#rec by smehur

[drarry-reccage]

Leeward by @teacup-tai (8K, M)

Tags: hurt/comfort, break up/make up, drarry in their 30s

There’s a polaroid kept in the back of Harry’s nightstand drawer. Just the one. It’s Muggle and slightly yellowish. There are many other photos in a box in the back of Harry’s cupboard under the stairs—the one he almost never opens. A hidden box of hidden memories. After four years since their break up, Harry and Draco meet again at Dean and Blaise’s wedding. Now, between the turquoise sea and the white sand dunes of Fuerteventura, they will need to face their feelings.

Oh, the sweet, burning angst of this, like hot honey dripping down the throat. The loss, the longing, the stubborn hope! I loved this story for its phenomenal atmosphere and for how expertly it tugged on my heartstrings. A lovely piece you'll recall with a smile.

(rec by @smehur)

[bridenore]

HD Erised 2024 recs

Here are some of my favorite fics from @hd-erised 2024. Listed in alphabetical order.

All These Winding Threads by @starquestingfordrarry [35k]

The tides of Draco’s accidental magic pull him under and leave him gasping. There’s a hungry ache that sits deep in his bones, growing worse every day. Soon it’s all he’ll be, a starving skeleton clawing at its throat. He needs a solution. Unfortunately, that solution looks an awful lot like Harry Potter.

As Luck Would Have It by @sleepstxtic [12k]

In Sixth-Year, Harry and Draco both win a vial of Felix Felicis from Slughorn and, under its influence, have sex in the Room of Requirement. In the aftermath, can Draco and Harry navigate their respective roles in the war, while grappling with their burgeoning feelings for each other?

Body and Soul by Justlikewriting [22k]

When the headaches became worse and it got more and more difficult for Draco to work, he was left with no other choice but to recognise his stupid problem exactly for what it was. Even if that meant realising that the best, or perhaps even only, solution could solely come from one person: the one person he hadn’t seen for months, the one person he was still in love with. The one person who should never know. Because, clearly, Harry would never be able to give Draco what he needed anyway.

A Dragon to Call Mine by @fantalfart [24k]

Well, Harry is tired. Somewhat. He’s been The Boy Who Lived for quite a few years now—or what Harry privately likes to call himself; The Boy Whose Life Is Continuously Messed Up By External Forces or The Boy Who Can’t Take a Break or The Boy Who Gets to Keep Living Indefinitely or The Boy Who Is So Done or even The Boy Who Is, Apparently, Never Taking Time Off—and it never really gets better. Easier, yes; boring even, but never better. So, when he was about to finish his speech that morning, when a rogue dark spell was aimed at him and that dragon showed up, white scales blanketed by the sun, Harry almost grinned. Because seeing the creature felt more like finally than it did danger. — Or, Harry finds out that living with a dramatic, opinionated dragon might be everything he’s ever wished for.

Equally Cursed and Blessed by @moonflower-rose [18k]

Harry's back at Hogwarts to attempt his final year, again. This time he's sure there'll be no shenanigans. Well. Maybe there'll be a few.

In a Year’s Turning by @hoko-onchi-writes [89k]

There’s an undeniable crackle in the air. Draco knows it down to his marrow. Can never unknow it. He doesn’t have to turn to know that Harry is standing at the library entrance. The hair on the back of Draco’s neck prickles. They’ve avoided one another for nine years. Managed not to run into one another during the week of Andy’s funerary rites. They’ve glimpsed one another several times. But they never came close enough to speak. Draco’s kept to their rules for most of a decade. Letters only. Plans for Teddy. Updates on Pansy’s gardens. No references to the Christmas of 2001. Draco spares a moment to grieve that he couldn’t have put this off another nine years. Then, he turns. “Hi,” Harry says. Draco’s throat aches. “Hello. It’s been a while.” Harry quirks a smile. "I wondered where that top went." -- Or: Harry is struggling to raise Teddy by himself. Enter Draco.

