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[gameofdrarry]

🔥 🐉 DRARROPOLY 2023: Here be Dragons Edition! 🐉 🔥

Was that a roar?

Does it feel a bit hot in here to anyone else?

There must be dragons about! That means sign-ups are now open for the sixth annual Drarropoly game/fest!

Drarropoly players can be any sort of content creator (or even an eager reader).

📝 Sign-Ups

🔗 https://airtable.com/appxuHKpV0F2VlMF3/shrP6NUZtsk6HRz3Z

📜 Rules & Info

🔗 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dUJeGQ_BtKgCFeYweWwEjaTIU7L2z0cUkhDhatGmqng/edit?usp=sharing

[gameofdrarry]

New fic: Take that ride

Pairing: Drarry Length: 1,6 k Rating: Teen and up Tags: EWE, Getting together, Friends to lovers, Kissing Summary: It’s been three weeks, six days, 19 hours and 37 minutes since Draco fell into Harry’s bed the first time and they still haven’t talked about it. A/N: My first submussion for the @gameofdrarry game Basilisks and Staircases! I went into this thinking that I would only read and rec fics because my 22 WIPs staring at me accusingly don't need more company. And then I got the very broad prompt EWE and had no idea what fic to choose, and then I remembered this idea for a fic (that was more of a vibe) that's been lurking in my brain for quite some time now. I tried to write a little more sensory than usual, to capture that sort of vibe I got when I thought this up (and the same I get when I listen to Dance to this, which inpired this). A million thank yous to my amazing and lovely friend @crazybutgood who helped me beta this despite being sick 💖💖💖

Excerpt:

“Why don’t you do that later? The others are on their way out to the club.”

Harry shrugs and continues putting the glasses away, rinsing them along with wine and cider bottles, taking the occasional sip of his beer. “I don’t know, I prefer to take care of these now so my flat won’t reek of old booze when I get back.”

There’s a ruckus outside and Draco peers out into the hall as Hermione and Pansy, looking for their scarves and mittens, simultaneously trip over some shoes and land in a giggling heap on the floor. He chuckles to himself, and when he turns back to Harry, he’s so close that Draco lets out a soft gasp of surprise.

“Come here.” Harry pulls Draco closer by his belt loops, slotting himself between Draco’s legs. His lips come to rest right at Draco’s pulse point, and Draco’s nose fills with the warm scent of Harry: oak and bourbon vanilla.

“Careful, someone could see us,” Draco says, trying to hide the shivers caused by Harry’s mouth sliding along the side of his neck.

Read the rest on AO3

[gameofdrarry]

Fic Rec - Professor Potter and his Magical Menagerie by dracogotgame (T, 7,530k)

Harry Potter descends on Hogwarts with a horde of magical beasts. Professor Malfoy is not amused.

Mooing Bicorn in the Great Hall, anyone?! I read this for Basilisks & Staircases Game/Fest 2023 event @gameofdrarry. It's a blast of a story! Funny, sweet, delightful and all around lovely. A feel good fic that you will read again and again. Hagrid is away for a season but before he leaves, he chooses Harry to be his replacement. Harry brings with him his special brand of chaos and professor Malfoy is going crazy trying to deal with the shenanigans. The characterization is wonderful, we have a ranting, oblivious Draco who goes for a Snape look and thinks he's scary but in reality he is the students' favorite teacher. And a smitten, flirtatious Harry who slowly, but surely, wears Draco down. Their dynamic is simply superb. Brilliant writing with so many lovely and hilarious moments and a unicorn scene that's going to melt your heart! #basilisks & staircases 2023 #game of drarry #drarry #professor draco #professor harry #drarry fic rec #magical creatures #dragonbornphoenix fic recs

[gameofdrarry]

Basilisks and Staircases 2023

Welcome, students, to Basilisks and Staircases! Your Heads of House and Prefects are excited to welcome you to another wonderful game.

Sign-Ups have opened and can be accessed here: https://airtable.com/shrQbFC2rwOdzsA6U

The Player's Handbook can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uStJLiIkbQmWfKllhlzuGpi8M0g9mgggLA2In6w5xJw/edit?usp=sharing

Confused on how to play? We'll spin the spinner for you (between 1-4) and you'll move around the board. Before you can next move, you need to complete the prompt either by writing a fic, or reading and reccing someone else's. This is turned in through the Returning Players form, and we'll then spin the spinner again, or move you across a staircase or basilisk where applicable. You can go around the board as many times as possible, and since the prompts are open-ended, you can land on spaces multiple times!

And speaking of games, we want to turn the creation over to you. More details to come in our first team activity.

We wish you luck!

[gameofdrarry]

Drarropoly 2022 Luck and Canon Artefact Prompts

During the months of November to January, Drarropoly 2022 players were led around a Monopoly-style board and given prompts based on the spaces they landed on. They earned points dependent on whether they wrote for the First Years Level, O.W.L. Level, or N.E.W.T Level, each level increasing the score.

