Fresh Start and Recs
I want to make a bit of a fresh start. I've been less into online HP fandom for a while, but I've had a couple of month gap in employment (which has been really great for me, not a thing to worry about). This has somehow lead to me jumping back into fic reading head first. So I plan to try and use this journal more - I've been using my other journal (pola_bear if you want to know) to actually review for once, but this journal is my fandom home, so I've decided to come back to it! I actually nearly made all the past posts private - I find many of them embarrassing, but I've left it, it shows a lot of my fandom journey.
As I've been reading a lot, I thought I should give some recs! These fics are all focused on Deathly Hallows or the year immediately after. Also, they are all Draco-y, which is interesting because I usually would not read him outside of H/D.
Harry/Draco
Blue's Island by emansil_12NC-17, 34,600. Summary: Another Horcrux has been discovered. Harry, Ron and Hermione must travel half way across the world to find it. Destroying it will require the assistance of the most unlikely candidate.
I really enjoyed the way this one was tied to canon, although I'm not sure I could completely buy it fitting with all of DH. I don't think I've seen this gap in Deathly Hallows filled in before, but it is certainly there. The mystery aspect was easily guessed, to me at least, but that did not take away from my enjoyment. I don't think it was supposed to be a shock. The setting was beautiful, it dealt very well with the trio figuring themselves out again after Ron rejoined them. Draco was interesting and I enjoyed the way his and Harry's relationship developed.
Salt on the Western Wind by saras_girl R, 60,500. Summary: When the war isn’t quite as over as it first appears, a guilt-ridden Harry is sent to a mysterious safe-house. Among sandwiches, insomnia, and Mills & Boon, he discovers something quite unexpected.
I loved this. I had been making a lot of little notes in my head about things I love in fic and this hits a stupid amount of it. I only discovered saras_girl recently and I hoovered up her previous fic. So when I found out she'd written something for smoochfest I was really happy. Then I read the beginning and I squeaked. This starts immediately after DH (not counting the epilogue) finishes. More immediately than any other fic. It's a bottle fic, which I always enjoy and the characterisations were great. I was especially fond of the Ron, and of having a Hermione who isn't perfectly forgiving. Draco is great, stuck with these three people and having to figure out how to do things the muggle way. Harry's reactions to him are well done and I loved Harry's characterisation. I know some people have read this and been unconvinced by Harry being willing to be tucked away after the war, but I can believe it. He just died, ferchrissakes! There are many delightful details that add to it, but I think I've said enough
At Your Service by faithwood NC 17, ~96,000. Summary: Hogwarts students are in danger; Harry is determined to save them all. There's only one thing he knows for certain: Draco Malfoy is somehow involved.
I loved this fic so much. I read all of the fics over 10k from HD Hols 2011 and this was my favourite. Possibly my favourite ever 8th year fic. Harry is determined and shaped by canon. The mystery is such a mystery. Draco is great. The surrounding characters feel right. So many little aspects of canon and the events of DH are just here. Please read it. Even if you are scared of the length (which, well, I love longs fics, so I don't get it). Not sure what more to say about it, it is nuanced and fabulous. I now feel like I want to read it again because I'm thinking about it.
Seamus/Neville
Within These Walls by sara_holmes NC 17, 24,400. Summary: Torture, rebellion, war and Draco bloody Malfoy. Seamus won’t even know where to start telling this story if they all make it out the other side.
This is wonderful. Another fic set during DH, but this tells part of the story of Hogwarts at the time. It really captured the feelings brought up in the brief information we are given - it made me to fascinated that the second I finished it I went and found DH and read the chapter where we get most of our info, when the trio go back to Hogwarts. Seamus' voice is stunningly good, showing us what life was like under the Carrows. There is a lot of stuff here that just makes it feel real. Draco here is really interesting, fitting in with the attacking crowd while doing what he could not to be part of it. It fits well as an extension of Draco in HBP especially to me. That Draco is different in many ways to the Draco before that and this fits with him wonderfully. The number of amazing conversations I have had about the reality of DH because of this is high, anything that makes me think about canon this much is always a delight to me.
Neville/Draco
I Want The Hard Centre, Not The Chocolatey Shell by lokifan NC 17, 5000. Summary: After the war, Neville goes back to his bumbling, flustered self. Draco hates, hates, hates it.
