, but he just keeps pushing it, almost enjoying getting under his skin and having Sirius push back. And the way he does it... Peak brat behaviour lmao

‘Oh yeah,’ said Sirius sarcastically. ‘Listening to Snape’s reports, having to take all his snide hints that he’s out there risking his life while I’m sat on my backside here having a nice comfortable time ... asking me how the cleaning’s going –’ 

***

‘Sit down, Potter.’ 

‘You know,’ said Sirius loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling, ‘I think I’d prefer it if you didn’t give orders here, Snape. It’s my house, you see.’ 

‘I was supposed to see you alone, Potter,’ said Snape, the familiar sneer curling his mouth, ‘but Black –’ 

‘I’m his godfather,’ said Sirius, louder than ever. 

‘I am here on Dumbledore’s orders,’ said Snape, whose voice, by contrast, was becoming more and more quietly waspish, ‘but by all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel ... involved.’ 

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ said Sirius, letting his chair fall back on to all four legs with a loud bang. 

‘Merely that I am sure you must feel – ah – frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful,’ Snape laid a delicate stress on the word, ‘for the Order.’ 

***

‘Wait a moment,’ said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair. Snape turned back to face them, sneering. ‘I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time.’ ‘I’ll get to the point, then,’ said Sirius, standing up. <...> . ‘If I hear you’re using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you’ll have me to answer to.’ 

‘How touching,’ Snape sneered. ‘But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?’ 

‘Yes, I have,’ said Sirius proudly. 

‘Well then, you’ll know he’s so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,’ Snape said sleekly. 

‘I’ve warned you, Snivellus,’ said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape’s, ‘I don’t care if Dumbledore thinks you’ve reformed, I know better –’ 

‘Oh, but why don’t you tell him so?’ whispered Snape. ‘Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother’s house for six months?’ 

‘Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he’s delighted his lapdog’s working at Hogwarts, isn’t he?’ 

‘Speaking of dogs,’ said Snape softly, ‘did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform ... gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn’t it?’ 

Sirius raised his wand. 

‘Are you calling me a coward?’ roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge. 

‘Why, yes, I suppose I am,’ said Snape. 

‘Harry – get – out – of – it!’ snarled Sirius, pushing him aside with his free hand. 

[star-eclipse-se]

❝𝐀 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬❞ photo art based on the Harry Potter books, Looters photoshop

On a quiet, snowy night, Hogsmeade shone with its lanterns and shop windows, their lights glistening on the snow in vivid colors. The air was rich with the scent of gingerbread cookies and hot butterbeer drifting out of the local tavern. However, the four friends known to the world as the Marauders were enjoying the evening in their own way.

Sirius Black, confidently holding the Marauder's Map, was muttering quickly under his breath as he plotted another incredible route. His coal-black hair shimmered with snowflakes, and the mischievous smile on his face promised something grand. “If we sneak through the basement of the Three Broomsticks, we’ll definitely avoid Filch… and end up at the Ghostly Tower. It’s brilliant, right?” he said, pointing at the map.

"Brilliant, if you’d just skip your habit of turning everything into a spectacle," James Potter countered, standing to the right. He laughed, adjusting his scarf slightly and peering at the map. “Padfoot, you’re glowing so brightly any portrait could spot you.”

To Sirius's left, Remus Lupin calmly gazed at the map. His composed posture and attentive look created a strange contrast to his friends' impulsive energy. “Don’t forget that your last brilliant plan ended with a sprint up the stairs and a screeching Filch. So maybe tonight we should be as careful as possible,” he advised, raising a brow.

“Hey, but that was a great escape!” Peter Pettigrew chimed in, standing next to Lupin. He rubbed his hands together, trying to keep warm. “And anyway, you dragged me into it. I wasn’t ready!”

“Oh, sure you weren’t,” Sirius smirked, thrusting the map right in front of Peter. “Wormtail, we’ve got you figured out: you’re the one who can win anyone over with a pitiful look and get anything— even the keys to a secret basement.”

“Me? Why me?!” Peter protested, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“Because Moony covers for us when we mess up, Prongs designs the plans, and I execute them. You’re the logistical key!” James teased, winking as he lightly draped an arm over Peter's shoulder.

Remus sighed, suppressing a smile. “Do you two ever stop to think about just how reckless all this is? Or am I going to have to drag your robes out of the fire again?”

