#drarry happy hour

[thedrarrylibrarian]

Happy Friday to all, but especially my fellow Tortured Poets!

Don't you love when the stars align to make something beautiful for you? That's what happened with my Happy Hour rec for this week.

Our Objective Remains Unchanged by @citrusses (46,147 words, rated E)

Harry Potter, returning member of the Oxford University Boat Club, has two goals for the spring of 2005: beat Cambridge, and beat Draco Malfoy. Perhaps not in that order.

I've been in a bit of a fic rut - and definitely not because of a lack of great fic options - but nothing was hitting right for me at this moment in time. Finally, in my marked for later list, I came back across Citrusses' fic, and was thrilled to finally read it. I'd been looking forward to it for a long time because I love Citrusses as a writer. It just so happened to be a perfect pick for the album drop I've been looking forward to as well with it's academic setting and Tortured Poet Draco.

For someone who doesn't enjoy any sports whatsoever, I've recently found that I adore sports fics. The competition and camaraderie provide a setting and tension that I really enjoy and this holds true with rowing as well. Citrusses' dialogue made me laugh out loud several times while reading and the building tension of Harry and Draco's relationship (for good and bad) kept me absorbed in this fic.

Most of all, I loved how Citrusses wrote college students. I so clearly remember being 19-22 and the uncertainty and anxiety that I constantly felt. It's hard to suddenly be expected to be an adult, but have so little experience at it. Citrusses wrote that feeling in a way that was realistic, but gave her characters grace when they made their mistakes.

Even if you are not a Tortured Poet, I think it'd be impossible not to enjoy Citrusses' fic. And if you are a Tortured Poet, once you've finally finished analyzing all the lyrics you should definitely come give this a read to keep those vibes going!

❤️ Lots of Love and Happy Friday! ❤️

PS - if you like this fic, be sure to leave a kudos or a comment!

[sitp-recs]

Hey! Happy October! Do you have any incredibly dark and long drarry recs that might fit the spirit of Halloween, if this makes sense?

Thank you for everything you do. May the spirits walk with you this month xx

Happy Spooky Season, anon 🎃👻 I love that theme and am always looking for more recs. You can also find scary goodies in old collections from @hphorrorfest | @hpdarkarts and @hd-cluefest. Hope you enjoy these, I’ve also included some brilliant shorts:

The Other Cottage by @corvuscrowned (T, 6k)

If Pansy wasn’t shagging Ginny Weasley, Draco would never have been dragged to Luna’s ridiculous Halloween party in the first place - meaning he wouldn't be sitting in the corner of the room with Harry Potter all night. But when a strange comet passes overhead, things start to get even weirder than usual.

Doppelganger by @writcraft (M, 7k)

It was just a silly dare, but one ill-advised trip into the Forbidden Forest changes Harry’s life forever.

Saltwater Stain by @the-starryknight (M, 9k)

Seven days stuck on a boat investigating a rogue ghost wouldn't be so bad if Harry didn't want Draco so much. Draco has his rules and Harry's content to follow them, but the air feels different away from the shore. Is it possible that the sea could offer Harry something impossible on land?

At This Hour by disapparater (E, 10k)

Although he wants more, a nice meal and a good fuck might be all Harry can expect from Draco. But when Harry finds himself trapped inside a nightmarish version of Malfoy Manor he might get more than he bargained for.

And So Death Took by ICMezzo (E, 25k)

Fairy tales may soothe small children into slumber, but some stories themselves refuse to sleep. The Tale of Three Brothers, retold.

In Our Blood by secretsalex (E, 38k)

Draco is an accomplished pure-blood curse breaker, and Harry is tasked with accompanying him on his latest job—cleaning up the Van Boer mansion, which has been under a devastating fertility curse for seven generations.

What Shall Not Be Unearthed by @iero0 (E, 49k)

At the northernmost point of Shetland, surrounded by pointed cliffs, towers the Ootsta Lighthouse on a small isle in the middle of the open sea. Little does Harry know that he's not the only new lighthouse keeper. Draco Malfoy is as obnoxious as he always was, with his posh tone of voice and his luxury yacht jumpers. Harry tries his best to avoid the git—who knows what he's up to anyway?

Yours is the Earth (Hold On, Hold On) by chickenlivesinpumpkin (E, 125k)

After a serious accident in the Forbidden Forest, Draco's personality begins to undergo subtle changes. At first, Harry credits this to a new enthusiasm for life. But as the days pass and Draco's behavior becomes more and more mysterious, Harry begins to suspect that something bigger--and darker--is at work.

Forgive Those Who Trespass by Lomonaaeren (E, 135k)

Harry Potter was convinced he had an ordinary, if inconvenient, life. Then Ron and Hermione vanished in the Department of Mysteries. And the only person who may know where they are is a mute Draco Malfoy.

Bonus: I’ll never not rec my all-time fave WIP:

In the Dark by @bixgirl1

In the aftermath of an apocalypse, Harry receives an order to find and bring Draco Malfoy nearly a thousand miles, to the tenuous safety of Hogwarts. But more than distance separates them from their goal. The world has fallen, and death is hungry.

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2024.08.14

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. Better When Quiet by WeepingKettle [T, 1k] 💗

►"You know, Malfoy," he whispers, leaning towards my ear, "you'd make for a great poet if you were always this quiet."

2. The Calligrapher by starling011 [M, 1k]

►Harry hired someone to help him write a letter to Ginny.

3. Cassandraco by @jtimu [T, 5k]

►Harry Potter was going to die in six hours. As far as Draco was concerned, that wasn’t nearly soon enough.

4. i think you were drunk (you spelled wedding wrong) by @dragmewithyoutonirvana [T, 3k]

►Harry sends Draco a drunken letter inviting him to his wedding. It brings up some memories that he’d rather forget.

---

Fest/Exchange

1. Fake Happy by @a-sentimental-man [T, 10k] --- ART by @anzukero

►Harry's just broken up with Ginny⁠—if months ago could be considered "just"⁠—trying to get through his job while hating every minute of it. The only highlight of his job is Draco Malfoy. That is, until he wakes up on his 21st birthday with a small dragon tattoo on his wrist, the unmistakable mark of his soulmate. ★ Drarry Mini Bang | @drarry-mini-bang

[wolfpants]

📚 wolf's reading list | october favourites

<- prev rec lists here

It's been a while since I've been able to do one of these! And I'm still very much catching up with all of my reading, but for now, here's a list of fics I've read this month that I've absolutely adored. As ever, mix of pairings/warnings etc.

-

Alpha and Omega. And Omega. 🪢

E, Drarry/Theo, 6.1k | @citrusses

No one is shocked when Harry Potter presents as an Alpha. No one, that is, except for Harry Potter himself, who doesn't know what to do about any of it: not the weird instincts, or the horrifying anatomy, or the fact that he can't seem to stop fucking Draco Malfoy, and especially not whatever 'surprise' Draco has waiting in Harry's bedroom.

With a bang, the front door of Grimmauld swings open and Draco walks in, smelling exactly the same way he always does. Not like the scent of the heat that’s been oozing out of Harry’s bedroom and getting his dick hard for the past five minutes. “What the fuck?” Harry hisses. “You—you’re not upstairs.” “No,” Draco says, removing his calfskin gloves one finger at a time. He looks up at Harry and smiles like a fucking psychopath. “But your present is.”

