#dustmouth nerakrose

[dewitty1]

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead)

dustmouth, nerakrose

art by dustmouth,  written by  @greaseonmymouth

Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Romance, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, POV Harry Potter, Relationship Problems, Asexual Character, Asexuality, Asexual Harry Potter, struggles relating to internalised acephobia (he gets over it), Biromantic Harry Potter, Gay Draco Malfoy, Queer Themes, Mental Health Issues, Depression, Anxiety, hints of mild suicidal ideation, post-coital dysphoria, Little League Quidditch, Warm and Fuzzy Feelings, Fluff, Light Angst, Books, Conversations, Social Commentary, Expensive Bath Bomb Habits, Relationship Discussions, Original Character(s), Minor or Background Relationship(s) - Freeform, Minor Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Ginny Weasley/Original Female Character(s) - Freeform, Padma Patil/Pansy Parkinson - Freeform, Seamus Finnigan/Dean Thomas - Freeform, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley - Freeform, Blaise Zabini/Original Male Character(s) - Freeform, Angelina Johnson/Lee Jordan/George Weasley - Freeform, Percy Weasley/Oliver Wood - Freeform, Trans!Dudley, Trans Character, Embedded Images, Fanart, Art, Harry/Draco Big Bang 2018, Community: harrydracobang

Summary:

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.

Features: Little League Quidditch, an abundance of bath bombs, happy endings, and gay robots in space.

Excerpt:

The cashier tried to hide a smile. “Your costumes are excellent,” she commented. “Where’s the party at?”

Malfoy blinked. “Oh! Sorry. There’s no party. This is for LARPing,” he said, enunciating carefully. “We’re both wizards.”

“And these are your weapons?” she indicated the pile of bath bombs on the counter she was sorting into bags. Harry had bought so many that she was divvying his into three bags.

“Yes.” Malfoy grinned. “They’re meant to look like potions, you see.”

Harry was staring. “What are you doing?” he whispered. “You can’t break the Statute of Secrecy!”

“I’m not,” Malfoy whispered back. “I’ve got it under control. It’s LARPing, see?”

Harry did not see, but he paid for the bombs (and was nearly short on Muggle cash, which he did not tell Draco—these things were expensive) and ushered him outside. “What was that? What’s larping?”

“It means Live Action Role Playing, it’s an acronym. LARP, see?” Malfoy said. “It’s a Muggle game about dressing up as something and then pretending to be that character and doing things like solving quests and fighting and things like that. I read about it in class.” Malfoy gestured at the store. “She thinks we’re roleplaying wizards.”

Oh. Oh. “Oh!”

“Brilliant, isn’t it?” Malfoy was grinning, all giddy and happy and pleased with himself.

He looked lovely like this, Harry thought. That smile suited him. And Harry really, really wanted to kiss him. But they were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and also Harry had to go to his Record-keeping Theory and Practice lecture, and it didn’t seem like the time or the place.

“Yeah,” Harry said, and gave him his bag. “This is yours. I, uh, have to go.”

“Right. Your course? I’ll walk you.” Malfoy put his bag into a well-charmed concealed pocket, where it disappeared out of sight and didn’t cause any unnecessary break in Malfoy’s silhouette.

Harry’s pockets weren’t as well-charmed, or as roomy, but he had space in his book bag for the third bag. “Okay, uhm. This way.”

“I know which way the College is,” Malfoy said, quick grin on his face. He fell into step with Harry, and a few seconds later, his hand was in Harry’s. “Is this okay?”

“Yeah,” Harry said, throat dry.

It was a short walk to the College; back to Direction Alley and then down the small path past the Archive which led onto Toothill Square, where the College was tucked in between the Archive Garden and the White Hart.

“So, standing invitation to join us at the pub on Friday, as usual,” Harry said, gesturing at the pub. “But I actually wanted to ask—on Sunday I have my first Little League game. Do you want to come? I’ll reserve you a seat with the team if you’d like? I mean, it’s for parents and other family members of the team, but as captain I get seats too.”

Malfoy hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to come,” he said. “I just…I’ve already bought a ticket.”

“Oh.” Harry blinked. “So…”

“It’s for charity, right?” Malfoy looked uncertain. “I want to support the charity.”

“Yes, of course—that’s fine, that’s brilliant. Thank you.” Harry squeezed his hand. Malfoy hadn’t removed it yet, even if they were on the steps of the College. “I’ll…see you after? I’ll get you a pass that’ll let you into our section if you’d like? Or we can meet—”

“I’d love that. The pass,” Malfoy said, and then suddenly he was leaning close and speaking into Harry’s ear. “Thank you for today,” he said. A brush of something warm and soft on Harry’s cheek, and then Malfoy had taken a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, touching his cheek where he was positive Draco had just kissed him. Kissed! “I’ll see you then.”

Malfoy Disapparated.

There was no way Harry was going to be able to focus in his lecture.

꒰⁎˃ ॢꇴ ॢ˂⁎꒱➴ෆ⃛❤️

[lostdrarryfics]

Hi! I hope you can help me. I'm looking for a fic I read on AO3 but the only thing I remember is that Harry buys bath bombs at a store near Diagon. I think he took Draco there after they are dating. That's it, can't remember the plot at all.

Thank you very much for your work!!

We believe you are looking for Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) (96k, T) by dustmouth and nerakrose!

Don’t forget to bookmark, leave kudos and comments!

[sitp-recs]

Hello good morning afternoons or evenings, I hope you are having a wonderful day! I'm looking for fic Drarry where they both become a safe place for each other or have a strange connection with each other because only they can understand each other.

Hello anon! Oh I love this concept so much, I’m all for comfort fics like that. Here are some stories that came to mind:

A Little Death Never Hurt Anyone by @tackytigerfic (E, 4k)

Harry's getting good at slipping through the Veil. He's determined to win the war, even if means he has to raise the dead to do it. Draco just wants a stiff drink and a good night's sleep.

