I challenged myself this winter and signed up for @hd-cluefest

@written-in-ash had submitted this amazing prompt that immediately got the cogs inside my head to start turning. And they continued to turn and turn and turn so of course I had to write it.

I’m not gonna lie, it was quite hard to flesh this out, and it was, to be completely honest, a very close call that I managed to get the fic together at all! But I did it!! So yay me, I guess!

Anyway, now that the authors have been revealed for this year’s round of Cluefest, I can pridefully claim the fic Twist and Turn (Until We Find Our Way Out) as mine.

Thank you everyone who have read and commented already! Your support has been invaluable.

Thank you to @purplehotmess , ecat14, @ununquadius , @jet-playin-around and @ladderofyears for helping me out during this journey! You’re all amazing and I appreciate each and every single one of you!!!

And of course, thank you to the mods! You’ve put up such professionalism yet familiarity with all of us participants and you’ve made sure the fest has been run smoothly. I’m truly in awe!

Author: @tinyhistory​ / aka Eleventy7 (unrevealed, part of @hd-cluefest​​) Rating: T Length: 67k Warnings: Graphic Descriptions of Violence Additional warnings:  Child Death (off-screen), Minor Character Deaths, Attempted Murder, Drowning, Strangulation, Hanging, Violence, Blood and Injury, Graphic Description of Corpses, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Gaslighting, Psychological Horror, Haunting, Ghosts, Memory Loss, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, War (off-screen)

Many thanks to @sitp-recs​ and @onbeinganangel​ for advice & feedback in writing this rec and to @fw00shy​ for letting me shout about this fic as I was reading it!

Summary: Draco inherits a castle deep in the Scottish highlands, and discovers it’s haunted by more than just ghosts.

I was sold from the first mention that this fic draws from elements of the Haunting series (Haunting of Hill House/Haunting of Bly Manor) and found myself head over heels in love with it from the first chapter.  These are just a few of the reasons why I loved it so dearly:

Complex, detailed, and compelling worldbuilding: Set in a non-magical world, we meet Draco soon after Lucius’ death and he is a beautiful Draco, all aristocratic poise and sharp wit. Though there is no Wizarding War looming in his past, there is a certain darkness that surrounds him, especially in his relationship with his father, who haunts this fic in more ways than one.

“Mr Malfoy,” Draco says. “My father is dead. Now I’m Mr Malfoy. You never called my father by his first name, did you?”  

Found family and re-finding family: Even without Hogwarts, there is that special and timeless bond between Draco & Harry that feels age-old and tinged with something slightly dark.  But Harry isn’t the only one Draco finds in the distant Scottish castle, there is also Ron and Hermione, Molly Weasley, and a brief appearance of Ginny and Luna (Linny!!! Property inspectors!!!) who each serve to make the world feel full.

“Luna specialises in wildlife conservation,” Ginny adds. “Or, as I like to tell people — she’s fauna, I’m flora. Well, shall we have a look?”

A slow and romantic build for Drarry: Handyman Harry is gentle and thoughtful, compelled to the castle despite his better instincts.  They have an immediate affinity, an undeniable mutual understanding. The author builds on this initial spark, drawing out their friendship and care for each other (bed sharing! chess playing! an absolutely terrifying case of mistaken identity!). Their new story mixes with a young Draco and Harry and a story even older than the both of them.

“Well...” Harry hesitates. “I hadn’t fallen asleep accidentally. I stayed on purpose. I just… had a feeling. That I might be needed. I’ve the same feeling tonight.”

This fic is richly written, poignant and atmospheric.  The author has created such a compelling story, full of rich and unusual characterizations, a world that feels novel-like in its depth and breadth, and gorgeous prose that sings with tension and drama and care.  Pick it up only when you have the hours to read the fic all the way through because you certainly won’t want to put it down.  

"Is treise dithis a dol thar an atha, na fad’o’ chèile.”