#onereader

[the-starryknight]

Absolutely thrilled to share my second ficbinding, that of If an Injury Is to Be Inflicted by the brilliant @shealwaysreads . A dramatic and intense story, I fell in love with Bella's sharp characterizations for Draco and Harry and the compelling dynamic between them. I couldn't put this fic down, and now I can page through one of my favorite fics again and again.

This binding is my little twist on a Secret Belgian Binding (tutorial linked from the incredible Sea Lemon), with so many lessons learned from @renegadepublishing @armoredsuperheavy and my endless awe at @queercore-curriculum 's stunning binds. It features paper from Hollander's as a cover, black thread on the outside, and red inside.

And of course, I've included (inset on either side of chapter two) the gorgeous twin portraits by @maesterchill Few know what you are.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. Harry Potter disappeared a year after the Battle of Hogwarts, and with him went all hope for true change in magical Britain. Three years later, Draco indulges himself and attends his first Dog Fight—the infamous underground fights with no rules, no referee, and no points system bar blood on the floor. The game was simple: you win, or you die. A glint of green amidst the blood-red changes everything.

[drarry-to-read]

Title: Life goes not backward

Author: shealwaysreads (onereader)

Summary: 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.

Leaving one life behind isn’t always a sacrifice, and sometimes the greatest good comes from embracing the people you love.

Length: 8,859 words

Rating: Teen and up

[dictacontrion]

Draco was honest enough with himself these days to admit that what had begun in childhood as a comforting habit—and evolved with age into a sensual necessity for his experience of the world—had finally stopped firmly in the region of Potter-specific kink. His whole childhood up until Hogwarts had been simple, filled with family and friends. There might have been a rotten heart at the core of his parent’s outlook on the world, but they cosseted him, spoiled him, made him feel like the centre of the world. He didn’t notice everyone’s smell, he didn’t get close enough to most people for that. But aged eleven, with every fiber of his being tuned to Harry Potter, leaning close for a doomed conspiratorial handshake, Draco had been close enough then. Harry’s scent was the first he encountered—and catalogued in the instinctive filing system of his mind—that wasn’t a signal of familiarity and comfort. Not when he was a child, meeting him properly for the first time in the hallowed walls of Hogwarts, not even now that they were comfortable and familiar with each other. No. Harry—ozone and sandalwood, clean sweat from flying or duelling, all warmth and the crisp cold of the sky, treacle tart and the salt-depth of a man’s body— his scent would forever be associated with the first time Draco felt true arousal. A random episode of Hogwarts hallway fisticuffs that stirred a tangled drag of heat in Draco’s teenage belly, confused want mixed with frustration and anger. Far from the idle wonderings of a waking adolescent body that had begun to filter into daydreams and uncomfortable awakenings; it had been the first time he had felt intent stir in his blood, the electric-wild desire to do, to act.

Hue and Scent by @shealwaysreads

[drarryfavourites]

“Come on, Harry, you’ve been so much better with your words recently. Was there something you wanted to say?” Draco was clearly aiming for posh and unaffected, but wine and weed had softened his drawl into something altogether more intimate.

“You—“ Harry stopped, cleared his throat, took a swig from his bottle. “They mean—?”

“Yes, and yes. If that’s what you mean.”

- A Shorts Story about Love by @shealwaysreads

[drarry-to-read]

Title: That which hurts (and is desired)

Author: onereader

Summary: Draco was lying still, and pale, on a bed in a private room in St Mungo’s. The sheets were white, clean, enchanted against stains, vanishing the blood that kept spilling out of him. He hadn’t moved in two days. Not a twitch of his elegant fingers. Not a blink of his fierce eyes. Harry couldn’t even see the faint flutter of his pulse in his throat from where he stood at the foot of the bed, helpless, impotent, furious.

There is nothing Harry wouldn’t do for the people he cares about. As it turns out, that might bring him everything he’s ever wanted.

