Explanations for 'Night and Day' fics, Part 2
Night 4 - Of Red - Written and Posted February 8, 2005
The concept of this drabble was something I had originally wanted to include in ‘It’s snowing’. It came from a picture I took that morning, of a small red fruit/berry thing growing on a humongous bush of thorns. I loved the picture, and a lot came to mind when I thought deeply about what to write.
When the concept first came to mind, it was simply about Harry, trying to reach through the bushes to get the berry, when Draco comes and stops him, and he sees that his blood is on the snow. Nevertheless, my mind didn’t let me just stop there - as it evolved, Draco became a Death Eater, but Harry was still in love with him; Draco was insane, which is the only reason why Harry stayed with him. Not until I had completed the story did I decide to have Draco reach out by himself to get the berry for Harry.
I don’t remember how, but to begin with, I had wanted it to be fluffy. I think I was going to have them kiss towards the end, but I cut that out - it’d be too much like ‘All I want’. Then it just got darker, and again, I don’t remember, but I remember thinking that I could make it angstier. I think I wanted to have Draco killed, but I could never do that to poor Draco *pets Draco*.
I do believe that most is straight forward in this one - Harry wants to help Draco because he’s insane and the guilt of having killed and tortured people is killing him.
The last few lines are my favorite. The last line specifically was supposed to mean that Harry thought that when Draco cried, that his tears would be made of blood. I don’t remember why, but at a point I wanted to make Draco a vampire, but because not many people like vamp fics, I didn’t include it. However, I wanted to keep the idea of bloody tears, because it’s something that I’ve always loved. *cringe* Call me weird.
Day 5 - Play for Me - Written and Posted on February 9, 2005
I wrote this one after reading dreamblossom’s piano drabble. I had been wanting to write a piano drabble ever since I had read xingou’s piano drabble series, and dreamblossom just inspired me. What I later found out was that she had planned on inspiring me to do so - she wanted a piano drabble from me. Of course, all that I dub as a ‘drabble’ seems to be a ficlet or a story. *shrug* 1000 words, whatever.
Being a piano player myself, I wrote Draco in accordance to what I want to be able to do, and what I so admire. I’m hopeless with the piano, even if I’ve played for 8 years or so.
Harry was extremely dense, and I knew it was going to be a stretch when I wrote him like that. I had to give him some amount of intelligence, but it was all for the sake of the story. So, in order to redeem himself, I made him say those last couple of lines that I hoped would cause people to melt. I think I did an ok job.
And thank you to dreamblossom for pointing out that piano sex is hawt. As she said, and I quote, “It's not just kinky, it's mindblowingly sexy. Two words. Pretty Woman.” *grin*
Night 5 - Dense Boys - Written and Posted on February 10, 2005
I really felt like I had been shunning the rest of the HP world and characters - I had refused to include them in my ficlets up until now, and I felt like I needed to reintroduce them to the readers and to myself. Because I love Ginny when she’s written well, I had to have her involved in Harry and Draco’s relationship, and her acting as the girlfriend to protect their secret only redeemed her of all the other things she’s done in other fanfics that I cannot stand.
The ‘every flavor kisses’ came to me in a very weird vision. All I really remember of it is sitting in my chair, looking into the full-length mirror next to my desk, and thinking, ‘Girl, what can I do?’ Even though I had Ginny in it, I had to give Ron and Hermione a reason to be there, and a reason for Draco to suddenly pounce on Harry. I suddenly envisioned a bottle, very similar looking to that of green-‘The Hulk’-colored chocolate syrup, being pulled down from a shelf by Ron. Everything kind of developed after a couple hours of thinking, though I had originally wanted to have Harry and Draco fight first. However, I had to cut it out since I was tight on time.
The title mostly goes to one of my reviewers, who had said something about how daft Harry had been in ‘Play for Me’. I owe that person this fic, though I don’t remember who it is…I’ll have to go hunting to find out.
Day 6 - Born to darkness - Written and Posted on February 11, 2005
I love Dark!Harry fics when they’re done correctly, so it only seemed appropriate that I write one. Since I had previously wanted to write the fic with Draco at Harry’s grave, I also incorporated that, somewhat subtly.
