harrydracorecs

welcome to harrydracorecs! a blog dedicated to fic recs of the pairing Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy — mobile links: library here; recs here; quotes here + credit for the sidebar here

[harrydracorecs]

hey I'm one of dicta's anons and I wanted to say thank you! the fic I was looking for was Dial Tone and you are a god send. I hope you have a super good day and that you find a drarry fic that hits all your favorite tropes!

Oh!!! You’re very welcome, I’m so glad I could help you! Thank you so much for taking the time to come here to tell me and to send me this wonderful message, it was such a nice thing to wake up to. Have an amazing day too! <3

[harrydracorecs]

“You could try going out again. Not in public, maybe, but there are private parties.” Harry saw Narcissa Malfoy in the society pages of the Prophet, but there were no photographs of her son ever. “I went to a few balls back in the summer and enjoyed being spoken to with extreme rudeness. Not an experience that I’d care to relive.” “That was months ago. People are putting the war behind them. And you’ve been pardoned. It’s time to move on.” Malfoy didn’t speak for a long moment, he just stared at his drink. Then, “I’ve nowhere to move on to.” Harry’s next words stopped in his throat. It was so rare seeing Malfoy without the mask of cold, drawling haughtiness he liked to don, and this — this fragile admission stirred something inside Harry that he put aside to maybe examine later. At a quiet moment, preferably at night. He caught himself wanting to touch Malfoy, just on the shoulder, but he didn’t think it’d be welcome. They didn’t speak for a while. A waitress brought their chips and chili con carne, the smell making Harry salivate. A couple walked in, the woman rubbing her hands to warm them up, while her companion examined the drafts on offer.   “See this, Potter?” Malfoy broke the silence. His haughty manner had returned; his air of nobility marred a little by the chip he held in his fingers as he gestured broadly. Harry watched Malfoy’s lips close over the chip. He swallowed. “See what?” “This. No one knows us here. We’re nobodies. And it’s marvellous. No one is glaring at me, or muttering under their breath about me escaping justice, or threatening revenge. No one even looks at me.” Everyone is looking at you, Harry thought, because he’d noticed the admiring and often lustful looks that Draco drew in the Muggle world. Even with the awful orange jumpsuit on, he looked glorious, beautiful and unattainable, like a shining galleon in the dirt. Now, sitting close with a soft ice blue jumper and bright hair, he looked like something out of a dream.

The Miseducation of Draco Malfoy by @magpiefngrl

[harrydracorecs]

The Miseducation of Draco Malfoy

Title: The Miseducation of Draco Malfoy

Author: @magpiefngrl

Rating: NC-17

Word count: 37,600

Era: Post Hogwarts, EWE

Summary: Zacharias Smith writes a tell-all about the D.A. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are not happy about it.

Comment: If you want to read something fun, sweet, funny and with a little bit of angst, search no further, you’ve found your fic! I’m going to steal this sentence from myself here but basically, this story is such a lovely journey, going from childhood enemies to partners in crime to reluctant friends to tentative lovers to I’m in love with you and I couldn’t live without you. The characterisations—and by now I’m sure you can tell how obsessed I am with them—were very good, and I loved all the side characters, especially Ron and Hermione who see more than Harry would like them to sometimes! In short, Harry and Draco are being sent to the Muggle World after having punched Zacharias Smith in the face—a Good Scene, if you ask me—and they have to do community service for three months as a punishment. During these weeks, you see Draco evolving in this new environment and growing out of his prejudices + Harry realising that there’s so much more to Draco Malfoy than meets the eye. It’s really lovely and everything I hoped for when I thought of the trope Draco in Muggle London. Enjoy!

