Promising, But Then... [Draco/Hermione - NC-17]

[hp_emomod]

Author: anon_drarry
Title: Promising, But Then…
Prompt: #71 Submitted by: scarletladyy
Pairing: Draco/Hermione
Rating: NC17
Warnings: drug use, dub-con, dark!Draco Highlight to reveal: [
mild bloodplay, character death]
Word Count: ~9,800
Summary: Sometimes, it’s as if he forgets that he is Draco Malfoy, pureblood pariah and brewer of illicit potions, and that I am

Comments

May I ramble?

[meganmurphy1977]

Here via a rec on dramione and I am beyond floored. This was amazing! Emotional and angsty and hot and so tragic. Poor Hermione to have lost her daughter and her husband after surviving a war. The pain she must have felt! And then having Draco strip her of everything, strip her emotionally...wow.

And Draco. I loved how I never got a handle on him here. One minute I would think he was 100% evil, then I would think he just got off on controlling her. Or maybe all of this was a means to an end, trying to gain some kind of control over his life, getting his home back. Even during his seduction, he was a bastard, but he wanted to help her let go, but then to say those things about Ron, he really, really wanted to hurt her. But his concern over her weight and health as well as his frantic surprise at her collapse shows that there is so much more to him; nothing is black or white.

Even though he doesn't make an actual appearance in this fic, I really feel for Harry. It seems he doesn't have Ginny here, and therefore no kids. Rose and Ron were family to him. To lose them and then watch Hermione, his best friend/almost-sister waste away in front of him must be awful for him. And now he's lost her.

This was fantastic! I'm not a slash fan, so I really hope to read more het, especially if it's this pairing from you soon. :)

Re: May I ramble?

[sashaminx]

As I said to the comment above - you really 'got' what this whole fic was about, and nothing is a greater compliment. You picked up on all of the underlying emotions and manipulations, and realised that these people are complicated. There is so much going on that even they cannot see who they truly are.

I felt I had to put them through an awful lot to make this scenario even a little believable and therefore envoke your sympathies for the characters. Though Draco, of course, envokes so many feelings through his actions because I figure the guy is pretty messed up, yet retains some of who he could have been if life had have been kinder.

Blah blah blah =P I'll shut up now. But thanks for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed the read. It's very inspiring to me :)