#presents/gift giving [from draco to hermione]

[dramioneasks]

Looking for a Dramione fic where Draco gifts Hermione a first edition Hogwarts: A History copy from the Malfoy manor library and tells her that if she accepts the gift then they have to date or go on a date or something like that. Thank you!

Anyone?

Edit: Thanks!

folledemalfoy: In Brand New World by NinaBinaBallerina, DM makes a bet that if HG accepts a gift from him, she’ll owe him a kiss. He then gives her a first edition “Hogwarts, a History”. She pays up later. Brand New World - Chapter 1 - NinaBinaBallerina - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own]

[beloved-child-of-the-house]

@thehoneybeet tagged me to say what my various drarries do to celebrate Christmas/the holidays (tysm I rlly wanted to be tagged 🥹). Read their version here.

Queen of the Weeds - Harry loves to cook and bake and he’s trying to teach Draco to cook, so he probably comes up with some kind of cooking challenge where they have to make something different every day in December. Draco hears a snippet of the Nutcracker over the tannoy in some shop or other, and he is immediately Enchanted. Harry finds a local performance of the ballet to take him to and gives him a recording of the music for Christmas. And obviously they’re furiously recording mixtapes.

If the Fates Allow - I see them hosting! Harry sews them both a new outfit for the occasion, and they invite everyone they can think of. It’s So Loud even before Teddy starts pulling crackers with Victoire. Everybody gets tipsy and they sing wizarding carols together ans half the guests stay over because they’re having such a good time that they stay too late to travel home that night.

A Forgivable Fascination - Way too busy with their research (inventing new forms of magic and doing weird sex about it) to host. They go to Ron and Hermione’s Christmas party and 🫣 they leave early. They have a codeword between them that means they’re leaving to bone, and it’s transparently obvious to all their friends that they’re doing so.

Imperio - They go on like a skiing vacation and have boozy hot chocolate and noisy sex in some chalet.

The Tune Without the Words - If they haven’t gotten back together yet, Harry keeps startling and changing into a dove when Draco accidentally on purpose keeps coming to the same Christmas parties as him.

A Bottomless Well - They’re like stupid ridiculous rich because of Draco’s invention, so they give annoyingly extravagant presents to their friends’ kids AND they get the kids all overexcited by romping with them too hard.

A Gift of True Esteem - Since they’re both Hogwarts professors, they have 2 weeks off, so for the first week, they usually go stay at the Palace of Beauxbatons and go to Madame Maxime’s Christmas party and get drunk with Hagrid and dance like fools. For the second week, they hole up back at Hogwarts for the coziest activities they can think of and probably invite Ash Greengrass to visit (and he’s soooooo smug about them getting married too). Harry also really likes ghost stories for Christmas, so he combs the library for them, and they take turns reading them aloud for each other. At some point, they visit Ron and Hermione, because Harry is doing his best not to be a stranger. They give lavish gifts to Rosie, Hugo, and young Miss Fredericka Faline Weasley.

The Joy of Bleeding - Draco feels Some Type of Way about the holidays after losing his mom. They go to the Burrow and they spend time with Andromeda and Teddy. It’s hard for them, both being orphans. They keep things low key and try to be gentle with themselves and each other.

Homing - Draco’s family doesn’t speak to him anymore, so Harry likes to do the traditions Draco misses from his childhood. They go ice skating on Christmas morning. They sing the songs Draco remembers from his childhood. Harry bravely attempts peacock pie one year. They do have a new tradition of spending Christmas Eve at Fetê.

Names For a House - They like to make a big fuss over Theodore when he comes home from Hogwarts. They plan lots of activities to do together, and they try to make sure that Theo sees lots of Victoire, since she’s at Beauxbatons and they don’t get to spend much time together during the school year. Sometimes the full moon is close to Christmas, and Draco and Theo have to take it easy. Usually when that happens, everyone gets into the same bed (including Shadowfax) and they watch movies together all day. Often a Star Wars marathon bc they all love the original trilogy.

Propinquity - They always have a big party at the Grotto! Pansy sort of took over the planning while they were in Paris, so they barely even have to lift a finger anymore. Their house is simply filled with people. All they have to do is hide the honeymoon box and make sure nobody else makes the same mistake Harry made. Sometimes Draco will play the piano (mostly Britney Spears tbh).

Moonrise - After they leave Grimmauld Place, they don’t host so much because the cottage is too small for any group much larger than the classic gang. But they’ll get everyone to come down to the Three Broomsticks, and there’s always some lovely live entertainment around the holidays. Draco exchanges Christmas cards with his friends from the Citizens Committee for the Ethical Treatment of Lycanthropes. They usually wind up at the Burrow for the day of. Harry helps Molly cook the meal, and Draco sneaks off the get high with Ginny and Fleur. Toad gets underfoot and helpfully licks up any scraps that fall on the floor. If it’s not too cold for the little ones, they go caroling in the village.

ahhhh that was fun! Genuinely do not remember who has already gone and who hasn’t. I’ll tag @drarry (it’ll be Yule tho, right?) and @saintgarbanzo and @skeptiquewrites and @moonmanatee and whoever else wants to play!!

[dhr-advent]

Not What It Looks Like by eveningstruggle

Not What It Looks Like (4983 words) by eveningstruggle Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Additional Tags: Friends With Benefits, Christmas, inspired by miss manners, draco is a terrible photographer, Community: dhr_advent, Christmas Presents Summary:

A hot, panicky hurt begins to throb inside her chest. This doesn’t make sense. Is it some type of horribly misguided practical joke? Revenge for shutting him down a few months ago? Or—is it a parting gift? A “so long and thanks for the memories, now I’m off to fuck someone else?” ”What—” Her voice croaks. She clears her throat and tries again. “What the fuck is this, Malfoy?” Confusion creases his forehead. “They’re photos of you.” She’s five seconds from bolting back through the Floo. “I can see that. Why have you given me two dozen terrible photos of myself for Christmas?”

Or: Draco gives Hermione a Christmas gift.

[mastermindmiko]

Potions Partners (Part 12)

Pairing: Draco Malfoy + Fem!reader

Word count: 1426

Warnings: Fighting, Fire, injuries, fainting.

Hey! If you think this didn't completely suck, feel free to check out my masterlist.

Requests are open

Part 13

Two days later, it was Christmas day. She had finally finished her shopping with Hermione the previous day. She was woken up by the sound of Molly yelling from down stairs telling everyone to rush to the tree. All the Weasley kids, and Harry, Hermione and her exchanged their gifts. 

Molly wasn’t present for the gift exchange because she was too busy making breakfast in the kitchen. Everyone offered to help, but she didn’t let anyone aid her. Soon enough, they were all sitting at the long table and they were enjoying breakfast together. 

For the first time ever, Ron wasn’t sitting beside Harry instead he was sitting beside her. They spent the entirety of breakfast with Harry glaring at them from the other side of the table. Ron avoided his gaze which she found ridiculous because he didn’t do anything wrong while she just rolled her eyes at his antics. 

Halfway through breakfast Molly decided that she’s had enough of those two boys ruining Christmas for everyone else. She stood up abruptly, causing everyone’s attention to shift onto her. She shouted, “What’s the matter with you two boys?” 

“You should ask Ron, or maybe Y/N…” Harry started and Ron sank down in his seat while she rolled her eyes at her brother’s words. When neither of them said anything, Harry exclaimed, “They’re secretly dating!” 

Gasps were heard all over the room, and she couldn’t believe how dramatic everyone around her was. Mrs Weasley rushed to her and started to kiss her head, she was almost crying when she said, “Oh! That’s so wonderful, you’re going to be Mrs Weasley like me!” 

Y/N’s eyes widened and she stood up quickly. She waved her hands around frantically and she said, “No, no, no. I’m not dating Ron. Harry’s just being an overprotective idiot.” 

Mrs Weasley looked very disappointed as she walked back to her seat and put a piece of chicken in her mouth. Fred said from the other side of the table, “I’m with you Harry, she’s definitely got a boyfriend, it would make sense if it was Ron.” 

Harry’s ears perked up at the new bit of information. Harry turned to Fred and asked, “How do you know she’s got a boyfriend?” 

Fred wriggled his eyebrows at her and she could’ve simply died from the mortification. She rubbed one hand over her face, and she glared at Fred, that didn’t stop him from standing up and walking to Harry. He whispered in his ear something, and Harry quickly stood up screaming, “A hickey! You’ve got a hickey?” 

“You’re being ridiculous, I’m leaving!” She shouts back at him and grabs her coat from the floor, that was still there from the previous night. She pulls it on haphazardly and walks out of the Burrow. 

Back inside, Ron tried walking out behind her to calm her down. When he was stopped by Harry shouting, “Where do you think you’re going?” 

“To help calm her down!” Ron shouts, now getting completely annoyed by his best friend. Harry rushes around the table and screams, “How? By giving her another hickey!” 

Soon enough Harry jumped on Ron to stop him from walking out the door. Neither of them were strong enough to actually injure the other one. It was quite an amusing sight to watch them both rolling around on the floor angrily. Even Hermione stifled a few laughs. 

Bill, being the sensible older brother, fell to the floor and pulled the two boys apart. Ron ran a hand through his hair to make it seem less messy, and he shouted, “Besides, you’re one to talk, you’ve been trying to come onto Ginny for months!” 

Echos of gasps are heard again and Ron huffs and leaves the burrow to look for her. He barely hears everyone fussing over Ginny before he leaves. He takes a few steps, sinking into the snow with each step until he sees a small figure curled up on the floor. 

Ron takes a deep breath and walks over towards her. He sits down beside her on the floor, and she leans her head on his shoulder. She sighs, “If he’s this mad about this then imagine how angry he’d be when he finds out about Draco.” 

“He doesn’t have to find out.” Ron says, sympathetically. She let out a bitter chuckle and explained, “Obviously that’s the plan, but you know how he is, he’s been stalking Draco and he’s been so protective of me, he’s bound to find out eventually.” 

Ron doesn’t have any reassuring words to say, and so he just settles on being there for her in silence. A few minutes later, they hear Mrs Weasley  shout, “You two come back here right now, and clean yourselves up. We’ve got guests coming tonight!” 

They walk back to the Burrow and as soon as they enter they see Bill holding Harry by his hair, and Charlie takes a hold of Ron the same way. They push the two boys in front of each other and Bill says, “Both of you need to stop acting like children.” 

“If you’re not going to fix your own problems we’re going to fix them for you.” Charlie adds, and he clears his throat before asking, “Ron, are you dating Y/N?” Ron shakes his head and Charlie lets go of his hair. Ron pats his head where his brother had a firm grip. Charlie turns to Harry and asks, “Now, Harry, are you dating Ginny?” 

Harry shakes his head, and Bill lets him go. Harry massages his scalp, and Bill places a firm clap on both their shoulders, he then says, “See boys, there was no need for a fight.” 

The two older Weasley boys smile and give each other a celebratory high five. They then go back to the Dinner table where Fleur gives Bill a kiss on the cheek, and Charlie goes back to munching on his food. 

By the time the sun set, Remus and Tonks had joined them to celebrate. The rest of the day had gone by uneventfully, but nonetheless, enjoyably. Hermione had returned to spend the rest of her Christmas with her family like she had originally intended. She had really enjoyed seeing Remus again, but she could tell that something about him was off, considering the fact that the full moon was approaching. 

They were all bidding Remus and Tonks farewell by the door when Remus’ senses went haywire. Remus was standing over by the porch looking at something only he could see. Mr Weasley asked, “Remus?” 

A few seconds later a flash of fire went down on the ground, it surrounded the burrow in its entirety and then Bellatrix Lestrange appeared. As soon as Y/N saw her, she started to run after her. Bellatrix walked out of the circle of fire, and she ran after her with her wand gripped tightly in her hand. 

Harry ran right after his sister, and Mr Weasley shouted, “Harry, No!” Neither of the Potter siblings listened as they ran after Bellatrix. Remus ran after Harry and Tonks after him. When Remus tried to move out of the circle of fire, it burned larger, making it impossible for him to move out. Tonks tried to calm the flames with her wand, but it did no good. 

Ginny ran after Harry and jumped over the flames. Mrs Weasley screamed after her while Mr Weasley ran to find his daughter. Y/N couldn’t hear any of the ruckus because all she could hear was Bellatrix’s high pitched voice, screaming, “I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black!” 

She ran after the noise, it was hard to see with all the plants that were nearly twice her height. She could hear Harry running behind her. She ran harder, trying to find Bellatrix when she started laughing, “Come get me, Come get me!” 

Adrenaline coursed through her veins and suddenly she couldn’t hear Harry behind her. She couldn’t find Bellatrix either. She could hear Remus, Tonks, Harry and Ginny casting spells somewhere, but she couldn’t see them. She sucked in a deep breath when she saw Fenir Greyback walking towards her with an evil grin on his furry face. 

She raised her wand and threw a spell at him. He stumbled backwards, but in a flash, she fell to the ground. Bellatrix had hit her with the same spell from the back. Bellatrix laughs, and she apparates to the sky and Fenrir copies her. 

She saw a large fire from a far distance and her body suddenly got heavier and heavier. 