[harrydracorecs]

Back at their booth, Draco looked up at him, gaze still shuttered and wary, sleeve pressed against his bleeding nose. Something quick and sweet fell through Harry; he felt, abruptly, much better. He set the butterbeers down and sat next to Draco, gently drawing Draco’s hand away from his face. He caught Draco’s chin in his fingers and tilted his head up, studying Draco’s face. Draco stared back at him, jaw set and defiant. He was definitely going to have a black eye; it was already swelling. His nose looked painful and red, too, though it had stopped bleeding, a crust of blood smeared above his upper lip, trailing down his chin. Harry shook his head. “You shouldn’t let Neville rile you up.” “I didn’t,” Draco said, immediately and untruthfully. “He’s just a bit freaked out by the whole - thing,” Harry said. “I understand, I’m not crying myself to sleep about it. You don’t have to attack him for my sake.” “I didn’t,” Draco repeated, looking annoyed that he had to lie twice in the space of one conversation. Draco didn’t like lying. It was something Harry had discovered, slow and surprised, the past few months. He let Draco’s chin go, dropping his hands back into his lap. After a moment, he laughed, a little awkward, a little pleased. “Shut up,” Draco said. “My hero,” Harry said, and Draco scowled.

Scenes from a life by @dddraconis

[harrydracorecs]

“Is it morning?” Draco murmured. His hair hung dishevelled, all over his face. Harry stared at him. Malfoy’s eyes were sweet and grave, this close. “Not yet,” Harry said, and swallowed. “Sorry.” “Mm?” “For - waking you up,” Harry said. “I don’t know. I’m sorry, I don’t know why I came back--” “I’m glad you did,” Draco mumbled, and put his head against Harry’s shoulder. Harry went very still. “I thought maybe you’d finally buggered off.” “Are you always like this in the mornings?” Harry said, overly jocular. “I - maybe I should come by more often--” “Mm,” Draco said, yawning, breath warm against Harry’s neck. “If you like.” “Okay,” Harry said, and shook his head. “Okay, then.” He shifted, until he was half sprawled back against the dragon’s leg, and Draco followed him, holding onto his wrist, until he was lying next to Harry. Then he rolled and rested his cheek against Harry’s shoulder again, and Harry closed his eyes. He hadn’t slept yet tonight. It was cold in the barn, but Malfoy was warm, half-resting on him. “Are you going back to sleep?” Harry mumbled, shy, and Draco made a quiet, agreeable noise. Something like gravity sunk into Harry’s chest, inevitable and aching. He turned his head; he opened his eyes. Malfoy made a tiny noise and shifted up, and their mouths brushed, light and cool with the dark valley quiet outside. Harry’s breath came short, and Draco mumbled something he couldn’t catch, patted clumsily at Harry’s chest. “Sleep,” he said, “it’s still dark out.” “Yeah,” Harry said. After a moment he brought his arm up around Draco’s shoulders, holding him there. “Okay.”

Such Great Heights by @dddraconis

[harrydracorecs]

universe: Such Great Heights

Titles: Such Great Heights and its sequel Scenes from a life

Author: @dddraconis

Ratings: NC-17 and M

Word counts: 93,312 and 22,551 (115,863 adding both parts)

Eras: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Hogwarts 8th year (basically there’s a year gap between the end of the war and the beginning of their second 7th year at Hogwarts)

Warnings/Content: In the words of the author; “character death (minor, but important to a main character; see end of work for more clarification), nods towards PTSD for a range of characters, and teenage boys saying dumb things about bisexuality.”

Summaries: Draco Malfoy, wide-eyed and pale and in a decidedly ragged shirt, was crouched next to the pile of whatever the dragon had been eating. Harry threw himself to a halt and yelled, “Merlin, how many times do I have to save your life?” • Several years, several Christmases, several children.

Comment: So. I’ve kind of have a super long list that I named, being very original always, FICS TO READ ASAP. The thing is, I’m still working on the ASAP bit, mostly because the list is full of fics that I already know I will adore and cherish until the day I die, and I want to be ~in the perfect mood~ when I finally read them so I can fully appreciate them. Odd reason, maybe, but still a very valid one. Right? Anyway, I’ve been blabbling about this because Such Great Heights is one of those fics. I feel like it’s been on The List for ages, and I finally got around to sit down, take a deep breath, and start reading it. Needless to say, I fell in love right away.

