snowgall

Great year for the

hd_erised fest as usual!

Here are some fics I highly recommend:

Written on the Heart by who_la_hoop ( NC-17 | 113,000 ) 31-Dec-2016
Summary: Harry doesn’t mind that so many Slytherins from his year have returned to finish their NEWTs, really he doesn’t. It’s just – do they have to be so friendly? He’s not prejudiced, really he’s not. It’s just – they’ve got to be up to something, right? Unnerved by the attention he’s attracting from everyone – the Slytherins are the least of it, to be fair – and struggling with a raft of changes to Hogwarts itself, Harry wishes he could be happy that one constant remains: Draco Malfoy really fucking hates him.
When he’s hit by an illegal love-spell though, Harry finds he has more to worry about than whether or not Blaise Zabini actually wants to be his friend. For if everyone affected has been blessed – or cursed, by the look on Malfoy’s face – with a magical tattoo revealing the name of their soulmate, what does it mean that Harry’s skin remains completely bare?

This fic hits all of my sweet spots: 8th year, soulmark tattoos, 113K and NC-17 \o/ I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when this posted! And it lived up to all of my hopes :) It was fantastic and beautiful.
I loved this take on the soulmark trope. Draco's mark *blossoming* for Harry is so wildly erotic! And the idea that it might not be reciprocated, or that Harry might not have a soulmate was heart-wrenching. Draco is so stoic and resigned about the whole thing, even though he's clearly pining away and his heart must be breaking into a hundred little pieces. And Harry, god Harry is so clueless but also so earnest and well-intentioned. I loved every moment of this, and only wish it could have gone on longer (because it was so good, not because it was lacking anything!)

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Lumos by birdsofshore ( NC-17 | 42,000 ) 26-Dec-2016
Summary: Harry never expected to spend eighth year listening to Draco Malfoy wanking.

I so enjoyed this! I may be shallow, but I have to admit that I loved that this story didn't waste any time and got right into the sexual tension and the after-dark activities :) But even so it never felt gratuitous, and I adored how this was at heart a story of sexual awakening and exploration - of two young men who were new to things and still working out what they liked and wanted. The awkward intimacy was delicious.
And all of it was just beautifully written too, with natural dialogue that gives us glimpses of what all the characters have been up to without ever being info-dumpy. Harry's dawning realization that he likes Draco and wants to be with him is endearing, and I so appreciated how the misunderstanding that led to Harry almost hexing Nott and putting himself in the infirmary didn't feel overdone or stupid. Harry knew immediately that he had screwed up, and he wanted to fix it ASAP.
Also really loved the depiction of wandless magic and how seamlessless it was worked into the story. The whole thing was wonderful and rewarding to read.

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Boom Clap (The Sound of My Heart) by femmequixotic and noeon ( NC-17 | 39,600 ) 20-Dec-2016
Summary: Post-war Hogwarts has been energized by its new teaching fellows program. Where once bitter enmity divided the wizarding community, Malfoy and Potter chummily patrol hallways together whilst Granger and Zabini seek lost parts of the castle at McGonagall’s behest and Chang supervises Quidditch when not lecturing in Charms. It’s a veritable wizarding utopia and life is predictable for the first time in years. Which is, of course, when everything blows apart as the result of a drunken dare and Malfoy’s life is ruined beyond his capacity to repair it. Ever. In a million years.

I loved everything about this story! Draco's pining was incredibly moving, and his distrust of Harry's interest entirely believable. And I was thrilled with all the fantastic tropes interwoven into this fic - party games, the room of requirement, and the Mirror of Erised! And each one felt completely fresh and important to this story, not just tacked on. Especially the Mirror of Erised - the way this reveal was worked in was *awesome*. So, so, beautiful, and deeply romantic too ♥ The whole thing was a treat, and I'm so glad I got to read it!

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Weeds or Wildflowers by lq_traintracks and sdkshelly ( NC-17 | 17,500 ) 1-Dec-2016
Summary: A perfect match, a romance for the ages, with a one hundred percent success rate! Magic Match claims they can give Draco all of this. So why do they keep sending him on dates with Harry Potter?

Super enjoyed this! All of their interactions and awkwardness and UST and everything is terrific. Just a completely immersing read. And holy hell was the sex scene hot! \o/ Loved Draco's slowly melting resistance to all things Potter, and Harry's openness and unabashed interest in Draco :)

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Lift Your Open Hand by firethesound ( R | 19,000 ) 27-Dec-2016
Summary: With Draco Malfoy as his assigned partner for the next six weeks of Auror training, Harry had been prepared for things to go poorly. But getting themselves accidentally bonded to each other in the first twenty minutes of their very first assignment seemed going above and beyond, even for them.

Such a lovely story. Nice build to their interactions and so funny how Ron called out Harry for constantly checking out Draco's arse! I adored their first kiss - amazingly erotic for just a kiss :)

Oh, and I think I'd love to hear that lecture on Application Requests for the Submission of Evidence Confirming Uncorroborated New Testimony! What a mouthful of a topic ♥

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