Just a little liquid luck by @smehur [5k]

Draco unbuttons his cuffs and the first three buttons at the neck and pulls both his shirt and his vest up over his head. “Oh,” comes a shuddery sigh from the other side of the bed. “No, leave it,” Potter hurries to say when Draco moves to smooth his hair back into place. “It’s just. It’s. Good. Like that.” Draco smirks, though he dares not look down at himself and the expanse of the flush burning hot stamps into his flesh. Tracking the movement of Potter’s eyes, he runs a greasy finger over the thickest of his scars. “You like them, don’t you? Pervert.” Potter tosses his head back, jostling the mass of his curly fringe from his forehead. “I bet you were into scars long before you had any of your own, Malfoy.” Yes, Draco wants to say. I want to lick yours. What he says instead is, “Fuck you.” “Fuck you,” Potter echoes, putting the same pregnant emphasis on the F. Draco bites his lower lip, wrestling down the rise of euphoria. “Your turn,” he says. “Take that off.”

The Most Splendid Thing by @lqtraintracks [61k]

Star Quidditch rivals Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter become accidentally bonded. They still hate each other, but now it’s untenable to leave each other’s sides—and my, but it feels oh so good to touch. They’re either going to murder one another, or fall in love. OR: A story in which Draco finally allows himself happiness, and Harry finally learns that he deserves to be whole.

Old love don't rust by tray_la_la [20k]

“Why do you keep coming?” Malfoy asked at last. Harry mulled over the question. For a moment he debated trying to turn the tables and asking Malfoy the very same thing. But this time he didn’t want to hold back. “Because I can’t stop,” Harry said.

The Pain From an Old Wound by @citrusses [30k]

Getting hit with a mysterious blood curse is all in a day’s work for Harry Potter. Having to work with his former colleague, rival, bully, and boyfriend, is not. Harry’s not sure which is going to do him in first: the curse sucking his magic dry, or Draco Malfoy, as frustrating, condescending, and painfully attractive as he’s always been.

palindrome by @garagepaperback [25k]

“Why did you let me kiss you?” Potter smirks. “That’s not how I remember it. Why did you let me kiss you?” “I’m stuck in a time loop. You’re not going to remember, so.” Draco’s tongue drags, calcified around the words. “Why not.” Potter’s brows furrow but the smile stays undented. “That’s the best you could come up with?”

Runaway Train by iota / @sorrybutblog [18k]

Harry was already keen to figure out what’s been causing a series of disturbances in the London Underground before Draco Malfoy showed up acting suspicious. Two explosions, several very confused Muggles, and a cloud of mysterious sticky powder later, Harry and Malfoy can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Can Harry shag his way to the answer to all of his questions? Seems unlikely, but what can a man do but try?

A Soft Place to Fall by @amomorii [142k]

When Harry arrives for his first year teaching at Hogwarts and is struck with a bizarre malignance, how on earth is he supposed to react when Draco Malfoy suddenly cares? Or; A darkness crawls out of Harry, and there's only so long he can keep it to himself.

Storm's Eye by @shiftylinguini [12k]

Harry's surprised that Draco didn't have wards up preventing mortally wounded former school mates-turned-ghosted work fellows from bursting into his house. In Harry's addled mind, this seems like a great opening line to say to Draco's gobsmacked face. He doesn't get that far, though. Or: Harry gets hurt, Draco is a vanishing alchemist who may or may not be able to save the day, but under no circumstances are either of them willing to talk about Their Feelings. Well. Maybe "mortal peril" circumstances will do it, actually.

Sub rosa by @tessacrowley [37k]

After the tragic and unexpected death of his mother, Draco Malfoy’s quiet life as Potions Master, Hogwarts professor, and Head of Slytherin gets upended—first by the manifestation of mysterious and inexplicable magic, and then by the revelation of an inheritance deliberately hidden from him his entire life.

Where Starlight Falls by @agentmoppet [33k]

The magic concealing Sirius’s Last Will and Testament doesn’t reveal the full extent of Harry’s inheritance until two years after the war. When it does, it turns out that Harry has inherited more than just the Black Family vault—he’s inherited the family’s magic, too. He just has to find it first. And he needs Draco Malfoy’s help to do it.

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!

[hd-erised]

And that's a wrap!

The final submission for this year’s @hd-erised has been posted!!! We hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s fest as much as we have!

The final weekly round-up will go up later today, and the anonymous masterlist will be posted tomorrow. We’ll also be posting a stats post on Friday, so keep an eye out!

H/D Erised reveals will go up Sunday, January 5th!!