I imagined Draco being branded not only with the Dark Lord’s mark, but with Harry’s. But I had to ask myself why Harry had turned dark. What I mentioned in the story was that Harry actually might have felt guilty, which in a sense he did. Personally, I feel that he felt guilty because he had no other reason to live after having vanquished evil.
After discussing it with my friend, and explaining the concept of light and darkness, she mentioned paints, and how black can never become white. I hugged her furiously and began planning and developing that while I was out at dinner. (I’ve already gone over this in the comments I left with some of my readers.)
What I loved most, as did crikkita, was the “I gave you my hand. I gave you my hand, and you took my arm” bit. It meant so much to me - Draco trusted and loved Harry enough that he would help him. However, Harry took all that Draco had to offer, and did all that Draco didn’t want to go through again, but Draco didn’t complain.
Ultimately, I thought it was right that Harry killed himself in the end, as Draco mentioned. The line about absolute darkness, absolute light, and how Harry was the only one who had ever gotten close sparked off from there, and I think that was one of my favorite parts to write. Again, it was so meaningful to me, and I wanted to portray Draco’s past admiration for Harry and what he had been.
Night 6 - Fantasy - Written and Posted on February 12, 2005
I needed fluff like crazy. I thought back on previous fics I had read, and situations that characters had been caught in that I would like to write. I remember reading a DMHG fic where Hermione and Draco were in the Prefect’s bathroom, and he had annoyed the heck out of her, so I decided I would play that out as well, just include a kiss, since I felt it was time to write another one.
There really wasn’t much else to it - I wanted hawt kisses in a steamy bathroom, Harry losing his glasses and my favorite boys naked. *grin* That, and it was mostly inspired by the a secret that we Slytherin’s kept in our common room on a forum I was a part of (Fawkes’ Ashes). I will refrain from saying any more, because I don’t want anyone not Slytherin stealing the idea.
I was also inspired by a drabble by burningchaos, who had Harry grabbing Draco and pulling him into a broom closet, only to ravish him completely. *grin* I had to do something where Harry made the first move as well.
Truthfully, I didn’t know how to end this, because I wanted to keep going, but didn’t feel up to writing anymore. All I could come up with was the ‘fantasy’ line, and I could have cared less at the time to try and make it any better.
Day 7 - Signed by Draco Malfoy
- Written and Posted on February 13, 2005
I had previously figured out that at the rate I was going, I would end up with an angst story on Valentine’s Day. That’s why I had written ‘Play for Me’ then ‘Dense Boys’ right after the other, to swap the ‘Night’ and ‘Day’ issue I was having. Inevitably, I thought I would end up writing an angst story, since I had just finished a fluffy one.
Upon having talked to dreamblossom, whose laptop had crashed, I felt like writing a ficlet on technology, but I couldn’t think up anything very smart.
I think I remember looking down at my bracelet. What’s so great about that? Well, over the Christmas holiday, I had just finished reading Irresistible Poison by Rhysenn, and while I was in the States, I went shopping at Icing. I found a bracelet there that was a hand cuff (a single hand cuff, not the pair), and immediately thought of when Harry had cast the spell that had bound one of Draco’s wrists with a handcuff that said ‘Property of Harry Potter’. I bought it, and I’ve wanted to have ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’ inscribed on it, but I thought it may be too fan girlish of me. Maybe, if I one day get in a serious relationship, I’ll inscribe my boyfriend’s name onto it…Naw.
Anyway, I looked down at my bracelet, and instantly thought of ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’. From there, I had Draco signing everything in my mind, primarily saying ‘Draco Malfoy was here’. He had signed the bricks in the hallways, the toilets, the girls, the boys, the food, the teachers, the windows, the tables…everything. However, as I wrote the story, I didn’t think it would be appropriate to write it on Ron. I had him write it on Hermione as to reference my liking of that pairing; I had him write it on Ginny, since my friends like that pairing; however, I didn’t think it was appropriate for him to write it on Ron. So, I changed it so that Draco signed everyone/thing, but with different inscriptions. From there developed ‘Given to’, ‘Snogged by’, ‘Tricked by’, and so on.
Of course, Harry and to be jealous that nothing of his or on him was signed. Then I came up with the dream that wasn’t really a dream. I had to have it naughty, and I had actually written sexual references, but I took them out, because I’m not really one to write that stuff. However, I knew, more than anything, I had to have Harry signed like mad, only to show Draco’s possessiveness. ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’ was the only thing that fit.