“No fire tonight!” Sirius declared cheerfully, unfolding the map and jabbing his finger at their route. “Just glory, great discoveries… and maybe a bit of butterbeer.”

They all burst out laughing, and for a moment, the street was filled with the warmth of their friendship, as if the frost didn’t exist at all.

“What if we get caught?” Peter asked nervously.

“We’ll say we were helping Mrs. Norris look for kittens!” James replied, adjusting his glasses.

This statement triggered another wave of laughter so loud that curtains in several houses began to twitch. But who cared about that when a new story was waiting ahead?

And yet the snow continued to fall, coating the streets in a light, fragile layer, as if trying to remember this moment— the laughter, the glow of shop windows, and the voices of four friends ringing out in the frosty night. The map would show them new paths, and time would leave behind memories that, sadly, would one day be touched by the chill of another winter.

[blorger]

Here I am, back at it again, continuing in my life mission to read too much into every interaction Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter ever had (pt.1, pt.2 and pt.3).

I think book 1 is especially interesting to me since, besides it being the Beginning of it All, it also sets up some of the major themes in Harry and Draco's interactions. Also it shows that, regardless of what JKR wants us to think, their rivalry is just normal kid stuff and not nearly as life or death, good guy vs evil bully as the fandom usually makes it out to be (take, for example, just how much of a bully Draco isn't to Neville)

With that out of the way, let's get back to it

We pick up where we left off, at the tail end of the Remembrall Incident. Here we have another significant first: this is the first time Draco approaches Harry after the train. Draco has finally settled on a way to interact with Harry and he's going all in in the role of Rival (very often and with gusto).

Also, note how Harry seems to know instinctively that the best way to get at Draco is to act dismissively towards him.

This is one of Draco's best schemes in all the books. 10/10 in terms of execution, a seamless acting performance on his part. Also note how Draco is also able to zero in on the right thing to say in order to bother Harry the most (his outsider status). Both Draco and Harry demonstrate a PHD level of understanding of each-other from the get go, no learning curve needed.

It's also interesting to note that Ron plays a non insignificant part in the escalation of Harry and Draco's rivalry. In the first books - and especially in the second, where he's the major driving force behind the "Draco is the heir of Slytherin" conspiracy - Ron is there for most of their interactions, egging Harry on. Even when Draco is not present Ron is there to remind Harry that Draco is Evil. Part of this is because Ron is a convenient mouthpiece for JKR, who uses him to convey what we're supposed to feel, but it also forms a very interesting dynamic. Ron's influence is a major driving force in Harry and Draco's rivalry and I think that, as a fandom, we don't concentrate enough on this.

Harry is 100% in. I find it interesting that, once they've settled on a way to interact, Harry and Draco are quick to jump headfirst into this new dynamic. This is not how either of them behave with all the other people they dislike, this is a bespoke relationship that only works with Harry and Draco.

I imagine Draco was at that very moment rubbing his hands in glee as his Machiavellic plan worked out just how he wanted it to.

This scheme is a good example of Draco's preferred confrontation style and how it differs form Harry's. As we saw during the Remembrall Incident, Harry is all for addressing issues head-on and also somewhat physically (he's not afraid to throw hands) in complete contrast to Draco, who prefers asymmetrical warfare and whisper campaigns.

This is another important first: this is when Draco settles on the theme of his insults to Ron: his poverty.

Draco has been aware of Ron's financial status all along; when they meet on the train and Ron laughs at his name - which, by the way, rude - (and also another instance of Ron escalating the situation for Harry) Draco is quick to mention his poverty. Draco didn't have a reason to antagonize Ron before but now that he's officially the henchman of his Nemesis he can finally let the insults fly.

I think there's also an interesting facet to Ron and Draco's relationship, and it's something that is going to be a major theme in book 2: Arthur and Lucius are fighting a proxy war through their sons. We see this from both Ron and Draco's constant parroting of their fathers' views to attack one another; the two have long been primed to dislike eachother by the time they meet on the train.

Let's be honest here: this is mad unfair. Harry is getting a major privilege on account of his protagonist powers but, in Draco's eyes, this is a major injustice and just the first of many instances of blatant favoritism towards Harry (I'm on your side here drazza).

Draco has discovered another major way to needle Harry: by mentioning his orphans status.

I don't buy that everyone was so very impressed with Harry, (at the very least the Slytherins wouldn't be) but it's interesting to note that Draco only settled on using Harry's orphanhood against him because nothing else was working.