Taglist:

@urbansaint @angelofasgard16 @offlines-idfk @love-me-satoru

[incalculablepower]

some fics i've liked lately

it's been a weird year. when i made this list of recs back in january i fully intended it to become a monthly thing, but life happened and then i guess it just kept happening. in early 2023 things were ramping up in my new career, i was practicing and playing a lot with my band to prepare for our first show, i was settling into dealing with depression and anxiety with medication, i was getting over a miserable breakup. then i fell in love. i lost my job (the best and most favourite job i've ever had) abruptly this past may. this is my longest period of unemployment since i was a teenager and while you think it would be the best time to lose yourself in fandom, i felt the opposite. fandom was such a lifeline to me when i had a miserable job and was in a bad relationship and needed an escape but i was very present in my own life this summer. i took my partner to visit my family and spent a lot of time with friends and played shows (and recorded some music... shameless self promo once again) and in between i watched so much star trek on my couch. this is such a long preamble to explain why i haven't been fandoming as much lately and why idk if i'll write anything again anytime soon (let's say, once i have a job i want to procrastinate at) but -- i HAVE been reading fic! not as much as before, but i have been, and there's enough for a fic rest list so that's what i'm giving you today. when times are dire [podfic] - @aibidil

drarry. i have such a soft spot for middle aged draco and harry falling in love, the relationships they have with their friends and their grown children. @aibidil reads her own podfics and it's an utter delight. i usually only listen to podfics or audiobooks when i'm doing work around the house but i can going on walks with my headphones just so i could listen to more of this one.

purple haze by @ashesandhackles

romione. i was so so honoured to see this pop up in my ao3 gifts during @thethreebroomsticksfic pride fest this year. it turns the well tread romione ground of shell cottage and the yule ball over a bit, using them as settings to explore a confusing mix of jealousy and sexuality for ron and hermione. ashes knows i love mess with these and it captures that teenage chaos wonderfully, then lets them laugh at it as secure and settled adults.

crookshanks by @ala-baguette

gen. warning that this is a tearjerker, especially if you've ever loved and lost a pet. i think the pure and simple expressions of love and gratitude from crook's pov here would be a comfort to any pet owner.

at some point this year, i got REALLY into the idea of a one-sided dramione. it's hard to look for, especially since it's such a popular ship but i managed to find a few that scratched the itch until i find the time and/or motivation to write one of my own new years eve by 2daughtersofathena, the guardian angel by mylifebelongstothebbc, and a boy of hans by elixirsoflife. the last one being my personal favourite, a grim take on the hanahaki disease trope.

every mother is a grave by witchofimber

this was recced by @whinlatter in @thethreebroomsticksfic discord (btw i feel like no one on my followers lists needs anyone to remind them to read beasts -- but please read beasts) and when i saw "gillian flynn treatment" in the tags i slammed the mark for later button. this is probably the most balanced and realistic portrayals of molly weasley and her role as a mother that i've ever read in hp fic. it's not weasley family fluff but it doesn't devolve into something so flat as bashing either. molly is regular mother with flaws and strengths like anyone else and how they amplify and shift with love and grief and pain and stress and duty and pressure. every single relationship she has with her children is uniquely expressed and the way it ties the past to the direct aftermath of the war is so well done and a great way to organize this giant, messy family. particular care here went into fred and george, giving them their own identities in a way that can be difficult, given the source material. a favourite line:

“Probably have tried to make us name the twins after them.” He stopped laughing, sucked in a breath. “Do you want to?”  For a second she considered it. It would be wonderful, getting to use those names again like living things. But -  “No,” she said. “I - if they were alive, I’d have said no, so I’m saying it now. Let the boys be their own people.”  The truth was that she didn’t want to lose her brothers. To have their faces erased in her memory, painted over with her sons. To have to say no, not THAT Fab, I mean UNCLE Fab - he died before you were born. Anyway, she liked the names Fred and George. It was easier like this. 

the scrunchie by @saintsenara

another fic i've meant to read for ages and finally got around to just yesterday. the background drama of these side characters as a cheap scrunchie from boots floats around them is so perfectly teenage. reminds me of the other series i loved as a teenager around the time HP was coming out: georgia nicolson and gossip girl. i could also compare it to derry girls a little, how despite the environment surrounding them these girls are still being girls, arguing about stupid things and getting crushes on boys and having the absolute most ridiculous blowout fights with your sister (parvati and padma's portrayal here is probably my favourite i've ever read!)

i also can't leave without reccing @saintsenara's wip, one year in every ten. i can't get enough of a good case fic. tomarry/harrymort (both versions of this ship, oddly, apply to this fic) is not something i've ever sought out but i really think the way it's handled here could win over any non-believer. it's sharp and funny in a way that makes it turns into poignancy hit even harder. i screenshotted two full phone screen pages of chapter 27 so i could go back and read them over and over. it might be one of the best things i've ever read from ron's POV (emphasis mine):

It had been a long ten years, with a chair at their table always left empty and a hole in their hearts always unfilled. Grief was exhausting and boring and dully painful, like a slightly sprained ankle which you can still walk on, but which always bothers you a little bit.  But there had been love among the grief. There had been love before the grief - indeed love had caused the grief - and there had been love after. His love for his parents and his siblings had changed, the way wine left in a barrel changes and becomes richer and deeper. There was more sorrow in the love, as he threw a quaffle around with George and saw the tired lines at the corner of his eyes. There was more recrimination, more struggle with the mistakes they had all made in the past, as he finally sat down and had a real chat with mum and dad about how a lifetime of corned-beef sandwiches and maroon jumpers had made him feel. But there was more joy there too. And with joy came forgiveness and understanding and hope and fun.

image used is wildflowers (1915) by tom thomson

[sitp-recs]

in honor of Dracos birthday, do you have birthday centered recs :)?

Hi there! I definitely have some favorites, I just don’t remember if they’re more Harry-centric or Draco-centric 🤣 I hope you enjoy!

5th June by @shealwaysreads (M, 800 words)

Sometimes, a slice of cake is a declaration.

Hesperides by @lettersbyelise (E, 1.3k)

Draco Malfoy is not the kind of man to lavish gorgeous Greek holidays on his flings. So Harry doesn’t really know what to make of his invitation.

Birthday Boy by RurouniHime (M, 3k)

Thirty years old, and where was he?

Narcissus by cryptonym (E, 4k)

Harry wants to give Draco something really special for his birthday. What could more special than Draco, himself?!

Cake by astolat (M, 4k)

Harry tried not to care when after the war, everyone he knew seemed to have made an agreement to stop paying attention to birthdays.

Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too by @peachpety (E, 4k)

Harry Potter loves his birthday… until he doesn’t. All it takes is a miserable slice of jealousy, sprinkled with an unfortunate slip of the tongue, and doused with a heavy dollop of pining to turn Harry sour. Fortunately for him, Draco Malfoy is there to sweeten the day.

The Best Laid Plans by playout (M, 6k)

Since when has anything in Harry's life gone according to plan? His birthday is no exception.

Divination For Dickheads (orphaned, G, 7k)

It doesn't actually turn out to be the worst birthday present he's ever been given.

(Un)Calculated Risk by @l0vegl0wsinthedark (E, 7k)

He thought about the way Harry looked at him, smiled at him; about the way Draco’s head was nearly always full of him, all day every day, and about the way Draco sometimes deliberately went to bed still smelling of him, refusing to acknowledge what it meant – because he already fucking knew what it meant. What all of it meant. And then Draco decided, fuck it, he was going to risk it. They were going to risk it together, Harry and Draco.

Kill, Fuck, Marry by @lettersbyelise (E, 12k)

Harry and Draco unexpectedly meet again on Draco’s birthday, years after their last encounter.

Poppiholla by @moonflower-rose (M, 13k)

Harry had accepted that he would pine silently for Malfoy forever, but one, humid summer might change that.

A Holiday in Provence by dracoismytrashson (E, 32k)

Harry Potter is turning 50 years old and feeling lonelier than ever. Divorced, retired, and learning he’s not quite as straight as he thought he was, Harry reluctantly accepts a birthday gift from his friends for a week’s stay at an idyllic French vineyard. Too bad Hermione and Ron neglected to mention that the owner of the winery happens to be a certain quick-witted blond Slytherin…

[sailtomarina]

A Winter Ball for Two

Draco x Hermione | @hp-yuletide-bliss Day 9: Winter ball | WC 2050 | Rating: T

She was enchanting.

Draco could at least admit that.

He might find his tongue tied up in knots, or find sudden, intense interest in the cracks of the castle walls wherever she drew near, but he could not deny that Hermione Granger looked like a winter fairy dressed and glowing as she was in the flickering light of the hundreds of candles floating above their heads.

The Great Hall was decked from corner to corner with its usual Christmas icing, but additional care had been taken to make the event feel extra special in light of the school’s inaugural Winter Ball, to be held annually after their Eighth and final year. The students had truly pulled out all of the stops with their eagerness to bring joy back to the haunted halls of their youth.

Granger spearheaded those efforts as Head Girl, delegating tasks to Professors, Prefects, and volunteers alike. Draco might have been spared if not for his best mate being her counterpart as Head Boy. Theo refused to let Draco hide himself away in his dorm room, or, on the rare occasion, the library. He’d found himself dragged to the Heads’ private rooms and pressured into providing any valuable input the sole child of Narcissa Malfoy could give. He’d grown up in the lap of luxury, after all. Organizing and attending balls were as natural to Draco as riding a broomstick.

He’d expected to be left alone with Theo in the common room, for Granger to avoid him like the plague that he was. He’d seen how others couldn’t help but stare at his arm, as if willing his mark to burn through the sleeve. 

She hadn’t done that.

Granger sat in with them most nights, curling up in an armchair, her armchair as Draco started to see it, cushioned by squishy pillows and swimming in a blanket large enough for a Quidditch team. She started plying them with treats and hot beverages, even going so far as to remember their likes and dislikes and supplying accordingly.

Knowing what she did of his family and home, and bearing the weights of their past, Granger was surprisingly curious about his experiences. She asked him about his family traditions, his most memorable gifts. His experiences growing up in the Malfoy household were much gentler than Theo’s, whose sole comfort had been his mother, one lost after her untimely death.

They, in turn, learned about her and, by default, Muggle traditions.

“I’m telling you, Granger, Father Christmas has to be a wizard. I mean, how could he not be? Fireplaces? Flying reindeer? Time manipulation?”

Theo had taken the opportunity to steal the witch’s chair when she’d gone for a tea refill, and she’d been forced to join Draco on the sofa to address his theory.

“Doesn’t it strike you as odd how entrenched he is in Muggle tradition? It makes me wonder just what kind of man he was–was he simply a philanthropist who wanted to bring joy to all children, Muggle and Magical, rich and poor, no matter their nationality or beliefs, or did he have some other underlying agenda?”

They’d gone on to argue over whether or not one wore pajamas to open Christmas presents–the only way Draco would ever concede would be if she showed up in crimson lingerie, otherwise clothing appropriate for pictures and visitors it was–as well as their expected courses at the dinner table. They both agreed Yorkshire pudding and redcurrant jelly were requirements, but Draco had put his foot down at her insistence that roast beef could be anywhere near the level of a perfectly prepared turkey.

“Why not both?” Theo mused.

“Shut it, Theo,” Draco snapped, “I don’t want to hear that from a wizard who eats his weight in sausage rolls every Christmas.”

Theo had merely winked, sending Granger into a fit of giggles.

“Oh, yes, Theo does love his sausages,” she managed to get out, before dissolving once more into laughter. Draco refused to acknowledge how cute he found the snorts that peppered her glee.

And now, here he was, lurking behind one of the many towering fir trees lining the Great Hall and attempting to blend into the foliage.

It hadn’t been difficult to avoid notice. Very few students, or even teachers, paid him much attention other than to glare or mutter insults. The sooner he could leave, the better. He wanted to be here as much as others did, which meant not at all.

“Why don’t you ask her to dance?”

Of course, Potter would find him.

Draco turned to face his long-time rival, taking in his relaxed stance, the bulkier form he’d built in his time since those days as Undesirable No. 1. Adulthood looked good on Potter.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” He ignored the question, choosing to redirect instead.

Bright green eyes flashed, and Draco couldn’t help but feel like he’d been easily read. Then, in a curious show of nerves, Potter bit his lip and looked off into the crowd.

“I couldn’t resist.”

Draco traced the line of sight. He saw Granger dancing with Theo, her head thrown back in a laugh, the graceful line of her neck bare and delicate. He searched for the expected fiery red hair of the Weaslette, only to find her far off to the right and decidedly not the target of Potter’s desire. So, who was he looking at?

A horrifying thought tickled the back of his mind.

Was he looking at Granger?

“Why don’t you ask her to dance?” he found himself asking the same question he’d dodged earlier. 

Had they found love during their lost year, despite Weasley’s presence? Had Draco stumbled across some sort of love triangle? Granger had never indicated her attachment to anyone, but Draco had assumed the obvious. How could anyone not fall for her in close proximity like they’d been?

“Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose?” One thick, black brow rose in consideration as Potter stared straight at him, his arms now crossed over his chest. 

“What do you mean?” Draco was confused. Defeat the purpose of what? 

He nearly let his younger self sneer out an insult at the way those eyes rolled into Potter’s head.

“How can I spend any time with Theo if I’m dancing with Hermione?”

Wait, what?

Potter and…Theo? 

“No offense, but how? And when?” Draco asked, nearly sputtering in disbelief.

“Well, I’d have thought the intricacies of gay sex would lie outside of your particular interests, but if you really want–” He broke off with a laugh at Draco’s choked gasp. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself. You make it so easy sometimes, Malfoy.”

