#it just sucks that they ended the season with once again. ginny having no friends.

[bugsongs]

the pitch rewatch was pretty good- it's a solid show and a shame that it was canceled, but also the ending was just such an unsatisfying bummer :/ like i guess they were just trying to get people invested at the end but it had the reverse effect on me. needed more hope in there imo

[wandlores]

Kiss of Luck

Pairing: Ron Weasley x Blaise Zabini Words: 2,470 You can also read this on AO3. This is for the @hprarepairnet and @slytherdornet Quidditch Player Ships Challenge! It is also for the anon that requested I write about a pairing in this scenario revolving around Quidditch. 

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Ron always knew he wasn't the best Quidditch player, but he was truly having his worst season yet. It also didn't help that his best friend and his sister were the stars of the show. He was happy for them, of course, but it just made it harder for him to accept that he was sucking as keeper.

It was an average Friday night for the eighth years at Hogwarts. They always snuck into the Room of Requirement to play some drinking games and unwind from the week they had just endured. Tomorrow was the next big Quidditch match, and Ron knew he had to prove himself, or he had the potential of getting kicked off the team by Headmistress McGonagall.

It was still odd for Ron to realize who his new friends were. It had to do with Hermione and Harry's new love interests, sure, but if you had asked him two years ago if he would be playing a drinking game with Draco Malfoy, he would have called you crazy. 

The Room of Requirement had shifted to their liking. They were surrounded by couches and a makeshift bar that was over-flowing with firewhiskey. Ron was the one to take the first shot.

Very over the edge and very tipsy, he unleashed his soul.

"I just-I just don't understand why I am sucking so bad this year. Did the war take away all my skill? I just don't want McGonagall to kick me off the team."

"Ron, she wouldn't do that," Ginny reassured him, "It would be up to Harry who is team captain, and he wouldn't kick you off the team. Right Harry?"

Harry was laughing about something Pansy had said, but he turned his head at the sound of his name and nodded. Ron knew the only reason he wouldn't kick him off the team though was because of  personal loyalty and Harry not taking Quidditch quite as seriously now after the war.

Ron groaned and leaned back against the front of the couch, and Daphne handed him another shot. Theo laced his fingers through her's as she sat back down next to him.

"We can't be good at everything, Ron," Daphne teased, "And besides, Quidditch is just a stupid game. It's not worth freaking out over."

Ron could feel Ginny's glare from across the room, but Luna gently placed her hand on top of her girlfriend's to stop her from getting too passionate about the topic and starting an argument.

"Quidditch is not stupid," Draco spoke up, "Just because you can barely balance on a broomstick, Greengrass, it doesn't mean the game is of no importance."

Hermione tried not to smile at Draco's words, and she leaned against his shoulder as he put his arm around her.

Daphne rolled her eyes, and she took a pillow from the couch and threw it at Draco's head. Harry and Pansy excused themselves from the chaos to make out, Ron assumed, and the rest of the group screamed with laughter as pillows hit them square in the face. 

Ron was not enjoying the chaos though, and it appeared that Blaise wasn't either. He just sat back in his chair and watched the group with boredom. Blaise rarely said anything during their get togethers, and Ron was sure of the fact that he only came cause Pansy and Theo begged him to. 

So when Blaise finally spoke up to stop the chaos of the pillow fight, Ron was very shocked and his ears perked up as he poured himself another drink.

"I think we should do something other than juvenile pillow fights. Maybe another juvenile Muggle game, perhaps?"

Theo snorted, and Draco commented, "So you want to trade one juvenile game for another?"

"Precisely," Blaise smiled, "I'm sure your girlfriend can come up with a Muggle game we can play."

Hermione pursed her lips as she studied the room. Ron could tell she was tipsy from her drink she had just finished, so this would be interesting.

"Why not truth or dare?" 

Ginny laughed and Theo rolled his eyes, but Daphne leaned forward in her seat and was intrigued.

"I think that's a great idea," she told Hermione, "What do the rest of you think? And if you don't do your dare or tell the truth, you have to take a shot!"

"Then I'm just going to continue taking shots," Harry said as he approached the group again with Pansy's hand in his, "What do you say, Pans?"

She smiled mischeviously, "Yeah, I could go for a game that will make me ridiculously drunk. This week was killer."

They sat down next to Draco and Hermione. Blaise got up from his seat to get some bottles of firewhiskey and placed it in the center of the group. Ron watched as Luna eyed the firewhiskey and wondered what she was thinking about. 

"Who is going to go first?" Theo asked the group.

Without hesitation, Luna spoke up, "I would like to ask the first question, if that's okay."

Theo gestured his hands out in front of him, "By all means, Lovegood, take the floor."

She smiled at him and Ron was happy to see that Luna now had so many friends. Her and Theo had taken a particular liking to each other; Ron assumed it was because they could bond over their unique intellectual pursuits.

"Blaise," she asked, "Truth or dare?"

Blaise smiled at Luna and took another swig of his drink before answering, "Truth."

"Do you actually want to be all our friends or does Pansy just drag you here every Friday night?"

There was an awkward silence for a moment, and you could leave it to Luna to ask a serious question. As Daphne and Theo glanced down at the floor awkwardly, Luna kept her gaze on Blaise. She was intent on having an answer. 

Ron watched as Blaise's adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and for once, Ron could see he was answering honestly, "I do want to be your friends, I just don't always know what to say."

No one pressed him for more, and even though Blaise answered honestly, he took a shot. Luna looked pleased with his answer and leaned back into Ginny's arm.

The next rounds of the game went by quickly. Harry was dared to make-out with Pansy in front of the group, Daphne and Ginny had to do a strip-tease.. which made Ron close his eyes tightly to avoid seeing his sister, and Hermione was dared to take three shots in a row. You could say the party was hyped up. 

But Ron still wasn't feeling it. He was feeling miserable, in truth. He just could not stop thinking about his recent Quidditch failures and was always feeling particularly single in this moment. He was happy for Hermione that she was now with Draco, but he couldn't help but feel lonely.

It was only when Pansy leaned forward in her seat and called out to Blaise again that Ron took interest. His ears perked up at the sound of his name; he wasn't even sure why.

"Blaise, truth or dare?" Pansy slurred. She was very drunk, and Harry's cheeks were flushed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders once again.

Blaise rolled his eyes but played along, "Haven't I already been asked? There are other people, such as Ron and Luna, who haven't been asked a single question."

But Pansy ignored him and pressed, "Truth or dare?"

He smirked at her, "Fine then. Dare."

Pansy glanced at Harry who also had a mischevious twinkle in his eye. For some reason, this made Ron nervous. What were the two of them up to? They had a secret language no one else in the room seemed to ever understand.

"I dare you to kiss Ron."

Ron felt heat flush to his cheeks, and he glanced over to see Ginny avoiding eye contact with him and Hermione kissing Draco's cheek, clearly not paying attention to anything that was being said.

"Wha-what?" Ron croaked out, "I'm-I'm a bloke, he won't do that. He is not into that-"

Theo rolled his eyes, "We don't live in the fifties anymore, Ron. It isn't weird for blokes to kiss other blokes."

"I-I know that," Ron replied, "But Blaise-he-he wouldn't want to do that."

He looked over to Blaise to gauge his reaction. He had expected him to look disgusted, but instead, he had a smirk on his face.

"Do you not think you can handle my charm, Weasley?" He asked him in a flirtatious tone. Stunned, Ron didn't know what to say.

So as Blaise got out of his seat and sauntered over to the other side of the room to sit in front of Ron on the floor, Daphne and Ginny hooted and hollared with encouragement.

"Now this is about to get good," Ron heard Draco whisper into Hermione's ear. She giggled in response.

Ron looked up to see Pansy watching them intently and Harry having a slight smile on his face. 

Ron's vision was already fuzzy from the firewhiskey, but now, he truly felt like the world was spinning. He expected to be opposed to Blaise kissing him, but now he was just excited. He had not expected that, and his heart was thudding loudly in his chest. He was convinced the whole group could hear it.

"Are you ready, Weasley?" Blaise asked confidently.

Ron surprised himself when he nodded, and Daphne squealed behind him.

Blaise leaned forward then and pressed his lips to Ron's. Fireworks ignited inside of him, and Ron felt his mouth open and Blaise's tongue slip inside. Draco was whistling behind them, and everyone clapped as Blaise pulled away. Ron was out of breath, but Blaise looked pleased with himself.

"Now that can be a good luck charm for the Quidditch match tomorrow," Pansy told Ron. So that is what she had planned.

"It should work too," Daphne told him, "When Blaise and I dated in fifth year, I passed my OWLs I was expecting to fail because he kissed me right before."

Ron rolled his eyes, but the rest of the group laughed. All Ron could feel for the rest of the night was Blaise's eyes on him, and Ron secretly hoped he wouldn't look away.

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To Ron's surprise, Gryffindor won their match against Hufflepuff the next day. It was the first match they had won the whole year. Harry came and slapped him on the back at the end of the match in congratulations.

"You did it, Ron! It looks like Blaise's kiss worked," Harry teased.

Ron rolled his eyes, "It is just a coincidence." But he could feel his neck heat up as he thought about the night before.

"Pansy does say Blaise has a certain charm," Harry said as he eyed Ron. It was like Harry could read his mind. He knew Ron liked the kiss, but Ron didn't give into him with more comments.

"Whatever, Harry. I'll see you later tonight. Go find Pans like I know you want to."

Harry grinned at his best friend and turned around to the stands to see Pansy waiting for him. She kissed him hard when he approached. 

Ron was happy for his best friend. He was happy for all his friends and their newfound happiness after the war. He was just hoping now that he won this match, his own happiness would improve, too.

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Ron was determined for the next week to stay away from Blaise to prove that he could win the next match against Ravenclaw without his kiss.

It was hard though, because all Ron wanted to do was be around Blaise, even if it meant they didn't talk. He wanted to casually run into him as Harry was with Pansy and Draco was with Hermione, but it seemed that Blaise kept his distance. He wondered if he regretted what he had done the week before.

So like the coward Ron recently felt like he was, he declined joining the group in the Room of Requirement that Friday night before the match against Ravenclaw. He told himself it was to prove a point, but really, he wasn't sure how he could control himself around Blaise. 

He had only viewed Blaise as a poser before, but now, he could see there was so much more. 

And much to Ron's disappointment but also his relief, he had lost the game against Ravenclaw the next day. It did seem like Blaise's kiss was the kiss of luck. He was determined to have it again.

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The next match was against Slytherin. There was a lot of playful bickering and trash talking between the friends as they prepared to go up against each other. Blaise was around that week with his eyes on Ron, but he didn't say anything to him. It was like he was waiting for Ron to approach him.

Ron couldn't take it anymore that Friday night. As they all left the Room of Requirement to walk back to their common rooms, Ron pulled Blaise aside and around a corner so the others could not see them. 

Blaise smirked at Ron as they met eyes and Ron had pushed him against the castle walls.