These are the prompts players were given when landing on ‘Luck’ or 'Canon Artefact' spaces, or what many would know as the Tax and Utility spaces (as well as GO).

Golden Scales

Write a fic using this image as inspiration.

First Years Level: 222 Words - 666 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1111 Words - 2222 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 3333 Words - 4444 Words

Moody's Magical Eye

Write a fic using this image as inspiration.

First Years Level: 372 Words - 416 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1548 Words - 1598 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 4246 Words - 4552 Words

Hogwarts Express

Write a fic using this image as inspiration.

First Years Level: 340 Words - 477 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1477 Words - 1812 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 2678 Words - 2970 Words

Gryffindor's Sword

🤺⚔️🐉

First Years Level: 483 Words - 617 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1727 Words - 2216 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Include at least 50 emoji characters in your fic. 3784 Words - 4953 Words

Felix Felicis

Write a fic using this image as inspiration.

First Years Level: 482 Words - 722 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1777 Words - 2183 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write using first person POV. 3850 Words - 4295 Words

The Philosopher's Stone

Write a fic using this image as inspiration.

First Years Level: 298 Words - 395 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1588 Words - 1695 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 3643 Words - 4476 Words

[gameofdrarry]

Drarropoly 2022 Relic Prompts

During the months of November to January, Drarropoly 2022 players were led around a Monopoly-style board and given prompts based on the spaces they landed on. They earned points dependent on whether they wrote for the First Years Level, O.W.L. Level, or N.E.W.T Level, each level increasing the score.

These 'Relic' prompts took the place of what players may know to be the Chance and Community Chest spaces. (Past Game of Drarry players may also note a theme!)

Loch Lomond's Treasure

Harry and Draco are attending a Fundraiser Masquerade Ball. Everyone has dressed up as a fantasy/magical character of some kind. A curse falls on the Ball, and everyone except either Harry -OR- Draco is transformed into their character.

First Years Level: 502 Words - 771 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +It's up to the untransformed person to solve the mystery. Choose either:

It was an accident.

It was intentional, but it backfired.

1603 Words - 2303 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 3950 Words - 4119 Words

Salazar's Unending Chalice

Cinderella AU

First Years Level: 262 Words - 779 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Write your fic in the style of a fairy tale. 1366 Words - 2320 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 2635 Words - 4837 Words

Rowena's Remembrall

Write a fic using the poem [Intimacy unhinged, unpaddocked me] by Diane Seuss as inspiration.

First Years Level: 608 Words - 706 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Use parts of the poem in your fic. 1557 Words - 2239 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write using alternating POVs. 4108 Words - 4399 Words

Helga's Thimble

Harry is the Captain of a pirate ship.

Choose one of the following for Draco:

the Royal Navy Captain with stopping Harry

a stowaway

the magical creature/animagus protecting the ship

First Years Level: 348 Words - 350 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Choose either:

Mistaken Identity

Mutual Pining

1420 Words - 2100 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Include the quote, "Literally everything about this is illegal." in your fic. 4165 Words - 4787 Words

Rowena's Labyrinth

Write a fic inspired by the style of Dr. Seuss.

First Years Level: 212 Words - 487 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1940 Words - 2400 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write using second person POV. 4249 Words - 4487 Words

Vanaheim

Harry or Draco mysteriously goes missing while he is on assignment. The other one is tasked finding him.

Choose one of the following:

Auror

Cursebreaker

Quidditch Star

First Years Level: 234 Words - 331 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Choose either:

Established Relationship

Getting Together

1584 Words - 2017 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Crack!fic 3736 Words - 4142 Words

[gameofdrarry]

Drarropoly 2022 Artefact Prompts

During the months of November to January, Drarropoly 2022 players were led around a Monopoly-style board and given prompts based on the spaces they landed on. They earned points dependent on whether they wrote for the First Years Level, O.W.L. Level, or N.E.W.T Level, each level increasing the score.

These are the prompts players were given when landing on 'Artefact' spaces, or what many would know as the Property spaces.

King Arthur's Chess Board

Harry is a master at Competitive Wizarding Checkers. Draco has developed a love and fondness for the game.

First Years Level: 504 Words - 644 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Ron plays with Draco often. Have Ron be the catalyst for their relationship. 1585 Words - 1805 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write your fic from Ron's POV. 3748 Words - 4004 Words

Cassandra's Bone Dice

Game nights with friends can be great fun... at least until someone gets too competitive.

Choose one of the following:

Established Relationship

Getting Together

First Years Level: 385 Words - 836 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1394 Words - 1805 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Create the Wizarding board game that Harry and Draco are playing. 3001 Words - 4309 Words

The Sorting Hat

Late night shenanigans during Eighth Year at Hogwarts...