Thermodynamic Equilibrium by @dorthyanndrarry (T, 5k)

Harry's far too hot. Draco's always cold. And somehow against all odds, together they create a perfect equilibrium.

A Pain of Our Choosing by @lqtraintracks (E, 6k)

It’s 8th year and everyone’s still a bit messed up. Harry and Draco fall into being messed up together.

Glowing by @cavendishbutterfly (T, 10k)

Harry's lived alone and vampiric in his cottage for ages, until a long-lived Draco Malfoy suddenly shows up to answer an advertisement Harry had practically forgotten he'd put in the Prophet. Cue soft blood drinking, quiet nights of reading and crocheting, and Harry thinking that maybe--just maybe--he might not be so alone anymore.

Tidings of Comfort by @blamebrampton (G, 10k)

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. Luckily for Draco Malfoy, London has places where the tired can rest and recover.

Nice Things by aideomai (M, 22k)

The first thing that happened was Theodore Nott came back from France.

The Last of What the World Left You by @xanthippe74 (T, 25k)

If the wizarding world won’t give Draco a second chance, he has a plan to survive: live in his Animagus form, a carrion crow, in the Forbidden Forest. Not only does Harry Potter come along and ruin it, he’s radiating a strange aura of power. With nowhere to go and a Life-Debt to his mother that Potter insists on repaying, Draco puts himself into the hands of the reclusive Boy Who Lived. Will the bleak corner of Yorkshire where Potter makes his home be another dead end or an unexpected refuge?

Strange Bedfellows by orphan_account, ravenclawsquill (E, 30k)

When Harry encounters a frail and fidgety Draco Malfoy at the Ministry, he just knows something is wrong and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it.

Holly and Hawthorn, Thistle and Thyme by bryoneybrynn (T, 31k)

After the war, Harry can’t shake the feeling that something is very wrong with him and he has a terrible feeling he knows what that “something” might be. He has a terrible feeling Malfoy might know, too.

Open For Repairs by @drarrytrash (M, 35k)

After the war, Draco works at a tv repair shop and Harry breaks things.

Like Lightning at Your Fingertips by potterwatch (T, 43k)

The problem with living with another insomniac is, eventually, they find out you’re one, too. When Harry and Draco return for their eighth year, they think they’ll see very little of each other. Then McGonagall assigns them to room together. And the castle starts breaking. And there’s that thing with Potter’s magic.

A Room Up There (And You In It) by @the-starryknight (T, 59k)

When Preservationist Draco Malfoy was assigned to work on Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, he was excited to delve into the gorgeous Black family antiques. His excitement quickly ended when something in the House decided it did not like his presence one bit. Featuring a grumpy antiques lover who most certainly did not sign up for this, encounters with a vengeful apparition, and a healthy application of Christmas spirit.

Running on Air by eleventy7 (T, 75k)

Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects.

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) by nerakrose, dustmouth (T, 96k)

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.

Way Down We Go by @xiaq (T, 109k)

In which Harry and Draco both run away from their pasts and conveniently choose to hide in the same tiny American town. It's super.

A Sword Laid Aside by @korlaena (E, 128k)

When Draco’s cover is blown during a deep undercover operation and the Ministry is compromised, Ron takes Draco to the only safe place he can think of—Potter. Hiding out with a taciturn Harry Potter, who has been missing from the Wizarding World for almost two decades after a shocking fall from grace, is nothing like Draco thought it would be.

In The Dark by @bixgirl1 (E, WIP)

In the aftermath of an apocalypse, Harry receives an order to find and bring Draco Malfoy nearly a thousand miles, to the tenuous safety of Hogwarts. But more than distance separates them from their goal. The world has fallen, and death is hungry.

[ncoincidences]

all the fics I read this year, part II — drarry edition

Here's where you go for part I (jily). Drarry is my second top-ship of 2023! Personally, I am so awed by the drarry writers on here, their wonderful & unique fics out there, plus the many podfics! I hope to enjoy more podfics next year ❤️ For now I'm highly grateful to have read all these incredible fics which have comforted me during hard times ❤️🫂

Magic Man by @dracogotgame = dracogotgame - Draco is a Muggle Magic Performer, and Harry's sure he's using real magic, which he isn't allowed to do, and naturally sets up to investigate, but what follows is a fluffy romantic fic instead!

Tiny Dragons & Where to Find Them by @tasteofshapes  - Harry's tiny dragon is missing! It's with Draco 😳😏😍🥰

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead)* by dustmouth, nerakrose asexual Harry! This fic was so amazing, the vibes were soft and p calm ❤️

Far From The Tree by aideomai - GOSH THIS FIC. goodness where do i start. It's like enemies with benefits except we know we're not going to end up together because your future kids accidentally time travelled here and at least i don't end up in azkaban in the future also there's an evil swordlady trying to kill us all AND MORE. this fic has a great concept, amazing execution and a PERFECT ending.

Nice Things by aideomai - every drarry fic list must contain an 8th year fic! This one also has some interhouse friendships and the vibe is quite cosy. This is the fic where all the 8th years are accomodated in a house called 'Gatehouse'. Kind of gives off a bit of a 2012 Avengers fic, iykwim.

The Star Splitter by @oflights - ahsvgdjsknbvghk this WIP is the bane of my existence the object if my desires etc etc. Latest update has left me hanging! It is heart-healing but angsty at the same time, and has lots of world building. Features 35 yo drarry, plus lots of time-travelling. I'm putting a lot of trust in that "happy ending" tag!

if the bees know by fanfairmod, oflights - everything about this fic screams fall amd spooky season. it is cosy, starts a bit sadly but ends on a beautiful note. also feat. cute harry & scorpius moments!

go to it laughing by oflights - v cute meet-cute!!

along each garden wall by oflights - veela Harry! Feat. A Draco who wants to whisk Harry off in his hot air balloon and a time-stopping ship. It's funny and a nice read overall.

the first in line by oflights - so many misunderstandings in this one oh my god!!!! overall it's a funny and comfort fic feat. Vet!Harry 🤩😍

Close Behind* by oflights - angsty angsty fic! Betrayal, death, lots of worldbuilding and a gripping plotline!

