This is the final Survey from @gameofdrarry Wizard Hearts Game. This has basically turned into a fic rec list all on its own, so buckle up here goes:
What was the first fanwork you read/listened to for the game/fest? Why did you choose it?
So the first story I picked was Reform by TheSquibby Princess which was a 186k polyamory beast of a fic, which I absolutely adored. I have a thing for triads and a soft spot for Ron Weasley and so there it was. I was also ambitious as all heck at the beginning, hence the word count. But the fic was a gem, and I adored it and I loved how each relationship built separately all while the triad grew together!
What was the last fanwork you read/listened to for the game/fest? Why did you choose it?
The last work I read was for the established relationship card, which somehow ended up being the last card standing. I looked for something short (because I literally had an hour or so), but that caught my attention. I’ve read works by TheMightyFlynn @mightyflynn before and loved them, so as soon as I saw their name and the summary I dove in. Two Days That Changed His Life was an awesome read and great use of the trope!
What's a fanwork you think is a hidden gem and deserves more hype?
So I’m a sucker for MPREG and A Star Danced by @ladderofyears was an absolute gem, as is it’s author. ladderofyears is an excellent writer and one of the sweetest people in fandom and I adores this story.
What was your strategy for choosing fanworks throughout the game? Was there a tag/trope you found you simply couldn’t resist?
My plan of attack was to try and do all 50k+ and do them all by suit. I got about halfway through that and then life happened, so I just tried to get them all done… not a trope I couldn’t resist, but I read a ton of Wireless Fest fics and they were absolutely spectacular this year. Paper Rings by lettersByelise (epilogue compliant) and In Free Fall by @kbrick are absolute wonderful gems that I didn’t mention anywhere else in this but that you should definitely read.
Was there a trope that you’ve read a lot of previously that you found uniquely presented in a fic?
So I love fics that show Harry testifying for Draco, like it’s one of those pivotal moments in my mind that is such a moment in this pairing, but most of those moments follow a tried and true formula. I Won’t Let You Fall Apart by xanthippe74 takes the Harry testifying for Draco is a completely original direction and it was fantastic. The fic itself was so well-written but that twist on something I already loved and that plot line was absolutely perfect.
What's a line from a fic/podfic that you can't stop thinking about?
If you have not read A Pocket Full of Stones by waterwings, you are missing out. That story lives in my head rent free because it’s beautiful and poignant and the emotions it evokes are visceral.
There is nothing clever about Potter’s magic. Nothing gentle. He walks headfirst into the rest of the wizards, stupid and stubborn. The air is electric, the shadows move around him, and Draco can taste his magic in the wind. A deep, earthy thing, that feels old and damp and clean. The spells are wandless and wordless and Draco, for the first time that night, finds himself standing still.
Potter isn’t skilled or clever or fast; he is a force of nature.
I should leave him, Draco thinks, but it’s fleeting.
He dashes back into the fray, because when has he ever been able to walk away from Harry Potter?
What's a moment in a fic/podfic that genuinely got you to tear up?
I read Its No Great Mystery by agentmoppet for the time travel card and that story just hit me in every emotion I had. It’s a time loop, so not technically travel, but Harry is lost after the war and some of the things that he confronts during his loop brought me to tears. One was his relationship with Hagrid. I think Hargid always should have gotten more recognition in cannon for how much he cares for Harry. But this fic is gorgeous and has so many things done so right, and it just feels so real and so relatable. This line gives nothing away but is just so poignant to me.
Possessed by the spirit of some unknown demon—possibly Sirius, possibly his own father, or possibly just the man Harry might have been if he’d been raised by the two of them—he winked at Draco from across the empty dance floor.
Was there a trope you’ve never read or heard of before? What did you think of it?
I’ve heard of all of the tropes, but honestly there have not been many too many stories featuring Harry or Draco as trans until recently, so that’s something I just had not had the opportunity to read yet. What Husbands are For by softlystarstruck is just a spectacular example of trans characters and a testament to the fact that the relationship between Harry and Draco just is, no matter how they identify, no matter that they are a vampire and a werewolf and no matter that their marriage was only supposed to be political. I loved this fic and loved the inclusivity of this story.
Which trope did you read that pleasantly surprised you?
I’m not one to seek out Second Person POV very often, but Catch Me Before You Fall by lq_traintracks is an amazing use of the trope and just a fantastic story all around. Draco is newly turned and ends up on Harry’s doorstep, and ends up staying. Harry’s POV is so great in this one and their Draco is fantastic as well.
Was there a fanwork that made you laugh out loud? Why?
You send Me (Honest You Do) by firethesound features Auror Partners Harry and Draco where Harry ends up with himself de-aged. This fic is absolutely a gem, and in a world where Draco and Ron are actually friends, you know there are some hilarious moments.
“He is my friend, yes. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s really nice having a partner who’s aware that rules exist,” Ron said.
“Potter is aware that rules exist,” Draco muttered. “I just can’t get him to care.”
“Exactly,” Weasley said, clapping him companionably on the shoulder. “My point exactly. And it’s someone else’s turn to deal with him.” Shaking his head, he muttered to himself as he finished pouring the milk, “Let’s follow the spiders, Ron. Let’s take a flying car to Hogwarts, Ron. Let’s climb aboard this dragon, Ron, and fly away with it, that won’t arse off the Goblins and get us banned from Gringotts for life.”
