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hollowed-theory-hall · 8 months ago

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Hello! I have seen this question debated many times and I wanted to know your take on it cause I find your theories very compelling. Do you think harry should've been in Slytherin? Does he have what it "takes" to be a Slytherin? Is it because of voldemort's soul in him that lead the sorting hat to even suggest he could be in Slytherin? I know this is not one question but I would like to know your opinion on this topic in general!

First of all, thank you for the kind words! 😊

As for the questions, well, you've asked more than one question, but this ask kinda gives me a good reason to talk about how Harry isn't some golden Gryffindor. He actually has some anger issues and he most definitely has what it "takes" for Slytherin.

I'll start with the last question and then go backward, actually.

Did the hat consider Slytherin house just because of the Horcrux?

I don't think so.

I mean, Harry is incredibly clever, magically powerful, and has a cunning streak a mile wide all on his own. I'd actually go as far as to say he's more cunning, ruthless, and resourceful than many of the Slytherins we see in the books. So his own traits definitely are in line with a Slytherin sorting, Horcrux or no Horcrux.

We can try and discern if the Horcrux has an effect on Harry's personality then, and if its influence is seen like that. I'd say that I don't think so either.

Tom and Harry, while they have their similarities, are very different people. They both have a bad temper (although they react to anger differently), but Harry has low self-esteem whereas Tom thinks he is the best (while still hating himself). They're both stubborn, but Tom is much more obsessive than Harry in pursuit of his goals. Harry cares for justice and isn't willing to hurt innocents, Tom doesn't really care about any of that he cares for efficiency. If the Horcrux was influencing Harry's personality, I'd expect to see more similarities between them that go deeper than that.

So, I don't think the hat only offered Slytherin because of the Horcrux. Harry is a Slytherin in his own right.

Does Harry have what it "takes" for Slytherin?

So, I honestly got really excited at the sight of this sentence. See I love Harry, that's no secret. But one of the things I love about him is that he isn't the perfect noble hero. He can be angry, and cruel and ruthless. But he has a sense of justice, he wouldn't wish harm on someone innocent, but someone who did harm to him, or was mean to him or someone he cares for... then Harry can be terrifying when he wants to be.

So, now I'm going to go through some (I have so many more examples of this, and the examples here are mostly books 1-5 since that's what I had on hand) of my collection of quotes showing Harry Potter's vindictiveness and anger.

Harry's response to "have a good summer" at the end of his first year:

“Oh, I will,” said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face. “They don’t know we’re not allowed to use magic at home. I’m going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer.…

(PS, page 221)

This is Harry's (very justified) vindictiveness we see towards the Dursleys many times in the books. He uses the idea of magic to scare them and is gleeful at the thought of Dudley's fear. Harry is very much chill with vengeance.

“…He likes to keep in touch with me, though . . . keep up with my news . . . check if I’m happy. . . .” And, grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon’s face, Harry set off toward the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last.

(PoA, page 435)

Same as above, just Sirius Black as the threat instead of magic.

Yes, thought Harry, that looked all right. There was no point putting in the dream; he didn’t want it to look as though he was too worried.

(GoF, page 25)

Harry can and does lie and conceal information, even from people he trusts (like Sirius) if he thinks it'll be better not to tell them something. Whether that is for his own image or for what they would think.

“Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?” It was Professor McGonagall, and her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines. “We were — we were —” Ron stammered. “We were going to — to go and see —” “Hermione,” said Harry. Ron and Professor McGonagall both looked at him. “We haven’t seen her for ages, Professor,” Harry went on hurriedly, treading on Ron’s foot, “and we thought we’d sneak into the hospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready and, er, not to worry —” Professor McGonagall was still staring at him, and for a moment, Harry thought she was going to explode, but when she spoke, it was in a strangely croaky voice. “Of course,” she said, and Harry, amazed, saw a tear glistening in her beady eye.

(CoS, page 259)

And he clearly can lie well, even at 12.

But Harry wasn’t going to stand for this. Gone were the days when he had been forced to take every single one of the Dursleys’ stupid rules. He wasn’t following Dudley’s diet, and he wasn’t going to let Uncle Vernon stop him from going to the Quidditch World Cup, not if he could help it. Harry took a deep, steadying breath and then said, “Okay, I can’t see the World Cup. Can I go now, then? Only I’ve got a letter to Sirius I want to finish. You know — my godfather.” He had done it. He had said the magic words. Now he watched the purple recede blotchily from Uncle Vernon’s face, making it look like badly mixed black currant ice cream.

...

He stopped there to enjoy the effect of these words. He could almost see the cogs working under Uncle Vernon’s thick, dark, neatly parted hair. If he tried to stop Harry writing to Sirius, Sirius would think Harry was being mistreated. If he told Harry he couldn’t go to the Quidditch World Cup, Harry would write and tell Sirius, who would know Harry was being mistreated. There was only one thing for Uncle Vernon to do. Harry could see the conclusion forming in his uncle’s mind as though the great mustached face were transparent. Harry tried not to smile, to keep his own face as blank as possible. And then — “Well, all right then. You can go to this ruddy . . . this stupid . . . this World Cup thing.

(GoF, page 33)

Again, vindictiveness and manipulation of Vernon through fear. Not only that, but Harry can keep his calm and keep his face blank even at 14 for the sake of getting something he wants.

“Get stuffed, Malfoy,” said Harry. “C’mon, Ron. . . .” “Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren’t you, Potter?” sneered Malfoy. “So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?” “You know your mother, Malfoy?” said Harry — both he and Hermione had grabbed the back of Ron’s robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy — “that expression she’s got, like she’s got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?” Malfoy’s pale face went slightly pink. “Don’t you dare insult my mother, Potter.” “Keep your fat mouth shut, then,” said Harry, turning away.

(GoF, page 204)

Harry has a bark (all of the above quotes are Harry having a bark). He can and does shoot back as good as he gets.

Harry isn't all bark though, he's got a bit. Harry's anger is palpable and so very real and I love seeing it:

just as Uncle Vernon burst out of the dining room, his trouser leg in bloody tatters. “COME BACK IN HERE!” he bellowed. “COME BACK AND PUT HER RIGHT!” But a reckless rage had come over Harry. He kicked his trunk open, pulled out his wand, and pointed it at Uncle Vernon. “She deserved it,” Harry said, breathing very fast. “She deserved what she got. You keep away from me.” He fumbled behind him for the latch on the door. “I’m going,” Harry said. “I’ve had enough.”

(PoA, page 30)

Again, Harry has his vindictive strike. (Obviously, Marge had it coming, but that's also what Harry is thinking).

A boiling hate erupted in Harry’s chest, leaving no place for fear. For the first time in his life, he wanted his wand back in his hand, not to defend himself, but to attack . . . to kill.

(PoA, page 339)

“You killed my parents,” said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but his wand hand quite steady.

(PoA, page 341)

Harry, at 13, was fully willing to kill who he believed led to his parents' deaths. And more:

So what if he had to kill the cat too? It was in league with Black. . . . If it was prepared to die, trying to protect Black, that wasn’t Harry’s business. . . .

(PoA, page 342)

He's willing to kill Hermione's cat if it stands in his way.

Harry stood there, feeling suddenly empty. He hadn’t done it. His nerve had failed him. Black was going to be handed back to the dementors.

(PoA, page 343)

Harry Potter, at 13, laments that he didn't have the nerve to kill Sirius himself. He thinks he should've killed himself. He sees it as a failure that justice would be served by someone other than him.

Harry sat there staring at Snape as the lesson began, picturing horrific things happening to him. . . . If only he knew how to do the Cruciatus Curse . . . he’d have Snape flat on his back like that spider, jerking and twitching. . . .

(GoF, page 300)

Harry felt oddly separate from everyone around him, whether they were wishing him good luck or hissing “We’ll have a box of tissues ready, Potter ” as he passed. It was a state of nervousness so advanced that he wondered whether he mightn’t just lose his head when they tried to lead him out to his dragon, and start trying to curse everyone in sight.

(GoF, page 347)

The above quotes are both situations Harry was willing and wishing to curse people. Even Crucio Snape. He's not as noble and righteous and golden as many fans and characters in the books make him out to be...

If Dudley’s friends saw him sitting here, they would be sure to make a beeline for him, and what would Dudley do then? He wouldn’t want to lose face in front of the gang, but he’d be terrified of provoking Harry. . . . It would be really fun to watch Dudley’s dilemma; to taunt him, watch him, with him powerless to respond . . . and if any of the others tried hitting Harry, Harry was ready — he had his wand . . . let them try . . . He’d love to vent some of his frustration on the boys who had once made his life hell —

(OotP, page 11)

And sometimes, Harry wishes for an excuse to fight. An excuse to take his anger out on someone. (He has a lot of anger in him)

Smirking all over his pointed face, Draco Malfoy leaned across Harry and seized the largest bowtruckle. “Maybe,” said Malfoy in an undertone, so that only Harry could hear him, “the stupid great oaf’s got himself badly injured.” “Maybe you will if you don’t shut up,” said Harry out of the side of his mouth.

(OotP, page 260)

He's threatening and witty.

“Oh no,” said Hermione, quaking so badly that her knees gave way. “Oh, that was horrible. And he [Gwamp] might kill them [the centaurs] all. . . .” “I’m not that fussed, to be honest,” said Harry bitterly.

(OotP, page 759)

And when it comes to people he doesn't consider innocent, or ones he doesn't care for, even if they never harmed him, Harry is still vindictive. The centaurs mistreated Firenze and Hagrid, so Harry doesn't really care if Gwamp kills them all.

That being said, he is more concerned about Sirius in the above scene.

And he can and does cast unforgivables easily by the later books:

Hatred rose in Harry such as he had never known before. He flung himself out from behind the fountain and bellowed “Crucio!” Bellatrix screamed. The spell had knocked her off her feet, but she did not writhe and shriek with pain as Neville had — she was already on her feet again, breathless, no longer laughing. Harry dodged behind the golden fountain again — her counterspell hit the head of the handsome wizard, which was blown off and landed twenty feet away, gouging long scratches into the wooden floor.

(OotP, page 809)

Harry raised the hawthorn wand beneath the cloak, pointed it at the old goblin, and whispered, for the first time in his life, “Imperio!” A curious sensation shot down Harry’s arm, a feeling of tingling, warmth that seemed to flow from his mind, down the sinews and veins connecting him to the wand and the curse it had just cast. The goblin took Bellatrix’s wand, examined it closely, and then said, “Ah, you have had a new wand made, Madam Lestrange!”

(DH, pages 152-453)

As Amycus spun around, Harry shouted, “Crucio!” The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, thrashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch and a shattering of glass, he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled, insensible, to the floor. “I see what Bellatrix meant,” said Harry, the blood thundering through his brain, “you need to really mean it.”

(DH, page 502)

So, I think Harry definitely has what it takes. He's clever, he can be ruthless, and he's capable of lying and hiding secrets when he feels it's the best option. He can hide his emotions when he really needs to, even if he rarely does. Actually, only in book 6, Harry starts sharing everything with Ron and Hermione on Dumbledore’s advice. Up to that point, he kept quite a bit to himself. And when someone wrongs him, he can and often will swing back.

And last but not least, should he have been in Slytherin?

So, this is an interesting question, because "should" can have two meanings.

1. Should've for the story — as in what is best for the narrative.

2. Should've for the character — in universe, which house the sorting hat should've picked.

So, for the first one, my answer is no. Gryffindor was the right choice for Harry for the narrative of the books as they are. Gryffindor is essentially the opposite of Slytherin and represents a choice more than just the traits and values the house represents. It represents Harry's choice even though he could've been a Slytherin he chose Gryffindor. And it's a constant choice with every heroic act. (personally, I'm not the biggest fan of equating school houses with morality, but it's effective in creating a clear narrative)

And while not all Slytherins are evil and not all Gryffindors are good, a Slytherin Harry Potter would've resulted in a very different story than what we have. So, for the story we ended up getting to happen the way it did, yes, Harry needed to be a Gryffindor.

For the second, maybe. Personally, I believe people (even if they aren't hatstalls) have more than one house they can fit into. Harry is both a Slytherin and a Gryffindor, and neither of them is more wrong or right for him as a person. I think deciding which one of them is best for him is up to a coin flip (and when in his life the question is asked).

He can be ruthless and cunning like a Slytherin. Selfless and courageous like a Gryffindor. He values justice like a Gryffindor. But he also has the selective loyalty of Slytherin to their own.

Point is, there isn't really a "should", because both suit him and he would’ve done well in both. Do I think Slytherin Harry is an incredibly fun concept to consider? Yes. Did I read way too many fics with this premise and would read more? Yes. Do I think he might've fit into Slytherin better than Gryffindor? Well, not necessarily.

Harry is much quieter than most in Gryffindor, but I think the constant scheming and image-keeping in Slytherin would be exhausting to him. He just doesn't care about all the gossip and politicalizing (something that occasionally leaves him out of the loop also in Gryffindor). So, again, both suit him about equally. The difference is that we get a very different story depending on his house.

#harry potter #harry potter thoughts #hp #hp thoughts #hollowedtheory #harry potter analysis #harry potter meta #hp meta #harry james potter #asks #anon asks #anonymous #slytherin harry potter

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saintsenara · 11 months ago

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Thoughts on remadora?

thank you very much for the asks, anons!

while they are by no means my otp, i really enjoy remadora as pairing - and i think they’re fully up there among the canon couples in terms of being an amazing vehicle through which to explore all sorts of questions about life and love - which i am aware is a sufficiently controversial statement that it involves an immediate engagement with some discourse…

because remadora girlies [gender neutral] get an enormous amount of shit within the fandom, particularly from fans who consider wolfstar to be a more plausible pairing for lupin than tonks. i have seen remadora shippers called homophobes for simply enjoying the couple, justified with the bizarre idea that it disrespects remus' relationship with sirius [so... the non-canon one?] to put them together. i have seen tonks turned into a pathetic shrew who is trying to keep remus from the real love of his life by trapping him with an unwanted baby. i have seen remadora shippers get a lot of the usual stuff that people who prefer the canon-endgame couples do [that to ship a canon pair is boring, that it is indicative of a lack of talent, that it indicates an uncritical support for jkr] magnified to eleven because tonks has the temerity to be a barrier to remus’ relationship with the fandom’s favourite hot and brooding man.

obviously, this is bullshit - primarily because its unreasonable and cruel to invest so much time and energy being mean to people because of their harry potter shipping preferences [fandom should never be that deep].

but it’s also a disappointment to me personally because it means that it can be very hard to find the sort of remadora i like without looking like i’m coming to contribute to the pile-on. because where many remadora fans and i don’t see eye-to-eye is that i have absolutely no interest in thinking about them as a relationship which is actually functional. and, all too often, i find myself sifting through fics which do prefer to interpret them like this - as romantic and passionate and stable - largely, i think it’s fair to say, as a defensive move against the tide of “urgh, imagine shipping that” nonsense - even though all the evidence of canon is that they are… very much not.

i am aware of the pottermore article which smoothes the edges of lupin’s canonical reaction to tonks’ feelings for him in half-blood prince - but, while i read this as something of a retcon to make the relationship more palatable, i also don’t think that assuming that both tonks and lupin’s attraction to each other was sincere precludes them being as dysfunctional as they canonically are. i don’t go in for the common anti-remadora argument that tonks “forces” him into a relationship with her - it’s clear in half-blood prince that it’s not only her who has discussed her feelings with molly and arthur weasley, lupin is definitely flirting with her when they pick harry up in order of the phoenix, lupin is an adult man [no matter other power imbalances between him and tonks - such as the fact that she is an agent of the state which oppresses him] who possesses the capacity to refuse her advances, and - since teddy’s conception is not immaculate - he has no issue with enjoying a sexual relationship with her even if he then wants to run away from the product of that.

instead, what i like with remadora is that they reveal something which goes against the grain of the rest of the series: that love is not always enough. throughout the seven-book canon, we see time and time again the idea that love - and, crucially, love-as-noble-suffering and love-as-sacrifice - is enough to overcome any problem. entire civil service collaborating with a terrorist regime? don’t trouble yourself, love has won. your mother dying in childbirth leaving you to be neglected in a state institution? your own fault you’re not interested in love.

i understand the genre reasons for this, but i also love the way in which lupin especially exists on the margins of these genre conventions [just as he exists on the margins of wizarding society!]. i’m always struck in deathly hallows that he’s the only person who’s actually realistic about the demands of war - particularly when he tells harry that it is breathtakingly naive for him to think he can get through the fighting without having to shoot to kill - and that part of him having to be shuffled out of the way when harry tells him to return to the pregnant tonks is because, were the story focused on realism, the idea of a wanted man who is considered an unhuman by the state fleeing in order to guarantee the safety of his wife and unborn child becomes eminently reasonable and harry's defense of the nuclear family embarrassingly unradical.

and so i like the idea of lupin seeing tonks - and tonks seeing lupin - initially as just a bit of fun, as the two of them being just two chill single people who think the other is hot and interesting and want to bang because of it.