Choose one of the following:

Prefect's Duty

Sneaking Out After Curfew

First Years Level: 349 Words - 692 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Include Peeves. 1245 Words - 1704 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Do not include the Room of Requirement in your fic. 3363 Words - 4291 Words

Marauder's Map

Draco and/or Harry finds that all of their trousers have been replaced with skirts and cannot be transfigured.

First Years Level: 613 Words - 765 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Harry and/or Draco were not the one to replace the other's trousers. 1876 Words - 2364 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 4037 Words - 4909 Words

Quill of Acceptance

Harry and Draco are opposing Little League Quidditch coaches.

First Years Level: 313 Words - 616 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1515 Words - 2002 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +They each coach the other coach's child(ren). 3883 Words - 4224 Words

Deluminator, Foe-glass, and Arc en Ciel

Let your imagination run wild with the possibilities this prompt might inspire! (Mods rolled 2d20s to determine the jobs for Harry and Draco)

Post-Hogwarts, Harry and Draco have taken up what one might consider to be odd jobs. Harry now works as a BLANK, and Draco now works as a BLANK. How can love blossom between the two of them?

First Years Level: 200 words - 800 words

O.W.L.s Level:  1200 words - 2500 words

N.E.W.T.s Level:  + Include each of their job titles in your dialogue. 3250 words - 5000 words

Elder Wand

Harry thought he'd rid himself of the Elder Wand when he returned it to Dumbledore's grave. So why does it keep reappearing in his and Draco's flat(s)?

First Years Level: 307 Words - 572 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1678 Words - 1873 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write your fic from the perspective of either Death or the Elder Wand. 4399 Words - 4986 Words

Resurrection Stone

Harry uses the Resurrection Stone after the war to communicate with the friends and family that he lost. However, not all is as it seems.

First Years Level: 288 Words - 713 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Write your fic using dialogue only. 829 Words - 1111 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 1397 Words - 2307 Words

Invisibility Cloak

Harry loses the Invisibility Cloak. Draco finds it and secretly uses it to follow Harry around, spying on him.

Choose either:

Hogwarts

Ministry of Magic

First Years Level: 562 Words - 781 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Harry "lost" the cloak on purpose. 1420 Words - 1443 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 3681 Words - 3922 Words

The First Emperor's Sword

Draco and Harry are each sent away on holiday by their employer for some rest and relaxation only to find that they're seated next to one another on the plane.

Choose one of the following:

There Was Only One Bed

Draco or Harry is deathly afraid of flying in an aeroplane

Snakes

First Years Level: 515 Words - 594 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1234 Words - 1282 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write your fic from the perspective of the flight attendant. 4483 Words - 4682 Words

Old Kingdom Tablet

Harry and/or Draco has left the country. Use the song "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes (ft. Adam Levine) and the line "'Cause holding grudges over love is ancient artifacts" as inspiration.

First Years Level: 311 Words - 461 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1673 Words - 2209 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Use part of the song lyrics in your fic. 4679 Words - 4823 Words

Merlin's Lost Journal

Harry owns a business, and Draco is the marketing director/web designer. After a few sleepless nights, Draco is accidentally publishing pictures of their elopement/honeymoon instead of the actual product. Is everyone shocked, or did they already know and forget to tell Drarry?

First Years Level: 224 Words - 665 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1615 Words - 2453 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write your fic in the form of social media postings. 3672 Words - 4199 Words

The Mirror of Erised

Sirius, Severus, or Remus survives the War. How do they (un)intentionally get Harry and Draco together?

First Years Level: 274 Words - 664 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Write your fic from the perspective of the surviving character. 1000 Words - 2750 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 4372 Words - 4931 Words

Saoirse's Selkie Coat

Harry or Draco runs away with the Fae and discovers they are nothing like the creatures they studied in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Perhaps they're like the mafia, or they speak only in riddles. All that's certain is that the other has been living with the Fae in his Animagus form full-time.

First Years Level: 472 Words - 678 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +The Animagus form cannot be a dragon, an owl, a wolf, or a cat of any kind. 1342 Words - 1616 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 4612 Words - 4666 Words

The Bell Jar of Time

Harry travels back in time and interrupts the incident between Snape and the Mauraders. Now he's back in his own time, and Draco cannot figure out how Harry became so brilliant at potions.

First Years Level: 254 Words - 724 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Snape must award house points to Gryffindor. 1247 Words - 2042 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: Exact Word Count: 4899 Words

Keyleth's Staff

Harry and Draco use the same transportation to get to work each day. Though they generally try to ignore each other, one of them eventually realizes they've seen the book in the other's hands before.

Choose one of the following:

A heated debate about how amazing the book is

A heated debate about how dreadful the book is

Harry or Draco is the author

First Years Level: 592 Words - 664 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1352 Words - 1492 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Include at least 3 quotes from the book. 3278 Words - 4255 Words

Sarah Good's Broom

Harry or Draco gets stuck in a time loop on the Knight Bus until he asks the other out properly.

