Fic Rec Fridays 2019 - part 25

Salt on the Western Wind (60549 words) by Saras_Girl
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley

Summary:

When the war isn’t quite as over as it first appears, a guilt-ridden Harry is sent to a mysterious safe-house. Among sandwiches, insomnia, and Mills & Boon, he discovers something quite unexpected. [Smoochfest 2012]

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Let me introduce to you: one of my guaranteed feel-good reads, and also one of those stories that I will forever associate with summer (it mostly takes place in May, but bear with me).

Salt on the Western Wind is a tale about building trust (among other things) out of the post-war confusion and hurt, framed with friendship, seaside walks, silly romance novels and, of course, a most inconvenient accidental bond (one of my favourite tropes, handled here with humour and care).

Working well and wide around the consent issues sometimes engendered by this sort of setup, the author takes grudging, grumbling tolerance and slowly and credibly develops it into affection, making excellent use of in-character interaction and poignant dialogue.

Recommended for a lovely young-and-awkward enemies-to-friends-to-lovers plot in a memorable package. But beware: you’ll want to read this in one sitting :)

And hey, enjoy the Solstice, if you’re celebrating!