[which is something fandoms in general really struggle with as a concept. we like epic love stories - and you won't find me objecting to that! - but we're less good at thinking about casual sexual attraction or transient friendships, and how these can be transformative and meaningful without having to end up going any sort of distance.]

and i then like the idea of the relationship being forced into a profundity it doesn’t really have the juice to sustain by the sheer avalanche of grief which besets the two of them - sirius, dumbledore, mad-eye, ted - and by the pressure of the war and the fact that the order is scrambling and the hangover of remus' self-destruction in half-blood prince which makes each cling to the other as a life-raft. i like remadora as something codependent and messy and strange and sad, and i don’t think this prevents it being sincere and fun and based in mutual attraction, but instead that these positive qualities can exist in conjunction with the fact that, without the war, it would have been a summer of fucking and that was probably it.

on tonks herself, i don’t think i can say it better than @evesaintyves in this meta on her character. i’ve been really uncomfortable with quite a lot of stuff i’ve seen recently which has taken against the idea that tonks can be meaningfully read as queer on the basis of what we find in the text, above all because it so often comes with the implication that one cannot imagine her in her canon endgame pairing and presume that she’s something other than straight or cisgender. eve sets out an excellent case for tonks as bolshy and liberated and in tune with herself and fun and confused and in flux and still figuring stuff out about who she is and where she’s going - and this translates, may i say, to an astonishingly beautiful way of writing her, lupin, and the dysfunction inherent between them which i highly recommend you read.

#asks answered #asenora's opinions on ships #remadora #remus lupin #nymphadora tonks

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l0vem41l · 3 months ago

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the passenger princess playlists

「 tws + notes: no tws, unedited, probably ooc, self-indulgent because we have fun here, author's taste in music is utter shit 」

「 gn!reader, can be platonic or romantic <3 」

↳ ft. these stupid parasites that keep infecting my brain aka bruce wayne,clark kent, jason todd, tim drake, and stephanie brown

author's note: THEY ARE THE PASSENGER PRINCESS!!!! WHY???? because if i projected my music taste on the reader insert we would have many issues. im not THAT self indulgent w/ my stuff i say, posting hcs of character's music tastes based on my own

you decide that it's time to show how much you trust them.

"hey," you mutter, eyes still on the road, fingers absentmindedly drumming on the wheel. "...you can have the aux cord, by the way."

▸ BRUCE doesn't even take it at first. he usually prefers to drive in complete silence himself, so he lets you handle the music. he's pretty nonchalant about what you play, indifferent to most music as long as it doesn't make his ears bleed.

the first time he takes the offer and plays something he personally enjoys, it's pretty straightforward: his main genres are classical, jazz, and dad rock. like... a lot of dad rock. he can read the room er, car?? well enough to know that the classical and jazz songs he listens to aren't exactly driving playlist material. and yes something in the way by nirvana will be played battison i fucking love you

BRUCE's songs include: ♡ she sells sanctuary by the cult ♡ something in the way by nirvana ♡ 1979 by the smashing pumpkins

▸ CLARK is more than happy to share his music! he's always been excited to hear whatever you jam out to and is pretty open to different genres. he definitely finds favorites of his that match the energy of your car playlists. doesn't wanna play anything that's too much of a bummer though, mainly because driving with you has such good vibes!!! he can't ruin that :( unless your in some sorta mood to be upset. then he's got some stuff aka a lot of elliot smith and jeff buckley

he finds a lot to love in all sorts of genres. it's a mix of stuff that he grew up listening to with his parents, stuff that he found on his own from artists he enjoys, and stuff you introduced him to. his music taste is just a mosaic of love for the people around him.

CLARK's songs include: ♡ it's been a long, long time by harry james and his orchestra ♡ cupid by sam cooke ♡ real love baby by father john misty

▸ if there's someone who's going to criticize music without sharing his full music taste? it's JASON. he's actually not mean but he'll make comments which give the impression that he thinks he'd be better with the aux. like bro ask for the aux normally. REMIND HIM WHO'S HOLDING THE WHEEL. YOU BETTER PRAY THAT THE VOTERS ARE IN YOUR FAVOUR WHEN WE DRIVE INTO THIS TELEPHONE POLE

when you give him the aux privileges he's secretly overjoyed. he likes a lot of different genres, rock, metal, indie rock, some punk... but don't ruin his mood by pointing out his music taste is vaguely inspired by bruce's. or make fun of him for listening to sleep token. obviously he likes listening to chill music too— but for a drive? it's gotta be loud and fast. secretly gets happy when you like the songs he plays. the validation gives him a quiet sort of joy.

JASON's songs include: ♡ knives out by radiohead ♡ goddamn these hands by the taxpayers ♡ custer by slipknot

▸ TIM is pretentious about music, but he doesn't intend to be. he's proud of his taste to the point where he's beyond spotify wrapped and stats.fm. i firmly believe he's made his own software to track the music he's listening to and it's thorough. that being said, he really doesn't mind listening to your music. he likes giving recommendations based off of the songs you play in the car.

tim adores branching out into different genres, and the more obscure it is, the more he likes it. given, he's also into some pretty known and loved bands. car seat headrest. radiohead. slaughter beach, dog. the minute you hand him the aux, he's trying to put you on his favourites. a lot of indie. like... so much indie. and midwest emo... american football WILL be played. he also unfortunately cannot hide his love for the pinkerton album.

TIM's songs include: ♡ never meant by american football ♡ oh! starving by car seat headrest ♡ tragic girl by weezer

▸ STEPHANIE is so cool. i've seen swiftie headcanons but guys... pop punk princess stephanie brown is too real. pop punk, alternative rock, riot grrrl— all that stuff. probably got aux privileges before you even gave her permission, she just started queuing up her songs with yours.

when she gets full control, she already has a playlist ready for the drive. it's kind of all over the place, but the vibes are great. you will go from mommy long legs to chappell roan and then to whatever recession pop artist she's into that week. steph is also a big fan of evanescence, kittie, and hole. those in specific are heavily headcanon-y but i feel like she'd appreciate them.

STEPHANIE's songs include: ♡ misery business by paramore ♡ cherry scented by jack off jill ♡ gimmie brains by bratmobile

▸ what are you listening to? you don't know but CASS seems happy at least. when you gave her aux privileges, she didn't really know what to do. she ended up just picking her favourite songs out of your usual playlists.

eventually, she gets excited by the prospect of sharing what she usually listens to and it's... something. so here's the thing: she listens to a lot of ambient noise. like, things that people usually sleep to. you once drove around for half an hour listening to nothing but the noises of rustling leaves and chirping birds through your speakers. and she was happy.

she listens to a lot of music where there's not a lot of lyrics most of the time, but tends to listen to some of stephanie's music as well— usually the more mellow side.

CASS' songs include: ♡ relaxing tranquil day in the forest by nature sounds ♡ healing ritual by whatever, dad ♡ to violet by adrianne lenker

part two... potentially??? lmk which character's you'd want ^_^

— reblogs always appreciated!

#dc #dc comics #dc x reader #dc x you #batman #superman #red hood #red robin #spoiler dc #black bat #bruce wayne #clark kent #jason todd #stephanie brown #cassandra cain #x reader #I WANTED TO ADD SO MANY MORE CHARACTERS AAUWGHWH

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blindfaithmate · 3 months ago

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All the Drarry Fics I've read and loved - Part 2

Back with another list.

No one ever told me by Slight Weasel - It is a one-shot where Harry marries Draco to keep him out of Azkaban. Harry says a lot of 'er', and Draco is doing his best to not be a prick. Harry's POV shows a Draco who has changed and is doing his best in drastic circumstances. It is an MPreg fic, so please read the tags before you jump in. I like reading MPreg fics, so I loved it.

Slutty Butter by Drarryweather - The best three-shot smut fic I've ever read (After Hoko_onchi - honestly, I love them; have read almost everything by them and 10/10 recommend). The writing is fantastic, the ending is satisfying, and there is a kinky Draco who unlocked several kinks for me. Everybody wins.

We're Not Friends by Alexmeg - I read this and cried a lot. Deals with heavy stuff. It is a short fic. But I feel this deals with what happens with Draco after the war at Hogwarts realistically. People leave him alone. And he is not just alone; he is lonely. So when he asks to meet Harry one day, it is suspicious. Ends on a happy note (I don't read fics with sad endings, so trust me, read this). Good fic. (I have also read Tell me a secret by them - this is also good but the ending felt off. Also, took me a long time to get into this fic. It is inspired by Grounds for Divorce so I had high hopes tbh. But oh well)

Not Mine, Never Yours by CapricornBookworm - Oh dear lord, we love oblivious Harry and pining Draco, but at one point, I was screaming at Harry to just realise that he's in love with Draco. And the ending soothed my burnt Drarry soul. And we get Charlie Weasley. Honestly, the best and the hottest Weasley. Would also recommend other fics by them. I've read them all. If I like a fic, I read all the other fics by the author.

Get What You Knead by dodgerkedavra - Harry is a shopowner and, fortunately/unfortunately, ends up buying a shop opposite Draco. The way Harry gets re(?)-obsessed with Draco is hilarious. Love this one-shot. If you are a cat lover, you'd definitely love this one.

All In Due Time by gnarf - It is an MPreg, and honestly, it has cinnamon roll Scorpius and I loved him. My heart broke for Draco in this fic. It was like one after the other thing was going bad for him. And Harry could've stepped in earlier. But I guess that's why this fic works and is aptly titled. Because you finally see Draco happy with his kids and find love with Harry after he has somewhat healed. Love this journey for them.

A Shower, A Meal, A Nap, and A Shag by chickenlivesinpumpkin - This is an 8-parter fic. Read it only if you are of a strong heart and can take rough, and I mean rough af smut cuz even I had to skip certain parts. It has a fantastic possessive, jealous, and obsessive Harry but you know there's something wrong. In one of the parts, they kinda break up (not a spoiler), and again, if don't like such a vivid description of a break up then skip that part. The fic, otherwise, is a masterpiece. I have realised a masterpiece fic will often bring up issues for you, and you will want to add disclaimers. The author has also done so. So, read this fic, but only if you're in a strong mind space. Read the tags before you get into it.

we have heard on high by oflights - Oh, this is a lovely fic. A soulmate au, where Harry knows who his soulmate but Draco doesn't know it yet. There's a good backstory to it. It is a long one-shot. It is a good late-night light read. I have definitely read more fics by this author but can't recall any at the moment. So do check them out.

I hope you all like the recs. Let me know if you have read any of them or read them after my rec and liked it? I mean it's okay if you don't but I'd love it if you do, you know? Also, thanks for all the love on my last rec list.

I will definitely come back with another list. Till then, keep reading, writing, and loving Drarry 💚🩶 (always grateful to the authors who write fics and share their art with us)

PS. Some of these fics will require you to have an ao3 account.

#draco malfoy #harry potter #harry x draco #drarry fic #hp fanfiction #tom felton #draco x harry #ao3 fanfic #archive of our own #fanfiction #fic rec #fic reading

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wisteria-lodge · 1 month ago

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hi op!! hope you're doing well. genuine question, but do you think lucius pays his taxes? he makes public donations and associates with the ministry to a rather personal extent that i imagine he at least forks over some to whatever department at the MoM handles taxes but he does strike me as the person who'd at least find ways to evade being taxed (writing off business dealings as personal purchases to avoid getting taxed for them, donating to charity to get a write-off for the money, having some under the table deals so what taxes he has to pay for wiltshire are rather minimized) but what do you think?

Now I'm thinking about how taxes work in the wizarding world.

Okay, so one of the interesting things about HP is that pure-blood wizards are sort of stuck in the 1700s. There are a few aesthetic/fashion details from the 1800s, but in terms of tech level and the way the world is set up, we're still pre-industrial revolution. Which makes sense! The wizards never had an industrial revolution, and split away from the muggle world in the late 1600s.

(Phillip Pullman was also doing a psuedo 1700s-1800s thing for his children's fantasy series at around the same time. Cannot prove that JKR has any knowledge of His Dark Materials, but another English author writing a similar kind of book? Stealth-setting a book in the 1700s isn't such an out-there choice.)

That means a lot of the issues people have with the HP world building are really just issues with... life in the 1700s. Why is there no mental health care? 1700s. Why is the Hogwarts curriculum so weird? 1700s. Why is slavery okay? 1700s. Why is there no drinking age, and you can just purchase drugs (love potion) over the counter? 1700s.

In a similarly 1700s way, the Wizarding World seems to be composed of semi-autonomous fiefdoms, which report back to the Ministry of Magic. On paper, the Ministry has has control over Hogwarts, St. Mungos, the various pure-blood estates. Whether or not that's that's totally true... I mean the Ministry tries and fails to take over Hogwarts in Book 5, and in Book 2 they clearly *try* to prosecute the Malfoys for holding dark contraband, but never get very far.

Here's what I would do, if I were writing something political based in the Harry Potter universe. The Wizengamot seems to be the oldest ruling body (its name is a pun on the Wittengamot, which is from the 7th century.) So probably those seats are inherited (House of Lords style) possibly with a magical component involved. New members can be added, but only by existing members voting them in. The Wizengamot serves as the High Court (as we see - more normal cases are processed by the Council of Magical Law, and Arthur is really wrong-footed when he hears Harry is getting a *Wizengamot* trial.)

