#nv-md

Drarry and Hurt/Comfort, go wild with whoever is hurting and comforting.

Or a totally different trope if you'd rather!

ahhh i love this one, thank you!

i'll do either/or headcanons for this one: draco is a world class comforter tbh. he has about a thousand different known ways to pamper harry, dote on harry, take care of harry from a childhood of being well taken care of. he's simply great at it.

over the course of the drarry experience, draco learns how to a. wait harry out (when it's emotional hurt/comfort and harry hasn't quite processed the fact that he even needs it yet) or b. bulldoze past harry's denial (when it's physical hurt/comfort; "i'm fine/i've had worse!" "hmmm, that's horrifying, shut up and let me heal you!")

flipping it, draco might obfuscate when it comes to needing emotional h/c, just because the vulnerability makes him really uncomfortable. harry knows that draco really trusts him when he's allowed to see draco cry without him getting mad or nasty about it.

however, when it comes to physical h/c, draco is fully the opposite of harry; "i'm fine!" isn't really in his vocabulary. every physical ailment is the worst he's ever had, a tragedy, and an emergency. zero pain tolerance, and he soaks up comfort like a sponge; harry finds it surprisingly easy to care for him just because most base-level attention and caregiving makes draco feel better.

the war makes them both afraid of losing each other, and their past makes them afraid of hurting each other too badly. it drives them both crazy when they get to a point in the relationship where, even if they have a horrible fight, even if they seriously upset one another, the other is still the one they most want around when they want comfort. 💕

Can I say that I'm SO excited for this rec? It's always so much fun to host a guest in the library, and I have loved reaching out and making new connections with people I hadn't talked with before, but it's EXTRA fun when the reccer is already a friend AND when she recs a brilliant fic that I hadn't previously read! I don't know what else to say about this lovely writer than she's a wonderful and positive addition to our fandom, and a dear friend of mine. Without further ado, here is @nv-md to share our April Happy Hour Rec!

On a normal day, my inbox is not usually a source of joy. Bills, ads, work, and more ads, means that I spend most of my time avoiding emails at all costs.

However, an email from AO3 brings me nothing but joy.

An email that one of my favorite authors has written another seven thousand words (that I get to savor for free in the middle of the produce section while ignoring the poor man behind me who just wants to buy squash)? 

Well, there’s no greater joy than that.

And I’ll be taking zero comments at this time about how much I rely on fanfic for serotonin.

So, onto the fic in question!

I cannot recommend InnerLilith’s work enough. Like honestly, all of her fics are bangers and you should feel free to stop looking at this post to go and read them all right this moment. But, if you want to stick around, I’d love to tell you about ‘I’m lying when I’m looking away’.

I'm lying when I'm looking away by InnerLilith (6,757 words, rated E)

Sometimes it takes a Purim party and a flapper dress for Harry to figure out what he likes. (Spoiler: He likes Malfoy.)

This fic features: Jewish holidays and traditions, Draco in a flapper dress, flustered Harry, hilarious banter, meaningful discussions about gender norms, the smuttiest smut that ever smutted, and a soft ending that melted my heart.

I fell into this story headfirst and it was nothing but delightful from start to finish.

Harry’s POV is perfect. He’s a goddamn mess, has no idea which way is up, and waxes poetic about Draco’s legs and skin and lips and collarbones, and generally makes a fool of himself in front of all of his friends. Classic Harry James Potter behavior that I will never get enough of.

“Then he was striding over, all that leg just exposed, so Harry could see the muscles shifting with each step, the ripple of satin over his hinging joints, the soft, dark promise of what hid underneath.”

Draco is cool and confident (omg the snark), his legs are long, his dress is short, and I love him as much as Harry does. Honestly, I think about Draco in a flapper dress at least once a day.

“Malfoy certainly seemed to think nothing of it, sauntering around like he was born in that flapper dress. And maybe that’s what the big deal was for Harry, actually—how Malfoy acted like it wasn’t a big deal at all, and how he was right.”

Everyone is at the Purim party, including our beloved Fred (who lives), and they all make cameos as they watch Harry drool over Draco. If I tried to include all my favorite parts, then I would just have to copy the entire fic into this rec, but just know, the gang’s all here and it’s wonderful and brilliant. Lilith nails each voice, their costumes are hysterical (I will never recover from Luna as a demiguise), and I wish I was cool enough to be invited to their party.