It also kind of referenced to ‘Liar, Liar’, where Jim Carrey writes with the blue pen all over himself. *shrug* It was an element of inspiration.
Night 7 - Clues - Written and Posted on February 14, 2005
As I had discussed with several of my reviewers, I considered writing a riddle fic, since I loved crikkita’s ‘Precious’ (Which everyone should read. It’s fabulous!), and wanted to do something like that. However I had been hesitant to write it, since I’m not very good at making up riddles.
I had to start out with the ending message that I wanted overall. It had started out long, but I knew it would take me for ever to get it right. So, I basically made it ‘Be mine’ at a place, time, and ‘Harry’ at the end, to let Draco know how he was planning on meeting.
That’s when I read crikkita’s ficlet that she had written for me. I was jumping up and down in joy and being all giggly, when I realized that I had to write mine, and not steal any more of her ideas.
So, I based the story from Draco’s point of view, since she did Harry’s. A scene that I had previously planned out, and later based the story on, was the scene of the Slytherins talking during breakfast. I wanted the whole bickering from Pansy, who unknowingly answered one of the clues, as well as girl!Blaise. I’m guessing there was confusion when I said fem!Blaise. Fem as in Female, people who dare annoy me about it! (It’s not the readership that I have that’s been nagging at me, because they were kind enough to tell me, incase I didn’t know. No, it was someone else.…..Ugh. I won’t go into it.)
Just to point out, to make this clear for future reference, I do know that Blaise is a guy (and I seem to call him Zambini when I guess it’s supposed to be Zabini. Crap, I like the sound of Zambini a whole lot more). I read the whole thing that JKR wrote about it when she first actually clarified it. However, I love girl!Blaise, and if I ever write her again (which I am in my WIP), he will always be a she. There’s got to be a community out there for girl!Blaise, and if not, I’m making one!
Anyway, back to the story. All I really did was create the clues, and write up the scenes where Draco either received them or figured them out. The relationship between he and Blaise didn’t really come into existence until I wrote the library scene, where I wanted their friendship to be ultimate and understanding.
However, what I feared throughout the whole time I wrote this story was that the characterization of Draco and Blaise wasn’t stable, and that I kept changing my mind and ruining everything. They were weaker than I wanted them to be, and though they had a relationship outside of what I see as their Slytherin Pride, and actually became friends, it still seemed too much like a normal relationship - I wanted it to be unique and weird, twisted in many senses. However, I didn’t do it properly, and I couldn’t be stuffed at the time to go back and change it.
My favorite clue was the ‘@’ clue, since Goyle actually used his brain and Draco just snapped and called him an ‘arsehole’. *sigh* Good times.
Now, the ultimate question…What time is 666?
For those of you who guessed 7:06 pm, you’re correct. I got this from ‘Lost Souls’, where at the end the digital clock reads 6:66. I would have done something were it was actually a word you can write with the numbers on a calculator and flip upside down to read, but it didn’t really work.
For those of you who guessed 18:00, which is 6 o’clock, you actually could have been correct. I didn’t take into consideration 24 hour time. *grins sheepishly* Sorry about that.
For cutecoati, who guessed it had something to do with the scripture Revelations 13:18, I can only say that I’m impressed that you actually found the reference. Since I study the scriptures all the time, it came as a great shock to see someone know what exact reference the muggle-born in the fic had associated 666 with. *hugs* Very good!
I will say this - if you can reference that, I wonder if you’ll enjoy my WIP. I’ll have quotes from the bible in there as well, though they probably won’t be very obvious, where as 666 is. *shrug* We’ll see.
Ask away!
On RL: Luckily, I had a productive day. I read through and beta read 2 stories, finished about half of one of my papers, finished this off, started my project evaluation and...Wait, it's a lot, but it looks so small when it's done in writing. Crap.
Either way, I feel accomplished. I just hope to get some drawing done tonight before I go to bed. *yawns* It's been a long day.