Also, "Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family"? This is either JKR putting the cart before the horses once again or it's incredibly sloppy writing. Are we to believe that Draco has been weaponizing Harry's orphan status all along and Harry didn't find it worth mentioning? It's one of the insults that affect him the most, this makes no sense.

and

Ron is such an essential part of the Harry+Draco equation: Draco feels the need to insult him because he's Harry's henchman (and also because Harry chose Ron instead of him) and this in turn stokes Harry's dislike of him like crazy since he is incredibly protective of his friends.

Speaking of Ron, I find it interesting how him and Harry are on completely opposite courses in their relationship with Draco: Ron starts all in, already hating Draco to the max but by book 6 he's kinda lost interest in him (I'm guessing because he's seen way worse people than him by then) whereas Harry has to be needled (by Draco and Ron both) into being Draco's Nemesis and yet, by book 6, he is completely (and canonically) obsessed with him.

TBC

xoxo

[froidefille]

Day 14: a fic rated T

📚 Five Little Things by @bixgirl1

Draco/Harry, 6.2k, T

Summary:

Harry was supposed to be good at this.

That was so just so delightful! Poor Harry!! Poor Teddy!!

I absolutely loved the moment when Harry asks Teddy what he needs and then does everything he can to provide said reassurement (which in this case is „Draco punk-anshoo” 😭). I think it is so so important to give kids autonomy, hear them out and enable them to analyze their own emotions and then make their choices.

I was also absolutely captivated by how Draco calms both of them down. It just seems so lovely to have someone there with you to ground you:

“Hello, Edward,” he says. He holds out his arms and Teddy almost throws himself from Harry’s to the floor trying to get into them. A Quidditch magazine, Teddy’s purple plastic cup, the Wireless, and Teddy, and Malfoy.

The scene of Draco telling Teddy a goodnight story (Teddy thinking of Harry when Draco reaches the fairy godmother part of the story 😍) is very fluffy but do not fret: we have Harry to angst about it so the balance is saved 😅 I have to admit that there is something special about tucking little kids to sleep that is just so primal and soft all at once – like, you just want to give the kid everything. I don’t have my own but I am the Goodnigt-Stories Reading Aunt and that’s how I always feel. This scene have ttoally transported me to the warmly lit colourful room with soft blankets and cartoon-printed sheets 💜

And this exact domestic emotion of comforting a child, contrasted with Harry’s absolute lack of such experience – ouch.

So yeah, this fic will make you hurt and then will comfort you about it 😅

Thank you for today’s prompt @hprecfest and your superb writing @bixgirl1 <3

See you in the next one!

PS. THERE’S ALSO ART by @gaeilgelupin (which also hurts a little, you've been warned xd)

A few of my fav quotes under the cut <3

After only a few seconds, Malfoy strolls in, still fully dressed in smart grey trousers and a white shirt, a slightly puzzled look on his face. He’s missing his ever-present tie, and has folded his sleeves back to the elbow, but if Malfoy was on his way to bed, it’s clear he was only just.

Not the sleeves folded back to the elbows (can someone pls draw this tho? 😂)

Leaning further into the flames, Harry lowers and hardens his voice. “Malfoy,” he says pointedly. “Why don’t you come over? And say goodnight to your cousin. Right. Now. I know he would love to see you.” Malfoy blinks several times, then adopts the same cheerful tone Harry attempted; Harry tries not to feel sour when Malfoy pulls it off better. “Of course! You know, I’m rather glad you let me know he was with you, I haven’t spoken to him in a few days. I nearly firecalled him at home tonight. I’d certainly have felt silly then, wouldn’t I? Move aside, Potter, and I’ll come right through.”

When you try to stay calm for child's sake (and usually they call you out anyway xd)

As glad as he is Teddy has so many people who care about him, there’s something about seeing someone else meet his needs so easily that throws Harry’s inabilities into stark contrast. Something about it that makes him ache, deep inside.

And isn’t that every carer’s deepest secret, this feeling right there!

“—stood holding the ruins of the dress she had so diligently crafted with her tired magic, and watched from the Manor steps she had scrubbed that very morning as the carriage rolled away to the ball with her stepmother and stepsisters in it, and then she sat down and put her face in her hands, and began to cry.” “‘cause iss o-ay?” Harry hears Teddy mumble, probably around his thumb. “Yes, precisely,” Malfoy says. “Crying is always okay when you need to, no matter what anyone else ever tells you, and especially when you feel disappointed after having worked so hard to master something and finding that you haven’t yet, or when you’re scared, or for any reason at all if it might make you feel better.”

