Team AU: 15. He who can, does. He who can't, teaches the Dark Arts.

[hdcup_mod]

Title: In Summer Grass
Team: AU
Author: maja_li
Prompt: 15. He who can, does. He who can't, teaches the Dark Arts.
Wordcount: ~6700
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death, angst.
Summary: The people Harry loved had a funny way of dying-so why should it be so strange that he fall in love with a dead man?
Author's Note: THANK YOU to my brilliant,

Comments

[smirking_muse]

I think you began this very interestingly by taking the other path for that first scene. I liked that he then began involved with helping him as a ghost. That was a wonderful twist. I also liked how very Draco he was and how free he seemed (I can't think of another way to describe it). He had so many concerns and pressures during his life- too many people expecting too much and so many social barriers to being himself. It made sense and was very nice that he was freed in death. I very much liked his "Gryffindolt" insult- it made me snigger a little everytime I read it. You used a wonderfully haunting style at the beginning that was echoed at the ending and worked so perfectly (with some reprieve for the later middle part).

It was very clever how the end of the non-italicised conferred with the beginning of the italicised. It was really wonderful and clever- tied the whole story together with a thick rope. It was very interesting to have all the hot and cold interactions between our two. I don't know if kissing would be at all tempting if those were the consequences. I like that they loved each other anyway- love does overcome all obstacles, eh? I could feel the love between them and it was simply wonderful.

It was interesting that you got Draco involved in all this scheming and I like that you planned it all out for them. I enjoyed that you told that whole story- and how it led to the same place as in the books, but with one major difference (which was really incredible). I loved the ending sections- they were absolutely perfect, even though the very end was heart breaking. I believe that it all made sense and was rational, but I still wish they could have had more of a future. It was nice that they got at least that much, but there's so much more that I would wish for them! This was very well done, as per usual, and very creative and clever. It was a wonderful retelling. Fabulous job, hon!

[maja_li]

Oh, darling, thank you so much! *huggle and cuddles and luffs* It was absolutely lovely to read this as a first review for my fic, and I'm delighted you liked it enough to say so much! :D

Ghost!Draco was a blast to write, but also a bit tricky; I wanted to let him have that freedom, like you said, but not to break completely with his living personality. Hence "Gryffindolt"! *laughs* He was a sneaky bastard, too always trying to come up with ways to hang around after the end...it was a bit sad for me, too, that I couldn't find a rational way for him to stay...so, I'm really glad you thought that the end worked, even if it was a downer. :)

Thanks so much for such a wonderful review! I'm going to be walking around for the rest of the day with just the silliest grin on my face. ^_^ *grins* ♥