Note: I had to do this in two posts, because it wouldn't post the whole thing as one - stupid Chinese internet and not allwoing me to do certain things and see things and...*grumble*
<< EXPLANATIONS - PART 1
The concept of this drabble was something I had originally wanted to include in ‘It’s snowing’. It came from a picture I took that morning, of a small red fruit/berry thing growing on a humongous bush of thorns. I loved the picture, and a lot came to mind when I thought deeply about what to write.
When the concept first came to mind, it was simply about Harry, trying to reach through the bushes to get the berry, when Draco comes and stops him, and he sees that his blood is on the snow. Nevertheless, my mind didn’t let me just stop there - as it evolved, Draco became a Death Eater, but Harry was still in love with him; Draco was insane, which is the only reason why Harry stayed with him. Not until I had completed the story did I decide to have Draco reach out by himself to get the berry for Harry.
I don’t remember how, but to begin with, I had wanted it to be fluffy. I think I was going to have them kiss towards the end, but I cut that out - it’d be too much like ‘All I want’. Then it just got darker, and again, I don’t remember, but I remember thinking that I could make it angstier. I think I wanted to have Draco killed, but I could never do that to poor Draco *pets Draco*.
I do believe that most is straight forward in this one - Harry wants to help Draco because he’s insane and the guilt of having killed and tortured people is killing him.
The last few lines are my favorite. The last line specifically was supposed to mean that Harry thought that when Draco cried, that his tears would be made of blood. I don’t remember why, but at a point I wanted to make Draco a vampire, but because not many people like vamp fics, I didn’t include it. However, I wanted to keep the idea of bloody tears, because it’s something that I’ve always loved. *cringe* Call me weird.
Day 5 - Play for Me - Written and Posted on February 9, 2005
I wrote this one after reading dreamblossom’s piano drabble. I had been wanting to write a piano drabble ever since I had read xingou’s piano drabble series, and dreamblossom just inspired me. What I later found out was that she had planned on inspiring me to do so - she wanted a piano drabble from me. Of course, all that I dub as a ‘drabble’ seems to be a ficlet or a story. *shrug* 1000 words, whatever.
Being a piano player myself, I wrote Draco in accordance to what I want to be able to do, and what I so admire. I’m hopeless with the piano, even if I’ve played for 8 years or so.
Harry was extremely dense, and I knew it was going to be a stretch when I wrote him like that. I had to give him some amount of intelligence, but it was all for the sake of the story. So, in order to redeem himself, I made him say those last couple of lines that I hoped would cause people to melt. I think I did an ok job.
And thank you to dreamblossom for pointing out that piano sex is hawt. As she said, and I quote, “It's not just kinky, it's mindblowingly sexy. Two words. Pretty Woman.” *grin*
Night 5 - Dense Boys - Written and Posted on February 10, 2005
I really felt like I had been shunning the rest of the HP world and characters - I had refused to include them in my ficlets up until now, and I felt like I needed to reintroduce them to the readers and to myself. Because I love Ginny when she’s written well, I had to have her involved in Harry and Draco’s relationship, and her acting as the girlfriend to protect their secret only redeemed her of all the other things she’s done in other fanfics that I cannot stand.
The ‘every flavor kisses’ came to me in a very weird vision. All I really remember of it is sitting in my chair, looking into the full-length mirror next to my desk, and thinking, ‘Girl, what can I do?’ Even though I had Ginny in it, I had to give Ron and Hermione a reason to be there, and a reason for Draco to suddenly pounce on Harry. I suddenly envisioned a bottle, very similar looking to that of green-‘The Hulk’-colored chocolate syrup, being pulled down from a shelf by Ron. Everything kind of developed after a couple hours of thinking, though I had originally wanted to have Harry and Draco fight first. However, I had to cut it out since I was tight on time.
The title mostly goes to one of my reviewers, who had said something about how daft Harry had been in ‘Play for Me’. I owe that person this fic, though I don’t remember who it is…I’ll have to go hunting to find out.
Day 6 - Born to darkness - Written and Posted on February 11, 2005
I love Dark!Harry fics when they’re done correctly, so it only seemed appropriate that I write one. Since I had previously wanted to write the fic with Draco at Harry’s grave, I also incorporated that, somewhat subtly.