“I do not,” he muttered. He hated that Theo and Granger both said the exact same thing.

“I’d heard about how he helped last year here at the castle from Neville, the way he was there for the younger kids no matter their house or blood status. That couldn’t have been easy for someone with his background.”

That knowledge had surprised Draco, as well. He hadn’t been around last year, either, but it didn’t take long for Theo’s actions to make themselves known throughout their mutual circles. Theo’s father had been…less than pleased, but that hadn’t stopped his mate from doing whatever he could to help. Theo was a better man than Draco, by far.

“So when Hermione brought him around, I already had a good impression. After meeting him, though?” Potter’s face softened, his expression wistful as he glanced back towards the dance floor. “How could I not fall for him?”

Not only was he the Chosen One, the damn Savior of the Wizarding World, but he was every bit the sort of person Draco would have wanted for his closest friend. He was brave and, Draco could admit it now, kind.

One song ended, then another began, slower, sweeter. Draco summoned up every bit of courage he could find. There wasn’t much, but it was enough.

“Let’s go, Potter.”

Again with the arched brow. Then, a crooked smile, one Draco couldn’t help but reciprocate.

Within moments, he stood before her, sweat building at the nape of his neck. He resisted the urge to wipe his hands against his robes. She turned at his approach, her partner now also facing away towards Potter.

“Malfoy? Is there something wrong?”

Sweet Salazar.

Her skin was flushed in the heat of her movements, tiny curls spilling out of her updo and framing her face in a way that had him yearning to brush them back, to lean in and breathe in deep. Her chest rose and fell heavily, chestnut irises pierced through with flecks of gold staring up at him in question.

“Would you do me the honor of this dance?”

Curiosity melded into pleasure, her lips spreading wide to show off her perfect smile. He wanted to make her smile like that everyday.

“It would be my pleasure.”

She placed her hand in his, and he smoothly moved it up to his shoulder, stepping in close to sweep her up into his arms. It didn’t matter what song played, or whether or not she knew the steps–as far as he was concerned, there was nobody else but them. Hermione seemed just as caught in the moment as he, her face upturned and rosy lips parted as she traced his features like she meant to memorize the moment for the future. He knew he would.

She floated weightlessly in his embrace, her steps following him without hesitation. A raise of his arm and a spin had him admiring the silver-white twirl of her skirt around her slender legs. It didn’t matter what she wore, however. He still would have thought her just as enchanting were she in her favorite joggers, her mane tied up in a wand as it often was.

“You look beautiful.”

She blushed at the praise, eyes darting away for a split second like she couldn’t believe him.

“So do you.” Her head jerked back and eyes widened comically, and she hastened to correct herself. “I mean, you look handsome. Your robes, they bring out your eyes.”

He found it impressive that she could blush even deeper, and couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “I don’t mind ‘beautiful’, but you’re free to compliment me however you’d like.”

The hand that was resting on his shoulder came up to thwack him lightly on the back of the head.

“Ow!”

“That’s for teasing me,” she said with a scowl, but he could tell she didn’t really mean it. 

“As long as you don’t punch me in the nose again.” Could that have been the moment that she really caught his attention? Not her blood status, nor her annoying academic superiority, but her swift right hook?

Her head tilted one way, then the other. “I don’t think I will. I quite like your nose how it is.”

Well, in that case.

He brought his face down closer to her own, and she squeaked at the sudden nearness of him. 

Fucking adorable.

“Hermione?”

She stared unblinkingly back at him, as caught by the sound of her name on his lips as she was by his proximity. “Yes?” she whispered, so softly it was only his eyes on her lips that read the word.

“Would you let me take you out this weekend?”

“Out?” she echoed, still barely audible.

“Out. You. Me. A date.”

“A date?”

Had he broken her? She looked lost, like she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming. Maybe he’d read her all wrong, and the perceived closeness of the past weeks was nothing but his imagination. Perhaps his request blindsided her, coming from someone she only saw as a friend of a friend, or, worse, someone she barely tolerated.

The possibilities roared through his head and his movement slowed, no longer hearing the music. He wanted to leave. He should have left earlier, before Potter and his bloody bravery.

“I’m going to–”

“Yes.”

Strings and woodwinds roared back to full volume, laughter from the other dancers surrounding them as he returned to the ball. To Hermione. She looked up at him now, serious, expectant.

“Yes?”

Hope unfurled like the spreading warmth of a crackling fire as her lips turned upward and creases formed at the corners of her eyes.

“Yes.”

Cross-posted to Tumblr and AO3

Well, this certainly went a tad deeper than I had intended. I wasn’t planning on doing much backstory on their relationship, but couldn’t help myself with Theo in the mix. He’s such a darling, and I loved inserting a bit of him and Harry into the background.

[m0srael]

FIC REC:

A wee spinoff of my lapsed but not dead series, Reading Recs From Friends

I Was GIFTED (!!!)

The Waiting by @oknowkiss w/ art by @babooshkart [Drarry | E | 43k] cw: substance abuse, depression, grief

It’s been almost ten years since Draco Malfoy disappeared during a routine Curse Breaker training exercise. Harry, his partner in more ways than one, is determined to figure out why. As the past resurfaces and the present fades into confusion, Harry discovers the only thing more unreliable than memory is love. inspired by the fantastic song "this tornado loves you" by neko case.

One Sentence Recap: Everyone in Harry's life is trying desperately to drag him out of the past, away from the moment he lost Draco to the unknown, but what if the past is the only thing that will save them both?

"I have waited with a glacier's patience Smashed every transformer with every trailer 'Til nothing was standing 65 miles wide Still you are nowhere Still you are nowhere Nowhere in sight" -Neko Case, This Tornado Loves You

This song is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time--it captures the raw emotion of frantic, seemingly-doomed, mutually destructive love in a way that doesn't deny its potential, all-consuming beauty. There's something painfully sweet about the music, the lyrics, and also this fic that @oknowkiss wrote based on a prompt I submitted for @hd-wireless 2023, and then GIFTED to me! Elaine and I share a deep love of complicated, plotty, twisty stories--I gaze up at them in awe every time I read something new by them because they are such a master of plot and narrative. This story is no exception--the characters are exceptionally imagined, the world is rich and unique, the mystery keeps you guessing in the best of ways, and the twist will absolutely take your damn breath away. I laughed, I cried actual tears, and I had to sit for a long time once I finished trying to figure out how to breathe again. Here are some specific things I loved about this story:

👨🏽‍🤝‍👨🏼 The Relationship Dynamics This particular song certainly opens the door for angst and tension and HOO BOY does E deliver on that front. Harry's depression and grief over Draco's disappearance feels so palpable and relatable. At times I pitied him, felt real heartbreak for him, and wanted to give him a firm slap to the back of the head. Draco is ESPECIALLY magnificently realized in this story--he has every characteristic I love: sharp and witty, scared and desperate, arrogant but deeply unsure of himself. He is the perfect foil to a Harry who is unmoored and craving some sort of connection with someone or something. The tension between them crackles with unspoken resentment, fiery sexual attraction, and the sort of nihilistic self-importance that seems to saturate early adulthood. It makes for some INCREDIBLE smut--no spoilers but there is a scene that begins in a dive bar in Alaska that you will be thinking about probably for the rest of your life🔥🔥. E also crafts some incredible relationships between Harry and the rest of the characters. The dynamics between him and Ron and Hermione are delicious as they worry for his very sanity and try their best to be good friends to him. E's OCs are spectacular--there is one in particular who has my whole heart, I don't even need to tell you which one you will absolutely know.

🌎 The World Building Elaine takes a very cool approach to ministry training and curse breaking that I've never read before--their descriptions of the training camp are so vivid I could picture everything so well as it happened. This story takes us and the characters around the world, and E really takes the time to ground us sensorially and paint us an incredible picture of exactly what Harry is experiencing. His depression and grief come through in the environment that he's built for himself--there are little symbols that reappear throughout the fic that feel like gentle taps on the shoulder--remember this?. It's a really masterful way of making an expansive, potentially disjointed universe feel smaller, traversable, and knowable. It can also be very challenging to describe brand new magical mechanics and theory in a way that a reader can understand, without bogging them down in detail--again, E does this beautifully. I felt totally sucked in to the world they crafted!=

📝 The Plot Look, it is very hard to write a mystery story that doesn't alienate the reader but still holds back some twists and surprises. It's even HARDER to do all of those things when you're writing in not one, but TWO timelines, and E absolutely smashes it with this fic. I had so many (incorrect) theories about what the hell was happening as I was reading--it was so fun to take the little crumbs E was leaving and try to make sense of them while Harry also tried to make sense of them. I am so delighted that at the end, some of the things I speculated about came to pass, but there were many things that I didn't see coming!

🎨 Bonus: The Art @babooshkart NEVER MISSES that is a truth universally acknowledged, one affirmed by the art they created for this story. Pictures, imagery, and the act of looking play such a vivid role in this story and Boo manages to capture so many of the little details Elaine uses to activate her narrative and her characters in a single, incredible image. Looking at Boo's art invites us to step into Harry's shoes, and lets us a little further into his world. The lighting in the photo feels close and intimate to the point of being lonely, the clutter Boo included in the scene echoes Harry's feeling of being crowded and overwhelmed by the case and by life, and as always Harry are (young) Draco are depicted beautifully.

Thank you for writing this story and gifting it to me!

More to read from @oknowkiss: 📚 a licence to kill [Drarry | M | 11k] 📚 Their microfic may 2022 series, jesus, etc. [Drarry | E | 3k] 📚 the complete idiot's guide to losing your entire mind [Drarry | E | 10k] 📚 Historians [Drarry | E | 30k]

More to look at from @babooshkart: 🎨 Boo's own Wireless 2023 contribution, Keep Driving [M] 🎨 The art they made for booktopus's Reverse Bang fic, A Convergence of Inks [G] 🎨 This steamy Dronarry they did for HP Triadfest 2022 [E] 🎨 Twenty five (25!!!!!!) drawings they did for 25 Days of Draco and Harry 2021

[greenerteacups]

I’m weak for a Draco who’s love languages are Gift Giving // Acts of Service. What would you say Lionheart Draco’s love language is? And Hermione too! (:

"love language" implies that they're communicating something affectionate, which obviously they have never done, ever! draco has never expressed anything but strictly platonic esteem for hermione and he violently resents any implication to the contrary, of course! /s

hermione i had to go by process of elimination. quality time, i don't think so, as hermione is usually pretty happy by herself; physical touch, definitely not, nor for draco — it's ron and harry who are the touchy ones, not her. (i also don't know a lot of only children who are physical touch people, to be honest.) gifts... probably don't do much for her, although she sincerely appreciates them, just because i never took hermione as someone who put much stock in physical items. words of affirmation touch her deeply — as you may have noticed, one of draco's hobbies is trying to get her eyes to "do the baby deer thing" — something something desire for approval, something something social insecurity vs validation, etc., etc. but it's not her language, because hermione is point-blank terrible at telling people how she feels, even when those feelings are affection.

acts of service is huge, though. hermione spends half of deathly hallows furiously battling the mantle of Mom Friend, which i do not think she really wants, and which, to whatever extent she picked it up, she did reluctantly, from necessity. she doesn't like cooking, but she does most of it anyway. that, combined with her doing ron and harry's homework for almost all six years of their education, was a dead giveaway that service to others Is Her Thing. she'll kvetch and whine and berate the boys for not handling their own business until the sun goes down, but at the end of the day, she will always, always bail them out. hermione granger is never not trying to save the people she loves.

meanwhile, I think draco's attention to Christmas gifts is a bit of a giveaway on his part. gift-giving among the extremely wealthy is a sort of weird thing, because ultra-expensive gifts don't mean any more than moderate or reasonably expensive ones do — it's all the same level of non-investment, from the rich person's perspective — it's just that obviously you're going to go with the ultra-expensive thing, Because You Can, and perhaps just as importantly, Because Others Can't. the ugly flipside to this is how catty draco gets about other people's presents to hermione, especially ron's. it's not so much that he doesn't like homemade or low-cost gifts — hermione gives him the same thing every year (lovely predictable girl) and he adores it, even though an album or two is a quite reasonably priced Christmas present for hermione's upper-middle-class family. but hermione's gift shows that she knows something about him, and has insight into what he'd enjoy. draco makes a point of giving her things that others can't, and she gives him things that others could, but wouldn't think to. which, in his eyes, makes them as rare to him (who could buy anything) as his expensive presents are to her (who couldn't). i think he's very into those performative displays of proprietary knowledge. he also pointedly notices when she wears his presents (which are, by not total happenstance, things that others will see her using); he likes knowing that she likes them, of course, but there's also a bit of spectacle in anything that expensive. because most people in gryffindor will know that hermione doesn't have Everfull Inkwell money out of pocket. and like, if Daphne Greengrass sees Hermione Granger rocking up in a winter coat straight from Wizard London Fashion Week, then uh, yeah, she's gonna know who's responsible.

...not that draco cares, obviously.

[nebulablakemurphy]

Through Love And By Love (Pt. 9)

Summary: Twenty-Two years ago, Draco Malfoy used the imperius curse to slow Voldemort’s rise to power. No good deed goes unpunished. Warning: this series contains mature subject matter surrounding use of the imperius curse, discussions of trauma and mental illness; reader discretion advised.

18+ ONLY this chapter contains sexual content.

