[and-heaventoo]

hey hi hello

I’ve been quietly spending time back in the drarry fandom here on tumblr and on ao3 for ~two years now, so I thought I should properly introduce myself.

midwestern gal. she/her. late 20s. slytherin. 💗💜💙 andheaventoo on ao3.

I’ve been a drarry fangirl since I was 17. I wrote a fic back then called Two Sides of the Same Coin that still lives on ff.net. Let me know if you remember reading it! I’d be so tickled.

10+ years later, I rediscovered drarry and it’s been so wonderful to see how this community is still thriving after so many years. I love how many new voices and talents and headcanons there are, and I’m amazed by how many people are still finding drarry for the first time! I feel like most of my favorite fic writers started writing less than a year ago (seriously how are you all so talented 😭)

After a looong writing hiatus, I am dipping my toes back into fic writing. I’ve posted some drabbles and oneshots (do we still call them that? lol) on ao3 and I’m working on a longer drarry fic I expect will be 75-100k when I’m finished!

I’d love to be less of a lurker and more engaged here on tumblr, so please come say hi if you found this post or read one of my fics! I’m shy but very friendly 🥰

[ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm]

''I would recognise you in total darkness, were you mute and I deaf. I would recognise you in another lifetime entirely, in different bodies, different times. And I would love you in all of this, until the very last star in the sky burnt out into oblivion,''

[andithiel]

Let me show you

So yesterday while folding laundry I started thinking about the fuck or die trope and suddenly this scene came to me. It’s 556 words, drarry auror partners, friends to lovers speed run. Beta read by the amazingly sweet and lovely @crazybutgood 💞 Thank you for always being there!

People stop and stare as Draco strides through the corridors of the Ministry, his Auror robes billowing behind him. They whisper to each other once he passes them, but he doesn’t take any notice. He only has one goal.

“Harry!” he cries when he finally barges into his and Harry’s office, slamming the door shut behind him and adding a few privacy spells for good measure.

Harry sits in their visitor’s chair, back hunched, knees drawn up to his chin, hair a tangled mess. When he looks up, Draco’s heart clenches at the sight of his red-rimmed and shiny eyes.

“Oh, great,” Harry says with a grimace. “Who told you?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Draco says, clutching the stitch in his side from his half eaten lunch that he abandoned in the cantine. “Is it true?”

Harry snorts, chewing one of his nails. “That I, against your explicit prohibition, examined the weird phallic we found at the raid yesterday and ended up being cursed by it to die unless you fuck me? Yeah, it’s tr—”

“I’ll do it,” Draco says before Harry’s even finished his sentence.

Harry blinks, his breath stuttering, but then he gives Draco a sad smile. “Of course, you would,” he says, voice soft and almost soothing, as if he’s the one who needs to comfort Draco and not the other way around. “The thing is, though,” he wipes his hand quickly under his eye, gives a short listless laugh, “you have to want it too, or it won’t work.”

The past two years flash before Draco’s eyes: their first animosity when they’d been newly partnered, the first case where Draco saved Harry from an Avada Kedavra, their building camaraderie after that, long nights at stake-outs, passing looks and grimaces across the room at every boring Head Auror meeting. Harry falling asleep over their late night reports, Harry bringing him tea in the morning from the café he passes on his way to work, always perfectly steeped, just the way Draco likes it. Two years of partnership, one and a half years of unlikely friendship, and one year of longing, refraining, wanting.

“Why me?” Draco whispers, his chest tight from the impossible hope slowly but surely unfurling in it.

Harry doesn’t answer, won’t meet Draco’s gaze.

“Why me, Harry?”

Still, there’s no answer from Harry, but his eyes flick to a parchment on their desk where Draco discerns the words ‘the one your heart most desires’.

Draco steps closer, kneels in front of Harry. He’s never been brave, Harry’s the one who holds enough courage for the both of them, but he needs to find it in him now. For Harry. For himself.

“And what if I’ve wanted to for a long time? What if I want it so much it keeps me awake at night, wondering what it would be like to be allowed to—” He stops, unable to finish the sentence. “What if I’ve been wondering what it would be like to fall asleep afterwards with you in my arms? Will it work then?”

Harry lets out a shaky breath, eyes shining with tears but something else as well. Draco takes a leap and leans in so close that their lips are brushing, his heart beating violently in his chest.

“I think it could,” Harry whispers as he pushes impossibly closer. “Let’s try.”

[andithiel]

Charm me

So February is officially over, but since I'm a slow and time challenged writer, I still have some ideas left for the prompts for @hdcandyheartsfest This one is for "Charm me", 180 words. All my love for my brilliant beta @crazybutgood

Up in the Astronomy Tower, the air is cool and damp; a storm brewing in the distance makes the sky above them crackle. 

“What would it take for us to move from here?”

Draco’s limbs are sore and sated, his heart thundering in his chest as he tries to calm his breathing down. 

“What, having mind-blowing sex in secret is not enough for you?”

Draco knows Potter doesn’t mean anything with his question to take things further. Having this kind of agreement with him has been more than Draco's ever dared to hope for. 

Warm lips brush his ear. “Don’t play daft, Draco.” Always his given name when they’re alone, spoken so softly, as if he really could—

Draco swallows that thought down, it’s too dangerous. Instead, he chooses his usual route: hiding. 

“I don’t know, Potter. I guess you need to charm me.” 

Harry smiles slowly, eyes glittering. Draco sees it, even in the semi-darkness.

“That’s all it takes?”

Draco nods, heart in his throat, and Harry’s smile widens. 

“Just wait, Draco. You’ve no idea what you’re in for.”

[skeptiquewrites]

Microfic: Darkest Moments

for @drarrymicrofic prompt 'this december' by ricky montgomery.

It's just a Boggart in the hall closet. Something a thirteen year old should have been able to handle. But contrary to popular belief, fear was more simple at that age.

Having my wand pointed at myself gives everything a warped symmetry.

"You're no good for him, you know." Riddikulus.

[cavendishbutterfly]

lightning

Rated T | 50 words | for the @drarrymicrofic prompt, “thunder”

it never strikes twice, but the avada does. no one notices the scar is gone until after the war; the absence feels like a slow rumble. until his touch, soft like summer rain. good boy, potter, come on. just like that, his mind is clear, like cloudless sky. like bliss.

