l've had some interesting reactions to my latest chapter of Ink & Alchemy and I wanted to address them here rather than some huge author's note.
Please note that this post contains spoilers for chapter 45 of the main fic.
A lot of people have expressed concerns over the fact that Hermione chose to experience one final evening with Draco, her FWB, despite the fact that he had asked Padma to accompany him to Hogsmeade later that week. They feel that she has violated some sort of girl code and that her behavior was immoral.
I feel like this is an unfair double standard, for many reasons. Because while a couple people turned their ire on Draco for doing it, most of the readers who expressed concerns were focused on her. So let's go over it in detail.
I think there are a few key reasons why this particular scene has sparked so much debate:
1. Societal Double Standards & Gender Expectations
One of the biggest factors at play here is the ingrained expectation that women bear more responsibility in interpersonal dynamics, especially when it comes to sex and relationships. Readers—whether consciously or not—are holding Hermione to a higher moral standard than Draco. She’s expected to preemptively consider how Padma might feel, while Draco is given far more leniency for doing the exact same thing. This reflects real-world biases: women are often expected to be the emotional caretakers in situations like this, even when they aren’t the ones making the decisions.
2. Reader Investment in Monogamy & Purity in Romance
A significant portion of fandom readers—especially in the SSHG space—tend to favor monogamous, emotionally intense relationships. Even though this is not yet a relationship, Hermione has already been positioned as Severus’s endgame partner in readers’ minds. As a result, some may feel discomfort seeing her with anyone else, even though she and Severus have no claims on each other.
Unfortunately I have seen this type of reaction in many many stories, with any assortment of pairings. I have been very fortunate that I have only had a couple nastier comments on my story. The overwhelming majority of my readers have been very polite, even when their opinion is one of dissension. Other stories I’ve read, the author has not been so fortunate. People can be downright horrible when their OTP dares to even breathe at another person, even when no relationship has yet been established between them. That’s okay to feel that way, but projecting that onto the author is not and will not ever be okay.
There’s also a level of emotional ownership that readers develop over characters. They want to see Hermione in a deep, meaningful relationship, not engaging in casual sex—especially with someone like Draco, who is often portrayed as a rival or antagonist in many SSHG fics. There’s an unspoken expectation that because she has serious feelings for Severus, she should act accordingly and remain “pure” for him, even though Severus himself is not holding her to that standard, nor is he holding himself to that same expectation.
3. The Myth of the “Perfect” FWB Arrangement
Many readers may struggle to separate their own personal experiences and expectations from what’s happening in the story. Media (and real life) often portray FWB arrangements as either leading to a deeper emotional connection or as something inherently destructive. The fact that Hermione and Draco’s arrangement is coming to a natural end, with no major fallout, doesn’t align with how many people perceive these dynamics.
Additionally, for readers who haven’t experienced casual relationships firsthand, it may feel like Hermione’s actions don’t align with their understanding of how people should behave when moving from one relationship (FWB) into another (a potential real relationship). They expect a “clean break” before moving on, rather than the natural, sometimes messy, transition that occurs in reality.
4. Projection & Personal Biases
Let’s be honest—some of the most vocal readers are likely reacting from a place of personal bias. Some may have been hurt in situations where infidelity or blurred boundaries were involved, making them more sensitive to any perceived moral grey areas. Others may simply not like the idea of Hermione being with Draco at all and are using this moment as a reason to reinforce that discomfort.
Even those who claim they’d be “fine” with an FWB relationship in theory often balk at this particular scenario because of the Padma factor, even though Padma and Draco aren’t together yet. It feels wrong to them, even if, logically, there’s no real betrayal happening.
5. The Uncomfortable Reality of Moral Grey Areas
At the end of the day, this situation isn’t black and white, and that makes people uncomfortable. It’s easy to condemn outright cheating or deception, but this? This is murky. Hermione didn’t betray anyone. Draco didn’t betray anyone. They both acted in a way that made sense for them in the moment. But because it feels messy and imperfect, readers are latching onto their own interpretations of what “should” have happened instead.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Really About Padma
Despite all the comments about “girl code” and Padma, the outrage isn’t really about her. It’s about what Hermione’s actions say about her as a person—or rather, what readers think they say about her. The idea that she could make a choice that doesn’t align with a strict moral code of conduct unsettles them. And because readers want to see her as a moral, thoughtful, good person, they’re struggling to reconcile that with a decision they personally wouldn’t make.
At the end of the day, this is a very human moment for Hermione. And that’s what’s making people uncomfortable—because humans aren’t perfect, and sometimes, we act in ways that others don’t approve of.
And just to be clear, if anyone feels uncomfortable with Draco’s actions, that’s a completely valid response. He made a morally grey decision, and whether or not he chooses to tell Padma is entirely up to him. But that’s his choice. Hermione is not staking a claim on him. She’s not trying to one-up Padma. There is no final “gotcha” moment here. It’s just… the end. And she’s fine with that.
Draco’s role in this story is now over, aside from minor appearances in the background. What he does or does not disclose to Padma will not be explored, because, frankly, his story is no longer relevant to the one being told. This is about Hermione’s journey—and, ultimately, her relationship with Severus.
So if there are lingering feelings about Draco’s decision, by all means, explore them. You are free to imagine any scenario you wish. But let’s not hold Hermione to a different standard simply because we expect her to be the one making moral calls on behalf of others. She is not responsible for Draco and Padma’s nonexistent relationship at this point, and she wasn’t trying to interfere. She was simply closing a chapter in her life in the way that made the most sense for her.
I know FWB isn’t for everyone—that has been made abundantly clear to me, multiple times, across nearly every single chapter I have posted ever since indicating that there would be a FWB relationship in this story—and that’s completely fine! I will never try to force someone to change their belief on this matter. But I also don’t think it’s fair to treat Hermione’s participation as some moral failing when she and Draco both went into it with open eyes and full agency. Their relationship wasn’t messy. It wasn’t emotional. It was functional. And now, it’s over.
To all my readers, if you’re reading this: I am not singling out any one person. There are a plethora of people who have had similar opinions, and not just on this last chapter. I thought it best to address everything all at once. If I quoted you indirectly, please know that I’m not pointing fingers at you or discouraging you from having an opinion. I care about what all of you have to say, even if I don’t always agree with it and the ability to keep an open line of communication between myself and my readers is very important to me. I have read so many fics where the author never takes the time to address their readers in the comments and that just isn’t me. I will always take the time to respond to you. ♥️
