Fic recs from HD-collab 2015

[snowgall]

Here are my favorite fics from the first ever hd_collab fest. Authors are currently anonymous. Names will be added after reveals.


If you're wanting an angsty fic, I recommend one of these:

O Sinners, Let's Go Down (NC-17 | 32,000) by birdsofshore with art by raitala
Summary: It seemed like such a straightforward plan ‒ a trip to Suffolk to research his mother's family tree and spend a few days relaxing by the seaside. Harry wasn't looking for anything more than that. He certainly wasn't looking for Draco Malfoy.

Wow this fic - so fascinating, and so hot! I really wasn't sure that I would love it, to be honest. I thought that Draco as a priest (deacon, actually) would be a hard sell or just unbelievable. But the author really makes it work, giving plausible reasons why Draco would have thought to join the clergy and also come to feel trapped by it. And super hot too, my god! The chemistry between Harry and Draco is off the charts.

Draco has worked hard to find absolution and a place in this world, and it all gets upset when Harry stumbles across him working in a small church in Suffolk. We see Draco struggling so hard to rebury the physical needs he has denied for long, and the desires that seeing Harry has reignited. Harry is trying too - to understand this new Draco and figure out why he himself feels so lonely all the time. When the two of them finally do figure it out though, it's amazing. Fantastic fic, and lovely art too.
(extended rec at hd-storyroom)

Up in the Air (PG-13 | 8,500) by dicta_contrion with art by kazuya22
Summary: When he's out in the sun, eye to eye with the treeline, Harry can barely remember why this thing with Draco was ever a secret in the first place.

I love the way the author told this story - from Harry's POV so Draco's thoughts and feelings are as inscrutable to the reader as they are to Harry. And it makes us sympathize with Harry so much, and ache for him when it seems that Draco doesn't want to publicly acknowledge their relationship.

Draco here is so Draco. Cool and unflappable and keeping a tight reign on his emotions, yet unable to keep hints of them from peeking through. The ending is just lovely. Wonderful feels!

Until It Rains (Don’t Keep Me Waiting Too Long) (NC-17 | 7,400) by lumosed_quill and sdkshelly
Summary: The last time Draco sees Harry, they’re on platform nine and three-quarters, and that last night in the Astronomy Tower feels so very far away. The first time Harry sees Draco again, it’s five years later, and that same night feels like yesterday. A story of Harry and Draco’s second (and first) chance.

This is a reconciliation fic, and a beautiful one. I loved how in character and witty their dialogue was. And each of their encounters are so hot, especially the last one in 8th year, though my heart was just breaking for them too. The lovely repeated motif of their Astronomy lessons was a great way to tie it all together.

If you're wanting light-hearted comedy instead, may I suggest one of these:

The Four Ds of Apparition (or: Destination, Determination, Deliberation, and Dicks) (NC-17 | 36,500) by eidheann_writes and firethesound
Summary: After transferring to the Apparition Department, Harry's life becomes one big dick joke. And all his friends are arseholes. So is Malfoy, but what else is new? AKA Harry Potter and the eighteen twenty dicks.

This was hilarious and clever and totally entertaining. Harry is temporarily assigned to solve the case of the highly-realistic-looking sex toys which keep randomly appearing at various Apparition points. Of course, he needs Healer Malfoy to examine them (each and every time!) to be sure they're toys and not actual splinched off bits. Honestly laugh-out-loud funny - don't read while ingesting liquids!

The Morning After (R | 5,500) by birdsofshore and capitu
Summary: This is what happens when you stick your wand in places where it really shouldn't go.

Oh man, this was hilarious! And like nothing I've ever read before - it's like a palette cleanser after a lot of angst to get something cute and fluffy and ridiculous :) Seriously delightfully entertaining.

In addition to fics, there was lots of lovely art for this fest as well, and much of it seems to be by new-to-me artists. I especially enjoyed the art that accompanied O Sinners, Let's Go Down and Up in the Air above, as well as the stand-alone piece Draco Malfoy and the Temple of Runes by iwao and this_bloody_cat. Go check them out!