[getawayfox]

For @hdcandyheartsfest prompt “Home” 🤍

[stargazing-enby]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[xanthippe74]

Drarry microfic: Different

cw: infidelity (maybe?)

“I didn’t say it looks bad,” Ginny says, skimming her palm over Harry’s buzzcut. “Just different.”

He flinches away. “My scar’s faded. Nothing to hide now.”

New clothes. Contact lenses. Ginny doesn’t ask about them, or why Harry spends his weekends studying alone instead of on the Quidditch pitch.

“Sometimes I don’t want to be me anymore,” Harry whispers.

Draco nods and finds Harry’s hand across the library table.

“I know the feeling.”

Written for the @drarrymicrofic prompt, "different."

Masterlist of my microfics

[phoebe-delia]

Even Asleep

For @hdcandyheartsfest prompt: Hug. Did I do this one? I don’t think so. Here it is anyway lol.

Sometimes, late at night when they’re in bed and Draco’s still awake, he likes to try to move out of the tight circle of Harry’s arms around him. Not too far, and not roughly enough to wake Harry, but enough that the hold around him loosens.

Because every time, without fail, a soft whine comes from the bottom of Harry’s throat and Draco is pulled back against the solid warmth of his boyfriend, wrapped tight in his embrace.

And knowing that Harry wants him—even in slumber—will quiet the restless voices in Draco’s mind enough to let him drift off to sleep, lips curled in a soft smile.

[beebox-illustrations]

Someone ought to tell Harry…

Have a wonderful week everybody 🌻🐝💚

[edbaebae]

This tweet totally describes me

[puncertainty]

Started this sometime in 2019… abandoned it bc I couldn’t get the proportions right, but I think I’m finally satisfied

[phdmama]

This got out of hand, of course. But this sweet moment just drew me in and I wondered what was happening. So, here’s one version. @puncertainty thank you for letting me explore this! It turns out, it’s also a perfect fit for the currrent @drarrymicrofic​ prompt of “new beginning” (albeit a little less micro than my other one).

They’ve been sitting on the hillside for a while — silent long enough that it’s starting to feel awkward. Malfoy had walked into their shared bedroom in the 8th year tower to find Harry pulling the invisibility cloak out of his trunk for one last late-night trip out of the dorm and demanded to come along. Apparently, he wasn’t in any more of a party mood than Harry was.

Tomorrow is their graduation ceremony. Tomorrow afternoon, Harry will to leave his first home, and even though he knows he’ll be back to visit, it won’t be the same. After tomorrow, nothing will be the same.

He shoots a quick, sideways glance at Malfoy, who’s currently leaning back on his elbows, staring at the sky. Malfoy’s gaze is solemn as he looks up, and Harry’s eyes trace the cut of his jaw. Malfoy’s hair, cut in some trendy Muggle style precisely designed to piss off his father, is flopping over one eye, and even as Harry stares, Malfoy’s face softens and he smiles.

And Harry? Harry just aches.

It’s been a year since the war. A year of rebuilding Hogwarts. A year of funerals and tears and Teddy and apologies and laughter. A year of missing Hermione, who’d gone to Australia to find her parents, and Ron, who’d gone to London to work with George. Both of them had understood why he’d wanted — no, needed  — to come back and have this one year, free from the shadow hanging over him, and he’d understood why they couldn’t, but understanding hadn’t made it easier. 

That’s are things Harry is looking forward to. He’s found a flat in Diagon Alley, just down the street from Ron. Hermione will be back in August to start her PhD at Oxford. Most of those who’ve been at Hogwarts this year will be somewhere close by in London, and it occurs to Harry, maybe he’s not actually losing his home. Maybe he’s just expanding the definition.

“Do you think,” Malfoy begins and then stops. “Nevermind,” and when Harry looks over at him, he’s biting his lip and looking at the ground.

“What?” Harry asks, nudging Malfoy with his shoulder. 

“It’s nothing,” Malfoy murmurs and Harry rolls his eyes.

“You can’t just start to say something and then not say it,” he complains.

“It’s stupid,” Malfoy says, and then, after a pause, “No, just forget it.”

“Absolutely not,” Harry says with determination and pokes Malfoy in the ribs, who gives a gratifying shriek as Harry keeps poking him, half-heartedly fighting back until Harry shoves him over and he flops onto his back, draping one arm over his eyes. “Tell me.”

“I just,” Malfoy says, and then takes a deep breath and sits up, turning to face Harry. “I’m going to miss this.” His eyes are gleaming in the light of the full moon above them, and Harry’s heart starts to pound for no reason he can understand. “I’m going to miss you.”

Harry freezes. “What?”

Malfoy doesn’t look away, and Harry feels like he’s been pinned by a searchlight, lit up and laid bare for all the world to see.

“You heard what I said.”

“Yeah, I mean I heard you,” Harry says, licking his lips nervously. “But I don’t understand you. Why will you miss me? We’re going to be living in the same building?”

Malfoy shrugs one shoulder and shoves his hair back, which immediately falls in his face again. “Yes, but you’ll have your best friends back. ‘The Golden Trio Reunited.’” He quirks his fingers sardonically. “You’ll not have any reason to spend time with me anymore.”

Harry frowns. “First, I don’t need a reason to spend time with you, and yeah, they’re my best friends but you’re…” His voice trails off.

At first, Harry had thought that getting assigned Malfoy as a roommate during the Reconstruction was the worst thing that could ever happen to him, but they’d been paired up by the Sorting Hat and Harry wasn’t about to argue with a powerful magical artefact. In any case, it hadn’t done any good. When he’d snuck into McGonagall’s office and pulled the hat on, all it had whispered, the gravelly voice tickling in his mind, was “I stand by it, Harry.”

It turns out, Malfoy’s actually a pretty good roommate. He’s very neat, has the same fucked up sleep schedule as Harry does, doesn’t seem to mind it when Harry goes off rambling on another tangent or has a nightmare, and is courteous about casting a strong Muffliato when he’s having… private time with the bed-curtains drawn.

It turns out, also, that Malfoy has come to understand the colossal mistakes he’s made and is drowning in regret. Harry knows he’s donated most of whatever was left of the family fortune to war charities, that he’s written letter after letter of apology (some were more well-received than others), and that he’s going to be dividing his time between his Potions apprenticeship and volunteering with the on-going reconstruction efforts. 