This Draco. Oh, this Draco. He is wonderful. Neville is as well, I would love to know what is happening in his head (hint, hint) But for me this is about Draco and his reactions. I love that he so quickly gives in to Neville, but is still him. Again, I love the way this is building on DH canon. Really interesting the way we find out a lot about what is going on through what isn't said. Also, it is really hot.
As I've been reading a lot, I thought I should give some recs! These fics are all focused on Deathly Hallows or the year immediately after. Also, they are all Draco-y, which is interesting because I usually would not read him outside of H/D.
Harry/Draco
Blue's Island by emansil_12NC-17, 34,600. Summary: Another Horcrux has been discovered. Harry, Ron and Hermione must travel half way across the world to find it. Destroying it will require the assistance of the most unlikely candidate.
I really enjoyed the way this one was tied to canon, although I'm not sure I could completely buy it fitting with all of DH. I don't think I've seen this gap in Deathly Hallows filled in before, but it is certainly there. The mystery aspect was easily guessed, to me at least, but that did not take away from my enjoyment. I don't think it was supposed to be a shock. The setting was beautiful, it dealt very well with the trio figuring themselves out again after Ron rejoined them. Draco was interesting and I enjoyed the way his and Harry's relationship developed.
Salt on the Western Wind by saras_girl R, 60,500. Summary: When the war isn’t quite as over as it first appears, a guilt-ridden Harry is sent to a mysterious safe-house. Among sandwiches, insomnia, and Mills & Boon, he discovers something quite unexpected.
I loved this. I had been making a lot of little notes in my head about things I love in fic and this hits a stupid amount of it. I only discovered saras_girl recently and I hoovered up her previous fic. So when I found out she'd written something for smoochfest I was really happy. Then I read the beginning and I squeaked. This starts immediately after DH (not counting the epilogue) finishes. More immediately than any other fic. It's a bottle fic, which I always enjoy and the characterisations were great. I was especially fond of the Ron, and of having a Hermione who isn't perfectly forgiving. Draco is great, stuck with these three people and having to figure out how to do things the muggle way. Harry's reactions to him are well done and I loved Harry's characterisation. I know some people have read this and been unconvinced by Harry being willing to be tucked away after the war, but I can believe it. He just died, ferchrissakes! There are many delightful details that add to it, but I think I've said enough
At Your Service by faithwood NC 17, ~96,000. Summary: Hogwarts students are in danger; Harry is determined to save them all. There's only one thing he knows for certain: Draco Malfoy is somehow involved.
I loved this fic so much. I read all of the fics over 10k from HD Hols 2011 and this was my favourite. Possibly my favourite ever 8th year fic. Harry is determined and shaped by canon. The mystery is such a mystery. Draco is great. The surrounding characters feel right. So many little aspects of canon and the events of DH are just here. Please read it. Even if you are scared of the length (which, well, I love longs fics, so I don't get it). Not sure what more to say about it, it is nuanced and fabulous. I now feel like I want to read it again because I'm thinking about it.
Seamus/Neville
Within These Walls by sara_holmes NC 17, 24,400. Summary: Torture, rebellion, war and Draco bloody Malfoy. Seamus won’t even know where to start telling this story if they all make it out the other side.
This is wonderful. Another fic set during DH, but this tells part of the story of Hogwarts at the time. It really captured the feelings brought up in the brief information we are given - it made me to fascinated that the second I finished it I went and found DH and read the chapter where we get most of our info, when the trio go back to Hogwarts. Seamus' voice is stunningly good, showing us what life was like under the Carrows. There is a lot of stuff here that just makes it feel real. Draco here is really interesting, fitting in with the attacking crowd while doing what he could not to be part of it. It fits well as an extension of Draco in HBP especially to me. That Draco is different in many ways to the Draco before that and this fits with him wonderfully. The number of amazing conversations I have had about the reality of DH because of this is high, anything that makes me think about canon this much is always a delight to me.
Neville/Draco
I Want The Hard Centre, Not The Chocolatey Shell by lokifan NC 17, 5000. Summary: After the war, Neville goes back to his bumbling, flustered self. Draco hates, hates, hates it.
This Draco. Oh, this Draco. He is wonderful. Neville is as well, I would love to know what is happening in his head (hint, hint) But for me this is about Draco and his reactions. I love that he so quickly gives in to Neville, but is still him. Again, I love the way this is building on DH canon. Really interesting the way we find out a lot about what is going on through what isn't said. Also, it is really hot.