"Look," Ron started, "I know that we are playing against each other tomorrow and you are going to want to score me out as chaser for the team, but I need some luck."

"Is it luck you need or just my lips in general?" Blaise asked. Ron could tell he was serious, and he watched as Blaise's long lashes blinked waiting for his response.

Ron swallowed the remaining saliva in his throat and answered honestly, "I think it's a bit of both."

Blaise smiled as he leaned forward and forcefully pressed his lips against Ron's. Ron opened his mouth to invite Blaise in, and all he could taste was firewhiskey. They kissed against that castle wall for an hour, until they finally heard Filch coming down the hall looking for anyone out of their common rooms past curfew.

As they pulled apart, Blaise whispered, "Good luck tomorrow."

Then he winked and ran off toward the dungeons. Ron grinned to himself as he escaped Filch's upcoming wrath.

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Gryffindor did win against Slytherin the next day, and Ron knew it was from Blaise's kiss of luck.

But Blaise didn't seem to care that Slytherin had lost as he approached Ron after the game. Ron was surprised to see that he even looked a little nervous.

"So Weasley," Blaise started, "I was thinking..."

"I would love to go out with you sometime," Ron finished for him confidently.

Blaise jokingly rolled his eyes, "You had no idea what I was going to say."

"I guessed," Ron told him, and before Blaise could reply, Ron pressed his lips against his.

[hdgaywriting]

Eighth Year - Drarry Fic Part 4

The weeks crept on at Hogwarts and before you knew it, quidditch season was upon them. Harry was filled with new excitement at the prospect of having an uninterrupted quidditch season. He was sure to help Gryffindor fly to the top and secure the cup. He and Ginny were co-captains this year, and tryouts had gone brilliant. Ron even made the team again! Another great thing about quidditch is that it was something Harry and Draco actually had in common. The two boys would wake up together and get ready for practice, trudging through morning dew on the pitch. Draco had even lent Harry his broom polish, and in return Harry had given him some tips on broom stabilization.

It was after a particularly fun scrimmage that the two Seekers had a profound moment. They were in their room, changing out of their sweaty uniforms that Harry again noticed Draco’s silvery scars. In the spirit of their new-founded familiarity with each other (friendship was still a strong word) he decided to ask Draco about it.

“Malfoy, how’d you get those scars on your chest?” The grey eyes looked up at him and Draco’s face turned tense and cold. Harry thought he was going to get ignored, but to his surprise Draco opened his mouth to speak.

“My house was broken into over the Summer. Crazed half-bloods who were mad at my parents. Said they were fans of the Order of the Phoenix and I should rot. It was some sort of spell I’d never heard of.” Draco paused and Harry saw his face contort in pain, making his sharp features more vicious. “Something similar to sectumsempra.” Draco stared harshly at the floor, unwilling to meet Harry’s gaze.

On the inside, Harry’s stomach lurched. Sectumsempra was the spell he cruelly used on Draco their sixth year. It had nearly killed him. It quite literally slashed him all over. He knew he couldn’t take it back, but his heart wanted to fix it. He walked forward, closer to his roommate. Draco stood still, statuesque. Harry impulsively cupped Draco’s chin in his hand. He heard Malfoy’s sharp intake of breath, a sound Harry knew was out of surprise. He made Draco look him in the eyes.

“I was wrong to use that spell.” Harry said. He meant it with every part of him. Draco’s face didn’t move a muscle. He continued to stare at Harry with a blank gaze. He was unreadable, like every trace of humanity was stuck under the surface. Harry dropped his hand and left the room with his broom in his hands. He needed to be in the sky for a while.

Draco ran his hand through his tidy blonde hair as soon as Harry left the room. He could have leaned forward and kissed Potter right there. Draco sat on the edge of his bed, whole body tense. His hand absentmindedly traced the long scars on his chest. If these things are what end up bringing Potter to me, I guess they were worth it, he thought.

Draco had been falling in love with Harry for weeks now. All the animosity had melted away. Living with Harry showed a different side of him. He wasn’t obnoxious and pompous like Draco thought. He was damaged goods, and his broken matched Draco’s. For the first time in eight years, Harry Potter wasn’t unattainable.

Draco thought back to the night Harry had his nightmare. He had rubbed Harry’s shoulder, then back, trying to soothe him. Harry had even placed his head on Draco’s shoulder and fell asleep. Poor thing was too exhausted to lay back down himself. It hurt Draco to see Harry hurting that much. It hurt him even more to realize he had feelings for the boy, as he fell asleep in Harry’s bed. Draco tried to refuse them. He tried being mean, lasing out, and avoiding the room. But he felt off. Nobody else at Hogwarts wanted much to do with him. The pure blood families were disappointed in him, the half-bloods hated him, Snape wasn’t around to protect him anymore, and he’d even lost Crabbe and Goyle, as moronic as they were. Draco realized he couldn’t afford to be mean to Potter. If he pushed the Golden Trio away, he was really all alone. So, he stopped. And he waited. And then the feelings came back. The more Draco stopped pretending they weren’t there, the happier he became. He didn’t put his energy into hating Potter, he put his energy into loving him.

Draco had gone from helping Potter out once by waking him up, to falling asleep in his bed, to opening up to Harry about his feelings. Even now, Harry cared about the things that happened to Draco. He had even apologized for hurting him. Draco knew in that moment that he was in love with Harry Potter. The problem was, though, that Harry was in love with Ginny Weasley, and probably wouldn’t ever speak to Draco again after they graduated.

Harry flew in loops around the castle. He was supposed to stay near the quidditch pitch, but quite frankly, he didn’t care. Flying had always been his favorite way to clear his mind, but now that he was of legal age, drinking wasn’t half bad either. Once his feet were firmly on the ground, he marched to Ron and Hermione’s room.

“Need a drink.” Ron and Hermione blinked at his demand. Ron shrugged and got up, dusting off his trousers.

“Are you sure?” Hermione asked. “What’s wrong?” Harry briefly explained some tale of how he was having a hard time adjusting. What he couldn’t bring himself to say is that he couldn’t get Draco off his mind and it was driving him crazy. He wanted to be around him. More than he wanted to be around his girlfriend, which made him feel even worse. Hermione gave in pretty easily.

“I’m just going to grab some money,” Harry declared as he was walking through the bathroom to his suite. Draco was looking at him bustling around the room collecting his things to go out. Harry looked at his roommate, and before he realized he’d said it, he invited Draco drinking with him and his friends.

The youngest Malfoy paused, mostly in shock. “Sure,” he replied, apprehensive.

“Alright then,” Harry said, and scurried through the bathroom again. He told Ron and Hermione about their guest, and only got minimal hesitation. This term Draco hadn’t been so typically horrid to be around. He and Hermione actually got on quite well. Once Draco got over the whole muggle-born thing, that is.

The four students were down at the bar soon after, enjoying the ambiance (and their mugs of alcohol). Ron got a sipping whiskey, Hermione a rum and coke, Harry a strong gin and tonic, and Draco a vodka martini, all of which were on Harry’s dime. The gang laughed at Draco’s order, calling it quite prissy. To their surprise, Draco, in an attempt to shut them up, ordered them a round of dragon’s fire. Four shot glasses of clear, bubbling and steaming liquid were soon at their disposal.

“Drink up,” Draco said, tossing it back. His face squinched up a bit, but otherwise he seemed mild mannered, and motioned for the group to take it. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, apprehensive, but enjoying the prospect of a challenge.

“Fine,” Ron said. He smelled the drink and gagged. “That’s awful!” he said.

“It’s quality” Draco emphasized. “Not so Irish anymore, are you, Weasley?”

“Oh, you’re going to eat your words, Malfoy.” Ron said, taking the shot. A moment after, Ron was howling, jumping up and down and Draco was hysterical. Hermione and Harry were also doubled over, laughing deeply from the belly. Once he calmed down, Ron was warning Harry and Hermione how awful it was.

“It can’t be that bad,” Hermione said. Ron gave her a look. “C’mon, Harry,” Hermione said, picking up her drink and pinching her nostrils closed. Harry laughed and picked his up as well.

“Can we have a chaser?” he asked Draco.

“Of course not,” he said and folded his arms across his chest. Harry shrugged.

“3…2…” Hermione counted, looking paler as she went. “1!” The two tossed back the drink. The taste was horrendous. It was so dry and so acidic. The putrid burn coated their throats. Hermione was gagging and Harry was trying his best not to. It felt like their ears were smoking. Harry could barely hear Ron and Draco laughing maniacally at them.

“She’s going to be sick!” Ron howled. Hermione had her hand clasped tight on her mouth. “Be right back!” Ron said, still grinning cheekily. He helped hoist Hermione up and led her to the bathroom, already working on scooping her hair back.

Harry had composed himself (mostly) and was gulping down his gin. Draco was smirking at him when he looked up. “How did you do that?” Harry asked.

“Aunt Bella always had it around. Was her drink of choice. Said only tough blokes could handle it, and Merlin did she want me to be a tough bloke…”

“Did she want to torture you?!” Harry asked, before realizing he had better get more respectful of the deceased.

“Maybe!” Draco said with a laugh. “She was so mean!” Harry was unsure why Draco was speaking so poorly of his dead aunt, but all that alcohol was hitting him.

“Maybe she’s where you got it from,” Harry said cautiously. Draco looked at him with a blank face. A knot tied in Harry’s stomach. He’d gone too far. “I’m sorry,” Harry said quietly.

“Don’t be,” Draco said. “My family sucks. The only halfway decent one was my mum and she left me, so what’s the point in standing up for that lot?” Harry was taken aback. He was starting to think Draco was more drunk that Harry initially thought. He went to sip his gin and tonic, but was met with only ice and air.

“A lager,” Harry said to the bar witch, a few yards down. She nodded at him.

“One for me as well,” Draco said. He pulled on his shirt, straightening it out and fixed his blonde hair. “I’m not sloshed, Potter,” he said when he noticed Harry’s worried look. A martini and a shot, and I’m not even done with the martini yet. I just didn’t want to get up to bother the bar witch again.”

Hermione and Ron came back, just then. Hermione looked sheepish and Ron looked very smug. Harry raised his bottle at the pair and took a swig. Hermione ordered a gilly water for herself and sat down.

“Feeling alright, Granger?” Malfoy asked.

“Just peachy,” Hermione said. “Not sure how much longer we’ll stay.” And she had meant it. Ron and Hermione only stayed another half hour before Hermione demanded they go home. You can have a boy’s night and drink yourselves sick without me another night, she had yelled. So, it was just Harry and Draco, who were both giggly and drunk by the time they were left alone.

“Do you hate me?” Harry said out of the blue. His drunk brain had severely lowered his inhibitions.

“Do I look like I hate you?” Draco retorted. “We’ve been schoolmates for eight years, Potter. If I’d hated you I’d’ve transferred,” he slurred.

“But you were watching me for You Know Who. You had to be there.”

“What?!” Draco said. “No, I didn’t. I wasn’t watching you for him, I was watching you ‘cause I liked watching you.” Draco said. “Don’t be such a prat!”