Over the course of the year that they’ve lived together, Harry’s anger had turned to begrudging respect, his animosity to affection, and after the Winter holiday, when they’d stayed up all night Christmas Eve, talking through their differences, he’d realized how much Malfoy has come to mean to him. How much he’s come to rely on Malfoy’s sharp mind and even sharper wit. The only reason Harry’d gotten an O on his Potions N.E.W.T was that Malfoy insisted that he’d be embarrassed if Harry had gotten any less, and had forcibly tutored him until it all clicked.

Somewhere around April, Harry had realized that he’d started to think about Malfoy in a different way. That he was noticing Malfoy’s lean lines and the curve of his lips when Harry made him laugh. That making Malfoy laugh had become the high point of his day, and how Malfoy’s laugh (and other things) were now making regular appearances in Harry’s dreams. Harry hadn’t even known what it all meant until he and Ginny were up late one night, drinking in the Common Room after everyone else had gone to bed, and he'd found himself telling her everything.

“Oh, Harry,” she snorted, giggling into her whiskey. “You sweet summer child. You don’t get it?”

Harry had just shaken his head, still confused, until Ginny said, “Harry, you’re in love with him,” and it was like a Lumos Maxima in his mind.

That had been weeks ago and Harry still hasn’t figured out how to tell Malfoy, and honestly up until this moment, had been morosely certain that Malfoy felt nothing more for him than simple friendship, and that not telling him was the only viable solution. But now, they’re here in the moonlight and Malfoy is looking at him intently, and Harry is pretty sure he’s not mistaking the heat behind that look. He doesn’t have much experience but this feels, well. Real. It feels real.

“I’m what?” Malfoy asks, missing casual by a lot. “What am I, Potter?”

Harry takes a breath, reminds himself that he’s faced down Death itself, surely he can tell a boy he likes him, and reaches up to skim his fingers across Malfoy’s cheek before curving his hand around Malfoy’s face and drawing him in.

“Malfoy.” Harry huffs out a laugh and tries again. “Draco,” he whispers, leaning in until there’s almost no space between them, “You’re everything,” and then he closes the gap.

After a long moment in which no words are needed, Harry pulls back. Draco’s hand drifts up to press his fingertips to his lips, and as he looks down, he smiles. 

“Okay?” Harry asks and Draco’s eyes lift back up to meet his own, his smile widening. 

“Okay,” Draco whispers and turns, moving closer until he’s sitting pressed up against Harry from shoulder to hip. Draco tips his head back to let it rest on Harry’s shoulder and for the first time, maybe ever, Harry is utterly content. “Okay,” Draco says again, and then falls silent.  

It may be their last night at Hogwarts, but it feels like something else. It feels like hope. Like anticipation. Like Harry is exactly where he needs to be. 

It feels like a new beginning.

[skeptiquewrites]

Microfic: A Toast

For @drarrymicrofic prompt 'new beginnings' cn: implied drinking

Ginny taps her glass and grabs the table's attention. "To our beautiful and gracious hostess."

"I don't think they are," Draco murmurs into Harry's ear.

"To new beginnings," Pansy adds with a wink and a raise of her glass.

"They are and you owe me a Galleon," Harry whispers back.

[textrovert-01]

OMG YES 🤩🤩

[hogwartsfirebolt]

true things

a love story

It happened all at once. Saying it was unexpected would be a lie, but I was entirely unprepared for it, and that is a true thing. Recognizing truth is not within my abilities, I grew up learning the art of side-stepping and round-about conversation and it has left me with a lack of sense for truth, and a great many ways of dancing around it, so when my feelings for you became undeniable I did not quite understand the realness of them, could not see them even as they hit me square in the face.

I can pinpoint the moment they started, even though I didn’t become aware of them until much later, it was the 22nd of September and the air tasted of autumn and renewal and your lips of honey bread and lavender tea and we were behind your mother’s house and it was mid morning and I had just said terrible things about her not being your mother by blood and you knew, I suspect, that I was just trying to distract myself from the way you were looking at me, and I had to say it, didn’t I, had to tell you “god, will you stop looking at me like that”, affecting annoyance that was truly a whole lot of terror, but you didn’t stop looking at me like that, because you’ve never been one to listen when you’re told what to do, and instead you kissed me when I sure as hell didn’t deserve it, and that tore down the dam and the water came rushing through and that’s when they started.

It happened all at once.

Might’ve been that, had that been the only time, I could have gotten over it. Not immediately, of course, but after a few years and quite a bit of talking shit about you to my friends, I might think of you and not immediately associate you with the feeling of the wood against my back and the world between my fingers as you pushed me against the shed in the backyard of your mother’s house that first day of autumn and the unmatched (and, I’m sure, illegal in some areas) green of your irises and the sound of your laugh and the shape of your laugh and the taste of your laugh became things that I knew like my own mind.

Might’ve been, but we’ll never know, because I was deep into a friendship with your stupid best friend by then and was at your mother’s house every other Sunday and every other Sunday you would stare at me from the moment I stepped through that chipped yellow door and your eyes, which have never hidden a single thing in your 26 years, would zero in on my hair or the back of my hands or the scar beside my lip and then you would try to get me alone and I would refuse because I knew you were to become my ruin if I gave in, and already I would lose focus at work more often than not, thinking of that one kiss even as months passed, or of your eyes on me at brunch every other Sunday in your mother’s house or of the times you would brush past me while we helped carry food from the kitchen to the table or the single time I held a jug of hibiscus tea in my hands and my hair was all in my face and you pulled it back and tied it for me without a second thought. Already I could barely make it through my day by allowing myself to think of you only in small doses, which was increasingly more difficult as my repertoire of memories to choose from grew every other Sunday. I wonder how I didn’t realize then, but it took me months, still. Perhaps I thought being obsessed with you was simply something we all did. I’ve already said I’m particularly good at lying, even more so when it’s to myself.

Through all those brunches and all those looks and all that wondering about the freckles on your wrist and the dreams with your hands in my hair, it never occurred to me to wonder what you thought of me, why you’d kissed me that 22nd of September with honey bread and lavender lips, if you distracted yourself thinking of me like I distracted myself thinking of you. I never wondered, could only concern myself with my own overwhelming reactions to you every other Sunday and a hearty dose of self-loathing that I suspect convinced me that you were only aware of my existence as long as I was standing in front of you.