It’s got... pretty much everything I ever dreamed of, to be honest. Harry being surrounded by all his friends right after the war and just, taking a break from all the chaos, the lot of them living together in Grimmauld Place and making it their home, platonic bed sharing between the golden trio (<333!!!), GORGEOUS characterisations of literally everyone I still cry about it, a DRAGON, I KID YOU NOT, and so much more. The dialogues were SO GOOD that sometimes I thought I was genuinely watching it all happen instead of just reading about it. Actually, scratch that, the writing style in itself kept me breathless and gagging for more all throughout the story. I fell in love right along the characters, I cried with them, I was happy with them, I felt relieved with them, and not just for them. This fic—it’s why I love Harry and Draco so much. It’s them.

I’m not going to talk about the sequel because a) you’ve probably noticed by now but I’m truly terrible at summaries, b) I don’t want to spoil anything and c) I’m still trying to recover from all of it, because yes, it’s very good, and yes, you should totally read it too.

[harrydracorecs]

Harry watched Malfoy smile and mouth you’re fine, it’s fine at a woman who had knocked into him with a tray of shots and then apologised. He watched the pink and purple lights from the stage play over Malfoy’s straight nose and his high cheekbones. He saw the way Malfoy was standing beside Parkinson, as though she was at the exact centre of the universe. Harry thought back to his dreams, and the way that Malfoy had been gentle when he touched Harry. He knew, then, that Malfoy had changed, or would change, or was in the process of changing. Harry knew, with the same surety, that he wanted to be there for it. He wanted to watch as Malfoy unfolded himself and shook out the parts that were cruel and mean and hateful. He wanted to watch for the moment when Malfoy’s limbs and heart and brain and muscles moved in a way that wasn’t heavy with unease and anger. He wanted to see a thousand more easy smiles on Malfoy’s face, it wouldn’t even matter if he hadn’t put them there himself. He wanted to see Malfoy bloom with laughter. Harry wanted to tell him that he still hated the things Malfoy had done and would never forget them, not to be cruel, but because now he thought that Malfoy would never want to be with a person who forgot about things like that.

Harry Potter and the Future He Doesn't Really Want, Thanks. by @seefin

[harrydracorecs]

Harry Potter and the Future He Doesn't Really Want, Thanks.

Title: Harry Potter and the Future He Doesn't Really Want, Thanks.

Author: @seefin

Rating: NC-17

Word count: 70,458

Era: Post Hogwarts, EWE

Summary: It was addictive, the feeling of Draco Malfoy telling him things in a soft voice early in the morning. Harry felt like he was taming a wild animal, or petting a cat that hated everybody else. This train existed outside of time, that was the only explanation Harry could come up with as to why Malfoy was actually having a civil conversation with him right now.

Comment: I read this fic for the first time months ago, but recently reread it and decided it was about time I sit the fuck down and write my damn thoughts about it. So here I am, and here we are. I’ve fallen in love with this story all over again, to be completely honest, and it truly baffles me how perfect it is; from the characters themselves to the lovely plot, everything is really fucking brilliant. I love how @seefin deals with the aftermaths of the War, and its effects on both Harry and Draco. There’s no glossing over past mistakes, no attempt to make excuses for all the terrible things Draco did and said during his Hogwarts years. We see him working towards being a better person than he ever was, and trying to let go of his prejudices. Harry, on the other hand, is still struggling with the knowledge that he’s able to see the future in his dreams, and what he sees in one of them (hint: it contains a certain grey-eyed devil) doesn’t please him at all. But then he stumbles upon Draco one day, who lives in the Muggle world now (having been banned from the Wizarding society and forbidden to do any magic). They cross paths again, and sweet things happen. I really enjoyed every word, every scene and every dialogue in this fic, down to the last and tiniest detail, and I know with a certainty that I feel deep in my bones that I’ll be rereading it again, and again, and again...