Part 8

Hermione and Ron’s daughter, Rose, Harry and Ginny’s son, Albus, and Rosanna and Draco’s son, Scorpius, are all born within three months of each other. Rose is the oldest, followed by Scorpius and finally Albus.

All of their children remain close growing up, their lives forever entwined. But the three of them are truly inseparable.

Years pass, Harry is head of the auror department, spending a fair share of time with Draco. His partner of sorts, after Ron left the ministry, to join Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Hermione succeeded Kingsley Shacklebolt as Minister for Magic.

For all intents and purposes, Rosanna still works interrogations. But truly she's a floater; she goes wherever they need her.

A twelve year old Rose, blows out her birthday candles, making a wish as everyone cheers. Hermione has a few tears in her eyes.

"Alright presents, presents for the birthday girl!" Molly takes her job as grandmother very seriously.

"We have loads to open. Ron, cut the cake for us, will you?" Hermione presses a hand to her husband's back.

"Yeah, Ron. Cut the cake for us!" Not two, but four voices sound in unison. Fred and George Weasley have always been especially fond of the Malfoy twins, and vice versa.

Molly eyes them fondly, yet in warning.

"This one's from me!" Hugo holds up the parcel, proudly. "And Mum and Dad."

Rose moves the present to her ear, shaking it with a smile.

"Sounds like-" Scorpius leans closer.

"We're here! We're late! We're sorry, Rose!" Leo rushes into the room, boyfriend Henry in tow. The blonde leans down, kissing Rose's head.

Rose reaches back and offers an awkward sort of hug. "Thanks for coming, Leo. I know you're busy."

"Never too busy for you." Leo is jet lagged, coming off a huge win, as seeker for the Holyhead Harpies. The all female team is headed for the Quiddich World Cup, for the first time in history.

"It's my fault, I'm always slowing her down. The muggle airports are a nightmare!" Leo’s boyfriend, Henry, is a rather tall, lanky man, with chestnut curls that spring freely about his head. As it turns out, squibs can't travel far by apparating with a witch or wizard. So when they travel long distance, it's by plane.

"Tell us about it." Helen, Hermione's mother understands completely.

"Anytime we go on holiday, security is barmy! They on flagged me because I forgot about my shoe buckle. They checked our luggage twice and we missed the entire flight." Hermione’s father, chimes in.

The conversation sparks Arthur's interest. In his humble opinion, muggle endeavors are more interesting than most magical ones.

Leo sets a large rectangular box near the growing pile at Rose's feet with a wink.

"What is it?" Albus inquires.

"You'll have to wait and see." Leo shrugs, ruffling his hair.

The Malfoy's are known for their extravagant gifts. This stems largely from Draco's upbringing. Gifting is his love language, Rosanna is showered in jewelry and clothing and handbags. Their children are no different, it is their father's way of showing just how much he adores them.

Rosanna accepts graciously and encourages others to do the same. This is particularly hard for Ron. Who for the longest time, thought Draco was just boasting about how wealthy he was.

The other children twiddle about, watching the gifts unwrap.

"Stop, James!" Polaris swats the boy's nagging hand away. He’s been tugging at her white blonde hair.

"Well if your big head weren't in the way." James remarks with wicked grin, giving another tug on her locks.

"Quit, James, I'm serious." Polaris pulls the end of her ponytail over one shoulder.

"No. I'm Sirius, James Sirius." He is a shameless flirt.

"That isn't funny, you must realize that." Vega scowls.

"Don't be so hard on him, he's trying." Roxanne, Angelina and George's daughter, remarks. "Can't all be blessed with the funny gene."

————————————————————————

When things are good, they’re good. But when it rains, it pours.

Rosanna stomps toward her husband's office. Fuming down the hallway, past her coworkers with the latest issue of the Daily Prophet, clenched in her first.

Draco's door opens for her, on command, "sweetheart." He greets, from behind his desk. A bit of green apple still trapped between his teeth. “What’s happened?"

Rosanna slams the paper down onto the desktop, hand trembling as she does. "He can't go in September."

Draco sighs, skimming the front page. 'Desperate for male heir, Draco Malfoy acquired a time turner to have wife impregnated by He Who Shall Not Be Named. Scorpius Malfoy, son of the dark lord and Rosanna Malfoy is set to attend Hogwarts this coming fall.”

"It's too wordy, Skeeter has lost her touch." Draco shrugs, brushing the paper aside.

"Scorpius can't go to Hogwarts." Rosanna wraps both arms around herself.

"Of course he's going. Come off it." Draco can feel a throb take up in his left temple.

"Did you read what she said?” Rosanna's tone verges on hysterical. "What she's implying-"

"Is as disgusting as it is far fetched." Draco says, dismissively. "No one's going to believe this rubbish."

"You don't understand." Rosanna shakes her head, making to leave.

Draco stops her, leaning his body heavily against the door, blocking her exit. "Enlighten me." He taps her temple twice, before resting his hand against the side of her neck.

She fills his mind with hushed whispers and sideways glances. The apologetic smiles from members of her department, snickers and sneers from the last man brought in for questioning.

"You'd never do it for him, you know?" The man scoffed, teeth rotting out of his foul mouth. "You reek of desperation and remorse. You're pretty poppet; but you're weak. The dark lord couldn't get up for you."

"That's just ridiculous," Draco mutters, as they finally break apart. "Any man could get up for you."

"This isn't a joke." She snaps. "What if the other kids, or their parents see this and think-"

"No one who's anyone is going to believe this." Draco says again, softly. "He's been waiting to attend Hogwarts for years. We can't keep him home."

"What are we going to tell him?" They can shelter him at the manor. In their small group of friends, but not forever.

"We're going to tell him what we've told him a thousand times. People say things about our family that are vile, and moreover untrue." Draco understands this is hard, he knows she's frustrated. But they're on the same side and he doesn't want to fight.

"Rita's been saying Scorpius wasn't yours since he was born. But this...is the worst. How could she think that he-"

"Hush, love." Draco draws her into his chest, swaying her gently. "Scorpius is a wonderful, loving, smart, compassionate boy. He's our boy, and he's good."

————————————————————————

The months leading up to their youngest child's departure are torturous. They speak about the war, the parts they played. How sometimes they worked with opposing forces, but truly they always fought for each other. A vague rundown of their prophecy, briefly touching on the blurred lines they'd crossed while Rosanna was under the imperius curse. They mention Hermione's torture, the final battle, how choosing Harry allowed him to win.

Presenting their son with his own copy of their autobiography. "Through Love And By Love" by Draco and Rosanna Malfoy, was on the required reading list for seventh years.

Although he wouldn’t be reading it for sometime; each of their children was given a copy with their dedication on the first page.

'For Leo Selene, our every dream, the light at the end of the tunnel, and inspiration to write this story.'

'For Arlo Cressida, our reason to seek healing, the hope for a better future, and inspiration to share this story.'

'For Vega Juniper, our next chapter, the first half of our double trouble, the world is a better place for having you in it.'

'For Polaris Athena, our moving forward and second half spitfire, you burn as brightly as the star for which you are named.'

'For Scorpius Hyperion, our proof that history does not always repeat itself, and that things will get better; no matter how impossible it seems.'

Scorpius runs his fingertips over the scripture, "I know why you're worried about me. But I'm your son," he says, proudly. "If you can survive all of that," he clears his throat, "I can survive being called names."

"Some people suck," Rosanna tells him, leaning forward to take his hands. "Don't let them get under your skin. Always remember who you are."

"You'll have Albus and Rose there with you." Draco tacks on, "Your sisters too, if you need them; James, Teddy-"

"I know Dad," Scorpius cuts off his father with a lopsided grin.

Rosanna pulls back, before she bursts into tears. "You want some tea?" She runs a hand over Draco's hair.

He turns, slightly, kissing the inside of her wrist. "Tea would be nice."

————————————————————————

"Did you get the talk too then?" Rose asks, aboard the Hogwarts Express, after their parents and the train station have disappeared from view.

"You mean the birds and the bees? Yes, I did. It was awful, thanks for reminding me." Scorpius frowns.

"No, not that talk." Rose rolls her eyes.

"You mean about the Wizarding war?" Albus asks his cousin.

"Exactly...you in particular, Scorpius. How are you doing?" She puts her hand over his.

"I'm fine, Rose." He stammers, "it's weird though, my looks favor my Dad. I'm surprised no one's said she's not my real Mum."

"Everybody knows Skeeter's a tosspot." Albus shrugs. "And that's besides the point, if any of you are fathered by you know who, it's Polaris." The girl is a nightmare in her own right.

"Then Vega too, by default." Rose says disapprovingly. "They are identical twins; that means one embryo divided during-"

"Don't you think he's suffered enough without thinking about his Mum's embryos?" Albus scolds his cousin.

Scorpius smiles, "thanks, Al. What'd you say we try our luck flagging down the trolley? I want to try the chocolates."

————————————————————————

Arlo leaves her train car and Ravenclaw roommates, to wander down and check on her brother. Peeking through the glass window at her youngest sibling, having a laugh with Rose and Albus. The seats around them full of empty sweet wrappers.

She's about to knock and get his attention, when someone startles her.

"Is he someone I should know?" A burly, dark haired, boy asks. His door pulled open behind her.

"Excuse me?" Arlo turns quickly, it's not a voice she recognizes, heavily accented and deep.

"You are the third one to look in." The boy motions to Scorpius. “Is he special?"

"I guess that depends on who you ask," she shrugs. "He's my kid brother. I have three sisters, two are still students, we're supposed to look out for him."

"He is special then." The stranger nods.

"You're not from here." Arlo says with a smile. It's a breath of fresh air, meeting someone who has no clue what sodding Rita Skeeter and the Daily Prophet, has been saying about their family for years.

"What gave me away?" He laughs, flashing her a blinding grin.

"Well for starters, you've got a smidge of an accent. Any relation to Bulgarian Bon Bon, Viktor Krum?" She crosses her arms over her chest.

"Bulgarian Bon Bon?" He's never heard the term.

"Never mind, it's just a thing-" she shakes her head.

He grins. "I am Marko Petrov."

"Arlo Malfoy." She extends her hand for a shake.

"Nice to meet you, my Arlo." The tall man takes her hand gently, pressing his lips to the back.

"Just Arlo," she stammers, breathlessly.

"I will learn." He takes a step back, bowing his head.

"Honest mistake." Arlo waves away his concern, "so what brings you to Hogwarts?"

"My mother passed away three years ago." Petrov explains.

"Oh, I’m sorry."

"My father’s new wife was teaching in Bulgaria. But her home is here." Marko tells his new found friend.

Arlo nods.

"Now we’re here." His voice is pleasant. The longer he speaks, the more Arlo wants to listen.

"I've gotta get back to my friends. But you can come sit with us, if you want." Arlo offers, waving him back toward her seat.

"What about your brother?" The transfer student asks.

"Scorpius is fine." Arlo assures him, he hasn't even noticed her standing in the doorway; for what was, at this point, an obscene amount of time.

"Scorpius?"

"We're all named after stars and constellations," Arlo explains. "It's kind of stupid, but it's a thing."

————————————————————————

Over the next few days, Draco and Rosanna receive daily letters from their children. Knowing from past experience, that they will die down after the first month.

"We have another Slytherin." Rosanna shakes the parchment at her husband as he lounges on the couch. Feet propped up on the coffee table, reading over a case file.

They had a Gryffindor, then a Ravenclaw, another Gryffindor and finally a Slytherin with Polaris, now again with Scorpius.

"Shall we head down to Diagon Ally and pick up him up a few robes?" The man is grinning at the news, taking the note to read for himself. "We can make a day of it."

"Sure, I'm gonna hop in the shower quick." She kisses the top of his head.

Rosanna loves his hair, she always has. So when he came to her, three years ago, and asked how she felt about him letting it grow out; Ro was all for it.

‘See if you like it, if not, cut it off, it's only hair.' She laughs, stopping him from agonizing over the prospect any longer.

Now it hangs well past his shoulders.

Draco sets the letter aside, venturing up the stairs to their washroom. He can hear the steady stream of the water, over Rosanna's singing. She has quite a pleasant voice, thick and sweet like honey.

He opens the door, stripping off his clothes. They haven't had a shag in the shower for years.

Rosanna hears rustling outside of the, sliding, glass door. Popping her head out. "Baby?"

"Who else?" He chuckles.

"Alright, smart ass, you wanna piece of me?" Rosanna arches a brow at him.

"Actually," Draco half smirks, "yes I do."

"You're a pervert, Malfoy, has anyone ever told you that?" She watches her husband step inside.

"Don't act like you don't enjoy it, Malfoy." He slides the door closed behind him, trapping in the warm air.

Rosanna smiles, with a shake of her head. "What if I don't?"

Draco tips her chin up, her eyes locked on his; burning with desire. Swiping his thumb over her bottom lip. "Shall I go then? Since you don't appreciate my advances."

"No." Her breath grows shallow, as he backs her against the tile wall.

"Better choose your words more carefully, my darling. Someone might get their feelings hurt." The corners of his mouth turn upwards.

She nods, mouth suddenly dry.

Draco blinks at her expectantly. "Why don’t you tell me what it is you want?”

"You." The confession slips past her lips, easy as breathing. "I want you."

"Care to be a bit more specific?" He nuzzles his nose against hers. "Seeing as I already belong to you in every way imaginable."

"I want-"

He moves his leg between hers, pressing against the apex of her thighs. "What?" He pulls back, when her lips search for his.