-

The Banned Pasta 🍝

T, Drarry, 1k | @hoko-onchi-writes

“Draco keeps cooking for me. Weird, right?”

Harry sits down and slowly spoons himself a dish. He catches the look in Draco’s eyes. Yeah, he thinks. Alright. “I want to. C’mon. Fucking sit down with me. Don’t be a git.” Draco’s knuckles are white against the back of the chair where he stands. “Are you certain—” “I am.”

-

A Design for Life ⏳

E, Drarry, 77.9k | @maesterchill

Harry Potter doesn't want to become an Auror. And Draco Malfoy would quite like to stay alive and out of harm’s way. Neither have any desire whatsoever to time-travel into the future, especially not with each other. But fate? Well, she has other plans.

They lapse into silence for a bit, in the peacefulness of the field, staring up at the sky, at the light grey cloud that’s inches away from blocking the sun, at the seagulls wheeling overhead, their cries distant and melancholic. “This is nice,” Harry says, breaking the silence, “y’know, even though it’s you.” “That’s certainly the faintest praise I’ve heard in a while,” Malfoy responds dryly, a small smirk playing on his lips.

-

a fire they can't put out 🔥

E, Harry/Albus Severus, 4.5k | @the-invisibility-bloke for @hpcestfest 2024

Albus returns from three years abroad. Plenty of time to forget what happened. If only Harry could.

It should be awkward. By natural order of social dynamics, it should absolutely be awkward. But they haven’t been natural for awhile, have they? Harry levitates the duffel to the foot of the stairs and turns to face him and it’s not awkward. It’s terrifying.

-

It's the Moonlight, It is the Rain 🌧️

M, Drarry (background Drastoria and Hinny), 1.9k | snarkyscorp

It is always dark and raining when he arrives; it is always cold and uncomfortable when he goes.

Draco thinks back to the very first time, the first kiss. Heated mouths, parted lips, clumsy tongues, angry fingers welting bruises on upper arms and chins and throats just to grip as much as possible, to break and bend and fuck and unite and connect and breathe and feel. Then came marriage. Children. Responsibility. The sting of growing old, the realisation of mortality. Then came distance and frowns and the dread of having Harry at his door at all hours with that look on his face and his trousers too tight and all the ghosts nipping at his heels like restless hounds in the night.

-

Not a Word 💔

M, Harry/Scorpius, 1k | snarkyscorp

This is not how it should have gone. It should have been beautiful and Harry should be happy and Scorpius shouldn't feel so guilty, so tired, so young…

Scorpius has loved Harry since he was ten, has known it will be Harry since he found the spell in one of his grandfather's diaries, and yet he knows too that he cares more than he should, that he wants not only for Harry to be his but to know him inside-out. Tonight is not just about getting what he wants—it is about love, too.

-

Potente Fantasy 🧪

E, Harry/Albus, Drarry/Albus, 1.3k | snarkyscorp

There is nothing Harry wouldn't do to get Al out of trouble…

Harry is too absorbed in holding Albus close to realize he is being disarmed. Before he even senses the sizzle of magic, there is a shout of Expelliarmus! and his wand goes flying. With a stumble, Harry tries to rush after it, but another spell pins him to the wall. "Hello, Potter." The drawl would be enough of a give away, but the pointed, pale face that invades his line of sight is so jarring in its malice and familiarity. There is no one else who looks, smells, or breathes like Draco Malfoy.

-

Turn 🌶️

E, Teddy/Scorpius, Scorpius/James, Jeddy/Scorpius, 1.3k | snarkyscorp

Tonight, Scorpius is in charge. Whatever he says, whatever he wants, goes.

"I want you to fuck James," Scorpius says. He is not smiling, he doesn't blink, barely moves; Teddy isn't even sure he breathes. The room is quiet. Teddy swears the silence whispers all the dangerous implications of that statement. "James?" Teddy asks. "James Potter?" It's not quite a question, actually. Teddy hopes Scorpius doesn't hear the edge of arousal laced in his voice.

-

Yes, Daddy 🖇️

E, Harry/Scorpius, 2k | @emotionalsupporthufflefluff

Harry waved him off as if to say it didn’t matter. “I heard you had a thing for older men.”

Currently, Harry was keeping his eyes trained on the pitch, watching the players do warm-up formations. Looking over to where Teddy, James and Scorpius were chatting was out of the question. Scorpius had his back turned towards him, and now that he wasn’t in heavy Auror robes or Ministry robes, Harry could see he had filled out through training. Muscle had layered on his lithe form, and his muggle jeans did nothing but display it all. The blond stretched absent-mindedly, causing his jumper to ride up, giving Harry a full view of his perfectly sculpted— “He is your son’s age. What is wrong with you? Maybe I do need that app Jamie was talking about. Hey, look, there’s Ginny. Wave to the ex, Harry. Very good; quit ogling the Malfoy boy.”

-

That's a wrap! Yes, I definitely went on a bit of a snarkyscorp deep dive, no regrets 😂 I'm really craving some dirtyhotwrong atm, so any recs of that ilk totally welcome! Or any recs at all! 💖 My asks/DMs are always open.

[ghaniblue]

Reading List: August

Everything I finished and enjoyed in August that's not from HD Wireless fest see below. 99% Drarry, 1 Tom/Draco and 1 RWRB fic. ❤️ denotes favourites.

>> July recs <<

HP

❤️🙈 Alley Cat by papermonkey / @dracomort (Tom/Draco, M, 72k, WIP 13/?)

In which Draco attends Hogwarts with Tom Riddle and inadvertently saves the world.

What if Tom became Draco's best friend? I feel like the monkey emoji represents Draco in this fic: if I ignore it, it won't be real and I don't have to acknowledge it ladida. He amuses me to no end.

🏥 Nightingale by michi_thekiller (Drarry, E, 67k)

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. -Jacques Deval

This is canon-divergent since it was written before the books were finished. I enjoyed the dual timeline. At school they are antagonistic and fight-happy with punching turning into shagging, while the present timeline is just a little disturbing. Harry is not well in this. Draco isn't either but [spoiler].

❤️🩸 Harry Potter and the Inconvenient Condition by Mirabella (Drarry, M, 20k)

Harry comes back from vacation with an inconvenient case of vampirism and must learn to cope with blood, Malfoy, and recalcitrant secretaries. And if that doesn't tell you everything about the plot you need to know, you haven't read enough badfic.

Another oldschool fic. Vampire!Harry has a hankering for Draco's blood. This is such a fun, tropey romp. I was kicking my feet with glee.

🔮 Cassandraco by @jtimu (Drarry, T, 5k)

Harry Potter was going to die in six hours. As far as Draco was concerned, that wasn’t nearly soon enough.

This is fun. Beleaguered rescuer Draco and unwilling recuee Harry.

❤️🤒 the sun between us by @eleadore (Drarry, E, 7,5k)

Draco Malfoy, an omega. It was laughable until he was right in front of you, smelling like he was one shaky step from tripping into a heat. 

This could be just any other omegaverse PWP, but it's so dense with characterisation and layered emotion.