I’m one to turn inwards whenever I’m unsure, and so I think I might’ve come across as insular and aloof, which of course couldn’t be further from the truth, but I suppose you had no alternatives to think of when I avoided conversation with you at all costs and cut off all attempts to get me alone every other Sunday. I’m difficult almost by definition. Even when I began to understand, months after that one kiss against the shed in the backyard of your mother’s house, that you held a significant part of my heart, I could not bring myself to change anything at those brunches every other Sunday, was too scared to think of someone else having as much power over me as I knew I’d already given you without your knowledge.

The truth is that, at that point, there was nothing that would have kept me away from you, but as I’ve said, true things do not play to my strengths, and I kept pretending. The 22nd of September seemed far in the past, autumn danced its way into winter and she into spring and the narcissus by the shed in the backyard of your mother’s house bloomed beautifully before I showed up for brunch on a Sunday and it was just us two. You’d asked the rest to give you space, you explained, so you could talk to me. I don’t know how I didn’t bolt right then. That second kiss, the morning of the 16th of April, underneath the high arches separating the kitchen and the living room of your mother’s house, had me trembling from my toes to the tips of my hair and you said “shhh, shhh” and kissed your way down my cheekbones to my lips and I sure wanted to bolt right then, but not as sure as I wanted my feet to grow roots and keep me in that moment for as long as I lived.

You said “I’ve wanted you for so long” and my heart stopped because I knew you couldn’t mean it because how could you, when I am so difficult to want and never know what to say or when to stay or when to go, and that felt like an important truth but I wanted so badly to believe the lie that I kissed your honey and lavender lips and then between every other Sunday I would keep myself from thoughts of you only to melt against the shed behind your mother’s house every other Sunday with your lips on mine and your hands a heavy weight tracing over my skin in patterns I swore I could feel all through the week and when Summer came I learned what you looked like with grass stains on the knees of your jeans and I bit on my fist while you were getting those stains because I was scared of what my traitorous mouth would run with when you were allowed to unmake me in the way that you were at that moment and that’s when I told myself I did not deserve you but by hell I would still have you.

I became sure of my badness when I saw your goodness in childhood and I couldn’t let you let yourself have me without a warning and so I gave one, the next Sunday, under a heavy August rain and it was nearly going on a year since that first kiss and I had loved you all the way through and maybe before even that and I said to you that I am not meant to be loved and that all the ones who have loved me have been rotten and that I don’t know how to talk without poison and that I shoot to kill when I’m hurt and that I was the villain in the same story in which you were the hero and that people like me weren’t meant for people like you who deserve only the unbroken.

But your lips tasted of honey and lavender and rain and your name was fine-printed in every corner of my heart by then and even though my warning was full of true things, you asked if I trusted you and I said I did and you asked me to trust that you could tell the wrong sort by yourself.

Then I had you, and your honey and lavender lips and your unlawful green eyes and the shape of your laugh and your grass-stained knees and your heavy hands. And I always will.

This long-winded stream of consciousness came to me, much like Draco’s feelings for Harry, all at once. It is an experiment with format that I really enjoyed. Thank you so much to @nv-md for stepping up at midnight and helping me make this weird baby make any sense ❤️

[sitp-recs]

Happy New Year! Surprising absolutely no one I wasn’t able to finish this in time for NYE, oops!(And that’s why ‘stop procrastinating’ is on my resolutions list 😂). This post probably has tons of typos still so please bear with me, I promise I’ll be back later to correct them!

Simply put, 2021 was a train wreck - I struggled in many ways and decided to take a step back in some regards, including fandom. It’s been a bumpy road but despite the low amount of recs this blog has survived and there were definitely some things to celebrate, too! Once I stopped making reclists I got more free time to read, and I’m proud to say I’ve read a lot. I haven’t felt very confident about my reccing lately, but as I went through my bookmarks and noticed how much I read last year I thought why not spread a bit of love for these works?

Without further ado here are my favorite reads of 2021 featuring Drarry, rare pairs and some gorgeous artworks. This is not intended to be an ultimate list - the works below were chosen solely based on my personal preferences and they reflect very little of what’s been made last year, and what a year it was! Between brilliant microfics, Tumblr drabbles, top notch quality fests, there’s some amazing and varied content to be explored all around. I hope you guys enjoy these works as much as I did, and don’t forget to leave kudos and comments!

The Drarry fandom gave me so much last year; it was there to mend my heart and help me bounce back when I needed it the most. Even the smaller things can make a huge difference in the big picture, and I’m immensely grateful to those who have somehow been a part of it. I wanna give a special shoutout to my friends for your endless love, patience and support. Here’s to a gentler 2022! See you soon ❤️

Drarry:

Phoenix in the Fire by @fw00shy (Explicit, 1.4k)

Their first time was an accident. “Sex pollen,” Draco claims, though everyone knows it was too much Ogden’s after Puddlemere beat the Tornados 240-230.

This is truly a masterclass in short form, I think I hadn’t read a short fic so gorgeously written since Still Life. Fwoosh took my breath away with the precise choice of words, the subtle way the scenes blend into each other, the sinful smut full of sharp want, the smooth pacing and fabulous dialogue including delicious dirty talk and beautiful punchlines.

The Long Fall by @tackytigerfic (Mature, 3.6k)

It’s supposed to be a simple house renovation, and maybe it’s just the paint fumes, but Harry is feeling dizzy around Draco Malfoy. And what’s the real meaning of family, anyway?

One of my favorite comfort fics, I’ve reread this more times than I can count. Tacky captures romance, wistful pining and the sense of belonging like no one else, I was moved by this devastatingly realistic portrait of married and parenting life. Sensitive, brutally honest and so very tender, this story hits right in the feels - it’s a pleasure to follow every exciting step of this big adventure Harry and Draco get to share.

Two Starts, One Finish by @lqtraintracks (Explicit, 5.4k)

I feel him before I see him. Nobody stands this close to me while I’m playing, and I’m about to turn to tell him so when he says, “You’re a tough bloke to track down,” and then leans against my baby grand.

When I first read this fic I did it three times in a row. I was so charmed and moved by this particular brand of angst: the gentle wistfulness of Draco’s voice, his yearning for Harry, their quiet domestic life and their intense chemistry made my heart burst. Lqt develops their emotional arc through the passage of time with precision and heart - nothing feels rushed, dragged or unimportant. One of the most romantic fics I’ve read this year.

