venus in aries

dramione writer and reader. you can find me on ao3.

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 20

True to his word, Draco arranged for Hermione to join him for his next therapy appointment. They arrived at the now-familiar office a few minutes before the scheduled time, Draco feeling even more anxious than he had on his first visit.

They sat quietly in the waiting room, not speaking as the minutes ticked by. Soon, it was time for them to go back. He took his usual seat on the grey sofa, although this time, Hermione sat right next to him.

Dr Green sat across from the couple, wearing a dove-grey suit with a light-green shirt under her blazer, her ankles crossed to the side. She gave them a faint smile, the pen poised elegantly in her hand. "Hermione, it's lovely to meet you. I've heard so much about you from Draco already."

He could see the surprise on his sister's face, but she quickly concealed it, smiling back. "It's lovely to meet you as well. Thank you for letting me join your session today."

"Of course. Can you tell me a little bit why you're here today? Draco, why don't you start?"

Draco shifted in his seat, collecting his thoughts. "We had a fight. I revealed some things that I've been keeping from her, and then she left for three days with essentially no communication. When she came back, she had a list of things she needed from me in order to continue the relationship written down, and while I told her that I would work on it, I knew that it wouldn't be that simple."

His therapist nodded. "I see. And Hermione? What about you? Why did you ask to come here today?"

"We've had other problems, and at Christmas I told him I couldn't keep doing this if he didn't figure out how to deal with his emotions. Part of what he admitted to me is that he's been coming here, but until now, he hasn't really been committed to changing. I'm here to support him, but also to try and understand him better."

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[berkeleygirl3]

[venusinaries444]

penance

Chapter 5

Draco dreamed of Rose that night and in the morning, was sure that it had been a message from God Himself.

His dream started out with him performing Mass with only a single person sitting in the pews, her. When he got to the miracle of transubstantiation, turning the Eucharist into the Body of Christ, she had gotten up and climbed the steps to the Sanctuary. She held the chalice, waiting for it to be turned from mere wine into the Blood of Christ, drinking it all down, her throat bobbing, lines of red running from her mouth, down her neck, onto her chest, staining her white dress red.

Then she had climbed onto the altar, and Draco had fed her the Eucharist, placing the wafer onto her waiting tongue, watching her eyes flutter closed as she swallowed. As she did, her clothes suddenly vanished, and she lay down in front of him, legs spread wide.

"Take me," she begged him sweetly. "Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you," she intoned.

Draco had fallen to his knees and licked her until she screamed, the sound of her voice the sweetest song that had ever graced his church. He got up, his vestments falling to the ground, his c-ck hard and ready, slamming into her as they became one on the altar of God.

There was no need to interpret the dream; its meaning was self-evident. To join with her would please God, an act of holiness second only to the Miracle of the Eucharist itself, one of his most sacred duties. His divine providence was guiding Draco to take the steps to do what was most pleasing to Him, like so many who had been chosen before him, and Draco had never been so ready to serve.

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 19

Hermione turned over in bed to find brown eyes, not grey, looking at her. Ginny's russet hair was spread out on the pillow next to hers like a fiery halo. Seeing that her friend was awake, Ginny smiled and said, "Good Morning."

"Morning," Hermione mumbled back, stifling a yawn. She had been staying with Ginny and Susan for the past three days, borrowing Ginny's clothes, since she had brought nothing with her, not even her wallet or her phone. Ginny had messaged Draco on Instagram shortly after her arrival, letting him know she was safe and wouldn't be coming home.

Draco had blown up Ginny's DMs, but they had ignored him. Without her phone, he had no way to directly access Hermione, and she was sure that he had gone through it by now, and probably had done so before, if the changing of the background on her laptop was any indicator. If he really wanted to, he could probably find this address, and honestly, he probably knew exactly where she was by now. It was a miracle he hadn't broken down the door, demanding that she come home.

Making up with Ginny had been easy; Hermione chose to forgive her the moment her best friend apologised. Hermione understood that she had only gone behind her back and talked to her mum out of concern, and that the whole reason they had fought in the first place was that Ginny hadn't thought Draco was right for her, and Hermione couldn't exactly disagree, not when she had shown up at her flat seeking sanctuary from her brother after their horrific fight. They had both cried and hugged, and Susan had piled on, thrilled that they had made up, their dynamic finally restored.

It was the one silver lining that had come from Draco's revelation that she had gotten her best friend back. And the girls were determined not to let anything drive a wedge between them ever again. Since they had hashed things out, Ginny had been overwhelmingly supportive, bustling around, making Hermione copious cups of tea, and even cooking her mum's famous Sunday roast for dinner the night before, promising that it would help set Hermione to rights. Both roommates could see that Hermione was struggling to be away from Draco and that she needed time to process before she could face him again.