🏊‍♂️ Freely Given by InnerLilith + art by @kk1smet (Drarry, E, 18k + digital art)

As a young child, Harry Potter had always wanted swim lessons. He never got them. As an adult, he runs into Draco—an excellent swimmer and disconcertingly fit to boot—at a muggle pool. Naturally, he calls in his life debt for swim lessons (a totally normal thing to do, thank you very much). He gets more than he bargained for.

What a lovely @drarry-mini-bang story: hot, funny and sweet; and the art is delightful (you get built swimmer Draco and adorable chibis).

❤️👮‍♂️Rookie Moves by peu-a-peu (Drarry, E, 75k) + podfic by @sweatersinthesummer (~7h)

Aurors Potter and Malfoy crack the case.

Finally managed to read this; all the recs are justified. They are such disasters. Their characterisation is so funny and vibrant. They are both so deranged and combative. The podfic was completed half-way through my reading so I switched to listening. Such a good interpretation of this mad fic.

RWRB

❤️🥍 A Sporting Chance by clottedcreamfudge (Alex/Henry, E, 12,6k)

"Marry Henry - destination wedding. Combine all of our names so paperwork is a fucking nightmare." Henry stares at him and Pez rolls the dice, and-

"Congratulations to Alex and Henry Claremont-Diaz-Fox-Mountchristen," he says with a bright grin, and Alex punches the air and makes a 'whooping' noise. "Your wedding is attended by the Beckhams, the President, and several key members of congress. Henry is very gentle on your wedding night." Henry is going to fucking kill Pez.

"Fucking sweet," Alex says, because Henry is apparently the only one here trying not to have a coronary about all of this.

***

It had just been a party game, except now Henry is in way over his head.

Fuckbuddies/Idiots to lovers. This Alex is such a horny chaos demon, and Henry is so in love it's visible from space. Also, Pez is a gem. I often start scrolling through repeated sex scenes but not with this fic. This story made me happy.

>> september recs <<

[yourlocalbadgerscales]

The Boy from the Piano Shop - A Drarry fanfiction by Soliblomst on Ao3 ❤️💔

‼️NO NO STOP. EVEN IF YOU DON’T SHIP DRARRY, EVEN IF YOU’RE TOTALLY DISGUSTED BY THE SHIP, HANG ON FOR A SECOND!‼️⚠️ This book is about so much more than Harry and Draco! Imagine them as other people or something. (If you’re not interested in reading it yourself, at least reblog because I KNOW that so many people would feel so much better after reading it and I’m not even exaggerating!!! 💋)

I started reading this fic yesterday and finished this morning less than an hour after midnight. Yes, I sacrificed hours of sleep for this fanfic. I read it in the dark under my quilt. It was so, so worth it. I am not joking when I tell you that this is the best fanfic I have ever read. I have only read fanfiction for about a year, and many heartbreaking and absolutely wonderful ones, but this one is 100% the best one yet. It’s even one of the best books I have ever read, to be honest, and books I have read for many many years now.

Everyone should read this. Even if you don’t like Drarry or even know much about Drarry, you should read it, even if you don’t know Harry Potter so well. That is because this fic has so much to teach us. The book is full of life wisdoms about loss, about grief, about moving on, about battling depression, suicidal thoughts and PTSD, about regret, about life in general and how to live in the moment and how to love… it’s some of the best pieces of advice and poetry I have ever read. It taught me many things that I WILL carry with me for as long as I remember it.

It is sad, it is angsty, but only because that’s how life can be and will always be at some point. Sad. Heartbreaking. Soul-crushing, even. But the relationship that is portrayed in the book is so healthy, and yeah, of course it raised my standards so much more. Fanfics, am I right?

It’s a wholesome relationship, it’s all about taking your time and feeling safe, it’s so cute and fluffy but also realistic and, as I said, angsty. Hurt, and comfort. A good ending, not in an unrealistic way like how happy endings are often portrayed in fiction. This book is different, I tell you. It gives you a wonderful glimpse of how real life can be. And that it will all be okay. We will all be okay.

It was such an entertaining read, too! The smut was written perfectly in my liking. And the amount of angst was perfect for the story. Not too little, not too much. It was… ugrhhhzhsh I’m still speechless since yesterday when I finished reading and fell asleep in shock and feeling the best I have felt in a while.

Read it. You won’t regret it. I promise you.

If I have to rate it, it is ♾️/10! And I can assure you, the highest I have ever given a fic before is 12/10. Everyone needs to read this. I was so close to crying happy tears while reading, and I have never cried during a fic yet, even though I’m a really emotional person. This one almost got me. And I was wrecked, and I was so happy about it. I swear, this book ACTUALLY changed me and my views on life. I will never look at Drarry the same way ever again. This book is officially Drarry canon for me. I can’t describe this fic in enough words… omg… all I want is for more people to read it! I don’t know what more I can do to convince you to read it, but please please do it!

‼️Remember to check the TW,s before reading!‼️ Muah 💋

P.S If you’re not interested in reading it, please reblog for the sake of making someone’s day and life a little bit brighter!

[shanastoryteller]

Happy holidays, Shana! Love your writing. Time travel drarry, please!

a continuation of 1 2 3

Ginny is pulled out of school, Arthur had been suspended from his job, and fresh mandrake is delivered to Madame Pomfrey, all within a twelve hour period.

The next time Harry sees Draco, he's going to kill him.

By the time he'd payed attention to power and influence, the Malfoys' had been on the decline. Seeing it at its height is sort of terrifying.

Harry is trying to comfort the Weasley brothers while not giving anything away or acting like he's older than twelve. Which is hard, because at twelve he probably would have just been really awkward and maybe had an anxiety attack about all naked emotionalism.

Honestly, at twenty three his reaction isn't that different.

They eventually all go to bed and Harry stares at the ceiling, trying to think about how to get himself back to the future before Draco can mess it up any further.

It's good, that Ginny won't have to deal with the worst parts of being possessed, and that the Hermione and most of the other students that had been petrified had been spared, but -

Well. It sounds really petty, when he thinks about it that way.

But as miserable as some things had been, he likes the future he'd left behind. Mostly. And Draco is going to ruin it by sticking his nose in it just like he does everything else!

Well. Fine!

If they're going to be stupid about this, then there's on loose end that Draco can't tie up on his own, and one the adults haven't had the chance to handle themselves.

Which means he probably only has one night to go down to the Chamber of Secrets and take care of the basilisk before someone notices.

He eyes the rows of sleeping boys, decides he's done worse on less sleep, and sneaks out of the common room.

Harry is feeling all smug and proud of himself until he enters the girl's bathroom and finds Draco there.

"Finally," he sighs. "Took you long enough."

Harry sputters. "What - you - how did you-"

Draco rolls his eyes. "Give me a break, Potter. You can't stand not being in the thick of it. Are you opening this thing up or not?"

Yes, but only so he can push Draco down it. Hopefully he'll land face first.

[xanthippe74]

Masterlist of my “12 Days of Fandom” recs, inspired by this post. As always, please check the tags and author's notes before reading. Enjoy!

🔸 Terminal Lucidity by @romaine2424 (Drarry, HD Career Fair, rated G, 3K) This bittersweet fic has Harry putting his abilities as Master of Death to good use by comforting those close to death themselves. We see him at work here, adeptly easing the way for someone dear to him with compassion and care. I found this story incredibly moving and a beautiful portrait of family ties in the face of an impending loss. Featuring older, established Drarry and the Black-Malfoy family.