They also probably have some sort of pass/veto power, and the power to elect/replace a Minister of Magic. (the position was "offered" to Dumbledore multiple times, but he turned it down. So he's definitely not campaigning in a general election.) I doubt they actually *write* laws - that seems to be handled by the more bureaucratic-flavored Ministry members like Arthur and Percy, who do *not* sit on the Wizengamot.

I'd also have it so that taxes were handled in a more 1700s style. There'd be a lot of sales tax, which the Ministry would be able to enforce because I'm pretty sure they they oversee food production. There would also be a fee for the various Ministry-run procedures like booking overseas portkeys (and legal-social functions? the officiant at Dumbledore's funeral and Fleur's wedding is pretty Ministry coded.) "Pay a fine" seems to be a pretty common punishment in this world - which isn't a tax, but definitely a way for the Ministry to make money. I wonder if people like Ludo Bagman *bought* his position. It would be very 1700s of him.

Then there's property tax, and this is where the the old pure-blood families on the Wizangamot come in. I think the Ministry presents a budget to the Wizangamot, and *they* make up the difference, among themselves. At which point yes of course Lucius finds ways to weasel out of paying if he doesn't like the current minister, if he doesn't like the deal he's getting, if he's just feeling pissy that day, whatever. But at the end of the day, they collect their own taxes from the various spheres they control.

Now we're getting into headcanons, but I think the Malfoy money comes from primarily being landlords. At *very least,* Malfoy Manor has a magical satellite village (a la Hogsmeade or Ottery St. Catchpole) that they just own and probably low-key police. (they probably also just own a chunk of Wiltshire.) I also highly, highly doubt that the Malfoys gave up all their ties to the muggle world post Statue of Secrecy. If every new Muggle Prime Minister has a meeting with the Minister of Magic, then... I bet every time Lloyds of London gets a new CEO, Lucius Malfoy shows up to say, "We get 1.5% off the top. My bankers will be in touch." Goblins don't care about the Ministry's laws even slightly, and there's got to be an exchange rate if Hermione's parents can show up to Diagon Alley and buy her books.

All of the old pureblood families are going to have their own *thing,* their own under-the table agreements and sweetheart deals. The Blacks strike me as being big into shipping, probably because they're so based in *London.* But yeah, at least to me, this is the sort of thing that gels with the universe that we see.

(Hogwarts and St. Mungo's would be funded the same way, on a smaller scale. A huge part of St. Mungo's budget just seems to be the Malfoys. And Hogwarts has a board of governors who under normal circumstances raise money and make decisions on how to run the school... but they don't seem especially powerful these days. I'll bet it's because whatever endowment Hogwarts has/whatever funds Dumbledore has at his disposal *are* enough to run it... which is why Dumbledore can do whatever he wants, and becomes an almost independent political entity.)

#hp #hp worldbuilding #hp laws #history stuff #1700s #lucius malfoy

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licorice-and-rum · 5 months ago

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Snape's Full Character Analysis

Okay, so I’ve already made this kind of post in my previous account (licorice-lips) but since it got deleted, here I go again because I think the world should hear more about this.

I do hate Severus Snape — and I have little to no patience for those who do and try to justify his actions with whatever. But unlike many people, my dislike for Snape doesn’t stem from “oh, he’s a child abuser” or “oh, he didn’t love Lily” but from a mix of many factors involving among other things, the way R*wling portrays supremacist ideology and its followers, the way the fandom often downplays supremacist ideology and its followers, and Snape as a character himself.

Now, I’m going to extend this essay into a full character analysis instead of just commenting on how Snape’s redemption arc sucks like I did previously because I’m feeling like it. To begin, I need you to understand how… biased R*wling’s portray of supremacist ideology really is:

J.K. Rowling is European and English (duh), which means she descends from a people who benefited (a lot and still do) from colonialism and imperialism, and both things are the basis for modern day fascism. As an author myself, it’s painfully clear to me how intrinsically close my characters and works are from myself and my own personal values. As such, it’s not such a hardship — especially if we remember how the elves and goblins are portrayed in HP — to understand how Rowling views political issues such as colonialism, imperialism and fascism.

She may not realize it but the way she does talk about the matter is such a right-wing way of tolerance to fascist thinking: as it’s very clear in Harry Potter just because of the story, the problem for the author isn’t a system of prejudice and bigotry, it’s those very few people who have become corrupted. Rowling does not identify the problem as the tree being bad when most apples — save one of two — have turn out bad. And that’s the core problem of so many things in Harry Potter but it also shows in the core problem I have with Snape’s portrayal: the way she absolutely downplays the fact that the man was a death eater for years of his life by pure and absolute conviction.

As someone who lived through a fascistic government, I’ll say it with all certainty: even the slightest support to fascistic views will propel further an agenda that will end up killing innocent people by the dozens. The truth is, even with all the undeniable good Snape did as he worked as a spy, he was a Death Eater for his conviction and at the end of the day it doesn’t matter why he chose to become one.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter that he was neglected and abused by his parents, or that he was bullied in school, or that his crush didn’t reciprocated his feelings: he still became a Death Eater, he chose to become one. And that is unforgivable. It unforgivable because it means he supported and actively worked for a system of thinking that ridiculed, persecuted, tortured and murdered hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people. He advocated for a political view that has no regard for human life, that perpetuates the abuse he suffered firsthand — just in a slightly different direction. He didn’t just not break his cycle of abuse, he actively perpetuated it. Advocated for it.

And don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying here that the abuse Snape went through isn’t important at all: there is definitely something to be said about the preying of supremacist groups for young isolated men who feel left out and emasculated. But that doesn’t mean Snape gets to be absolved for his own choices because that’s what they were: his choices. He chose to become a Death Eater, he chose to uphold the cycles of abuse he had been a victim to not long before, he chose to protect it even in the face of people — good people — telling him that it wasn’t a good thing.

That’s my point, actually: Snape may have been preyed upon by the blood supremacy ideology as a teen but at some point, he chose to be influenced by it more than by millions of other influences around him. He wasn’t completely isolated or ignorant of the world to the point that the only influence he could possibly choose was the blood supremacy one, no: he had people telling him the contrary and still chose to follow blood supremacy. So, no, it’s not forgivable that he chose to become a Death Eater because he did know better than that, his very friendship with Lily proved it.

But because Rowling sees the system — a system whose very roots are prejudice and bigotry — as not actually the problem, we see these problems sliding down the hill of “oh, he was just a misguided boy” even if that’s not what she herself says: it’s what her work says.

The truth is, as much as some supremacist’s core reason for their beliefs are a deep feeling of inadequacy, that’s not enough simply because they’ll cause as much damage with their actions than any other supremacist that’ll become a supremacist for the hatred alone. Snape, who (for some) was propelled into supremacy for his isolation in his teenage years, persecuted and tortured and killed as many people as Lucius or Bellatrix did, the result is the same. And at the end of the day, the reason why you did something doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you did do something.

We can cry a river about how our intentions were good but that doesn’t mean that what we did was. Between our intentions and our actions, there’s an abyss, and it’s not until we crossed it that we can see whether or not they are alike. In Snape’s case, considering he genuinely believed the supremacist ideology he upheld would turn the wizarding world better, it doesn’t really matter: he still caused damage.

And he has never been redeemed because for a redemption arc to work properly, you need to

Acknowledge what happened — there’s not much Snape is liable to deny it happened because, of course, he’s always caught on the scenes we are privy to.

Take accountability for what you’ve done — which Snape doesn’t do, as it’s exemplified perfectly many times throughout The Prince’s Tale in Deathly Hollows. He deflects, he lies, he declares he had no intentions of doing what he did, but he never, not once, takes accountability for what he has done and what ended up hurting other people:

“There was a crack. A branch over Petunia’s head had fallen. Lily screamed. The branch caught Petunia on the shoulder, and she staggered backward and burst into tears.

“Tuney!” But Petunia was running away. Lily rounded on Snape. “Did you make that happen?” “No.” He looked both defiant and scared. “You did!” She was backing away from him. “You did! You hurt her!” “No – no, I didn’t!” But the lie did not convince Lily.”

““…thought we were supposed to be friends?” Snape was saying, “Best friends?” “We are, Sev, but I don’t like some of the people you’re hanging round with! I’m sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he’s creepy! D’you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?” Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up into the thin, sallow face. “That was nothing,” said Snape. “It was a laugh, that’s all –” “It was Dark Magic, and if you think that’s funny –” “What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?” demanded Snape.”

“It was nighttime. Lily, who was wearing a dressing gown, stood with her arms folded in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, at the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. “I only came out because Mary told me you were threatening to sleep here.” “I was. I would have done. I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just –” “Slipped out?” There was no pity in Lily’s voice.”

To make amends for what you did — I’m not even going to deepen my argument on this one, it’s clear he didn’t. Not when he hurt Petunia, not when he hurt Lily, not when he hurt anyone really, the only exception being him protection Harry after telling Voldemort about the prophecy, but that’s not overcoming any patterns here, which brings me to my next point:

To accept the boundaries that you put in place as they’re on the path to earn forgiveness — which Snape also doesn’t, as exemplified in this excerpt of The Prince’s Tale:

The scene changed… “I’m sorry.” “I’m not interested.” “I’m sorry!” “Save your breath” It was nighttime. Lily, who was wearing a dressing gown, stood with her arms folded in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, at the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. “I only came out because Mary told me you were threatening to sleep here.” “I was. I would have done. I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just –”

It’s very important to understand here that Snape doesn’t respect Lily’s boundaries of not wanting to talk to him after he called her a slur, which is also a sign of not being in a path to earn forgiveness. And forgiveness must be earned: no amount of trauma explaining our actions actually counts as an excuse for our behavior. It can explain it and thus, making forgiveness easier to achieve, but trauma doesn’t change the fact that we are responsible for our own choices and acts throughout our lives, and if we hurt someone, we have a responsibility to be accountable and make amends.

So okay, we’ve stablished that Snape has some heavy trauma to work through but that doesn’t mean he’s not liable for his own actions. Now, what we need to understand is his relationship with the Marauders. That’s a much more complicated theme, which will bring me back to Rowling and her point of view of things and how they impact her narrative and the way things are portrayed in the books.

The first thing we need to notice is that Rowling doesn’t seem much preoccupied with portraying bullying in a responsible way throughout the series. It’s clear that many of the comedic reliefs we have — especially in the form of Fred and George — are bullies in the modern, more “strict” way of seeing children’s behavior: their acts not only can be considered humiliating for some (such as Neville and other side characters in the books) but also downright cruel or dangerous. So it’s clear by her account on other similar relationships portrayed in the books that Rowling didn’t consider what Snape and the Marauders had as a bully/victim relationship.

That can be because of her age, or because of the character’s age even (they were in the 90s after all), or even a mix of both reasons, but the fact remains that she didn’t view it as bullying, so anything she writes about it will be a gross exaggeration of what she considers child rivalry. It’s one of the reasons I have the icks when anyone starts asking her for a book on the Marauders because I just know she’d butcher her way into their stories, to be completely honest.

Unfortunately, this also means it’s how Snape views it all — as something that happens between children (not saying that it didn’t cause trauma, just that he doesn’t see it as a trauma) which makes him even back up the people who do the same when he becomes a teacher, such as Malfoy and his friends. My point is that, in the building of Snape’s character, his problem with what the Marauders used to do to him wasn’t what they did but rather that they did it with him, someone Snape viewed as undeserving of it, as opposed to when someone who did deserve — such as muggleborns — were the target of said treatment:

“We are, Sev, but I don’t like some of the people you’re hanging round with! I’m sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he’s creepy! D’you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?” Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up into the thin, sallow face. “That was nothing,” said Snape. “It was a laugh, that’s all –” “It was Dark Magic, and if you think that’s funny –”

So the problem in the end wasn’t the Marauder’s behavior but their target — which, of course, was him.

But the origin of the Marauder’s dislike for Snape at that point ran deep and very intricately: there was a lot of reason why we could attribute to their hatred for each other, such as house rivalry, Snape’s fixation on Remus’ secret, James’ jealousy for Lily and Snape’s friendship, Snape’s inclination for dark magic and supremacist views, Sirius overcompensation for being raised in such a prejudiced environment and as such becoming a little too aggressive about it, and many other reasons. The point is, there was a meddle of everything by the time we reach SWM.

So their relationship is just as intricate and difficult to entangle. I’m not saying here that any of my analysis exempts the Marauders from what they did — it was serious and bad and something that shouldn’t have happened at all regardless of how I feel about Snape. But as I try to analyze Snape’s character in the books, I need to be very careful on how to approach this: my morals and interpretations of what happened shouldn’t come first to what Snape’s viewed at the moment and what he took from this. So at last, what I’m saying is: as much as I know that was some hard bullying going on there, Snape didn’t see it that way, either because Rowling herself couldn’t see it that way and because the time and the time’s belief’s system wouldn’t allow him to.

Anyway, if we take any only the facts, we have — James attacked Snape sometime after Snape tried to catch Remus in the Shrieking Shack, Snape also instigated fights with James, Snape and his friends also bullied muggleborns and blood traitor — it becomes very clear that we need to balance power relations very carefully here:

On the very top, we have supremacist purebloods, which are the most privileged social group at the time, which would include people like Lucius, Bellatrix, the Lestrange brothers, most of the Blacks, and others. Then, right below, we’d have purebloods who didn’t believe in blood purity, such as Sirius, the Potters (James specially), the Weasleys, the Prewetts, the Longbottoms and others. Plus, the more I consider the wizarding world of that time, the more I realize how close halfbloods who adhered to the purist cause had a place in society that rivaled the same importance with purebloods who were considered blood traitors, sometimes ranking even higher depending on the environment or situation.

Just to be entirely clear: when I say halfbloods, I’m not only talking about those whose heritage are certain (children of muggleborns or muggles with purebloods) but also to those whose heritage couldn’t be drawn back. For example, the Sacred Twenty-Eight, the account of all pureblooded families in Great Britain, is admittedly an incomplete and slightly biased and unreliable source. They didn’t list the Potters as purebloods, for example, solely on the account of, whilst the family didn’t have any muggle relatives, there were enough muggles with the last name Potter that they weren’t sure about the family’s heritage. So it’s fair to assume a lot of people we’d been presented to as halfbloods could be pureblood familys whose heritage was slightly questioned. So yes, I’d put halfbloods who stood with blood supremacy as just as privileged as a pureblood who sided against it because of all this background. Then, we have halfbloods who didn’t approve of pureblood supremacy, muggleborns, then muggles.

It’s quite understandable by the books that, while in SWM, Snape was in a clear place of power imbalance in relation to the Marauders, the truth wasn’t always this. Mulciber and Avery are quoted as the closest to Snape (and we know very well what they’ve become after school), and although I found nothing in regards to the Mulciber family, the Averys were purebloods, so I have to place Snape as being just as privileged as the Marauders within normal (normal, not exceptional) school social dynamics in relation to blood. Of course that wasn’t truth to every power dynamic presented within the Harry Potter world, such as the Slytherin conundrum for example.