Byzantine by oflights - alexa play jealousy, jealousy by olivia

What dreams may come by @lastontheboat  - i LOVE the unique concept this fic is based on! Amnesiac Harry has his memory regained by Healer Draco, but in the process they must have sex! The smut was incredible.

Assumptions by  @indigo-scarf - asexual draco with hurt and comfort that patches you back together!

Tomorrow by space_wingding - Harry and Draco are older, Harry's dying, Draco's a biographer, and this is how the fic starts. In the process of writing, they fall in love as they discover more about each other ❤️

It Was All Just a Game (Rewrite) by write_me227 - holy shit is this a ride. This is angsty, adorable, angsty, romantic, etc and has all the rockiness of a teenage relationship accompanied by lies and dark lords and wartimes. it had me totally under its powerful grip.

hear me (with your whole body) by @teacup-tai - this was an interesting fic, focussing on the intricacies of drarry, how miscommunication and not enough talking planted misconceptions in their minds about their relationship

[Podfic] GOODNIGHT FROM YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND by GallaPlacidia by greenmegsnoham, PhenomenalAsterisk - truly phenomenal podfic, so many fun moments and laughter! this was my first podfic, both the fic and the reading were great, i loved consuming fic in this form ❤️

*[Asterisk marks a fic i haven't completely read.]

[lucigoo]

Weekly Roundup: 24/12/2023 - 31st/12/2024

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAT EVERYONE! No matter what it looks like I hope its a good one for you. Now to the round up, I wrote one fic this week (for some reason it was a slog and a half) and 16,212 words so feeling quite proud. Recs first and my fics after, I have to warnn you all, I've got a few new rabbit holes ive decended so there may be Alexa woods/Scar from Alien vs Prefitor and Boromir/Theodred recs in the future whn I-ve read enough. As if i needed new brain bugs lol. So 1) A Complaint A Day... - birdkeeperklink (speculating) (Bilbo/Thorin, the Company's care and worry for Bilbo is adorable 2)Of Blacksmiths and Blackberries - littlebrownshoe (Wolfy_Tales) (Bilbo/Thorin, this is legit one of my fav Bagginshield fics ever) 3) A Month in the Life of Sad Spinster Sirius Black: In Which He Unwittingly Stars in a Sexy Mechanic Soft Porno (except, not really) - cmajalis, dustmouth, epithalamium, nerakrose, rscollabmods - (Sirius/Remus, a lovely comic worth reading) 4) Finders, Keepers - varsavia (Sirius/Remus raising little queer Oliver wood, just so good)

So, the fic i wrote this week Dragon Rot - Lucigoo89 _ Bilbo/Thorin, part of @smolestboop's Bagginshield-tober promps (Im fially getting through them lol)

[emsuemsu]

Level Two: Series One by Ashii Black (ashiiblack), blamebrampton, Catsintheattic, dustmouth, epithalamium, incandescent (lmeden), josephinestone, leveltwo, nerakrose, raitala, Romaine, Vaysh, Writcraft

Words: 113,499

Witches and wizards are disappearing in a seemingly random fashion. Coincidence? Abductions? But no one is claiming ransom. The Aurors are not even sure the disappearances are connected, then one of the missing turns up dead. Meanwhile, Auror Harry Potter is thrown into the infamous Sirius Black Muggle murder case from 25 years ago. Given a chance to clear his godfather's name for good, Harry is not above accepting even the help of magical specialist Draco Malfoy.

I do love a good case fic, and this is probably the best one I've yet to read (and the bar is set high with this one). Instead of being auror partners, Harry is an auror and Draco is an unspeakable, and they get assigned to work at the Cold Case Division. This fic is such a good detective story and the plot gets wrapped up amazingly, had me guessing the outcome almost until the end.

[tdcatsblog]

Fic Rec: Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead)

Title: Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) Author: @greaseonmymouth Artist:dustmouth Rating: T Word Count: 96144 Author’s Summary: Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.

Features: Little League Quidditch, an abundance of bath bombs, happy endings, and gay robots in space.

Thoughts: I’ve been lingering over this fic for months. It’s unlike any other Drarry fic I can remember reading. Harry is asexual! And an Archivist! And went to prison for crimes committed during the war! (The last point is minor, but I liked that Harry was held accountable for his actions, that being on the winning side wasn’t a substitute for justice.) Draco is a carpenter! And an excellent cook!

Harry spends much of the fic in a Not Good Place as he grapples with revelations about himself and whom he wants to be. His struggles are heartbreaking and feel painfully real.  Draco and Harry’s relationship is hard earned and all the more satisfying as it evolves. There’s a lot to like here.  

I’m not doing this fic justice. There’s just SO MUCH to going on. (Check out that word count.) It was written for the Harry /Draco Big Bang, and marvelous illustrations by Dustmouth complement the story’s action.

I’ll leave you with a pithy bit of Draco Wisdom: “Nobody ever died of blue balls.”