[harrydracorecs]

Shaking his head, Draco deliberately picked up his fork and set about his stew once more. "I've got no idea what you're talking about," he reiterated with a sniff. He could feel Blaise's smile without needing to look at him. "Oh, I think you do." "I do not." "Yes you do," Theodore chimed in. "Shut up, Theo," Draco replied mildly, gaze still downcast. Blaise laughed once more. "You do. And I think you probably also even know the reason for it all. For everything being… better." Draco didn't mean to. He honestly didn't, but somehow, quite without his direction, he found his gaze drifting upwards and across the room towards the Gryffindor table. He noticed the Golden Trio – they were, quite frankly, hard to miss, especially with Weasley and Weaslette initiating their nightly argument, cries of "Stop being an idiot" and "He was with you last night" ringing across the Hall. And naturally, his eyes drifted to Potter, to Pipsqueak, as they were want to do. Potter, who was watching his two friends snarl and snap at one another's throats with a hand propped beneath his chin. Potter, who seemed to have neglected half of his dinner in favour of offering it to Pipsqueak at his shoulder who ate far more daintily and tidily than her siblings, Draco was sure. Potter, who somehow seemed to feel Draco's gaze upon him and glanced in his direction through the mess of his overlong fringe. He didn't smile but he didn't frown either, simply regarding Draco as he was regarded in turn. Draco hastily dropped his gaze down to his bowl once more, resolutely ignoring Blaise's muffled chuckles at his side. Stupid Potter with his stupid fringe and his stupid stare and the ridiculously, stupidly cute way he smiled at the foxlet that lived on his shoulder. It annoyed Draco to no end.

My Little Berserker by @aelys-althea

[harrydracorecs]

My Little Berserker

Title: My Little Berserker

Author: @aelys-althea

Rating: NC-17

Word count: 105,540

Era: Hogwarts 8th year

Summary: Eighth year was supposed to be calm. Moderated. Peaceful, even. Draco returned to escape the chaos wrought upon his shambles of a life and Harry to flee the responsibility of a world that sees him as something greater than was truly possible. Hogwarts was a safe haven, right? At least it was until Hagrid comes up with the wonderful idea to introduce some additional members to the student body of the fluffier variety. Hagrid doesn't do moderated - where's the fun in that?

Comment: What a wonderful, wonderful fic! I stumbled upon it in my quest to read something long, not too depressing and/or hard to deal with, and with a bit of Hogwarts in it, as it’s been a while since I read anything other than Post-War fics. The summary alone immediately grabbed my attention and I’m so glad I decided to embark on the journey this story has to offer, because I loved it. Harry and Draco are back at school for their last year and so fresh after the war, everything feels a bit uncertain. We see them trying to navigate through a world without Voldemort, and it’s gorgeous, how you can feel everything the characters experience, thanks to the writing style radiating such a perfect amount of melancholy mixed with a tiny bit of hope for what the future holds. I particularly liked the struggles Draco faces when it comes to himself and what he knows of his personality, how he’s becoming a better person without completely losing the traits that define him the most. Basically (I always tend to ramble on and on, sorry), this fic tells the story of Harry bonding with an animal—the fluffiest, cutest, most adorable one ever, I swear—who then bonds with Draco. It’s truly amazing, seeing them gradually getting closer through their “parenting”—because of course they do. Honestly, if you didn’t know what to read next and found this post, search no further, here’s your fic.

[harrydracorecs]

“Hermione?” Hermione’s head snaps up, from where she’s buried it in Ron’s shoulder. Her eyes are red-rimmed and wet. She glances at Rudy and he gives her a cautious nod. “Yes, Harry?” “Will you hate me if I fall in love with Malfoy?” Draco’s jaw drops open; his face heats and he sucks in a panicked breath. He loosens his hold on Harry’s free hand. Hermione seems just as startled. She’s darting looks back and forth between them, shrewd and speculative, and then her face softens. “No, Harry. Why would you ever think I could hate you because of someone you loved?” “Ron would.” Ron clears his throat. “No, I wouldn’t.” “They tortured you,” Harry says, steady and slow. It’s like listening to music on the wireless after a magical dampener has been used. “He was there.” “He threw up,” Hermione says, looking directly at Draco with something like compassion as he shrivels inside. “He couldn’t watch, and then they made him, and he threw up.” “Oh.” A little sigh escapes him. “That’s good, then.”

The Shape of the World by @bixgirl1

[harrydracorecs]

The Shape of the World

Title: The Shape of the World

Author: @bixgirl1

Rating: NC-17

Word count: 48,276

Era: Post Hogwarts, EWE

Warning/Content: Memory Loss (Harry)

Summary: Five years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Draco's life is finally getting back in order. Until, that is, he sees a familiar face that has been missing since that last awful morning of the war. When has knowing Potter done anything other than complicate his life? Although, for two people such as Potter and Malfoy, how can they fall in love except to put aside their preconceived notions about one another?