She whines, squirming against him. "Draco."

"You're not very articulate today, sweetheart.” The man taunts. "Shall I go first?"

"Yeah, that'd be good." Ro says, lips parted, slightly.

"I want to fuck you, against this wall. I want your fingers twisted in my hair, tugging and releasing, because they can't decide which pleases them more.” His voice is hypnotic, intoxicating. "I want your lips against mine, when you can't be bothered with kisses and just whimper until you cum. I want you to remember what it feels like to have me so deep inside that your pretty little cunt is sore. I want you full with my child, again." Draco purrs against her ear.

Oh. She mulls over his proposition while sliding the elastic band down hair. Fanning it out to frame his face, as best she can. "Yes, please."

"Please, what?" He murmurs, over the warm spray of the water.

"Please, fuck me." The cheeky little thing guides his mouth to hers.

"And what of my other request?" Draco inquires, if she says no, he'll cast the sodding protection charm; he needs to be inside her.

"Do it.” She agrees, “now.”

"You've never been one for delayed gratification. I've loved that about you since I was a boy." Draco confesses, sealing his lips over hers and lifting her up so that soft legs wrap around his waist.

Rosanna moans into his mouth, as his length fills her. "Shit, baby," her head thunks against the shower wall.

Draco sucks bruises into the exposed skin of her neck. Moving to her nipples with the same suction, one hand pressed against her back, keeping her arched toward him.

"You are so lovely," he whispers. "All mine."

Rosanna tugs his hair, pulling him back up to her. "Yours," she sighs, contently, against his lips.

His hands grope her bum, greedily. Thrusting harder, brushing against the spot that drives her mad.

"I love you, I love you, I love you." She chants like a prayer, nails raking over his pale skin.

"I love you." Draco replies, because there's not a proper word for how he feels about her. So he settles for love. Making her cum twice and swallowing her breathy whines.

“Fuck,” she begins to protest as his nimble fingers snake between them, teasing her sensitive clit. “Draco.”

“Cum on my cock again,” he orders.

“Please,” she whimpers, not entirely sure what she’s pleading for. The coil in her lower belly tightens, the sensation almost painful.

“Hush, my sweetheart.” He doubles the speed of his ministrations, guiding her lips back to his. “I’ll give you everything you want.”

Colors explode behind her eyelids, release washing over her in searing waves, never seeming to wane.

Draco follows her over the edge. Where you go, I go.

————————————————————————

The paper’s headlines remain cruel. Granting no clemency.

'Bandaid baby to mend Rosanna and Draco Malfoy’s crumbling marriage."

'Leo Malfoy to wed squib, further besmirching bloodline.'

'Arlo Malfoy's suspected teen pregnancy with Bulgarian transfer student.’

'Vega Malfoy caught snogging roommate Arlene Fischer.'

'Polaris Malfoy attempts woo James Potter, nearly one year her junior.'

'Scorpius Malfoy, son of the Dark Lord and Rosanna Malfoy, sorted Slytherin.'

———————————————————————-

The children return home for Christmas. Rosanna pops in to say goodnight to each of them. Her second oldest daughter being the last stop. "Arlo, can we talk?"

She cuts her mother off. "I'm not pregnant."

"I know." Rosanna assures her. "I'm sure you're being safe."

Arlo sits up, motioning for Mum to join her on the bed. "We're not... doing that. I'm not ready. No offense, but I don't envy you. Having a kid right now- I don't think I could do it."

"You could, if you had to." Rosanna tells her, softly, "you think you can't. But somehow you just do."

Arlo offers her the brush, off of the bedside table. Turning so that her mother can braid her hair, like when she was a little girl. "Didn’t it ever piss you off? That you couldn’t finish school or do what you wanted?"

"Before I had Leo; I worried I wouldn't be able to bond with a child that I wasn't ready to have. But when she was born I understood. All those plans, goals, dreams, the things I wanted… didn't matter to me anymore. Because I was holding the entire world in my arms, she became my dream, she was everything I wanted. I felt the exact same way each and every time I held you. I wanted you, more than I wanted anything else." Rosanna begins weaving soft tresses into a fishtail braid.

"You're a good Mum." Arlo tells her, just in case she doesn't know.

Rosanna gives her shoulder a squeeze, "I'm trying."

Arlo relaxes into her mother's calming touch. "I'm meant to read the book this summer. It's on the required list."

"I can talk to Head Master McGonagall, if you need more time. I'm sure she will make an exception." It isn’t meant to be a burden on any of their children.

"I had Marko read it early. He said it was a good read. He didn't realize that you wrote it actually, I had to explain it to him." She’s become quite taken with her Bulgarian boyfriend. "Anyway, he has some questions. I think I probably will too. After I'm finished, do you think it’d be alright for us to sit down with you and Dad...and talk?"

"Yeah, of course, we can do that." Rosanna secures the elastic at the end of Arlo's strawberry blonde plat. She leans forward, kissing the back of her daughter's head.

"One more thing." Arlo catches Rosanna's wrist. "You said, in your dedication, that I was the reason to share your story. I think that's beautiful, but why me?"

"A lot of people expected different things after the war. They expected me to take Leo and leave your Dad. They expected me to press charges and send him to Azkaban. They expected me to lean heavily into my friends, because they were 'good' and the Malfoy's weren’t.” It's hard to think back to that dark time, after the war. When the world was quite literally in shambles.

“There was a moment of panic. How could we stop pretending like nothing happened; but at the same time let people know I was ok. I wasn't with your dad because of a curse, or a prophecy, or because he was the father of my child. I was with him because I love him. That was the story I wanted to tell; and I wanted to tell it for you. It never really stopped the media circus or the side ways glances. But you deserve to have all the facts in one place." Rosanna twists her hands in her lap, restlessly.

"Didn't you ever want the glory?" Arlo wonders, turning to search Rosanna's eyes.

"For a long time I thought I was going to die, that your dad was going to die. I thought I'd never see my parents again. Or my friends,” Rosanna tells her daughter. "Being here, married to your dad and getting to see my friends happy, with kids of their own, watching all of you grow up together. That is the glory for me."

"And your card comes inside the chocolate frog box." Arlo reminds her.

"That's pretty cool too." Rosanna laughs.

Part 10

[wizardingworldlibrary]

Christmas Gift Shopping Masterlist

Because I Love You (ao3) - starrnobella hermione/draco G, 1k

Summary: A agreement gets put in place and then one person goes against the deal. How much do you like shopping for Christmas presents at the last minute?

Be My Homeward Dove (ao3) - allwaswell16 draco/harry E, 7k

Summary: It's almost Christmas, and Draco must find Harry the perfect gift. It's much more difficult than he'd imagined.

Christmas Spirit (ao3) - Florian_Gray draco/harry G, 5k

Summary: Draco Malfoy is hired on as the potions master at Hogwarts. Harry wants all of his students to have the best Christmas ever, so he goes for Draco for help. Will it work out? Or will it all go down in flames.

Everything Gold Can Stay (ao3) - charingfae hermione/draco T, 4k

Summary: Draco Malfoy would give all the money in his vault for a chance to woo Hermione Granger. And he very nearly does. Year after year, he gifts her the most perfect, thoughtful, elaborate Christmas presents. So why in Merlin's name does she keep getting mad?

One of these years, he's bound to get it right. Isn't he?

Found family (ao3) - TracingPatterns sirius/remus G, 3k

Summary: Harry wants to get Sirius a Christmas gift, but what do you give a godfather that you don't even know? He asks Remus for help.

Set during Order of the Phoenix, Christmas at Grimmauld Place.

Lights and Candy, Turning Prettily (ao3) - ebbet draco/harry T, 10k

Summary: In which Draco Malfoy pretends to enjoy hot chocolate, Pansy Parkinson quotes the Grinch, Greg Goyle enjoys canapés, and Blaise Zabini says what everyone's thinking.

Lost in a Store (ao3) - Mariana_Monteverde neville/pansy T, 533

Summary: In October 2003, Pansy and Neville start their Christmas Shopping...

My heart wasn't in it. (ao3) - Chlobliviate sirius/remus T, 2k

Summary: Sirius asks Remus to help him with his Christmas shopping.

Santa Knows Best (ao3) - FaeOrabel james/lily, sirius/remus T, 2k

Summary: James and Sirius are losing their minds over Christmas break trying to figure out what to get their new significant others. They don't want to screw it up now that the people they have been pining after for seven years have finally given them a chance. At their wits' end, they ask James' mom for help. Taking her suggestion, they find themselves wandering a Muggle Christmas Festival.

Small Decisions (ao3) - Meiri hermione/harry G, 1k

Summary: The Potters are spending Christmas in Perth with the Grangers, and doing some shopping at a local craft market.

Sweetheart (ao3) - FED_NS hermione/snape G, 4k

Summary: It's been ten years after the war. Hemione Granger and Severus Snape work together in the Department of Mysteries. Upon returning from Christmas shopping that the two of them did together, Hermione sees an obviously romantically intended gift to an unknown woman, and realizes two things: first — they accidently switched a bag or two, and second does not even bare being thought of… Kind of. Probably.

This Christmas (will be one to remember) (ao3) - orpheous87 draco/harry T, 22k

Summary: Harry and Draco make plans for Christmas and the story will follow them through the month of December as they prepare for a different Christmas to the ones they've had in the past.

‘tis the damn season (Pansy’s Version) (ao3) - thefrancakes pansy/ron T, 8k

Summary: “Have I mentioned I hate Christmas?” Pansy ventured, eyeing the magical coffee machine and surrounding holiday decor with skepticism.

“No one hates Christmas,” Ron scoffed, though his grin never left his face. “You hate the crazies or the capitalism or the earworms, but no one hates Christmas itself.”

“I do,” Pansy shot at him.

He snorted a laugh. “Okay, Pansy, whatever you say.”

He said it very unconvincingly, and if his lopsided smile said anything, he definitely did not believe her.

Pansy fumed, tucking her hair behind her ear, and tried to not focus on how he called her by her name or how much she liked it.

Wrapped (ao3) - In_Dreams hermione/draco T, 5k

Summary: While preparing for the annual war orphans' Christmas party with an unexpected assistant, Hermione is reminded that what matters most is below the surface.

[jadedandconfusedao3]

Changing Places

It is update day and we had a new cover for PPPfSUWW. The chapter is called, "Changing Places" and we find out what Ginny thinks of the gift Harry left for her last week and Hermione and Draco discuss their relationship.

Theo was hot. Hotter than he had any right to be on what was supposed to be a brisk autumn morning. Something heavy was pressing him down into the soft mattress, and with alarm he realised that said heavy thing was also snoring softly into his ear, every breath pushing more hot air over his face.

He opened his eyes and was met with the steely frown of Ginevra Potter who was lying on her side next to him with her head propped up on one arm.

The memories suddenly came flooding back. Harry. The heavy thing was Harry.

“This is not what it looks like.”

Ginny hissed, “I don’t give a shit about what it looks like, Theo.”

Harry groaned and pulled Theo further into him smacking his lips in the process. Whilst not breaking eye contact with Ginny he moved an arm down and tried to lever each one of Harry’s fingers from his skin. Harry’s arm snapped to attention and grasped harder whilst pushing into his back. Theo bit his lip. Harry was hard and pressing deliciously into his arse.

“No,” Harry murmured. “Present.” He rutted slowly into Theo. “For Ginny.”

Theo froze and then gulped. “He made me come back here.”

Ginny leaned forward. “Of course, he did. He knows where his bread is buttered.”

Theo shifted, trying to get more comfortable. “I feel like we’re having two separate conversations here. If you’re not angry about this,” He gestured between himself and Harry, “What are you angry about?”

Her hand darted out and grasped his chin. “I’m angry because I found out that after I complied with the shit that you wanted to do right here in this room you went home and overdosed on potions for three days.”

She pushed his chin back as she let go and he brought his hand up to rub it. He was taken slightly aback. Draco and Pansy had been at him for years over his addiction. What did it matter? He wasn’t hurting anyone. He was a grown man and could find his pleasure where he saw fit.

“What the fuck does that have to do with you!?”

She rocked back as though he had hit her, face falling. She pushed herself up and crossed her arms across her chest. Her breath hitched and she looked away. Theo frowned. On closer inspection, he could see that her clothes were crinkled. Her dark, red-rimmed eyes looked haunted.

Beside him, Harry sat up. “Don’t be an arsehole, Theo.”

He was naked and mussed from sleep, his hair poking out at all angles, rubbing his face as he hunted about for his glasses. Even after all these years, he could still take Theo’s breath away. Harry crawled over Theo and pulled Ginny into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder, and he rubbed his arms down her back.

“It’s ok. I found him.” He murmured.

continue reading on Ao3:

[browneyesandhair]

Harry Potter Rec Fest Day 24: A Holiday Fic

Thanks to @hprecfest for organizing this event! Please see below for some fun holiday fics!