First Years Level: 654 Words - 723 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +The other becomes the Knight Bus driver in at least one of the loops. 1721 Words - 1919 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 3996 Words - 4034 Words

Amelia Earhart's Portkey

Harry or Draco works in the Ministry of Magic's Portkey Office. He watches the other take Portkeys to different places each week.

Choose one of the following:

Mutual Pining

Jealousy

First Years Level: 297 Words - 770 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Write using present tense. 1499 Words - 2243 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: 3977 Words - 4821 Words

The First Prophecy

Write a fic using the poem absence, presence by Luisa A. Igloria as inspiration.

First Years Level: 338 Words - 364 Words

O.W.L.s Level: +Use parts of the poem in your fic. 1630 Words - 1742 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Write using alternating POVs. 3377 Words - 3916 Words

Dementor's Cloak

With the aid of the Polyjuice Potion, Lucius secretly switches places with Draco before he is sent to Azkaban. Lucius is surprised when Harry comes to comfort him, and finding out they had been secretly dating is quite a shock. What does Lucius do now?

First Years Level: 536 Words - 666 Words

O.W.L.s Level: 1627 Words - 1989 Words

N.E.W.T.s Level: +Lucius now believes it may be possible to bring the Dark Lord back if Harry is finally killed once and for all, but what will he do? 3326 Words - 3789 Words

[gameofdrarry]

The Armlet of Forthright Devotion

Entry 1 for @gameofdrarry's Drarropoly 2022

N.E.W.T Level: 3883-4224 words

Rated: E, pwp, 4220 words

Summary:

Harry and Draco constantly butt heads as opposing Little League Quidditch coaches, and their teams get fed up.

Cue a magical artefact and wand-snatching shenanigans—will the two finally settle their differences? Or will the children’s plan fail?

Lysander nodded. “Zabini swiped the Armlet of Forthright Devotion from his dad and stuck it on Coach Malfoy while Brad distracted him. Now all you need to do is go to the equipment storage room!”

Harry just gaped, lost for words, because what the fuck?

[gameofdrarry]

My second drarropoly entry for @gameofdrarry

Festive Melody (G, medium: origami (one panel comic style) and a handwritten letter)

For show-and-tell one day, one of the children at Harry’s at-home daycare brings an intriguing Christmas ornament she’d found collecting dust in her attic. After fiddling with it, she soon learns why it was banished when it starts playing Christmas songs on a loop, impossible to stop, driving everyone up the wall.

(I'd recommend viewing each of the two chapters individually instead of as an entire work!)

Thank you to @getawayfox for your help 💕

[gameofdrarry]

My first drarropoly entry for @gameofdrarry!

Excellent Service (G, medium: Origami and Handwritten Letters)

Professors Malfoy and Zabini have to travel light on their trip to give important lectures for a joint Wixen and Muggle curriculum. Knowing Draco’s tendency to go overboard with packing even for a few days’ journey, Pansy convinces him to use a new express delivery service that caters to both Wixen and Muggle locations. Draco arranges for all his clothes to be delivered by the service, but it all goes wrong when they reach the Muggle hotel.

Thank you to @getawayfox @m4g0rtz and @lumosatnight for your help ❤️❤️❤️

[gameofdrarry]

Title : Princess for a day

Fandom : Harry Potter | Pairing : Draco / Harry

Rating : G | Words : 716

Challenge : @gameofdrarry Drarropoly 2022

When Draco wants to get dressed for work, he finds that all of his trousers have been changed into skirts. He assumes that Harry is trying to be funny, but Harry suspects that someone else may be to blame.

Can also be read on AO3

-~-~-~-

“What’s going on with you this morning?” Harry asks when he hears his husband stomping into the kitchen. He’s busy preparing breakfast for their daughter, and knowing that Draco has a big meeting today, he assumed he was in a bad mood because of nerves. But he’s getting tired of the stomping around. It’s too early in the morning.for it “You sound like…”

“Did you do this, Harry?” Draco interrupts, making Harry finally turn to look at him. Draco is wearing a short plaid skirt, the colour reminiscent of one of the pairs of fancy trousers he usually wears when he has an important meeting at work. “Do you think this is funny? You know I have that meeting with…”

Keep reading

[gameofdrarry]

Draco Malfoy can see dead people and Harry needs him

The job of a Social Worker included many things. Harry loved helping the people who needed help the most.

But his current case was something special, to say the least.

A family in need, an unknown blood-curse that had already cost lives. Many lives. For many generations.

Nobody knew what it was.

The only one who could maybe inform the family what the curse entailed was the ancestor who got cursed. But that's been more than seven generations in the past.

The family had struggled ever since.

Their money long gone, living as outcasts, unable to break the curse and change their fate. The assigned Social Workers were simply there to support, but never did something real.

Harry was adamant to change this.

Monday morning at 7 sharp he burst through the shop door of London's best Medium, Draco Malfoy.

Which Harry knew because it was common knowledge, and definitely not because he was obsessed with Draco as Hermione said. Even though Malfoy was very fit nowadays. But that was also common knowledge.