Draco narrowed his eyes. “He said the flying car was your brilliant idea.”
“Might’ve been,” Weasley said easily, putting the milk away. “And even if it wasn’t, I’m willing to take that one. At least the car didn’t breathe fire, unlike the dragon, so I think I’m still ahead. Has he ever told you about the time he jumped off the top of Tower Bridge in pursuit of a suspect?”
I“What the fuck,” Draco said, blinking. “When did he—no, no. I don’t want to know about it. I’m happier not knowing the details.”
“You probably are. He about gave me a heart attack,” Weasley said, shaking his head. “I’ve been partnered with Ji-eun for almost three months and she hasn’t jumped off a single bridge in that whole time. I deserve this. That’s all I’m saying.”
Was there a fanwork that made you especially emotional? Why?
The Ordeal of Being Known by Louisfake was just one that I read (and it’s sequel) that had me in my emotions for almost the entire story. Harry is struck by a curse that renders him mute, and Draco, a healer legilimens, is the only one that can help him. This story brings the boys through Harry’s memories and Draco sees every single one. It’s invasive, it’s intimate and it’s just a beautiful telling of how they bridge the distance between them to understanding and then more. It’s a fantastic story.
What is your favourite tag/trope? Why?
Fake dating/ pretend relationship hands down. I LOVE a good fake dating trope more than almost anything else in fandom. I read When Times are Dire by Aibidil for that trope and I was floored by that story. It’s much more serious than most written for this trope, and it has a lot of political elements and a middle-aged Harry and Draco, but it’s absolutely fantastic and has such a strong ensemble cast as well as such a strong relationship that Draco and Harry build. It was truly a great take on the trope and so well done.
Which tags/tropes did you skip? Would you be willing to share why? If you didn’t skip a tag/trope, was there one that gave you pause?
The only one I skipped was Cannon Divergent and Honestly it was almost by accident. I read Meet me at Midnight by Thestarryknight, but didn’t have a trope left it fit with, so Cannon Divergent got skipped just so I could give all the love to this amazing fic.
Did you read multiple fics by the same author? What tags/tropes did they have? Wax poetic about the author a bit, eh!
I cannot pick one. I’m going to have to pick two. I had never read anything by Louisfake before this game, and I am in love with their writing. i read The Ordeal of Being Known (veratiserum) and The Rewards of Being Loved (Patronus) and Weapon of Choice (Period Piece) I’ve gushed over the other two, so if you have not read Weapom of Choice, you need to. It’s a medieval piece and features Knight Draco and Evil King Albus. Everything is changed, and yet Draco and Harry remain. It’s wonderful and I was so happy I found it.
Second author is The_Sinking_Ship who is absolutely a joy to read. Everything is just one better than the other! I read Chasing Dragons (song fic) and Finely Drawn Lines (friends with Benefits) and I loved them both. Finely Drawn Lines is just so, so good. The boys are professors and Draco is an artist, and Harry tends to end up his subject. The POV on This is amazing and Draco’s drawings speak all of the words. It just was one of my favorites I’ve read in a bit. I have to include an excerpt.
Before he realised it, Draco had gone ahead and catalogued Harry Potter’s every expression. And this was precisely the reason Draco could never let Potter see inside his sketchbook. What he was doing would most certainly be considered creepy, although he never meant for it to be. It wasn’t as if he was following Potter around or lurking in dark corners, carving his portrait into every surface. It was simply that Potter was a very good subject.
Oh, and Draco was a bit in love with him. There was that.
Who's an author you think deserves more hype? Why?
I have never read anything by AvenueofESC before and I absolutely fell in love with Everything You Want (Is Right in Front of You). It features meddlesome Teddy and was an adorable fic and just struck the perfect balance. I loved the way Harry and Draco got to know each other and the developing relationship between them, and Teddy manipulating them both. Wonderful writing and a new author that I’m glad I found.
Did a fic send you off on a tangent reading or researching anything? Which one was it? What was your off-the-path adventure?
I have to be careful any time I read anything by Shiftylinguini, because I set out to read one thing, and suddenly I’ve read 5 fics (and not for the first time either) and lost like a half a day because I can’t just read one fic. The one fic I read makes me then re-read my favorites. I read Celestial Bodies (accidental bonding and space magic) and Coming up For Air (Veela, forced proximity) the last day of the game and now I’ve reread all my faves in the last couple days, including Two Weeks (VeelaHarry) and Embers ( werewolves) because I just can’t get enough.
Did you rec any fics to your friends during the game/fest? Which ones? Why?
So I couldn’t use this particular fic because I have gushed all over it before. But Drarrelie and JanieOhio are my favorite RomCom duo and This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) from LCD fest is one of my absolute favorites. I read Recipe for Life (misunderstanding) for this years fest and it was so good. Draco is a Chef and squires both a child and Harry Potter as his Sous Chef. It’s super cute, and so well written and I absolutely loved it. But I recommend This Will Be to anyone that will listen.
Do you have any feedback for the mods of the game/fest? Would you be interested in playing again if the opportunity arose? Share more info about your experience
I love this fest, it’s probably my favorite thing in the fandom. I enjoyed it again and had an absolute blast doing it! I love finding authors I’ve never heard of or reading others stories from old favorites. I also love the teams and getting to know more people in the fandom
