Fic Spotlight

Title: No Name Woman
Author: bk11
Length: 20,303
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: profanity, sexual content
Summary: It’s a strange new world in which Hermione runs from the law and Draco is the one to bring her back.

Editor’s Thoughts: Wrenching, evocative, philosophical -- each word in this too-brief, too-lovely story batters against you, at times with the force of hailstones and at others, with the feather-touch of a drizzle. Told mostly from Draco's perspective, it's a time-disjointed tale of how Hermione Granger became one of Wizarding England's most wanted fugitives. The beginning of this story is also the beginning of its end.

Draco is an Auror in an AU-HBP-compliant world where extremists run a militant British government and fugitives are hunted down by hit squads. He finds Hermione in Casablanca and brings her back to be locked up in St. Mungo's until her trial. As flawed as Hermione is, and we're privy to much introspection on her part, we get to live and experience the turbulent times in tension-fraught flashes from Draco's eyes. He is/was a racist, he believes/doesn't believe in genocide, and he's no hero, barely a decent man, full of self-justifications, but just vulnerable enough to let another person in, and when he does and she does, it all comes together in a kaleidoscope of graphic, unusual prose that'll leave you with a thoughtful feeling for hours afterwards.

No Name Woman is not merely romantic; it's human.

July Fests in Review

hp_porninthesun
2010 Master List and Reveals!

hawthorn_vine Phase 1 Master List!
Art: D/Hr and Spider [K] drawn by itsbeenvery
Death by House-elf [K] by pips_n_chiaw

Art: Couple’s Portrait [K] drawn by kalina_blue
Smithereens [MT] by strawberrykait

Art: Plump Unpecked Cherries [T] drawn by riptey
The Goblin Queen [M] by yesterday4
Art: How to Pick Them [K] drawn by riptey
We All Fall Down [T] by blackestfaery
Dandy Lies [T] by vox_rowan

hp_wishes
Flashbacks of Fancy [PG-13] by liebedance


Missing any fics/art? Leave a comment! All comments screened.

Fic Spotlight

Title: Of Daisies and Stars
Author: elektra30
Length: 2.5K
Rating: G
Warnings: EWE?
Summary: Sometimes, this boy reminded him too much of too many people.

silvia_elisa's Thoughts: If there is one thing that I think it's difficult to portray in fanfiction, realistically portray, is children. It takes a skilful writer and a good story, Of Daisies and Stars has both; the way it unassumingly starts in medias res, without trivial preambles, is the perfect kick-off for a terrific fic.

The point of view stays so close to Draco that I felt a connection with the child myself, and as his thoughts pass you by, you'll find yourself breathing in the diary of scents, sights and sounds – as the author puts it. The strong emotions that Draco is experiencing are cleverly juxtaposed with his son's babbling and Hermione, almost imperceptibly, is with them both the whole time.

I wish I could quote just a couple of lines, but I'd end up quoting the fic in its entirety. The vocabulary used is so interwoven with the narration and so rich in detail that you'll get the scope of their lives together, instead of being hindered by the fact that it is a one-shot story. And the final part, well, the final part will take your breath away.

Fic Spotlight

Title: Ceiling Tiles
Author: inadaze22
Length: 1,055 words
Rating: T
Warnings: Mild Profanity
Summary: Seventy-seven tiles comprise the ceiling; perfect squares that stretch from all four walls.

elektra30's Thoughts: It is an art to express complex emotions and intricate characterisation within just a thousand words. It is even more difficult to do it in second-person POV and pull it off well. This fic is a carefully crafted snapshot of how sometimes we are so caught up in our own perception of a person, that we never realise who they really are and what they truly mean to us all this while. Despite being together physically for such a long time, it is only till this moment that both Hermione and Draco see each other in a raw and emotionally vulnerable light.

July Fest Sign-Ups

mini_fest: Christmas in July/Post-War Parties (theme)
Sign-ups: now to July 10
Due Date: July 10

hp_mhealthfest: Round Two (prompts / your own ideas)
Sign-ups: July 1-14 (prompting); July 17-31 (fest)
Due Date: October 17

hermione_smut: Round Four (fic exchange)
Sign-ups: July 1-22
Due Date: October 15

fantasybigbang: Round One (big bang)
Sign-ups: now to July 31
Due Date: September 30 (rough); November 1 (final)

polybigbang: Round Two (big bang)
Sign-ups: July 15-September 20
Due Date: September 20 (rough); October 27 (final)

harry_holidays: 2010 Holiday Fest (fic/art exchange)
Sign-ups: July 20-August 5
Due Date: November 5 (new), November 20 (veterans)

harrypotterbang: Round Two (big bang)
Sign-ups: July 30-October 18
Due Date: November 17 (rough), January 7 (final)

hp_wishes: Summer Themed Activity (themes)
Sign-ups: now to September 20
Due Date: September 20


Missing any fests/challenges? Leave a comment! All comments screened.