[harrydracobang]

Harry/Draco Big Bang Fic & Art: Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (Teen)

Title: Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) Author: @greaseonmymouth Artist: dustmouth Pairing: Harry/Draco Other Key Characters: Ginny, original characters Rating: PG-13 Word Count: ~96k Era: Post-War EWE Content/Warnings: Ginny/Harry in the beginning of the fic, asexual!Harry, depressed!Draco, mental health issues, sexual identity, Post-Coital Dysphoria, a lot of bath bombs, Little League Quidditch, the reading (and discussion of) many (gay) books, queer themes, happy endings, see ao3 tags for full list Summary: Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.Features: Little League Quidditch, an abundance of bath bombs, happy endings, and gay robots in space. Author’s Notes: This fic would not be what it is without @eatingfireflies, who listened to me ramble about this fic for 7+ months; @palavapeite who did a stellar beta job and also suffered my ramblings for 7+ months; and dustmouth, who didn't flinch when I messaged her back in December last year "hey, do you want to do the HDBB with me?" and whose art completes this fic in a way I never dared hope for. ♥ Artists’s Notes: The artist would also like to thank the author for forgiving all the late emails and being terribly nice about wonky scribbles at ALL times. It's been a super fun time working on this story with you and I would do it again in a heartbeat!!

READ AND VIEW ON AO3

[yetanotherdrarrylist]

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.

Features: Little League Quidditch, an abundance of bath bombs, happy endings, and gay robots in space.

[goblinmatriarch]

✨Fic recs!✨

Gonna throw out two fic recs: one that messed me up, and one that is so soft and lovely that it's a perfect palate cleanser for the first.

First, Quicksilvermaid's Dreaming Darkly:

Almost 40k of Harry not being okay. Harry is not okay, y'all. He's 23, he's (kind of) an auror, and he's a fucking mess. When he encounters Draco on the edges of legality, he of course becomes obsessed, and it all spirals from there.

Warning: no HEA here, although I didn't find the ending glum exactly, more.....poignant anguish, but in a good way?

Chaser: Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them, by dustmouth and nerakrose

It's so fucking cosy and soft what the fuck. It's just so gentle. It felt like sinking into a warm bath and then hanging out there while my muscles unwound. The art was so lovely, the story so kind and comforting, just really great all around.

It's also nearly 100k, which is just - I don't feel like you usually get such long fic in the 'soft, tender, careful' genre. Read it and soothe your soul!

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - February 2023 (ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

Vis-à-Vis-à-Vis by Vukovich @vukovich

Harry’s assignment was simple. Close out Draco Malfoy’s missing persons case so he can be declared dead.

But who’s making withdrawals from Malfoy’s vaults? How is a death omen-turned-Unspeakable involved? Is an organization known as the Moirai to blame?

Harry brushes it off until he can’t. Until The Prophet is flooded with sightings of dead people. Until Robards throws himself on his sword. Until Ron turns on his own family. Until Harry scarcely trusts his own reflection in the mirror and trusts the stranger in his bed even less.

Until all that stands between war and peace is Harry, a name plate, a stadium of murderers, and Draco Malfoy.

God save the Ministry. Rec Post

Harry Potter and the Chariot of the Sun by Philosopherscribe 

Hot on the trail of a Dementor-worshipping cult, Harry plays a dangerous game with an old enemy. Rec Post

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy’s Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) by dustmouth, nerakrose, art by dustmouth,  written by  @greaseonmymouth

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who’s definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry. Rec Post

The Garland Gay by Vaysh

Draco Malfoy has it all – sex, money, power. But a family secret threatens to become the undoing of the successful head of Malfoy Bank. His troubles bring him to private investigator Harry Potter, who lost it all – girlfriend, Galleons, Auror career – over a tenacious obsession with a certain blond. Both become entangled in the vengeful schemes of a stranger from the past. As much as Draco tries to resist, in the end, he must make a fateful choice for the man he is destined to love. Rec Post

Eagles in Truro (Alt: That filthy one that snuck in a plot.) by Vukovich @vukovich

Hermione Granger just wants to get laid and maybe someday become Supreme Mugwump. Ronald Weasley just wants to build a dubiously-criminal empire and hug everybody. Harry Potter just wants… he’s not sure, but it might be Malfoy. Draco Malfoy just wants to survive the post-war world. And snuggles. A story about four lonely people in a mineshaft in Cornwall, and blasting a home in bedrock when nothing else quite fits. Hermione: Excuse me. This is a political thriller, but it’s also how I ended up in a really complicated relationship. Ron: It’s not that complicated. And it’s a love story. Draco: He’s right. Harry: You always side with Ron. It’s an action story. I got stabbed. Draco: Sorry about that. But you’re all wrong. This is art. And SMUT. All: Oh… Rec Post

My Best Friend, the Serial Killer by trishjames @thusspoketrish

Draco’s best friend and flatmate Pansy Parkinson is a lot of things: she’s beautiful, intelligent, doting, and a bit unnerving…but Draco loves her all the same, even if he has to clean up after her bloody – ah, messy romantic breakups more than usual. He doesn’t mind, after all, what are best friends for?

But Draco starts to question just how far his love can go when Pansy brings home her next victim – ah, boyfriend, Harry Potter. Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

By the Grace by lettered @letteredlettered

Harry is an Auror instructor. Malfoy wants to be an Auror.

Away, Away by Aelys_Althea @aelysalthea

Abandonment didn't sit well with Harry. Not at all. After the calamity that was the end of the Triwizard Tournament and the dismissal of his friends over the summer, he decides: enough is enough. He's done. Done with it all. He just wanted to get away. But the Wizarding world, as it happens, isn't quite finished with him. No matter how far he runs, it always catches back up to him. Years after turning from those who left him, Harry is dragged back to that world once more. Many find him far changed from the boy who'd once known. Some - some very few - even like that change. Draco Malfoy just happens to be one of those chosen few.

In the Shadow of Your Heart by lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill) @lqtraintracks

And thus began the very strange circumstance of their fake dating in public and real fucking in absolute secret. It was, with no comparison, the weirdest relationship Draco had ever been in – which was to say, it wasn't one.

what husbands are for by softlystarstruck @softlystarstruck

To settle tensions between werewolves and vampires, Harry volunteers for a political marriage. But it turns out he's marrying Malfoy– cold, untouchable Malfoy, who he hasn't seen in ten years. Throughout contention and politics, werewolf pub nights and grudgingly shared meals, they have to make it work.