The Granger-Malfoy’s First Annual Secret Santa by Anonymous*

Summary:

For their first holiday season as a married couple, Hermione and Draco decide to introduce their friends to the Muggle tradition of Secret Santa.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences; No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood/Ron Weasley, Theodore Nott/Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley/Blaise Zambini, Neville Longbottom/Pansy Parkinson

Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Christmas Party, Secret Santa, Holiday Traditions, Married Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Everyone else is kind of pining, Fluff, POV Multiple

Coming Home for Christmas by Anonymous*

Summary:

A near-constant stream of letters passed between Hermione Granger and Viktor Krum after the Triwizard tournament. Between a series of infrequent but cherished holiday visits, they strengthen their bond with words. Even when they can't write their past letters serve as a reminder of what is waiting for them. After the smoke clears from the Battle of Hogwarts and life moves forward, Hermione decides it is time to stop leaving after the holidays. She goes to Bulgaria on Christmas Eve to proclaim her love and ask to stay. Viktor tells her to come and intends to ask her never to leave. Written for the 2023 Yuletide & Mulled Wine Harry Potter Holiday Fest. My chosen prompt was Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande.

Rating: Explicit; No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship: Hermione Granger/Viktor Krum

Additional Tags: Everyone but main couple are only mentioned, Not Canon Compliant, Pre-Second Wizarding War With Voldemort (Harry Potter), Post-Second Wizarding War with Voldemort (Harry Potter), Hogwarts Eighth Year, Kinda, not visible relationship, letters, love letters, so many letters, holiday visits, fluff and angst, emotional hurt/comfort, getting mentally healthy, pining Ron Weasly,, Kissing, touching, oral sex, penis in vagina sex, loss of virginity, Christmas, not epistolary, smut, happy ending,

A Perfectly Normal Christmas by Anonymous*

Summary:

Hermione should have realized Christmas was doomed when the mistletoe spontaneously caught fire. This was all somehow Draco Malfoy's fault, and now she can't seem to stop running into him everywhere.   Written for the 2023 Yuletide & Mulled Wine Harry Potter Holiday Fest.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences; No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Humor, Fluff and Humor, Banter, Squabbling, Christmas Eve, Romantic Comedy, 2023 Yuletide & Mulled Wine Harry Potter Holiday Fest, POV Hermione Granger, Mistletoe, Comedy, Christmas, Peacocks, Alcohol, Magical Accidents, Suggestive Themes, Explicit Language, Implied Sexual Content, Mythical Beings & Chreatures, Family Dinners, Chaos, Happy Ending, Fluff,

The Christmas Party by Anonymous*

Summary:

Robards hosts a Christmas party for the Ministry but his gift-giving plan goes awry when everything gets swapped. Firewhiskey shots are introduced and Draco worries someone else will get the present he chose for Hermione.

Rating: Mature; No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationship: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Additional Tags: DMLE | Department of Magical Law Enforcement (Harry Potter), holiday party, Secret Santa, white elephant, mutual pining, Inspired by The Office (TV), Robards has one too many wrackspurts floating around, Minor Neville Longbottom/Pansy Parkinson,

*This post is scheduled, so the authors are anonymous when I'm writing it, but when you go to the link when this post is live on 12/24, the authors should be revealed.

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 17: In the 13th Year...

Fandom: Harry Potter (Hogwarts years 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist: @ocappreciationtag​ @arrthurpendragon​ @anotherunreadblog​ @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @foxesandmagic

Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

A huge stack of letters was threatening to fall from Romina's desk. Most were open and, since several of her friends had the idea to send Romina gifts for her 13th birthday last month, the floor was covered with different wizarding gifts (except for Harry's, Hermione's and Arden's, of course). Carolinha Paes had gifted Romina a wonderful box of creamy nougat chunks. Angel had sent in a leather-bound green journal with enchanted doodles on the edges. Pansy Parkinson sent in a fashionable scarf and Daphne Greengrass had sent in a beautiful heart-shaped charm bracelet. The Weasley twins sent one of their crazy fireworks that they swore would "start the party in the muggle world". Hermione thought that a Sherlock book was a good idea, and Arden and Harry had teamed up to give Romina a Supergirl comic she'd been eyeing just after they returned from Hogwarts. All in all, they were wonderful presents...if Romina had been herself.

The thirteen year old girl washed her face in her bathroom, scrubbing hard at the birthmark near her left earlobe and was deeply disappointed (and frustrated) that it wouldn't come off. She knew of course that it would never work, but it didn't mean she wouldn't try. She dropped the towel from her face and took a good look at herself, once more disappointed with what she saw. She was a bit taller now, and her black hair was seemingly, finally, turning into defined curls. Her dark brown eyes were still big and her eyebrows more defined.

"No," Romina spat at herself and turned away. "No, no, no, no!" she stormed out of the bathroom and went straight into her room.

A knock interrupted her moment and she quickly went to her bed, practically diving into it. Her hands pushed a wrinkled picture under her pillow, and for security measures, she put a Velvet heart-shaped pillow over it. Then she quickly went to open up.

"Auntie, I already told you I'm not hungry—"

"I'm not your aunt!" Arden King exclaimed, playfully offended.

Romina turned away from her best friend. "Arden, I don't want to go out. I told you that already."

"Yeah, I know," Arden walked in after Romina, "And that's what you told me yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that...and all last week…" And the week before that. It was a growing theme and Arden was getting tired of it.

Romina stopped by the vanity mirror and stared at herself with such contempt it looked like she despised herself. Arden didn't notice because of the mess in the room.

"Jeez, Romina, what's happening to you?" Arden walked by Romina's closet which looked like it had thrown up most of its contents. "You're almost as messy as Fabian!"

"I need different things," Romina said curtly. She grabbed strands of her hair and poked at them.

Arden left the closet and noticed the amount of letters on the desk. "What's all this?"

"Letters, obviously," Romina shrugged and went back to her bed. Her hands kept pulling at the tips of her hair. She needed to come up with an idea about what to do with it.

Arden shuffled through the letters and noticed some of them were still unopened. "Hey, this one's from Pansy," she crinkled her nose. "The hell does she write to you for?" She tossed the letter to the floor and continued going through the rest. "These are from Angel. Boy, he definitely writes to you a lot." There was a decent pile of just his letters. She raised another letter with neatly written cursive inside. "Hermione's in France? That's so cool."

"Arden, was there something you needed?" Romina scratched her head. She didn't want to be rude but she also didn't want to speak to anyone right now.

"Yeah," Arden whirled around with a new letter in hand, "We're supposed to go buy a present for Harry, remember? His birthday's tomorrow."

Romina sighed. "No offence but I don't really want to go out."

"That's funny, I don't remember asking," Arden cooly retorted and walked to the side of the bed where Romina sat. "I asked your aunt and uncle already and they thought it was a good idea for you to go out before you nest in here. Let's go!"

"Arden, I don't want to," Romina weakly said but Arden wouldn't listen. She practically dragged Romina out of the room, down the stairs, and shouted 'we're leaving!' to Lyonel and Sage.

~0~

When Arden's family had separated from the girls in the mall, Arden dragged Romina into the first store they saw which turned out to be a music store. As Romina got sidetracked by the miniature jukeboxes on a wooden shelf, Arden stared at a violin.

"Does Harry like anything music related? I can't remember."

"I don't know," Romina shrugged her shoulders. "He's never mentioned it."

"Probably cos that aunt and uncle don't even bother to let him explore his musical talents," Arden dramatically waved a hand.

"Harry likes reading, what are we doing here?" Romina turned away from the jukeboxes.

Arden cheekily pointed at the violin on display. "Check it out, I'm asking my parents for this for Christmas. Mine's getting old. This one is almost the same as the one your aunt and uncle gave you for your birthday. It's a shame you quit violin classes though. Why'd you do that, again?"

Romina gave a shrug of her shoulders. "I didn't have the energy anymore."

But that wasn't true, and Arden knew it. If there was one thing Romina Oswell loved, it was playing the violin. There was something odd going on with Romina that had both Arden and Harry a little concerned. All of a sudden, Romina had gone from her lively, sarcastic self to a quiet, barely seen girl. It was a miracle she was out right now and Arden suspected it was only because this was about Harry, her closest friend, otherwise Romina would be locked away in her bedroom like she had been all month.

It was early in the evening when Romina, Arden and her family returned to the neighborhood. Romina politely thanked Mr. and Mrs. King for taking her along and then swiftly moved to her own house.

"Rom, hold on!" Arden skipped over her mother's petunias to catch up. "Do you want me to wrap Harry's present? I don't mean to brag but I have some mean wrapping skills—"

"Yeah, that's fine," Romina quietly said, cutting off Arden's smile.

"Well...do you want me to come by tomorrow for—"

"I have to go, Arden," Romina gave a bleak smile and rushed into her house.

Arden shook her head and returned to her family.

Romina skipped dinner and went straight to her room. She nearly tripped over the letter Arden had left near the bed and bent over to pick it up. It was Hermione's latest letter that arrived in the morning. With a sigh, Romina climbed onto her bed and opened up the parchment.

'Dear Romina,

I'm on holiday in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you — what if they'd opened it at customs? — but then Hedwig turned up! Harry sent her to me yesterday and I think he wants me to ask you how you're doing? Both he and Arden have mentioned you've been in your bedroom for most of this month now. I think if Ron wasn't so enthralled with his visit to Egypt, he would have noticed your lack of letters by now. What's happening, Romina? Is there something you want to share with me? You know I would never tell a soul unless you wanted me to.

Or, if you'd rather talk it out in person, we could do it in London on the last week of the holidays. Ron (and hopefully Harry) will be there too. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September first!

Love from Hermione x

P.S. Did you hear that Percy's Head Boy this year? I'll bet Percy's really pleased. Ron doesn't seem too happy about it.

Romina closed the letter and put it beside her. She rubbed her face with exceptional frustration. What was she going to do? She couldn't look like them and not expect to be called out on it. She needed to figure out a solution before the school year started again.

~ 0 ~

The next day, Harry woke up a bit groggy from his tedious night practicing his new favorite spell "Lumos Maxima" all night. Despite it being his birthday, no one in the Dursley home paid any acknowledgement to it. Harry wasn't surprised and no longer dwelled on it. He had already received many things from his friends that night anyways. Those were the people he cared about. As he entered the kitchen, he saw his cousin Dudley was already eating and watching the television. His uncle Vernon was discussing the matters of Aunt Marge's visit with his aunt Petunia. Harry shivered within and grabbed a piece of toast from the table, not that Dudley saw. He was engrossed with a news reporter apparently.

"Now before I go get Marge from the train station, we need to get a few things straight," Vernon stopped in front of Harry. Harry dreaded the requirements he would be subjected into no matter what.

The old hag of Marge hated him and he hated her.

"First, you'll keep a civil tongue in your head when you're talking to Marge. Secondly, as Marge doesn't know anything about your abnormality, I don't want any — any funny stuff while she's here. You behave yourself, got me?"

"I will if she does," Harry muttered under his breath.

Vernon glowered at the boy but kept going. "And third, we've told Marge you attend St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys—"

"WHAT!?" Harry nearly lost it. He had no idea what the hell his uncle and aunt had been telling the rest of the neighborhood where Harry was attending school. He knew it wasn't like Romina's and Arden's family - the two families got together to say the girls went to a London preparatory boarding school.

Just as Vernon was getting ready to leave, someone knocked on the door. Muttering under his breath how it better not be the newspaper boy again, Vernon opened the door. Arden was on the other side, a cheery smile on her face.

"Whatever you're selling, we're not buying," Vernon went to shut the door despite needing to go out.

Luckily, Arden was quick enough to stick a foot between the door and its hinge. "I'm Arden, your neighbor. I'm here to see Harry."

"What?" Vernon glowered at the girl, probably trying to remember the identity of her.

Arden rolled her eyes and spoke again. "Can I just see Harry now? I won't be long."

"Make it quick, he's got work to do," Vernon warned and stepped out to head to his car.

"Harry?" Arden called from the threshold. She had plenty of experience dealing with the Dursleys and how awful they were. After all, they grew up together on the same block. Before Hogwarts, it was her, Harry and Romina.

Harry came into the foyer a minute later, surprised by her visit but nonetheless grateful. He was desparate for contact with nice people. "Hey Arden, what's going on?"

"Happy birthday, Harry," Arden held out a nicely wrapped blue present she'd been keeping behind her back. She knew that the Dursleys tended to keep anything good away from Harry so she got exceptional at hiding gifts from them. "It's from Romina and me. Hope you like it."

Harry smiled and gave her the proper thanks before he opened it up. It turned out to be a book by the name of The Shadow Rising. "Wow! Thanks!"

"I know it's not wizarding stuff but, you know…" Arden meekly shrugged, but Harry was happy with what he got. "Apparently, this was published last year in September and it's gotten pretty popular. There's rumors about a sequel coming. Something to catch up on."

"Right, okay," nodded Harry. Ever since they started Hogwarts, he, Romina and Arden tried to catch up with the Muggle world and their news when they were home for the summer. While Harry didn't really talk to many people down the block, Romina and Arden did and it sounded very weird to their muggle friends when they had no idea who the latest pop sensation was or the best series of the moment.

"The guy behind the counter swore that it was popular," Arden said, while Harry examined the cover.

"Thanks, Arden!" He gave her a hug then looked past Arden. "Hey, is Rom here?"

Arden shook her head, and Harry slowly stopped smiling. His eyes flickered to the right where he could see a glimpse of Romina's house. For the past weeks, Romina had ceased to come out of her house and much less to talk with him and just about anyone else. It came out of nowhere.

"I'm worried," Arden admitted. "She doesn't seem like herself. She isn't herself. You should see her room. It's covered with unopened letters and her closet looks like it puked all of her clothes out. And she keeps pulling her hair — is that like some anxiety thing she picked up on?"