Comment: I’m not usually one for memory loss fics because they frustrate me and I like the dynamics between Harry and Draco when they both know who the other is, but damn, this fic was good. So good that it made me fall in love with a trope I never thought I could fall for in the first place. Everything about this story is fascinating, intense and poignant—from the very start when Draco and Harry meet again in California five years after the Battle of Hogwarts, at the end of which Harry mysteriously disappeared and was declared dead by the wizarding world, to the very last lines: a perfect ending to such an incredible fic. It’s gorgeously written too; I loved Draco’s voice so very much, allowing us to see first hand all the ways in which he changed himself and became a better person, with a vulnerability that he can never really hide from Harry, and most importantly, from himself. There were times when I cried, times when I laughed, times when I cried again, and times when I was so happy my face hurt. As always, I don’t want to spoil anything but basically this is the story of Draco helping Harry regain his memories, and them finding their way into each other’s life all over again. A garanteed favourite, trust me!

[harrydracorecs]

👏🏾Love👏🏾your👏🏾blog👏🏾

Thank you so much! I’m glad you do :)

[harrydracorecs]

Malfoy moved like a lanky cat, all limbs and syrupy motions that annoyed Harry and set his teeth on edge. He tapped his foot impatiently, shoving the photo towards Malfoy. Harry took the opportunity to study him while Malfoy was watching the loop of the crime scene photo. His brows were furrowed in concentration, and he nibbled on the corner of his bottom lip. Harry’s eyes lingered on Malfoy’s mouth for a moment before moving on to catalogue the way his eyes flit across the moving scene in the photo. The cocky persona from a moment ago was gone, replaced by someone Harry was far less familiar with — someone contemplative, looking for an answer to an unasked question. It made his stomach twinge uncomfortably.

Never Got No Good Doing What I’m Told by @carpemermaid

[harrydracorecs]

Never Got No Good Doing What I’m Told

Title: Never Got No Good Doing What I’m Told

Author: @carpemermaid

Rating: NC-17

Word count: 41,869

Era: Post Hogwarts, EWE

Warnings/Content: Slight/Accidental voyeurism, exhibitionism, non-sexual dub-con, auror brutality, abuse of authority, emotional/psychological abuse

Summary: Draco works as a consultant for the Auror Department, much to Harry’s continued consternation. The idea that Malfoy’s got an ulterior motive and hiding something rankles Harry enough to follow him home, discovering that Draco lives a decidedly Muggle lifestyle. Harry, sure that he’s Up To Something™, stalks Draco all over Muggle London. Draco, all too aware of Harry’s latest obsession with him, decides to take him on an adventure. Meanwhile, they both need to work together in a race against the clock to get a deadly illegal potion off the streets of wizarding London. Draco has ulterior motives when it comes to the case at hand, and Harry’s suspicions get the best of him when the pressure is on to arrest a suspect.

Comment: The summary alone looked very promising, and I’m so glad I decided to read this fic in the first place, because it didn’t disappoint! The story is centered around an interesting take on the whole Harry-stalking-Draco trope, and it works. The alternating POVs make for a fascinating read in the sense that you get to hear and see both sides of the story; you get to witness the evolution of Harry’s complete obsession to the point where he makes really, really bad decisions and you get to understand Draco better at the same time, with glimpses of his work towards redemption and his life post-war. I love that @carpemermaid didn’t shy away from their canon antagonism and used it to create such a brilliant fic, which made me both cry in frustration and smile with tears in my eyes. The investigation itself with the potion was truly amazing to read and I loved loved loved! Pansy and Neville as Ministry workers and Harry and Draco’s colleagues. And of course, this comment wouldn’t be complete if I failed to mention the sheer joy I felt when I read about Draco navigating through Muggle London, wearing Muggle clothes and interacting with Muggles—in more ways than one, if you catch my drift [winks]. All in all, this fic made me fall in love with them and their relationship all over again. 

