#drarry fic

“What do I do with it?”

“Why are you asking me? I refuse to help with your freaky death creature!”

“It’s not my creature, Pansy.”

“It has your silver eyes, Draco. Are you sure you’re not its father?”

“Oh, sod off. Are you going to help or not?”

“Owl the creature sanctuary — the one in Wales. I don’t care, Draco, I’m not touching it.”

“Must I do everything myself? Merlin, it’s heavier than it looks.”

—

“Apparition notice just went off.”

“I’ll go greet them!”

“Thanks, Harry.”

—

“Malfoy… and Parkinson? What’re you doing here?”

“I don’t know, Potter, maybe the dying Thestral foal in my arms is a clue? Or could be that we missed your idiocy dearly.”

“Ugh, Potter, get your vermin off of me.”

“Frankfurto, come. Through here, Malfoy.”

—

“Do you actually know what you’re doing?”

“Yes, Malfoy, I’m trained in this.”

“Trained to feed a Thestral blood from a bottle?”

“Trained as a Creature Neonate Specialist — this is literally my job.”

“Ever the saviour…”

—

“Can I come back to check in on her?”

“Sure. We’re open until four on weekdays.”

“Oh, so not a specific time?”

“No, whenever is fine.”

“You are both the worst. He’s trying to inquire how to see you again. Don’t be daft. And Draco, do better, honestly. I’ll see you at Greenwood when you’re done here — you owe me a drink.”

“Pansy!”

“I’m here on Wednesday, if you want to come back then, that is.”

“Wednesday. I’ll be seeing you, Potter.”

*A homage to saras_girl’s Turn for the pet’s name Frankfurto - this was totally a subconscious comics that I recognized in the reread!*

Week 1

Drarry | Post-war | 8th Year Hogwarts | Slow burn | Heavy themes, happy ending | WIP (updating as I go)

It went the same way. Every time.

First came the surprise registering on Draco’s pale face as he realised something had turned out better than expected. Like the desks he and his aggravating lot favoured in the Charms classroom remaining empty when they finally deigned to enter the packed room far too late, almost as though something—or someone—had kept anyone else from taking them until Draco arrived to reclaim his usual spot.

Parkinson and Zabini sat down, oblivious as Draco’s grey eyes swept across the classroom, searching for what they had come to expect.

This, too, went the same way.

First came the annoyance when their eyes locked for a millisecond. Something approaching utter disbelief at Harry’s staggering stupidity.

Look away. A tiny shake of the head.

The second time, confusion crept in. Grey eyes searched Harry’s face, finding none of the contempt Draco still seemed to expect. No trap. No hidden mockery. Nothing that could possibly explain why Potter was still looking at him.

The third glance was the charm.

A spark of something—a question, perhaps—shot between them. A moment oddly electric as Harry refused to look away, even when Parkinson finally realised that no amount of tugging at Draco’s sleeve was going to reclaim his attention.

Harry’s favourite part.

Draco’s pale face darkened as though someone had dusted rosy powder across his skin. Still, he refused to break eye contact, and Harry was absurdly proud of him for it. Every time it happened, Draco allowed himself a moment longer before eventually looking away, trying desperately to pretend he wasn’t as flustered as his crimson neck gave him away.

He was getting better at this, Harry marvelled.

At understanding that Harry wasn’t a threat.

What he wasn’t getting any better at was answering Harry’s question, silently mouthed across classrooms while their classmates bent over books.

When.

A nervous twitch of an eyebrow. A far-too-careless shrug.

Neither could quite conceal the panic being desperately reined in over that one silly little word, as though Harry were sending a dangerous curse across the room rather than asking when they might finally go flying together—a time Draco himself had offered.

[Podfic] Ankles by @citrusses

For @hd-wireless this year, I made a podfic of citrusses's excellent fic, Ankles. Give it a listen!

They start towards the gallery.

The arcade announces itself before they reach the corner. Blue, pink, and violent green light pulses across the pavement. Simulated gunfire and electronic music spill through the open doors, tangled with the shriek of teenagers and the rapid metallic spill of coins into a tray.

Harry slows.

Draco continues for three more steps before their shoulders draw level again.

“You promised,” Draco says.

“I agreed.”

Draco rolls his eyes. “Your feet are no longer participating in the agreement.”

Harry turns his head towards the arcade. A racing game flashes across his glasses. “We’ve got twenty-three minutes.”

“We have sixteen.”

“Lauren gave us forty-five."

Draco glances down at his watch. “We spent twenty-nine inside the kebab shop.”

“Six minutes.”

“Nothing meaningful has ever occurred inside an amusement arcade in six minutes.”

Harry lifts one shoulder. “That makes it a very low-risk decision.”

Draco studies him. Harry is attempting nonchalance, but one heel has already turned towards the entrance. “Have you even been inside one before?”

“Er. Loads of times,” Harry says, his eyes darting to the floor as he rocks onto the back of his heels. 

The speed of the answer catches Draco.

Harry rubs the back of his neck. “Dudley liked them. I mostly held his coat and watched.”

The arcade lights move across his face, turning one lens pink and the other blue.

From the Wreckage Written for @hd-wireless 2026 Song prompt: The Only Thing by Sufjan Stevens Summary: In the aftermath of the Second Wizarding War, Draco Malfoy's life went from bad to worse. Six years later, he finds himself alone and with little reason to carry on. A chance midnight encounter with Harry Potter in the Curse-Breaker wing of Gringotts, however, gives him a reason. A story of friendship, rebuilding, and too many cups of tea.

Tags: Down and Out Draco Malfoy, Curse Breaker Harry Potter, Oblivious Draco Malfoy, Smitten Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy Needs a Hug, Canon Compliant, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Slow Burn, Angst, Humor, Hurt/Comfort, Suicidal Thoughts, Parental Suicide, Parental Death, Woodworking (not a pun)

Read on AO3

--- It's hard to believe the fest is already over because this story continues to stick with me! I will be forever grateful to @draykray for the prompt, which allowed this fic to come into existence. A big thank you to my beta readers, @fates-little-crow and @lexi-leckstar; your feedback and encouragement were invaluable. And heartfelt thanks to the the hd-wireless mods for your patience and understanding as my word count continued to grow as well as for running such an incredible fest. I feel honoured to have my pen name and fic along so many talented writers and artists. Finally, thank you to all the readers! It means the world that you took the time to read something that I created.