Inside These Walls by @jackvbriefs (Mature, 5.6k)

The year before Draco moves to Los Angeles, Harry Potter disappears. Draco doesn’t mean to find him. He’s just doing his job.

This fic has one of my favorite premises ever, so creative! The roller blade magic blew my mind and I was obsessed with the intriguing atmosphere and the tension build up. Delicious eerie vibes mixed with an unusual setting, a dark mystery surrounding Harry’s job and his oh so casual sexy display of power, yes please. This suspense is a feast to the senses and will leave you at the edge of your seat until the last line, craving for more.

heavy by @onbeinganangel (Explicit, 6.5k)

Potter isn’t nearly as slick as he thinks he is, is all Draco can think about through the alcohol haze and the dizzying atmosphere of the club. He really, really isn’t. Potter is across the club, surrounded by his usual entourage, looking at Draco when he thinks Draco isn’t looking back.

There’s something to be said about a BDSM fic featured on this reclist as I rarely read this kind of smut. Trust Mari to turn my world upside down with one of the most touching love stories ever. This conflicted Draco and his devotion to Harry -subverting the D/s dynamics we usually see- caught me off guard and made my heart ache for this hot, tenderly vulnerable and unapologetic kink exploration delight.

The Other Cottage by @corvuscrowned (Teen and Up, 6.5k)

If Pansy wasn’t shagging Ginny Weasley, Draco would never have been dragged to Luna’s ridiculous Halloween party in the first place - meaning he wouldn’t be sitting in the corner of the room with Harry Potter all night.

One word: chills! Yet another mind blowing suspense, this fic gave me palpitations - the smooth and clever narrative builds a disturbing atmosphere, the creepy sense of unease looming over our heads while watching a tender romance unfold. Crazy, right? Such skill! Really creative concept and a jaw dropping ending, this one is a banger.

A Grey Shrike Alighted upon my Wishbone by @opalesqueopioid (Explicit, 7k)

Cursed to forget everything about Harry Potter, Draco has to kill if he wants a cure.

Gosh, this stunning fic wrecked my heart and soul with its quiet devastation, gorgeous prose and brilliant execution of a quite unique suds concept. Draco’s sharp personality took my breath away and I was equally undone by Harry’s sweet longing, the back-and-forth banter and the raw, inevitable heartbreak. Here’s a poignant portrait of a collapsing relationship, the best pick for angsty days.

Merlin’s Kitchen by @writcraft (Explicit, 12k)

Merlin’s Kitchen is a shit nightclub but having sex with Harry Potter might improve things.

Everything by Writcraft has the heart kick factor for me, as if especially crafted to meet my tastes. This sexy clubbing fic has a delicious lively pub atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re right there, watching a carefree and smooth Harry charm Draco with his openness, and be charmed back. Fabulous characterization and gorgeous dialogue, with a mature tone that gives it a thrilling sense of intimacy and promise.

The Virtues of Hygiene and the Binary of Labour by @piarelei (Explicit, 14k)

Draco does what he always does every autumn; packs his bag and follows a path back home. This time, Potter just happens to travel the same roads.

The Witcher AU I didn’t know I needed! This fic is brilliant in every sense, from the unique setting and rich world building - making this very much a Drarry story, and one that feels way longer than just 14k - to complex, gripping characters. I was captivated by their slow dancing around each other, the delicious unresolved tension and the hot, intimate smut portraying a trans character with gorgeous sensitivity. No previous knowledge of The Witcher is necessary to follow up, just go ahead and treat yourself to this excellent ride!

Two Zinnias and the Scent of Lemon by @the-starryknight (Mature, 16k)

The Ministry didn’t turn bad overnight. Harry didn’t suddenly turn rogue either. Between covert Legilimency links and Polyjuice disguises and running and running and running, Draco has forgotten what it is like to have a safe harbor that isn’t a person. If there’s an art to fighting back, then they’ll find it hand in hand.

Hands down my favorite fic of the year, this “lovers on the run” epic touched my heart in many different ways and made me fall even deeper in love with this ship. Among my favorite things, the impressive amount of world building and creative use of Legilimency and Polyjuice get a massive shoutout. But what really blew my mind was the perfect contrast between urgent, fast-paced action and the quiet, intimate slow (and I mean proper slow!) burn. Such heartbreaking tenderness! Such evocative prose! Such a brilliant open ending! This is 2021’s ultimate “Be gay, do crimes” love story, an absolute must read.

Bridges by @cavendishbutterfly (Explicit, 16k)

Harry and Draco are on a trip to Budapest to help with Kingsley’s re-election, but that’s the boring bit. More interesting: Harry Potter is changing his Tinder preferences to include men.

They were roommates but make it soft and contemplative 🥺 this is my brand of low key angst: both Harry and Draco come a long way and fall together easy and unhurried. It’s amazing to watch them bond while exploring Budapest, the lovely sightseeing balanced by the undercurrent sense of melancholy. Love Harry’s inner conflict - so poignant and relatable! - and Draco’s blunt, awkward personality. They charmed their way inside my heart, I was so moved by the unease with the war and search for meaning (“I want to be someone who understands what I did”). A triumph!

Watch The Castles Burn by @moonflower-rose Rose (Explicit, 21k)

Draco Malfoy knows better than to get involved with Harry Potter. If only someone would have reminded him of that six months sooner, then maybe he wouldn’t be in quite such a large mess.

This story has probably ruined me for every other pining fic because this is truly next levels of longing, it hurts so so good and I’m living for it! I’m so completely obsessed with this Draco and his hopeless want for Harry, I just wanted to scream and bang their heads together at every interaction. You’d think this is yet another heart wrenching angsty story but Rosie is a legit genius and manages to keep it hilarious, light and sweet, with a fabulous ensemble cast (TEDDY!!!) and spectacular dialogue, so charming and witty. Also, you better get ready to become a weeping mess over their love confessions at the end. You’ve been warned.

The Foxing Ring by @vukovich (Explicit, 24k)

What. The. Fluff.* Harry’s got no magic, one good ear, no great dating prospects, and a nice little wand workshop.

