katajainen

Tea and No Sympathy (70045 words) by who_la_hoop
Chapters: 11/11
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Aberforth Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Buckbeak, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan, Terence Higgs, Minerva McGonagall, Giant Squid (Harry Potter)
Additional Tags: Slow Build, Draco-centric, Tea Drinking, Swearing, Muggle London, Houses of Parliament, Malfoy Manor, flangst, Family Feels, Muggle/Wizard Relations, Coming Out, Heartfelt Conversations, Sarcastic Conversations, Owls, Competitive Card Games, Falling In Love, getting drunk, Enthusiastic Snogging, Hogwarts Castle, Sex In The Slytherin Dormitory, Frottage, Time Travel, Time Loop, HP: EWE

Summary:

It's Potter's fault, of course, that Draco finds himself trapped in the same twenty-four-hour period, repeating itself over and over again. It's been nearly a year since the unpleasant business at Hogwarts, and Draco's getting on with his life quite nicely, thank you, until Harry sodding Potter steps in and ruins it all, just like always. At first, though, the time loop seems liberating. For the first time in his life, he can do anything, say anything, be anything, without consequence. But the more Draco repeats the day, the more he realises the uncomfortable truth: he's falling head over heels for the speccy git. And suddenly, the time loop feels like a trap. For how can he ever get Harry to love him back when time is, quite literally, against him?

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Starts over politics, but quickly branches out into a well-crafted take on the time loop trope, offering a nice balance between devil-may-care shenanigans and some pretty amazing character development.

Speaking of which, Draco's POV is an utter delight to read: snarky, dramatic and indignant, but also endearingly eager for the opportunities the situation allows him -- and eventually desperate to break the loop.

Also featuring a crucial supporting character: the most adorable and fiendishly clever little owl ever to hoot and flutter on the page ♥ ♥ ♥

And as for the shippy part of plot... the chemistry is just crackling -- explosive, but in a good way -- and with a tendency to go sweet at unexpected moments.

Will made you laugh and smile and curse -- or cackle -- over accidents of timing and diction. Happy ending with warm fuzzies guaranteed.

No holiday fics this year, but enjoy some Season of Kink leftovers instead! (Or, a story that didn't get finished in time to be posted in the bingo challenge.)

Prompt: Wall or desk sex.

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Imprint (2723 words) by katajainen
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Cursory mentions of other characters
Additional Tags: Auror Harry Potter, Office Sex, Desk Sex, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Not enough plot to fill a thimble, Draco Malfoy in Glasses, (because i say so), Snark, Dirty Talk, Office Kink, not quite hate sex but there's a definite antagonistic vibe going on iykwim, Yes i'm pulling OC names out of a hat sue me
Series: Part 1 of Season of Kink 2020: The Unfinished

Summary:

Someone has been leaving actual, honest-to-god butt prints on Harry's desk at work. The joke is getting old, so he's determined to catch the culprit in the act.

The stake-out is an unmitigated success.

Defining Dickhead (8435 words) by who_la_hoop
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger
Additional Tags: terrible swearing, Boys Being Idiots, Friendship, bad presents, dubious romance
Summary:

cockblock (vulgar, slang)
verb: to impede the romantic or sexual advances of a person (usually a man) towards another

cockblockhead (vulgar, slang)
noun: a person (usually a man) who unintentionally cockblocks themselves
see also entries for: self-sabotage, absolute idiocy, Harry James Potter

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witty

Adjective: showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour. See also: prose; dialogue; Draco Malfoy.

hilarious

Adjective: extremely amusing. See also: Blue Jumper, the; false moustache, v. large; UNT mug, the.

frustrating

Adjective: causing annoyance or upset because of an inability to change or achieve something. See also: Harry James Potter; obliviousness; unfortunate sense of timing. Synonyms: delicious.

An effortlessly engaging and enormously entertaining comedy of errors, complete with good intentions, false starts and inopportune interruptions. And, of course, an happy ending in spite of the protagonists' efforts to the contrary.

Code Name L (32986 words) by GallaPlacidia
Chapters: 17/17
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Additional Tags: Down and Out Draco Malfoy, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst, Secret Identities, Dubious Consent, but not between Draco and Harry, Harry is a bit of a dick, a whiff of domestic abuse but I think it steers clear, Department of Mysteries, Spies

Summary:

Trainees at the Department of Mysteries are kept under an identity-obscuring spell for two years. Harry doesn't even know who it is he's been falling in love with all this time. He's nervous about the Reveal, but really, what's the worst that could happen?

Feat. Damaged Draco Malfoy, damaged Harry Potter, damaged everybody. Also, spies & intrigue!

I was inspired to write this in part by the portrayal of The Department of Mysteries in Alpha_Exodus' 'You, a violent desire' so if you like that aspect of this fic, go check that one out! It's great.