And in the midst of it all, Harry finds something he already gave up hoping for.

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕💖

[xanthippe74]

Drarry Tag Game

Thank you for tagging me @caroll-in! 💖 I had to put in a "keep reading" cut cause I got a bit... wordy. (Please read it—this literally took me hours. 😣)

When did you get into Drarry and why?

The year was 2013 and I felt a ✨yearning✨ for some romantic stories. I must have come across a reference to fanfiction somewhere, because I started checking out a few different fandoms for books and shows I liked, starting with The X-Files. It didn't take long before I got to Harry Potter—a few Dramione fics first, then Drarry. And then it was all over for me, friends. OTP forever. Put it on my tombstone. (Just kidding. Don't do that.)

Which Drarry fic hooked you?

I can't remember exactly, but I believe it was either Eclipse by Mijan or Bond by AnnaFugazzi. I also read a lot of sara_holmes' fics early in my Drarry days, so it might have been Number Seven, which made a deep impression on me. (I just realized that I didn't have any of these in my AO3 bookmarks, so that's fixed now! 😅)

Top three favorite Drarry fics:

Oh, this is hard! I'll pick three that resonated deeply with me, emotionally:

Turn by Saras_Girl: The classic that needs no introduction. I put off reading this one for a while because I wasn't sold on older Drarry (37 years old! Positively ancient! 😂) or epilogue-compliant fics. But I needed more of this author after devouring her Foundations series, so I dove in. This is one of those stories that will never, ever leave me. (There's a light at the top of the stairs... You put me here, you left me here, and now I'm in love with him... Take the unknown road now... Maura and Boris and Frank and Misu... and 🔥ballroom sex🔥) Ugh, now I'm getting teary just thinking about it.

Wild (orphaned): This was one of the first fics I read that took place completely outside the canon settings, and I was utterly captivated by the shabby (but well-loved) house in rural Ireland. This author's writing is actual magic—so immersive that reading it feels like being teleported right into their stories. My most recent re-read was done in the middle of the night to distract myself from some bad anxiety. I felt a profound sense of gratitude to the author for getting me through that night (and for leaving the fic up on AO3 when they left fandom).

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them by nerakrose: The asexual representation in this fic meant everything to me. I was so overwhelmed when I finished reading it that I couldn't even find the words for a comment. (Don't worry—when I commented on their next fic, I tacked on something about Little Deaths to the tune of BY THE WAY...😂) I adore Dustmouth's illustrations just as much as the story. The way they progress from grayscale images of Draco alone and facing away from the viewer, to vivid colors showing his happiness with Harry by the end? *chef's kiss*

Why can't you quit them?

God, their canon relationship and experiences provide such fertile ground for a million possible stories, characterizations, dynamics, and ways for them to fall in love. And I can't think of a single trope that couldn't be worked into a Drarry story in a convincing way.

Who breaks your heart more often?

Harry. I strongly head-canon him struggling with his mental health after the war and being overwhelmed by the anger and grief that he had to quash down in order to get through it all. I think he would also be much more profoundly affected by the Dursleys' treatment than canon portrays. The poor kid probably had to learn how any sort of positive relationship works... and how to ask for help without expecting to be punished... and how to show/accept physical affection. He probably didn't get a proper hug for 10 years! 😭

(Draco can break my heart, too, especially when his guilt and remorse slip into self-loathing. Also, give me all the down-and-out!Draco stories, please.)

Ideal career for Harry? For Draco?

I see Harry choosing a job where he can enjoy the tangible results of his work: a wand- or broom-maker, cursebreaker, or doing some kind of building/repair work. I can also see him as a dueling or flying instructor, since teaching those subjects would be satisfying without the all tedious parts of classroom instruction.

Draco gets a brainy career—something academic or requiring a lot of education. I think law and medicine are fields that would interest him because he could find redemption there by helping people.

Harry and Draco are being sent to a desert island for a week with plenty of food and water. Each is allowed to bring three additional items (no wands). What do they bring?

Harry: A Snitch, a broom, and the largest box of sweets he can buy.

Draco: A broom, one of those expanding magical tents with all the amenities inside (because Slytherin), and the longest book he can find.

Favorite non-Drarry HP character?

Luna, my angel.

If you had to pick one, enemies to lovers or (enemies to) friends to lovers?

See, sometimes you want the sexy fast burn of enemies-to-lovers, and sometimes you want the italicized OH moment of friends-to-lovers. Don't make me pick between them!

Would you rather read a fic that made you laugh or one that made you cry?

Cry, if I had to choose, but my favorite fics are the ones that move me to tears and have funny moments, too. Like Turn, which makes me weep when Harry returns from the glimpse, and then makes my cry-laugh a few scenes later when he tries to shrink the trousers he's wearing to make them more fashionable.

Three songs that scream Drarry to you (feel free to include the Drarry-est lyrics!):

Cold Little Heart by Michael Kiwanuka (see head canon above about Draco's remorse and feeling unworthy of Harry)

Maybe this time I can be strong But since I know who I am I'm probably wrong Maybe this time I can go far But thinking about where I've been Ain't helping me start

Roads by Portishead (postwar Drarry, still struggling with... everything and figuring out how to have a relationship/future together)

Oh, can't anybody see We've got a war to fight Never found our way Regardless of what they say How can it feel this wrong

Eight by Sleeping At Last (this song is SO Harry, it hurts. But there are also lines about being rejected/trusting that sound like things Draco would say to Harry)

I'm standing guard I'm falling apart And all I want is to trust you Show me how to lay my sword down For long enough to let you through

Favorite authors outside of fic?