Okay, I’ll be honest with you guys here: I feel like the imbalance people accuse the adults of Harry Potter of having is grossly exaggerated sometimes. Yes, Slytherin was in disadvantage in relation to other houses, and it was looked upon by them, but the point is: ancient pureblooded families, especially the ones who were knee deep in supremacist ideology, often favored Slytherin, that is a fact.

Regardless of it been productive or not, the most blood supremacists within the house, the more we’d get comments and actions against muggleborns within school grounds that would inevitably be punished by the taking of points (and by the way, Snape was not helping congratulating Draco for his own bigotry instead of rewarding Slytherins who were actually interested in studying and working hard on their grades).

Plus, Gryffindor is the house of the protagonist — of course it’ll gain some privileges for that. If it was Ravenclawn, we’d be discussing this issue with Slytherin versus Ravenclawn points. It makes no sense accusing other of having biases like that because it’s obvious we’d have this kind of biases exactly for the plain reason it’s the protagonist’s house.

Anyway, I digress: because of the points I just made about it, the Slytherin versus Gryffindor rivalry is not enough to grant James and the others such a significative upper hand on their privilege in relation to Snape, although I would argue that Snape’s pre-existing bigotry did him no favors in the adults’ eyes on that matter, so it may have.

Now, why am I focusing on that? Because it’s clear to me that, while James and the others had a clear upper hand on their treatment of Snape in Snape’s Worst Memory, it’s not so clear as people seem to believe what the picture looked like the rest of the time. And of course, I do understand that it seems very much cemented on everyone’s minds that the configuration of the Marauders and Snape relationship was always the one we see in Snape’s Worst Memory, but that’s not completely truth and there are hints of it since the fifth book:

When Sirius said James wasn’t the only one to initiate fights, when he said Snape was always trying to sneak up on James, when we learn of the spells Snape had invented as a teenager (we can half-confidently say they were for the Marauders considering Snape’s trying to use Sectumsempra on James, but not limited to them, of course), when we get to know that Snape was “always trying” to prove that Remus was a werewolf to get him expelled, among other moments. The truth is, as much as I would like to point out the Marauders were not so bad, I can’t say this with certainty, but Snape apologists can’t say for certain they know fully the dynamics of their relationship either because even when the Marauders weren’t good people, they can’t say Snape was only a victim as well.

Or at least, they can’t say that he was the kind of victim who didn’t victimized people just like he was victimized too. And that’s probably even more reason why I dislike him, but I’ll get there. What I do know is that Snape, for his supremacist views alone, was doing a lot worse than what the Marauders were doing as teens. I’m sorry, it’s true: as much as I despise bullying, I can’t get over the fact that Snape was the equivalent of a Hitler youth child soldier in the wizarding world when he was a teenager. I’d punch him myself if I was his classmate, to be honest. Hatred aside, however, I do understand that what the Marauders did had little to nothing to do with supremacist views and all to do with being idiots, so yeah, fuck them. I’m not here to defend the Marauders anyway, just to condemn Snape (which, surprise, surprise, it’s actually possible).

Now, I dread having to go there, to be honest, but I want to talk to you guys about Snapes’ feelings for Lily. I’ve read the most grotesque and misogynistic things I’ve ever read in my life scrolling through Snape stans posts and let’s be honest here: Lily and Snape’s relationship was so toxic I would come back healthier if I went to Chernobyl than going anywhere near them together — because of Severus — and it’s actually appalling that some people doesn’t seem to think so. I’m sorry, but all the signs of classical emotional abuse signs are right there, just in the Prince’s Tale:

Belittling and constant criticism — I’m sorry, but his behavior alone says everything: you can’t treat muggleborns like they’re trash and then try to convince your muggleborn best-friend they she’s not. The belittling is in his actions. And then there’s the fact that Snape brings up accusations of Lily liking James more than once as a form of criticism as well (because neither have a good opinion of James, which is fair, but it’s still veiled criticism of Lily). Plus, his belittling of Lily’s feeling over Petunia’s hatred of her is obvious:

“I don’t want to talk to you,” she said in a constricted voice. “Why not?” “Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore.” “So what?” She threw him a look of deep dislike. “So she’s my sister!” “She’s only a – ” He caught himself quickly; Lily, too busy trying to wipe her eyes without being noticed, did not hear him.”

Gaslighting and controlling tendencies — when he tries to convince Lily he didn’t use magic to hurt Petunia with the tree branch, or when he questions their friendship because she’s trying to make a constructive critic of his life choices (“I thought we’re supposed to be friends?... Best friends?”), or when he tries to dictate who she’ll be friends with (when they’re discussing his own friends by the way). Even if Lily doesn’t let him, doesn’t mean it’s not abusive.

Isolation of loved ones — Constantly belittling Petunia, setting Lily and himself as above her because of their magic, convincing Lily to invade Petunia’s privacy thus isolating her further, causing rifts between Lily’s friends in Gryffindor and her because of his supremacist tendencies…

Jealousy and Possessiveness — I do think this one is self-explanatory.

Humiliation and Shaming — I also believe this one is also self-explanatory.

Unpredictable or Inconsistent Behavior — This is perfectly exemplified by their conversation when Lily is pointing out about his friends’ bad influence on him. We can see perfectly how inconsistent Snape’s behavior is, jumping from deflecting his accountability, downplaying his own bad deeds, to possessiveness and jealousy over absolutely nothing Lily has ever referenced to (try not to read what they’re saying but instead just concentrate at how abruptly Snape goes from one to the other):

“…thought we were supposed to be friends?” Snape was saying, “Best friends?” “We are, Sev, but I don’t like some of the people you’re hanging round with! I’m sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, ’s creepy! D’you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?” Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up into the thin, sallow face. “That was nothing,” said Snape. “It was a laugh, that’s all – ” “It was Dark Magic, and if you think that’s funny – ” “What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?” demanded Snape. His color rose again as he said it, unable, it seemed, to hold in his resentment. “What’s Potter got to do with anything?” said Lily. “They sneak out at night. There’s something weird about that Lupin. Where does he keep going?” “He’s ill,” said Lily. “They say he’s ill – ” “Every month at the full moon?” said Snape. “I know your theory,” said Lily, and she sounded cold. “Why are you so obsessed with them anyway? Why do you care what they’re doing at night?” “I’m just trying to show you they’re not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are.” The intensity of his gaze made her blush. “They don’t use Dark Magic, though.” She dropped her voice. “And you’re being really ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow, and James Potter saved you from whatever’s down there – ” Snape’s whole face contorted and he spluttered, “Saved? Saved? You think he was playing the hero? He was saving his neck and his friends’ too! You’re not going to – I won’t let you – ” “Let me? Let me?” Lily’s bright green eyes were slits. Snape backtracked at once. “I didn’t m ean – I just don’t want to see you made a fool of – He fancies you, James Potter fancies you!” The words seemed wrenched from him against his will. “And he’s not…everyone thinks…big Quidditch hero – ” Snape’s bitterness and dislike were rendering him incoherent, and Lily’s eyebrows were traveling farther and farther up her forehead. “I know James Potter’s an arrogant toerag,” she said, cutting across Snape. “I don’t need you to tell me that. But Mulciber’s and Avery’s idea of humor is just evil. Evil, Sev. I don’t understand how you can be friends with them.” Harry doubted that Snape had even heard her strictures on Mulciber and Avery. 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…

There’s also the fact that their friendship began in a relation of power that met its inevitable demise once those specific conditions tumbled down: when Snape met Lily, he was all the source she had about the wizarding world, he was her only link to that part of herself she felt was so different from anyone else. Once Lily arrived at Hogwarts, this dependance quickly came to an end with Lily spreading her wings, which probably also took a heavy tool on their relationship because its foundation was already fragile to begin with.

However, I’m not saying here that Snape was this evil mastermind at nine years old he managed to consciously ensnare Lily into this emotionally abusive relationship all by his astute manipulation. Snape was a child of abuse and neglect and, as such, he never learned how to properly bond and stablish healthy relationships. Much like the child starved by love he was, Snape probably saw every and any other relationship Lily had as a threat to their own relationship, because he doesn’t know love is not finite — he doesn’t know love stretches to accommodate other people with the time. It’s not unreasonable for me to read their relationship as such, although I’m sure that wasn’t JK Rowling’s intentions when she wrote HP, in fact it’s more than possible to admit their friendship sucked even when Snape remembered it so fondly.

As a person who actually went through an emotionally abusive relationship, I can tell how exhausting it is to carry this person along and make up excuses for everyone around you who can clearly see that this friendship sucks but doesn’t want to tell you because it might make things worse. Specially if I’m talking about someone who believes the way you were born makes you inferior in some way, that shit really hurts even when they say you’re different because deep down, you know you’re not. Deep down, you know that you’re the exception over some crooked perception you somehow beat the odds of an inferior condition and that’s what makes you “special”. And it’s gross just to think about it.

Okay, so now I think I analyzed everything about Snape I’ve wanted to analyze, so I’ll end here my enormous rant about him and if there’s anything else I want to talk about when this starts to get hate, I’ll probably post a part two.

Bye, guys!

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hellomystraightlacedfriend · 8 months ago

Text

The Osborns' 'Weird' Relationship: An Analysis

◇ Spectacular Spider-Man #146 - Gerry Conway/Sal Buscema ◇

Okay, so I know it was awhile ago that I said I might write an analysis of some of the emotional dysfunctional aspects of 616 Norman and Harry Osborn’s relationship, but I really struggled with the format and how I was going to present this.

One thing that I ended up having to do was throw out any speculation on the writers' intent. With comics, you have so many different writers - especially with a long ongoing, popular series like Spider-Man - that I decided to focus a lot more on the patterns I was picking up when I was reading.

But before I go any further:

CW: discussions of child abuse, mental illness, and suicidal ideation

Disclaimer: In this analysis, I am trying to provide an explanation for why Norman might behave the way he does. However, this explanation of Norman’s abuse is not meant to be a justification of his behaviour.

Also, before we start, you are absolutely allowed to disagree with this analysis! Every reader sees/interprets things a little differently, but I've seen other people pick up on the Osborns' relationship being well, strange, so I decided to examine that a little closer.

There were certain things I kept noticing in Norman and Harry's relationship that I found abnormal (you know, apart from Norman's extensive verbal abuse). Things like: Harry's really intense and misplaced loyalty to his father (that interfers with his other relationships.) The way in which Harry feels responsible for his father. The way Harry doesn’t have a strong identity outside of his father, and how his father doesn't allow (or think Harry needs) any emotional privacy. Also, just some of the ways Norman talks to his son don’t make it feel like a normal parent-child relationship.

In particular in this analysis, I did want to talk about emotional incest and enmeshment, which I am going to define now.

The psychological definition of emotional (or covert) incest is when a parent relies on their child for emotional support that they should be getting from another adult. They treat their child like a friend or partner, instead of well, a child.

And

An enmeshed family is one where there is a lack of boundaries, and often, the child isn't allowed to have an individual identity.

I think we see a lot of the after affects of this kind of emotional abuse in Harry as an adult, and while we don't see a whole lot of Harry and Norman's relationship dynamic when Harry is growing up, I do want to start from there, using what flash backs and other information we have.

Actually to give some background on why this kind of abuse occurred, I will go back a bit further than that and talk briefly about Norman’s childhood and his relationship with Harry’s mother.

Norman definitely didn't have a great childhood. His father was a bitter and abusive alcoholic who blamed all of his problems on other people, including his son. And while Norman's mother wasn't abusive towards him, she did fail to protect him. This betrayal from an early age from both his parents would have been a huge contributer to Norman's extensive trust issues (and his drive to be in control so he's not hurt again.)

Norman didn't get the emotional support and attention he needed while growing up, so that's really what he was seeking as a young adult, and he found it in Emily Lyman aka Harry's mother.

Now while I don’t think that Norman and Emily's relationship was perfect like he presents it to be, I do think from his point-of-view this was a great time in his life. He was finally out from under his father's thumb. This beautiful woman believed in him. They had their whole lives ahead of them. The possibilities were endless, and then - she died.

Or faked her death and left him because he was so controlling.

Either way, she was gone, and he still a young man was left to go on as a single father.

Interestingly, Norman both blames Harry for Emily's death and compares him to her. Much later in his life, when talking to Harry's grave, Norman says that he tried to be fair to Harry 'even though you were so much like your mother in so many ways.' In this scene, Norman is angry at Harry for dying and thus 'abandoning' him to be alone. And I think that's what Norman felt when Emily died too, this deep sense of abandonment.

◇ Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #1 - Roger Stern/Ron Frenz | Peter Parker: Spider-Man #44 - Paul Jenkins/Humberto Ramos ◇

(Later, it's revealed that Harry is not dead. Or maybe he is. I am NOT getting into the whole post-OMD-Harry-is-a-clone mess. For the sake of this analysis, they are the same person. They would have the same memories anyway.)

Now I am going to be piecing some things together and doing a bit of speculating. One thing that always stuck with me is that Harry keeps saying that his and Norman's relationship used to be different, that they used to be 'pals,' and then something changed. While I know a lot of people dismiss this, become Harry is delusional about his father at other points, I do think when Norman became the Green Goblin, there was a shift in their relationship dynamic, and Norman stopped opening up as much to his son.

I still absolutely think Norman was a neglectful and preoccupied father, but I also think that Norman was an emotionally needy person, and once Emily died, Norman (who was most likely extremely depressed and lacking a support system) tried to have Harry meet some of those needs. I say tried to, because Harry was just a little kid, a baby, and he wouldn’t be capable of doing that.

I think a lot about a panel from Spectacular Spider-Man #178 where Harry is talking to his own son Normie Osborn. Normie is a very young child/toddler. While Harry is talking to Normie, and Normie is watching TV, Harry starts hallucinating that his father is in the room. (Both Harry and his father have had psychotic episodes.)

Norman tells Harry that Normie should be listening to Harry, and when Harry says that Normie is just 'a little guy' and 'doesn't really understand all this,' the Norman Sr. hallucination becomes angry and says that Harry was just the same. That Harry was lost in his own head when he was young, and couldn’t hear when Norman talked to him.

◇ Spectacular Spider-Man #178 - J.M. DeMatteis/Sal Buscema ◇

It's interesting the way Norman and Harry differ here. Harry wants his son Normie to be able to enjoy these early years and have this chance to be carefree. Whereas Norman doesn't seem to really understand the concept of childhood and childhood innocence.

I also find it interesting (because I'm obsessed with word choice) that both Norman and Harry use 'pals' to describe their relationship.

◇ Amazing Spider-Man #39 & #40 - Stan Lee/John Romita Sr. ◇

And just in general, Norman and Harry's relationship doesn't seem to fall into the typical parent-child relationship - where the parent takes care of the child and meets the child's emotional needs. Instead, it's more complicated and codependent.

Norman and Harry both view Norman as Harry’s provider and protector. Norman is abusive towards Harry, but he does show deep concern about Harry's safety and worries about what would happen if he (Norman) suddenly died - because he's afraid Harry wouldn't be able to fend for himself.