🔹 Our Objective Remains Unchanged by @citrusses (Drarry, rated E, 46K) Gorgeously and vividly written, this university rowing AU drew me in right from the get-go, despite the fact that Muggle AUs are not my typical cuppa. The enemies-to-lovers tension is perfectly paced as Harry and Draco fight for the same spot on the Oxford team. Citrusses did a fantastic job translating their backgrounds and personalities (as well as those of other familiar characters from the books) into this world. Class divisions and the pressure of a highly-public sporting event stand in very effectively for Harry’s canon experiences. All in all, the story has the poignancy and drama of a lush coming of age film, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

🔸 The Pile by @b-vul (Drarry, not rated, about 1.5K) This hilarious ficlet was born out of littlewinnow’s tumblr post about Veela!Harry performing an intricate mating dance to impress Draco. Delightfully, it’s from Harry’s POV as he blindly “trusts his instincts” to guide him into increasingly bizarre actions. And the evolution of Draco’s reaction is pure comedy gold. I’ve come back to reread this one a couple of times, and it never fails to have me in stitches. (The tumblr thread also contains adorable art by regretfulcorrine!)

🔹 Shine on, You Crazy Diamond by @lagerloutfic (Drarry, HD Mpreg Fest, rated E, 42K) This is one of those fics that you can’t stop reading once you start (something I confirmed this morning when I went to skim through it for this rec and wound up spending a few happy hours devouring the entire thing again). It’s laugh-out-loud funny and deliciously smutty, with a full cast of delightful side characters and just the right amount of feelings. The story begins with the discovery of Draco’s surprise pregnancy, then switches to a long flashback of Harry’s gay awakening and his fast sexual/slow emotional burn relationship with Draco. The entire fic has a joyful feel—banter-filled pub nights, chaotic family dinners, audacious curse breaking—culminating in the baby’s arrival, which left me in happy tears and wishing for another 40K of this fabulous story. Featuring confident Harry, supportive friends & family, hot Charlie, and some shamelessly kinky Unspeakables.

🔸 Silhouettes by @sweet-s0rr0w (Draco/Ron/Harry, Dronarry Fest, rated E, 16K) Draco/Ron/Harry is not a ship I’d ventured into before I read this fic, but I’m so glad I did! Sweet’s writing always hits the right spot in my brain, and her alternating POVs and spot-on characterizations of all three boys are delightful. I especially loved Ron’s sexy self-assurance here. The unique magical theory around sentient houses is fascinating and ultimately poignant, once Draco gets to the root cause of the Burrow’s behavior. Sweet-sorrow surely lived up to her username with this one, weaving grief with humor and a heartwarming resolution.

🔹 Harry Potter Gets a Job (A 106-Page Comic) by dustmouth (Drarry, HD Career Fair, rated M) Dustmouth’s comics never miss, I swear! In this one, we find Harry overcoming his distrust of Draco with the help of the Weasleys, especially Ron (who is definitely up to something himself). All of my favorite Dustmouth elements are here: the expressive characters, Draco’s wild wardrobe choices, and punchy dialogue galore. Also featuring drunken shenanigans at the Burrow, adorable Teddy, and some first-class Slytherin-ing by Draco to win his man (and find Harry that job). What a treat!

🔸 the earth from a distance by spqr (Drarry, rated E, 15K) A whirlwind time-travel fic with breezy humor, bedsharing, and spqr’s unmatched smut with feelings… What more could you ask for in a fic? Oh, yeah: fantastic worldbuilding for Hogwarts in 1599, brilliantly clever Draco, and a dash of enemies to lovers. I can never get enough of this author!

🔹 A Year In The Life by @ladderofyears (Drarry, HD Career Fair, rated M, 19K) I swear, the author conjured a little bit of magic to write this story. It’s told entirely with 50-word microfics, one journal entry for each day of 2006 (an impressive feat, by itself!), and yet it reads just as smoothly as any traditional fic. Draco’s voice is perfect here, full of wit and subtle emotion, as his and Harry’s developing romance takes a sharp turn with an unexpected pregnancy.  Draco’s anticipation, worry, and joy are mixed with deftly-chosen details of his daily life, all captured with Emma’s trademark tenderness and warmth. This fic is a perfect comfort read for family feels and gentle romance.

🔸 try to fix you by @maesterchill (Harry/Ron/Hermione, HP Snooze Fest, rated M, 2K) A beautifully and tenderly written hurt/comfort fic set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts. Ron is the glue that holds the trio together here, caring for Harry and Hermione with gentle devotion. There’s no dialogue needed to tell this story, just Ron’s perceptive POV that captures the grief and love that compel him. I have a soft spot for this triad forming immediately after the war, as a way of holding onto each other and holding themselves together. Maester’s fic makes their transition from friends to lovers feel like the first step towards healing.

🔹 The Scent of Soft Rains by @dodgerkedavra (Drarry, HD Career Fair, rated E, 20K) When Harry is left housebound and isolated by a traumatic injury, magical prosthetist Draco gets called into help. But Harry’s struggles go far beyond the physical ones. This recovery fic combines magical and non-magical therapeutic treatments in a way I can’t remember reading before. The hurt/comfort is just as it should be—both heart-wrenching and soothing—but there are enough surprising revelations to keep the story from feeling predictable. Draco is wonderfully unflinching and patient, and the ending left me crying happy tears. With lovely, restrained prose and vivid magical imagery, this one’s an absolute stunner.

🔸 Connecting Lines, Connecting Crimes by @sleepstxtic (Drarry, H/D Career Fair, rated M, 15K) With its intriguing careers, fascinating magical theory, and well-researched worldbuilding, this story captured my attention immediately, and the mystery at the heart of it kept me engrossed. This was one of the more thought-provoking fics I’ve had the pleasure of reading, exploring the intersection of magic, the environment, and colonialism. Harry’s first-person POV is lovely, and it feels like we’re learning to love India and the people he meets along with him. The getting-back-together romance is gentle but satisfying, propelled by pent-up yearning that’s palpable. There’s so much to enjoy here, all in only 15K words!

🔹 Waking Up Slow by @sweet-s0rr0w and @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm (Drarry, H/D Wireless Fest, rated E, 22K) The first word that comes to mind while reading this fic is charming. First there’s the novel setting: a Christmas shop in the tourist destination of Cheddar Gorge, in the middle of a July heatwave. Next, there’s the shop itself, so imaginatively described and full to the brim with clever Muggle and magical details. Then there are the delightful OCs, Draco’s seemingly unhinged enthusiasm for all things Christmas (including ridiculous jumpers), and Harry’s complete disregard for professional behavior. But underneath the playful banter and humor, there’s also a layer of poignancy to tug at the heartstrings, especially when we find out the backstories behind Harry’s and Draco’s unlikely careers. And to top it all off, like the glowing star on the tree, are Joy’s exuberant, colorful illustrations. This is a Christmas-y fic I’d reread any time of the year.

Thanks to all these brilliant creators for sharing their work with us!

Happy New Year!

[stationintern]

drarry prompt: bus ride

okayyyy let's go. also inspired by the @goblinmatriarch prompt about running into someone when you're already late and having to decide whether to make your appointment or follow your heart

Freddie’s great. Really, he is. Or, he was. Draco’s not sure– the years all blend together.