I imagined Draco being branded not only with the Dark Lord’s mark, but with Harry’s. But I had to ask myself why Harry had turned dark. What I mentioned in the story was that Harry actually might have felt guilty, which in a sense he did. Personally, I feel that he felt guilty because he had no other reason to live after having vanquished evil.
After discussing it with my friend, and explaining the concept of light and darkness, she mentioned paints, and how black can never become white. I hugged her furiously and began planning and developing that while I was out at dinner. (I’ve already gone over this in the comments I left with some of my readers.)
What I loved most, as did crikkita, was the “I gave you my hand. I gave you my hand, and you took my arm” bit. It meant so much to me - Draco trusted and loved Harry enough that he would help him. However, Harry took all that Draco had to offer, and did all that Draco didn’t want to go through again, but Draco didn’t complain.
Ultimately, I thought it was right that Harry killed himself in the end, as Draco mentioned. The line about absolute darkness, absolute light, and how Harry was the only one who had ever gotten close sparked off from there, and I think that was one of my favorite parts to write. Again, it was so meaningful to me, and I wanted to portray Draco’s past admiration for Harry and what he had been.
Night 6 - Fantasy - Written and Posted on February 12, 2005
I needed fluff like crazy. I thought back on previous fics I had read, and situations that characters had been caught in that I would like to write. I remember reading a DMHG fic where Hermione and Draco were in the Prefect’s bathroom, and he had annoyed the heck out of her, so I decided I would play that out as well, just include a kiss, since I felt it was time to write another one.
There really wasn’t much else to it - I wanted hawt kisses in a steamy bathroom, Harry losing his glasses and my favorite boys naked. *grin* That, and it was mostly inspired by the a secret that we Slytherin’s kept in our common room on a forum I was a part of (Fawkes’ Ashes). I will refrain from saying any more, because I don’t want anyone not Slytherin stealing the idea.
I was also inspired by a drabble by burningchaos, who had Harry grabbing Draco and pulling him into a broom closet, only to ravish him completely. *grin* I had to do something where Harry made the first move as well.
Truthfully, I didn’t know how to end this, because I wanted to keep going, but didn’t feel up to writing anymore. All I could come up with was the ‘fantasy’ line, and I could have cared less at the time to try and make it any better.
Day 7 - Signed by Draco Malfoy
- Written and Posted on February 13, 2005
I had previously figured out that at the rate I was going, I would end up with an angst story on Valentine’s Day. That’s why I had written ‘Play for Me’ then ‘Dense Boys’ right after the other, to swap the ‘Night’ and ‘Day’ issue I was having. Inevitably, I thought I would end up writing an angst story, since I had just finished a fluffy one.
Upon having talked to dreamblossom, whose laptop had crashed, I felt like writing a ficlet on technology, but I couldn’t think up anything very smart.
I think I remember looking down at my bracelet. What’s so great about that? Well, over the Christmas holiday, I had just finished reading Irresistible Poison by Rhysenn, and while I was in the States, I went shopping at Icing. I found a bracelet there that was a hand cuff (a single hand cuff, not the pair), and immediately thought of when Harry had cast the spell that had bound one of Draco’s wrists with a handcuff that said ‘Property of Harry Potter’. I bought it, and I’ve wanted to have ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’ inscribed on it, but I thought it may be too fan girlish of me. Maybe, if I one day get in a serious relationship, I’ll inscribe my boyfriend’s name onto it…Naw.
Anyway, I looked down at my bracelet, and instantly thought of ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’. From there, I had Draco signing everything in my mind, primarily saying ‘Draco Malfoy was here’. He had signed the bricks in the hallways, the toilets, the girls, the boys, the food, the teachers, the windows, the tables…everything. However, as I wrote the story, I didn’t think it would be appropriate to write it on Ron. I had him write it on Hermione as to reference my liking of that pairing; I had him write it on Ginny, since my friends like that pairing; however, I didn’t think it was appropriate for him to write it on Ron. So, I changed it so that Draco signed everyone/thing, but with different inscriptions. From there developed ‘Given to’, ‘Snogged by’, ‘Tricked by’, and so on.
Of course, Harry and to be jealous that nothing of his or on him was signed. Then I came up with the dream that wasn’t really a dream. I had to have it naughty, and I had actually written sexual references, but I took them out, because I’m not really one to write that stuff. However, I knew, more than anything, I had to have Harry signed like mad, only to show Draco’s possessiveness. ‘Property of Draco Malfoy’ was the only thing that fit.