On the other hand, Norman really doesn't give Harry any tools to become independent or encourage a separate identity, and I think part of that is because subconsciously - as much as he keeps saying he wants Harry to be strong - Norman actually wants Harry to be dependent on him.

Like on one level Norman does want Harry to be strong and be able to think for himself, so that he can take over the company and continue the Osborn legacy (and he is angry at Harry and verbally punishes him for not living up to this). But on a more personal - and like I said before subconscious - level, I do think that Norman wants Harry to have to rely on him. Because Norman doesn't want Harry to be able to leave him. Because he doesn't want to be alone.

And that's the thing, I do think that Norman is also dependent on Harry.

Harry is the nurturer to his father's protector and provider. He cares for and worries about his father a lot, and as much as Norman does not like to be seen as weak, there are quite a few moments where we do see Norman be vulnerable around his son.

Why this happened is probably largely circumstantial. Norman is a very paranoid man, who constantly fears betrayal from those around him. Even with the other adults in Norman's life who he is 'close' to - like J Jonah Jameson and George Stacy, he is not open. He does not trust them. He thinks that people are conspiring against him. However, he doesn't see his young son as a threat, as someone who could turn against him and hurt him. And he pulls Harry into this emotional isolation with him by telling his son not to trust anyone but his family (anyone but Norman.)

◇Amazing Spider-Man #62 - Stan Lee/John Romita Sr. || Amazing Spider-Man #47 - Stan Lee/John Romita Sr. || Amazing Spider-Man #67 - Stan Lee/John Romita Sr. || Spectacular Spider-Man #200 - J.M. DeMatteis/Sal Buscema◇

That puts Harry in a very difficult position, because he has deal with these adult concerns at such a young age, and he also can't fully open up to anyone else. This strain, along with Norman's exacting standards and scathing criticism, puts a lot of pressure of Harry.

However, Harry is used to being his father's confidant, and he becomes extremely anxious if his father shuts him out - or worse if he doesn't know where his father is. In a way, as much as Harry says that his father is strong and great, I think (at some level) Harry must also see his father as (emotionally) fragile.

This is especially noticeable in Amazing Spider-Man #121, where Harry is supposed to be resting because he has just overdosed, but he can't because he's so worried about how his father will react to possible financial ruin. He goes to him, tells his father that he doesn't need to worry about him, that he can take care of himself, that he's just worried about his father. He then proceeds to collapse in Norman's arms because he is not well.

◇ Amazing Spider-Man #40 - Stan Lee/John Romita || Amazing Spider-Man #61 - Stan Lee/John Romita Sr., Don Heck || Amazing Spider-Man #63 - Stan Lee/Don Heck, John Romita || Amazing Spider-Man #121 - Gerry Conway/Gil Kane ◇

This collapse leads Norman to want to rid Peter Parker/Spider-Man from his life (by killing Peter), because he falsely blames Peter for Harry's drug overdose and also the collapse of Osborn Indistries.

Now Peter’s involvement in the Osborns' personal lives is interesting. Peter is the first person that Harry really opens up to outside of his father - when Harry breaks down and complains that his father had been very distant in the last few years. When Peter responds with the emotional support Harry had never gotten from Norman, Harry draws Peter further into his life by asking him to be his roommate. Harry’s demeanour toward Peter also becomes similar to his attitude towards his father, submissive and eager to please. (He even calls Peter 'sir' at one point when he's trying to get his attention - an address he uses towards his father.)

Peter, however, is so caught up in being Spider-Man that, like Norman, Peter often neglects his relationship with Harry. This leads Harry to be rather passive-aggressive. At one point, Harry offers to make Peter breakfast, but when he hears Peter locking his stuff up, he becomes insulted that Peter would think he would steal from him and storms off to see Norman instead.

This becomes an ongoing element, Harry being torn between Norman and Peter, and seeking love/support from both of them, but seemingly unable to get it.

Now I want to make it quite clear that Norman and Peter are not equally responsible here. Peter is Harry’s age and has troubles of his own. Norman should be acting as Harry’s father, but he really isn't, not emotionally anyway. He is meeting his son's material needs (to an excess), but he is emotionally neglecting his son while also emotionally burdening him with his own troubles. Plus Norman is constantly verbally berating Harry for failing to live up to his impossible expectations - leaving Harry feeling worthless and extremely depressed.

Harry takes drugs to cope with these negative feelings - first abusing prescription medication and then moving on to street drugs. There is even already a note of passive suicidal ideation here, as when Peter asks him how many pills he's taking, Harry's response is 'What’s the difference? Who counts?' (Amazing Spider-Man #97 - Stan Lee/Gil Kane.)

Now I refuse to believe that Harry doesn't understand that there's a possibility of overdose here: he's a chemistry (and business) major with a father who sells drugs for a living. He knows that it is a possibility. So, while he's not actively seeking to end his life, he also doesn't really seem to care if he lives or dies - as long as he can escape from his pain.

Harry does eventually overdose - and it's an overdose that leads Norman to go after Peter & also Peter’s girlfriend (and Harry's friend) Gwen. Norman blames all of Harry’s friends for his condition, but especially Peter. And Norman blames himself for failing to protect his son from them. He threatens to kill Gwen if Peter doesn't end his own life, and when Peter doesn't comply, Norman goes ahead with his threat - throwing Gwen Stacy off the George Washington Bridge. (Amazing Spider-Man #121 - Gerry Conway/Gil Kane.)

Peter (as Spider-Man) goes after Norman in revenge, and Norman ends up dying (albeit by his own glider and not Peter’s hand.) Harry eventually figures out that Peter is Spider-Man, and this leads him to think that his and Peter’s friendship wasn't real, that it was entirely a ruse on Peter’s part. That Peter was just getting close to Harry to close in on his father.

Harry ends up forgetting about Peter Parker’s secret identity after his first attack on Peter though, and so for years the threat of Harry's revenge remains dormant. However, even from 'beyond the grave' (Norman, um, kind of faked his death, but Harry didn’t know that) Norman still had a hold on Harry’s psyche.

One early warning sign of the return of Green Goblin might have been that Harry names his child both after his father and himself (Norman Harold Osborn), keeping their names (and identies) close together. Harry also tells young Normie how special a man his grandfather Norman Osborn was. Then Harry begins to hear his father's voice telling him to revenge his death, to kill Spider-Man/Peter Parker.

Harry goes back and forth on how he sees his father. At times, he is able to see his father as who he really was/is, a dangerous criminal who ruined his own life. However, at other points, he calls Norman 'wonderful' and 'the greatest man this world has ever known.' He claims that his father's spirit is in him fuelling all his efforts, and blames Peter for both Norman's and Gwen's deaths.

Of course, it would be hard for anyone to admit that their father killed one of their closest friends, however, I think with Harry it goes even beyond that. Because Harry doesn't have a solid identity outside of his father, he is unable to fully see himself and his father as two separate people. So, in his head, Harry can't admit that his father killed Gwen, because then he would also have to think that he killed Gwen - something I don't think that Harry can wrap his head around doing. It's easier then to blame someone else - Peter/Spider-Man.

When Harry does finally admit that Norman killed Gwen, he still absolutely thinks (pretty understandibly) that it was Peter who ended Norman's life. Because of this, Harry decides that both he and Peter would be better off dead - and that their deaths would protect their loved ones from further harm.

It is only an outpouring of unconditional love from Peter (something Harry had never really felt before) that sways Harry from ending Peter’s life. He carries Peter out of the building where he had set up a timed bomb, but then seemingly dies himself (from side effects of the serum he'd taken to make himself stronger.)

🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻

Break!

🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻🌷🪻

Okay, this is here because this is getting long, but I don’t want to make it a two-parter, but also sometimes people need to take a break and breathe, you know?

I will also be concentrating more on post One More Day Harry in this section, though referring back to earlier comics as well. I will also be talking more about sex and romantic relationships, and how Harry's focus on his father (and Norman seeing himself as the most important person in Harry’s life) complicates things.

The Dan Slott and Joe Kelly runs leading up to and during Dark Reign were the first Spider-Man comics I read, and these were the issues where I first got to see the Osborns' relationship on page. What really struck me then about the relationship was how Norman talks to Harry more like a separated spouse than his grown child: 'I need you,' 'the world could be ours,' 'come home,' 'your place is here, by my side.'

During this period, Harry is pulling away from his father and trying to be independent, and Norman does not like this at all. He mocks Harry’s business ventures, then bombs Harry’s place of business - almost killing Harry’s then girlfriend Lily Hollister in the process. When Harry goes to confront him, Norman says that girlfriends are replaceable and tries to win Harry back. This, however, does not work, and shortly following this, Harry goes no contact.

Norman will not accept this boundary, however, or any boundary really. He admitted earlier to recording and listening to all of Harry’s therapy sessions, and when Harry won't answer his calls or letters, Norman has people spy on his son and report to him on everything Harry is doing. He then gets himself invited to a wedding that Harry is attending.

This is when he tells Harry that he needs him, something that does visibly affect Harry. Peter steps in between Harry and Norman, and tells Norman 'and that's what therapy's for.'

This scene is interesting because Norman does not like admitting that he needs other people, but also because Peter doesn't consider this (entirely) as a ploy on Norman’s part. He does think that Norman is being honest about 'needing' Harry. He just thinks that the way Norman seeks support from his son is unhealthy.

There is also an 'us'-ness in the Norman-Harry relationship, that is more typical of couples. This along with how Harry is thrust into this nurturing role with Norman, makes him (at times) seem more like his father’s spouse than his son.

And when Harry and Norman do end up cutting ties, Harry even says: 'I was never your son.'

◇ Amazing Spider-Man #573 - Dan Slott /John Romita Jr. || Amazing Spider-Man #595 - Joe Kelly/Phil Jimenez || Amazing Spider-Man #598 || Writer: Joe Kelly/Artists: Paulo Siqueira & Marco Checchetto || Amazing Spider-Man #599 - Joe Kelly/Stephen Segovia, Marco Checchetto, Paulo Siqueira ◇

This relationship with his father - before the eventual break up - does also lead to problems in Harry’s romantic relationships.

Because Norman basically sees himself as the centre of the universe and because he is very possessive of the people around him, Harry grew up internalising this idea that he belongs to his father and that he should prioritise Norman above everything else.

And because of this, Harry does tend to elevate and choose his father over his other relationships. Like how when he was seeing Mary Jane Watson, that relationship ended because Harry wouldn’t unlock the door for her - choosing to be alone with his dead father's costume over being with her. His marriage with Liz also deteriorates as Harry obsesses over avenging his father's death and continuing the Osborn legacy.

Of note, in these moments Harry isn't exactly thinking clearly - there are definitely signs of psychic breaks, with Harry having delusions and hallucinations. Still, a huge part of Harry's psyche is consumed by his father - to the detriment of other aspects of his life.

Even after Harry sees Norman as a bad person (acknowledging that his father was Gwen's killer and knowing for sure that Norman has committed countless other heinous crime), Norman still has a hold over his son. Harry still holds out hope for winning his father's love and approval - and completely dismisses his then girlfriend Lily Hollister's encouragement and support. Instead focusing entirely on his father's criticisms.

◇Amazing Spider-Man #595 - Joe Kelly/Phil Jimenez || Amazing Spider-Man Family #4 - J.M. DeMatteis/Val Semeiks || Amazing Spider-Man #390 - J.M. DeMatteis/Mark Bagley◇

◇Amazing Spider-Man #126 - Gerry Conway/Ross Andru || Spectacular Spider-Man #189 - J.M. DeMatteis/Sal Buscema || Amazing Spider-Man #569 - Dan Slott /John Romita Jr.◇

Another thing involving Lily Hollister - a rather controversial decision - was to have her be in sexual relationships with both Harry and Norman Osborn (with the timing being so close together that the paternity of her child was called into question.)

I actually don't think it's so surprising that Norman would go after someone his son was seeing. He is very self-centred and delusion enough to think that he could somehow get away with it.

Also, back in Amazing Spider-Man #96, there was this whole thing about Harry bringing along Norman to watch the girl he was then seeing - Mary Jane Watson - dance. It kind of comes across like Harry is trying to impress his father with how hot his 'girlfriend' is, and Norman is quite publicly enchanted by her.

There is something similar in the Raimi adaption where Harry Osborn wants Mary Jane Watson to dress in black (like Harry’s mother/Norman’s wife used to do) because he wants Norman to be impressed by her/find her attractive. Which people have pointed out is kind of weird/creepy.

Also kind of weird is just how much empathy Harry has towards Lily Hollister after she ditches him for his dad. Like yes, I think it's a coercive relationship, and Norman is much more to blame, but I still think most people would be a little more angry in this situation. And what Harry does say to Lily at the start of her and Norman's relationship is very interesting to me:

'He's an amazing man, Lily...I know, and he takes very special care of his "nice things"...until he doesn't.

I hope you see him for what he is before that happens...

Because when Norman Osborn is through with you, no one gets to have you.'

One) because it's really quite strange to call the father you suspect is sleeping with your ex-girlfriend 'an amazing man'

Two) because the way Harry is saying this makes it seems like it applies to both her and him. The 'I know' in particular stands out, because what he seems to be saying is 'I know exactly what you are feeling/going through right now.'

Which given that she is in 'romantic' relationship with his father certainly raises questions.

◇Amazing Spider-Man: Extra! #3 - Joe Kelly/Dale Eaglesham || Amazing Spider-Man #96 - Stan Lee/Gil Kane◇

In any case, I could probably write more, but this post is already more than long enough. I just find the dynamic between Norman & Harry Osborn fascinating because I don’t think it's one we see as often in fiction, and I love reading about dysfunctional families/relationships.

I also find post-OMD Harry really interesting, because I think it's even rarer to see a person, who was in a relationship like this, have to move on, fully cut ties, and figure out how to build a life for themselves without this person (who they had such codendency with.)

#harry osborn #norman osborn #analysis #spider man #peter parker #gwen stacy #liz allan #lily hollister #marvel comics #marvel 616 #my post

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jarofstyles · 2 years ago

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Reaper 7

Reaper is a dark story with dark and mature subject matter. 18+ NSFW

This chapter contains some intense emotional whiplash. You learn a bit more about their backstories and trauma, but first... filthy smut :)

Check out our Patreon for exclusive writing and early access!

wc: 10.6k

warnings: smut, crying kink?, daddy kink, talks of death, talks of human trafficking

----------------------------------------------------

Harry wasn’t necessarily in a rush to get home, but he definitely appreciated the lack of traffic on the road. He obviously preferred to ride his bike but on days like these where there were barely any cars on the road, he liked to drive.

Bunny was sitting pretty next to him, trying her best to stay still while his hand massaged the inside of her thigh. It was warm and heavy, she really liked it. Of course, any other time they were in the car, he’d done the same thing. Now, they were just both on edge.

The black set would definitely make Harry lose himself in the moment and that’s something Bunny was desperate to experience. His passion, his desire for her. Even seeing it in his eyes got her excited.