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 18

Snow fell in flurries, the sky a wide, expansive grey on Tuesday afternoon towards the end of February. Hermione was rushing from class to the library, her chin burrowed into the thick, soft cashmere of her navy scarf, planning to hole up and get started on a paper that was due at the end of next week.

She was a serious student, especially since she could study what she liked at university, and was dedicated to her coursework. Whenever possible, she tried to get ahead, doing the reading and assignments in advance, preferring not to procrastinate. Sticking to her goal was a little bit harder living with Draco, because he angled to take up as much of her time as possible. It wasn't that her education was suffering as a result, but rather that she wasn't doing things precisely the way she would have liked to, had they not been sharing a flat.

To say that her brother was demanding was an understatement. He felt entitled to all of her, every waking moment, every single breath; he felt it all belonged to him. It was fortunate that he was also a good student, though it was unfair how little time he spent studying compared to her, yet he still performed at the top of his class. He was brilliant and barely needed to apply himself.

Hermione was intelligent too; she knew that she was bright enough to skate by if she so chose. But she wanted to squeeze out every drop of learning she could, to fully immerse herself in academia. It was part of why she had initially committed to being single for the entirety of her career at Oxford; she didn't want any distractions, anything that might stand in the way of her experiences or the opportunities that might arise.

For example, Hermione had toyed with the idea of taking a term abroad, and honestly, bumping into Harry had further inspired her. But she knew that Draco would expect to go with her; however, in her imagination, this had always been something she would do herself. Alone.

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

sometimes I’m reminded that there are still people who don’t know ao3 was literally created by incest shippers — and the site’s sole purpose is to 1. be completely against censorship and 2. host all kinds of dark, taboo fics that are banned on other platforms — and the first ever fic that was posted on ao3 was a fic about an incest ship from supernatural.

you are in the house that was created by freaks. for freaks (affectionate). every disgusting thing you can think of is rightfully allowed and welcomed on ao3, because they are exactly the reasons why ao3 was created in the first place.

ao3 was created because its creators got tired of censorship, they got tired of dark and taboo fics getting banned on pro-censorship platforms, and they wanted a place that was safe for ALL FICS THAT WERE DARK AND TABOO.

ao3’s main principle is being against censorship and being proship / profic.

there are some things in fiction that make me uncomfortable, but instead of shaming people who are just minding their own business and not harming anyone in real life, I choose to curate my own internet experience by blocking/muting what I don’t want to see. ao3 has excellent tagging system, so instead of being a bitch, use their tagging system properly and you won’t see the things you don’t want to see.

it’s your job to curate what you see. it’s not other people’s jobs or responsibilities to censor themselves for your personal comfort. the world does not revolve around you.

also you cannot censor “only the things you personally hate” without expecting everything else, that isn’t of conservative beliefs, to be censored too. because censorship is a slippery slope and a fascist tool. I promise you there are people who think “why do tags for queer love even exist on ao3? they’re grooming children”.

if you allow the things that you hate to be censored — because someone with enough power gets to control what other people can and cannot create/consume, it will not stop at the things that you hate.

*illustration by sillyalexnorris

[aleiinad]

[venusinaries444]

penance

Chapters 1-4

"Forgive me, Daddy, for I have sinned. I've been a bad girl."

Draco pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing the urge to sigh. No matter how many times he corrected her, she insisted on beginning every confession the exact same way.

"Rose," he said in as stern a tone as he could muster, despite the fact that the sacrament of confession was meant to be anonymous. He simply could not pretend he didn't know exactly who sat on the other side of the screen. "How many times must we go over this? It's 'forgive me, father, for I have sinned. It's been, however many days, since my last confession.' You know this. You were taught how to properly enter into the sacrament of confession in catechism class."

A girlish giggle sounded from the other side of the confessional. "Sorry, Daddy, I mean Father Draco. I guess that's one more thing to add to my list of sins." She began again, "Forgive me, Father—" she paused here after emphasising the word. "—for I have sinned. It's been a week since my last confession."

He couldn't see her, but somehow he just knew she would be looking up at him through her lashes, big blue eyes wide and innocent, and she twirled one of her thick copper curls around a pale finger.

Rose Weasley may have been a carbon copy of her mother, Hermione, but her colouring was all her father, Ronald's: red hair, bright blue eyes, and milky-white skin dotted with freckles. Both of her parents were his parishioners, attending Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception since before he had gotten his posting here. He and Hermione had both been students here, starting from primary school.