Harry definitely didn't constantly ogle him every minute they spent in the same facility together. And due to their friend groups mingling with each other that had become a rather common occurrence.

Which all of course had nothing to do with the fact that Harry needed him for this very case. The family deserved help.

And if someone could contact the dead ancestor that had brought the curse onto the family, then it'd be Draco.

Entry 2 for @gameofdrarry 2022, you can also find it on AO3

[gameofdrarry]

Tis the season for @gameofdrarry

Skirts and other inconveniences

Draco finds that Pansy (the bitch) has replaced all of his trousers with skirts.

There is no way to change them back.

Which is an issue.

Teen and up, 736 words, definitely not beta read

Read it here

[gameofdrarry]

Drarropoly 2022: Magical Artefact Smugglers

Drarropoly is a prompt-based game/fest modeled after the board game Monopoly where the mods roll turns and move players on a board of low word count, tropey prompts! There’s no commitment and no pressure, only fun and fandom! 

Join us as we merge the magic of canon and fanon to create a game/fest that celebrates the fundamentals and the possibilities of an iconic pairing!

Check out our Player's Handbook for all the important information you need to know

If you have any questions, please find us at our Discord or email us at gameofdrarrymod@gmail.com

📝 SIGNUP NOVEMBER 1 - JANUARY 15 🎲 GAMEPLAY NOVEMBER 15 - JANUARY 15

[gameofdrarry]

Week 36: ♣♦ WIZARDS HEARTS ♠♥ A Drarry Game/Fest Survey 

(This week’s “recommendation” will be a exit survey for the @gameofdrarry​. This was a fantastic game, and it helped me read so many new and wonderful fics.)

1. What was the first fanwork you read/listened to for the game/fest? Why did you choose it?

Life skills outside the curriculum by Endrina was the first fic I read for the game. I haven’t read a lot of fics where Harry doesn’t attend Hogwarts, so I was intrigued by the concept. I had also loved The Meaning of Mistletoe. The writing in Mistletoe is so evocative, so it made it easy for me to pick up and read another fic by Endrina. (This fic would fit the Canon Divergent trope.)

2. What’s a fanwork you think is a hidden gem and deserves more hype?

This is a cop out answer, but I think all the fics I read during this game deserve more hype (I’m also a bad judge as to what a hidden gem is). …but to narrow it down… A Pocket Full of Stones by waterwings is a fic that should have more hype. Draco and Harry’s relationship in this story restored me and refreshed my love of the ship. (Not that it was languishing, but Harry and Draco’s back and forward in this story energized me.)

3. What was your strategy for choosing fanworks throughout the game? Was there a tag/trope you found you simply couldn’t resist?

I had no strategy whatsoever. Though, I am horrible at strategy games, and I didn’t realize I should have had a plan until midway through the game. In general, I would look at the trope/tag list, browse Ao3, and list up a stack of fics I could read for any particular trope. Then I would read whatever fic I was in the mood to read and hope it fulfilled the trope.

4. Was there a trope that you’ve read a lot of previously that you found uniquely presented in a fic? In the past, I’ve read a lot of Omegaverse (and mpreg). But, I haven’t read much for Drarry. The Lily Spell by pickledghost certainly had a far different interpretation of omega and alpha dynamics than what I read before. But, I ended up liking it more than I had expected. (A spell aided impregnation wasn’t something I would have expected to see in Omegaverse, but it made for an interesting story.)

5. What’s a moment in a fic/podfic that genuinely got you to tear up?

I…cry a lot when I read fic or listen to podfics. (It’s actually a problem sometimes when people find me crying alone in my room and they worry if something is wrong, but I’m just sobbing over a really touching scene.) While not a specific moment, I found myself crying throughout In Pieces by dysonrules. Draco’s death…his thoughts on death…the tension between Harry’s love and the reality that physically separates him from Draco…had me in tears. (But! For people who are thinking of reading it, just know that it does have really happy moments and a good end!)

6. Was there a trope you’ve never read or heard of before? What did you think of it?

I had never heard of “Epistolary” as a trope before. But, I think it’s going to become one of my favorite tropes now. I’m so blown away how writers can convey Draco’s and Harry’s voices so vividly in letters. bixgirl1′s Life Lessons had some pretty hilarious letter exchanges and made me a convert.

7. Which trope did you read that pleasantly surprised you?

Crack!fic surprised me. I had always avoided it because I just didn’t know what to expect, and something about the word “crack” puzzled me. But, I ended up liking The Secret Diary of Draco Malfoy: Aristocrat, Ne'er do Well, Rampant Homosexual by Alysian_Fields, the Crack!fic I read for the challenge. There might be more Crack!fic on my horizon. 

8. Was there a fanwork that made you laugh out loud? Why?

This is coming back to a fic I mentioned already… but bixgirl1′s Life Lessons had me giggling at my desk. The letters in particular were infused with so many funny lines and timing. Every Me and Every You (also by bixgirl1) had me laughing, too. There were some alternative universes that really had me going, and the concept of Harry (and later Draco) viewing and commenting on AUs just had me in stitches. 

