Featured Story of August: Water by kissherdraco
How long have you been writing D/Hr?
I began writing my first and only Dramione story (Water!) in late 2005. So yes. I have spent almost five whole years on one story. FIVE. I really am sorry about that.
What is your writing process like?
Slow. It used to be obsessive and stay-awake-all-night fast back in the day. But then the chapters started getting longer as I started to care more about the characters. At the same time, real life got busier. Therefore, SLOW is the best word to describe the process.
When I do have the time, I love it. The characters are always alive in my head, living out whatever stage I’m at with the story and waiting for the next part. I tend to imagine basic outlines of chapters in my head before I write, but the dialogue itself isn’t planned and tends to just flow at the time.
How did you come up with the plot for this story?
I’m not sure. It was just always how I imagined Draco and Hermione would get together in the books. It obviously never happened in the end, but I still wanted to write something that truly could have happened. Something realistic. The struggles and the resistance and the complications. Hence most of the plot involves vicious circles. There are a couple of elements that are for story development rather than plausibility, but I still always hope to keep the underlying relationship between Hermione and Draco as real (to me) as possible.
The hints of Hermione/Harry is one of the biggest changes from the books. I wanted to write about how Draco and Hermione could happen, but for some reason it felt more interesting to imagine that Harry had feelings for her rather than Ron. The ultimate rivalry and obsession between Harry and Draco was the main reason for this. I’m also more attracted to Harry as a character, and felt that I could write him in greater depth.
How did it develop?
It started off as more of a commentary on Draco and Hermione’s developing relationship. Then I became aware that not a lot was HAPPENING. Lots of passionate/tense encounters, but no real twists. Before Chapter Eleven it could all pretty much be summed up with: Draco gets sick a lot, Hermione is in denial, Harry is angry.
I started to think about really involving Pansy in order to develop the story. It meant things got a bit darker than I thought they would. It also went in a few directions that I wish I’d thought harder about before writing. Either way, Pansy’s character was very much integral to the general development.
Do you know exactly how it's going to end? Or does the story lead you instead?
I had a rough idea of Chapters 1-3. And then 3-12. After that, it did feel as if every chapter happened as it happened. I have a plan for how the whole thing will finish, but I’m sure once I really get into writing it some things will happen that I haven’t already planned.
What is your favorite thing about this story?
Draco! I love him (apparently that’s common around here) and getting inside his head was so interesting. I could always write reams and reams about Draco. His POVs would flow very easily and remain by far my favourite thing about writing the story. The dialogue between Draco and Hermione/Draco and Harry was also a lot of fun at times.
Is there something about it that surprised you?
The ANGST. Not to be underestimated in this story!
I wrote about this in my journal a few months back. I definitely reached some dark points. I think that maybe I could have been lighter at some stages, or perhaps more subtle, but what’s done is done. And if you like angst, there shouldn’t be a problem. It seemed a natural part of Draco and Hermione’s relationship that I couldn’t seem to avoid even for one scene!
Was there a part that was difficult to write? If so, why?
The scene with Pansy, Millicent and Hermione in the girls’ toilets. That was really tough. Both hard to write and hard to post because I was afraid of readers’ reactions.
There were some other difficult parts that I won’t mention since they involve chapters not yet posted on H&V.
How did you come up with the title?
I WANT to say that I came up with “Water” because it fits the general themes of necessity and something one has a basic desire/instinct for. It also has connotations of something powerful and overwhelming...
But REALLY it just came out of nowhere. When I think about it I can come up with a few explanations to help it make sense. But they weren’t necessarily the ones that went through my head beforehand. When I began writing the story, I just wrote this word at the top of the page and that was that. It just seemed to fit and so I kept it as the title.
What is one thing you want people to take away from this story?
A tiny element of realism about Draco and Hermione’s relationship. A tiny “that could have happened!” moment. Ignoring the plot twists and turns, I wanted the underlying relationship between them both to stay true to who I thought the characters were. Because I’m one of those crazy Dramione shippers that things JKR got it all wrong!!!! It’s not canon. I know that. BUT IT SHOULD BE.
What has inspired you to keep writing it?
The readers. Always. And I’m sure that is the case for most authors. The only thing more rewarding than writing a story is having others read it, whether or not they like it. If someone is willing to take the time out of their day to stare at a screen and read words you’ve written that is definitely more than enough reason to keep going. Unless they are begging you to stop.
Water