Hermione had been one of his closest childhood friends and playmates growing up. He had many fond memories of their time together as children, always sitting with each other at morning Mass before school, taking First Communion, and then Confirmation together as teenagers, except for a brief period when they had a falling out. They made up, becoming friends once again, a friendship that continued into adulthood.

After graduating, Hermione went off to university in Cambridge, where she met her now husband, while Draco attended seminary school, was ordained, and served at another church before returning to the very parish he had grown up in. That had always been his dream, and the day that he had gotten this assignment was one of the happiest of his life. He had gotten down on his knees in thanks for two straight hours, his fingers still clutching the letter, almost afraid to believe it was real.

That was almost ten years ago, and Draco, now 39 years old, was used to the day-to-day of being the parish priest at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Over the years, there had been a handful of young people who had formed crushes on him, usually completely harmless, and faded after a short time.

Read the first four chapters on ao3.

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 17

Draco was nervous. After sending out inquiries, he had finally booked an appointment with a therapist and was now in the car, driving to his very first session. His eyes flicked to the rear view mirror, and then he signalled, pulling into the open spot on the street outside the building his navigation had directed him to.

His sister had offered to go with him and sit in the waiting room, or even take herself to a nearby coffee shop for the duration of his appointment for moral support. But this was something he had to do on his own, so he told her no, opting to go alone.

Approaching the entrance of the practice, he brushed his palms on the outside of his navy trousers, then he reached for the handle, the door opening soundlessly as he stepped inside. A warm interior greeted him, not just because the heater was cranked up, but also the decor: walnut-coloured wood furniture was set against goldenrod yellows and muted plums, and the deep greens of the scattered houseplants placed in various corners throughout the waiting room.

He gave the girl at the front desk his name, then took a seat, not even bothering to take out his phone. Rarely did he get the urge to fidget, but he did now, his foot jiggling, palms resting on his thighs.

A blonde woman who appeared to be in her 30s opened the door at the other end of the room, dressed in a grey sheath dress, her hair elegantly pinned up at the top of her head. She called his name, and he stood, barely feeling his feet as they touched the ground.

Dr Green led him to her office, gesturing for him to have a seat. He didn't hesitate, sitting down on the long grey couch, almost the exact shade of her dress. She took the armchair opposite him, giving him a welcoming smile, before launching into her introduction. Her office was different from the reception area, still with that same walnut-toned furniture but more neutral, accented with greys and creams.

She told him a little about her background, the practice, her education, and the types of methods she used, giving him an overview of what to expect and leaving room for questions. Holding out a clipboard, she went over a printout of the answers he had filled out online in advance of the appointment, confirming his responses, establishing his history.

"So, what are you hoping to get out of therapy?" she asked, once they had concluded.

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[insert-witty-user-name-here]

[venusinaries444]

Not the Pope asking me about the status of my Priest!Draco WIP 😂

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 16

They were in that weird stretch of time after Christmas, when the world seemed to stand still and time didn't exist. Hermione had asked Fatima to send over some recommendations for private-pay therapists, and Draco had put in a few inquiries and was waiting to hear back, though she wasn't expecting any progress on that particular issue until after the start of the new year.

It was enough that he promised to go and that he was making an effort to follow through. From what she could tell, he had been sincere when he committed to starting therapy. And while she might have been selfish in her request, she genuinely believed it would help him, to save him from the state of being partially drowned by all his grief, not to mention whatever complexes being Lucius's son might have naturally begotten. If there was ever anyone who could benefit from learning some coping skills, it was Draco. 

Now, she was walking around the high street, on a day when it wasn't too cold and not actually raining, doing some shopping to pass the time and take advantage of the weather while Draco was at the gym with Theo. She had planned to have a lovely solo day, grabbing a coffee, then perusing a few different bookshops that she loved, intent on spending the money she had gotten for Christmas.

Hermione had just spotted the next shop she wanted to enter when she heard her name being called. Turning around, she found herself staring back at the last person she had ever expected to see.

He looked exactly the same. Same, wavy black hair, that was a bit unruly, windswept and tousled. Same bright green eyes, peering back at her from behind a pair of brown-framed spectacles with round lenses. Same smile, broad and beaming as he looked at her like she was the only person to exist. Her first love. Harry.

Her heart squeezed.

