Harry/Draco Big Bang Fic & Art: Among Ancient Pines (Mature)
Title: Among Ancient Pines
Author: @graymatters
Artist(s): @cambiodipolvere & @onlytheheartknows
Pairing(s): Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Background Ginny Weasley/Pansy Parkinson
Other Key Characters: Original Characters
Rating: Mature
Word Count: ~74,000
Era: Post-Hogwarts
Content/Warnings: Enemies to FWB to Lovers, Slow Burn, Healer Draco Malfoy, Wandmaker Harry Potter, Recluse Harry Potter, Mountain Man Harry Potter, Alaska, Magical Town/Original Setting, Folk Medicine, Northern Lights, Wandmaking, Magical Theory, Magical Wolves, Magical Fireworks, Make It All Magic, Cooking, Animagus, Mild Sexual Content, Pining, Denial of Feelings, Draco Has Gifted Kid Trauma, Banter, Drinking, Ginny Weasley & Draco Malfoy Friendship, Pansy Parkinson & Draco Malfoy Friendship, Brief Descriptions of Gore/Injury to animal and human but everyone is FINE, Dreams & Nightmares, Sectumsempra Scars, Happy Ending.
Summary: Every day, Draco Malfoy tries. With every fiber of his being he tries. But he doesn’t much think about what he’s trying for.
In his final term of Healer training, Draco is unfortunate enough to find himself on a plane, the only means of traveling to a small, magical town in rural Alaska. Years of hard work have culminated in an opportunity to work with an experimental wandmaker to study the intersection of Healing and wand theory. When Draco arrives, he doesn’t find the wandmaker, but does find his apprentice, who happens to have ridiculously messy hair, a lightning bolt scar, and a definitely-not-charming smile. But Draco isn’t going to let Harry Potter get in the way of him becoming a successful medical researcher, even if Potter is stubborn, hot-tempered, reckless, surprisingly gentle, has bizarre taste in music, and likes to leave his shirts unbuttoned. How hard could the next few months be?
A fic about challenging assumptions, discovering self-worth, the silver lining in failing to meet expectations, and finding friendship, love, and purpose in a small Alaskan town that’s steeped in magic.
Author’s Notes: It feels quite strange to finally be writing this note, nine months after starting this fic, and I think it will feel even stranger to not pull out the laptop to work on it every evening. I’ve poured my heart into these boys and found such joy in imagining this town, creating these original characters, and always asking myself, ‘If I had magic, how might this change?’ I hope you find as much magic in your trip to Volchii as Draco does.
This fic, without a doubt, would not be in the state it’s in without some truly brilliant, kind, and patient people. @potter-loves-malfoy, you live up to your name, my friend. You’ve been with me on this journey for months and months, and I could not be more grateful for your suggestions, your incoherent screaming in the comments, and your friendship. Thank you for your patience with me over the months, your brainstorming sessions, your impromptu alpha skills, your masterful betaing, and your support. It means the world.
@sweet-s0rr0w, you are an absolute angel. A star. A guiding light. And, most importantly, a lovely friend. I cannot thank you enough for your help with this fic and for being so supportive these last couple months. Whether it was wrangling in my Americanisms, your thoughtful suggestions, or squealing in the comments, I’ve appreciated every single bit of it. Thank you thank you thank you. Darling, you’re simply the best.
And @uphorie, for all of the help you were able to provide and your willingness to hop in at the end of this project, I am so so grateful. It’s been an honor to work with you across multiple pieces and sometimes it still blows my mind that you keep coming back for more. Your beta work is always spot-on, and I’m thrilled to keep working with you for as long as you’ll have me.
To my fab artists, @cambiodipolvere and @onlytheheartknows, you two are such talented human beings. I am blown away by your talent, your kindness, and your enthusiasm for something that I’ve written. It’s such a privilege to have gotten to work with you both throughout this process, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity the BB has afforded us to connect and work together. Thank you for bringing my fic to life through your art. It’s one of the greatest gifts I could ask for.
And of course, to the mods, without whom this piece wouldn’t likely exist. Thank you for all of the time, energy, effort, and coordination you’ve put forth to make this fest happen. When I signed up for this fest, I hadn’t written anything near this length in over a decade. Thank you for the opportunity to flex those long-fic muscles again and for cheerleading us all through this process. It’s truly been a joy. Absolute angels, the both of you.
Artist’s Notes:
cambiodipolvere: It’s moving, as the distance across the Atlantic and American content; the distance between a strange enemy and a close friend. I only hope these pieces can do justice to the fic. Sara and Tess are both so incredible, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to work with them.
onlytheheartknows: I’m really grateful that I could create some art for this fic. It’s the first time drawing my favorite ship and only my second time entering this kind of collaboration-fan-fest-thing, so I’m still quite new to all this. I want to give a huge thank you to the mods for organizing this lovely Big Bang! And also a even bigger thank you to @graymatters for letting me bring some of her writing to life and to @cambiodipolvere for the advice and great company. You two made this such a exciting experience and it was so much fun ! I hope the readers will enjoy this story as much as I did. <3
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