Post Hogwarts
The fics are rated in the following way:
⋆⋆⋆ fics I absolutely adore, can’t fault for anything and sometimes find better than the books
⋆⋆ fics I like a lot but they just aren’t as perfect as the ones with ⋆⋆⋆
⋆ fics that are good enough for me to recommend, have original ideas and are very well-written but have something that jarred me
Take A Sad Song (And Make It Better) by femmequixotic ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: The last thing Harry wants is to lose his kids.
Word Count: 46,356
Rating: NC-17
I wasn’t all that impressed when I read this back in high school. Just goes to show that teenagers rarely want to read intelligent fanfiction.
I still can’t believe this fic is over 46k long. When I was reading it, it felt much shorter and I was so addicted, I couldn’t stop reading. I finally stopped around 2 am and convinced myself that I can wait until morning to finish it. That’s how much I liked it. Femme really knows how to write well.
I loved how Harry’s kids and his relationship with Ginny were portrayed. I really liked this Harry too. The mystery subplot was interesting, Draco’s job had me cackling, Ron - ok, I liked everything about this fic. I thought long and hard about its flaws but currently I can find none. Well, the mystery plot could have been more developed but honestly while you're reading the story, it doesn't make a difference. Do yourself a favour and read it.
The Pure and Simple Truth by lettered ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Harry, Draco, and Hermione go to a pub. Harry, Draco, and Pansy go to a pub. Harry, Draco, Pansy, and Hermione go to a pub. Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron go to a pub. Harry, Draco, Hermione, Ron, and Pansy―you guessed it―go to a pub. I could go on. In fact, I did. Harry, Draco, Hermione, Pansy, Ron, Blaise, Luna, Goyle, Neville, and Theodore Nott go to a pub. In various combinations.
Word Count: 65,482
Rating: R
This is, hands down, one of my favourite HP fics. It doesn’t happen often that I hang onto every word in a book, even less a fic. Yet here I am. I spent good 3 days reading “The Pure and Simple Truth”, when I could have easily managed to do it in one. I didn’t want to hurry, however, but savour it as slowly as possible.
Frankly, this fic is mostly made up of dialogue, but once you get into it, you probably will wish for it to continue forever (as a never-ending conversation in a pub, to boot). God, I loved the interaction between the characters. They talked about rather mundane things, or what would be considered as such in the Wizarding world, yet not once did it bore me.
Draco is great in this fic but so is, surprisingly, Pansy or Blaise. Lettered really focuses on characterization and fleshes the characters really well. As a result, they all seem believable and their depiction doesn’t clash with the canon. I might have thought Ginny was a bit off, but then again it didn’t matter in the end.
I know that near 70k of conversations in a pub might seem to be a tedious read but I think everyone who likes well-written HP fics should read it. Hell, even if you’re not fond of Drarry, you’ll probably like it since the romance is rather in the background.
How I Met Your Father by dracogotgame ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Harry sits his kids down and tells them a story. A very long story.
Word Count: 95,500
Rating: R
So I haven’t watched “How I Met Your Mother”, never planned on, and I absolutely detest fics based on movies/books/show/what-have-you. Yet, here I am recommending a really long fic based on a tv show. I’m not sure how I got here either but once I’m done writing this, I’ll be loading the first episode of the first season of the aforementioned show.
When I started reading “How I Met Your Father, I wasn’t exactly floored. It seemed ok but felt more like an American tv show than the HP books. It had this episodic format, that typical humour and I wasn’t sure it was my thing. Nevertheless, I kept on reading. At some point, I forgot that I felt that the characters felt a bit out of character at times. I got so into the story it just didn’t really matter. Hell, around 3/4 I was really excited and screaming inside my head for Draco and Harry to finally talk to each other. The fic really had me on the edge of my seat.
Blaise in this story is fantastic. I can’t imagine him not being there. He might have just been my favourite character. And Draco. And Dani. This was lovely.
Dracogotgame did a really good job with this fic. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must have been to write it but it is definitely worth all that energy spent on it. I mean, I even want to watch the show now. I certainly didn’t see that one coming.
The Ties That Bind by phoenix_writing ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Upon Andromeda's death, Harry and Draco are given custody of Teddy. Their lives will never be the same again.
Word Count: 61,000
Rating: PG-13
This fic seems to have everything that I want in a good HP fic:
-Draco and Harry having a relationship reminiscent of the one they had at Hogwarts and trying slowly to accept each other and make things work.
-Side characters which are fleshed out and interesting, and have a proper role in the story rather than just being decorative/token. Teddy Lupin is likely to steal your heart.
-A nice plot in which romance is secondary and thus, when the romance happens, it doesn’t feel forced.
-A realistic approach to what Ron and Hermione’s relationship might look like. Rowling said herself that pairing those two up was more of a self-indulgence than reasonable choice on her part.
I was really into “The Ties That Bind” until the last letter Remus wrote; at that point the author opened the lid to the box of my biggest pet peeves. When I pretend I didn’t read that short part, I still absolutely love this fic and that is why I’ll continue ignoring its existence. The ending might have not been perfect either but in the end it does work. The 80% of this fic that I found perfect easily makes up for the parts I wasn’t too keen on.
Seven Days in June by fourth_rose ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: The war is over, the survivors are moving on. The hero is finally allowed to go on leave - and meets an old enemy, who is working in a Muggle profession in a city without magic.
Word Count: 46,921
Rating: NC-17
This fic is the main reason why I’m so biased towards fourth rose’s fics. I first read it ages ago, and all it took was 3 paragraphs for me to remember the general plot.
This fic is extremely well-researched and written. I spent a good day or 2 trying to come up with something that jarred me in it, but I can’t find a single thing. I also have an unhealthy interest in history so all the historical facts made the story all the better; as did the German, but mostly because I know that language. I wonder how those parts come across to people who don’t speak any.
I absolutely suck at reviewing the things I like, so I will keep it short. There’s a sort of a sequel to this fic that you can find here. I recommend reading it as well, because it wraps up the plot quite nicely.
A Piercing Comfort by talithan ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: When Harry Potter hits the lowest point of his life so far, it is not his friends who keep him honest. With Draco Malfoy's patience and guidance, Harry learns to stand on his own. The thing is, after the fact-he's no longer sure he wants to.
Word Count: 44,566
Rating: PG-13
The absolute horror when you can’t say anything bad about a fic; I am experiencing it right now. How do I even review this when I have nothing to complain about?
I don’t think I read a fic that handled post war depression so well. I always thought that for Harry there would have been only two paths. He could either join the Aurors, genuinely loved it, and learned to cope with his demons, or he could realise that he doesn’t want anything to do with criminals, and couldn’t find a way to leave the past behind. In this fic nothing much seems to have worked for Harry.
People may say Draco is out-of-character, but I think he’s just fine. You can see glimpses of him the way he was in the books, and for me that means he’s a grown up and not OOC. From the hints we get in the story it’s clear to me Draco did a lot of thinking after war and tried to change his life. Hence, his behaviour is justified.
I wouldn’t have minded if this fic was longer. However, I do not need it to be longer because it feels complete as it is. Basically it’s in my top best HP fics so it’s more than worth your time.
For the Public Good by blamebrampton ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Harry is loaned to the Muggle government to assist relations between the two governments after the London bombings. When his counterpart in the Communications team comes to him with evidence of a plot to expose wizarding Britain, he is all ears. And only in part because the messenger has such a familiar voice.
Word Count: 23,500
Rating: PG
“For the Public Good” is one of the best written fics about politics that I have ever read. You don’t even need to be too knowledgeable about them to enjoy the story. Some jokes might be lost on you, but you’ll still laugh a hell lot.