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[myatush]

🐍

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 15

It was almost Christmas, and Draco and Hermione were facing a holiday season spent without their parents. For the first time in his life, Draco would not be welcome at the manor, would not be sitting under the grand Christmas tree in the drawing room, opening presents. If it wasn't for Hermione being devastated at the thought of not spending the holiday with their family, Draco didn't think he would care that much. But as it was, there were a few times when he caught her swiping through her phone, looking at photos from the previous years with a heartbroken look on her face. Draco didn't like that one bit.

Seeing no other way, he arrived at Parliament one morning after dropping Hermione at university, skipping his morning classes so that he could visit his father instead. His phone said it was just after half ten when he arrived at Lucius's office, standing in the doorway, looking on as his father scribbled something onto a brief, dressed in a fine navy pinstripe suit.

"Father," he interrupted, his voice neutral.

Lucius looked up, a lash of surprise in his eyes, which was quickly smoothed away by placidity. "Draco," he greeted him in an emotionless tone.

Not waiting for an invitation, Draco stepped inside, closing the door behind him and taking a seat.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Lucius' hands flattened on the desk for a moment, the matching platinum Malfoy signet ring to Draco's own gleamed on the finger of his right hand.

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[lalunavinoalafragua]

Now, Crookshanks with his rightful owner

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 14

Draco and Hermione moved into their new flat, and the transition was smooth thanks to the broker they hired. Making a point, Draco used Theo's family contact, breaking away from the agent that the Malfoys typically used. It wasn't her fault, but he didn't want to give his father the satisfaction of even implying he needed a single thing from him. Because he didn't. He was content to prove that he could be completely self-sufficient, so long as he had Hermione.

They left almost everything behind, even the car in the garage, packing only the essentials and what they needed for school. Once again, Theo had passed along the name of someone who could fully furnish and decorate their new flat. It was a little smaller than the one they previously had shared, but still luxurious and more than large enough to accommodate its two occupants, with a doorman, a pool, and a sauna. 

Seeing how virtually everyone who mattered now knew about him and Hermione, he had shared the news with Theo, who had merely shrugged. "It's not like you're actually related," he had told him over a pint one day after classes.

"No, not in the least. And we didn't grow up together either. She barely feels like my sister," he added on, minimising the truth. Draco did feel as if she were his sister. It was one more claim he had over her, one more thing which made her his.

Theo looked at him, then took another swig from his glass. "Your parents are overreacting, then. You're both adults. You're age-appropriate for each other. I don't see what the big deal is. They'll come around sooner or later."

It was a relief to find one person who supported their relationship. Although the way things had come out could have been better, and it was upsetting that Jean was refusing to pick up Hermione's calls, the silver lining to this new development was that they didn't have to hide anymore. He could walk in public with her, tell people they were in a relationship, and everyone would know that she belonged to him.

Read the full chapter on ao3.

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

I think ao3 is literally the only site where no censorship means no censorship. you can post the most vile things on there — things that will get taken down on any other platforms — and ao3 will protect you, your works, and your rights to create whatever you want, however you want.

and no, this isn’t me saying “write that messed up, disgusting thing” because while, yes, write it if it’s what you want (I myself enjoy writing dark fics, something I believe would be considered “vile” to a lot of people), this is me saying in a world of censorship and capitalism, ao3 really is a treasure.

everybody say thank you ao3

[venusinaries444]

Brother Dearest

Chapter 13

"Shit, what are we going to do?" Hermione's fearful eyes met Draco's. Brown, and glittering, almost liquid.

Draco brushed his palm across his face. "Call her. You don't know for sure that this is about us."

She rolled her eyes, pointing at the screen. "A disturbing rumour? Come on, Draco. You can't possibly think it's not about us. Ginny probably fucking told her, the snake."

He was forced to admit she was probably right. The timing was suspicious. Still, she had been through enough, and he wanted to calm some of her anxiety. "Well, we won't know for sure until you call her."

"What should I say? Should I tell her the truth?" Hermione's expression was uncertain, her lip worried between her teeth. She was looking at him to be her lifeline, to pull her in from the choppy waves before the storm hit.

With a sigh, he told her the truth. "I don't know. What do you want to do? She's your mother."

"And your stepmother! Oh my God, this is a mess. I should lie, right? Tell her it isn't true."

Draco weighed that option out. Jean probably didn't want to believe it was true, so it probably wouldn't take much to convince her. But that would firmly force them into the shadows, commit them to keeping their relationship a secret, and likely make things much worse when they finally came out and told her the truth, because at some point, they would have to come clean. He had no intention of letting Hermione go, ever.

There was another option that he could float. "You could also come clean and tell her the truth."

Read the full chapter on ao3.