It also kind of referenced to ‘Liar, Liar’, where Jim Carrey writes with the blue pen all over himself. *shrug* It was an element of inspiration.
Night 7 - Clues - Written and Posted on February 14, 2005
As I had discussed with several of my reviewers, I considered writing a riddle fic, since I loved crikkita’s ‘Precious’ (Which everyone should read. It’s fabulous!), and wanted to do something like that. However I had been hesitant to write it, since I’m not very good at making up riddles.
I had to start out with the ending message that I wanted overall. It had started out long, but I knew it would take me for ever to get it right. So, I basically made it ‘Be mine’ at a place, time, and ‘Harry’ at the end, to let Draco know how he was planning on meeting.
That’s when I read crikkita’s ficlet that she had written for me. I was jumping up and down in joy and being all giggly, when I realized that I had to write mine, and not steal any more of her ideas.
So, I based the story from Draco’s point of view, since she did Harry’s. A scene that I had previously planned out, and later based the story on, was the scene of the Slytherins talking during breakfast. I wanted the whole bickering from Pansy, who unknowingly answered one of the clues, as well as girl!Blaise. I’m guessing there was confusion when I said fem!Blaise. Fem as in Female, people who dare annoy me about it! (It’s not the readership that I have that’s been nagging at me, because they were kind enough to tell me, incase I didn’t know. No, it was someone else.…..Ugh. I won’t go into it.)
Just to point out, to make this clear for future reference, I do know that Blaise is a guy (and I seem to call him Zambini when I guess it’s supposed to be Zabini. Crap, I like the sound of Zambini a whole lot more). I read the whole thing that JKR wrote about it when she first actually clarified it. However, I love girl!Blaise, and if I ever write her again (which I am in my WIP), he will always be a she. There’s got to be a community out there for girl!Blaise, and if not, I’m making one!
Anyway, back to the story. All I really did was create the clues, and write up the scenes where Draco either received them or figured them out. The relationship between he and Blaise didn’t really come into existence until I wrote the library scene, where I wanted their friendship to be ultimate and understanding.
However, what I feared throughout the whole time I wrote this story was that the characterization of Draco and Blaise wasn’t stable, and that I kept changing my mind and ruining everything. They were weaker than I wanted them to be, and though they had a relationship outside of what I see as their Slytherin Pride, and actually became friends, it still seemed too much like a normal relationship - I wanted it to be unique and weird, twisted in many senses. However, I didn’t do it properly, and I couldn’t be stuffed at the time to go back and change it.
My favorite clue was the ‘@’ clue, since Goyle actually used his brain and Draco just snapped and called him an ‘arsehole’. *sigh* Good times.
Now, the ultimate question…What time is 666?
For those of you who guessed 7:06 pm, you’re correct. I got this from ‘Lost Souls’, where at the end the digital clock reads 6:66. I would have done something were it was actually a word you can write with the numbers on a calculator and flip upside down to read, but it didn’t really work.
For those of you who guessed 18:00, which is 6 o’clock, you actually could have been correct. I didn’t take into consideration 24 hour time. *grins sheepishly* Sorry about that.
For cutecoati, who guessed it had something to do with the scripture Revelations 13:18, I can only say that I’m impressed that you actually found the reference. Since I study the scriptures all the time, it came as a great shock to see someone know what exact reference the muggle-born in the fic had associated 666 with. *hugs* Very good!
I will say this - if you can reference that, I wonder if you’ll enjoy my WIP. I’ll have quotes from the bible in there as well, though they probably won’t be very obvious, where as 666 is. *shrug* We’ll see.
Ask away!
On RL: Luckily, I had a productive day. I read through and beta read 2 stories, finished about half of one of my papers, finished this off, started my project evaluation and...Wait, it's a lot, but it looks so small when it's done in writing. Crap.
Either way, I feel accomplished. I just hope to get some drawing done tonight before I go to bed. *yawns* It's been a long day.
Note: I had to do this in two posts, because it wouldn't post the whole thing as one - stupid Chinese internet and not allwoing me to do certain things and see things and...*grumble*
<< EXPLANATIONS - PART 1