Length: 19,890 words

Rating: Explicit

[dictacontrion]

Why don’t you wear these kind of robes yourself then?” Draco asked, no hint of censure in his voice, just simple interest. That was what exactly Harry was hoping Draco wouldn’t ask though. Because he hadn’t really properly thought about why he never just walked into Twilfitt and Tattings and bought whatever felt the best. He just hadn’t. He hadn’t had the time. He’d hadn’t had someone to come with him, and show him what might look best. Hermione and Ginny were great at shopping with him for muggle clothes, because that's what he usually wore when he wasn’t working. T-shirts and jeans were his stalwart wardrobe faithfuls. He would feel stupid asking for a special robe. He would show himself up with his lack of knowledge, expose the barren childhood that had left him with such a keen wish for softness and beauty. Draco continued to wait for an answer next to him, his gaze steady and patient. Harry sighed. “I suppose…I’ve never had the need for them? I mean-” Harry found himself scratching the back of his neck again with blunt nails. “It just seems like a lot to spend, and I can’t quite justify it if I only wear them a few times a year.” “So, do you think I’m wasteful by spending money on robes like this?” Draco waved towards the very robe Harry was now wearing with a lazy gesture of one pale hand. Harry felt his blush deepen. Of course he had managed to put his foot in it and offend Draco. He hastened to correct himself. “Of course I didn't mean that. No. I just mean…” Harry huffed as he tried to get his thoughts in order. “I just mean that I don't think it’s worth it - for me - I mean. Obviously you deserve to have nice clothes and you actually suit them too so—” Harry cut himself off, aware that his slightly tipsy rambling was veering into territory he wasn’t quite ready for to Draco know. Harry might have privately given quite a bit of thought to how much Draco’s clothes suited him. And how well his tight fitting Auror uniform complimented his surprisingly broad frame. But Harry wasn’t about to start blurting that out while standing in his pants and a borrowed robe. The calculating look in Draco’s eyes made him feel like perhaps he hadn’t shut up quite in time, not if he hadn’t wanted to show more of his hand than he intended to.

Heaven’s embroidered cloths by @shealwaysreads/onereader

[sweet-s0rr0w]

Happy Saturday everyone! It’s @shealwaysreads’ birthday, and I’m so excited to get this opportunity to finally rave in public about how much I love love love her fics. Bella’s writing really has the whole package – prose so elegant and vivid that it reads like poetry, incredibly inventive storytelling, scorching yet tender smut and characters you’ll just want to curl up with. She’s a true master in the short-to-mid length range, and her longer stuff is always beautifully developed, with a fabulous cast of side-characters to boot. A small confession: I haven’t yet found myself in the right headspace to dip into her longest work, If An Injury Is To Be Inflicted, but I’ve heard such amazing things about it that if the summary takes your fancy you should definitely give it a read! <3 And I haven't included her incredible Kinktober series amongst my recs, because someone else has that in hand... but suffice it to say, 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Happy Birthday Bella! I’m so happy to have got to know your lovely self and I hope you have a wonderful day <3

Read shealwaysreads/onereader's works here on AO3!

Enjoy The Silence – M, 3.4k, gorgeous getting together fic with mute Draco

Summary: Draco stops speaking, gets some tattoos, and discovers that Harry’s happy to be quiet with him.

A Shorts Story About Love – E, 3.4k, hilarious omg-they-were-housemates fic feat oblivious Harry and some very short shorts

Summary: House-sharing with Slytherins, student life, magic weed, and short shorts. Harry's life at university might be strange, but he wouldn't change it for the world.

That which hurts (and is desired) – E, 20k, beautiful non-linear getting together fic feat. Auror Harry and his injured partner Draco

Summary: Draco was lying still, and pale, on a bed in a private room in St Mungo’s. The sheets were white, clean, enchanted against stains, vanishing the blood that kept spilling out of him. He hadn’t moved in two days. Not a twitch of his elegant fingers. Not a blink of his fierce eyes. Harry couldn’t even see the faint flutter of his pulse in his throat from where he stood at the foot of the bed, helpless, impotent, furious.

There is nothing Harry wouldn’t do for the people he cares about. As it turns out, that might bring him everything he’s ever wanted.

Breathe You In – M, 2.2k, incredibly intimate and stunningly lyrical Drarry sharing a bath and a joint

Summary: Some days are lazy, soft, and easy. This is one of them.

Life goes not backward – T, 8.9k, wonderful, spellbinding fae magic fic (warning, I will not be held responsible if you end up sobbing like a baby)

Summary: 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.

Leaving one life behind isn’t always a sacrifice, and sometimes the greatest good comes from embracing the people you love.

***

Previous Five Favourite Fics posts - thestarryknight | vukovich | fwooshy | lq_traintracks | tackytiger | m0stlyvoid | peachpety | magpie_fngrl | shiftylinguini | onbeinganangel | veelawings