Harry was extremely hot while he drove, though. The one hand on the wheel, his jaw clenching as he chewed his gum, he is fingers tapping the leather as the radio played a rock song on low.

He was sex on wheels, really. Her body was thrumming from the near foreplay they’d had shopping and his mixture of touches while they drove. It was hard to behave knowing damn well what he was going to do to her the moment they were behind closed doors.

“I can feel you thinking.” He murmured, squeezing a bit further up her thighs. “What’s running through that pretty little head, darling?”

“That this feels really good and that I have to wait.” She tried her best to get the sentence out without giving away how bothered she was. Unfortunately, her staggered breathing gave her away. “Just want to be home already,” Bunny bit her lip before continuing. “I really want your mouth. I can’t stop thinking about it.” Flashbacks from the night before filled her mind, his hold on her so tight that she felt she’d never get away. It was exactly how she liked it.

“And the way you kept looking at me in the dressing room…” Y/N wouldn’t forget to mention it. She noticed and she wanted him to know this as well, she could read him now. A lot better than before. “Could see you holding back, but your eyes were ripping everything off of me.”

“My mouth?” He laughed, taking a second to peek at her. She was obviously very affected by it and he couldn’t blame her. He had thought of her mouth since she had it wrapped around him the first time.

“I was thinking about it, yeah.” If the stalker wasn’t an issue… “once this shit is settled, I’ll happily make you cum wherever the fuck you want. I’ll take you to places where people can watch us. I don’t care.“ he was an attention whore when it came to sex and no stranger to exhibitionism.

“I had to get you out of the store before I did that. But you behaved incredibly well.” He had genuinely been surprised at how good she had been. His fingers traveled up more, though, because he simply wanted to. She had been good and the privacy in their care was enough to make him feel slightly more comfortable, up the further it could go on her thigh as he continued the massage.

“I’m proud of you, baby. I like when you listen to me. Makes me happy. Especially because it means I get to reward you instead of punishing you. I think you like it either way, though.”’

She liked being good. It was difficult at times to keep it together, but she knew it was better to wait and get what she wanted. Especially when she was still learning his sweetness.

There would come a time when she wouldn’t be so patient, where his need for dominance wouldn’t stop her from pushing for what she wanted. Today wasn’t one of those days, today she wanted to let him take her the way he’d been thinking about in that dressing room.

“I like making you happy, I hope you like making me happy too.” She said with a small smile, turning her head to look at him before leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. “Who would have thought Mr. Reaper was a softy deep down hmm?”

“Mm… no one.” He smirked. They were too busy being terrified that he was going to be one they saw before they met their maker. She was the only one who saw him in this sort of way.

That made her smug. A little arrogant. No one else got to see him like this. But a question caught her curious mind before she could help it, really. Maybe she didn’t want to know the answers but she wanted to ask.

“So… no other girls get to have you like me?” She peeped, picking at her cuticles, avoiding his eyes. “You don’t like…” her pause was anxious. “You don’t take them shopping and call them cute names?”

He didn’t mean to, but he laughed. A real laugh that had his head bobbing, his head shaking no as he squeezed her leg nice and firm. The question was hilarious, all things considered.

“Absolutely the fuck not, babe.” He chuckled. “I… I fuck them and get the fuck out of there quicker than they can redress. I know it makes me sound like an ass- but they knew the score. No promises. I’m not a good guy, Bunny. But I’m trying to be the best I can for you.”

She knew better than to ask why, but her eyes lingered on his profile and admired the way his jaw clenched slightly probably expecting her to say something.

“How is it going so far? Do you like it?” She asked softly, her attempt at calming her mind while his hands proceeded to bring warmth between her thighs. Y/N remembered him saying he never had any girls over at his, this further confirmed her suspicions. She really was the only one he’d been treating this way.

What did that say about her? She didn’t want to get too excited, but to think she could be special to him really did boost her confidence.

“Cause I really like it… it suits you, ya know?”

His fingers drummed on her thigh as she spoke, feeling a bit reassured as she spoke about liking his soft side. It wasn’t something he was sure she would.

His appeal was the bad boy, let me take you for a spin, biker fantasy. He attracted people who wanted to be fucked hard, given when their partners couldn’t give them. They didn’t see him as capable of the softer shit- and thank god for that. He usually wasn’t.

With Y/N? With his Bunny? He couldn’t imagine not taking care of her afterward. Not taking time to hold her and brush the hair from her face, kiss her. It was rare he did that with anyone else, too.

She was just a juxtaposition of things he usually avoided, yet utterly craved with her.

“Does it? Y’like me being sweet on you?” He murmured. “I do. Wouldn’t have it on anyone else though.” They’d get the wrong idea. With Bunny, he didn’t mind if she thought he wanted to keep her around. He did more than ever.

She felt rather proud of herself for it, that she of all people was the one to crack the terrifying Reaper. It was easy, she’d just watched him from the sidelines with her brother. Sterling always had a good judge of character.

“Like when you’re rough with me too.” Bunny felt like she had to say it, she was used to being babies all the time. His rough touch was a good reminder that she could take more despite what others thought of her. She liked the rush she felt and how confident he was that he wouldn’t hurt her.

“You said you didn’t like punishing me earlier… is that true?” Y/N expected Harry to have some sadistic tendencies considering all the people he killed. His need for justice. Surely the thought of her whimpering in a bit of pain or fright excited him. He wouldn’t take it too far with her, right?

“Well… no. I do like punishing you. But I like doing it by giving you pleasure.” He admitted. Of course, he had some mean tendencies. “Love calling you names and making you beg. But I want you to beg me to stop because it feels good.” He let his pinky finger brush the outside of her cunt, feeling her stiffen a bit but continuing on as if he didn’t do anything.

“I’m… very much looking forward to being rougher and exploring what you like. What your limits are. I don’t think I have any.” Not with her, anyways. “I like to baby you… like to take care of you after. But I liked when I had you suck me off and took it away. I like making you earn it. Because we have to be honest…” He smirked while keeping his eyes on the road. “You’re a greedy little thing for me. A slut. I like hearing you beg. Would love to see your pretty eyes cry for me because you want it so badly. But I’ll give it to you.”

“We have plenty of time to do that.” She told him, knowing that it would all unravel with time. The two of them could barely keep their hands off each other, she expected to find out lots about their relationship in the time to come.

“Think you can show me a lot of things I’d like… you definitely have more experience than I do with these things.” Y/N’s responses to him were all natural, she didn’t really have a plan whenever she decided to seduce him. It was much more exciting not knowing what he would do next. Thrilling even.

“Please tell me we are almost home.” Bunny couldn’t wait any longer, every stroke of his fingers had her clenching to relieve some of the pain. Yes, pain. She wanted it so bad it almost hurt.

“Gonna put on that black set and you can do whatever you want.”

—-

Harry was sitting patiently on his bed.

They’d gotten home unscathed because he had physically wrenched his hand away when she started shifting her hips towards his hand, knowing if he didn’t stop he would take her in the car.

As soon as he buried the son of a bitch, he would be taking her places to fuck her specifically. Harry was a big fan of, exhibitionism, even if he was selfish with Y/N. People could look. But he would be damned if they touched.

“Bunny, baby.” He called out. “You’re stalling.” She had been in the bathroom for a bit and he knew that she was aware that she was in for it as soon as she came out. “Want t’see the pretty thing you’ve bought for me to rip off. Come show me how pretty you look.” He was taunting her, and himself. He was hard and wanting, now that they were home safe.

Bunny didn’t mean to stall, but she did want to take a moment to collect himself. She did look amazing. It’s something she definitely would have picked for herself, but would be too nervous to wear for anyone.

It could be a bit much, but that seemed to be just his style. The straps dug into her skin in all the right places, she looked absolutely amazing. This time she had sorted out the clips and even added some knee high tights to complete the look.

“Hold on, you have to wait.” Bunny fixed her hair one last time before taking a step out. She stood there for a moment so he could get a good look at her, doing a little spin for him.

“M’not a patient man.” He murmured to her, eyes taking in her body as she finally exposed herself to him.

The outdid was incredible, really. Lacy babydoll type of thing, black contrasting against her skin. Her hair was in curls down her shoulders, swaying as she moved. The panties underneath clipped to the knee highs making him clench his jaw.

Such a shame all of it was going to be ruined.

“God, you’re fucking beautiful.” He said quietly. She was too pretty and it made him feel unworthy of her. Even if the darker clothing and the hint of desperation in her eyes made it easier to indulge, the feeling still lingered.

Right now, though, he was pushing it away for his own selfish gain. He wanted her and he wanted her fully.

“Come stand in front of me then.” He rested his hands on his knees, eyes dark as they took in her approaching form. He could feel her eagerness, her want just as much as he could feel his own.

“See… if you keep going with this well behaved streak, you are going to be a very spoiled girl.” He tapped his fingers against his jeans, head tilted up as she stood with her hands behind her back waiting for instruction.

“How needy are you, angel? Are you still gagging for it? Or do you think you can wait?”

She let out a whimper at the idea of waiting any longer. She was here anyways, what could a few more moments really change? If anything, it would only result in more praise. Hesitantly, she decided to agree to his terms.

“I think I can wait a little bit.” It was her attempt at trying to be honest, he didn’t have to ask to know she was needy. She really wanted him. Badly. Last night and this morning hadn’t been enough, she swore it could only get better and better from here on out.

“Can I have a kiss please?” Bunny felt like this would become a habit. Her asking for kisses before they participate in the most sexually explicit acts. Harry was good at speaking filth. It was something that was both expected and unexpected from him. The words he picked for her she couldn’t imagine him speaking to anyone else. She didn’t want to. In her eyes, she was the only one.

He melted a little at the request for a kiss. Like he would ever want to deny her a kiss and himself of a taste. But- she knew to ask. She knew that he liked when she had that obedience and he could only be grateful that she was a good girl like this.

“Course you can. C’mere.” standing up, he wrapped his fingers around her jaw and tilted her up so he could cover his lips with her own. Gentle and delicate and sweet, he kissed her lightly and let her melt into his body, hands clutching the bottom of his shirt.

“That’s a good girl.” He murmured against her mouth, pulling back to look down at her damp lips and wide eyes. “Love this mouth. Tastes so good, love the sounds that come out of it… but I especially love the way it feels on me.” He kept his grip with one hand, the other tracing over the lace on her sides.

“You look so pretty. So sexy. Got this innocent little face, but then you get to your body… and fuck, it makes me want to ruin you. Already have some of my marks on this smooth skin, you’re something that I’ve been craving for a long time. Just sinking into your cunt this morning wasn’t enough.” He could never have enough.

“So I want you to get on your knees for me and play with Daddy’s prick. Want to feel you kiss it and suck, because I know you want it in your mouth. Almost did it in the dressing room, didn’t you?”

She felt herself clench around nothing at his words, put under a spell after the sweet kiss he’d laid on her. Bunny wouldn’t have it any other way, if he wanted her now he’d have her. Anyway he liked.

“Yeah…” A shy breath was all she could manage, her cheeks feeling at the thought. “Wanted to make you feel good.” She felt so much power when she’d sucked him off in the kitchen. Seeing him surrender to the pleasure made her feel on top of the world.

“Work so hard to keep me safe, wanna make it worth your while…” Of course, she would have done it anyway, but surely he would be happy to hear that. Slowly she made her decent, but not before pressing kisses down his clothed chest and stomach on her way down.

“I love your cock so much,” She wasn’t lying, she really hadn’t been so obsessed with someone’s dick before. The way it felt inside her, the sheer size, the way it looked… she couldn’t have picked a better option. “Wanna feel it all the time.”

“I know you do, darling. I can see it in your eyes.” That wasn’t an exaggeration either. The night before, the night she had sucked him off, even today in the dressing rooms she had looked incredibly hungry for him. He didn’t want that to stop.

“I’ll keep you safe in any way but… you’re right. Like this incentive.” He gathered her hair back, wrapping it around his fist lightly. He had the control of her head but he liked to let her think she was going to have it for a bit.

“Go ahead and get it out.” He was a tiny bit impatient today because he had been essentially edged the entire time, especially in the fucking lingerie store. Just seeing her now all dressed up in a pretty thing he had bought for her was enough to make him want to do incredibly disgusting things to her.

“Remember what you did last time, hm? Gave it some kisses? Why don’t you do that? Thank me for making you cum last night.” He was being nice right now, but that could very soon change.

Unbuckling the belt and unzipping his jeans with speed, she did her best not to rush with pulling him out as well. Slow and steady, not to seem too eager. It came naturally to her to press kisses against him, smiling at how hard he was.

“How long have you been hard for, daddy?” The name rolled off her tongue, the eyes she was giving him were mischievous. She wouldn’t dare test him now. “Can I…” She toyed with the waistband, pressing kisses against his length closer to where it was peeking out of his boxers. Yes. He was that hard.

“I like dressing up for you, want you to pick things out for me more often.” Maybe that was a kink of hers she had only discovered because of him. She had a feeling that would be happening more often than not.

“Been hard since the first dressing room when I saw you undressing me with your eyes.” He rarely held things back in this regard. Sexually, he was able to be open and honest, and raw. Outside of that, his vulnerabilities got in the way and he clammed up. But with her mouth on his cock, she could coax most answers from jinx

“And then it was bad when we got to your store and I couldn’t just bend you over and fuck you in there. I will, one day. I’ll make you limp leaving those changing rooms, my cum inside of you.” That was an appeal too. The more primal part of owning her. “But we had to wait until now. I still get to see you dressed up… but now I’m going to be able to hear you moan for me.” He stroked the top of her head as he urged her down towards his balls. They were full and heavy, sensitive, and needed a little bit of her attention.

“Give them a kiss, angel.”

She followed his direction, pressing kisses and kitten licks to his swollen balls. He gasped at first, the groan that followed was music to her ears. Her face was growing warm, a smile appearing on her face at his pleasure.

“More?” Bunny asked, allowing her lips to take a bit more into her mouth with a gentle suck. Her tongue glided across the thin, sensitive skin with care. She knew he could take a lot more, that he would take more. All she had to do was be patient and listen to him. That shouldn’t be too hard, right?

Y/N pulled away from him with a pop, pausing for a breath. She could feel her heart rate picking up. The rush of endorphins already made her feel high. Remembering what he liked most, it was easy to repeat the actions while her hands worked on massaging his thighs.

“See? What a fucking natural. You know how to pleasure me.” He was impressed. Very impressed, really, because Y/N was truly weak for him. She wanted to pleasure him just as badly as he wanted to pleasure her. “And you’re filthy. Wish I could take a picture of you down there. You’re making a bit of a mess but you’ll do anything to make me feel good, yeah?”

“Yeah.” She bleated, looking up at him with wet lips before licking up the length of his cock. “I love it. Like being dirty for you.” Without being prompted she took the head of his cock into her mouth, moaning as the taste hit her tongue. This was exactly the type of thing she had needed after the day long edging, lips wrapped around the tip and sucking softly to help herself.

“Just for me.” He warned. “My good little girl. Only letting yourself see how deprived you actually are with me.”