Harry was stunned. In his brain, Draco had always been out to get him. “No, you hate me!” Harry insisted.

“No, Harry, I don’t.” Draco said. He had put on his best sober voice, trying to make Harry believe him. Harry was focused on how calm his old nemesis could be. “Harry, I could never have been your friend. My family hated Dumbledore, and you by proxy. Voldemort lived in my house!” he said in a much more hushed tone, “couldn’t very well be your best mate, but if he had wanted me to go after you, you would have known. Besides, I knew Snape was a spy.” He sat up again. Harry hadn’t realized that Draco had moved so close to him. The recollection of his hot breath coming out in plumes on Harry’s skin struck him.

“Were you scared?” Harry said after a moment. He pushed his empty bottle out of the way and leaned in close, subconsciously wanting to shut the gap between him and Draco.

“No,” Draco said, automatically. Harry kept looking at him, not falling for it. Draco clenched his jaw before continuing, “Yes. Everyday. Scared out of my mind. Scared my family would die, scared they’d kill me for not murdering anyone. Scared for you…” he stopped in his tracks.

“I didn’t know you cared,” Harry said.

“I didn’t know you thought I was really a monster,” Draco said back. Harry sat straight up again. Draco was looking down. “When you’re told you’re a monster, and later asked to play the part of a monster, I guess it makes sense that people think you are one.” He explained.

“Who called you a monster?” Harry asked. Draco looked up.

“Aunt Bella. We were close when I was young. I came out to her when I was little. She was the first one. She told me that was awful. Only horrid monsters were gay. I shut down then and there. Never told anyone else.”

Harry was angry, now. “She’s wrong,” he spat. “Wrong.” Draco said nothing, so Harry flagged down the bar witch and ordered another round of those putrid shots. He thought about how Draco had just said he was gay. Did this change anything? He didn’t think so, at least not in a bad way. It actually explained a lot. Meanwhile, Draco was convincing himself that he actually had just come out (again), to none other than Harry Potter. Harry Potter was now the only living person besides Draco to know he was gay. The shots were placed in front of the boys.

“Go on,” Harry said. “Show off for me.” That was the last thing he remembered.

Much of the night was foggy, for both of the boys, but their blackout faded when they were back in their suite. Harry came-to on his bathroom floor, arms folded over the toilet seat. Draco wasn’t far away from him, sitting and leaning against the counter and holding a glass of water.

“More water?” he asked Harry. His black hair flopped over his eyes as he shook his head no. The thought of anything going down his throat made him dry heave over the toilet. In an instant Draco was rubbing Harry’s back. “It’s okay,” he said.

“When did we get here?” Harry asked. Draco blinked back at him.

“An hour or two ago? Don’t you remember?”

“No,” Harry said. “I don’t remember much after that second dragon shot.”

“We drank ourselves stupid,” Draco said. “We got kicked out of the bar. I threw up on the way home, and you started throwing up right outside the castle. I got Weasley to help me get you up here because you are SO difficult, and we’ve been sat here ever since.” Harry smiled tiredly.

“Did Ron go back to bed?” Harry asked. Draco shook his head yes.

“I had to convince him I wasn’t going to throw you off the turret, first.” Harry laughed.

“You and I don’t have the best track record,” Harry said. Draco laughed bitterly. Harry liked the sound. It was like Draco wanted to laugh but didn’t want to let himself go. The reservation was endearing.

“We’re changing that.” Draco’s statement wasn’t optional. He firmly meant that he and Harry were going to stop hating each other. Harry shook his head yes too quickly, giving himself another round of the spins. He cupped his head in his hands. Draco was at his side again.

Harry looked up, peering at the blonde boy through strands of black hair. He thought about how kind Draco was. How smart. How complex. How did he ever hate him? Harry felt butterflies in his stomach.

“I want to kiss you,” Harry said. Draco’s eyes widened.

“Potter…” he said. Harry’s gaze didn’t falter. Draco’s mind was going a thousand miles an hour.

“Never mind,” Harry said. Draco felt the pit of his stomach drop and disappointment cloud his vision. “I must smell awful,” Harry laughed.

“I don’t give a damn,” Draco said. He gripped Harry’s shirt collar and brought their faces together. It was so easy, kissing Harry Potter. It was so natural. Harry pushed Draco down onto his elbows and tucked one hand in the blonde hair. He grabbed Draco tightly and kissed him fiercely. Once he backed off Draco was dumbfounded. He couldn’t speak.

“Fuck,” Harry said, more to himself than anyone. “Ginny…” he muttered, and left the room.

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Tag list: @carrameli @devilrising @fantasticreads0402

[ashiiblack]

Year in Review 2019

Total word count: 

Total fics written: 24 (a LOT of these are less than 1k)

Fandoms written in: BNHA, Yuri!!! on Ice, Harry Potter, Free!, and MCU

Chronological list of fics (in the order posted on AO3, not written)

Romance at the Roasted Bean (Harry/Draco, T, 1k) - Draco has a secret admirer.

Start With a Cold Brew (Victor/Yuri P, E, 5k) - Coffee Shop AU (this was technically written in 2018 but was in its exclusivity period for Victurio Anthology)

the music plays bitter, plays sweet (Harry/Draco, M, 1k) - Angsty with a hopeful ending of Harry’s marriage to Ginny ending.

The Taste of Something Different (Harry/Draco, T, 1k) - Harry is getting increasingly frustrated with his Auror partner’s inability to get him the right food.

Shining Bright (JJ/Yuri, T, 5k) - Five times JJ fails at asking out Yuri and the one time he succeeds (another 2018 fic in exclusivity for YOI Litmag).

The 80th Floor (Kirishima/Bakugou, M, 1k) - A deleted scene from the BNHA movie answering the question of how krbk ended up on the 80th floor.

Scars You Can’t See (Kirishima/Bakugou, G, 300 words) - Kirishima trying to comfort Bakugou after Kamino.

Strawberries (on your lips) (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 900 words) - Studying with Kirishima turns into something unexpected.

The Bakugou Problem (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 2k) - The Bakusquad decide to get Kirishima and Bakugou to date. Chaos ensues.

Fate Can Suck It (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 3k) - Soulmate AU

I’ll unfold before you (Kirishima/Bakugou, E, 2k) - Post BNHA movie (and a sort of sequel to The 80th Floor)

Morning Light (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 400 words) - After their first night together, Kirishima wakes up with Bakugou in his arms.

the fear of seeing death without ever loving you (Steve/Tony, E, 3k) - Steve returns the stones to their proper place but can’t help but see Tony one last time.

Truths in Letters (Harry/Draco, T, 5k) - Harry and Draco participate in a Guess the Penfriend inter-house unity game with interesting results. Epistolary fic written with just_another_loser.

Win-Win (Kirishima/Bakugou, E, 1500 words) - Bakugou likes that Kirishima can take his blasts. Kirishima just likes Bakugou.

Dare Me (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 1500 words) - Uraraka gives Bakugou a dare. Eijirou isn’t sure what to think of it.

First Date (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 1k) - Going from best friends to boyfriends isn’t the smoothest transition, but Bakugou and Kirishima make it work. (fun fact - this fic is based on @icicle33‘s Sims characters).

so good to be yours (Makoto/Haru, E, 2k) - Makoto visits Sydney while Haru is at a training camp for the Olympics. While things are awkward at first, they find their rhythm together again.

The Note (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 1500 words) - Kirishima leaves a note to Bakugou on his desk confessing his crush to him. Humor and misunderstandings ensue.

everyday i want more of you (Kirishima/Bakugou, T, 2k) - Seven somewhat connected 300 word drabbles written for Chill November. Basically all krbk fluff.

Out of the Slipstream (Kirishima/Bakugou, E, 15k) - The professional road cycling AU no one asked for but I wrote it anyway.

Beauty, Like the Night (Iida/Aoyama, M, 10k) - A classic example of having to write the fic you want to read. Iida has a crush on Aoyama but it isn’t proper for a future hero to lust after his classmates.

Spark (Endeavor/Hawks, E, 2k) - When what Keigo thinks is a casual hookup suddenly becomes something more.

There’s also a week’s worth of BNHA Fluff Week Drabbles I wrote in June.

From my past year of writing…

My best story of this year: Honestly, probably my Stony fic. I was so raw after Endgame and this fic was screaming to be written. My most popular story of this year (by kudos, comments or notes): Stony again. One of those rare times I agree with stats.

Story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion: Take a chance on The Note? It’s only 1500 words. Most fun story to write: Beauty, Like the Night. Iidayama is my favorite rare ship and I fucking love Iida so much. Hardest story to write: Probably my cycling au. After thinking about this fic for so long, I really got in my head about it and didn’t feel like anything was good enough. Biggest disappointment: My drarry fics have been pretty off as of late. It doesn’t help when I have krbk basically always on my mind. Biggest surprise: Fun fact - I’m not a big fan of soulmate au tropes so I was pretty surprised Fate Can Suck It was so well received lmao. Honestly though I’ve warmed up to the genre since I wrote this one.

Most unintentionally telling story: Probably Stony again. I usually self insert into Tony but this time I went way into Steve.

Favorite Opening Lines: “We have a problem.” The Bakugou Problem

Favorite Closing Lines: “For now, they can sleep.” the fear of seeing death without ever loving you

Reflection time Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d predicted? I wrote a lot less. My goal was 100k and I ended up just shy of 65k. What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January? BNHA/Kiribaku/Endhawks. I fell pretty hard for krbk at the end of the first season then came the sports festival and their beautiful ship moments just kept coming. Endhawks I have no excuse other than they’re hot af together and so much opportunity for angst with feelings. What’s your own favorite story of the year? Dude idk. A lot of what I wrote was fun ficlets. I’m gonna have to go with either my cycling AU or iidayama. I know I said I struggled with the cycling au but I’m fairly happy with how it turned out. Did you take any writing risks this year? Not exactly. The Stony was definitely different from my usual style. Do you have any fanfic goals for the new year? Gonna shoot for 100k for 2020 again. I’m doing the Tododeku Big Bang and then I have two Kiribaku ideas I’m going to write. One will be a oneshot and the other will likely be a longer fic. I’d also like to do some sort of drabble event because I really enjoy the challenge with a limited word count.

Decade wrapped

If you’re still with me, I want to briefly reflect on my decade of fanfiction. I’ve been writing fic since 2002 but I fell in and out of it through high school. I didn’t really get back into writing until 2010 toward the very end of college. I met @icicle33 thru ffnet at the end of 2011 and she introduced me to LJ events and fests and exchanges and my writing style developed a ton. I fell out of it a bit in the middle of the decade but came back in full force in 2017 (thanks again in large part to Icicle), especially once I joined YOI fandom. In this decade, I’ve written/posted roughly 600k words (I feel like the distinction is important because I also have about 100k of unposted WIP/outline/nonsense). I’ve made friends, enemies, laughed, cried, met multiple fandom friends irl including my darling @phaytesworld and Icicle, modded and written for zines, and so much more. Writing has always been a way for me to explore a different side of myself, to play in a sandbox with no stakes. I can’t imagine where I would be without it. Here’s to another 10 years and you can bet in 2029 my old ass will still be writing. Should the world have ended by then, you can find me in hell writing porn.