9. Was there a fanwork that made you especially emotional? Why?

Both Notes on a resurrection and The flight instinct by newleaves made me particularly emotional. There was something about the writing. Newleaves writes so beautifully, and the characters are so layered and complex, I think it would be hard not to be moved by these stories. These two stories have different POVs, Notes focused on Draco’s, Flight centered on Harry’s. They compliment each other so well, I started crying because these fics made them feel alive and human.

A fic that moved me emotionally just out of the sheer quality of it was Vukovich’s Vis-à-Vis-à-Vis. My god, what a wallop this fic gave me. It was like a masterclass in storytelling.

10. What is your favourite tag/trope? Why?

This is a lame answer perhaps, but my favorite trope is “Canon Divergent.” This trope really covers a wide swath of fics, and at my core, I prefer a non-canon compliant view of the Harry Potter universe. Canon Rewrite is a trope that I absolutely love, but it wasn’t included in the cards. Canon Divergent seems to be the closest to Canon Rewrite.

11. Which tags/tropes did you skip? Would you be willing to share why? If you didn’t skip a tag/trope, was there one that gave you pause?

I ran out of time to finish all the fics so there were a lot of tags and tropes I didn’t tackle. But, a tag/troupe that I skipped over consciously was Power Dynamics. (If I had had time, I would have used a Joker for it.) I don’t dislike the trope, and if it’s included in a fic I’m reading along with other things I like, I’ll read it. But, it’s not something I search for on a regular basis, and I like sticking to my usual habits for hobbies.

12. Which suit did you have the most fun reading? Why?

PENTACLES was an all-star of a card. It had a lot of tropes I read regularly and like (accidental bonding, fake dating, canon divergent, pureblood culture). So, it was a naturally easier to fill out and read. It also had a few challenging troupes for me (getting back together, crack!fic, memory loss) that forced me to broaden my horizons, so I liked that a lot. It was a good mix of comfort and challenge.

13. Did you rec any fics to your friends during the game/fest? Which ones? Why?

I didn’t read this fic during the challenge because I read it earlier this year, but I did rec Incurable by Warholhp during the fest. This would have fulfilled the Muggle AU trope. It is an intense story, and it isn’t for everyone. But it is such an engaging story, and I like how Snape turned out in this story. It’s my go-to for a Muggle AU.

14. Do you have any feedback for the mods of the game/fest? Would you be interested in playing again if the opportunity arose? Share more info about your experience. I would absolutely love to do this game again! (Also, thank you so much to the mods for pulling all of this together!!!!) It was a good opportunity to try different tropes and force myself to finish reading. It was a lot of fun, and a real highlight of my summer. There were some points where I was confused about the team activities, but overall I understood and enjoyed the game. Thank you again @gameofdrarry​ for holding WIZARDS HEARTS!!!

[gameofdrarry]

This is the final Survey from @gameofdrarry Wizard Hearts Game. This has basically turned into a fic rec list all on its own, so buckle up here goes:

What was the first fanwork you read/listened to for the game/fest? Why did you choose it?

So the first story I picked was Reform by TheSquibby Princess which was a 186k polyamory beast of a fic, which I absolutely adored. I have a thing for triads and a soft spot for Ron Weasley and so there it was. I was also ambitious as all heck at the beginning, hence the word count. But the fic was a gem, and I adored it and I loved how each relationship built separately all while the triad grew together!

What was the last fanwork you read/listened to for the game/fest? Why did you choose it?

The last work I read was for the established relationship card, which somehow ended up being the last card standing. I looked for something short (because I literally had an hour or so), but that caught my attention. I’ve read works by TheMightyFlynn @mightyflynn before and loved them, so as soon as I saw their name and the summary I dove in. Two Days That Changed His Life was an awesome read and great use of the trope!

What's a fanwork you think is a hidden gem and deserves more hype?

So I’m a sucker for MPREG and A Star Danced by @ladderofyears was an absolute gem, as is it’s author. ladderofyears is an excellent writer and one of the sweetest people in fandom and I adores this story.

What was your strategy for choosing fanworks throughout the game? Was there a tag/trope you found you simply couldn’t resist?

My plan of attack was to try and do all 50k+ and do them all by suit. I got about halfway through that and then life happened, so I just tried to get them all done… not a trope I couldn’t resist, but I read a ton of Wireless Fest fics and they were absolutely spectacular this year. Paper Rings by lettersByelise (epilogue compliant) and In Free Fall by @kbrick are absolute wonderful gems that I didn’t mention anywhere else in this but that you should definitely read.

Was there a trope that you’ve read a lot of previously that you found uniquely presented in a fic?