My general reaction to this fic consisted of tweeting a lot of gibberish, making choking noises and wishing he scrollbar was lying when it showed me I was almost done reading. I really have nothing more to add; this is bloody brilliant.
Little Red Courgette by blamebrampton or here with art by raitala ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: When this season's purple courgettes are woefully thin, Draco Malfoy thinks it amounts to small beans. Next thing he knows, the Department of Standards is over-run with leeks, Brussels sprouts all sorts of legislative difficulties, and somebody appears to have put a roquette under Harry Potter. Can Draco seize a marrow victory? Or will his plans for peas be squashed?
All along, Kingsley Shacklebolt finds himself pining for the good old days, when, instead of governing, all you had to worry about were Dark Lords and imminent death.
Word Count: 31,492
Rating: PG
Blamebrampton is a woman after my heart. By the time I’m done reading all her fics, I fear at least half of them will be on my rec list. I never considered that I might like political satire until I read her fics, but it seems it’s totally my thing.
Both Draco and Harry are hysterical. I loved everything that came out of their mouths. I also had the same amount of love for Smythe. He’s absolutely delightful.
There’s a ton of puns here, and the whole fic makes light of the EU. Not knowing much about EU won’t technically make this story less enjoyable, but if you are aware of the ridiculous things EU deals with sometimes, you’ll love this fic all the more.
(I finished “Red Little Courgette” and then re-read it all over again. That’s how much I love it. Yes.)
'Twixt the Sun and Sward by novembersnow ⋆⋆
Summary: A potions mishap has Harry and Draco meeting on entirely new-or is it old?-ground.
Word Count: 29,800
Rating: R
I'm absolutely smitten with this fic. There is nothing that I'd have fixed. If it were longer, I wouldn't complain, but that isn't necessary.
I could sing praises here, however, I'm afraid that would result in quite a spoiler. All you need to know is that this fic is fantastic and it might have managed to make me cry a bit (in a good way).
Good-bye to Yesterday by furiosity ⋆⋆
Summary: Draco felt ready to face even a million years in Azkaban as long as it meant that at the end of it all, he would make Potter pay.
Word Count: 25,324
Rating: NC-17
This is how I like Draco - selfish, bent-on-revenge bastard. The more nonredeemable he seems, the better. Well, in this fic he acts absolutely horrible, but he is far from one-dimensional. I love how dark the atmosphere is and how fucked-up all the characters seem. Because, really, how could everyone be so perfectly happy and normal after a war. I could never do anything other but snort at the epilogue Rowling gave us; after being abused, used, manipulated and having people die on him, I don’t think Harry would so easily heal himself.
“Good-bye to Yesterday” is slow-paced at the beginning but don’t get discouraged. It gets better and better. It may also be rather dark but there were times when I laughed out loud. This exchange always makes me cackle:
"The place where we, you know. Were. Last time we saw each other."
"Oh, the place we were," drawled Draco. "How could I forget? Such a nice night of being that was." Excitement quickened his blood: the events of that night had affected Potter. After two weeks without a word, Draco had thought otherwise.
"Will you come?"
"I did last time; I don't see why I wouldn't this time."
The Love Affairs of Lady Chertsey by pufftmg ⋆⋆
Summary: Harry has spent the past six months in self-imposed exile. When Oliver Wood asks him for a favour, he ends up with a lot more than he'd initially bargained for. With his friends insisting he's made a change for the better, there's little else he can do. As for how Malfoy's involved; well, he just got sick of the Wasps black and yellow robes.
Word Count: 42,310
Rating: R
"The Love Affairs of Lady Chertsey" objectively deserves one star. However, it was my favourite fic from the winter 2007 H/D Holidays exchange and I was way too into it, reading it whenever I could (considering I own a smartphone, you should take it literally; I had time and my phone close? it was game).
I loved how slow-paced it was. At first Harry was only trying to befriend Draco. It took quite a while for any proper romantic feelings to even get mentioned. Moreover, the secondary characters were quite fleshed out and rather interesting. I was reading the story for them as well.
I read a few fics dealing with a Quidditch camp before but this was the best one for me. The writing was really nice for 3/4 or so of the fic. Afterwards, typos started popping up and I’m pretty sure a part of one scene is missing. Pufftmg clearly didn’t have enough time to polish the ending as it seemed a bit rushed. If re-done, it’d be a truly amazing fic.
Actually, the fic is being re-written here, but it’s been a while since it’s been updated so I’m not sure if we’ll ever get a remastered version at all.
Conquering the Dark by noeon ⋆⋆
Summary: As the tenth anniversary of the War approaches, a difficult case at St Mungo's forces Harry to seek the assistance of his former enemy and face the past.
Word Count: 23,773
Rating: NC-17
This fic was delightful. I loved the detail that went into constructing the world of Healing. Not even once did I have any doubts about its logistics. What I found to be equally believable, was the reason for Harry becoming a Healer. It’s not something that appears in the cannon - we were made to believe that Harry would become an Auror and no other profession was hinted at. However, if you read “Conquering the Dark”, you might start thinking that Harry being a Healer is as plausible as him being an Auror.
I thought the characters were in character, especially considering how many years after the war had passed in the fic and what Draco went through in the meantime. I usually like Draco in every fic I recommend but I have to say that this might be one of the few times that I liked Harry just as much, if not more.
As seems to be the norm, I end up liking the fics in which I don’t care for the romance much more than the ones which would fall flat without it.
Squib by kestrelsparhawk ⋆⋆
Summary: Harry has a respectable life: devoted to his family, teacher to the least-talented of the Wizarding community, retired hero. The Prophet hasn’t caught on to a few things, such as the fact that Harry is gay. He and Ginny want to keep it that way. It’s not a great life, but it’s his - until one day, an old school rival comes by to investigate his class. Suddenly, Harry’s life is no longer predictable.
Word Count: around 52,000
Rating: NC-17
This is one of my favourite squib fics and probably one of the best fics from the 2007 winter HD Holidays exchange. The writing style is really good as is the plot.
There was a lot of thought put into magical theory and how people actually become squibs. It’s always nice to read about people’s interpretations, especially when they are delivered well. The school established by Harry was a nice touch too. Really, the approach taken by the author was unique and is what makes this story so engaging.
As usual I would have been happier with less sex scenes; they aren’t bad but I don’t deem e.g. the last one all that necessary. I don;t think it’s easy to get the ideal balance between romance and the rest of the plot, but then again it is a personal preference of mine.
Here's The Pencil, Make It Work by ignatiustrout ⋆⋆
Summary: Harry thinks "Why is Malfoy working in a coffee shop in muggle London?" is a much simpler question than, "Are you going to accept that auror offer and, if you don't, what will you do?"
Word Count: 49,500
Rating: NC-17
It’s been a while since I read this fic and I don’t exactly remember everything about it anymore. I’m also not to keen on re-reading it right now. Hence, I’m not sure if I liked it enough for 3 stars so I’ll go with 2.
The idea behind this story is quite unusual. Draco finds himself living with Muggles and working a normal Muggle job. I mean, it’s not something one would ever expect from him and yet it works because Draco has proper reasons for his choices.
The interactions between Harry and Draco were amusing. Their relationship was paced well and seemed natural. Harry’s initial reaction to meeting Draco at a coffee shop and Draco’s subsequent behaviour felt in-character. I don’t remember there being a moment when I was bored with this story.
The Darklist by dysonrules ⋆⋆
Summary: When Draco Malfoy, wanted criminal, strolled into the Ministry to give himself up, he seemed destined for Azkaban, until he offered to hand over information to avert an upcoming crime. Of course, he refused to divulge that knowledge to anyone but Harry Potter.