In between eating hamantaschen and celebrating with wine, Harry and Draco circle each other all night. They’re not enemies, but it’s clear they don’t quite know how to be friends either, and they’re so obviously into each other that you can’t help but root for them to figure it out. There’s just enough ‘will they or won’t they’ to keep you on the edge of your seat and to make the ending that much more satisfying. Then—

THE SMUT! 

That’s all I can say about that because you need to read it yourself—it is delicious—but here’s a little teaser.

“Harry tugged his clothes off frantically, and when Draco brought a hand to the straps of his dress, slanting his brow in a question, Harry said, leave it, leave it, and his voice sounded cracked and desperate.”

This fic has it all and you will not regret one moment spent in this world. I wish that we could gather around a table, drinking and eating and laughing and talking about this fic. Since we can’t do that, please read it and then come and yell at me about it. 

Happy reading and a big hug and kiss to the Librarian, your hard work does not go unnoticed and it is sososo appreciated!

Hugs and kisses back and thank you to @nv-md for joining us for Happy Hour! As always, if you enjoyed a fic, please leave a kudos or comment!

Best subject at Hogwarts?

Worst subject at Hogwarts?

or any other that strike your fancy!

Hello lovely!! 💗💗

14. Best subject?

The one I'd be best at? Transfiguration I think, most fun - transfiguration and care of magical creatures.

15. Worst subject?

One I'd be worst at - divination or arithmancy. Worst subject - history of magic. Id probably like it as an adult more as with regular history.

The Inconvenient Death(s) of Harry Potter

nv-md (ANW815)

@nv-md

Chapters: 9/9 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter Characters: Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Auror Harry Potter, Solicitor draco malfoy, Enemies to Lovers, Time Loop, Angst, Pining, Humor, Happy Ending, Falling In Love, Cats, Swans, Coffee Shops, Croissants, Coffee, Jogging, mentions of canonical child abuse, alcohol use, Mentions of Injuries, Explicit Sexual Content, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, POV Alternating, POV Harry Potter, POV Draco Malfoy, POV Third Person, Mentions of Death, Self-Sacrifice, temporary major character death, H/D Erised 2022, significant handshakes, Short Shorts, Going to the Beach, Bars and Pubs, First Kiss, Post-Hogwarts, Angst with a Happy Ending, Getting Together, Bisexual Harry Potter, Gay Draco Malfoy, Tattoos, Minor Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Apologies, Hermione Granger & Draco Malfoy Friendship, Groundhog Day

Summary:

Harry and Draco have spent the decade since the War avoiding each other, even as they’re forced to work together at the Ministry and their friend groups begin to alarmingly overlap. But what happens when Harry meets a tragic end (in a manner of speaking) and Draco’s the only one who can save him?

Or Harry won’t stop dying, Draco’s had too much coffee, and there’s more than enough time for them to make a mess of each other’s lives.

Excerpt:

But no sooner had he waved to Nora and walked out the door, than Harry barrelled around the corner, yanking Draco from his melancholy.

“Harry?” Draco asked, dumbfounded as Harry jogged towards him.

“Draco, I—fuck, this is…I need to tell you something,” Harry said, looking windswept and frantic.

Maybe today was finally the day Harry would make it out alive. Maybe this was it, the day Draco had been waiting for.

Harry was here, all in one piece, and Draco’s heart sped to a gallop. “Okay, is everything—are you alright?”

“No,” Harry said, frowning and shaking his head. “No, things haven’t been alright for a long fucking time.”

Draco didn’t know if Harry knew just how true that was.

“What can I—”

“I’m quitting the Aurors,” Harry interrupted, and his eyes went wide, as though he couldn’t believe he’d finally said the words out loud. “I can’t do it anymore. The nightmares and the bodies, and just—everything. God. Fucking everything. It’s too much and it never ends. I thought I could do it, but I can’t.”