We’d like to express our gratitude and love for the people who helped us out:

To our pinch-hitters, @doingthechachaslide @smehur, @shiftylinguini, and @moonflower-rose: THANK YOU SO MUCH! ♥

To our banner artist, @capiturecs and banner creator @nv-md : you are so wonderful! <3<3<3

To all the creators: you all are seriously the best! Thank you so very much for making this fest such a wonderful success. Extra special thanks to those of you who were able to submit by the due date, you made our lives (and scheduling) so much easier! This has been a year of incredible creations! We are bowled over by and grateful to each and every one of you!

To all the watchers, readers, commenters, and reccers: thank you for all of your love and support. It really means the world to us and to the creators who worked so hard on their submissions. <3

We want to give an extra-special shout out to our all-star commenters, who have already left love on more than half of this year’s H/D Erised creations!  Here’s lookin’ at you Blueheart_V, khalulu, @nv-md, and veradubhghoill!! You are absolute rock stars, and we’re so grateful for what you do!

Finally, to our lovely participants, a couple of last pre-reveals orders of business:

If you haven’t yet commented on your gift, please do so as soon as possible!!

If you’ve left an “I’ll read and flail later” comment, this next week is the time to come back and let your gifter know you appreciated their work. <3 Leaving a comment on your gift is required if you’d like to participate in future fests! (Plus, it’s just good manners when someone has poured their love into a gift just for you!)

A full list of participants can be found below. Please remember not to make any public guesses (in comments, discords, journals, etc.) before reveals go up on January 5th! This is an anonymous fest, and it’s important to many of our creators and recipients that it stays that way!

agentmoppet // @agentmoppet

amomori // @amomorii

annanotherthing // @annanother-thing

a_sentimental_man // @a-sentimental-man

bichol // @bicholsdrarrysideblog

citrusses // @citrusses

discessio // @drarrydoodles

DodgerKedavra // @dodgerkedavra

dothechachaslide // @doingthechachaslide

Elizah123 // @elizah321

epitomereally // @epitomereally

faiell // @faiell

fantalf // @fantalfart

frm9pm // @frm9pm

garagepaperback // @garagepaperback

hoko_onchi // @hoko-onchi-writes

honeybeet // @thehoneybeet

iota // @sorrybutblog

IzRoan

JessicaLuci // @jessixaluci

jtimu // @jtimu

justlikewriting

karamelised // @karamelised

khalulu

lq_traintracks // @lqtraintracks

makeitp1nk // @makeitp1nk

Maraudersaffair // @maraudersaffair

moonflower_rose // @moonflower-rose

nv-md // @nv-md

oknowkiss // @oknowkiss

saintgarbanzo // @saintgarbanzo

sharperthana // @sharperthan

shiftylinguini // @shiftylinguini

sleepstxtic // @sleepstxtic

Smehur // @smehur

StarQuesting // @starquestingfordrarry

TessaCrowley // @tessacrowley

thecouchsofa // @thecouchsofa

threading_fate // @threading-fate

tray_la_la // @traylalascrisis

veradubhghoill

Vukovich // @vukovich

whileatwiltshire // @legendrarry

xErised

We can’t wait to share the full, revealed masterlist with you! on January 5th!!! One more week, eeee!!! Which means there’s still plenty of time to read, view, comment, and rec these incredible creators and their fabulous works—come join our list of all-stars, rec all your faves (and tag @hd-erised! we’ll keep an eye out and send them on to our fab creators!!) and bask in the awesomeness of our this year’s creations!

[smehur]

Blog Map

I (primarily) write fanfiction and (secondarily) make fanart.

Main fandom atm: ⚡Harry Potter (Harry/Draco) 🐍

Other fandoms: Baldur's Gate 3, Darksiders and Mass Effect.

Here is my AO3

Tags of interest:

Writing tag (my fics and occasional musings)

My art

Fic recs and my rec lists (mostly Harry/Draco)

My ever-growing to-read list (mostly Harry/Draco)

All my posts (recent tag, incomplete)

Posts by others, featuring my stuff

Reblogs where I actually had something to add

Harry Potter stuff

Fics masterlist

Harry Potter tag (mostly reblogged art, fic recs and meta)

Baldur's Gate 3 stuff

Fics masterlist

Baldur's Gate 3 tag (mostly reblogged art)

Darksiders stuff

Fics, meta, music and gifsets masterlist

Darksiders tag (mostly reblogged art)

Mass Effect stuff

Fics masterlist (to do)

Mass Effect tag (incomplete; mostly reblogged art)

Some external links:

My self-hosted writing blog

My self-hosted art blog

I have accounts in most places (it's Smehur everywhere), but I'm only active here.