I went into this fic without knowing what to expect and was delighted to find something hilariously witty, sexy, bold and unique in terms of narrative and tone, unlike anything I’ve read before. Vuk’s creativity delivers amazing banter and a mild - yet perfectly executed - fur kink that was a pleasant surprise 😳 a few weeks ago Vuk mentioned that this brand of fluff is not their usual style so naturally I had to check the rest of their catalogue and wow, let me take this chance to also rec Epitaphs in Autographs because holy shit, that fic pulled me in like kryptonite despite the MCD and infidelity tags - it slapped me in the face with excellent catharsis and delicious heartbreak. Hardcore angst fans gotta check that one out!

A Sharp Twist by @shealwaysreads (Explicit, 28k)

A series of unconnected fics based on these prompts as part of kinktober 2021, exploring all the ways in which kink + tenderness + complexity + love are not mutually exclusive.

I’ve screamed recently about how much I love this series here, but there’s always room to remind everyone of how freaking talented Bella is at a) writing brilliant, coherent and concise short form and b) exploring kink with indulgent sensuality and honest tenderness. Each ficlet has a distinct tone and showcases Harry and Draco’s (usually established) relationship under a new angle, highlighting how hot and devoted these two are for each other, and cementing all the ways in which kink, pleasure, consent and love can go hand in hand and reinforce each other.

Take A Chance On Me by @mintamintathings (Explicit, 41k)

There’s a DJ on RareFM with a secret. Or: the one with all the ABBA in it.

As someone who’s usually picky with down & out Draco I gotta say this fic totally hit the sweet spot for me. The summary alone got me super invested, I found the ABBA slice-of-life premise so interesting I had to know more! Then along came the gorgeous narrative and sweet sweet melancholy tugging at my heartstrings in such a visceral way. I was moved by Draco’s struggles among loneliness and apathy, the solace he finds in music, his bittersweet and realistic journey, his earned happy ending with Harry. This fic is devastating in some ways, and quietly soothing in others - it brought tears to my eyes and became my fave kind of angst bringing together catharsis and hope.

What Shall Not Be Unearthed by @iero0 (Explicit, 49k)

At the northernmost point of Shetland, surrounded by pointed cliffs, towers the Ootsta Lighthouse on a small isle in the middle of the open sea. Little does Harry know that he’s not the only new lighthouse keeper. Draco Malfoy is as obnoxious as he always was, with his posh tone of voice and his luxury yacht jumpers. Harry tries his best to avoid the git—who knows what he’s up to anyway?

This is one of the most immersive fics I’ve read this year, visually striking and emotionally powerful. Within minutes I got completely entranced by Harry and Draco’s fragile companionship. Iero establishes this intriguing atmosphere, often comforting and often tense, exploring the growing effects of isolation and tough themes like loneliness and depression. The evocative prose, vivid setting, dream-like mood, complex characters and rich lore give a deliciously creepy edge to an otherwise sweet, emotional slow burn.

The Compact by astolat (Explicit, 64k)

Hermione frowned. “The real question is why the magic of Britain would be failing now, in fact.”

This fic is here for two reasons: the nostalgia factor (I mean, a new Astolat!!!) and to celebrate what this Arthurian AU was able to achieve through superior storytelling. It took an unusual premise and proceeded to blow my mind with a rich, immersive, complex and coherent universe around it. The Compact not only has surprisingly convincing world building featuring some fascinating Wizarding politics, it also brings Astolat’s trademark compelling characterization and a deliciously organic romance. I was entertained until the very end. By far the most inventive fic I’ve read this year.

Home Truths by @skeptiquewrites (Explicit, 67k)

In the off-season Harry decided to fix up Grimmauld Place and found that Draco Malfoy was the only person who could help him. A demanding career and unrelenting press scrutiny were enough to deal with before Harry added a house with a mind of its own, family history, and a tense, flirty, complicated relationship with his childhood nemesis to the mix.

My favorite Fan Fair fic! This charming comfort story goes by so smoothly you don’t even realize it’s been 67k until you’re left wanting more :’( Grimmauld comes to life as a quirky character of its own, and the slow burn is so so good and meaningful and gentle I could cry. Draco’s mysterious but earnest personality suits him so well, he’s comfortable in his own skin and I love how Harry is immediately drawn to him, to his unique sense of fashion and casual display of competence. Delicious flirting, fabulous Pansy, gorgeous character development and the very best first kiss, this fic has everything! It’s also my personal favorite depiction of Quidditch player Harry, I’m utterly in love with his charming personality here.

Among Ancient Pines by @graymatters (Mature, 74k)

Every day, Draco Malfoy tries. With every fiber of his being he tries. But he doesn’t much think about what he’s trying for. In his final term of Healer training, Draco is unfortunate enough to find himself on a plane, the only means of traveling to a small, magical town in rural Alaska.

This magical love story quietly worked its way inside my heart with its gorgeous and remote wintery setting, mature characters, contemplative tone and wistful romance. Healer Draco and Hermit Harry are such a good match you can feel their chemistry and shared understanding from the early stages of their relationship. This story has perfect pacing and I just love how it balances soft longing with healing, wonder and promise, plus some brilliant wand lore that hit my nerdy comfort spot just right!

Chasing Dragons by @the-sinking-ship (Explicit, 99k)

Draco can think of only one way to outclass his pleat-front-khaki-wearing politician ex, and that’s by making headlines with an obvious upgrade. And who better to upstage the cheating bastard than the Saviour of the World, Harry Potter himself? Sure, Potter is a little rough around the edges in ripped jeans, a rumpled tartan shirt, and a permanent scowl. Draco reckons a haircut and a shave wouldn’t hurt, either. But Potter is also in need of a Healer willing to keep his secrets, and Draco is just the man for the job.

Sly has been writing so many excellent longfics it’s a tough task to only choose one but jfc this Dragon Tamer Harry with his earnest tenderness and passionate persistence has melted Healer Draco’s heart and inhabited my dreams ever since I’ve read this. This deliciously slow, complicated and scorching slow burn (major points to an unforgettable first time sequence, so incredibly mindblowing I had to take a few minutes before reading the rest) is the ride that any fake relationship fan has ever wanted (and deserves!), hot and angsty, an incredibly satisfying get together dramaH!

The Liars Department by @dorthyanndrarry (Teen and Up, 103k)

This is a story about Harry meeting up with Draco Malfoy four years after the war. And a story about Harry, well, not hating his job per say, but it’s not like he has much to compare it to and it seemed fine. His whole life seemed fine. Then Malfoy came along with and his flashy suits and fast car making everything seem dull in comparison, and Harry… Harry couldn’t just leave well enough alone.