Finally some delicious, delicious emotional education and allowing boys to cry.

Last but not least: All of Harry’s lists he uses for grounding throughout the story and how they change. (not me only realizing the title is five little things because Harry uses the five things technique as I write those very words 😶) And then:

Harry lets his hand fall away and stops counting. Smiling, he closes his eyes.

[greenerteacups]

Hi! Just wanted to say the latest chapter is lovely & amazing & sweet & had me smiling the whole time! I absolutely love your characterisation of everyone, especially Draco, so it was so so lovely to return to this world & to his thoughts!! with his best friend and crush at malfoy manor no less! All the yearning is already off to a great start hehe I am so excited for the rest of book 5!

Wanted to ask you how has it been for you to write this new book and volume? Has your writing process changed since when you’d first begun taking on a long form project like this?

& also are there any moments or surprises in this book that you’re especially excited about?

sending so much love & gratitude for you and your incredible works 💓

Thank you so much! This is really encouraging, I so appreciate it.

Inasmuch as I can use this metaphor without having kids myself, I sort of see each of the books as a different child. The first one flew out in basically a few weeks of very intensive writing, and it was a total dream — plot, pacing, symbolism, major beats, all fell into place basically without effort. The character stuff was the hardest, as I've written about before, but even then, the glorious part of writing beginnings is it's the most energy you'll ever have for a project, so the lows were pretty soft lows. Book 2, in contrast, I had to drag kicking and screaming by its ankle from under the bottommost mattress of my brain. It's one of my least favorite books (tone problem; COS has killer plot/setting/ingredients for a YA novel, but it's stuck in the doldrums of Harry Potter's well-documented Early-Installment Weirdness, before Cedric Diggory slams the gas and upshifts the whole series into its correct age bracket). More specifically, once I'd gone through and picked out everything in the book that happened because of Lucius, I didn't have a plot — hey alexa how do you rewrite Chamber of Secrets when We Got No Fucking Chamber Of Secrets — and oh by the way, even if you want to do a moody tone/political setup book, remember that your protagonists are still twelve, so if you go too dark or too intense, you'll risk torpedoing your readers' suspension of disbelief. Good luck, Charlie.

Book 3 felt the most like its own novel, if that makes sense? It's the last truly feel-good book of the series; it's a great stand-alone mystery novel with relatively low stakes. Plus you get a bunch of the big series icons: patronuses, dementors, werewolves, Hogsmeade, the Marauders' Map, and time turners arithmancy. It just felt like a good old-fashioned motherfucking romp of a mystery/adventure story, before any of the complex character work and major stakes of the late books come in.

Book 4 was the most fun I've had writing anything maybe ever. I don't even know what it was. Maybe the tournament arc, honestly? Love me a tournament arc. But in any case, I opened every new chapter feeling a tingle of excitement for what I was gonna get to do. Oh, and the romance started, finally, Jesus God (if it feels like a slow burn reading, just imagine what it felt like writing it, when everything takes ten times as long, and you have to figure out how to word the fucker.)

Book 5, in contrast, has felt much less like that tingle of "here we go!" and more like "oh, man, this is gonna be cool." Because this is the arc of the story that composed the original idea for Lionheart, literally years ago, and to be honest, I didn't think I'd get this far! If you'd asked me "do you know that it's going to take you 500,000 words of backstory before you can start writing that concept you're thinking about, and you're going to do it anyway?" I would have said: "absolutely not, strange mind-reader!" But like... I'm here! Finally! And it's... real now? Like, this isn't just a bunch of clips of scenes in my head anymore! That's rad!

That being said, it's definitely been slower than Book 4, because I kept switching back to my outline document to make sure that certain things were set up properly, and that I hadn't lost any of the plot threads or forgotten a minor beat that was vitally important for the story three chapters later. And I had a minor crisis about three months ago when I ripped out about 8 chapters in the first third of the book — basically everything from September to December — because I'd done a readthrough to check pacing (big mistake! never edit while drafting, that's satan talking) and realized I had a missing storyline. Like, there was a whole layer of the story that was just. Missing. Not there. And the existing text really couldn't fit another thread, so instead of taking weeks to pore through and try to sift out what I could save, I needed to factory reset and start over. And I didn't want to! I vividly remember sitting there with my head in my hands, trying not to weep, because I'd decimated 90,000 words of work in a single edit. But it had to be done. Because the story wasn't going to work. And now (hopefully) it will.