[drarry-reccage]

Come Hell or High Water by @mallstars

Tags: hurt/comfort, patient/healer, depression, self-harm, hopeful ending

When Harry finally leaves, Malfoy accompanies him to the lift, swatting away the memos that dare beseech him.  "You'll be alright," he promises, looking nervous enough that Harry knows Malfoy needs the reassurance more so than him.  "I'll see you soon?" Harry asks.  Harry has liked Malfoy for a long time, but his thoughts have been quiet, a vague and distant longing in the back of his mind. They're louder now, and clawing, desperately tender.  "Hopefully not too soon," says Malfoy, and looks like he wants to say something else, a lot of somethings, perhaps, but a memo stabs him right in the nose. When he walks away it's without turning, keeping his eyes on Harry as he leaves at long last. 

I love so many things about this story. The languid atmosphere of calm acceptance, pierced to great effect by moments of sharp anguish and fluttering hope. The expertly seeded hints and clues that reward a second reading, and the shocking twist that demands it. One of the softest, gentlest love stories I've found in Drarry fic so far. But what I love about it the most is how smoothly it weaves together the threads of three separate timelines into a continuous tale, all the while dangling the central piece of the puzzle in plain sight, and just out of reach. It's a masterpiece of storytelling, and one of my all time favorites.

(rec by @smehur)

[drarry-reccage]

DIY Messiah by scoradh (27k, M)

Tags: kidfic, harry/ginny, infidelity (not between harry/draco), enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, mostly epilogue compliant

Summary: Harry stopped hating Draco Malfoy on Bring Your Kids to Work Day.

"I have something to tell you," he said, forgetting at the last minute that he'd intended to frame it as a question. "It's Bring Your Kids to Work Day on Monday, and I'd like you two to come." "You want us to pose as your children?" asked Lily. "You are my children!" "Oh, yeah." Lily chewed her hair for a minute. "Okay then, Harry. I'll come." "Call me Dad." "But your name is Harry." "I know my name is Harry. You call me Dad." "All right, Harry." Harry bit his lip, wishing he didn't have such a strong desire to clout his daughter around the ear.

I had a blast reading this old fic. It sent me giggling and outright laughing time after time, while also making my heart ache with Harry's plight. But the most outstanding thing about it is the kids. Their characters come alive with strange quirks and unique voices, providing much of the comedy, which keeps the sometimes shockingly visceral depictions of parenting and marital difficulties in balance. The developing friendship between Harry and Draco is almost a backdrop to all this till it takes center stage near the end. I wished for more of it! DIY Messiah is one of those stories that will make you want to stick around, and that will stick around with you long after you've finished it.

(rec by @smehur)

[yiiiiiiiikes25]

extremely kind rec from a fellow freak, if you’re looking for something compact and medium-depraved. @smehur thank you for this thoughtful writeup my god!

vapour by @yiiiiiiiikes25

Draco's getting cruised. Isn't he?

I could've recced this outstanding piece on Day 18 (a fic that makes you laugh), Day 27 (smokin’ hot fic), Day 29 (a fic rated E) and Day 31 (the most recent fic you loved), but I picked Day 26 (a fic under 5k) because of just how much it achieves in under 5k. To be clear, it's smut. Gloriously filthy, unflinching smut delivered from a POV so deeply entrenched it's almost embarrassing to witness. But there's more! This story, contained snugly in a single scene, contains all of Drarry: from obsession and stalking to regrets and lifelong pining, from enemies with stinging insults to lovers with slipped endearments, from a Draco brimming with sarcasm and entitlement to a taciturn, magically powerful, BAMF Harry, all of it communicated with vicious eloquence through the sharp teeth of Draco's POV. The density of the prose may make the reading a bit of a challenge, but it's incredibly rewarding, with many a beautiful, memorable turn of phrase. A huge pleasure to read, ponder and recommend.

👉 Find more recs @hprecfest 👈