Draco’s stomach went into freefall when he saw the tears in Harry’s eyes. “Harry, you don’t have to do anything—”

“See, that’s the thing though—I do. I’m the ‘Saviour’ and everyone expects me to love being an Auror, and I hate it. I fucking hate it.” Harry took a shuddering breath. “I’m not making any difference at all, and I’m tired…just so bloody tired of fighting. I’m done. Really bloody done with everything.”

Harry scrubbed at the back of his neck, and Draco wanted to still his hand, wanted to pull Harry into his arms. “When you said we could skive off, spend the whole day together, do anything we want…God, I wanted to. I wanted to so badly. But I can’t, because if I don’t do it now, I never will.”

It was so much worse than Draco had imagined. It should have been Harry’s last day as an Auror, and instead, he was going to be killed before he even made it to the Ministry. As if Harry hadn’t sacrificed enough, as if he hadn’t saved their world from total destruction…Draco wanted to curse everyone that had always asked so much of Harry, everything he had to give, including his own life.

Trying not to let dread paralyse him, trying to be fearless like Harry, Draco struggled to say something…anything that might change the future.

“Meet me here—tonight,” Harry said, and before Draco could take a full breath, before he could fall to his knees and beg Harry to stay, Harry grabbed him by the shoulders. Though Draco was taller, he felt himself shrinking under the intensity of Harry’s gaze. “Let me get through today and then tonight, I’ll be free. We can do anything you want.”

His fingers tensed, the pain pulling Draco back to the present as Harry murmured, “After today, I’m yours.”

Draco could only nod, holding tight to hope and praying to every deity that was listening to save Harry.

It could have been nothing, Harry’s suddenly dark eyes roving over Draco’s face, holding steady on his lips. Maybe Draco imagined the shiver running up his spine as Harry took one step closer, and then another. The fingers at his nape, sifting through Draco’s hair, were so unexpected, yet so familiar, that Draco leaned into the touch unconsciously.

Then Harry was closing what little distance remained between them, his sweet breath warming Draco’s lips, and Draco’s mind went blank. He wasn’t ready, would never be ready.

How was Draco supposed to say goodbye after this?

A piece of Draco’s heart wrenched away from the whole when Harry kissed him.

It was devastating, unbearably tender, and Draco wanted nothing more than to live in this moment forever.

Then, Harry was gone.

Happy birthday darling @nv-md! I can’t think of anyone more present, cheerful or supportive than Ali. She’s always so kind, so positive and genuinely encouraging to everyone around her, and also super enthusiastic about all fandom related things. Her passion for Drarry and rare pairs is absolutely infectious, and I feel like we are especially connected through our sordid rare pairs interests 👯‍♀️ not to mention her wit and sense of humor - Ali is such a fun person to be around and that translates into her fics, too. It’s impossible not to smile or laugh out loud with the hilarious shenanigans she comes up with - or drool over her sexy & scorching hot smut 🔥

Ali is a fandom champion and embodies what this experience is supposed to be about imo - finding joy in creating and engaging. She’s a writer, beta, cheerleader and still finds time to carefully read, comment and reblog everything else. Whenever I’m leaving a comment on a fic I find out that Ali’s already been there spreading gentle encouragement. Her presence is truly inspiring and reminds me of what it means to be part of something bigger, and to be there for your friends. So much of what she does goes unnoticed behind the scenes and I wanted to highlight those contributions as well. Now, on to my favourite Ali treats (lol I almost wrote “threats” which they might be! Killing us with softness 😔). As I said, she’s equally passionate about Drarry and rare pairs - from tooth rotting fluff to unapologetic filthy porn, she’s written some of my favourite tropes for my favourite ships, and I’m so happy that I get to feast on her works for free. Happy birthday my friend, I hope you have a day as sweet and fun as you are! Thank you for being you 💗

Drarry

Have I Told You About My Vampire Boyfriend? (M, 1.1k)

Harry fucking loves being a vampire, especially since he gets to be a vampire with Draco.

Bonds, Besties, and Boners: Draco Malfoy’s Guide to Getting a Boyfriend (E, 4k)

Draco and Harry are accidentally bonded while at work. Harry's thrilled, Draco's annoyed, and Pansy's doing everything she can to cause trouble. Can these two idiots figure their messy relationship out?