[dramioneficindex]

Dramione Fic Index ~ Title G

Title: Game On Author: ELELEL & rzzmg  Rating: M/R Genre(s): Humor, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,400 Summary: Sentenced to live for a period of five years without magic by the Wizengamot, Draco expects his future’s going to badly suck—until his court-appointed probation officer, Hermione Granger, takes it upon herself to teach him about the fun world of non-contact Muggle sports. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Fest/Exchange: Dramionelove ~Love Fest~ 2014 Published: July 4, 2014 Themes: Endearments/Pet Names, Flirting, Games/Challenges/Dares, Muggle Life, Muggle Games/Sports Draco: Cunning/Sly, Redeemed, Snarky Hermione: Bossy, Feisty, Ministry Employee [MLE Officer], Silly, Snarky

Title: Games Without Frontiers Author: alexajohnson Rating: PG-13 Genre(s): General Chapters: 1 Word Count: 8,989 Summary: “No, Draco,” said Dumbledore quietly. “It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.”—HBP, pg. 592. An alternate ending to the series that  is compliant with everything until the end of HBP. Status: Complete Timeline: War Fest/Exchange: dmhgficexchange Published: November 29, 2008 Themes: Injuries [Draco], Kidnapping/Imprisonment [Draco] Draco: Snarky Locations: Hogwarts, Hogwarts Library Characters: Bellatrix Lestrange, Harry Potter, Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Nymphadora Tonks, Ron Weasley, Severus Snape, Voldemort

Title: Gemini  Author: The Orange Girl  Rating: M  Genre(s): Angst  Chapters: 1  Word Count: 10,835  Summary: Gravity is on the increase as time goes by… My body returns to the earth… There is sky up in the air… My body is in your sky, and your life is in my cosmos. We never come close to each other, but here we exist as it is…  Status: Complete  Timeline: War  Fest/Exchange: Celebrate the Season with Draco and Hermione Ficexchange  Published: January 10, 2007  Themes: Imprisonment [Draco & Hermione], Stuck Together  Draco: Broody, Turncoat, Prisoner  Hermione: Order Member, Prisoner, Know-It-All  Characters: Bellatrix Lestrange, Marcus Flint  Warnings: Explicit Sexual Situations

Title: General Feelings: Old, Very Author: Marmalade Fever Rating: T Genre(s): Fluff, Humor, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 2,606 Summary: Hermione isn’t having a very good birthday, and Malfoy isn’t helping. Or is he? Written for Granger Enchanted’s birthday challenge. DMHG Oneshot 3rd place winner at the Dramione Awards for Best EWE. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Themes: Co-Workers/Office/Partners, Hermione’s Birthday Draco: Redeemed, Snarky Hermione: Feisty

Title: Getting Her to Say Yes Author: NJ Coffee Queen Rating: T Genre(s): Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,368 Summary: A fight leads Draco to ask the most important question of his life.  Status: Complete Timeline: Year 7, AU Published: September 14, 2009 Relationship: Forbidden Love/Secret Relationship, Revealing Their Relationship Locations: Great Hall, Heads’ Common Room Characters: Gregory Goyle, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Vincent Crabbe

Title: Getting Lucky Author: Glalie773 Rating: T Genre(s): Romance, Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 5,810 Summary: “You’re making that up! Give me that.” Reaching out, Blaise grasped at the paper and glowered down. “You need to be happy making this? Well, that explains why Snape never bothered to create it.” Just a normal day in the lives Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. Just another normal day. Status: Complete Timeline: Year 8 Published: July 8, 2012 Themes: Potions [Felix Felicis] Draco: Redeemed Friendships: Draco & Blaise Locations: Azkaban, Slytherin Dungeons Characters: Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, Lucius Malfoy, Minerva McGonagall, Narcissa Malfoy, Theodore Nott

Title: Getting Lucky Author: slytherincrush Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 6,345 Summary: Who needs a plot when Draco and Hermione are getting it on? Not me. I don’t need one. Status: Complete Timeline: Year 7 Published: March 8, 2008 Themes: Alcohol, Games/Challenges/Dares [Drinking Games], Veritaserum [Draco and Hermione] Draco: Redeemed Hermione: Blushing Virgin, Head Girl [Head Boy: Blaise] Locations: Astronomy Tower Side Pairings: Blaise/Pansy Friendships: Draco & Blaise, Draco & Pansy, Hermione & Pansy, Hermione & Blaise Characters: Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson

Title: Ghost Town Author: mister_otter Rating: M16 Genre(s): Angst, Romance Chapters: 2 Word Count: 10,484 Summary: Love, death, meltdown, and a dark curse. Draco Malfoy desperately needs Hermione Granger’s help. Does he dare step out of the shadows and attempt to resurrect what they once shared, in order to save someone else? Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Fest/Exchange: dramione_remix Published: September 13, 2013 Relationship: Engaged/Married (at some point), Past Relationship Themes: Alcohol, Apologies [Draco], Curses/Spells, Research [Draco & Hermione], Travel [Budapest, Hungary] Draco: Emotional, Redeemed, Spy Hermione: Bar Tender, Emotional, Feisty Locations: Hermione’s Flat/House, Other Bars/Pubs/Clubs, St. Mungo’s Characters: Narcissa Malfoy, Severus Snape

Title: Ghosts Author: Rizzle Rating: MA/NC-17 Genre(s): Romance, Angst Chapters: 5 Word Count: 25,443 Summary: Five years after the end of Voldemort and Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy is out of Azkaban and is a shell of his former self. Hermione Granger is doing her best, but she has demons of her own to deal with. Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War Fest/Exchange: 3keysficxchnge Published: May 29, 2009 Relationship: Established, Engagement/Proposal Themes: Baths/Showers, Disabilities [Draco], Ghosts/Spirits, Holiday/Vacation, Injuries [Hermione], Rain Draco: Redeemed Locations: Azkaban, St. Mungo’s Side Pairings: Seamus/Lavender Characters: Blaise Zabini, Seamus Finnigan

Title: Ghosts in a Wishing Well Author: namelessamelie Rating: MA Genre(s): Angst, Drama, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 9,390 Summary: He could never stay away for very long. // “Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.” – The Iliad Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Fest/Exchange: Otter and Ferret Alternate Links:  ff.net Published: April 25, 2012 Relationship: Breakup/Together Again, Forbidden Love/Secret Relationship Themes: Co-Workers/Office/Partners, Jealousy Draco: Broody, Redeemed Locations: Ministry of Magic Side Pairings: Blaise/Daphne, Draco/Astoria, Ron/Hermione Friendships: Draco & Blaise Characters: Astoria Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Ron Weasley Warnings: Explicit Sexual Situations, Implicit Sexual Situations, Mild Profanity

Title: Gift Advice Author: Musyc Rating: T Genre(s): Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,148 Summary: She really didn’t understand her friends sometimes. It was one thing to have a wish list for birthday presents, but something else entirely to have that wish list include the sort of items found in an ‘adult entertainment boutique’. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War Published: December 22, 2011 Themes: Flirting Draco: Snarky Side Pairings: Ron/Pansy Warnings: Unresolved Sexual Tension

Title: Gingerbread Germs Author: scarlettcat Rating: M Genre(s): Humor, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 5,098 Summary: Pansy’s plan for revenge couldn’t be sweeter. Too bad she forgot about Draco’s sweet tooth. Status: Complete Timeline: Year 7 Holiday: Christmas/New Year’s Fest/Exchange: dhr_advent Published: December 7, 2013 December 16, 2013 Themes: Sweets Hermione: Head Girl Locations: Headmaster’s Office, History of Magic Class, Potions Class Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Blaise Zabini, Harry Potter, Lavender Brown, Moaning Myrtle, Pansy Parkinson, Ron Weasley, Severus Snape

Title: Give and Take Author: dracodew17 Rating: K Genre(s): Drama, General Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,038 Summary: When they return to Hogwarts after the war, Hermione starts giving Draco a hard time.  Status: Complete Timeline: Year 8 Fest/Exchange: dmhghalloween Alternate Links: LJ Published: October 31, 2009 Relationship: Friendship Draco: Broody, Death Eater, Redeemed, Snarky Hermione: Bossy, Know-It-All

Title: Give Him Hell, Peeves Author: LadyFateContemplatingDisaster Rating: K+ Genre(s): Romance, Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,455 Summary: “Give him hell from me, Peeves,” ordered George. “I don’t care how you do it, but he deserves it for cheating on Hermione.” These orders are what gave Peeves the incentive to lock Granger and Malfoy in a broom closet… Status: Complete Timeline: Year 7 Published: August 21, 2011 Themes: Adultery [Ron cheated], Trapped Together Draco: Draco’s Feelings Hermione: Head Girl Side Pairings: Blaise/Ginny Characters: Peeves

Title: Give Me An Hour Author: RZZMG Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Drama Chapters: 1 Word Count: 3,261 Summary: As the war continues to rage on around them, Hermione Granger decides to seduce fellow Order Member, Draco Malfoy, one night while at Grimmauld Place… and everything between them changes after that. Status: Complete Timeline: War Published: May 21, 2013 Relationship: Engaged/Married (at some point), Forbidden Love/Secret Relationship Themes: Baths/Showers Draco: Order Member, Redeemed, Snarky Hermione: Bossy, Order Member Locations: Grimmauld Place

Title: Give me your pain Author: River in Egypt Rating: M Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Angst Chapters: 49 Word Count: 464,208 Summary: In my dream her voice said: “I am your equal” And turning away I snarled: “Deal with it.” Her voice went: “You are not a killer, Draco.” Nice timing, Granger, I thought when I awoke the day of Dumbledore’s death. Canon 6th/7th year, A/U, EWE, Dramione Status: Complete Timeline: Year 6, War, Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Published: September 27, 2011  Completed: October 21, 2012 Relationship: Engaged/Married (At Some Point), Forbidden Love/Secret Relationship Pregnancy/Children: Children Names [Cassiopeia Janna, Scorpius], Pregnancy/Child Birth Themes: Affection, Alcohol, Apologies [Draco & Hermione], Baths/Showers, Co-Workers/Office/Partners, Cooking/Baking [Hermione], Cuddling/Spooning, Curses/Spells, Dancing, Draco’s Dark Mark, Endearments/Pet Names, Events/Celebrations [Parties], Eye Glasses [Draco], Forced Partnership/Together, Injuries [Draco & Hermione], Jealousy [Draco & Hermione], Nightmares [Draco & Hermione], Scars [Draco], Sharing a Bed, Teaching/Tutoring [Hermione teaches Draco] Draco: Draco’s Feelings, Draco’s Patronus [Dragon], Emotional, Protective/Possessive, Redeemed, Sex God Hermione: Bossy, Emotional, Feisty, Hermione’s Patronus [Siberian Silvereye dragon], Know-It-All, Protective/Possessive Locations: Grimmauld Place, Hogwarts, Malfoy Manor, Ministry of Magic, St. Mungo’s Side Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Hermione/Ron, Draco/Other, Theo/Astoria, Ron/Lavender, Blaise/Pansy, Draco/Astoria Friendships: Draco & Blaise, Draco & Pansy, Draco & Theo, Draco & Astoria, Hermione & Harry, Hermione & Ginny, Hermione & Luna, Hermione & Ron, Hermione & Theo Characters: Adrian Pucey, Albus Dumbledore, Alecto Carrow, Amycus Carrow, Angelina Johnson, Andromeda Tonks, Anthony Goldstein, Astoria Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Crookshanks, Dean Thomas, Dolores Umbridge, George Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Grangers, Gregory Goyle, Harry Potter, Katie Bell, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Lavender Brown, Lee Jordan, Lucius Malfoy, Luna Lovegood, Marcus Flint, Madam Pomfrey, Michael Corner, Minerva McGonagall, Narcissa Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, Pansy Parkinson, Parvati Patil, Percy Weasley, Rita Skeeter, Ron Weasley, Seamus Finnigan, Severus Snape, Sybil Trelawney, Teddy Lupin, Terry Boot, Theodore Nott  Character Point of View/POV: Draco, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Narcissa Featured Holidays: Christmas/New Year’s Note: Uses the nickname ‘Mione’ for Hermione.