He’s on the bus to Freddie’s house, and London passes by the window in a blur as he allows himself to get lost in his thoughts. He hasn’t always taken the bus. He used to Apparate, back when he was young and excited and had less to think over. He’s happy, isn’t he?

He and Freddie each bring something special to their relationship. Freddie has a rather large cock and isn’t in any rush to move in, which is ideal since Draco values his personal space. Draco has the kind of skills in bed you can only get from a few years of self-destructive sexual promiscuity, and the kind of humour you can only get from another few years of re-assimilation into the society you were once exiled from, which requires the ability to laugh at one's self a good amount.

It’s been three years, and maybe the whole not-moving-in thing should be a concern. They aren’t really… moving forward in any aspect of their relationship, and at first that was preferable. Now, Pansy’s got married, Blaise and Anthony are on their third vow renewal (in the Bahamas this time), Greg is expecting a child, and Draco feels distinctly behind the times. Maybe he should start looking for something more serious? Is this what he wants? A long-term boyfriend who has never been interested in anything more, liked him enough to push him towards it, pull him in. Why hasn’t Draco felt the need to go deeper?

There’s no way to be sure, so now he takes the bus. 

It slows to a stop and Draco doesn’t bother to look up from his novel– the one he’s perpetually stuck in the middle of, a mask and a wall to hide the horde of questions running through his mind every time he chooses to ride public transportation– until there’s a shifting in the seat next to him. The bus is nearly empty, so there’s no reason for someone to choose the seat next to him, and if he’s learned anything by now, he’s learned that being singled out means that he’s been spotted– never as a naturally handsome, intelligent looking man, but as Draco Malfoy, and there’s hardly a situation where that could be positive.

“Malfoy.”

“Potter.”

“You’re on the bus.”

“As are you.”

Potter looks the same as ever– younger than he should, ridiculously hip, hauntingly handsome. Sometime over the last decade he’d got himself an eyebrow piercing, and since then Draco has had to make a conscious effort to avert his eyes whenever his ex-archenemy-turned-coworker is near. 

They have an unspoken understanding these days, ever since they realized they both work for the same nonprofit. The Youth Entertainment Coalition formed around five years back, and Draco was assigned to the Literacy Department. Its goal being to avoid the same kind of teenage radicalism that presented itself during the war, and Draco was a shoo-in for a leadership position. He was young, apologetic, and had extensive experience when it came to being radicalized, so of course he would know how to combat it. His department began opening twenty-four-hour bookshops and game rooms, creating a safe space for teenagers to come research and meet people different from them at all hours. And they may not have any set-in-stone evidence of its effect, but no wars have broken out, so they count that as a win.

The only downside of the job proved to be Potter, who made it a point to linger around their shared office building whenever he could. His presence became a constant reminder of everything Draco could have been: good. They don’t antagonize each other, they only speak when necessary, and it works quite well. No murders have occurred… yet.

“Why not just Apparate?”

Why not just Apparate to his boyfriend’s house? He used to.

“I like to collect my thoughts,” Draco replies, “In a third location. Not at my house, not at my destination. Sometimes it’s nice to have somewhere in-between the two.”

Potter shifts again. Draco still hasn’t truly looked at him. If he did, he’d have to look at that fucking piercing, and Potter’s eyes, and he’d end up with so much more to think about than before. There’s simply no time for that.

“Why are you taking the bus?” Draco asks.

“The same reason, I guess. It’s nowhere,” Potter replies, “Does that make sense?”

“Yeah.” Draco agrees, “Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“From where?”

“Blind date.”

“A good one?”

“Not at all. He sucked.”

Draco takes a sharp breath. Of course, Potter is into men. Yet another thing Draco does not have time to think about.

“You’re gay now?”

“Now? I’ve been gay.”

Draco finally takes the leap and looks over at Potter, who gleams in the afternoon light- with his unapologetically toothy smile and consistently round glasses perched low on his nose. It’s ridiculous, how handsome the man is. Draco has done pretty well ignoring it, but there’s only so much a person can take. It’s simply not fair, how someone can be so good-looking and morally upstanding. 

“And the Prophet?”

“Haven’t picked up on it. Where are you headed?”

“Chelsea,” Draco says, simply. He could say ‘my boyfriend’s house,’ but he doesn’t, unsure of why.

“Mm. I’m sick of blind dates.”

“As is anyone whose ever been on one.”

“It makes me lose faith in my friends, you know? Like, I don’t know where they find these people.”

“The gutter, most likely.”

“I just want to meet someone organically, but it gets to this point when you’re an adult… where it feels like you’re just out of people to meet. Am I making sense?”

“Yes,” Draco gets it, “It’s hard to get to know people. You have to rehash everything, let them in. It’s easier to just stick with the people who’ve been there, who know you… intimately.”

“Exactly,” Potter breathes a heavy sigh of relief, sinking low into his seat and spreading his legs obscenely, “You know, I’ve wanted to get to know you. For a while, actually.”

Draco’s blood freezes like ice, “Me?”

“Yeah,” Potter says, knocking shoulders with Draco, “But, like, how was I supposed to approach you? You were always around, but in the office you have this… face. Like, don’t speak to me about anything other than my bookshops or I’ll explode.”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

“Whatever. Why would you want to get to know me?”

“You’re interesting.”

“In which way?”

“All of them.”

Draco’s mouth hangs open for an embarrassing amount of time while he processes that response, “Alright.”

“Alright?”

“Yeah. You can… get to know me. I suppose.”

Draco’s not sure what kind of spirit has possessed him, but apparently it’s hell-bent on making his life more complicated than it was before.

“Are you free tonight?” Potter asks.

The bus slows to a stop, and Draco’s knows that this is where he should get off. He's already running late, and this is his stop. But, curiosity and dissatisfaction propel him into action. He holds up a finger, pulls out his phone, and brings up Freddie’s contact.

I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to make it tonight.

Draco knows that he’s walking a fine line here. Standing up his boyfriend to hang out with someone he’s attracted to and wants to get to know better. But, deep down, he knows that Freddie won’t care. He probably wouldn’t care if Draco broke up with him right now with a text that simply said ‘we’re over.’ All in lowercase, no less. 

Freddie has never been prone to loud emotions, and nobody's emotions are louder than Draco’s. Something’s been missing for a while.

It is time to move forward. It is time to get to know new people, even if they’re old enemies. Maybe that’s the best part of it all– getting to go over their shared history and recontextualize it, see what was behind the wall of hatred they kept safely in between them for all of those years.

He slips his phone back into his pocket and looks over at Potter, who is staring at him with a boyish raise of the eyebrow and tilt of the mouth, full of anticipation– something fresh and interesting and completely unknown.

“Yeah,” Draco replies, “I may not be new, but I’m definitely free.”

if you liked this, feel free to leave a comment or kudos over on ao3!

[thedrarrylibrarian]

We’re getting close to the end of summer, which means I’m frantically trying to read everything before it ends. My favorite summer reads are the kind that suck you in and you can’t put down - you have to race to the end to know what happens. I want summer reads to be immersive, something to get completely lost in for a while. If you’re anything like me, I can’t wait for you to check out this Happy Hour recommendation.