This is a gift for Tepre. Will she like it? I don't know. Let's find out.

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For RL reasons like work, I had to read this over the course of several days, and let me tell you, it was pure and utter torture. Because this author is the master of end-of-chapter cliffhangers. Not to mention that the beginning (and the middle bit and the ending) has left me quite emotionally compromised (for top-secret reasons… I'm not giving out spoilers!).

In short, this story is a glowing example of the HP fandom's - and more especially, the drarry subset of it - ability to attract the most skillful writers. It's not just a tale of espionage, or merely a love story, but both - and those two are equally complicated by (magically-induced) secret identities, false accusations and each participant's personal history feat. all the attached baggage.

The espionage part is brilliant, if at times ugly and back-stabbery, the romance bits are complicated and soft by turns (read: fluffy without cringing away from difficult issues), there's this one OC that turned unexpectedly lovable, and the prose is clear, concise and extremely readable. In short, this is an author to follow.

And in the end, love (and friendship, and ruthless pursuit of justice) conquers all. Recommended reading mode: all at once, with minimum suffering caused by the abovementioned cliffhangers.

By Any Other Name (2117 words) by imaginary_golux
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy
Additional Tags: Online Friendship, Not Epilogue Compliant, Enemies to Friends, to lovers maybe in the future
Summary:

For the February Ficlet Challenge prompt "Alternate Universe - Characters meet online."

Harry likes to unwind after a long day's teaching by posting on a Quidditch fanboard, which sometimes attracts trolls. Opaleye likes to relax by insulting trolls. How could they not become friends?

Meeting in person's going to be a little awkward, though.

Beta by my Best of all Beloveds, Turn_of_the_Sonic_Screw.

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An unexpected, but extra delightful discovery!

The set-up sounded very promising from the get-go, and the story itself doesn’t disappoint: the dialogue is funny and quirky and sweet and so wonderfully, unfailingly in-character that you’re left to wonder HOW on earth can these two NOT realise who exactly they are chatting with. But it’s all part of the charm. (Them being a pair of oblivious dorks, that is.) A special mention for relatable grown-up whining about students/clients being idiots ♥

This little fic made me laugh out loud at a time when I desperately needed it, and I hope it’ll work the same magic on you as well!

All the Earnest Young Men (29469 words) by Tepre
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, Ron and Hermione make an appearance, A whole new cast of Aurors!
Additional Tags: Sharing a Bed, Hypothermia, Sharing Body Heat, Sort of a case fic?, Brief dub-con kiss (one of the characters has a fever), Intercrural Sex, mention of a blowjob

Summary:

All over London portraits are disappearing from their canvases.

Auror Harry! Expert-in-Magical-Art-Theory Draco! There's running, dancing, falling through ice, what’s this paper giraffe doing here? A great time was had by all.

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First, a warning: if AO3 had physical pages, this one would be a page-turner. So be ready to devour it on one go.

Or, "it" might be the wrong word, since there are in fact two stories intertwining. One is a gripping tale of mystery and suspense, unfolding on two different timelines, never revealing more than is absolutely necessary to keep the reader hooked and guessing. (Hint: this is one of the page-turner elements.) A great part of its charm comes from a rich background of magical theory and history, and Draco as a hyper-fixated, over-enthusiastic expert of his field is a pure delight to read (even when he's being impossible).

But in the end, it's a side plot, only a vehicle for the main thing. Which is, of course, the romance. From a characteristically wrong-footed beginning, it advances in delightful fits and starts, through action rather than words - and not without some gut-wrenching dramatics (where the cliffhanger-potential of the alternating timelines is used to good effect) - before coming to a conclusion that's satisfying in every sense of the word *winkwink*.

TL;DR - a riveting tale of mystery and romance that won't be interrupted for the mere conveniences of rest and sustenance; excellent reading right up to the hot-and-sweet finish.

Grounds for Divorce (122217 words) by Tepre
Chapters: 10/10
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Also briefly:, Harry Potter/Original Female Character(s), Harry Potter/Original Male Character(s), Draco Malfoy/Original Male Character(s), But not to worry they will eventually get their shit together
Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Just your regular Hogwarts gang
Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Pining, UST, Anal Sex, brief but all the same enthusiastic rimming, One (1) lemon tree, Accidental Bonding, And I mean like U! S! T!, Jealousy, Deals with Trauma, They both top at some point, ron is a good friend, Draco is a Good Cook, Dubious Consent due to the Accidental Bonding, The actual SLOWEST burn, Hurt/Comfort, Have I mentioned UST? Cannot overstate this it's like A LOT, First there's frottage, And then there's more sex, Anal Fingering, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, and just a lot of sex, sex on a bed, sex in the shower, sex on the floor, Sex on a settee, In other news they go to Egypt, Teddy is a Small Bean, There is one (1) cat, and one (1) happy ending

Summary:

Malfoy finds a coin. Harry finds a letter.