Title: Glad I Came Author: shagmedraco Rating: NC-17 Genre(s): Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 2,860 Summary: He came every year to watch her, but always left empty handed. This year though, he’d be glad he came.  Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, AU Holiday: Halloween Published: September 20, 2004 Themes: Dancing, Events/Celebrations [Masquerade] Draco: Draco’s Feelings, Redeemed Locations: Malfoy Manor

Title: Glamorous Author: Captainraychill Rating: R Genre(s): Mystery, Romance, Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 4,300 Summary: Draco owns a mysterious shop that sells high-quality, custom-made  glamours. Hermione visits one sweltering night with a secret and a special request. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Fest/Exchange: Dramionelove’s Spring-Summer Fest Published: August 1, 2013 Themes: Apologies [Draco], Curses/Spells, Hermione’s Mudblood Scar, Tattoos [Hermione], Scars, Summer Draco: Business Man, Redeemed, Shop Owner Locations: Diagon Alley, Hermione’s Flat/House Side Pairings: Ron/Lavender Friendships: Hermione & Ginny, Hermione & Luna Characters: Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood

Title: Glass Author: EllaPenny Rating: T Genre(s): Romance, Hurt and Comfort Chapters: 21 Word Count: 54,169 Summary: Hermione Granger. Worthless. Bookworm. Know-it-all. Mudblood. Stuck up. Suicidal. Saved. What if? Set during 6th year. Status: Complete Timeline: Year 6 Published: April 5, 2017 Completed: February 26, 2019 Themes: Rescue [Draco saves Hermione], Forced Partnership, Kidnapping and Imprisonment [Hermione], Injuries [Hermione], News and Gossip Draco: Death Eater, Turncoat, Snarky Hermione: Vulnerable, Hermione’s Feelings, Friendships: Hermione & Harry, Hermione & Ron, Hermione & Ginny, Draco & Blaise Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, Warnings: Suicide Attempt

Title: Glass Houses Author: Amadea Rating: T Genre(s): Romance Chapters: 3 Word Count: 3,888 Summary: When Draco and Hermione are trapped in Greenhouse #3 by a thunderstorm, they are forced to spend some quality time alone. Together. Post-War, back for 7th Year. Status: Complete Timeline: Year 8 Published: October 30, 2011  Themes: Draco’s Dark Mark, Trapped Together Draco: Redeemed, Snarky Hermione: Know-It-All Characters: Crookshanks, Ron Weasley

Title: Glimpse  Author: kanames_harisen Rating: M/R Genre(s): Humor, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 8,078 Summary: He’d only caught a glimpse – satin and lace in the same petal-pink as her shirt – but it had been enough. Draco Malfoy is now, quite literally, sporting a hard-on for Hermione Granger. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE  Fest/Exchange: dramionelove Adopt-A-Prompt 2015 Alternate Links: ff.net  Published: June 1, 2015  Themes: Clothing [Lingerie], Co-Workers/Office/Partners, Potions [Veritaserum] Draco: Redeemed  Warnings: explicit language, implicit sexual content

Title: Glory Days Author: sellthelie Rating: PG-13 Genre(s): Romance, Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 5,258 Summary: Hogwarts Seventh Yrs are asked to do “Video Diaries” over the course of the year.  Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, AU, Year 7 Fest/Exchange: dmhgficexchange Alternate Links: ff.net Published: June 10, 2006 Relationship: Already Married Pregnancy/Children: Children Names [Adrienne, Patrick], Pregnancy/Child Birth Themes: Head Boy/Head Girl, Reunion [Hogwarts] Locations: Heads’ Common Room Side Pairings: Ron/Hannah Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley

Title: Go With It Author: dysfunctionaldilusion Rating: M Genre(s): Humor, Romance  Chapters: 15 Word Count: 25,130  Summary: Draco hated his job. His boss was horrible. His mother was ill. His best friend was an annoying roommate. A confused meeting at St. Mungo’s leads Draco asking the last person he wanted help from to go with it to make his mother happy. Lucky for him, his boss may be horrible but she was helpful when it counts. She’ll remember this favor. Unfortunately, so will his mother. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War Published: March 21. 2017 Completed: June 6, 2017 Relationship: Fake Relationship Pregnancy/Children: Child [Theodora Tracey] Themes: Hermione is Draco’s Boss, Co Workers Office Partners, Travel, Arguments, Matchmaking [Matchmakers: Blaise, Theo], Dates, Flying, Insecurities [Hermione] Draco: MLE Officer, Broody, Draco’s Feelings, Emotional Hermione: MLE Officer, Compassionate, Hermione’s Feelings Friendships: Draco & Theo, Draco & Blaise Characters: Narcissa Malfoy, Theo Nott, Blase Zabini, Astoria Greengrass, Cassius Warrington, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley,  Anti-Characters: Anti-Astoria Additional Notes: Fast Romance

Title: Goddess of Vengeance Author: cleotheo Rating: M Genre(s): Drama, Romance Chapters: 50 Word Count: 134,817  Summary: When Hermione Granger discovers she’s really the daughter of The Dark Lord and that The Order of the Phoenix were behind her kidnapping as a baby and her parent’s murders, she sets out to gain revenge against everyone who had wronged her. Dark Hermione!  Status: Complete Timeline: Year 7, AU Published: May 1, 2017 Completed: September 13, 2017 Relationship: Boyfriend/Girlfriend Themes: Flashbacks, Memories, Revenge, News and Gossip, Curses and Spells, Dueling, Abuse and Assault, Secret Relationship, Ministry and Politics, Arranged Marriage, Bonding, Kidnapping and Imprisonment   Draco: Protective and Possessive, Dark, Cruel, Romantic Hermione: Pureblood, Cruel, Manipulative, Dark, Riddle Side Pairings: Voldemort/OC, Arthur/Molly, Lucius/Narcissa, James/Lily, Hermione/Ron Friendships: Draco & Theo, Draco & Blaise   Characters: Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Arthur Weasely, Molly Weasley, Voldemort, Bill Weasley, George Weasley, Theo Nott, Blaise Zabini, Lily Evans, Grangers, James Potter Character Deaths: Dumbledore, James Potter Anti-Characters: Anti-Dumbledore, Anti-Order Warnings: Explicit Sexual Situations, Torture and Character Deaths 

Title: Goddess of Victory Author: cleotheo Rating: M Genre(s): Drama, Romance Chapters: 36 Word Count: 134,817 Summary: Sequel to Goddess of Vengeance. With her vengeance achieved and her enemies brought to their knees, Hermione is looking forward to her future with Draco. But between a surprising figure from the past returning and her old friends unable to leave recent events alone, it’s going to be quite a while before Hermione can get her desired peaceful future. Dark Hermione! Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War Published: April 30, 2018 Completed: August 31, 2018 Relationship: Boyfriend/Girlfriend Themes: Revenge, News and Gossip, Curses and Spells, Dueling, Abuse and Assault, Ministry and Politics, Kidnapping and Imprisonment [Draco], Azkaban, Bonding, Abuse and Assault, Injuries [Draco & Hermione] Draco: Protective and Possessive, Dark, Cruel, Romantic Hermione: Pureblood, Cruel, Manipulative, Dark, Riddle, Business Woman Side Pairings: Voldemort/OC, Lucius/Narcissa, Remus/Tonks Friendships: Draco & Theo, Draco & Blaise   Characters: Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Arthur Weasely, Molly Weasley, Voldemort, Bill Weasley, George Weasley, Theo Nott, Blaise Zabini, Lily Evans, Grangers, Fred Longbottom, Alice Longbottom, Voldemort, Kingsley Shaklebolt, Character Deaths: Harry, Ron Anti-Characters: Anti-Harry, Anti-Ron, Anti-Ginny Warnings: Torture and Character Deaths

Title: Going Down Author: shagmedraco Rating: NC-17 Genre(s): Drama, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 5,811 Summary: Sharing a lift with Draco Malfoy was always eventful.  Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, AU Fest/Exchange: dmhgficexchange Alternate Links: LJ Published: May 23, 2005 Themes: Alcohol, Apologies [Draco], Elevators, Jealousy Draco: Draco’s Feelings, Snarky Hermione: Emotional, Hermione’s Feelings, Feisty Locations: Other Bar/Pub Side Pairings: Harry/Ginny Friendships: Hermione & Ginny Characters: Ginny Weasley

Title: Going For Gold Author: Imtrouble Rating: PG-13 Genre(s): Humor, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,487 Summary: Draco Malfoy doesn’t take well to Rest and Relaxation! Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Fest/Exchange: Malfoy Manor Fic War Published: August 5, 2012 Relationship: Boyfriend/Girlfriend Draco: Quidditch Player [Professional/Seeker] Characters: Blaise Zabini, Harry Potter, Oliver Wood

Title: Golden Delicious Author: Amethyst18 Rating: M Genre(s): Humor Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1,990 Summary: Hermione wakes up in a strange place with the most unlikely of bedfellows. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Fest/Exchange: dramione_duet Alternate Links: LJ Published: October 19, 2011 Themes: The Morning After Draco: Snarky Hermione: Bossy Warnings: Implicit Sexual Situations

Title: Gone Author: nerdzeword Rating: G/K Genre(s): Family, Romance Chapters: 1 Word Count: 3,838 Summary: Hermione’s entire life revolves around her idiot friends. What happens when they leave her behind? Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War Published: January 13, 2015 Relationship: Engaged/Married (at some point) Pregnancy/Children: Adoption/Guardianship, Pregnancy Difficulties [Hermione is barren] Themes: Abandonment, Travel [France, Italy, Turkey], Wandless/Non-verbal Magic [Hermione] Draco: Redeemed Hermione: Emotional, Feisty Locations: The Burrow Side Pairings: Bill/Fleur, Blaise/Luna, George/Angelina, Neville/Ginny, Percy/Audrey Friendships: Draco & The Weasleys Characters: Andromeda Tonks, Angelina Johnson, Arthur Weasley, Bill Weasley, Blaise Zabini, Dominique Weasley, Fleur Delacour, George Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, Molly Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Percy Weasley, Ron Weasley, Teddy Lupin, Victoire Weasley Featured Holidays: Christmas/New Year’s Additional Notes: Hermione’s is referred to as “Mia” twice.