Donna Tartt, Annie Proulx, Michael Chabon, Diana Wynn Jones, Jane Austen

[sitp-recs]

20 Harry-centric fics to read this month

What better way to celebrate Harry’s birthday than revisiting (or discovering) Harry-centric fics? If you feel like taking a deep dive into his character, here are my suggestions: short and long stories exploring his emotional arc, inner struggles, past trauma, sexual liberation and of course, his feelings about himself and about Draco. I couldn’t resist including some Draco POV fics because I love learning about Harry through his eyes. Pick your comfort food and enjoy Harry’s HBD week!

Still Life, orphaned (M, 3k)

Hourglass Heart by @bixgirl1 (E, 5k)

It only happened once — depending on how Harry counted.

Snug by @moonflower-rose (E, 6k)

Potter can't keep his hands off himself. Draco can't look away.

Life goes not backward by @shealwaysreads (T, 9k)

Harry still isn’t used to gifts, but this one is different. A story of coming home, finding safe ground, and the wild courage of putting down roots.

fine i'll hold my breath / til i forget it's complicated by teatrolley (NR, 11k)

Harry and Draco become friends with benefits, and Harry thinks it's more complicated than it actually is.

Let's Go Outside by cryptonym (E, 24k)

Harry's done with the sofa, the hall and the kitchen table, baby.

Famous by @fw00shy (E, 24k)

It's a couple of years after the war, and Harry's bored of models now, the same way he's bored of Ron's constant nagging, bored of his Weasley monogram knitwear, bored of the same fucking grin that greets him when he hands his fire-truck red Bugatti over to the valet every night. He wants to find—well, he isn't sure what he wants. Anything but models.

Expecto Patronum by @writcraft (E, 35k)

As Draco Malfoy negotiates his feelings for the wizarding world's brightest star, he becomes increasingly attached to Harry and unravels the secrets he keeps hidden from the rest of the world.

Unseen by @jackvbriefs (T, 47k)

Harry Potter finally has the chance to leave England and its expectations for The Chosen One behind for good. All he has to do is survive one Auror training conference overseas with Draco Sodding Malfoy.

Here's The Pencil, Make It Work by ignatiustrout (M, 49k)

Harry thinks "Why is Malfoy working in a coffee shop in muggle London?" is a much simpler question than, "Are you going to accept that auror offer and, if you don't, what will you do?"

Meet Me at Midnight by @the-starryknight (T, 57k)

Harry was beginning to wonder if he’d ever make anything again when Malfoy stormed through the door of Harry’s furniture shop. Now Harry’s got an impossible Ministry commission to finish, and even less energy than ever to deal with his elusive muse.

Modern Love by @tackytigerfic (E, 61k)

Harry Potter, of all people, knows that life isn’t always fair. And no one gets to be happy all of the time. But surely there’s something more—something better—than a rubbish Ministry job, and a lonely old house, and that feeling that everyone out there is doing a better job of living than Harry is.

Harry Potter and the elusive day off by pleasebekidding (E, 71k)

Auror Potter needs a fucking break. He is wiped. He is exhausted. He probably didn't intend to put himself into a magical coma but these things happen. And who cares, really? He is comfortable in a house where he has hidden away all the shit he can't deal with.

I Am Not Who I Became by mab_di (E, 93k)

Draco left England after the trials and has travelled the world meeting wizards and Muggles from different cultures and with vastly different relationships to magic, each other, and the natural world. Now he's a fisherman in Finland on commercial vessels. Harry has been struggling since the war and has become a recluse while trying to write his autobiography.

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them by nerakrose and dustmouth (T, 96k)

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who's definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry.

Who we are in the shadows by @quicksilvermaid (E, 99k)

What happens when you’re forced to become the very thing you despise? Ex-Auror Harry Potter, tossed out of the Ministry for something he had no control over, has been looking for a way back to his former life.

By the Grace by lettered (T, 140k)

Harry is an Auror instructor. Malfoy wants to be an Auror.

where all the veins meet by eight_of_wands (E, 146k)

It's the summer of 1998. The battle is over, and Voldemort is dead, but Harry still has more questions than answers. Who is he without a piece of Voldemort's soul in his head? What is he supposed to do now?

Away Childish Things by lettered (T, 153k)

Harry gets de-aged. Malfoy has to help him.

Can't Sit Still by wilteddaisy (E, 193k)

Five years after the war, Harry finds himself drawn to Draco Malfoy by memories that aren't his own. Or, in which Harry hates his Auror partner, Draco flips houses, Pansy sleeps around, Hermione is a magical creatures’ justice warrior, Blaise is getting married, and Ron is just along for the ride.

[drarrymybeloved]

for the romance

i’ve been toying with the idea of sharing a few fics i've read for easy access to my faves + author appreciation, and i finally decided to just get off my ass and do it!

this is, in no way, a comprehensive list (it is also very subjective-not a rec list although you're welcome to use it as one!) & i’m sure i’ll be making a part 2 to this at some point in the future. also, these are my interpretations of the fics, so maybe for u it's not the romance that pops out in these & that's okay!

as the title suggests, these are fics i read for the romance <3

1. Turn by Saras_Girl

you knew this would make it onto the list. of course it would. i think we’ve all wondered at some point or the other what would happen if we had done that one thing differently & Saras_Girl explores this concept of actions and their consequences so intricately, i could lose myself in it (and i have. multiple times) the characterisations too are original yet spot on- blaise was such an ebullient surprise! i thought about putting it on my 'for the plot' list too for sheer length + fleshed out plot, but at the end of the day, i come back to this when i want to read a soft familiar romance

2. The Courting by the Pureblood Who Only Has Five Milligrams of Romantic Intelligence and Thinks He’s Real Smooth by @cibeewastaken

read this fairly recently and what a treat!! two idiots pining after each other, a relationship-but-not-really, super earnest draco & a harry that is so completely gone on draco- what more could you want?

3. Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy’s Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) by dustmouth, nerakrose 

a soft & sweet fic i’ve revisited so many times. featuring harry working in an archive & draco researching death (ways people have died not the actual concept, it’ll make sense i swear) in said archive. i loved the exploration of draco’s anxiety & the way he deals with it & harry understanding his asexuality. also really appreciated the underlying emphasis on communication & consent between partners. 

4. The Kisses Don’t Count, If No One Else Knows by oldenuf2b

friends with benefits to fake lovers to actual lovers?? delicious smut streaked through with aching tenderness?? sign me tf up. featuring quidditch player draco, minister for magic harry, under secretary hermione & (scarily competent) head auror ron. this fic gave me everything i could ask for & then some more. 42k has never felt shorter.

5. Right Hand Red by @lqtraintracks

a classic drarry fic, this was one of the first i read and i was immediately enamoured. the slow build up of tension between draco & harry eventually reaching a fever pitch- not quite a slow burn but the effect is the same- keeps you on the edge of your seat, just waiting for the collision you know is coming. the balance of fluff & angst is ideal, with the angst leaving you yearning for the sweet ending more than aching through the angsty bits, if that makes sense.

6. A Song, Incomplete by RurouniHime

this is a fic with layers to it- it features middle aged draco & harry and is essentially placed in present time. it’s left to the reader to pick up on the information given by the author & piece together the backstory of the characters post-war, something i thoroughly enjoyed. the relationship between draco & harry before the events of this fic is hinted at so you know the basic outline of what happened but it’s not so thoroughly fleshed out that there’s no room for subjectivity (again, something i love). the characterisations are so rich, albus especially was so interesting to me, both as a character & the nature of the relationship he shared with his father. the balance between plot and romance is fairly even, but the slow build is just so intense & rife with emotions, it really feels as if the plot is background for draco & harry’s relationship. this is an achingly sweet fic as opposed to a feel-good fic, but definitely one i've revisited many times.

7. Good to Me (And I’d Be So Good To You) by AWickedMemory (TeddyLaCroix)

such a sweet 8th year fic with harry determined to make friends with a subdued draco & then falling for him along the way. i love how well both boys know each others tells & draco’s reluctant acceptance of harry’s attempts at friendship is so endearing. special mention to an apparently oblivious hermione who was (in true hermione fashion) not oblivious for a second & was in fact the reason harry confessed his feelings for draco. definitely a fic that’ll make you smile!

8. if you've changed your mind by warmfoothills

mamma mia au!! need i say more? though i suppose it's not so much an au as it is draco just going full donna-from-mamma-mia post-war. complete with an island, a son, and an embarrassing diary found by said son. 

9. Way Down We Go by @xiaq

(this is going to go on my 'for the plot' fic list too because Reasons) this has all of my favourite tropes oh my god. i love xiaq's take on werewolf!harry; it's so refreshing to see were!harry that isn't like, a big dramatic thing. less beast of the night, more cuddly silly large dog. on that note, draco figuring out that harry is a werewolf in like, 1 second, is so spot on lmaoo. the slow burn is so good (so much domesticity!! so! much! also hurt/comfort). it has a dash of angst which is balanced out so well by the fluff. i've read it recently so i'm waiting for it to settle into my memory a bit (do y'all do that? is it just me??) but this is definitely a fic to revisit.

[lucigoo]

Harry Potter Fic Rec List

So, here I will add all of the amazing Harry Potter fics I adore. NGL, most are Wolfstar, but there are others in there so I hope you like at least one, they all deserve love 💖💖💖

And as always, if its your fic, or you know whos let me know so i can @ them, they all deserve to be recognised!

The Moonlit River - JBankai89 (Harry/Draco)

You Moony Promise? - Ginger_Snappp (Regulus/James/Lily, Sirius/Remus)

Remus and His Rider - Writer_INFJ_2w1 (Sirius/Remus)

A Panville Christmas - Ginger_Snappp (Neville/Pansy)

You can't do magic, the muggles are watching - GeekMom13 (Sirius/Remus)

Of Minibikes and Coolness - Seekerofknowledge3119 (Sirius/Remus, little Hermione/Harry)

Flying with Broken Wings - Shiyaki - Harry Potter + Walking dead (Harry/Daryl Dixon)

Dadfoot & Moomy - Daisy_space (Sirius/Remus)

A Month in the Life of Sad Spinster Sirius Black: In Which He Unwittingly Stars in a Sexy Mechanic Soft Porno (except, not really) - cmajalis, dustmouth, epithalamium, nerakrose, rscollabmods (Sirius/Remus)

Finders, Keepers - varsavia (Sirius.Remus)

The Haven Hotel - NikiAlex03 (Sirius/Remus)

The Bump - Anonymous (Sirius/Remus, Mpreg)

i want your midnights - raggedypond (Regulus/James, prequel to the below fic)

they will tell you now you're the lucky one - raggedypond - Harry Potter (Regulus/James, SMAU)

seeing you tonight (it's a bad idea, right?) - raggedypond - Harry Potter (Marlene/Dorcas) A werewolf's little human slave - Moon_Stars (Writer_INFJ_2w1) - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, smut with plot, watch the tags)

Where the Silence Began - brandileigh2003 - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, Prequel to an amazing series)

and you don't want to know me (i will just let you down) - raggedypond (Evan/Barty)

An Infinte Ocean - orphan_account (Sirius/Remus) Signs Between Us - brandileigh2003 @brandileigh2003 (deaf Remus, traumatised Sirius and just an amazing little one shot to her bigger fic) good lookin’ - Anonymous - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, faous Siirus coming out, crack fic, its fun) Brother - orphan_account - Harry Potter (Gen fic with Fred reunitig with his siblings in th afterlife, its lovely) The Life In Your Years - FivePips - Harry Potter (Sirius/remus, Muggle Au, its so good) A study of Teddy and Sirius - BayleyWinchester (Sirius/Remus getting together, Sassy Teddy for the win lol) Under the Influence - shantismurf - Harry Potter (Harry/Draco, its cute and fun and the kids are funny) sway through the crowd (to our empty space) - littleoldrachel (Sirius/Remus, Autistic,trans Remus and dancer on Stirctly Sirius, watch the tags but its amazing!)