We Are Young (I’ll Carry You Home Tonight) by @femmequixotic (68,826 words, rated E)

Harry and Draco have been falling into bed on and off again since the last election five years ago, much to the amusement--and financial gain--of their circle of friends. But when Harry agrees to work with Draco to put Kingsley Shacklebolt into the Minister's office, they can't work side-by-side again every day and sleep together; that would be courting disaster. Wouldn't it?

Part political thriller, part romantic comedy, this fic kept me enthralled the whole time I read it. With @femmequixotic typical writing prowess and quippy dialogue, this story made me laugh out loud several times. The characters were so believable and likable that I rooted for them the entire time, and the ending was happy without being overly sappy.

I hope you give this oldie but goody a chance - I think you’ll fall in love with it like I did.

❤️ As always, if you find a fic you enjoy, please remember to leave the author a kudos or a comment! ❤️

Lots of Love and Happy Friday!

[sitp-recs]

Hello again! Thank you for your recommendations, I really liked several of them.

I wanted to tell you that I recently read Away Childish Things by Lettered and I loved it. This left me wondering, do you know of other drarrys who talk about the mistreatment Harry suffered under the Dursleys? I think it's very interesting to see the consequences of childhood abuse growing up and how someone (Draco in this case) can help heal that.

Hello friend! Happy to hear you’ve enjoyed the recs. Ahh yes, ACT is so uniquely cathartic - I still remember the awe I felt reading it for the first time, the emotional depth and character development are top notch. I can think of a few fics touching on Harry’s abusive childhood:

Timeshare by astolat (M, 14k)

“It’s not for long,” Hermione said. “By the time we get back to Hogwarts, the Unfettering Brew will be ready.”“Listen to you!” Ron said. “He’s got to get through a month with the Dursleys and a month at Malfoy Manor. With Draco Malfoy.”

Conquering the Dark by noeon (E, 24k)

Harry's a Healer specialising in the care of children, Draco Malfoy's an expert in neuromagic at St Mungo's. A difficult case forces them to work together and, in the process, unearths some of the trauma of the past, as well as the chance for healing in the present.

The Elusive Mate by 0idontknow0 (E, 26k)

Harry had done it (a) to save lives and (b) because the idea of him being Malfoy’s mate was clearly ridiculous, but now he had to tell Malfoy.

He Who Must Not Be Normal by lettered (E, 41k)

Potter has fame and fortune and posh clothes and all he wants is a simple life. Draco has a flat and a cat and a steady job and all he wants is a complicated life. Which makes you think this story has something exciting like body-swapping, but it doesn’t.

A Piercing Comfort by talithan (T, 44k)

When Harry Potter hits the lowest point of his life so far, it is not his friends who keep him honest. With Draco Malfoy's patience and guidance, Harry learns to stand on his own. The thing is, after the fact—he's no longer sure he wants to.

Tea and No Sympathy by who_la_hoop (E, 70k)

It's Potter's fault, of course, that Draco finds himself trapped in the same twenty-four-hour period, repeating itself over and over again. It's been nearly a year since the unpleasant business at Hogwarts, and Draco's getting on with his life quite nicely, thank you, until Harry sodding Potter steps in and ruins it all, just like always.

Harry Potter and the elusive day off by pleasebekidding (E, 71k)

Auror Potter needs a fucking break. He is wiped. He is exhausted. He probably didn't intend to put himself into a magical coma but these things happen. And who cares, really? He is comfortable in a house where he has hidden away all the shit he can't deal with.

The Ordeal of Being Known by @lou-isfake (M, 146k)

When Auror Potter is anonymously cursed with silence by being forced to hide his own voice inside his mind, there's unfortunately only one person in the country with the qualifications to fix it: Certified and Licensed Healer Legilimens, Draco Malfoy, specialist in Mind Curses and Afflictions.

[hdowlpost]

OWL GIFTS for @threadingfate7

 The First Morning Summary: The first morning waking up together Art Medium: Digital Art Rating: Teen and Up Contain: established relationship, moving in together Notes: I adored being able to create this artwork from your prompt! Big hugs to apricitydays for cheering and critiquing and your dedication to making sure I got the lighting right! To Boshspice for your digital art expertise! I'm thankful I could lean on you both!

The Mystery of the Missing Missive Summary: Horrified to discover he’s been left off the guest list for a faculty holiday party, Draco Malfoy begins plotting. Word Count: 1800 Rating: G Contains: Fluff & an attempt at humour Notes: Happy holidays Fate and everyone. Have a Happy New Year too. This is an attempt at humour with some fluff and tenderness and Harry generally being background supportive of Draco’s scheming. Night at the Opera Summary: When Harry asks Draco to accompany him to the opera and to Diagon's newest restaurant, Draco doesn't actually realise he's been asked on a date. Word count: 2021 Rating: General Contains: Auror Harry, Lawyer Draco, Awkward dates, Oblivious Draco Malfoy, Crushes, Boys in Love, Harry Potter in Formalwear, Getting Together, Fluffy Notes: Dearest Fate! I love to talk to you on the Drarry Discord and I was so excited to write something cute you would enjoy. I love the idea of Harry dressing up for Draco, and being all in love, so this is for you ❤️ I hope 2024 is a wonderful year for you and everybody that you love xxx Thank you to my lovely beta, I, who turned this around in half an hour flat. You're an amazing person. Thank you also to the mods of this amazing fest, who do a brilliant job every year. The title comes from the Queen album of the same name, whose tee shirts Harry loves so much.

[midnightarrow]

So yeah, Harry Potter was the first fandom I ever read fics of. I was very tiny and still hadn't gotten my queerness awareness (lol) so Dramione was my introduction to the beautiful world of fanfictions, but then Drarry happened.

I have lost count of how many hours I spent reading, crying, swearing and swooning over them. It's been more than 10 years, and I never ever had the guts to write about them because, god I love them so much I'm so scared I'm gonna mess it up.

And out of the blue now I am, words are flowing fairly easily even though I've got no clue where they are going. I got no plan, no plot, no nothing.

I don't even know if I'm going to put this on ao3 if I ever manage to finish it, but I'm so happy.

I've had a writers block since 2017. If something was gonna get me out of it, sure as h*ll was gonna be this two f*ckers.

[syrahbat]

New Chapter of My Drarry Fic

Chapters: 4/19 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Astoria Greengrass, Original House-Elf Character(s), Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Astoria and Daphne Greengrass's Father, Original Auror Characters Additional Tags: Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Depression, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Self-Hatred, Slow Burn, Redemption, Auror Harry Potter, POV Draco Malfoy, Childhood Trauma, Post War, Friendship so strong it haunts the narrative, Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary:

Astoria was dead and Draco Malfoy decided all that was left to do was to stuff a leaf into his mouth and become an Animagus.

After his wife Astoria dies at the hands of a blood curse, Draco Malfoy falls under investigation; except the Auror assigned to his case is Harry Potter, and Harry Potter has a very different opinion of Draco than everybody else, including Draco himself.

Excerpt from Chapter 4:

“Is this where he sat?” Pansy asked, pointing to the chaise.

“Yes,” Draco replied. 

“Huh,” Pansy pursed her lips. “Potter sat here and asked you questions.” 

Pansy had barely firecalled her arrival that evening. Since she had been coming every few days to check up on him since January, arranging visits had become more of a social courtesy than a requirement.