Title: Gone Astray Author: AlexisRose Rating: NC-17 Genre(s): Romance Chapters: 5 Word Count: 8,172 Summary: Draco and Hermione get lost in the Forbidden Forest, and find more than snow in the endless expanse of trees. Status: Complete Timeline: Post-Hogwarts/Post-War, EWE Holiday: Christmas/New Year’s Fest/Exchange: A Granger Enchanted Christmas Wish Published: December 20, 2007  Completed: January 11, 2008 Themes: Co-Workers/Office/Partners [Business Partners], Sharing a Bed, Trapped Together Draco: Snarky Locations: Forbidden Forest Warnings: Coarse Language, Lemons(Extreme Smut), Limes(Mild Smut)

[raywritesthings]

Arrow and Harry Potter

Arrow

my all-time ultimate fave character: Laurel Lance

a character I didn’t used to like but now do: I hated Quentin at first, and I lot of stuff he did/does I still don’t like but I’ve grown to appreciate his complexity and his dynamics with Laurel and Oliver. Of course now that Laurel’s dead he has like nothing to do so it’s just stupid.

a character I used to like but now don’t: Felicity was cute s1...she got on my nerves pretty quickly after that, though. I hate what Diggle has become. Like just look at him s1 compared to now and it’s just sad. I miss when Diggle was his own character.

a character I’m indifferent about: Can I just say any of the new recruits? Like, I just don’t care about any of them. At all. I didn’t start the show for them, I started for GA and BC, why is this so hard for the showrunners to grasp? I’m also pretty indifferent towards Sara, no lie. She’s just kind of there and then not and then there again. She drifts into the story and out and doesn’t really seem to have all that lasting of an impact. I mean she can literally be plucked from the timeline because she’s apparently of little enough importance history won’t miss her. And it totally undermined the whole “journey” aspect of characters when we met her and she was just insta-badass straight out of her new s2 packaging, now with 100% more blonde, some reshooting required. Maybe if they’d bothered to show her training--but that would have required them to actually show a wlw relationship and not just the angsty post-breakup stage so that wasn’t gonna happen. Like I don’t necessarily hate her but I don’t like her much either. She’s just kind of meh to me.

a character who deserved better: DINAH. LAUREL. LANCE.

a ship I’ve never been able to get into: O/F, Oliver/Sara, and lowkey Nyssa/Sara - Nyssa was always so much more invested than Sara from her first appearance to her last. Like you got her going on and on about her “beloved” and then Sara’s flirting it up and kissing people throughout time and space, the heck am I supposed to do with that? Also I haven’t liked Thea/Roy ever since Roy ditched her after sleeping together and left no forwarding address. Dick move, dude.

a ship I’ve never been able to get over: Lauriver, dear god, the beauty and the tragedy will haunt me forever

a cute, low-key ship: I liked Oliver and McKenna, I won’t lie. Moira and Walter were tragic but precious. Also if Tommy had lived I could’ve seen him and Helena having an interesting thing don’t judge me.

an unpopular ship but I still enjoyed it: Non-canon but I’m gonna go Lauryssa. Also Constantine/Oliver.

a ship that was totally wrong and never should have happened: O/F, when will these writers learn that ship destroyed both those characters

my favourite storyline/moment: I’m in that rare minority that loved s1 so much more than s2. S2′s where it started going wrong, the fridging women left and right, Slade’s shitty motivation for being bad--he’s a mercenary, for fuck’s sake, it does not need to be about a woman he loved and lost, it’s not complicated--retconning the flashbacks left and right, but s1 was so good. Also loved Laurel becoming BC though I never got why the writers needed to start her off at square one when they showed she could fight the previous two seasons.

a storyline that never should have been written: Basically the entire s4 plot. Magic and nukes are not GA’s thing. Also killing BC on a GA show is such bs. Real GA would have rather seen himself killed first.

my first thoughts on the show: Ok, this is interesting! The fight scenes are good, I want to see how these characters become more like their comic book counterparts.

my thoughts now: Well that sucked.

HP

my all-time ultimate fave character: Oh man, how can you do this to me? TOO MANY, OKAY? I HAVE TOO MANY.

a character I didn’t used to like but now do: Dudley is so much more interesting after book 7. I like the idea that he finally started to realize that his parents and their abuse towards Harry was shit. I know JKR decided to not give Dudley a magic child in the epilogue, but I wish she had. It would have been so nice to see Dudley break the cycle of abuse in the Dursley family once and for all by loving and supporting his kid no matter what.

a character I used to like but now don’t: I don’t know if I dislike him necessarily but I definitely don’t like him the way I used to as a kid - okay, yeah, it’s Dumbledore. I mean he is soooo complex, and that’s a good thing. But a lot of the stuff he did? Not cool.

a character I’m indifferent about: Basically a lot of the OCs that masquerade in fics as barely-mentioned students. It’s fine if you wanna use them, but it’s weird to me when people start purporting their characterizations of them as fact if that makes sense? To that end, I’m also mostly indifferent about all the next gen kids with the exception of Teddy (there’s just a lot there to his character that would be so interesting to unpack - why was Cursed Child not about Teddy Lupin with a better plot gdi).

a character who deserved better: So many characters tbh. Ginny Weasley deserved better from both JKR and all y’all. JKR promised an awesome moment having to do with her being the seventh child of a seventh child (Arthur) and then never delivered. Fandom is shitty to her because she gets in the way of their ships (like especially H/HR and H/D shippers seem to love to demonize a teenage girl in their fics, just saying) and because they seem to think Hermione is enough female rep which is such bs. Ron also deserves soooooo much better from fandom. So, so much better. Hagrid deserved to have one of Harry’s kids named after him. Sirius Black just deserved a better life. Snape deserved not to be abused as a child. Harry deserved like basically everything better. The Weasleys deserved not to be poor - do you see where I’m coming from here???

a ship I’ve never been able to get into: A lot of the non-canon ones (H/HR - she’s like a SISTER to him, he LITERALLY SAYS; H/D - It’s implied in that bathroom fight scene Draco was about to use the CRUCIATUS CURSE like WTF also he’s just kinda shitty to Harry and his friends almost the entire series just saying). Obviously if you wanna write AUs where things are completely different, that’s up to you, but they’re just not for me.

a ship I’ve never been able to get over: Jily, Hinny, Romione

a cute, low-key ship: Deanmus is the gay/bi rep we deserved, not unhealthy and possibly one-sided Dumbledore/Grindelwald. I feel like in book 5 at least Luna might’ve had a thing for Ron which is kind of adorable. Although I also like Ginny/Luna. Also I lowkey think Harry might’ve had a crush on both Cho and Cedric at the same time. Teenage years suck.

an unpopular ship but I still enjoyed it: I mean Romione seems to be unpopular with a lot of fandom but I love it so sucks to suck

a ship that was totally wrong and never should have happened: I’m pretty much ok on all the canon ships. I mean I wish JKR hadn’t tried to push this whole “Snape loved Lily” thing. More like “Snape was obsessed with Lily and never got over her”.

my favourite storyline/moment: ahhhhh I don’t know, maybe Ron coming back to save Harry and destroy the Horcrux.his insecurities? Such a great moment for his character, and his and Harry’s friendship. I also just love how Harry’s whole outlook on life completely brightened up in HBP during the time he was dating Ginny. It was so lovely to see him happy for once. And I love all of book three, it is my favorite. Also the Moody-is-really-Barty Jr. twist remains one of the greatest of All Time and the movies ruined it but I digress.

a storyline that never should have been written: Like I’m not saying it shouldn’t have been written, I just don’t like how Snape’s backstory has given rise to this idea that he did Nothing Wrong, Ever and it was Lily’s fault for ending the friendship that he turned to the Dark Side. Like fuck off, he was already there and it was not her job to be his “savior” when he sure as hell didn’t want saved. Also all the movies. Damn you, Kloves.

my first thoughts on the show books: This is such a great story and world! I love the characters and I can’t wait to see what happens next! (or something along those lines - I was young, okay?)

my thoughts now: While there’s certainly plenty of issues (lack of rep for many marginalized groups, for example) it still holds up as a really strong series. Must resist temptation to begin yet another reread.

[violetemerald]

A, L, V for the fandom asks! (It took me a long time to get back to my PC!) :)

So last week, after work on Friday, there was no power in my house but I wanted to answer THIS fandom asks meme: https://peppersandcats.tumblr.com/post/159824413914/gehayi-a-ships-that-you-currently-like-a-lot but I’m an IDIOT and STILL have not figured out how to answer publicly vs. privately on my tumblr mobile app. I answered privately. So. Trying again from a computer. Apparently I can never answer asks on mobile? Idk. *Sigh.* If someone is willing to test with me sometime and like, ask me things so I can practice answering publicly, that might be worth it lmao.

Thank you, @lovesjustachemical, for going back to your PC to re-ask me. And to send me back my answer. I appreciate it.

Anyway. About this ask. Time for my answers.

Anon asked me about E as well. 😉

A - Ships that you currently like a lot.

Hmm. Currently. Well in terms of fics (and podfics to listen to) that I’ve recently been getting sucked into John&Sherlock in ace!Sherlock fics, especially when John is straight, and I’ve been listening to and in rarer cases reading fics for Harry Potter ships that aren’t even really ships I strongly am behind like Harry/Draco and Remus/Sirius, but the fics make me enjoy the ship more? I’m falling for some of them despite myself. What I’m really into though is like all the exploration of platonic post war/non epilogue compliant but post book 7 bonds Harry would have with people like Ginny if he didn’t work out long term with her, or with Ron/Hermione, or with Teddy Lupin, etc.

Really though I’ve had a lot of thoughts about Bay/Emmett (Switched at Birth), so many shipping feels lately and I hype to make my 4th fanvideo on my channel about them now that the series ended. I’m so disappointed despite myself that they didn’t end up together? I’ve been in love with this ship since 2012, and I don’t want to love them after Emmett was awful most of season 4 but… the rest of the series… I mean…

I still have so many feels for Mario&Angus as a slashy-friendship on the recently cancelled show Code Black. I’m vidding Malaya now for the wlw female characters themed fanvid contest I’m in and I am semi rewatching the show and I love them so much and I live their relationship so much but do I want them to kiss, no, but that might just be related to my general kissing and sex aversion and like really i kinda do want them to, I don’t know, I’m so torn with if I ship them as a real slash ship or not.