And of course, there's still that sense of excitement and exhilaration from before. Always. But whereas Book 4 felt like a delicious chocolate pudding, Book 5 is a medium-rare steak.

(Book 6, so far, is four shots of espresso and a whiskey chaser. FWIW.)

[billywigsting]

Hiii I am officially back on my bullshit! No Surprises Radiohead and how it is literally Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. To differentiate them there may be some formatting with colours just because.

SO! This is both Draco and Harry but I will be explaining why these lyrics are Draco first.

'A heart that's full up like a landfill'. Draco's heart is filled with fear and loyalty and dread. He loves his parents to a fault and thus his devotion is unwavering, he does not want to be a death eater, he does not want to hunt Harry Potter, he does not want to kill Dumbledore, but he must, for his parents will bear the consequences of his failures and he must not fail them. He wants to restore glory to his father's name, wants to see his mother smile again, wants this evil evil man out of his house and he is filled with such negativity and shit that the only thing it could be compared to is a landfill. Things keep getting thrown on the heap of rubbish piling inside of his heart and all he can do is try.

'A job that slowly kills you' like... I'm sorry but he was set up to fail. You could see the guilt and the fear weighing him down in sixth year. And even if he did succeed, or enjoyed the job, he would be punished for it eventually. Sent to Azkaban to die a slow, lonely death consumed by the madness lying dormant in his blood. The effect of Voldemort's dark magic on the manor and the wizarding world as a whole showed his strength and his sheer Corruption that surely those close to him who lacked conviction would also be affected. And we don't know what was happening behind the scenes, was Draco punished for his slow progression during his task? Punished for stepping a toe out of line? The speed at which he moved when ordered to pick up the wands at the manor surely sheds some light upon his situation. If it was all fine and dandy then why was he so terrified of Bellatrix, they were family after all.

'Bruises that won't heal'. First of all, is it a Draco Malfoy analysis if I don't mention the dark mark he will never be rid of? That won't heal, it marrs his body, his mind, his reputation, anything it can get its dirty hands on because why would the pain end when the man responsible is dead? Not when he's so clearly branded you, livestock, ready to be slaughtered by those who say they're better and good and right. He doesn't want this ink staining his skin but he cannot remove it and it will follow him until his death. Even after. Also bruises that won't heal could also be a representation of trauma being either repressed, continually reopened, or just simply being haunted by it and not being able to move on or heal. And maybe being so thick with guilt that you don't want to heal, you want to wallow in that misery and prostrate before those that you hurt because you deserve nothing more than to be looked down upon.

'You look so tired and unhappy'. I feel this is self explanatory with what I have said so far haha. He is not a happy puppy I must say. Once again going back to sixth year, the dramatic shift in his demeanor from fifth to sixth showed the effect everything was having on him. Even after being almost killed he lies indifferent in the hospital wing, staring blankly until he resigns himself to going back to the cabinet. He walks around in black and yes the obvious connotations of him being a part of the dark in contrast to the light, those are also mourning colours.

'A job that slowly kills you'. Harry was raised from birth to die at the hands of Voldemort for the greater good of wizardkind. His hunt for the horcruxes being a vital part of this journey but also the most dangerous and draining. Hunted from nearly all corners of wizarding Britain, trying to hold his friends together, mourning the deaths of those he failed to save. And he thinks it is his fault, because he is the Boy Who Lived and it's horribly ironic. He still lives whilst he watches those he loves die for him and it breaks him more and more each day. He is eventually completely fine with the prospect of dying for the cause because it would mean the safety of those left alive and it would mean that Harry himself wouldn't have to carry on. Pick up the pieces and be worshipped as a hero when all he was trying to do was live. When all he wanted was to be normal.

'Bruises that won't heal' being potential blights left upon his soul and/or mind by Voldemort's intrusion. Being made a horcrux and having a part of that evil inside of Harry must've left something hollow within him after it left. And the same point as Draco with the trauma that is, quite frankly, inescapable. And with Harry he is made to perform. Make speeches about his heroism, lament over those lost, be polite with the politicians who wished him dead the week before, all while drowning under the weight of his own guilt and insecurity. His grief sits low in his stomach and he cannot let it out, isn't given the time to.