Word Count: 87,481
Rating: NC-17
"The Darklist" is also from the 2014 smoochfest and thus based on a tv show “The Blacklist”. I have seen exactly one episode of “The Blacklist” and am not too keen on watching the rest. It did give me an idea what I can expect from this story.
I might have not be a fan of the show but I enjoyed the fic a lot. There are some obvious similarities between the show and the fic, to the extent that at times I wasn’t buying Dysonrules’ Draco. Given his past, it was logical that be behaved the way he did but it jarred me a bit (even though I thought this Draco was brilliant). Personal pet-peeve, what can one do.
There’s a lot of action in this fic and it’s written well. It will keep you guessing and wanting to find out who the real villain actually is. The characters are fleshed out quite well and, while I might have some problems with Draco, he is delightful. If I were being objective, I’d most likely give this fic 3 stars but no can do. However, if you don’t share my weird pet peeves, you will definitely like this fic even more than I did.
Gemini by olimakiella ⋆⋆
Summary: A stray unforgiveable gives Draco a gift he can’t give back and it helps him uncover a family secret linked to a series of murders five years later. With the help of Harry Potter they work together to solve the mystery of a familiar constellation.
Word Count: 33,976
Rating: NC-17
I’m sure that I looked at this fic while skimming through hd_holidays before. I have no idea why I hadn’t read it back then but even after 2 years passed, I still wasn’t very keen on it. I’m glad I got over my weird dislike for it.
The mystery/suspense in “Gemini” is really well done. It’s well-written, and well-paced (at least for the first 3/4 of the story), and will keep you wanting to know more. What the author did to Draco is quite neat and makes for some amusing exchanges between him and Harry.
Now, as usual with fic I should have loved, but which came short of getting 3 stars, the ending didn’t do it for me. Technically, it’s not bad; all the ends are tied and it’s believable. I guess, I just expected something more ingenious? It’s an ending I would have expected from quite a number of crime/mystery tv shows I’ve seen so I did end up a bit disappointed.
The Business of Saving Souls by rurounihime ⋆⋆
Summary: Draco’s world is filled with ghosts, and not all of them are so easily banished.
Word Count: 26,168
Rating: NC-17
It’s quite a powerful story. It’d be hard to miss how much thought went into it. The post war world created by the author is depressing but believable. The way both Draco and Harry behave, and the way they are treated, it’s been done before, but this time it clicked with me.
Draco in this fic is painfully real. Rowling didn’t take much time to really flesh him out and explain his reasoning. Here, once you finish the fic, you understand every single thing Draco did in it and why. There’s not the same amount of attention given to Harry, but he’s equally fleshed out. It’s quite an impressive character study.
The beginning of “The Business of Saving Souls” is written in a way I’m not too fond of. I don’t like adverbs and adjectives too much. Sure, prose needs them; I just prefer less of them rather than more. The more honest Draco becomes though, the more simple the language gets. I’m not sure if it was a conscious move on the author’s part, but it had quite an impact. I’d still cross out a word here and there, to be honest. However, it doesn’t jar me all that much.
It’s a bit of a shame we never find out more about the secondary characters. I’d have loved to read more about Hermione and Ron, and especially about Pansy, although it’s difficult for me to judge if it’d have added anything to the story.
The World of Living by fourth_rose ⋆⋆
Summary: A traumatised war hero and a convicted criminal under the roof of an eccentric journalist make for a rather odd ensemble, but Luna has never had a problem with oddities as long as they make sense.
Word Count: 17,400
Rating: R
I did break my no-fics-under-20k rule with this one. I’m horribly weak when it comes to fourth roses’ fics though; I will read anything just to see if once again I’ll like it.
This fic is written from Luna’s POV. I wasn’t sold on that idea at the beginning but the way Luna is portrayed is great. She’s a well-rounded and likeable character in “The World of Living”. This kind of writing, however, has a certain flaw. There’s only this much you can write and some scenes will have to be omitted, because Luna could not have seen them. Unfortunately, that makes for a slightly rushed ending.
This fic gets additional points for a great Draco and Parselmouth (everyone has their kinks).
The Squad by valinorean ⋆⋆
Summary: Within the Ministry of Magic is a department that takes on the assignments that the DMLE cannot. They are composed of an elite group of individuals that specialise in combat, infiltration and reconnaissance. Their identities are classified and missions are top-secret. They answer to no one save the Minister of Magic himself.
Word Count: 21,899
Rating: PG-13
YES YES YES YES! That pretty much sums up what I feel about this fic. God, I love me some Secret Services fics. The unfulfilled desire to join the police is to blame.
This fic is pure action and suspense. It’s a speedy read. I was hooked from the first paragraph and my enthusiasm didn’t wane throughout the fic.
To be honest, I’m biased and refuse to downgrade “The Squad” even though I know it’s not perfect, but will be fair. Obviously, since it’s Drarry, there must be romance. It’s there indeed, but so much of a background story that it might have been better as gen. With more interactions between Draco and Harry, it’d have been so much more believable. I also would have liked some more details about Draco’s past.
Fearless by melusinahp ⋆⋆
Summary: "There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance." -- John Lennon
Word Count: around 35,000
Rating: NC-17
I particularly liked this fic for the author’s portrayal of Draco and Harry. Harry is in Aurors, but he’s far from perfect at his job, having a penchant for risking his life. Draco seeks him out when he decides to do things he doesn’t seem to find comfortable.
Let me tell you, Draco’s reaction to Dudley’s family is a gem. Draco’s reaction to almost everything he decides to do is hilarious, but at the same time it’s not over exaggerated. I can’t say, however, that I was all that happy about the reason given for Draco’s behaviour. It was logical, yes, but I expected something a bit more creative.
I was quite interested in the crime subplot. I honestly expected it to become a big part of the fic, but it ended in the background, and seemed to have almost been forgotten at some point. There were certain reasons for that, but I would have preferred to have that subplot more developed.
Doing the Lambeth Walk by blamebrampton ⋆⋆
Summary: There are only three traditional choices for the cashed-up hero after victory. Harry Potter is too young to settle down and provide the wizarding world with a happy ending, and has too acute a sense of humour to spiral downwards into a spectacular flame-out. That leaves a life of good works. Choosing to lead it in Muggle Brixton comes with its own set of challenges, including Malfoys in the biscuit aisle.
Word Count: 26,293
Rating: PG
And another blambrampton fic. Sometimes I think I should just recommend every fic she’s ever written. That would spare me all this review writing.
I really liked this idea of Harry escaping into the Muggle world. It makes sense that Draco would do the same for completely different reasons. The way both of them have changed is logical too. The interactions feel natural and will sometimes make you laugh. I especially loved this part:
‘Shit. Right, you have to go. Don’t let them see you. And whatever you do, do not tell people you saw me here!’
‘But …’
‘If you have to be a prick, at least tell them we were at Waitrose. Sainsbury’s at a pinch.’
My only problem is that the romance felt a bit out of the blue; I expected it to take another few pages for it to happen.
Wrecking Ball by incapricious ⋆
Summary: Draco's life becomes slightly less intolerable after an encounter with a secret Wizarding society called the Arcane Order of Builders. But the scrutiny of a certain up-and-coming young Auror may ruin everything.
Word Count: 21,000
Rating: R
I enjoyed this story quite a lot when I was in the process of reading it. The idea is original and interesting. Draco is so completely in character that I was utterly delighted. It’s been a while since someone wrote him like this; it felt like he just stepped off the pages of the proper books. That said, once I was done reading, the fic felt a bit flat. It would have benefited from being more developed, especially Draco and Harry’s relationship (if you can call it one).