As if she would ever think to leave. She’d been waiting for so long to finally have him, there was no way she’d give him up so easily. Not when he proved to be everything she wanted and more. They hadn’t even properly gotten into things yet.

The weight of his cock on her tongue was enough to pull her eyes to close. Slowly she took more and more of him into her mouth, it felt divinely guided, she was following her desire and it was leading her down a messy and dirty path. She pulled back slightly only to spit over him, spreading it along his shaft with her tongue flat.

She wished in that moment that he could take a photo. It was far too risky, but hopefully, this nightmare would be over soon. They could get back to doing what they did best. Hopefully, this wasn’t just a temporary thing, that he was being honest when he said he wanted this for just as long as she had.

“God- fuck. That’s the shit I like. Spitting on it like that…” He hissed, admiring the mess the was making on his length. Harry was a sucker for messy sex, especially messy blowies- but having Y/N be the one to do it was another level.

She listened clearly to his likes, sitting up again to spit thickly on him a second time, and used her hand to help spread it while she sucked him back into her mouth. The groan of arousal that fell from his lips was her reward, a beautiful one at that.

“Got lucky with you, didn’t I? You’re locked up with me but now I can show you exactly how it is to have good sex. It isn’t hard to teach when I’ve got such an eager little slut on my hands.” He praised mix with the degradation, the pair making her moan against his cock. This was what she liked. His dirty mouth doing both at the same time. “You can take more. You were gagging for it earlier- go ahead. Stuff me down that throat.”

She was holding back, it was true. Bunny wanted more, needed more, but was just waiting for the green light. The slight push forward he gave her was enough to have her take him as far as she could.

Her eyes blinked open, looking up at him with teary eyes as she continued to suck and drool all over him. He loved it. He couldn’t take his eyes off of hers, watching her as she fully relaxed in his grip. His perfect bunny, he groaned at the thought.

“Fuck… might have to keep you forever, hmm?” Harry let out a grunt, “Can’t let you out of my sight. Think they even have a chance with you… I’m going to ruin you.” He meant it in the best way. Harry wanted to ruin her for everyone, she’d never be satisfied.

Just when he felt himself at the back of her throat he pushed himself a little deeper, tugging at the roots of her hair securely.

“Remember you’re mine.”

She gasped around his cock as he pulled it back out, the wet strings of spit connecting her lips to his length as her hand continued to stroke it. He was pleased with her, but the words he said set a little fire in her stomach.

“Mhm. Yours. Should keep me.” She rasped, eyes wide and hot as she took the tip back into her mouth and lowered her head back down. He fucked into her mouth a bit, grunting as he felt her drool dripping down his balls. Just how he liked them.

“That’s right. M’glad you know that you’re mine. This perfect fucking throat is mine too. Such a good little cockslut.” He crooned, pulling her off and up to her feet. His lips pressed against hers even with his taste and her messy face.

“I don’t even know which position to fuck you in. You look so good…”

It was then as he trailed off that Harry had an idea.

“Baby… You still with me?” He hummed, pressing kisses to her face. “You look so pretty, would be a waste if you didn’t see it for yourself… wouldn’t it?” It was then that his hand cradled her jaw and guided her view towards the standing mirror at the foot of his bed.

“Can you turn around for me, my bunny?” He felt a smirk grow on his face. Harry was ready to tease her a bit more, some more tender love and care to the body he loved oh so much. In case she wasn’t aware, he wanted her to see all that he adored.

“Been so good for me, waiting so patiently…” His hands smoothed over her hips, pressing a kiss to the back of her head.

Y/N let out a shaky breath as he stood behind her, his hands stroking over her body as she looked at the pair of them. It brought her back to the dressing room, seeing how good they looked together in that mirror. How they fit.

This time it was more erotic, the droop of her eyes and her slightly wet chin, the need obvious in her face and his cock against the lace of her body suit. His fingers dragged down, her head lulling back onto his shoulder as his hand cupped her cunt.

A breathless moan left her lips as he held her there, humming deep in his chest as his chin rested against the side of her head. “Don’t close your eyes. Look at you. Look at us.” He coaxed.

She obeyed, looking with hooded eyes as his own pierced hers through the mirror. “You look so fucking good, my Bunny. Especially when you dress up for me… my hand holding your cunt. You gave it to me, didn’t you? Handed it right over. And now it’s mind. You’re soaking, ruining the bottom of this pretty set… but you got so needy while sucking me.” His voice broke the quiet of the room, watching her chest heaving slightly as he spoke. “I think we need to reward you. What do you want?”

Anything.

God she would take anything at this moment just to feel some kind of relief. She wanted his mouth, but she was too impatient. She wanted his fingers, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough. Bunny wanted to feel full.

“I want your cock inside me… please Daddy.”

Harry nearly choked at the softness of her tone, how she went weak to his touch. He swore in that moment he couldn’t let anyone else see her this way. Her vulnerability was something he cherished and vowed to protect, despite the disrespectful thoughts running through his mind.

“I know you do,“ His voice was calm and collected in contrast to what was going on inside of him. “Don’t even want to undress you, look so pretty little dolly.” Harry cooed as he touched and pushed her panties to the side. Wetness coated his fingers instantly and he couldn’t hold back the animalistic groan that left him.

“Bunny,“ He had to take a deep breath to collect himself before he pinned her down to the floor and forgot the whole point of the mirror.

She inhaled sharply as she felt his finger press inside of her, arching slightly to press herself closer to his hand. It was incredible, his touch working its deprived magic over her as she let him do as he pleased.

“More.” She breathed, turning her head and tucking her face under his chin. “More, give me some more. You’ve been teasing and I just want- I need you inside of me so bad, I’m begging.” She had been edged all day long with their foreplay, her body thrumming with need.

“Shhh.” He quieted her down. “I was just getting a feel of your cunt, baby. Trying to see if my cum was still in there.” He never went raw with anyone else, would reject that in a heartbeat. But the only place he wanted to unload was buried deep inside of her. It was a primal thing, probably, but he got a sick satisfaction watching it drip out of her earlier.

“Are y’gonna let me inside of you without a condom, baby? Because I want to fill you up again. I think that’s where my cum belongs.. inside this tight little hole.” He was giving her a chance to tell him no, but prayed she would let it happen again.

In all fairness, she wasn’t in the mindset to say no. She wouldn’t have denied him anyway. It was Harry. It seemed that was the response to everything these days. There was no one she trusted more than him besides her brother. This wasn’t circumstantial.

Even without his protection, she would still want him to fill her with his cum.

“Please… just wanna cum, just wanna cum for you all over, want to get it all wet, want to feel you in my belly— I want you, please don’t make me wait anymore!” She was on the verge of tears, his short strokes over her clit doing little to nothing to dull the ache.

“I’ll do anything you want! Please! Please, please, please, ple—AH” She gasped as he pulled his fingers from her, placing one loud slap over her thigh. Enough to get her attention but not to hurt her.

“That’s pathetic, my angel. So fucking pathetic. Almost in tears because you want my cock that fucking bad?” He grinned and looked into the mirror, using his other hand to fore her face to look at her.

“Look at you, pet. My pretty little whore. Begging for cock, this perfect wet cunt begging just as much as your mouth. M’gonna give it to you, but I want you to watch. Do you understand?”

His fingers pulled from her cunt and she nearly sobbed at the loss, but her protest was muffled as his fingers were stuffed into her mouth. She began to suck instinctually, tasting her arousal all over the digits.

“Clean up your mess. Not the first one you’re going to be cleaning tonight. Brace your hands on the mirror.” He instructed, watching as she did as asked. “Arch your back and stick that pretty ass out for me. There’s my girl.” His murmur was soft, his hands stroking over the skin before he praised her again. “Keep your eyes on us. Don’t look away or I’ll stop.”

His cock was swiped over her weeping cunt, the tip sensitive as he held back a hiss at how good the wet heat felt even just brushed. “Tell me to fuck you, and you can have it.”

“Please fuck me, fuck me, please-” Bunny begged, letting out a shaky breath at her own impatience. Her desperation was obvious, panting a bit now that his fingers were free from her mouth. Harry had never seen something so sincere. A tear fell down her cheek, her hips slightly moving back against him while her hands gripped the mirror.

“Please.” It came out as a breath, making eye contact with him in the mirror. Y/N had reached a breaking point, but she’d never felt so good.

Harry couldn’t hold back a smile at the sight of the tear. She submitted to him fully once again and he was in awe of how perfect she truly was. So willing to give in to him just as willing as he was to please her. How could he ever deny her after this?

“Shhh… baby, relax. Just a second.” Harry cooed, watching the tension leave her body at the news. In one swift motion, he pushed inside of her, doing his best to stay quiet so he could hear her clearly.

“Oh- fuck.” She whimpered, her mouth falling open as he pushed into her. There was still a bit of sensitivity from being fucked last night and this morning, but it almost made it better. The tiny bite of pain as he stretched her open made her breathing quicken. “God, you’re so fucking big.”

It was a stroke to his ego. Looking at her face as she took him paired with the words that fell from her pretty mouth, he hummed as his hands squeezed her hips. “And you’re going to take every single inch. Because you were made to take it.” He kissed her shoulder lightly, eyes on hers as he sunk in a bit deeper before finally filling her to the hilt.

“Are you thinking about how it would have been if I’d given in to you earlier? If I just sunk myself into this pussy in that dressing room? Because I thought about it all fucking day.” He rasped, grinding against her a bit as he felt her clench and adjust to his size. “I was so tempted to do it, even though your naughty mouth doesn’t know how to shut the fuck up. There’s no way you could keep quiet when my cock is inside of you.” His lips brushed her shoulder again as he kissed the other one, a smirk rising on the corner of his lips. “But you love the idea of being caught. Of being heard. I can tell.”

It was hard for her to keep her eyes on them. The intimacy of looking deep into her own eyes, being face to face with her own pleasure was overwhelming. The visual of him looking over her, the way she could see his muscles flexing with every thrust. She already felt her knees threatening to buckle.

“Mmm— I wanted you to keep me quiet.” Something about his hand holding her mouth shut while he fucked her against the wall. Similar to what they were doing right now, actually. “Feels so good, want it harder. I can take it, promise.” It was addicting, the way he pushed into her with such vigor, feeling desired.

“Want you to cum inside again,” Bunny couldn’t hold back her whining, “I want to do this every day, want— wanna feel your cum drip out of me, wannAH!” Harry always liked to surprise her with a hard thrust mid sentence. It was a way to get her attention, a way for him to assert his power.

“Want so many things, my spoiled little dolly…” Harry mumbled, thrusting relentlessly. “So impatient once you get a taste— did you not wait enough today?” He let out a harsh breath through his nose.

“I waited, I was so good, please.” She whispered, blinking away the needy tears in her eyes. If she started crying she likely wouldn’t stop. Her hands gripped the mirror as she looked at them both, his hands gripping her hips so tightly it paled the skin. Her body was hot under his touch, eyes shutting momentarily as he tugged her back harder on his cock with a grunt.

His cock was hard and thick and stretched her so perfectly, barely giving her a second to adjust. Instead, she had lost her breath, feeling his balls thwack against her clit. Being fucked standing up like this was taking her air.

“Fuck…” The whine was desperate, Harry watching her face as her eyes rolled back. She looked incredible like this. Her face slack with pleasure, body tense as he fucked into her with powerful motions. She was dripping down him, making his body even slicker to give it to her.

“Let me see those eyes.” He growled, releasing one of her hips to grab her throat. His hand collared her neck firmly, not squeezing but letting her be aware he was fully in control. That itself had her cunt gushing, eyes snapping open to meet his. “Look at me while I own you. This body is mine. D’you understand me?” His lips brushed her ear. “Who’s pussy is this?”

“Yours.” She whimpered out, eyes locked on his through the mirror. In her peripheral she could still see him sliding inside of her, her tits nearly bursting out of the outfit she had on at the intensity of his thrusts.

“It’s yours. It’s always been yours. ” Bunny was struggling to keep her eyes open, whimpers leaving her mouth. They’d had sex in the shower before and it felt similar to this, but the mirror definitely added a whole new element to it.

“Wanna dress up for you more, wanna do all kinds of things with you, just your little cockslut!” She felt more tears threatening to spill, his hand had moved to rub over her clit and the pleasure overwhelmed her. “Oh my— ah! Fuck! Harry, please please please!”

“That’s my good little whore. Keep begging me.” He grunted, feeling her body growing weaker in his grasp. Her poor legs were shaking as she took a pounding and he knew that she wouldn’t be able to last much longer standing up.

He decided to pull out. Y/N cried out at the loss, babbling about putting it back but Harry was quick to turn her around and bend her over the edge of the bed.

“My needy slut. Your legs were about to give out. Needed you on a surface you could finally give in and hand yourself to me.” His hand came down on her ass roughly, her body jolting at the hit.

“Put it back, give it back, I need it. I need it. Please.” She whined, pressing her ass back as Harry teased her clit with the tip. He gave in to her wishes, the wet flesh parting to take him back into her needy cunt with a cry of relief.

“Yes, yes- thank you, Daddy. Thank you.” She wailed, gripping the blanket as he gave it to her deep. So deep and full, her stomach clenched each time.

Harry couldn’t control himself, it was taking everything in him not to rip the remaining fabric on her body. His hands had left a perfect hue of red over the swell of her ass, smoothing over the skin only to place another sharp spank.

“God, you get better every time? How do you do it angel, hm?” Harry could feel himself coming closer to the edge, his face feeling warm now that the room was filled with heat from their filthy acts. “Go on, tell me your secret?” He purred, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

Bunny shuddered at the sensitivity his whisper triggered, the grazing of his teeth against her earlobe only adding to the mess she was making. Every part of her felt like it was on fire, vibrating with every new touch.

“Was made for you- I was…” she gasped, feeling each and every inch as she filled him. It would be embarrassing how wet she was if he obviously didn’t love it. “It’s your pussy, Harry. It belongs to you. I don’t want a-anyone else inside me.”

The declaration of his ownership went straight to his blood. That’s the type of shit he wanted to hear, especially balls deep inside of her weeping cunt. It was wet and hot and clenching around him harder than it had this morning, seemingly enjoying the deep fuck he was giving. He was a mess- his thighs and balls wet with her slick arousal, her body generously coating him in the proof of her need for him.

“I’m so glad… you and your body know that. It’ll never get better. No one will ever fuck you better than me. This has always been my cunt. Filthy fucking whore.. rubbing yourself in your bed thinking about me while m’at your house with your brother… wanting me to sneak into your room. Yeah, your body’s always belonged to me.”

“Harry— I’m so close, please! Don’t stop, right there, just like that!” Her knuckles turned white from the grip on the bedsheets. The imagery of him fucking her forever was honestly all it took. She’d never felt more satisfied than with him, the way he worshiped her body and mind felt far better than anything she could have imagined.

Never would she have guessed it could be like this. The sound of slapping skin kept Harry’s rhythm for him, his hot breath fanning over her skin.

“So fucking wet for me, listen to you.” He growled, staying quiet for a moment to focus on the sound of her squelching pussy. Harry sponged kisses over her shoulders, nipping the skin here and there to leave small marks. He loved the way she looked adorned in them.