“You won’t even talk to me about it,” she murmured as she sat down primly in Potter’s spot and reached out for her tea. Her dark hair, now grown out long past the days of her teenage bob, was lost in the sea of black she wore. He wondered if she wore it as a sign of respect for his loss, but then again, she’d always been fond of dark things.

Draco took his seat and let the sharpness of her tone glance off him. After his meeting with Potter this afternoon, he was too exhausted to fight. “You aren’t an Auror investigating me for murder.”

“So that’s what it is, then,” Pansy raised a brow. “They really think you murdered her?” 

“It appears so,” Draco entwined his fingers and dropped his hands into his lap. He was exhausted. He didn’t know why he’d said yes to Pansy’s visit, though to be fair to him, there really hadn’t been much of an opportunity to say no.

“Well,” Pansy smoothed down her fringe with a ring-clad hand, her voice bored. “Did you?”

Draco snorted. 

Pansy turned her attention outside. The great windows were being pummelled by rain, a storm quickly approaching that would rattle them for a good hour, at least. The beating against the glass was soothing in its aggression.

“You never ask me over for dinner anymore,” Pansy drawled. “It’s only ever tea.”

“Are you lacking for food at home, Pansy?” Draco said flatly. “Come to suckle off my storehouses?” 

Pansy’s eyes whipped back to him, sharp. “There was a time when you wanted my company,” Then her eyes softened. “And Tibs is the best cook in all the country.”

Draco sighed. “I-,”

“It’s alright.” She smoothed her fringe again, twice, three times. “I just meant to say…”

“I know,” Draco nodded.

They fell into bitter, aching silence. Draco had known Pansy for nearly his whole life. They had never been good at this bit. He didn’t expect it, nor want it, to change now. She didn’t need to say the things he knew. I miss you, I don’t know how to be with you, where did you go?

Pansy stood back up.

“I’m—,” She fiddled with her necklace. “I’m going to be quite busy the next while. I won’t be able to come by.”

Draco chewed the inside of his cheek. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, of course. Everything is fine,” She replied, heading for the door. “Just a lot… going on.”

Draco got up from his chair, the creak of his joints loud enough he swore it echoed. The rain pelted the glass as though trying to kill him. “Right, of course.”

“Draco,” She turned at the open door, eyes cast down guiltily, “maybe Potter can help.”

Draco’s eyebrows furrowed with confusion. “What?”

“Maybe he…” She thumbed the wood of the door, “maybe he’s on our side, this time.”

Before he could respond, Pansy closed the door behind her quietly. A roll of thunder pounded through the blackened sky behind him, and he didn’t even jump.

[dodgerkedavra]

my 2023 year in review: completed works edition

I got tagged by @oknowkiss and feel VERY presumptuous tagging anyone else LOL but here's all the stuff I did in 2023, less a couple secret/unrevealed fics!

Completed Fics

February

Good for You || Drarry || 4.5k || E

Draco has only ever wanted to be a very good boy. He has no intention of blurting that out to Harry Potter at pub night.

April

Now I Know In Part || Drarry || 39.8k || E

Harry Potter is the savior of the Wizarding World. Draco Malfoy is a reformed Death Eater turned Ministry Curse-Breaker. Five years after the War, they're brought together by another mysterious curse. Only this time, Harry's the one who needs saving. More specifically, he needs Draco. They have one month to break the curse, and the clock is ticking.

May

If You Miss It, Try Again || Drarry || 23.9k || E

The healers promised Draco he wouldn't get pregnant a second time. They were wrong. And this time, he's pregnant with his best friend and roommate Harry Potter's baby. Nine months is all he has to figure it out.

June

In the Presence of My Enemy || Drarry || 41.1k || E

All Harry knows is that Sectumsempra is for enemies. He doesn’t know that it will bind him to Draco Malfoy, for better or worse, ‘til death do them part. Only one of them will survive, and they’re running out of time to choose.

A Mist That Appears (For a Little Time) || Drarry || 22.6k || E

“Give me November, and I’ll teach you to be happy. There’s only one condition. You must swear on your magic that you won’t fall in love with me.” Harry’s so tired. His whole body hurts. If Malfoy can teach him how to be happy, then... “Okay.” Harry is working himself to death. Draco only has November to help him. Falling in love is strictly against the rules.

July

A Page with No Space || Drarry || 0 words, Enchanted Journals || M

In a desperate bid to get Malfoy to talk to him, Harry Potter slips him an enchanted notebook during sixth year. Five years later, he finally gets an answer.

I Swear I'll Keep You With Me || Drarry || 3.5k || E

Harry Potter doesn't mean to drop the Snitch in Malfoy Manor. In order to get it back, he makes an Unbreakable Vow to keep Draco Malfoy with him. It's the chandelier's fault, really.

August

Lover, Where Do You Live? || Drarry || 38.5k || E

Harry Potter has been running away since the War, disappearing into his job as a freelance curse-breaker. Work is his life. Home doesn't exist. He's about to disappear again when he runs into Death Eater-turned-Healer Draco Malfoy. It's supposed to be a one-night-stand. They're not supposed to pine for each other. Harry's not supposed to sleep with Draco a second time. Or a third. Or a fourth. But when a nasty curse sends Harry back into Draco's arms, he might be forced to admit that home's been waiting for him all along... Or: Harry wants to go home. Draco wants to be a home. It's hard to say it out loud.

September

Starlight in the Void || Drarry || 40.4k || E

An overgrown cottage in an unassuming seaside village is the perfect place for Harry Potter’s fresh start. Harry gets two weeks of peace before he hears rumors of a mysterious hermit wizard who lives in a stone tower in the woods. He’s dismayed to discover it’s none other than Draco Malfoy. He’s even more dismayed to find that his life is once again in danger, and only Malfoy can save him.

Angel, Can't You See? || Drarry, Pansmione || 15.6k || E

Harry Potter has been missing for two and a half years when the Wizengamot passes a Marriage Law during an emergency session in the dead of night. When morning comes, Hermione Granger finds herself assigned to none other than Draco Malfoy. It’s hideously unjust, but simple: she must stay at Malfoy Manor for seventy-two hours, after which she and Draco will be married in a Ministry-supervised ceremony. Hermione stays at the Manor for seventy-two hours. As for the rest of the Ministry’s plan…

October

Fall on the Earth || Drarry || 15.3k || E

Harry Potter hates being separated from Draco Malfoy. Not because he's in love with him, for Merlin's sake! Because they're Auror Partners. One time is all it takes for Draco to be attacked with an illicit potion. Until it wears off, Harry's job is taking care of his partner. Harry thinks the effects of the potion can't possibly be as serious as Robards says. He thinks wrong.

November

Nemeses with Benefits || Drarry || 0 Words/Socmed || M

Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter don't like each other. It's just a convenient arrangement.

The Scent of Soft Rains || Drarry || 20k || E

For a single moment in the middle of being burned alive by dragonfire, the heat so intense it feels freezing and the pain so vast it’s the size of the sky, Harry is relieved. He won’t have to wonder what it’s like anymore.

December

I Was Late (You Were Early) || Drarry || 12.1k || E

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy make a pact that if they’re both still single on New Year’s Day in ten years’ time, they’ll get married. It’s a long ten years.

So that was at least a couple stories in 2023!!