Your Kiss, and I Will Surrender (E, 5k)

Draco's on the run and Harry hasn't seen him in months. All hell breaks loose when Harry catches him in Knockturn Alley, but there's more to their relationship, and Draco's disappearance, than meets the eye.

Ali's Candy Hearts - A Month of Drarry Fluff (E, 14k)

A collection of unrelated Drarry fics: let's get fluffy in February.

On Hope & Healing (E, 14k)

Harry and Draco haven't seen each other in seven years, since Draco left the Aurors—and Harry—behind. So Harry can't help but be surprised when he starts working as a Healer at St Mungo's and runs into Draco.

Operation Dragon's Shenanigans (E, 14k)

Harry's in love with Draco, but it's complicated. Even more complicated than 'I'm in love with my ex-archnemesis and I get dizzy every time I see him smile'.

Draco Malfoy Absolutely Does Not Need to Be Loved by Harry Bloody Potter (E, 18k)

It’s not easy to be bonded to your childhood rival, turned fuckbuddy, who you also have extremely uncomfortable but repressed feelings for—just ask Draco Malfoy.

Rare pairs

Savage Altruism (T, 428 words) - Harry/Hermione

A cursed statue is determined to keep Harry and Hermione from love.

Let Me Take You Home (M, 1k) - Ginny/Pansy

After the war, everything and everyone was broken. Ginny and Pansy find a home in each other.

Can't I Have Both? (E, 1.8k) - Omegaverse Harry/Draco/Blaise

Werewolves usually only have one mate, but of course, Draco has to be special and have two Alphas chasing after him. And he makes sure they always want him...especially when he can drag them into the loo of a club.

True Love Blooms (E, 7k) - Harry/Theo

The flower tattoos on Theo's back paint the story of his and Harry's relationship: two boys falling in love and making their relationship work, no matter what.

Overexposed (E, 10k) - Harry/Teddy/Draco

Today marks @nv-md's one year fanniversary, and I thank the Drarry gods every day that we get Ali in this fandom. In addition to being a phenomenal writer and beta, she's also the world's kindest, funniest, most incredible person, and a top tier BFF (yes, that is most definitely a brag).

To celebrate Ali Day, here are my top five favourites that she's written over the past year - and this was bloody hard, because she's written FIFTY FIX works. In one year! Fifty six!!!!

So - after much deliberation, and in no particular order, here are my top five Ali fics:

Operation Dragon's Shenanigans (Drarry, 14k, E) - Ali's Cluefest work is one of the funniest stories I have ever read. It takes my favourite tropes - Harry thinks Draco's up to something, Harry is an idiot, Draco is super hot - and turns them into an epic tale of a lovestruck dumbass annoying everyone in his life because he's got a crush. A must-read on days you need to smile.

On Hope & Healing (Drarry, 14.5k, E) - this story has a very special place in my heart. Harry and Draco's relationship is heartbreakingly sweet and so full of tension and forgiveness and love. It examines prejudice in a really masterful way and has the most satisfying, lovely ending.

Just Stay (Drarry, 2.7k, M) - I think this was the work that made me click the subscribe button to nv-md. Hurt/comfort done to absolutely perfection, and a gorgeous friends-to-lovers arc that leaves my heart aching and soothed at the same time.

Everything About You (Drarry, 2.5k, E) - Ali's Transfest made me absolutely sob. She took such care to make this representation accurate and sensitive, and it really shows in this stunning T4T fic. Drarry's dynamic is stunning and the mutual pining and UST is chef's kiss.

Do It All Over Again (Tedrarry, 2.2k, E) - oh my god. Ali's smut honestly takes me to a separate plane of existence, and she absolutely nails this triad. Reverse chronology is a really fucking difficult thing to pull off, and Ali does it to utter perfection. I've read this maybe ten times and will definitely continue to regularly reread it.

Well, Draco wasn’t going to argue with that, not with enough evidence to fill several large tomes.

“But we have to do something,” Harry sighed.

“Is your plan to simply state the obvious until I go mad and chop my own leg off?”

“Is it working?”

“Yes.”

Draco Malfoy Absolutely Does Not Need to Be Loved by Harry Bloody Potter by @nv-md (Drarry, E, 18k)