So I love fics that show Harry testifying for Draco, like it’s one of those pivotal moments in my mind that is such a moment in this pairing, but most of those moments follow a tried and true formula. I Won’t Let You Fall Apart by xanthippe74 takes the Harry testifying for Draco is a completely original direction and it was fantastic. The fic itself was so well-written but that twist on something I already loved and that plot line was absolutely perfect.

What's a line from a fic/podfic that you can't stop thinking about?

If you have not read A Pocket Full of Stones by waterwings, you are missing out. That story lives in my head rent free because it’s beautiful and poignant and the emotions it evokes are visceral.

There is nothing clever about Potter’s magic. Nothing gentle. He walks headfirst into the rest of the wizards, stupid and stubborn. The air is electric, the shadows move around him, and Draco can taste his magic in the wind. A deep, earthy thing, that feels old and damp and clean. The spells are wandless and wordless and Draco, for the first time that night, finds himself standing still.

Potter isn’t skilled or clever or fast; he is a force of nature.

I should leave him, Draco thinks, but it’s fleeting.

He dashes back into the fray, because when has he ever been able to walk away from Harry Potter?

What's a moment in a fic/podfic that genuinely got you to tear up?

I read Its No Great Mystery by agentmoppet for the time travel card and that story just hit me in every emotion I had. It’s a time loop, so not technically travel, but Harry is lost after the war and some of the things that he confronts during his loop brought me to tears. One was his relationship with Hagrid. I think Hargid always should have gotten more recognition in cannon for how much he cares for Harry. But this fic is gorgeous and has so many things done so right, and it just feels so real and so relatable. This line gives nothing away but is just so poignant to me.

Possessed by the spirit of some unknown demon—possibly Sirius, possibly his own father, or possibly just the man Harry might have been if he’d been raised by the two of them—he winked at Draco from across the empty dance floor.

Was there a trope you’ve never read or heard of before? What did you think of it?

I’ve heard of all of the tropes, but honestly there have not been many too many stories featuring Harry or Draco as trans until recently, so that’s something I just had not had the opportunity to read yet. What Husbands are For by softlystarstruck is just a spectacular example of trans characters and a testament to the fact that the relationship between Harry and Draco just is, no matter how they identify, no matter that they are a vampire and a werewolf and no matter that their marriage was only supposed to be political. I loved this fic and loved the inclusivity of this story.

Which trope did you read that pleasantly surprised you?

I’m not one to seek out Second Person POV very often, but Catch Me Before You Fall by lq_traintracks is an amazing use of the trope and just a fantastic story all around. Draco is newly turned and ends up on Harry’s doorstep, and ends up staying. Harry’s POV is so great in this one and their Draco is fantastic as well.

Was there a fanwork that made you laugh out loud? Why?

You send Me (Honest You Do) by firethesound features Auror Partners Harry and Draco where Harry ends up with himself de-aged. This fic is absolutely a gem, and in a world where Draco and Ron are actually friends, you know there are some hilarious moments.

“He is my friend, yes. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s really nice having a partner who’s aware that rules exist,” Ron said.

“Potter is aware that rules exist,” Draco muttered. “I just can’t get him to care.”

“Exactly,” Weasley said, clapping him companionably on the shoulder. “My point exactly. And it’s someone else’s turn to deal with him.” Shaking his head, he muttered to himself as he finished pouring the milk, “Let’s follow the spiders, Ron. Let’s take a flying car to Hogwarts, Ron. Let’s climb aboard this dragon, Ron, and fly away with it, that won’t arse off the Goblins and get us banned from Gringotts for life.”

Draco narrowed his eyes. “He said the flying car was your brilliant idea.”

“Might’ve been,” Weasley said easily, putting the milk away. “And even if it wasn’t, I’m willing to take that one. At least the car didn’t breathe fire, unlike the dragon, so I think I’m still ahead. Has he ever told you about the time he jumped off the top of Tower Bridge in pursuit of a suspect?”

I“What the fuck,” Draco said, blinking. “When did he—no, no. I don’t want to know about it. I’m happier not knowing the details.”

“You probably are. He about gave me a heart attack,” Weasley said, shaking his head. “I’ve been partnered with Ji-eun for almost three months and she hasn’t jumped off a single bridge in that whole time. I deserve this. That’s all I’m saying.”

Was there a fanwork that made you especially emotional? Why?

The Ordeal of Being Known by Louisfake was just one that I read (and it’s sequel) that had me in my emotions for almost the entire story. Harry is struck by a curse that renders him mute, and Draco, a healer legilimens, is the only one that can help him. This story brings the boys through Harry’s memories and Draco sees every single one. It’s invasive, it’s intimate and it’s just a beautiful telling of how they bridge the distance between them to understanding and then more. It’s a fantastic story.

What is your favourite tag/trope? Why?

Fake dating/ pretend relationship hands down. I LOVE a good fake dating trope more than almost anything else in fandom. I read When Times are Dire by Aibidil for that trope and I was floored by that story. It’s much more serious than most written for this trope, and it has a lot of political elements and a middle-aged Harry and Draco, but it’s absolutely fantastic and has such a strong ensemble cast as well as such a strong relationship that Draco and Harry build. It was truly a great take on the trope and so well done.