[kalliasandi]

02: Trust Issues

Drarry

Note: Slowly getting longer, post-war depression guys!! Always the best!!

About 1500 words

Harry did not know why everyone always looked at him like that, after everything, people still judge him as though he wasn’t even there. Eighth year started a few weeks ago, and no one stopped once to ask him if he was okay, the only things they asked were questions he didn’t know the answer to, “What are you going to do after Hogwarts?” “Will you be an auror?” “How did it feel to be the world's saviour?”. He couldn’t answer any of those questions, but he tried his hardest.

After the war, everything felt as though the world was moving in slow motion, and he couldn’t grasp reality. Though Voldemort was gone, he still had nightmares of him somehow returning and taking away the rest of the people he loved. All Harry wanted was a night of peace, but that wouldn’t happen, probably never. He couldn’t let himself be happy, because he feared the moment he would, it would all get ruined again like it always did.

All the moments he could get, Harry uses it to study in the library, keeping himself busy not only from his thoughts, but from everyone who wanted a word with the ‘Famous Saviour’ everyone believed him to be. He didn’t believe it himself. Would he ever? Of course, his friends all told him that, tried to reassure him and make sure he was okay, but Harry did not budge. They gave up, finally, letting Harry be alone majority of the time only with glances of pity towards him. That was all anyone who first-hand experienced the war ever did, pity him. All except a few, Malfoy and his group. That was the only thing that hardly changed, though Malfoy didn’t sneer as much as he used to, he was no longer acting like a prat, the one who was roomed with him for house unity.

Harry sat in the library, ignoring all the students who looked up to stare at him in the dim light. He never wanted this fame, never wanted people to be involved in his life. It didn’t matter though, whether Harry liked it or not, everyone would always be watching him, the saviour he did not feel he was.

Soon enough, the library became overwhelming, noise buzzing everywhere, people wanting to thank Harry in lines, Harry tried to dismiss them but they just wouldn’t go away. So, for the rest of the evening, he signed multiple cards, pictures, books, everything that all these students brought to him. It was exhausting, and after each sign, patience started to slip away, frustration that flowed through Harry’s body was only getting worse.

Thankfully, it was time to eat before everyone would be sent to their dormitories for the night. After the war, professors and students still feared for something that might change in the night. Something threatening so that no one wanted to be caught out of the safety of their houses late in the night.

Instead of going towards the great hall , Harry moved towards the astronomy tower, and as Hogwarts was still undergoing renovations in certain areas, it was rather hard to reach, therefore hardly anyone ever went there. The astronomy tower was, for Harry, a place to sit without being bombarded by unwanted ‘fans’, even his own friends.

It was silent there, free of lies people tell, free. This was why Harry loved this spot so much more than anywhere in Hogwarts currently, he could just sit there in peace, for hours and no one would find him there, hours without anyone pitying him, bringing up awkward conversations he wasn’t ready for. It was as if Harry couldn’t trust them with his own feelings, he could hardly trust himself with them. He knew the moment someone would know, people would talk about it. Newsletters titled ‘Poor Harry Potter Depressed Still After The War’ and shite like that. He didn’t like anyone peering in on his life, making decisions for his own feelings. And that is why he can’t trust anyone, all his words would just get warped to what people want to hear, rather than what he is telling them.

Harry did sit there for a while, until it was well past the time he was supposed to be back. His body felt more calm than it had before, he was no longer uncomfortable in his own skin at this moment. Harry snuck back out of the rubble guarding the astronomy tower, careful not to run into Filch. He quietly snuck his way back to the dormitory with all the eighth years, sneaking back to the room he shared with Malfoy.

Jumping from the sight of Malfoy sitting on his bed watching Harry enter, he swears under his breath.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” Harry hoped he didn’t, he didn’t want anything bad with Malfoy. Especially after they had silently made peace with each other.

“I was already awake. Sneaking around again, Potter?” Malfoy raised his eyebrows in an unsurprising way, as if this happens all the time. “You missed dinner.”

“Didn’t know you cared.”

“I don’t,” Draco says matter-of-factly, “it is just annoying everyone to come to me for questions about you due to the simple fact that I room with you.”

“Just tell them to bugger off.” It was too late for a conversation, and all Harry wanted to do was lay down and sleep where the frustration towards everyone disappeared off his shoulders.

“I do. Goodnight Potter.” Malfoy finally sinks down into his bed, allowing Harry to do the same. Honestly, the first few nights rooming with him, Harry was scared Malfoy would jump him in his sleep. Now that fear washed off, though not completely. He was always scared he would do something wrong to Malfoy that would cause his short temper to act out on Harry when Harry was at his most vulnerable.

“Night, Malfoy.”Almost immediately, Harry drifts off to sleep, with that never fading fear that something bad was going to happen.

-

Black smoke was everywhere, eating away at hogsmeade and taking over the blue sky, turning it into a dark grey. A large snake was crawling through the rubble, Nagini, opening its mouth wide and ready to swallow anything that came into its way. The fangs glistened while flicking its tongue, providing dead fear through the dream.

It wraps itself around Harry’s legs, tightening every second and moving up to his chest. He couldn’t move, no matter how hard he tried, his dreamself was still. Allowing this to happen.

Just as Harry’s breath loses itself, a snakelike figure appears from the black smoke. Voldemort. Red eyes, slit nose and split tongue like a snake. Getting closer to Harry, laughing while doing so. He sees Draco Malfoy in the background.

‘Save.. me.’ Harry croakes out as loud as he can.

Draco Malfoy does nothing, just stands there, staring as Voldemort opens his hands wide, and crushes Harry’s face. The world around him disappears into black.

Harry awoke fully drenched in sweat, clutching his chest as he whispers over and over again.

“It’s not real, its not real, it’s not real” but it felt so real. Harry could still feel the slender, cold hands holding onto his head.

“Potter,”

“No, get away!” Harry screams out, backing up further into his bed, clutching his head into his knees. Anyone but Malfoy. All he did was stare like a coward when Voldemort crushed Harry’s skull. But that wasn’t real.

“Potter, it’s okay, it was just a dream.” Malfoy tries to soothe Harry down, and it works ever so slightly.

“I don’t trust you.” Harry’s breath was still shaky, along with his words.

“Of course you don’t.” Harry looks up after Malfoy says this, Malfoy looks down. Almost like he was disappointed. “Just try to go back to sleep Potter.”

So Harry does as Malfoy says, sleep. Sleep is a weird thing, the most vulnerable time of day.Dreams enter through the mind that one cannot control. It was an ideal time to attack, which is why sleep is not to be trusted. Yet sleep is mandatory, without it one goes mad, and so it is that decision that is so hard. Go mad or be vulnerable. Harry hated being vulnerable, but he feared madness more. He already thought he was going mad before, when Voldemort lived as a part of him. It was not the most pleasant, and he decided to risk his safety by sleeping in the same room as Malfoy.

Malfoy, who had perfect blonde hair that was never messy except when he had to save him from the fire in the room of requirement, who Harry couldn’t trust. Pale skin, tall and eyes that always captured Harry’s eyes. Harry wanted a reason to trust him, but after everything, he knew that even the most unexpecting people cannot be trusted.

End Note: obviously trust cannot be handed out to people just like that, but it also is hard to hand out to people who had many reasons to not be trusted. I love drarry but what is drarry without a little begrudgement?