Probably the only WIP I was brave enough to follow while it was being published, simply because I couldn’t get enough of it! This light, hilarious and feel-good Ministry partners story is one of the most charming things I’ve read this year. I got completely obsessed with Harry and Draco’s cute bantering and oblivious flirting while following their fun adventures managing the most iconic office ever created after The Vanishing Department! Last but not least - I’m pretty sure Asbestos has become my top favorite OC ever.

This Ain’t the Garden of Eden by @romaine2424 (Explicit, 131k)

In 2020, Hit Wizard Harry is starting to enjoy his life. He’s divorced, and no longer Head Auror. His biggest project these days is trying to remodel 12 Grimmauld Place for him and the kids.

I wasn’t expecting a 130k fic to become comfort food but that’s what you get when you find a 40 yo Drarry love story that hits so many of your personal buttons: sign me up for Hit Wizard Harry, secret office romance, casual flirting plus a fantastic Kingsley as a side character. The dialogue is so incredibly organic I could weep, it immediately pulled me in and made me relate so much to these characters. I’m also very much in love with the quiet moments of growing trust, intimacy and deliciously hot smut as Harry and Draco learn how to be partners in work and bed.

By the Grace by @letteredlettered (Teen and Up, 139k)

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

Is it cheating to include a fic mainly posted in 2020? Who cares, not me. Lettered is still in the business of writing my all-time favorites, I can’t think of TBWOLT or BtG without getting misty eyes and a lump in the throat. Reading this epic was a beautiful transformative experience - it made me see the ship, the characters and fanfic itself in a whole new light. Such phenomenal slow burn, such complex and nuanced characterization! I fell in love with this layered version of Draco and Harry, flawed and vulnerable and lovely, each facing their own journey towards healing and self-forgiveness. This masterfully crafted redemption tale goes way beyond romance; it’s about the bumpy ways of mental health, self-acceptance and above all, it’s about love given freely not out of obligation, but as a benediction.

The Ordeal of Being Known by @lou-isfake (Mature, 146k)

When Auror Potter is anonymously cursed with silence by being forced to hide his own voice inside his mind, there’s unfortunately only one person in the country with the qualifications to fix it: Certified and Licensed Healer Legilimens, Draco Malfoy, specialist in Mind Curses and Afflictions. It’s obviously a terrible idea, a disaster waiting to happen, but Draco’s never been able to back down from a challenge… especially from Potter.

It’s impossible not to be in awe of this fic, Lou’s first work and it’s such a banger - touching, nuanced, emotionally complex and so very cathartic! This is a superb exploration of patient Harry x Healer Draco dynamics with a fascinating premise, really stunning characterization and gorgeous slow burn. The amount of care that went into world building and character development is palpable, and the emotional arc is very fulfilling and heartwarming.

The Secret Keeper by @the-fools-errand (Mature, 225k)

On Halloween 1981, Albus Dumbledore made a decision that would change the course of history, concealing Harry Potter’s survival at the hands of Lord Voldemort underneath a Fidelius Charm. But when Harry comes of age in the Muggle world, Dumbledore realises too late that the fate of the world may depend on a boy who has never held a wand.

God knows when I last read a Muggle Harry AU but oh wow, this fic left me properly speechless! The world building is so rich, creative and realistic; I love the adventurous tone, fast-paced and exciting, and Draco’s voice and change of heart are absolutely fascinating. I had a blast following this cheerfully young, organic and sweet slow burn, and seeing Harry become an inspirational leader to his skeptical friends. If you’re into canon rewrites this is a must read!

Rare pairs:

Money by @fw00shy (Mature, 1.1k) - Pansy/Ginny

Pansy looks like money. Ginny’s letting her body call the shots.

This fic is a femslash triumph, lush and decadent, with so much build up and character development within just 1k! I felt privileged to watch this sexy, sharp and powerful Pansy through Ginny’s conflicted and hungry eyes. Her voice drips so much unabashed want that it makes us all desperate to be in Pansy’s orbit, too.

All the Time in the World by @lqtraintracks (Explicit, 1.1k) - Harry/Sirius

Sirius is fucked up. Harry’s messed up too. Neither of them really knows a better way to love.

What can I say, lqt’s Sirry is my biggest guilty pleasure - the way they always nail the complex characterization and dirtybadwrong ship dynamics full of want, guilt and sweet, sweet redemption. I love getting into their heads through scorching and unapologetic smut. This is way more than a PWP: it’s a brilliant character study in less than 1.5k.

Breaking wild roses (stings like love’s pain) by @teacup-tai (Explicit, 1.3k) - Pansy/Hermione

I feel like a scream is stuck inside my chest, creeping up in the deep dark hollow of my throat. It’s a mix of pain and agony. So to keep it down, I open my mouth and fill it with your soft, tender flesh. The bronze skin of your shoulder right against my tongue.

My darling Tai gifted me this gorgeous, aching angsty piece exploring the beauties and pains of a secret relationship. The way she writes Pansy’s raw longing makes her so incredibly vulnerable and relatable it’s impossible not to feel moved by their love. Another brilliant exhibit of Tai’s brand of “angst with a happy ending”: hot, tender, powerful, full of intense and complicated feels. My jam!

Aim For My Heart by @tackytigerfic (Mature, 3.4k) - Harry/Ron/Draco

Harry’s in love, Ron’s in control, and Draco just wants a nice lunch. They say three’s a crowd, but Harry doesn’t always agree. Not when he gets to be in the middle, anyway.

My absolute favorite triad fic, I adore how Tacky carefully navigates Harry’s mixed feelings of self-doubt, jealousy and wistful yearning and make it all click into place through a nuanced and sensitive character study. There’s so much character and emotion explored within 3.4k, I’m in awe of these fleshed out characters and their tentative (but always tender!) dynamics. This fic is about the overwhelming feel of seeing the two people you love the most getting to love each other, and figuring out there’s a place for you in there, because you’re standing in it.

Surface Texture by @the-starryknight (Explicit, 5.2k) - Harry/Teddy

I’ve drawn a hundred portraits, but none quite like Harry’s. In the early hours of the morning, I lay him bare in charcoal and paper.