Alohomora Society: A Young Wizard’s Guide to Etiquette by kestrelsparhawk ⋆
Summary: The youngest Auror in the UK continues to make errors which are blighting his reputation. In desperation, Kingsley Shacklebolt makes a deal with a former Death Eater currently on probation: make Harry Potter fit for pure-blood society, and he will receive full pardon. Fail, and it’s back to Azkaban.
Word Count: around 34,000
Rating: R
Kestrelsparhawk has an amazing ability to make Rowling’s world her own. She has some great ideas and puts a lot of thought and detail into them. This story is no exception and her take on wizarding etiquette is fascinating.
I liked “Squib” a lot but I’m not as keen on “Alohomora Society”. Yes, the main idea behind this fic is great and quite well executed. However, “Squib” had a much more well-paced and believable romance (even if the ending was a tad too dramatic for me). Here, the romance jars me. I do believe that Draco and Harry can be together or I would not be reading Drarry fics. I do not, however, believe in them being attracted to each other instantly after seeing each other after several years. There has been a lot of hate in their rivalry and while people change, some things take a while to get resolved. Although, when I think about it, I don't always find this type of romance problematic in other fics. I guess there were a lot of small things that didn't work together for me in “Alohomora Society” but, in the end, the story is still worth reading.
The Shoemaker and the Elves by icmezzo ⋆
Summary: Draco makes shoes. Or, well, at least he would have done, except they started making themselves, and really, that was quite odd, if he thought about it.
Word Count: around 14,500
Rating: PG-13
The whole premise was lovely, the twist with the elves absolutely adorable. Draco was very canon and I had no problems imagining him being a shoemaker in these circumstances. Altogether it was a fun read but I do wish it were longer, since it would benefit the portrayal of the relationship between Harry and Draco.
Domestic by frostywonder ⋆
Summary: Harry finds a stray and decides to take him home.
Word Count: around 55,000
Rating: NC-17
I’m not sure what exactly I liked about this fic. I wasn’t sure if it belonged on my rec list either, but the fact remains that I can’t forget “Domestic” no matter how hard I try. Also, I really did enjoy it.
There is something about Draco in this story that kept me reading. It’s almost as if every little thing he did fit just right; everything from how he approached cooking to his nightly baths.
Nothing in “Domestic” seemed rushed either. Things happened slowly, and even if some were a bit cliche, it sat right with me. I guess on some level the fic just resonated with me. I don’t know how to explain some vague “feeling” of mine, but the point is that you should read this fic anyway.
Plus One, and Only by olimakiella ⋆
Summary: When the love of Draco’s life sends him an invitation to his wedding, Draco desperately tries to find a date for it that’s hot enough to make the man jealous so he can break up the wedding and keep the groom for himself. Then he meets Harry Potter in a cafe one early morning, among the Knockturn Alley crowd, and takes a chance to hire him as a date. When Harry eventually says yes, Draco rejoices, but as he spends a week with the man by his side, and as they learn more about each other, Draco realises his love for the groom is slowly disappearing.
Word Count: 32,461
Rating: NC-17
I have less complains about this fic than I had about “Gemini”. Objectively, it’s better written and got me hooked immediately. I was reading it on a bus and giggling like an idiotic teenager. The banter between the characters, most of it resulting from an unfortunate misunderstanding, was hilarious. The fic was so enjoyable that I couldn’t think of anything I didn’t like about it.
After I finished reading, however, I noticed it reminded me a bit of “How I Met Your Father”, and that particular fic was better. Both are a bit cliche, but “Plus One, and Only” lacked that little something. I guess I found Draco’s feelings to be too sudden. I always wanted to know more about the other characters, but they remained pretty much in the background. In the end, while it was a really fun read, the fic is forgettable.
Chasing an Epoch by kiraohara ⋆
Summary: When Scorpius goes missing just shy of his tenth birthday, circumstances leave Draco relying on none other than his childhood enemy to find him. With the assistance of Harry's children, they race against the clock to unravel the mysterious disappearance before it's too late. But is everything as it seems? Or will they end up not only end up needing to save Scorpius, but needing to find it in themselves to believe that they can save the whole world?
Word Count: 80,400
Rating: NC-17
When I started reading this fic, I was sure I would give it 3 stars without batting an eyelash. The writing for most of the story is really solid, but the beginning is probably the best part. I was certain it would only get better. Unfortunately, this fic has problems.
All the main characters are great. I dare you to try and dislike Harry’s children. It’s quite an impossible feat. Not that you can dislike Harry or Draco. I think Draco was hands down my favourite here. I really liked how he was portrayed.
As I mentioned before, the writing is good, and so is the plot. It’s engaging and unpredictable, that is until the last 1/5 of the fic or so. The moment deities came up, I was off board. It’s not a bad idea in itself but for me it just doesn’t fit in the Harry Potter world. The world Rowling created is fascinating because of how weirdly familiar and realistic it is, even the magic. The magic kiraohara introduces into the story, however, jars me. It changes the world I love just that bit too much.
Honestly, I nearly didn’t finish reading. It seemed like a shame to not give the ending a chance, considering how much I liked most of the story. The ending might disappoint you, but if you enjoy the themes that I didn’t, you’ll probably like “Chasing an Epoch” much more than I did.
To the Sheer Love of Madness by winnet ⋆
Summary: Voldemort was gone. The Death Eaters were gone. Unfortunately, Harry Potter's mind was gone as well.
Word Count: 23,000
Rating: R
This fic is worth reading if solely for the fact that it is the only Drarry fic that I’ve read that feels a bit dystopic. Also, Draco rebels against his father. That’s always a nice touch.
I loved how Harry was portrayed. Surprisingly, I didn’t mind how much heartache winnet put him through in this fic; it fit with the whole concept. I can also deal with this kind of a disability fic, because disability isn’t being used to teach the character some fucked up life lesson (let’s be honest, people have shit happen to them for no reason).
It’s a shame this fic isn’t longer. It feels complete, but I would have liked to have read more about Draco’s and Harry’s interactions; we only get a glimpse of them.
Chrononauts by annafugazzi ⋆
Summary: Harry and Draco learn that Time is making fools of them again. And then they learn it... again.
Word Count: 39,750
Rating: R
I’m on a fence here. It seems that anna fugazzi doesn’t exactly do it for me. I read a couple of her fics and I enjoyed them...until I didn’t. There is always something that makes me lose interest.
I did finish reading this fic. I read it pretty quickly, too. And I really liked how it reminded me of the tv show “Fringe”. The part taking place in this alternate universe in which the wizarding world is divided in a pretty bizarre way and the Time Sieve were fascinating. It was dystopic, which isn’t something I’m fond of, but it worked in this fic.
Now, the problem is the rest of the story. It’s not bad. but it lacks that something for me. Too much talking, not enough doing maybe? It’s still a fun read though.
An Unstraight Path to Happiness by florahart ⋆
Summary: Many in the Wizarding World were still a bit backward about issues of sexuality, but Harry knew this was the right thing.
Word Count: 21,150
Rating: NC-17
I feel like there’s a shortage of really good fics which show Harry coping with a divorce, raising his kids, and awkwardly trying to have a new relationship. It’s not easy to write and some people just skip parts of that.
Draco and Harry’s kids in this fic were delightful. I loved the interactions between them. Harry himself seemed very much canon to me (as did Hermione and Ron), and that made the fic all the better.
I wish the fic included more scenes of Draco and Harry together. I couldn’t really feel the attraction between them; it was a bit too in the background. I’d have loved to know what gave Draco the leverage in the end as well. Something about the ending seemed a bit rushed, which is a shame considering how good most of this fic is.