And there’s more. There’s always more. After the second most recent episode of The Flash, my Caitlin/Cisco feelings are through the roof, I probably will vid them one day, or write some kind of fic. I just started reading some short fics about them… I love them in a queerplatonic way where they’re so much more than “just friends” yet I don’t really see them as feeling romantic or sexual things toward each other, but at the same time I can enjoy the idea of them as a ship, it’s just… like Mario and Angus. I don’t know. It’s complicated. The problem is with tv shows I would like it if I saw it playing it romantically and with fanvideos that’s great. With fics it’s too much, it’s actual sex scenes and even when it’s just thoughts about sexual desire I’m like ah can’t the world just be asexual for once, like I am?? Idk lol. But yeah idk. I believe it much more with actors in front of me acting it out, maybe, or maybe I just find it so much more easier to accept as reality, and I really don’t get it because writing can be SO GOOD but still, I have these thoughts…

I have a lot of feels for so many ships all the time and this is just what came to my mind right now really quickly. I’m also vidding Clana (Smallville), I added more to an unfinished vid of mine about them earlier this last week, I have plenty of feelings about This Is Us and especially Kate/Toby but also Jack/Rebecca and even the other canon pairings and I had been rooting for a different Kevin ship… I like Lena/Kara and Maggie/Alex when I watch Supergirl this season… idk. Just a lot. Lol.

E - Have you added anything cracky/hilarious to your fandom? If so, what?

https://youtu.be/f7TQjOEbQJI

And maybe https://youtu.be/nRnFx0kn-Gk

And even: https://youtu.be/1NI9RQHrWrY

So many of these things are various degrees of humorous at least?… like also:

https://youtu.be/GOVKJeY0Wcg

Or https://youtu.be/gMvQrRmhJuE

But idk in terms of like, writing Crack fic. Not really. Sorry.

L - Say something genuinely nice about a character who isn’t one of your faves.

This is tricky for me right now. I’m not sure who isn’t a fave for me enough to talk about this. Maybe if you narrowed it down to one fandom I can try… lol. I just have nice things to say about most characters these days so it’s… a bit overwhelming of a question lol??

V - Which character do you relate to most?

I don’t know exactly but I still feel a strong connection to Rory Gilmore lol.. actually I feel parts of me channel Jack Pearson on This is Us pretty well. I see a lot of myself in even like… Harry in Harry Potter but there are distinct differences of course. Idk. I see myself in Hotch on Criminal Minds… Kara on Supergirl and Barry on The Flash seem pretty relatable? I mean it depends on which part of my personality we’re extrapolating out. I’m not as attractive or thin or makeup-wearing as most women (or even most men) in my fandoms, I relate to particular characters in terms of their relationships with their parents what with my dad as one of my best friends in life and my mom being… abusive and mentally ill. I relate to certain characters as asexual seeming. Etc. But the most, idk. Maybe Alexis on Castle is who I relate(d) to the most. A combination of personality and attitude and relationships with her parents. ;) and other small things too lol. I stopped watching Castle around the first ep of the final season but even so.

[megaphonemonday]

i’m just human (don’t judge me)

@ladyinredfics: Ginny trying to handle it when she and Mike are together but not public and women hit on him while they’re out with the team.

read it on ao3

“You know, it doesn’t matter how long you stare, they’re not gonna burst into flames.”

Ginny nearly jumped, and Blip did his best to rein in his smile. Guilt and annoyance at his intervention flickered across her face before she managed to effect a smooth mask of indifference.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sniffed, taking a dainty sip from her drink. And going straight back to glaring at the blonde leaning into Mike’s side.

(Completely ignoring the way Mike kept edging away from her.)

Blip eyed her critically, before dropping his gaze to her glass. A tequila sunrise. That was Ginny’s drink-to-forget cocktail of choice. Before this season, he rarely saw her order them. On team outings, she’d limit herself to two beers and call it a night. 

Recently, though, it was all tequila sunrises all the time. And a lot of them.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why. Especially when so much of Ginny’s attention lately seemed to be eaten up by the groupies constantly hanging off Mike Lawson. 

Like they sensed a going out of business sale, the groupies had really doubled down on Lawson this year. On the one hand, it gave the team something to rag him about that didn’t involve trades, Chicago, or his imminent retirement. On the other, it had turned Ginny into a seething ball of suppressed jealousy. 

Yeah, Blip knew all about Ginny’s feelings for their captain. They were pretty hard to miss. Though Lawson’s feelings were even more obvious. 

Not that either of them really noticed. Just stewed ineffectually whenever the other showed even the slightest interest in someone else. 

It wasn’t pretty and Blip was going to need it to stop before it spilled onto the field. 

“Ginny,” he said, gentle, thinking that an emotionally stunted adult was not what he’d had in mind when he told Evelyn he wanted a third kid. “You know he’s not interested in them, right?”

That seemed to jolt her. She whipped around to look at him, eyes wide. 

“What?” she stammered, knuckles going pale as she gripped her nearly empty glass. 

Blip rolled his eyes. “C’mon. It’s not like either of you are all that subtle.”

Ginny’s gaze darted back to Mike before shaking herself and focusing on Blip. After a long, hard look at him, she sighed and slumped a little. “How long have you known?”

“Since last season.”

Ginny’s brow furrowed. “Last season? But that was before we even—” Her mouth snapped shut and her eyes went wide again. 

Blip leaned both his forearms against the bar, leaning in to try and make eye contact with his friend, though she seemed pretty dead set against that. “Before you even what?” 

“Nothing,” she answered, way too fast. She groped for her straw, slurping up the dregs of her drink and waving the bartender over. Completely ignoring the incredulous look on Blip’s face.  

“Ginny. Before you even what?”

Fresh tequila sunrise in hand, Ginny sucked it down in three quick gulps. Blip would be impressed if she weren’t doing it just to avoid answering. He stared her down. He knew Ginny was aware of what he was doing because there was a flush riding high on her cheeks. 

“So, something happened. You wouldn’t be this weird if it was really nothing.” Ginny kept staring down at her empty glass, so Blip kept going. “I'm thinking that the two of you lost sight of who you are—teammates—in favor of what you’d like to be. And maybe it was just once, but I don’t think you’re the type to get so jealous over a one time thing.”

Ginny’s chin ducked and Blip’s zeroed in on it. 

“No, you’re definitely not. Especially not if you know nothing could come of it. But if something has come of it...”

Ginny stared steadfastly at the racks of liquor behind the bar, but the tendon jumping in her jaw told Blip how close he was coming to the mark. He closed his eyes, hoping that he was wrong.

“Ginny, tell me you didn’t.”

She sighed in defeat and finally met his gaze. “I can’t.”

Blip slumped against the back of his barstool, head tilting up to the ceiling. “Are you serious? You know that there’s no good way for this to end. A fling with your outgoing captain? The press is gonna crucify you!”

“It’s not a fling,” she protested, rocking back from him in offense.

“Sure it’s not,” Blip snorted, taking a long drag from his neglected beer. 

“It’s not.” 

He wasn’t sure what it was that made him reassess. Maybe it was the quiet certainty in Ginny’s voice. The way she didn’t try to justify herself because she realized it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. Maybe it was the fact that Mike chose that moment to look over at them, every one of his feelings for Ginny evident on his face. Ginny wasn’t even looking back, but like she could feel his attention, she smiled, soft and gentle. 

Maybe they were for real.

Blip certainly hoped so, and not just because the team’s dynamic was on the line. 

So, when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket and pulled it out to see a message from Mike—“come distract this chick so i can get outta here”—Blip just tilted the screen toward Ginny and watched the smile spread across her face. 

After that, he stopped watching because he really didn’t need to witness two of his closest friends flirting with each other. And then probably leaving with each other. 

He really didn’t need to know anything about that. 

But if playing wingman meant that Ginny wouldn’t be glowering at everything that moved tomorrow, he would take one for the team. 

[tv-will-kill-me]

If someone had told him it would be three years since he'd spoken to her, he would have laughed. And then punched them. And then laughed some more.

But, somewhere along the way, her calls became more and more sporadic. And the texts, the ones that always managed to bring a smile to his face, whether he was in the Cubs clubhouse or sneaking out of some girl’s apartment, lessened with every day that went by. 

Still, it wasn’t until Blip invited him to his house for the boys’ twelfth birthday party that Mike started doing the math. It had been 1,198 days since he’d seen that ridiculous smile of hers, 987 days since her last call, and he’d just felt pathetic as he scrolled through text after text searching for her name.

Hell, he’d gone far past pathetic as he scoured the internet for any and all mention of her. For those hours, he’d made a different choice, a better one. He’d decided to stay in the one city that felt like home with the team that had been his family for thirteen years. He was there for her kiss with that tech guy, was there to mock her dopey grin even as his heart thudded to the beat of I’m losing her, I’m losing her, I’m losing her. He was there for the day that Noah got down on knees that didn’t throb when it rained, and pulled out a ring that just screamed of his stupid billions. It was a wonder that damned rock didn’t mess with her game.

And he was standing right there when every tabloid and their senile mother were reporting on the breakup of the century between the queen of baseball and her tech nerd king. They had a surprising amount of detail, that Ginny had pitched her curveball to Noah when she handed back the ring, that she’d done it to focus on her game because a fiancee just didn’t pair well with a shot at the playoffs. But, they didn’t tell him what he really wanted to know. Like, who’d she had called in the middle of the night to talk through this decision. Or how she dealt with the loneliness now that she, like him, had no one.

And he was there for when the Padres, captained by one Blip Sanders, not only made it to the playoffs, but won it the year after he found victory with the cubs. So, Ginny had traded in one ring for another, and suddenly all the questions of her regrets screeched to a halt. And once his eyes burned and his computer battery died, he wondered how he could have missed it all. How he’d been relegated to the audience in Ginny’s life when for a time all he wanted was to have a supporting role.

“So,” he started, knocking his knuckles against the dashboard of Blip’s car as they drove away from the airport, “how’s Baker?”

“You don’t know?” Blip asked, peeking at him through the corner of his eye. “She said you guys still talk.”

Mike’s forehead crinkled as he frowned. “Yeah, yeah, um, it’s just been hard to touch base recently.”

“Whatever, man,” Blip turned into his driveway, cutting the engine and nodding to the backseat where Mike’s bags sat, “she’s already here, you can ask her yourself. Now, you gonna crash here tonight, or you want me to drop you off at your place later?”

“Either,” he huffed out a breath, throwing open the door and summoning up any of the waning courage he had left. “You ready to go in? I could eat.”

“Good,” he clapped his hand down on Mike’s shoulder, “Evie spent my last three paychecks on this dinner, so you damn well be ready to eat. I’m thinking you’re gonna have to eat your weight in stuffing or I’m gonna be shoveling down leftovers for the next year.”

“You got it.”

The noise slammed into them as they walked into the house, squeals and cries and the buzz of the television creating a cacophony of sound that Mike had come to associate with the Padres. He stepped forward, letting his jacket slip from his arms, and scanned the room.