“Make your mess baby, go on… wanna see how hard you can cum for me. Let go.”

Y/N was a wreck. Her body shuddered as his kisses lingered on her shoulder, the heavy sounds of their breathing mixed in with the sounds of pleasure filling up the bedroom. His cock was hitting just right, just at the spot he was claiming as his own and it made her body feel flooded with euphoria. Every bit of him against her was making her crazy.

She tried to reply but she couldn’t. Instead, her body trembled under him as the orgasm overtook her. A broken scream left her swollen lips, a gush of arousal soaking Harry’s cock as he pressed himself down onto her body.

“Fucccck. Perfect fucking pussy.” He grunted, his deep thrusts overtaken by her orgasm. He was so close, so close to the edge and her cunt was trying to milk it from him the best it could.

“M’gonna give you all my cum.” He growled against her ear, the hot words making her shudder as she felt them. “Gonna fill this hole up, mark it as mine. Soon M’gonna fill every one of your holes with my load. Mmm..” he groaned into her neck, keeping her pinned under him. “Ask me nicely for it.”

“Please, daddy… want you to fill me. I want to feel full of you, want it to drip down out of me…” Still breathing heavily, Bunny let out a hum at the feeling of his needy thrusts. She could tell he was getting closer.

“Please! Let me have it, I love how deep I can feel you— why don’t you cum for me?” Y/N squeezed around him just right, purring at the sounds of his strangled groans. Harry wasn’t afraid to moan in her ear, sending goosebumps over her skin.

He fucked her so raw and real, she’d never known sex to be this good before. He loved her body, he never let her forget it. It seemed he also loved her soul, the way he seemed to understand just what to do and how to move.

This was what sex with feelings was like? He understood the hype now. Why people said ‘just wait.’

Sex had always been a mechanical function, something fun, a stress reliever- but god damn, this was something otherworldly. Going bare inside of her, tending to her pleasure, letting her satisfaction become a part of his?

Fuck, he was obsessed.

It didn’t take much but a few more strokes for him to unload deep inside of her, groaning into her neck as his thrusts got sloppy, trying his best to fuck his cum as deep as he could. It was all pure instinct at this point. No guidance from experience would explain his primal need for her and his need to mark her inside and out.

Bunny whimpered at the feeling of him unloading into her, his whole body seemed to soften and his demeanor dropped for a few moments. He was just Harry, fully relaxed and open to the love Bunny was offering. He couldn’t resist her, nuzzling against her neck and pressing kisses and bites to her skin.

“You’re so perfect, bunny…” He mumbled, releasing the small nip of skin he had pulled between his teeth. “Such a perfect girl, I’m never going to let anything bad happen to you.” He whispered, staying deep inside her as he spoke.

With his chest rising and falling, he shifted off from on top of her while placing kisses all down her back. As much as he’d like to stay like that with her forever, the two of them could use some cleaning up.

His heart was still beating hard in his chest, reverberating into his ears as he winced at the cool air on his cock. His eyes though were focused on her cunt. His hands spread her open again, watching the trickle of pearly white cum dribbling down her cunt.

That alone was a sight he wanted to commit to memory. It would be enough to get him to a second round if he allowed himself, but instead, he chose to swipe the mess with his fingers and push it back into her sensitive hole.

Bunny whimpered at the feeling of two of his fingers sliding back into her used cunt, but she didn’t pull away. She let him, the pure filth of the idea of him making sure his load stayed inside of her making her clench a little.

“Shh. Don’t get all worked up again. Just putting my cum where it belongs.” He kissed the small of her back, pulling his fingers out and raising back up to her.

Ever so gently, he curled his hand around her face and slipped the digits into her lips, a surprised noise masked by instinctual sucking. The pure ease of his dirty action, how natural it felt and the taste of them mixed with his fingers made her sigh. He made sure she cleaned them well before pulling them out with a ‘pop’, turning her face to the side, and kissing her deeply. The man needed to taste him on her tongue.

“Thank you, baby.” He pulled back, exhaling against her lips. “Think we need to clean you up, yeah?”

———————————

This was new for both of them.

Y/N hadn’t taken a bath in ages let alone with a guy. Harry? Hell, he’d never thought he’d be sat in his bath gently washing a girl off with an exfoliating cloth. He pressed a few kisses to her shoulders, letting her relax into his hold while she sat between his legs. They hadn’t said much to each other since getting into the bath, but it didn’t feel like they needed to.

“Harry…” Bunny’s voice broke him away from his train of thought. “I had a lot of fun with you today,” She was shy telling him this but she was positive no one had ever gotten the chance to tell him something so pure. Sure their day was full of teasing, sexual tension, and sex, but she had felt at ease in a way she hadn’t felt since this all started.

“Was nice to just forget about everything going on and just feel normal…” She explained, turning her head to face him. “Thank you.”

“Y’don’t have to thank me.” He replied, looking into her soft eyes. The warm water of their bath had soothed them. They’d showered briefly to get the sweat and cum off of them before letting the bath fill, Harry was finally able to use the bath salts he had purchased a while ago when he’d suffered a bit of a beating during a fight again. They smelled like lavender and smoothed up their skin quite nicely.

“I had a good time too. I’m going to make sure that soon you can go out and do shit whenever you want without looking over your shoulder.” He kissed her cheek, his tone meaning it was final. There was no way he would rest until this bastard was dead.

“M’sorry that you even have to go through this shit. That... men are creeps. Don’t understand why or how they come up with shit like this. I can’t say I don’t understand your appeal, you’re fucking great.” He murmured, gaining a soft smile from the girl in his arms. “But that doesn’t mean you go out and stalk a girl for it. It just… it makes me sick knowing you’ve felt this way for a while and someone’s been preying on you.” He wished she had told him sooner. Of course, he understood to a degree why she didn’t- but he didn’t fully get it. That was a conversation for another day.

“What was your favorite part?”

There had been a few rare occasions where she was able to speak with him like this, where she felt like she was getting the real side of him reserved for people like Sterling and now her. Harry had a good moral compass, respected innocent people, and cherished their humanity.

“My favorite part?” Bunny smiled back up at him and turned to press a few kisses on his arm. “I liked seeing you try the shirts on… it sounds silly but just seeing you check yourself out in the mirror and hyping yourself up. It was nice.” She really did find it wholesome, the idea of big bad reaper being just a normal guy who still wanted to know if a shirt looked good on him.

“But I think this is my favorite part though,” Bunny admitted, keeping her eyes on him despite how small she felt at that moment. It was sweet. He never let her shy away from it, even let himself dive into it at times. She’d never felt so close to someone.

“Yeah?” He smiled, moving the washcloth chastely with the soapy mix over her chest. It wasn’t sexual in the slightest, even though Harry could go again if she asked. He didn’t think he could ever get enough of her and her body. Her pleasure. It was a new addiction for him.

“I liked it all, I think. Especially seeing you try those things on. Gave me a bit of blue balls but you rectified that situation very well.” He teased with a chuckle, dipping the cloth into the water to rinse the soap off of her.

“You know I’m going to take care of you, right? I’m going to make sure you’re safe no matter what. I know you may not love my decisions sometimes but I hope you can see why I make them.”

He still felt a bit insecure because he knew he was a bad man. He wasn’t good enough for a woman like Y/N. He could never be normal, not when the deepest and darkest parts of him yearned to make people pay for their sins and take them to the afterlife. She hadn’t fully seen him in it, which is surely why she looked at him with rose colored glasses.

As fucked up as it is, he was going to take advantage and soak in that as long as he could. Make sure he got a taste of her affection and what it would be like to be hers… before the inevitable crash happened once she saw what type of monster he really was.

Seeing him smile was all the humanity she needed from him. Reaper rarely smiled, she’d like to think she was the only one who’d ever seen this one. It made her heart swell, to think that she could make him happy. Genuinely happy. To her it didn’t matter who he was or what he did, she knew that behind all of this was a broken young boy who just wanted to be loved.

“I know… you’ve always been there.” Bunny thought back to the time just last year. The reason her brother had left, well, part of the reason. “When dad died and Sterling took off… I didn’t know if Mama and I would make it.”

Bunny had known from a young age her father was always getting into trouble. The bruises on his knuckles, the scars that accumulated over time. He’d always told her it was nothing to worry about, till one day he didn’t come home.

“I just… wish I knew more? Know you were all just trying to protect me, but even Mama couldn’t tell me what happened.”

Harry stiffened slightly at the mention of this topic.

Fuck.

He pulled her closer to him, kissing her jaw as he exhaled tiredly. Did she really want to know? “Because the truth is something we want to protect you from. Not to say you can’t handle it… but because sometimes it feels like a gift to be ignorant of the dangers and tragedies.” He mumbled, the discomfort welling in his throat.

“If you truly want to know? I’ll tell you. You do deserve the truth but… we all agreed maybe you’d be better off just remembering your father as how he was. He was one of the strongest men I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.” He swallowed around the lump in his throat, trying to keep himself from being upset. It was one of the worst days when he died. It fucked Harry up for a while, as well as most of the guys around when it happened.

None of the guys in the club would be considered model members of society. They were seen as criminals, scary men to stay away from. But there was a real brotherhood to it.

“Been to the clubhouse, know from his jacket he was one of you.” Y/N started, after all, it was her who wore her dad’s old cut now adorned with a Bunny patch. Bikes were always a part of her life, when she was little she thought it was just a hobby. Until Sterling also came home with bruises and scars. Even black eyes. It wasn’t so fun then.

“Sterling was there wasn’t he?” Her voice was quiet, “When it happened…” There was no way for her to know that other than her sisterly intuition. It all made sense to her though, why else would he take off without explanation?

It took her a long time to forgive her brother for leaving, it was Harry who always reminded her not to be so hard on him, giving her updates on what he was doing.

She fully relaxed into his hold, pulling his arms closer to her chest. Bunny just wanted to feel his weight on her, it soothed her.

“He was.” He hated thinking about that day. Harry tried his best to repress any emotions he could simply because it was easier than dealing with them. He took release in sex and fighting and the occasional binge of drugs, as cliche as all of that shit was. He knew it wasn’t what was supposed to be done but he’d never had a person he wanted to talk to.

A confidant.

“It was a deal gone wrong. I can’t tell you everything the club does. I’ll let you know that… we help people run things like guns and drugs. Your father didn’t care about that but the one thing he didn’t like was the dealing of people.” Harry despised it.

It was the most despicable thing someone could do. In his opinion, anyways.

“I can’t get into the finer details but a person we were helping a deal with… we found out the containers had people in them. Trafficking people. Your father and Viper stopped as soon as they heard the woman’s voice at a rest and opened up the container… along with the drugs, there were a few women. They weren’t of sound mind but one was lucid enough to tell us she had been taken, and that was enough for us to back out. We took the girls and put them in the cars we had tailing, took them out of there.” One of those girls still was around, working to try and clean the clubhouse. They did their best to help but not much could help the trauma she went through. “We then broke into the rest of the containers and found a few more women and we realized how many we needed to get out of there… so we did. We called and said there was an issue with border patrol and called out more people to get these women, these girls out.” Their cries and blank faces haunted him. To know in the past there may have been a woman he didn’t hear and dozens of them could have been smuggled under their noses…

“When the group we were trying to help found out what we did… a massive fight broke out.” He didn’t want to continue, but he would if she wanted more detail about her father.

“I don’t know how much you want to know… but I hope you know your father fought extremely hard. It was a dirty move and…” He swallowed, squeezing her body as he hid his face in her hair. “He died protecting women that were being taken advantage of. He died a hero to those women. I tried to save him. I uh…” He rolled his head back from her hair and rested it on the back of the tub. “It’s why my back is fucked up. They fight dirty with their weapons. The cut and the bullet wound. S’from me trying to cover his body.”

The room was still, heaviness settling around them just as the steam hugged their bodies. The sound of their breathing in sync, the stray droplets of water that bounced off the surface. Y/N let out a long shaky exhale.

It was a lot to think about. With so many thoughts clicking in her mind, Harry swore he heard the cogs turning in her head. Each thought felt like a spike, the way Bunny became aware she had no control over any of this suffering. Ignorance is bliss, but to her, the awareness was accommodating.

She moved so she was straddling his lap, sitting on the span of his thighs so she could look at him. She couldn’t have this conversation with her back faced to him. Her hand moved delicately, cupping his cheek in a hold that was so tender she felt tears prick at her eyes.

The one thing she could do, in a way words would never be able to describe, is kiss him.

It was the softest kiss she’d ever had, it was sinless. Her heart broke for them all. For the women, for her family, for him. Tears spilled from her eyes, but she didn’t bother holding them back this time. She could never express how grateful she was. How lucky she was to have him in her life, how honored she felt to know him so intimately. She pulled away after a beat, taking a second to ground herself in the moment.

Bunny loved this man.

“Thank you for telling me,” Her voice was the gentlest it’s ever been. “It’s not easy reliving those moments in your mind, I’m sorry you had to witness it.” Y/N brushed her thumb over the span of his lips and cheek. A few more tears did fall, but she’d found peace in knowing the truth.

He smiled sadly against her thumb, the little knot in his throat preventing him from speaking. Harry wasn’t a crying type of man, but he did feel emotional thinking about it. It was one of the very worst days of his life.

“I’d do it over and over if I had to. It was the right thing. I don’t regret it but… sometimes I wish that we could go back and be a bit smarter with how we planned it out.” He sighed, letting his eyes gaze into hers. She was perfect, his Bunny. She really fucking was.

“Listen…” He wanted to make sure he got something clear to her. “I know I’ve done good things. But I need you to be aware, to be reminded… m’not a good man. Maybe I can be good to you… I’d never hurt you, I’d rather die. But I’m not good. I’m rotten and dark and I have a lot of problems. I know you’ve got a good view of me now and I don’t want to ruin it, but one day you’re going to be scared of me.” He swallowed, feeling guilt from his core.

“None of us are. As I said… we are all troubled and have a skewed moral compass. We don’t hurt women, children, or animals… innocents. But I’ve got issues, Y/N. I can see you care for me, maybe even as much as I care for you. I just need you to know that before….” He swallowed again, eyes searching hers. “Before we let ourselves slip into the comfortable dynamic we’ve had the last few days. Protect yourself.”

He’d never hurt her, not on purpose, but he knew his issues lay deep.

“I tried to protect your father… I protected your brother and now I’ll protect you. I won’t let anything happen to you as long as m’breathing. I’m sorry we had to hold this from you.”

Her hand moved down to his neck, gently pushing his hair behind his shoulders. She was taking a good look at him. This monster she had been describing, she’d seen him before. The warehouse. She heard enough.

“You can hide all these parts of you from people, but you cannot hide them from me.” Bunny was certain, she knew him far too well. Her fingers toyed with the chain that hung loosely from his neck, eyes flickering back up to his.

“I know you’re capable of many horrific things, Harry, but that does not define who you are.” Y/N refused to believe that he was rotten to his core. He would never have the capacity to care for her as he did without a seed of hope in his heart. Did he really believe to be undeserving of it?

“I promise you. I know what I’m doing… I just need you to let me in.”

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