"I have no idea," Harry said. "And there's not much we can do right now. We'll have to wait till we're in school to really talk to her." There was no way the Dursleys were letting him out of their sight while Mag was around. And besides, Romina wasn't letting them come in anyways.

"Yeah, then she'll have no choice but to talk to one of us," Arden smirked, making Harry chuckle. Arden had a thing with words - what she felt she said no matter how blunt they were.

It was something he liked about her from the start.

~ 0 ~

Back at Romina's house, her aunt and uncle had called her downstairs, with no exception. Romina came trudging down the staircase, hearing the living room television going on and on about some new escapee from prison. She found her aunt and uncle in the kitchen with a Hogwarts letter.

"Look what just arrived?" Lyonel waved it in his hand. Romina remained blank.

"We were thinking about Diagon Alley next week?" Sage asked. Neither of them had a clue of Ron's and Hermione's plan to meet up much later.

"Sure," Romina shrugged and turned to leave when her uncle called her back.

"We need to talk—"

"No, we don't," Romina wearily responded.

"Yes, we do," Lyonel assured, quite serious now. "This concerns our family and sooner or later you're going to hear about it in school."

"Why?" Romina's stomach churned. If it had to do with their family then it meant nothing good.

Lyonel sighed and got up, taking Romina back to the living room where the news was still broadcasting. "You see that man there?" Lyonel pointed at the television where a snippet of a criminal's picture was being displayed for the public. He looked positively mad, dirty and...mad.

"Yeah, he's been all over the television for the past week now," Romina once again shrugged her shoulders. "Sirius Black, wasn't it?"

"Well, there's something you should know…" Lyonel exchanged an unsure glance with his wife who was slowly approaching them. "Sirius Black is a wizard who escaped from Azkaban."

"What?" Romina gaped and quickly saw the television again in a new light. "But he's...but he's right there! He's a muggle! He's—"

"I'm sure the Minister of Magic has informed the muggle Prime Minister about it since Black is one of the worst criminals ever."

"What did he do?" Romina quietly asked, dreading the answer.

"Well…" Sage began, "...it was rumored that he was a double spy for you-know-who and that...well, in the end...he worked with your parents."

"My brother," Lyonel said grimly.

Romina closed her eyes and waved a hand for them to stop, begging them actually. "No, I don't want to listen anymore. I can't!"

"You need to know this before you go back to school. We don't want your first year to repeat itself," Lyonel reached for her but Romina stepped away.

"But that's just it, isn't it? It's never going to stop! I am their daughter and I can't do anything about it and it sucks! I hate it! I hate this family so much you don't even understand," Romina gritted her teeth. Both her aunt and uncle were startled with the ferocity in their niece's eyes, the tight fists clenched on either side of her. "I wish I could change my name, my last name at least. Have a fair chance, you know? Do we have any other family?" She looked at Sage and Lyonel desperately. "Anybody?"

The adults exchanged glances with each other and ultimately told Romina that it was just them.

Romina rubbed the tears from her face. "I fucking hate this family," she muttered and rushed towards the stairs.

When they heard the door of her bedroom slamming shut, Sage heaved a sigh. "I don't know, Lyonel, she's starting to ask...maybe we should tell her."

Lyonel shook his head. "No," he said sternly, "She's 13 now. She's been at Hogwarts for 2 years now and they never even tried to contact her."

"You told them not to," Sage said quietly, her eyes flickering up at the stairs. "Right in the beginning, you told them not to."

"What did you expect?" Lyonel shrugged. "My brother committed the worst atrocities and Elora was no better. I know my family and what they did, I wasn't going to risk Elora's family turning out to be the same."

"You and I both know that Elora's family is nothing like that. Last time I heard, they were doing just fine. Besides, history has reveled them as war heroes. I don't blame you for wanting to give Romina a clean slate, but it looks like right now she might need a different perspective on the world — on herself and her lineage. Maybe, it's time we told her the truth."

Lyonel insisted the opposite. "We've been fine this whole, and it'll be fine. Romina's 13, brand new teenager. This is just one of those mood swings we read about in the books."

Sage sincerely thought that it was something beyond that.

[draco-dormiens]

THE STRANGEST OF PLACES - Chapter Three

draco x fem!ravenclaw reader / postwar au series

warnings: conversation has sexual themes towards the end, strong language, alcohol, the characters are 18 in this story fyi :)

wc: 3906

masterlist

pls let me know if you want to be tagged!! tags below:

@slyth3rin-princess @lovesanimals0000 @cappgyuccino @lightning1ce @onlygetaway @honeyyypeach

Chapter Three - Christmas

Christmas Day Draco woke to another silent house. Through the curtains he saw snow hurtling down, a small heap pressed up against the window. As used to being alone as he was, your invitation had played on his mind ever since you left. If you asked because you felt sorry for him, then he'd rather you laugh in his face about how pathetic his life was instead. There was nothing Draco hated more than acts of sympathy, mostly because he was so sick of them. People would assume he needed comfort, or that he needed their company, but he had built himself a wall and he was perfectly happy staying alone within it. (Or so he had trained himself to believe, anyway)

He dressed himself and headed down the stairs, a Merry Christmas from the house elf along the way and stood by the tree to observe the gifts beneath it. His mother had left a note with his name on and several neatly wrapped gifts. He sat crossed legged on the floor and began reading his mother's note.

Merry Christmas, my dear. We hope you like your gifts. Wish you were here. Mother x

A smile crept across his face, putting the card down and ripping the first few open. It was the usual stuff, his favourite cologne, cauldron cakes, a knitted green jumper, new shoes, new suit, even a bottle of fire whiskey. He popped the cork out and sniffed the amber looking liquid, and suddenly a wave of memories came rushing back from his time at school, before all the madness and heartache. The first night he got drunk, he was almost sixteen, at the end of his fifth year. Himself, Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson snuck out into the night to drink and smoke cigarettes. He got so plastered that him and Pansy ended up in his private dorm room and one thing led to another. Does he regret it? He didn't really know. But Pansy thought that it meant they were destined for each other and became even clinger than normal after that. He took a swig of it and exhaled after, tasting the bitter, sugary substance on his lips. He kept sipping away at it as he opened the rest, and then took himself, the whiskey, and a box of cauldron cakes to the one drawing room he liked. With a flick of his wand, the fire was lit, and he plopped himself down on the couch for a long day of nothingness. After nearly half the bottle of fire whiskey and a tray of cauldron cakes, he started wondering what you might be doing right now, and then cursed himself out loud for even thinking it.

Your Christmas morning was very different. Draco had crossed your thoughts when you woke, but your mother had soon taken your mind off it when she burst through the bedroom door in a Santa hat and a hot cup of tea. The morning went by like it usually did in your house, presents, your younger siblings arguing over what the other one got (they get the exact same thing), and then a slap-up Christmas dinner and midday nap for your father. Being a muggle, he was huge fan of muggle alcohol, and kept a rather stocked up stash when it was Christmas. He'd drunk three glasses of wine before 12:30 and passed out in his armchair with a paper crown on his head from a cracker. You loved Christmas. It was about family, friendship, and the act of giving. Hermione had sent some peppermint toads and a Christmas card from her family, and Luna had crafted you a beaded necklace with your initial dangling from it. They should have opened their home baked cookies you had gifted them by now. After resting your stomachs for a while, you helped your mother wash the dishes as the rest of the house slept peacefully, a muggle Christmas movie going unwatched on the TV.

"So, how is that project of yours coming along?" your mother asks, "getting on with your partner?"

"He's fine," you tell her, drying off a dinner plate, "he's really stubborn and argumentative, likes everything his way and his way only, but apart from that he's okay. I think we're sort of friends at this point, but it's hard to tell with him."

"Oh my," your mother laughs, "he sounds like a treat. What's his name, again?"

"It's Draco. Draco Malfoy."

She froze for a moment, and you saw from the corner of your eye. She began scrubbing away again.

"I'm familiar," she tells you, looking across and smiling, "can't say I have that much of an opinion."

"I'm going to guess it's the same as everyone else's," you chuckle, "I'm not the biggest fan, but he seems to be mellowing a little since we started on the project."

"Maybe that's your influence," your mother nudges you, "you have that effect on people."

"Well, he complains at me a lot, so I doubt it. He's just one big mystery, I know nothing about him apart from that his parents leave him alone at Christmas."

"He's alone today?" your mother exclaims, passing you a soapy tray to dry, "that's awful. Did you invite him over?"

"I asked but I think I just made him feel awkward," you said, cringing at how shocked he looked, "we're only just getting on with one another."

You mother fell quiet for a second, and then left momentarily and returned with a wrapped present.

"Here," she says, handing it over to you with her yellow-gloved hand, "take this to him."

"What? I can't do that," you shake your head, looking at her like she'd just asked for your presents back, "we don't know each other well enough for me to just turn up at his doorstep, on Christmas."

"But he's alone, darling," you mother says softly, "and as a family, we never leave one out, even if they've made bad choices in the past. Go. Take them to him. It's only chocolates."

You sigh, knowing that it was a nice gesture. You wouldn't have to stay long, just take the chocolates, wish him well, and come home. It was an easy enough task.

"Fine," you say, taking the gift, "I'll be back soon. Thanks, mum."

Malfoy Manor looked as daunting as ever in the early evening dusk and white sheet of snow. It stood, grey and foreboding, with one light on in a top left window. You stood for a while contemplating whether this was a good idea, taking a few steps forward and then shuffling back.

"Just knock on the door, hand it over, and leave," you tell yourself, "It's just a nice gesture."

Taking a deep breath, you walked up to the doors and knocked. After a few minutes, the tiny house elf appeared at your feet. He smiled brightly.

"Merry Christmas, miss Y/L/N," he said, "are you here to see Master Malfoy?"

"Well, actually, I suppose you could pass these-"

"Y/L/N?"

You look up from the elf to see Draco stood just behind, dressed in his green hoodie and sweatpants. His hair is little more tousled than normal, and he's holding an empty cauldron cake box.

"Draco," you say, "I was just dropping this off for you."

He pads over to you, and the elf moves out of his way, but not before he shoves the empty packet into the elf's tiny arms.

"You bought me a gift?" He says, taking the box from your hands and eyeing the wrapping paper.

"I just thought, as you're alone today, you might like to see a familiar face," you tell him as he unwraps the bow from around the box, "even if it's mine."

He removes the packaging to reveal a box of chocolates, and the ghost of a smile curls at the corner of his mouth. Of course, he had lots of girls give him presents in the past, lots of secret admirers and heart shaped gifts, especially at Christmas. But this was different, this was an act of kindness and selflessness, and it was for him. He didn't understand why, but you were here, and suddenly he didn't feel so alone anymore.

"Thanks," he said, looking up at you and smiling a bit more, "that was, uh, real nice of you. You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," you shrug your shoulders, "I should probably get going. Merry Christmas, Draco."

"Wait," he calls, and you turn back to see him awkwardly stood in the doorway. That sounded far too eager, he thought, "do you want to come in for a bit? I can't offer you much, just tea. Think there's some cake somewhere. And we have these."

He held up the box of chocolates, and there was a hopeful glint in his eyes that you would say yes, although if you mentioned that he'd probably throw the box at you and slam the door in your face.

"Sure," you agree, thankful as the cold had started making your toes numb, "tea sounds great."

He took you inside and you walked through the now familiar corridors to the drawing room you first met him in, the fireplace roaring and empty boxes of cauldron cakes on the coffee table, along with an empty bottle of fire whiskey.

"Sorry about the mess," he says, quickly gathering up the rubbish, "I just sort of like cauldron cakes."

"Seems that way," you giggle, taking off your coat and basking in the heat of the fire, "is that all you've eaten today? And the whiskey, have you had any water?"

He stopped what he was doing and looked across at you warming yourself in front of the fire. The outfit you had on was nice, he thinks, but he physically shook his head to rid the thought. I need to slow down on the whiskey. You seemed so casual about asking him, like you were his mother or something, and it wasn't the first time you'd made him think of her, either.

"I uh, well, I haven't had time."

"Haven't had time?" you said, spinning to scold him directly, "Draco, just because it's Christmas doesn't mean you shouldn't eat properly. You need to eat some proper food."

He begins to grin, really grin, and it was strange but nice to see. It even made you smile back.

"What?"

"Have you come here to tell me off, Y/L/N?"

"No, of course I haven't," you defend yourself, going over to him and taking some of the rubbish from his hands, "and I don't tell you off, I inform."

He just keeps grinning, and you can't help thinking how nice his smile is. You look down at the empty whiskey bottle in your hand and contemplate knocking yourself out for a few hours.

"C'mon," he says, and you look back up at his smiling face, "I'll make us some tea."

Time seemed to go by so quickly from the minute you got there. You drank tea in his favourite drawing room whilst the fire burned away, played a game of chess, and after a glass or two of water, cracked open a bottle of wine and began drinking it. It was expensive wine, but Draco said that his mother had so much of it that it was almost a waste not to drink it. The entire time you were thinking about going home, but each time you thought about it the less you wanted to go. The wine was good, and surprisingly, so was the company. Draco was turning out to not be as tightly wound as you previously thought, especially with some wine in him.

"That is not how to you play this game," he slurs, glass half full in his hand, two almost empty wine bottles on the side. You giggle, and it's so infectious he can't help himself, and you know you've never been this drunk before, not even on your eighteenth birthday party.

"S-shut up," you hiccup through your laughter, trying to line the cue up with the ball on the pool table, "I know what I'm doing Malfoy, just w-watch."

