FIC, HP: The Baron of Brackley (Draco-centric, PG, ~3500 words)

[amanuensis1]

Hey, I sat down with an HP plot bunny and wrote it! Hope you guys think it was worth the wait even if it's not as explicit as my usual. This story wanted things left more to the imagination, go figure.

Title: The Baron of BrackleyAuthor: Amanuensis

Comments

[mybrokenlocket]

This is great! I liked seeing it through the child's perspective, and the canon "good guys" being less-than-good.

[amanuensis1]

Both of those were fun things to play with. Thank you so much! :D

[filkertom]

...

...

... I have never seen a take on the Malfoys like that.

Excellent. Simply excellent.

[amanuensis1]

*laughs* You've only seen the "Lucius is a cold bastard who beats his kid" takes, huh? Yeah, I like imagining that the villainous Malfoys nevertheless are no cowards when it comes to family.

[rsasai]

:O

That's just... awful. God, my stomach is churning right now...

[amanuensis1]

Ooh, I didn't imagine this would get that kind of strong reaction! I am sorry for your stomach but nevertheless pleased, forgive me. :D

[ariadneelda]

OMG, HP fic from you! I couldn't believe my eyes, did a double take, when I saw it on my flist. :D

I loved seeing things filtered through little Draco's eyes. Great child POV! It made everything awful happening seemingly less awful and at the same time maybe even more awful, because Draco couldn't really understand, but we do, and that subtlety was so very effective. (Uh, not explaining it well, but I'm sure you get what I'm trying to say.) And like others, I loved this line: I am that, lad. But your father's a different kind of bad man. Great take on all the Malfoys and Moody and how no side was either black or white. So many grey layers. <3

[amanuensis1]

(I want to take your icon and caption it, "'Reply hazy, ask again later'?" Don't know how many would get that, though.
:D )

There was a time, conceiving this story, when I wondered if Draco should actually witness more of what goes on in that bedroom, and realized no, being outside that door is plenty; it's not as if the reader wouldn't get it, the reader will get it big time and cringe every bit as much. Allowing Moody to be a bit grey in this was also entertaining for me. So happy you liked! *hugs*

[cluegirl]

YAY! AMY WRITES HP AGAIN!!! *Throws a bucketful of confetti*

I cannot tell you how excited this makes me! Seriously! I adore your Narcissa, every bit the determined family-woman we see her to be in Spinner's End, when she demands the Unbreakable from Severus -- she's done the unthinkable to save her family, why shouldn't he?

And I ADORE Moody's sidelong swipe at Justice here. Where, to him, justice is making the evildoers hurt however you can, and it doesn't necessarily need to involve the courts, or the law, or Azkaban at all. He's like the hardest sort of veteran here, realizing that the only way the guilty will pay, is if he becomes just as guilty as they are. And he does it anyway. He embraces his cruelty, and he holds to his own, personal ethical compass, and he does Narcissa in Lucius' bed because any wound to the enemy is a blow worth striking.

Ah, how I've missed this!
And how I thank you for sharing this with us today.

[amanuensis1]

Oh, man, you make Moody so complex! Now I want to see you write Moody! And I wonder if Moody's ethical compass is one to which he would have others hold, as well.

And, hey, we've seen Narcissa betray Voldemort himself to make sure her son makes it. Like you, I wouldn't put anything past her, if it means her family's safety.

Eeee, so happy to get this response from you! *smooches*