Of Bookshelves and Baby Carriers - poppunkpadfoot (StormVandal) - (Sirius/Remus, Wolfstar raising Harry is one of my fav tropes. muggle Au)

Au Pif - YumeNouveau, sreka - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, misunderstandings, mutual pinning and Wolfstar being idiots, the way we love them. Its very cute) The Daily Grind: Black Coffee - orphan_account - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, Sirius doing Orion's bidding and somehow stumbling upon his found family)

Text Talk - Chapter 1 - merlywhirls - Harry Potter - (Sirius/Remus, Probably oe of the more well known Marauders text fics, and for good reason) wading in waist-high water - Chapter 1 - colgatebluemintygel - Harry Potter - (Sirius/Remus, Wolfstar and British Bake off, perfect!) How Teddy Lupin Became an Amateur Arsonist - moonscone - Harry Potter - (Sirius'/Remus, this is so precious and Teddy is amazing) Vigil Strange I Kept - whitmans_kiss - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus - established relationship and the realities of Remus being a older werewolf. Angsty but HEA) Petty (With A Prior) - lunchbucket - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus - Funny muggle au, its cute)

Lupine - BayleyWinchester - Harry Potter - (Sirius/Remus - adorable muggle au and as always Teddy is star of the show)

How to Get Rid of Sirius Black - Cylyxa - Harry Potter - (Sirius/Remus - Another fic where Teddy is star of the show and he doesnt like Sirius ....) Puppy Magic - DemonBanisher, thefifthmarauder17 - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, Remus' trauma is beautifully portrayed, as well as he fight with himself to do his best by Teddy)

Unusual Circumstances - ThatFilmGraduate - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, Sirius doesnt want to go home. It's Remus job to fetch him, the banter and sexual tension is delicious) I didn’t sign up for this - Moonystoastandmarsbars - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, kid fic, the kids are all so precious, especially little Leo)

an endless sky of honey - colgatebluemintygel, pjxckson - Harry Potter - (Sirius/Remus, a persephone/Hades retelling. The story is beautiful and the art is amazing) Of Bookshelves and Baby Carriers - poppunkpadfoot (StormVandal) - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, one of my fav muggle Au fics) Summary:

The customer standing in front of him is quite possibly the most beautiful man Remus has ever seen. Like, he looks like a model or something. He has long, black hair, flattened by water, and just the slightest amount of scruff on his face, and… Let's Play Pretend - MsAlexWP - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, muggle Au and fake dating, whats not to love?) Summary: After James and Lily died, Sirius Black's therapist told him not to date for a year. And that's just as well. He's got a 13-month-old baby now and quite enough to deal with, thanks. But the nosy neighbors in his building keep trying to set him up and won't take no for an answer. Enter Remus Lupin, another single dad who pretends to be Sirius's boyfriend, just to get the old lady brigade off his back and nothing more. Nothing more at all.

i've loved you in a million different ways - dotty456 - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, James/Regulus, this is one of my fav Hogwarts-No voldy fics ever)

Summary: An everybody lives fanfic that follows the Marauders from before their first year to the end of Hogwarts - may include mentions of their children/marriages and future stuff because I can. Dumbledore is a douchebag, Voldemort doesn't exist and the Black cousins join together before the elder Blacks start burning that damn family tree. One Flash Of Light, But No Smoking Pistol - Ludo_ten - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, Zombie Au)

Summary: Nov 1981: Sirius wakes up hungover in a stranger's bed when an emergency radio broadcast warns of a viral outbreak and instructs everyone to stay inside.

Isolated and homeless, Sirius has no choice but to reconcile with his estranged brother. Their uneasy alliance plants the seeds for buried family secrets to surface. Together, they venture .

[makeitp1nk]

HEY FRIEND. Rec me plz: 💯 🤩 📚

DANNI! I'm sorry all the ones I got for this are Drarry since I'm just now venturing out of my comfort ship, bear with me XD

🤩 Seven Sins which is the follow-up to Seventy-Seven Wishes by burningcherries - IMHO Seventy-Seven Wishes has it all. You have a lovely Scorpius, business boss bitch Draco, hot AF Head Auror Harry, love, BDSM, OCs that don't feel like OCs. It's also not an endless ride of up and down whip-lash inducing angst/happiness like another BDSM fic that we discussed on the Care of Magical Shippers discord... I think there's angst but it's mostly just really hot smut and witnessing Harry and Draco build their relationship. So when I saw it had a sequel that the author is working through, I hit subscribe SO FAST. I just saw they finished Seven Sins, so I paused writing this for like 4 hours to finish reading it. Best thing I've done all week.

💯 I answered this already, but let's be real there's always more than one fic that makes us feel this way so I'll give you another one! Eternally Consistent by kitsunealyc - Homie has a GD CHART at the end of the fic detailing what happened each day because there's some serious time fuckery within and that was the only way to keep it all straight in their head as they wrote. This was another one where I was like fuckdammit, I wish I were this imaginative!!! I'm pretty organized in my writing but that chart was just next level, y'all.

📚 Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy's Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) by dustmouth, nerakrose - Not gonna lie, this fic changed my life. Asexuality was a word and not something tangible to me before I read this, and it put a lot of things in my life in context. Draco's gentle love is essentially who I want to be in a relationship, and he recs books! I love this fic so much I sent it to my therapist lol I'd want to show it off in my bookshelf, I'd want to have multiple copies, I'd want my kids to read it. It's that fucking good. It's made that big a difference in my life.

HMU if you read them & wanna scream fic together ;)

From the fic rec emoji ask game