It’s so hard to write a review for this one, I can’t even think about it without getting terribly emotional. I’ve been into this ship for a long, long time and somehow Starry was able to translate into words everything I’ve always loved about them but wasn’t quite able to identify. The quiet intimacy of how Harry and Teddy succumb to desire and fall into each other’s arms with a raw, all-encompassing want pulled at my heartstrings with such force I stared at the wall for a good ten minutes after finishing this. Words cannot convey how much I adore this exquisite ode to art and desire.

Plumage by @fangqueen (Explicit, 5.4k) - Ron/Draco

Ron is frustrated by his inability to pull when the always well dressed Malfoy is around, and so decides to test out an eye-catching outfit of his own to…unexpected results.

I can’t resist a good clubbing fic, and watching Draco being a tease and driving Ron up the wall is one of my favorite dynamics for this ship, so fun. Here’s a sexy combo of rivals to lovers, rocking outfits and scorching semi-public sex! I love how in character Ron sounds, his obliviousness and low key outraged lust for Draco is so charming and realistic. If you’re new to this ship I highly recommend starting here, get ready for your downfall 🥵

The Taste of Țuică by @fluxweeed (Explicit, 15k) - Harry/Ron/Draco

It’s quite one thing for your best mate to casually tell you about all the sex his boyfriend wants to have. It’s altogether another to have him bring up the time you snogged him in a shitty Central London park.

Self-indulgent triad porn?? Sign me the fuck up please and thank🔥 this fic has positively melted my whole brain, it’s so ridiculously hot I still get shivers thinking about it, jfc. As a huge Ron fan it was a treat to be inside his mind - brilliant, horny, chaotic, insanely charming - for this sex adventure. His easy humor and lust-induced confusion are hilarious, and make him the perfect counterpart for bossy Draco and enabler Harry who eagerly took control and did the lord’s work in here. A truly delightful PWP with excellent build up, spot-on characterization, unashamed vigorous sex and a very sweet resolution.

Dreaming Skies by @tackytigerfic and @sweet-s0rr0w (Explicit, 20k) - Ron/Draco

Draco’s life is going nowhere, so when Charlie Weasley offers him a job out on his reserve, Draco doesn’t think twice before booking a Portkey. After all, it’s not as if he has many other options. But when he arrives in Romania, he realises that nothing is quite what he expected…

This is the Dron fic I’ve been waiting for all my life, and I got it for my birthday!! I’m so impressed by the amount of world building, brilliant lore and character development that went into these 20k. The simplicity of a quiet and hardworking Draco gravitating towards earnest, hung and competent Ron took my breath away. They’re such a perfect match! It was a delight to see them sharing the tough reserve life and falling together in a surprisingly easy, inevitable way. This is a touching and gorgeous love story, and hopefully the first of many collabs between these 2 insanely talented authors.

The NottPott Chronicles by @amarillis39 and @missmrah (Explicit, 25k, WIP) - Harry/Theo

A series of moments from Theo and Harry’s lives as they learn to navigate their relationship, deal with their demons or just simply revel in each other’s company.

I would have never considered this ship if it wasn’t for this showstopper combo of amazing fic and phenomenal artwork making me salivate and crave for tattooed Theo/Harry. This is an immersive (and deliciously aesthetic!) journey into their established relationship through the good and bad, scorching hot but also really tender and intimate.

Treacle Treat by @orange-peony (Explicit, 30k) - Harry/Ron

Fred’s funeral turns out to be quite lovely, Harry thinks, in spite of how heartbroken they all feel. Everyone says something nice or funny about Fred, trying to remember the good moments. Harry can’t get the words out, but Ron is by his side, the back of his hand pressed against Harry’s, his eyebrows scrunched up as he sobs quietly.

I’ve always had a soft spot for this ship but wow, my heart wasn’t prepared for the amount of tenderness and gentle pining this fic delivers! Such a gorgeous slow burn dealing with difficult themes like grief and loneliness, and the way Harry and Ron’s relationship evolves from friendship to something more feels organic and just right. It’s impossible not to cheer for them, the road may be bittersweet but rest assured the happy ending is guaranteed.

Artworks:

A play off ‘not a vanilla prude’ by @peachbabypie (E) 🏍

Can’t Resist by @dragontamerdame (E) 🛋

Cover Me by Anonymous (T) 📚

Fly Me to the Moon by @caroll-in 🎙

Ice Cream at Midnight by @bluebutter-art (G) 🍨

Party Invitations and Falling in Love with Your Sworn Enemy: A Tactical Guide (A 129-Page Comic) by dustmouth (T) 🦉

Scrimshaw by @p1013 (M) 💀

so rest your weary heart with me. by @bluebutter-art (M) 🛁

The Language of the Stars by @fantalf (G) 🌠

twenty five days by @babooshkart (E) 🎄

[banana-ge-ge]

[americanmoths]

tinder, flicker, flash FINAL chapter + author's note

Look! the final chapter of tinder, flicker, flash!

This fic was my NaNoWriMo project last year. You might remember 2020 for its hit single: “Global Disease Pandemic.” I spent a lot of last year really lonely, and also working on a play that wasn’t going anywhere for the exciting combo of a.) it being v difficult to stay motivated to write a play when nobody is making theater bc Global Disease Pandemic and b.) The subject matter being intense and kinda not the best headspace to live in for long periods of time.

So I thought, let me write fanfiction; I’ve always wanted to. I hadn’t written a single word of fiction prose willingly since college, but hey … it might be nice to have people read my work again?

I wasn’t expecting to get such a loving greeting from people on the internet. I wasn’t expecting the number of kind comments I’ve gotten, or to start writing short fiction on tumblr, or to meet cool people who also love these gay idiot wizards.

Thank you so much for being supportive of my work — both tinder, flicker, flash and also all my short fics. Writing drarry has been, at different times over the past year: a way to stave off loneliness when it was just me and my cat in a new, unfamiliar city; a tool that helped me work through parts of my identity; a crash-course in writing a novel; a way of overcoming my own, detrimental perfectionism; surprisingly easy; incredibly difficult; never painful.

My artmaking mantra is: It doesn’t have to be great; it just has to save you a little.

So I hope you like tinder, flicker, flash. I worked really hard on it. But if you don’t, that’s ok. It did its job; it saved me a little. And you, dear reader, this community that has graciously given me its time, attention and feedback, you saved me a little, too.

— a. moths