Last updated: 04.11.2014
⋆⋆⋆ fics I absolutely adore, can’t fault for anything and sometimes find better than the books
⋆⋆ fics I like a lot but they just aren’t as perfect as the ones with ⋆⋆⋆
⋆ fics that are good enough for me to recommend, have original ideas and are very well-written but have something that jarred me
Take A Sad Song (And Make It Better) by femmequixotic ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: The last thing Harry wants is to lose his kids.
Word Count: 46,356
Rating: NC-17
I wasn’t all that impressed when I read this back in high school. Just goes to show that teenagers rarely want to read intelligent fanfiction.
I still can’t believe this fic is over 46k long. When I was reading it, it felt much shorter and I was so addicted, I couldn’t stop reading. I finally stopped around 2 am and convinced myself that I can wait until morning to finish it. That’s how much I liked it. Femme really knows how to write well.
I loved how Harry’s kids and his relationship with Ginny were portrayed. I really liked this Harry too. The mystery subplot was interesting, Draco’s job had me cackling, Ron - ok, I liked everything about this fic. I thought long and hard about its flaws but currently I can find none. Well, the mystery plot could have been more developed but honestly while you're reading the story, it doesn't make a difference. Do yourself a favour and read it.
The Pure and Simple Truth by lettered ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Harry, Draco, and Hermione go to a pub. Harry, Draco, and Pansy go to a pub. Harry, Draco, Pansy, and Hermione go to a pub. Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron go to a pub. Harry, Draco, Hermione, Ron, and Pansy―you guessed it―go to a pub. I could go on. In fact, I did. Harry, Draco, Hermione, Pansy, Ron, Blaise, Luna, Goyle, Neville, and Theodore Nott go to a pub. In various combinations.
Word Count: 65,482
Rating: R
This is, hands down, one of my favourite HP fics. It doesn’t happen often that I hang onto every word in a book, even less a fic. Yet here I am. I spent good 3 days reading “The Pure and Simple Truth”, when I could have easily managed to do it in one. I didn’t want to hurry, however, but savour it as slowly as possible.
Frankly, this fic is mostly made up of dialogue, but once you get into it, you probably will wish for it to continue forever (as a never-ending conversation in a pub, to boot). God, I loved the interaction between the characters. They talked about rather mundane things, or what would be considered as such in the Wizarding world, yet not once did it bore me.
Draco is great in this fic but so is, surprisingly, Pansy or Blaise. Lettered really focuses on characterization and fleshes the characters really well. As a result, they all seem believable and their depiction doesn’t clash with the canon. I might have thought Ginny was a bit off, but then again it didn’t matter in the end.
I know that near 70k of conversations in a pub might seem to be a tedious read but I think everyone who likes well-written HP fics should read it. Hell, even if you’re not fond of Drarry, you’ll probably like it since the romance is rather in the background.
How I Met Your Father by dracogotgame ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Harry sits his kids down and tells them a story. A very long story.
Word Count: 95,500
Rating: R
So I haven’t watched “How I Met Your Mother”, never planned on, and I absolutely detest fics based on movies/books/show/what-have-you. Yet, here I am recommending a really long fic based on a tv show. I’m not sure how I got here either but once I’m done writing this, I’ll be loading the first episode of the first season of the aforementioned show.
When I started reading “How I Met Your Father, I wasn’t exactly floored. It seemed ok but felt more like an American tv show than the HP books. It had this episodic format, that typical humour and I wasn’t sure it was my thing. Nevertheless, I kept on reading. At some point, I forgot that I felt that the characters felt a bit out of character at times. I got so into the story it just didn’t really matter. Hell, around 3/4 I was really excited and screaming inside my head for Draco and Harry to finally talk to each other. The fic really had me on the edge of my seat.
Blaise in this story is fantastic. I can’t imagine him not being there. He might have just been my favourite character. And Draco. And Dani. This was lovely.
Dracogotgame did a really good job with this fic. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must have been to write it but it is definitely worth all that energy spent on it. I mean, I even want to watch the show now. I certainly didn’t see that one coming.
The Ties That Bind by phoenix_writing ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Upon Andromeda's death, Harry and Draco are given custody of Teddy. Their lives will never be the same again.
Word Count: 61,000
Rating: PG-13
This fic seems to have everything that I want in a good HP fic:
-Draco and Harry having a relationship reminiscent of the one they had at Hogwarts and trying slowly to accept each other and make things work.
-Side characters which are fleshed out and interesting, and have a proper role in the story rather than just being decorative/token. Teddy Lupin is likely to steal your heart.
-A nice plot in which romance is secondary and thus, when the romance happens, it doesn’t feel forced.
-A realistic approach to what Ron and Hermione’s relationship might look like. Rowling said herself that pairing those two up was more of a self-indulgence than reasonable choice on her part.
I was really into “The Ties That Bind” until the last letter Remus wrote; at that point the author opened the lid to the box of my biggest pet peeves. When I pretend I didn’t read that short part, I still absolutely love this fic and that is why I’ll continue ignoring its existence. The ending might have not been perfect either but in the end it does work. The 80% of this fic that I found perfect easily makes up for the parts I wasn’t too keen on.
Seven Days in June by fourth_rose ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: The war is over, the survivors are moving on. The hero is finally allowed to go on leave - and meets an old enemy, who is working in a Muggle profession in a city without magic.
Word Count: 46,921
Rating: NC-17
This fic is the main reason why I’m so biased towards fourth rose’s fics. I first read it ages ago, and all it took was 3 paragraphs for me to remember the general plot.
This fic is extremely well-researched and written. I spent a good day or 2 trying to come up with something that jarred me in it, but I can’t find a single thing. I also have an unhealthy interest in history so all the historical facts made the story all the better; as did the German, but mostly because I know that language. I wonder how those parts come across to people who don’t speak any.
I absolutely suck at reviewing the things I like, so I will keep it short. There’s a sort of a sequel to this fic that you can find here. I recommend reading it as well, because it wraps up the plot quite nicely.
A Piercing Comfort by talithan ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: When Harry Potter hits the lowest point of his life so far, it is not his friends who keep him honest. With Draco Malfoy's patience and guidance, Harry learns to stand on his own. The thing is, after the fact-he's no longer sure he wants to.
Word Count: 44,566
Rating: PG-13
The absolute horror when you can’t say anything bad about a fic; I am experiencing it right now. How do I even review this when I have nothing to complain about?
I don’t think I read a fic that handled post war depression so well. I always thought that for Harry there would have been only two paths. He could either join the Aurors, genuinely loved it, and learned to cope with his demons, or he could realise that he doesn’t want anything to do with criminals, and couldn’t find a way to leave the past behind. In this fic nothing much seems to have worked for Harry.
People may say Draco is out-of-character, but I think he’s just fine. You can see glimpses of him the way he was in the books, and for me that means he’s a grown up and not OOC. From the hints we get in the story it’s clear to me Draco did a lot of thinking after war and tried to change his life. Hence, his behaviour is justified.
I wouldn’t have minded if this fic was longer. However, I do not need it to be longer because it feels complete as it is. Basically it’s in my top best HP fics so it’s more than worth your time.
For the Public Good by blamebrampton ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: Harry is loaned to the Muggle government to assist relations between the two governments after the London bombings. When his counterpart in the Communications team comes to him with evidence of a plot to expose wizarding Britain, he is all ears. And only in part because the messenger has such a familiar voice.
Word Count: 23,500
Rating: PG
“For the Public Good” is one of the best written fics about politics that I have ever read. You don’t even need to be too knowledgeable about them to enjoy the story. Some jokes might be lost on you, but you’ll still laugh a hell lot.