You go to hit the ball and completely miss, breaking down into a fit of laughter, and so does he, and it's so refreshing to see someone who is always miserable laugh like that. He makes his way over to you, putting down the wine glass and taking your arms from behind.

"Look like this," he tries to show you how to hold it, chest pressed against your back but far too drunk to even care, "hold it like this, and then try."

He tries aiming you, but it fails miserably, and you both end up in another fit of laughter. You drop the cue, but Draco stays behind you, and your head falls back against his shoulder.

"You're so funny," you tell him, gasping for air as you did so. His laughter dies down, but you're still giggling to yourself.

"You think so?" he asks you, and you turn around, face an inch away from his and your cheeks are rosy and eyes hazy from the wine. You're pretty. He thinks you're pretty. Or does the wine think you're pretty? He didn't know right now. He was running on cauldron cakes, chocolates, whiskey, and wine. Oh, and some bread that you made him eat.

"Y-yeah," you hiccup again, "like, I find you really annoying but I kind of like it when you laugh. Is that weird? That's weird, right?"

"No," he shakes his head, feeling so dizzy he just might collapse, "I mean, I don't think it's weird? Is it weird that I think you're really pretty tonight?"

His words register slowly in your mind, and suddenly you feel a lot more sober, remembering you'd just said that you like it when he laughs.

"Woah," you chuckle breathlessly, pushing him away slightly for some space, "I think we've drank too much. My mum is going to murder me."

He starts to understand his words himself, and then repeating what you had said about his laugh, and his stomach does a small flip, and he thinks he might vomit.

"Yeah, way too much," he agrees, stepping away and leaning against the wall, "we should call it a night. Can you make it home?"

"Oh shit," you grumble, holding your stomach because of the nausea, "I cannot apparate like this, I'll be violently ill."

Draco runs a hand down his face. The room is practically spinning.

"You can stay in one of the spare rooms," he manages to get out, not without having to hold his head to stop the spiralling, "I have some clothes you can borrow."

You just nod, tired and drunk and in need of a toilet right now. You can explain to your mother tomorrow, when you're not wanting to throw up over a pool table that probably cost a million Galleons.

The room he gives to you is so neat and tidy you feel bad about using it, but it had a toilet to empty your guts into and water from the sink. After some serious glugs of water and a few moments over the toilet seat, you start to feel a bit better. Draco had disappeared for some time, doing the exact same thing, but he was standing over of his private bathroom sink after vomiting up everything he had digested that day. He looked across at the clock on the side. 1:30am. That's how long you had been there drinking with him. It had only felt like a few hours.

"Fuck," he mumbles to himself, looking up at his reflection. You'd only come to hand over a gift, and now you were being sick in his guest bathroom. He kept thinking about calling you pretty, and each time he feels like lurching again. How utterly embarrassing, he barely knows you.

"Merlin, I'm pathetic," he says to himself, pulling away from the sink and taking a few deep breaths. He heads towards your room and knocks on the door gently, and soon after it clicks open and you appear, looking much more yourself.

"Better?" he asks, and you just nod in relief.

"So much better," you sigh, "are you?"

"I'm just so hungry now," he says, and you laugh at his answer.

"Snacks?" you suggest, "I think I might need something to dry up the wine."

"Sounds good," he said, gesturing for you to follow him, "and I know the best place to eat them."

Draco's pantry is like a muggle supermarket. You tell him this, but it goes unappreciated. You both take an armful of biscuits, crackers, cheese, and Christmas cake, followed by a more sensible choice of pumpkin juice. He takes you to the very top floor of the house and into a room that you think is going to be the attic but ends up being like the Astronomy tower at Hogwarts. There's a giant window in the roof and all you can see is stars, moonlight shining in and casting a beautiful light across the room. It was breathtaking.

"I can't believe you have a place like this in your house," you say, putting down the snacks on the floor as Draco pulls out a huge blanket and lays it on the ground, "the best I have is my bedroom window."

"This is my favourite place," he admits, sitting down and patting the space beside him, which you take happily, "I come here a lot to think."

He screws open a pumpkin juice for you, and you take it with a thank you, as he begins opening all the snack packets and previewing each one as he did so. As he's munching and opening, you just stare up at the black sky with little white specs across it. It's all so far away, and you wonder who might be looking back at you and not knowing it. They might just think they're looking up at the stars, too.

"Thinking hard?" Draco asks, breaking your thoughts.

"I was just thinking how big the world is, you know?" you tell him, "Like, all those little specs in the sky are something, and we're just here. Looking up at them. A small piece in a big puzzle."

Draco looks across at you staring up at the sky, and even with less wine in his system, he thinks you're pretty when the moonlight hits your face, and that outfit is cute.

"That was deep," he says, and you look across at him with a glint in your eye.

"I like being philosophical," you said, "can't handle the truth of the universe, Malfoy?"

He laughs, and then takes a sip of his juice.

"You know, you're the last person I'd imagine bringing up here."

You scoff, but you're still smiling.

"Gee, thanks."

"That wasn't a jab," he chuckles, "I just meant that a week ago we hardly knew one another."

"I guess we don't know all that much now." You admit, looking back up at the ceiling. He peers across at you, and for a little while, he just looks. How much a week can change is truly unbelievable.

"What do you want to know?" he asks you, and he gains your attention once more.

"What do you mean?"

"About me," he elaborates, "what do you want to know about me?"

You stare back at him, but this time you really look at his features. His eyes are a grey, blue colour, and his hair is so unnaturally white he could have bleached it. His jaw was sharp, like his nose, but he was overall quite handsome. Minus his awful attitude sometimes, he was quite a catch.

"Have you ever loved anyone?" you find yourself asking him, and you aren't entirely sure why. Were you curious if the great Draco Malfoy has ever been in love, or were you asking because the wine was still very much in your bloodstream? Either way, he seemed to really think on it.

"No, I don't think so," he answers quietly, looking up at the stars, "I've been with a few girls, but not really had a girlfriend in my eighteen years, so I'd say no."

"Not even Pansy Parkinson?"

He laughs. A genuine belly laugh, and the sound makes your heart feel happy.

"Merlin, no," he says as he calms down, "she was a friend if anything, we hooked up once but that was it. I don't even see her anymore."

"You slept with Parkinson?"

"Yeah?" he says casually, "what? I'm not exactly proud of it. She was my first."

This time you belly laughed.

"Seriously?" you say, and he just nods as he sips his drink, and then wipes his mouth on his sleeve.

"Alright, now you know mine, who's yours?"

You fell quiet and began to play with the rim of your pumpkin juice bottle. Should you tell him? You weren't entirely sure you could trust him yet, but when you looked back at him, there was something that told you he wasn't going to blab it to the entire school.

"A muggle guy," you admit shyly, expecting him to scold you to the ends of the earth, but instead he just hums and drinks his juice.

"A muggle, huh?" he says, "was he, like, your boyfriend?"

You could tell he was uncomfortable asking you that because the label on the pumpkin juice bottle just became interesting to him.

"No, he wasn't my boyfriend. I have muggle friends who don't know anything about this world, and it was one of them. He was sweet. It was at my seventeenth."

Draco just nods.

"I was fifteen."

"Huh?" you almost spit out your drink, but Draco seems unphased.

"Well, I was almost sixteen. It was just before the summer of our fifth year."

You wipe your mouth on a nearby napkin.

"I don't know why I'm surprised, really," you said, "you do have a reputation."

"For being a dick?"

"Yep."

He just bites his lower lip, smiling as he did so. You caught him doing it, and your eyes fell to where his pearly whites sunk into the flesh of his lip. Was this guy attractive or were you still drunk?

"You've changed, though," you say quickly, and his eyes fall on yours again, "you're still an arse, but this last week I've seen you change. It's good."

Draco doesn't say anything for a moment, but he's looking at you and his eyes are dancing across your features and the moonlight is reflecting in them and if this was anyone else the situation would have been romantic.

"I don't want to be the person everyone thinks I am," he confesses to you, his eyes still locked on yours, "I don't want to be the person you think I am. The other day, when you threw that stupid drawing into the fire, that was the nicest shit anyone has ever done for me. Can you believe that?"

You just listen, absentmindedly leaning towards him as you do so. He continues.

"People don't know but I find socialising really tiring and awkward, especially if its genuine, and honestly I just want someone to hang out with. That's how sad I am."

"I don't think that's sad," you say softly, and his eyes are on yours and you're closer and he smells so good and you realise, that was no Amortentia, that's just how delicious Draco smells, "besides, we're buds now, right?"

He chuckles deeply, taking those grey eyes away and putting them back on the sky above you.

"Yeah, we're buds now," he agrees, looking down at you through the corner of his eyes, "and you're not bothered what your other friends might think."

"Why would I be?" you say, "you're not the devil, Draco. Anyway, I get to choose who I'm buds with."

"You're not half bad, you know that Y/L/N?"

You sit up a little straighter and look him up and down playfully.

"Neither are you, Malfoy. And call me Y/N, yeah?"

He smiles and forces some air through his nose.

"Y/N," he repeats, "alright then."

disclaimer: i do not own hp or any of the characters in this story

dividers from: @firefly-graphics & @happy-ash-edits

[sunnylands-world]

DRACO SMUT: STAY QUIET

I and Draco were staying at his parent's house. Of course, I agreed to come since my parents were off on a business trip for Christmas break. I was in his bed reading some book I pulled from his library downstairs. I was laying in my black lace set from a trip with Hermione. It was around nine-ten o'clock When he came from the bathroom with his towel hanging low on his v line, his blonde hair messy and wet and water still running down his skin. My eyes ran over his pale skin until I caught up with his grayish-blue eyes. A smirk on his face that brought wetness between my thighs. 

"Giving out early Christmas presents I see" he said walking slowly towards me. his fingers ran up my ankle to my knee pushing my legs apart. a gasp left my lips "I must say this little cunt of yours will top all my gifts" he said crawling closer "but I think my cock driving into while you have to stay quiet will eat you alive since I know you can't stop screaming when I fuck you". he smirked seeing the worried look on my face. "there's a catch my beautiful

Little screamer if you should make any sound and my parents hear you from the next room

 and mention it to us tomorrow I'll make you lose your voice after that" he said in my ear. 

"but I thou-" he interrupted putting his finger on my lips "shh quiet" he said. "open" he demanded and my lips parted allowing his fingers to slip in and my tongue went around his fingers. 

He closed his eyes and groaned "I don't know how you'll be quiet because I think I'm gonna fuck you till you pass out". he pulled his fingers from my lips and kissed my neck "quiet" he said 

as he moved down in between my legs taking my panties away. He looked down at my dripping cunt and back to me. "Do I make you this wet just from talking?" He asked his head tilted to the side. I hide my face in embarrassment. "aww don't hide your face I like that" he said pulling my hands away "that you get wet from my voice". he moved his face down in between my thighs "so pretty" he said looking at my wet center. "I'm almost too amazed to touch your wet little pussy," he said.

Then in a quick motion his tongue was licking up my core. "but you taste so fucking good" he groaned and went back his tongue licking circles on by bud. my head fell back into his green satin sheets as the small but powerful wave winded my skin. his tongue went to my opening, licking around it then entering. his tongue moved in and out going in and discovering the inside and pulling out. I covered my mouth in attempts to stay silent. He repeatedly did this motion till my hand seemed to move away, disobeying my will to cover sounds. "Draco" I cried. He pulled back, shaking his head. "oh y/n you're so disobedient not listening and calling me like that" he chuckled. "my little screamer". 

He came up and pulled the tuck from the towel and aligned his cock with my entrance.

"I'm gonna have you in tears", he said pushing forward and he slipped right into me and he placed his hands on my sides and looked into my eyes. "being inside of you feeling you this way is going to kill me" he said and started to thrust forward hard keeping his promise to bring me to tears. he hit my g spot then pulled back pushing forward brushing the spot with his tip. my toes curled and my eyes shut "Draco please I can't" I moaned out. his eyes darkened and his cold strong fingers wrapped my neck comfortably. "Shut up y/n or I'll pull out of you and use your mouth instead". I shook my head violently. He smirked. "You are my toy" he thrusted into my g spot. the headboard hit the wall and he pulled all the way out and hit it again. "Draco that feels so good" I cried. My hands came to his back, fingernails in his skin. 

He kissed my lips moved to my ear "I told you to stay quiet but you just don't listen" he started to move at a crazed pace pulling out and thrusting in hard and fast and soon my 

Walls wrapped him tight. "y/n you're not Cumming until I feel like I'm done" he whispered. tears filled my eyes and I felt him going at a fast pace while I tightened and the tears ran down my cheeks. he smirked "that's what I like to see" he said. his pace was getting sloppy and his head went back and I felt him fill me. I was grateful for my birth control.

That's all it took for me to let go and I wrapped my legs around him pulling him deeper as the feeling of bliss went over my skin. He got up, cleaned me and we fell asleep. The next morning a knock came on the door waking us for Breakfast. we went down and sat I was drinking my orange juice when Mrs. Malfoy said "I'm glad you guys enjoyed your night. It sounded very eventful,'' she said with a cringe to her voice. I nearly choked. "I'm so sorry" I said to her but more to Draco who sat Draco grinning and his hand rested on my thigh and squeezed. 

I know I'm in for it.

𝘿𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙊 𝙎𝙈𝙐𝙏: 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙔 𝙌𝙐𝙄𝙀𝙏 𝙋𝙏.2

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