A story about histories, a story about families. A story about a lemon tree somewhere in Upper Egypt.

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This fic beautifully illustrates the reason why I like reading the 'slow burn' trope: namely,the way you know they're going to end up together at the end, but you're desperate to know what sort of twists and turns (and how many) it will take them to get there this time.

And here's a good roller coaster ride's worth of them here!

To begin with: the set-up. I confess that accidental bonds, forced proximity scenarios and the like are totally my jam. This iteration of the trope (read: the curse) is innovatively conceived, solidly developed, and engenders some quite wonderful character interaction -- complete with witty dialogue -- and extra-delicious angst.

And then there's a plot happening. With lovingly detailed settings and lots of opportunities for the reader to cringe and go “Harry NO” or alternatively “Draco NO”... but the painful is well balanced by the tender (and the *cough* UST).

It sounds like a complete mess, and at times, it is, but a riveting, insomnia-inducing sort of mess that allows you to see characters grow and eventually resolve their personal Gordian knot (though not with a sword, mind!) in a very rewarding way.

Also, did I mention the bees? Or the cat? Or the lemon tree? (Shoo, read the thing already!)

Hidden in Plain Sight (3119 words) by belleslettres
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, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Post-War, HP: EWE, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Extremely Dubious Consent, Prostitution, Polyjuice Potion, Rentboy Draco Malfoy
Series: Part 1 of Hidden in Plain Sight

Summary:

Draco is forced to turn to prostitution to pay his war debts. Harry spends almost three years searching for him…

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Ideally, a short piece of fiction should be built on an inventive premise, a hook or a what-if the reader hadn’t really thought of before.

And this story illustrates that principle to the utmost. The core idea is very simple, yet tremendously, terrifyingly brilliant, and the execution doesn’t fall short of the mark.

I love how unapologetically disturbing the whole thing is, I love the small cues illustrating the passage of time, and I love how there’s just the right amount of backstory, how every word counts.

And yes, this is one of those fics where you should stop and think for a second before jumping in, but for all the despair that creeps under your skin and stays there, it all ends on a hopeful note. (Not to mention there’s a sequel.)

Things Worth Knowing by @femmequixotic and @noeeon
Word Count: 164,523
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Summary: After the Battle, Harry thinks he’s left Hogwarts for good, but Minerva insists that all students return for an Eighth Year if they wish to sit for NEWTs in the spring, and Harry needs those NEWTs to go into the Aurors. Draco’s just grateful not to be in Azkaban. Or the Manor. He’s hoping he can steer clear of Potter this year and grapple with his own problems. Unfortunately for him, Potter appears to be one of those problems. And that’s not even addressing the fact that Potter’s got serious issues of his own, which Draco realises as he’s forced to share an Eighth Year dormitory room and several classes with the Gryffindor Git. If only they can make it through the year without killing each other, it should be all right, shouldn’t it?
Author’s notes: Written for @shiftylinguini in the 2017 @hd-erised fest. We are incredibly grateful to our amazing betas, @sassy-cissa, @o0o-chibaken-o0o, and @bixgirl1. You are all treasures, and your encouragement, speed, precision, dedication, and irreverent humour has meant the world to us. Shifty, we couldn’t have asked for a more amazing giftee–it was an honour to write for you, and we’re sorry it’s so LONG (that’s what Draco said…) Seriously, though, we have tried to tailor to your exact wants and prompt ideas, and we sincerely hope you enjoy the result! All mistakes are our own, and no magical creatures or their habitats were harmed in the making of this fic. Also the HD Erised mods are paragons of justice, proofreading, and wit, and we are beyond grateful for the extra time to complete this monster fic of monsters. Title is from The Hogwarts Song.

Read on AO3.

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First off, this is easily one of the best 8th year stories I’ve read. Like ever. It doesn’t try to embellish the post-war reality, but rather tackles difficult issues (anti-Slytherin bias, personal feuds, homophobia) head-on, without giving in to the temptation of easy resolutions.

Because the students returning to Hogwarts are all war-scarred in their own way; hurting, confused, grieving -- Harry and Draco perhaps more than anyone else. Add to that the reality of being eighteen and trying to find your own identity and place in the world, and you get realistically portrayed characters who make stupid hurtful mistakes - and come up with quite brilliant ways to make up for them.

Second, I love a good slow-burn romance, and this is an excellent example of the genre - but it’s tagged “Frenemies with benefits” for a reason. (So you get both the pining and the hot stuff, which made me feel quite the spoiled reader.)

An finally, there’s a well-rounded cast of supporting characters (including a few OCs to die for), some quite nice subplots, and the whole thing is wrapped up in beautiful, flowing prose that makes that 160k read incredibly smoothly... so what are you all waiting for? Do yourself a favour and go read the thing already!

[Text above line copied over from the authors' original Tumblr post.]