My general reaction to this fic consisted of tweeting a lot of gibberish, making choking noises and wishing he scrollbar was lying when it showed me I was almost done reading. I really have nothing more to add; this is bloody brilliant.
Little Red Courgette by blamebrampton or here with art by raitala ⋆⋆⋆
Summary: When this season's purple courgettes are woefully thin, Draco Malfoy thinks it amounts to small beans. Next thing he knows, the Department of Standards is over-run with leeks, Brussels sprouts all sorts of legislative difficulties, and somebody appears to have put a roquette under Harry Potter. Can Draco seize a marrow victory? Or will his plans for peas be squashed?
All along, Kingsley Shacklebolt finds himself pining for the good old days, when, instead of governing, all you had to worry about were Dark Lords and imminent death.
Word Count: 31,492
Rating: PG
Blamebrampton is a woman after my heart. By the time I’m done reading all her fics, I fear at least half of them will be on my rec list. I never considered that I might like political satire until I read her fics, but it seems it’s totally my thing.
Both Draco and Harry are hysterical. I loved everything that came out of their mouths. I also had the same amount of love for Smythe. He’s absolutely delightful.
There’s a ton of puns here, and the whole fic makes light of the EU. Not knowing much about EU won’t technically make this story less enjoyable, but if you are aware of the ridiculous things EU deals with sometimes, you’ll love this fic all the more.
(I finished “Red Little Courgette” and then re-read it all over again. That’s how much I love it. Yes.)
'Twixt the Sun and Sward by novembersnow ⋆⋆
Summary: A potions mishap has Harry and Draco meeting on entirely new-or is it old?-ground.
Word Count: 29,800
Rating: R
I'm absolutely smitten with this fic. There is nothing that I'd have fixed. If it were longer, I wouldn't complain, but that isn't necessary.
I could sing praises here, however, I'm afraid that would result in quite a spoiler. All you need to know is that this fic is fantastic and it might have managed to make me cry a bit (in a good way).
Good-bye to Yesterday by furiosity ⋆⋆
Summary: Draco felt ready to face even a million years in Azkaban as long as it meant that at the end of it all, he would make Potter pay.
Word Count: 25,324
Rating: NC-17
This is how I like Draco - selfish, bent-on-revenge bastard. The more nonredeemable he seems, the better. Well, in this fic he acts absolutely horrible, but he is far from one-dimensional. I love how dark the atmosphere is and how fucked-up all the characters seem. Because, really, how could everyone be so perfectly happy and normal after a war. I could never do anything other but snort at the epilogue Rowling gave us; after being abused, used, manipulated and having people die on him, I don’t think Harry would so easily heal himself.
“Good-bye to Yesterday” is slow-paced at the beginning but don’t get discouraged. It gets better and better. It may also be rather dark but there were times when I laughed out loud. This exchange always makes me cackle:
"The place where we, you know. Were. Last time we saw each other."
"Oh, the place we were," drawled Draco. "How could I forget? Such a nice night of being that was." Excitement quickened his blood: the events of that night had affected Potter. After two weeks without a word, Draco had thought otherwise.
"Will you come?"
"I did last time; I don't see why I wouldn't this time."
The Love Affairs of Lady Chertsey by pufftmg ⋆⋆
Summary: Harry has spent the past six months in self-imposed exile. When Oliver Wood asks him for a favour, he ends up with a lot more than he'd initially bargained for. With his friends insisting he's made a change for the better, there's little else he can do. As for how Malfoy's involved; well, he just got sick of the Wasps black and yellow robes.
Word Count: 42,310
Rating: R
"The Love Affairs of Lady Chertsey" objectively deserves one star. However, it was my favourite fic from the winter 2007 H/D Holidays exchange and I was way too into it, reading it whenever I could (considering I own a smartphone, you should take it literally; I had time and my phone close? it was game).
I loved how slow-paced it was. At first Harry was only trying to befriend Draco. It took quite a while for any proper romantic feelings to even get mentioned. Moreover, the secondary characters were quite fleshed out and rather interesting. I was reading the story for them as well.
I read a few fics dealing with a Quidditch camp before but this was the best one for me. The writing was really nice for 3/4 or so of the fic. Afterwards, typos started popping up and I’m pretty sure a part of one scene is missing. Pufftmg clearly didn’t have enough time to polish the ending as it seemed a bit rushed. If re-done, it’d be a truly amazing fic.
Actually, the fic is being re-written here, but it’s been a while since it’s been updated so I’m not sure if we’ll ever get a remastered version at all.
Conquering the Dark by noeon ⋆⋆
Summary: As the tenth anniversary of the War approaches, a difficult case at St Mungo's forces Harry to seek the assistance of his former enemy and face the past.
Word Count: 23,773
Rating: NC-17
This fic was delightful. I loved the detail that went into constructing the world of Healing. Not even once did I have any doubts about its logistics. What I found to be equally believable, was the reason for Harry becoming a Healer. It’s not something that appears in the cannon - we were made to believe that Harry would become an Auror and no other profession was hinted at. However, if you read “Conquering the Dark”, you might start thinking that Harry being a Healer is as plausible as him being an Auror.
I thought the characters were in character, especially considering how many years after the war had passed in the fic and what Draco went through in the meantime. I usually like Draco in every fic I recommend but I have to say that this might be one of the few times that I liked Harry just as much, if not more.
As seems to be the norm, I end up liking the fics in which I don’t care for the romance much more than the ones which would fall flat without it.
Squib by kestrelsparhawk ⋆⋆
Summary: Harry has a respectable life: devoted to his family, teacher to the least-talented of the Wizarding community, retired hero. The Prophet hasn’t caught on to a few things, such as the fact that Harry is gay. He and Ginny want to keep it that way. It’s not a great life, but it’s his - until one day, an old school rival comes by to investigate his class. Suddenly, Harry’s life is no longer predictable.
Word Count: around 52,000
Rating: NC-17
This is one of my favourite squib fics and probably one of the best fics from the 2007 winter HD Holidays exchange. The writing style is really good as is the plot.
There was a lot of thought put into magical theory and how people actually become squibs. It’s always nice to read about people’s interpretations, especially when they are delivered well. The school established by Harry was a nice touch too. Really, the approach taken by the author was unique and is what makes this story so engaging.
As usual I would have been happier with less sex scenes; they aren’t bad but I don’t deem e.g. the last one all that necessary. I don;t think it’s easy to get the ideal balance between romance and the rest of the plot, but then again it is a personal preference of mine.
Here's The Pencil, Make It Work by ignatiustrout ⋆⋆
Summary: Harry thinks "Why is Malfoy working in a coffee shop in muggle London?" is a much simpler question than, "Are you going to accept that auror offer and, if you don't, what will you do?"
Word Count: 49,500
Rating: NC-17
It’s been a while since I read this fic and I don’t exactly remember everything about it anymore. I’m also not to keen on re-reading it right now. Hence, I’m not sure if I liked it enough for 3 stars so I’ll go with 2.
The idea behind this story is quite unusual. Draco finds himself living with Muggles and working a normal Muggle job. I mean, it’s not something one would ever expect from him and yet it works because Draco has proper reasons for his choices.
The interactions between Harry and Draco were amusing. Their relationship was paced well and seemed natural. Harry’s initial reaction to meeting Draco at a coffee shop and Draco’s subsequent behaviour felt in-character. I don’t remember there being a moment when I was bored with this story.
The Darklist by dysonrules ⋆⋆
Summary: When Draco Malfoy, wanted criminal, strolled into the Ministry to give himself up, he seemed destined for Azkaban, until he offered to hand over information to avert an upcoming crime. Of course, he refused to divulge that knowledge to anyone but Harry Potter.