Which tags/tropes did you skip? Would you be willing to share why? If you didn’t skip a tag/trope, was there one that gave you pause?

The only one I skipped was Cannon Divergent and Honestly it was almost by accident. I read Meet me at Midnight by Thestarryknight, but didn’t have a trope left it fit with, so Cannon Divergent got skipped just so I could give all the love to this amazing fic.

Did you read multiple fics by the same author? What tags/tropes did they have? Wax poetic about the author a bit, eh!

I cannot pick one. I’m going to have to pick two. I had never read anything by Louisfake before this game, and I am in love with their writing. i read The Ordeal of Being Known (veratiserum) and The Rewards of Being Loved (Patronus) and Weapon of Choice (Period Piece) I’ve gushed over the other two, so if you have not read Weapom of Choice, you need to. It’s a medieval piece and features Knight Draco and Evil King Albus. Everything is changed, and yet Draco and Harry remain. It’s wonderful and I was so happy I found it.

Second author is The_Sinking_Ship who is absolutely a joy to read. Everything is just one better than the other! I read Chasing Dragons (song fic) and Finely Drawn Lines (friends with Benefits) and I loved them both. Finely Drawn Lines is just so, so good. The boys are professors and Draco is an artist, and Harry tends to end up his subject. The POV on This is amazing and Draco’s drawings speak all of the words. It just was one of my favorites I’ve read in a bit. I have to include an excerpt.

Before he realised it, Draco had gone ahead and catalogued Harry Potter’s every expression. And this was precisely the reason Draco could never let Potter see inside his sketchbook. What he was doing would most certainly be considered creepy, although he never meant for it to be. It wasn’t as if he was following Potter around or lurking in dark corners, carving his portrait into every surface. It was simply that Potter was a very good subject.

Oh, and Draco was a bit in love with him. There was that.

Who's an author you think deserves more hype? Why?

I have never read anything by AvenueofESC before and I absolutely fell in love with Everything You Want (Is Right in Front of You). It features meddlesome Teddy and was an adorable fic and just struck the perfect balance. I loved the way Harry and Draco got to know each other and the developing relationship between them, and Teddy manipulating them both. Wonderful writing and a new author that I’m glad I found.

Did a fic send you off on a tangent reading or researching anything? Which one was it? What was your off-the-path adventure?

I have to be careful any time I read anything by Shiftylinguini, because I set out to read one thing, and suddenly I’ve read 5 fics (and not for the first time either) and lost like a half a day because I can’t just read one fic. The one fic I read makes me then re-read my favorites. I read Celestial Bodies (accidental bonding and space magic) and Coming up For Air (Veela, forced proximity) the last day of the game and now I’ve reread all my faves in the last couple days, including Two Weeks (VeelaHarry) and Embers ( werewolves) because I just can’t get enough.

Did you rec any fics to your friends during the game/fest? Which ones? Why?

So I couldn’t use this particular fic because I have gushed all over it before. But Drarrelie and JanieOhio are my favorite RomCom duo and This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) from LCD fest is one of my absolute favorites. I read Recipe for Life (misunderstanding) for this years fest and it was so good. Draco is a Chef and squires both a child and Harry Potter as his Sous Chef. It’s super cute, and so well written and I absolutely loved it. But I recommend This Will Be to anyone that will listen.

Do you have any feedback for the mods of the game/fest? Would you be interested in playing again if the opportunity arose? Share more info about your experience

I love this fest, it’s probably my favorite thing in the fandom. I enjoyed it again and had an absolute blast doing it! I love finding authors I’ve never heard of or reading others stories from old favorites. I also love the teams and getting to know more people in the fandom

[gameofdrarry]

You Send Me (Honest You Do) / firethesound

(37k // E// Potions Accident // DeAging)

Summary: As far as potion accidents go in general, and deaging incidents go in particular, Draco knew this could have been so much worse. Harry only lost about ten years, and all his memories are still intact. But the sight of him looking as if he’s stepped straight out of Draco’s Hogwarts memories has dredged up a whole mess of complicated feelings Draco thought he’d buried years ago, and Draco really doesn’t know what to do with any of it.

Why I loved it: well @firethesound is probably one of my favorite fandom authors, but there is something special about this one! Harry is de-aged from a potions accident, and it sends Draco into a tizzy. It’s one of those fics that both makes you laugh out loud, but also makes you grip your heart because of how tender it is. It’s told entirely from Draco’s POV as well, and it just gives it this deep and meaning energy to the fic, because you feel Draco’s emotions so plainly.

I also love that they are a bit older. Long enough for the terrors of the War to have ebbed and for them to have slotted into each other’s lives as both friends and Auror Partners. Draco is even friends with Ron 😂

This was written for @gameofdrarry Wizard Hearts 2022