[harrydracorecs]

“The ghost is back,” he says. Potter looks confused, like Draco isn’t making sense. “In my garden,” Draco explains. He’s being very patient with Potter, really. Potter, with his messy hair and his eyes turning back to that electric green as he watches them, as the charm wears off. Potter with his earnestness and his smiles for people who aren’t Death Eaters. Who aren’t Draco. Potter edges around him, and Draco turns to watch him lean over and peer out into the garden. He looks back at Draco, over his shoulder. “There’s nothing there, Malfoy.” “Don’t be stupid.” Draco is starting to get angry. “I just saw it.” Potter looks once more, then turns his entire body back around, watching Draco closely. “The garden is empty.” Something is crawling up Draco’s spine, something with claws and teeth and it wants to come out through his mouth. There’s a burning pressure behind his eyes and Potter doesn’t get it, he doesn’t understand. How could he? “Did you enjoy that, Potter? Seeing me there?” Potter just looks at him. Potter used to look at Draco a lot when they were at Hogwarts, but he hasn’t looked at Draco much at all since then. “Did you like having all your worst suspicions confirmed?” “What are you talking about, Malfoy?” “That’s where I came from. That’s who Draco Malfoy is. Was. Both?” He does laugh now, and it sounds ugly. It sounds like the thing now lodged in his chest, a dark and growing thing. He can’t read Potter in this moment. He can’t tell what he’s thinking. He’s just looking at Draco. He’s just watching him fall apart. “What’s that phrase— Blood will out? Isn’t that funny, Potter? Isn’t that just ironic?” Draco is breathing very hard now. His chest is moving up and down, rapid and against his will. “Malfoy,” says Potter, slow and quiet. “You’re drunk. Let’s just drop this. Get some sleep.” “Drop it?” he echoes. “How can I drop this? Tell me. How can I drop it? How can I still love someone after I’ve come to hate the very things they stand for? Still crave their approval— even as I actively shun it? To feel such disgust, and still not be able to quite bear cutting ties with him? What the fuck does that make me, Potter?” “Alive,” Potter says. “Human.” Suddenly, all the fight goes out of him. He feels tired, drained. He closes his eyes. There’s a hand between his shoulder blades, and another on his shoulder, and they propel him forward, out of the kitchen and down the short hallway to his bedroom. As Draco falls onto his mattress, a small part of him knows Harry Potter is putting him to bed, but he shoves it aside. Draco has a lot of practice at shoving unwelcome feelings aside.

A Ghost in the Garden by @thistle-verse (via harrydracorecs)

[harrydracorecs]

A Ghost in the Garden

Title: A Ghost in the Garden

Author: @thistle-verse

Rating: NC-17

Word count: 27,176

Era: Post Hogwarts, EWE

Warnings/Content: Mentions of violence, alcohol abuse

Summary: That night Draco dreams, and he is the ghost in his garden. He is both silvered figment and his own solid and flesh face pressing against the window, watching. Spinning and spun, haunting and haunted. Turned and turning, an open mouth with no sound. Harry and Draco are thrown together on an investigation into a sinister political movement.

Comment: Upon reading the first lines, I was immediately hooked, and knew that this would be a good one. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed, and I enjoyed this story immensely. All throughout the fic, the writing style flows effortlessly, goes straight for your heart and squeezes. There’s a raw beauty in the way it deals with Draco—with his fears, mostly, and with all the ways in which he still finds himself struggling. Despite being a Harry/Draco fic, it sometimes feels more like a character study, and a gorgeous one at that, highlighting the complexity of his current situation, an internal fight between the man he once was and the man he wants to be.

“That’s where I came from. That’s who Draco Malfoy is. Was. Both?” He does laugh now, and it sounds ugly. It sounds like the thing now lodged in his chest, a dark and growing thing.

Draco’s inner battles, his relationship with Harry—fragile, something he doesn’t want to rush for fear of shattering, Harry’s understanding and inherent forgiveness, Draco’s friendships with Hermione, Pansy, Dean and Millicent, the ghost in the garden, the investigation, the dragon, the scenery, every little detail feels carefully thought of, and makes for a breathtaking read. I couldn’t possibly recommend you this fic enough.