Word Count: 87,481
Rating: NC-17
"The Darklist" is also from the 2014 smoochfest and thus based on a tv show “The Blacklist”. I have seen exactly one episode of “The Blacklist” and am not too keen on watching the rest. It did give me an idea what I can expect from this story.
I might have not be a fan of the show but I enjoyed the fic a lot. There are some obvious similarities between the show and the fic, to the extent that at times I wasn’t buying Dysonrules’ Draco. Given his past, it was logical that be behaved the way he did but it jarred me a bit (even though I thought this Draco was brilliant). Personal pet-peeve, what can one do.
There’s a lot of action in this fic and it’s written well. It will keep you guessing and wanting to find out who the real villain actually is. The characters are fleshed out quite well and, while I might have some problems with Draco, he is delightful. If I were being objective, I’d most likely give this fic 3 stars but no can do. However, if you don’t share my weird pet peeves, you will definitely like this fic even more than I did.
Gemini by olimakiella ⋆⋆
Summary: A stray unforgiveable gives Draco a gift he can’t give back and it helps him uncover a family secret linked to a series of murders five years later. With the help of Harry Potter they work together to solve the mystery of a familiar constellation.
Word Count: 33,976
Rating: NC-17
I’m sure that I looked at this fic while skimming through hd_holidays before. I have no idea why I hadn’t read it back then but even after 2 years passed, I still wasn’t very keen on it. I’m glad I got over my weird dislike for it.
The mystery/suspense in “Gemini” is really well done. It’s well-written, and well-paced (at least for the first 3/4 of the story), and will keep you wanting to know more. What the author did to Draco is quite neat and makes for some amusing exchanges between him and Harry.
Now, as usual with fic I should have loved, but which came short of getting 3 stars, the ending didn’t do it for me. Technically, it’s not bad; all the ends are tied and it’s believable. I guess, I just expected something more ingenious? It’s an ending I would have expected from quite a number of crime/mystery tv shows I’ve seen so I did end up a bit disappointed.
The Business of Saving Souls by rurounihime ⋆⋆
Summary: Draco’s world is filled with ghosts, and not all of them are so easily banished.
Word Count: 26,168
Rating: NC-17
It’s quite a powerful story. It’d be hard to miss how much thought went into it. The post war world created by the author is depressing but believable. The way both Draco and Harry behave, and the way they are treated, it’s been done before, but this time it clicked with me.
Draco in this fic is painfully real. Rowling didn’t take much time to really flesh him out and explain his reasoning. Here, once you finish the fic, you understand every single thing Draco did in it and why. There’s not the same amount of attention given to Harry, but he’s equally fleshed out. It’s quite an impressive character study.
The beginning of “The Business of Saving Souls” is written in a way I’m not too fond of. I don’t like adverbs and adjectives too much. Sure, prose needs them; I just prefer less of them rather than more. The more honest Draco becomes though, the more simple the language gets. I’m not sure if it was a conscious move on the author’s part, but it had quite an impact. I’d still cross out a word here and there, to be honest. However, it doesn’t jar me all that much.
It’s a bit of a shame we never find out more about the secondary characters. I’d have loved to read more about Hermione and Ron, and especially about Pansy, although it’s difficult for me to judge if it’d have added anything to the story.
The World of Living by fourth_rose ⋆⋆
Summary: A traumatised war hero and a convicted criminal under the roof of an eccentric journalist make for a rather odd ensemble, but Luna has never had a problem with oddities as long as they make sense.
Word Count: 17,400
Rating: R
I did break my no-fics-under-20k rule with this one. I’m horribly weak when it comes to fourth roses’ fics though; I will read anything just to see if once again I’ll like it.
This fic is written from Luna’s POV. I wasn’t sold on that idea at the beginning but the way Luna is portrayed is great. She’s a well-rounded and likeable character in “The World of Living”. This kind of writing, however, has a certain flaw. There’s only this much you can write and some scenes will have to be omitted, because Luna could not have seen them. Unfortunately, that makes for a slightly rushed ending.
This fic gets additional points for a great Draco and Parselmouth (everyone has their kinks).
The Squad by valinorean ⋆⋆
Summary: Within the Ministry of Magic is a department that takes on the assignments that the DMLE cannot. They are composed of an elite group of individuals that specialise in combat, infiltration and reconnaissance. Their identities are classified and missions are top-secret. They answer to no one save the Minister of Magic himself.
Word Count: 21,899
Rating: PG-13
YES YES YES YES! That pretty much sums up what I feel about this fic. God, I love me some Secret Services fics. The unfulfilled desire to join the police is to blame.
This fic is pure action and suspense. It’s a speedy read. I was hooked from the first paragraph and my enthusiasm didn’t wane throughout the fic.
To be honest, I’m biased and refuse to downgrade “The Squad” even though I know it’s not perfect, but will be fair. Obviously, since it’s Drarry, there must be romance. It’s there indeed, but so much of a background story that it might have been better as gen. With more interactions between Draco and Harry, it’d have been so much more believable. I also would have liked some more details about Draco’s past.
Fearless by melusinahp ⋆⋆
Summary: "There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance." -- John Lennon
Word Count: around 35,000
Rating: NC-17
I particularly liked this fic for the author’s portrayal of Draco and Harry. Harry is in Aurors, but he’s far from perfect at his job, having a penchant for risking his life. Draco seeks him out when he decides to do things he doesn’t seem to find comfortable.
Let me tell you, Draco’s reaction to Dudley’s family is a gem. Draco’s reaction to almost everything he decides to do is hilarious, but at the same time it’s not over exaggerated. I can’t say, however, that I was all that happy about the reason given for Draco’s behaviour. It was logical, yes, but I expected something a bit more creative.
I was quite interested in the crime subplot. I honestly expected it to become a big part of the fic, but it ended in the background, and seemed to have almost been forgotten at some point. There were certain reasons for that, but I would have preferred to have that subplot more developed.
Doing the Lambeth Walk by blamebrampton ⋆⋆
Summary: There are only three traditional choices for the cashed-up hero after victory. Harry Potter is too young to settle down and provide the wizarding world with a happy ending, and has too acute a sense of humour to spiral downwards into a spectacular flame-out. That leaves a life of good works. Choosing to lead it in Muggle Brixton comes with its own set of challenges, including Malfoys in the biscuit aisle.
Word Count: 26,293
Rating: PG
And another blambrampton fic. Sometimes I think I should just recommend every fic she’s ever written. That would spare me all this review writing.
I really liked this idea of Harry escaping into the Muggle world. It makes sense that Draco would do the same for completely different reasons. The way both of them have changed is logical too. The interactions feel natural and will sometimes make you laugh. I especially loved this part:
‘Shit. Right, you have to go. Don’t let them see you. And whatever you do, do not tell people you saw me here!’
‘But …’
‘If you have to be a prick, at least tell them we were at Waitrose. Sainsbury’s at a pinch.’
My only problem is that the romance felt a bit out of the blue; I expected it to take another few pages for it to happen.
Wrecking Ball by incapricious ⋆
Summary: Draco's life becomes slightly less intolerable after an encounter with a secret Wizarding society called the Arcane Order of Builders. But the scrutiny of a certain up-and-coming young Auror may ruin everything.
Word Count: 21,000
Rating: R
I enjoyed this story quite a lot when I was in the process of reading it. The idea is original and interesting. Draco is so completely in character that I was utterly delighted. It’s been a while since someone wrote him like this; it felt like he just stepped off the pages of the proper books. That said, once I was done reading, the fic felt a bit flat. It would have benefited from being more developed, especially Draco and Harry’s relationship (if you can call it one).