'You look so tired and unhappy' is once again pretty self explanatory. The misery of his childhood, being almost killed every year at place he was supposed to be safe, being a sacrificial lamb for the one man he trusted most, believing the safety of the word was down to him and him alone. He had to be tired. He just couldn't bear to let anybody know. After all, he's dealt with it alone before and nobody would take kindly to the saviour bowing his head and asking to be left alone. He was born to bring hope to the hopeless and he will die doing so.

HARRY HARRY HARRY HARRY!!! TO A T!!!

'Bring down the government'. His opposition towards the ministry and it's corruption. Blatantly going against them and flaunting the influence he has over people despite not being in a typical position of power. Continually questioning Umbridge despite imminent punishment, being a part of an uprising against her and really saying no, 'they don't speak for us', but I will. And with the rise of the Dark Lord the corruption in the ministry only spread, and those corrupt got cockier. His inherent being was a stance against the dark, a rebellion, a protest, a threat. His existence shone with defiance and he was a beacon of light, actively working to bring them down by ridding the world of their leader.

'I'll take a quiet life'. I am a FIRM believer in Harry just wanting to be a normal kid but resigning himself to his fate. Feeling as though he, who wanted to be saved for so many years, can't possibly leave the world to ruin. And after the war he just wants peace. A quiet little chalet in the middle of nowhere just to exist without meaning and without expectation. He just wants to be.

'A handshake of carbon monoxide'. A metaphorical representation of how he feels doing all this performative bullshit after the war and shaking hands with everyone, signing autographs, taking pictures, perhaps. Or a reference to him shaking hands with death and being willing for it to take him, not scared at all. Handshakes are typically polite gestures but signify trust and respect. Harry trusts that with his death he will save the wizarding world. He shows death respect and grasps hands with it, forming an agreement and giving up control. He walked to his death calmly and solemnly yet determined.

'They don't speak for us' could also be related to Draco by way of his own loyalties and beliefs shifting over time and realising he is misaligned with the power he resides with.

'Silent, silent'. Draco no longer has his previous defiant demeanour, he stays silent, prefers to keep his answers short and his interactions shorter. The only man he speaks to is the Dark Lord and that is only when spoken to. He has learnt his lesson for being mouthy.

'Silent, silent' being how Harry reacted when he realised what he had to do to make Voldemort finally vulnerable. He didn't protest or complain or cry or even laugh. He walked silently to the forest and died the same.

'This is my final fit, my final bellyache' being both of them resigning themselves to their fates. Draco's last act of defiance being standing with the light and yet when he heard his mother call and realised nobody wanted him to stay he left, walked towards the dark and the bright white of his mother and gave up on redemption. Also not wanting to fight Harry in the room of requirement, not wanting to leave his friend behind in the fire, not wanting to give up Harry's identity despite the shit it would get him in. All of these acts of confidence and sacrifice that would ultimately get him nowhere, bring him pain or punishment. Why try anymore? And Harry realising that even after everything he has done if he does not know it will have all been in vain, everyone would have died for nothing and it would be all his fault. His one last act being suicide for the sake of everyone else and even with the revival stone there was no guaranteeing that he would be able to return home. He was ready for it to be over, the pain and the loss and the fear.

'Such a pretty house'. The manor being a place of pride and splendour. An ancient wizarding home passed down generations of Malfoys and taken care of as it should've been. Loved over decades with their magic interwining beneath the floorboards and holding up the walls. Care staining the hardwood and brick foundations. The manor was nurtured for so long and yet ended as a place of misery and hurt so powerful even the ancestral magic shrunk back. Too scared to defy its new "master"

'Such a pretty garden' goes along the same idea as above and I like to believe that Draco and his mother used to tend to it and then to see it wither broke their hearts. Felt as though their last bit of control snapped and nothing left belonged to them.

Also the ideal of a pretty house with a white picket fence and a pretty garden and wishing you were there in that situation. Praying he wasn't in that house over the holidays but dreading his return to Hogwarts. His safe places no longer safe and both filled with agony, what else is he meant to do if not pretend?

Both Harry and Draco not having the capacity for emotional regulation after the trauma of the war and just being so scared all the time. Jumpy and paranoid and begging for nothing to happen for the safety to be real for once, not imagined.

Okay I did NAWT mean for this to be nearly 2000 words or to stay up until 1.30 am but. Here we are LMAO. If you made it this far thank you so much and I hope you enjoyed!