“Lawson,” Salvamani exclaimed, tilting the neck of his beer bottle towards Mike. “Hey, guys, it’s the big, bad Cub.”

Dusty brushed past him, bumping his fist against Mike’s. “You gonna growl for us, Cub, or you need your mommy around for that?”

“Alright, alright,” he laughed, taking their ribbing in stride, “someone gonna get a beer for their former captain, or did you guys forget your manners once I left?”

“Here,” he stiffened, the voice behind him drawing across his skin, soft and lilting and bright. He spun around, time slowing as he took in as much of Ginny Baker as he could see. Fuck, there was a completely different woman standing in front of him, and yet, she hadn’t changed. Her eyes sparkled as she pushed the beer into his chest, her smile, so dazzling that he had to squint, transported him back to when she was his rookie and he her catcher. And the small part of her that had made him so sure that they would end up together still sparked as she shifted her weight to her left hip and quirked an eyebrow up at him.

“Baker,” he breathed, his fist clenching as her head cocked to the side.

“Mike,” she inched forward, hesitating for a quick moment before throwing her arms up and snaking them around his neck. “God, way to be a stranger.”

“Like you were any better,” he felt himself melting into the person he used to be when he was with her, light and easy and unbelievably happy.

“I called.”

“I texted.”

“You never answered,” she shot back.

“And you never replied.”

Her lips puckered into a frown. “I guess we both suck.” She reached forward, smoothing down his collar before stepping back. “But, find me later. Let’s catch up, or something. You can tell me all what Kris Bryant thought of your whole ass-slapping thing.”

“Yeah,” he smiled, “I’ll be around.”

“Ginny,” Evelyn yelled from the kitchen, “get your annoyingly gorgeous face in here now. You’re on desserts.”

“Coming,” she called back, rolling her eyes before shooting Mike an apologetic smile. “Better get to the cake, god forbid the icing isn’t a work of art.” She bumped her shoulder against his before going over to the kitchen, her voice carrying into the living room as she and Evelyn began to argue.

“You fucked up.”

Mike shook off the haze that always seemed to overwhelm him when he was around ginny, glancing to the side and considering Tommy’s disapproving look with a frown of his own. “Want to repeat that, Miller?”

“Sure,” Tommy shoved his hands into his pockets, his eyes narrowing to a squint, “you fucked up, Lawson.”

“Why, by leaving your sorry ass behind?”

Tommy’s jaw ticked. “She cried. For weeks after you left, she went back into the shitty closet they called a locker room and bawled. And then she got back on the mound and she got us the second best season we’ve seen in the past decade. And for a minute there, we thought that billionaire boy would actually be good for her, but all of a sudden, you’re back with Rachel and Ginny’s crying in the damned closet again. All while still getting us to the playoffs.”

“You can’t put that all on me.”

“Sorry boss,” Mike’s frown deepened into a glower as Dusty came to stand behind Tommy. “But we can. It sucked when you left, and it didn’t help that you went on and got your ring, but things were different for you and Baker before you up and disappeared.”

“And what?” Mike ambled forward, only stopping when there was only space left for the tension brewing between him and Tommy. “You decided to become Baker’s protection squad? I leave and suddenly you two are so close?”

“She’s my teammate, and I know what that means.” Tommy jerked his chin up. “I don’t just abandon the people who rely on me.”

“Why don’t you stop hiding behind Baker and say what you mean, hmm?” Before he could stop himself, Mike’s palms were pressed to Tommy’s chest and he was pushing him back. “Come on.”

A growl crawled up Tommy’s throat as he staggered into Dusty. “Watch it.”

“No, Miller, let’s have it out. You have a problem with me, you damn well be able to speak up.”

Blip came up to them, two drinks in hand and his smile dimming. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Why you even here, man?” Tommy asked, his voice growing louder as he shoved Mike back a step. “Why don’t you just go back to Chicago? It’s obviously where you want to be. Not with the guys who played with you for years.” Shove. “Or the team you couldn’t even be bothered to say goodbye to.” Shove. “Or the girl you don’t deserve even though she’s so obviously in love with you!”

“Hey!” They all stopped, Mike’s muscles twitched with barely-constrained rage, with the desperate urge to take back the last ten minutes, with the self-loathing he thought he’d put to rest years ago. He turned to where Evelyn stood fuming, oven mitts clenched in her fists and her chest heaving as she tried to calm herself. “Dinner is ready, but if you men are determined to behave like the children we’ve gathered to celebrate, then I’m not sure I feel like feeding you.”

Mike’s gaze moved past Evelyn to Ginny, her hands twisting the hem of her shirt and her expression stricken.

“Ginny,” he whispered, watching as she slid the cake she was holding onto the counter, brushed her hair from her face and then whirled on her heels and walked away. “No, wait, Baker!” He knocked Tommy out of the way, jogging after her and wincing at Evelyn’s glower.

“Come on,” he heard Blip cry, “let’s eat!”

“Your friends are ruining our sons’ birthday!” If Evelyn didn’t stomp her designer pumped foot like Mike knew she would then maybe he really had lost touch with his pseudo family in San Diego.

“Baker,” he said softly, pushing open the door to the Sanders’ game room, “come on, I’m old, you’re not gonna make me go searching around, are you?”

“Now that’s just lazy,” she murmured, looking small and pitiful curled into herself on the couch. “At least you used to put in some effort for these geriatric jokes.”

“Low blood sugar,” he shrugged, shuffling forward and lowering himself on the cushion beside her. “I’d say let’s go eat, but Tommy’ll probably spend the entire time wishing I’d choke.”

“Truth?” She peeked up at him through her lashes. “He wouldn’t be the only one.”

“Baker…”

“I don’t see you for three years. You said nothing would change, that you’d be back in San Diego and that we would still be us, or whatever. But instead, you disappear, and to make things just so much better, you come back after all these years and humiliate me.”

“I tried,” he fell back beside her, their shoulders brushing. “We both did.”

“And yet,” she blew out, her cheeks puffing out as they stared up at the ceiling, still covered in the green glow of the stars they’d help put up eons ago. A smile curled on his lips as he remembered that day, Ginny’s laugh echoing in his ears and the image of her in overalls dancing through his mind. “I don’t need Tommy or Rusty or anyone else speaking for me. I can do this myself.” She pushed herself upright, squaring her shoulders and injecting as much steel into her voice as she could manage.

“Can’t this wait for some day where everyone doesn’t want me dead?”

“It hurt,” she started, ignoring him as he groaned, “when you left. We kissed and then you boarded a plane and that was it. And if you didn’t want us to become something more, then that’s fine. But I needed my friend when everything happened with Noah, and for all your talk of trying to make things work from different states, I called you and you never picked up. You had playoffs and then Rachel and I wasn’t enough. So don’t come here and try to act like nothing’s changed. You turned your back on the team a season before we won the playoffs.”

“I didn’t - “

She threw a hand up, stopping him before he could interrupt her and wetting her bottom lip. “And you turned your back on me.” She ran her hands through her hair. “And before you start, it’s not like you owed me anything because of one kiss, but, like, a heads-up about you and Rachel, or a call when my fucking engagement ended would’ve been nice.” She bolted up, pacing along the edge of the rug. “And you know what, maybe you did owe me that. Because before I even began thinking of saying yes to Noah, I called you first.”

“Rookie - “

“I’m not your Rookie anymore!” She cried, twisting long enough to scowl down at him. “And, another thing - “

Mike surged up, catching her by the shoulder and sending her tumbling into him. She stared up at him with wide eyes, a gasp ripping up her throat that only drowned away as he pressed his lips to hers. She stiffened and he screwed his eyes shut, cursing himself for every impulsive, ill-thought out decision he’d ever made. On the list of all his mistakes, as extensive as it was, this would definitely be at the top…or so he thought until, at least until her mouth moved underneath his and her arms wound around his waist.

“Wow,” she exhaled as he pulled back, his lips hovering just over hers and his grip on her tightening. “Okay, so, just really quick, don’t shut me up with kisses, not matter how good they are.”

“Duly noted,” he murmured, his gaze dipping back down to her mouth. “But, tell me there’s a but.”

“But,” her eyebrows knit together, “but,” she shook her head, pushing at his arms and stepping away, “but I can’t go through this with you again. You’re here for a week, maybe two tops, and then what? You head back to Chicago, I start blaming allergy season for all my shit again, and the guys stop looking at me like I’m their teammate and like I’m some sad little girl?”

“I’m moving back,” she blinked, doe-eyes warming with each passing second. “The last two seasons, they weren’t supposed to happen, and I’m done pushing my luck. I’m finished, and there’s no place I’d rather retire than here.”

“You’re coming back?” She asked disbelievingly, her face pinching with something between confusion and hope.

“I’m coming back and I’m sorry, I’m sorry for everything. For leaving and not letting you know every second of everyday that I missed you. I’m sorry I wasn’t in the stands the day you won the playoffs, I’m just. I’m sorry. I’d spend the rest of my life apologizing if I could, but -”

“God, just stop and kiss me,” she pulled his mouth onto hers, the tension curled in her body unfurling as they kissed. And kissed. And kissed until his mouth was sore and her jaw ached and the desperation for him that she’d locked away the second he left flooding her veins.

“We still have to talk about things,” she said between kisses, his hands roving over her body, pulling her in as close as she could get then closer still. “This doesn’t fix things between us.” His mouth cut a scorching path over her neck. “And I may have promised to let Tommy punch you at least once.” He straightened, just long enough to shot her a strange look, before catching her bottom lip between his teeth.

“Yes, Ginny, anything,” he promised, her name dropping like a prayer from his lips. Resting her forehead against his, she brushed one last lingering kiss to his mouth. “And just so you know, me and Rachel, it wasn’t anything.”

She couldn’t help but snort, because after everything that had just happened, of course Mike Lawson would still feel compelled to bring up an explanation that really could have waited. 

“Okay,” she nodded, “I guess I can give you a pass since I was literally about to marry another man.” The corner of his mouth ticked up into the grin she’d missed with an ache that only seemed to shut up now. “But Tommy still gets to punch you.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna talk about that later.”

“And Blip may or may not try and break your nose.”

“This all better be negotiable.” She reached down, intertwining their fingers, both warm and callused, and deciding that she liked the feeling, no matter how strange it might be.

“They’re a loyal bunch,” she said, letting him tug her out of the room. “Just, try and take it, you’re retired now, who cares if you get injured?”

“So glad I came back, Baker.”

She stopped them right before they got to the door that led to the backyard, the conversation shattering the calm that had settled around them. “Me too,” she grinned, pressing a kiss to his cheek before the walked out of the house.

“All right,” Evelyn cried, standing up and waving at the rest of the guys, “who had half an hour?”

Salvamani jogged forward, sending a wink over at Mike and Ginny before slapping his hand against Evelyn’s and collecting the money their bastard friends had bet on their relationship.

“Yeah,” Mike grumbled, yanking Ginny into his side and rolling his eyes, “real, real glad I came back.”