Alohomora Society: A Young Wizard’s Guide to Etiquette by kestrelsparhawk ⋆
Summary: The youngest Auror in the UK continues to make errors which are blighting his reputation. In desperation, Kingsley Shacklebolt makes a deal with a former Death Eater currently on probation: make Harry Potter fit for pure-blood society, and he will receive full pardon. Fail, and it’s back to Azkaban.
Word Count: around 34,000
Rating: R
Kestrelsparhawk has an amazing ability to make Rowling’s world her own. She has some great ideas and puts a lot of thought and detail into them. This story is no exception and her take on wizarding etiquette is fascinating.
I liked “Squib” a lot but I’m not as keen on “Alohomora Society”. Yes, the main idea behind this fic is great and quite well executed. However, “Squib” had a much more well-paced and believable romance (even if the ending was a tad too dramatic for me). Here, the romance jars me. I do believe that Draco and Harry can be together or I would not be reading Drarry fics. I do not, however, believe in them being attracted to each other instantly after seeing each other after several years. There has been a lot of hate in their rivalry and while people change, some things take a while to get resolved. Although, when I think about it, I don't always find this type of romance problematic in other fics. I guess there were a lot of small things that didn't work together for me in “Alohomora Society” but, in the end, the story is still worth reading.
The Shoemaker and the Elves by icmezzo ⋆
Summary: Draco makes shoes. Or, well, at least he would have done, except they started making themselves, and really, that was quite odd, if he thought about it.
Word Count: around 14,500
Rating: PG-13
The whole premise was lovely, the twist with the elves absolutely adorable. Draco was very canon and I had no problems imagining him being a shoemaker in these circumstances. Altogether it was a fun read but I do wish it were longer, since it would benefit the portrayal of the relationship between Harry and Draco.
Domestic by frostywonder ⋆
Summary: Harry finds a stray and decides to take him home.
Word Count: around 55,000
Rating: NC-17
I’m not sure what exactly I liked about this fic. I wasn’t sure if it belonged on my rec list either, but the fact remains that I can’t forget “Domestic” no matter how hard I try. Also, I really did enjoy it.
There is something about Draco in this story that kept me reading. It’s almost as if every little thing he did fit just right; everything from how he approached cooking to his nightly baths.
Nothing in “Domestic” seemed rushed either. Things happened slowly, and even if some were a bit cliche, it sat right with me. I guess on some level the fic just resonated with me. I don’t know how to explain some vague “feeling” of mine, but the point is that you should read this fic anyway.
Plus One, and Only by olimakiella ⋆
Summary: When the love of Draco’s life sends him an invitation to his wedding, Draco desperately tries to find a date for it that’s hot enough to make the man jealous so he can break up the wedding and keep the groom for himself. Then he meets Harry Potter in a cafe one early morning, among the Knockturn Alley crowd, and takes a chance to hire him as a date. When Harry eventually says yes, Draco rejoices, but as he spends a week with the man by his side, and as they learn more about each other, Draco realises his love for the groom is slowly disappearing.
Word Count: 32,461
Rating: NC-17
I have less complains about this fic than I had about “Gemini”. Objectively, it’s better written and got me hooked immediately. I was reading it on a bus and giggling like an idiotic teenager. The banter between the characters, most of it resulting from an unfortunate misunderstanding, was hilarious. The fic was so enjoyable that I couldn’t think of anything I didn’t like about it.
After I finished reading, however, I noticed it reminded me a bit of “How I Met Your Father”, and that particular fic was better. Both are a bit cliche, but “Plus One, and Only” lacked that little something. I guess I found Draco’s feelings to be too sudden. I always wanted to know more about the other characters, but they remained pretty much in the background. In the end, while it was a really fun read, the fic is forgettable.
Chasing an Epoch by kiraohara ⋆
Summary: When Scorpius goes missing just shy of his tenth birthday, circumstances leave Draco relying on none other than his childhood enemy to find him. With the assistance of Harry's children, they race against the clock to unravel the mysterious disappearance before it's too late. But is everything as it seems? Or will they end up not only end up needing to save Scorpius, but needing to find it in themselves to believe that they can save the whole world?
Word Count: 80,400
Rating: NC-17
When I started reading this fic, I was sure I would give it 3 stars without batting an eyelash. The writing for most of the story is really solid, but the beginning is probably the best part. I was certain it would only get better. Unfortunately, this fic has problems.
All the main characters are great. I dare you to try and dislike Harry’s children. It’s quite an impossible feat. Not that you can dislike Harry or Draco. I think Draco was hands down my favourite here. I really liked how he was portrayed.
As I mentioned before, the writing is good, and so is the plot. It’s engaging and unpredictable, that is until the last 1/5 of the fic or so. The moment deities came up, I was off board. It’s not a bad idea in itself but for me it just doesn’t fit in the Harry Potter world. The world Rowling created is fascinating because of how weirdly familiar and realistic it is, even the magic. The magic kiraohara introduces into the story, however, jars me. It changes the world I love just that bit too much.
Honestly, I nearly didn’t finish reading. It seemed like a shame to not give the ending a chance, considering how much I liked most of the story. The ending might disappoint you, but if you enjoy the themes that I didn’t, you’ll probably like “Chasing an Epoch” much more than I did.
To the Sheer Love of Madness by winnet ⋆
Summary: Voldemort was gone. The Death Eaters were gone. Unfortunately, Harry Potter's mind was gone as well.
Word Count: 23,000
Rating: R
This fic is worth reading if solely for the fact that it is the only Drarry fic that I’ve read that feels a bit dystopic. Also, Draco rebels against his father. That’s always a nice touch.
I loved how Harry was portrayed. Surprisingly, I didn’t mind how much heartache winnet put him through in this fic; it fit with the whole concept. I can also deal with this kind of a disability fic, because disability isn’t being used to teach the character some fucked up life lesson (let’s be honest, people have shit happen to them for no reason).
It’s a shame this fic isn’t longer. It feels complete, but I would have liked to have read more about Draco’s and Harry’s interactions; we only get a glimpse of them.
Chrononauts by annafugazzi ⋆
Summary: Harry and Draco learn that Time is making fools of them again. And then they learn it... again.
Word Count: 39,750
Rating: R
I’m on a fence here. It seems that anna fugazzi doesn’t exactly do it for me. I read a couple of her fics and I enjoyed them...until I didn’t. There is always something that makes me lose interest.
I did finish reading this fic. I read it pretty quickly, too. And I really liked how it reminded me of the tv show “Fringe”. The part taking place in this alternate universe in which the wizarding world is divided in a pretty bizarre way and the Time Sieve were fascinating. It was dystopic, which isn’t something I’m fond of, but it worked in this fic.
Now, the problem is the rest of the story. It’s not bad. but it lacks that something for me. Too much talking, not enough doing maybe? It’s still a fun read though.
An Unstraight Path to Happiness by florahart ⋆
Summary: Many in the Wizarding World were still a bit backward about issues of sexuality, but Harry knew this was the right thing.
Word Count: 21,150
Rating: NC-17
I feel like there’s a shortage of really good fics which show Harry coping with a divorce, raising his kids, and awkwardly trying to have a new relationship. It’s not easy to write and some people just skip parts of that.
Draco and Harry’s kids in this fic were delightful. I loved the interactions between them. Harry himself seemed very much canon to me (as did Hermione and Ron), and that made the fic all the better.
I wish the fic included more scenes of Draco and Harry together. I couldn’t really feel the attraction between them; it was a bit too in the background. I’d have loved to know what gave Draco the leverage in the end as well. Something about the ending seemed a bit rushed, which is a shame considering how good most of this fic is.
Last updated: 04.11.2014