Fic Spotlight

Title: The Symmetrical Transit
Author: everythursday
Length: 81,221
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: sex, language, mild violence
Summary: He believed the world was screwed up because a lack of balance. Everything in the world had it's equal parts -- love, hate; right, left; sun, moon; drive, laziness -- but no one ever grew up with these parts in the same proportion, which made them off. People were either forced to live discordant, or they were lucky enough to find that balance through someone else.

Editor’s Thoughts: Draco and Hermione are on the run from Death Eaters and Hermione finds herself at his mercy when she emerges wandless from a botched mission. They've got one wand between them, no money, no contacts, no magical means to get home, and one tiny slip of paper that hints at a Horcrux. To put it simply, this is one of my favorite Dramiones of all time. For me, this is one of the créme de la créme as far as characterization goes.

The plot may be an excuse to throw Draco and Hermione together, but it's fast-paced and furious nonetheless. This story will make you laugh, tear up, want to hurl things at the screen, jaw drop at the sheer UST, and then fall off your chair at how blazing hot the sex is. This is how falling in love should be: complicated, beautiful, and heartbreaking. After finishing, I believed that neither of them would ever want to give their heart to anyone else. And isn't that the definition of romance?

P.S. You'll have to join dmhgficexchange to read it. Include an age statement that you're over 18 and follow the instructions in the profile.

Fic Spotlight

Title: Lights Out
Author: Phoebe
Length: 10,627
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: profanity, explicit sexual content
Summary: And that’s why they’re there this first Tuesday night, he and Granger. They walk through the dark places of Hogwarts, after all the dormitory lights go out, and Hogwarts’ students resign themselves to whatever waits in their dreams.

Editor’s Thoughts: Every ship has its classics, those forerunners that blazed the way for the rest of us. This one-shot is one such classic. Taking place at Hogwarts in sixth year, Draco is assigned to patrol with Hermione and he's pissed at the idea. What's unusual about this fic is that Draco doesn't just spontaneously "get over" his prejudice and his fascination with Hermione isn't really physical, as in so many Dramiones. He wants to dominate her, her true self, not the skin and bones. Hermione's character is atypical in her poise and unwillingness to give Draco the time of day. The prose is lovingly crafted to hit you in the gut with every word.

Read it. And then read its sequel.

Draco Big Bang

dracobigbang Master List!

You're My Midnight (art) by lolasangel

A Kingdom Beside the Sea [NC-17] by everythursday | art by inspired_ideas
Summary: During a dual gone wrong, Draco is hit with a curse that begins to erase his memories. Stuck with Granger in a lopsided house beside the sea, Draco's life and mind begin to unravel as he struggles to hold on to who he is while losing who he had been.

A Bottle of Luck [G] by pips_n_chiaw | art by inspired_ideas
Summary: A little liquid luck goes a long way for Draco, when he receives a bottle of Felix Felicis. Why does he seem to run into Hermione Granger every time he takes a sip?

Draco Malfoy and the Face of Death [NC-17] by ningloreth | art by zohra1
Summary: Ten days before his wedding, Draco’s past catches up with him.

Guilt Counseling [G] by cyyt | art by inspired_ideas
Summary: The guilt has been eating at him too long, but he just can't see it. When he returns to Hogwarts, perhaps that's all he needs.

Hostage of War [NC-17] by lady_of_clunn | art by Lhys
Summary: At the brink of extinction, the leaders of Light and Dark invoke an age-old custom to secure an armistice. For some, peace will come at a great expense.

Murder at Hogwarts Castle [T] by wickedswanz | art by inspired_ideas
Summary: Murder, mystery and a little romance ensue when Hermione and Draco return to Hogwarts to complete their final year.

Seven For a Secret [NC-17] by ldymusyc | art by zohra1
Summary: Draco celebrated Beltane with a woman whose face he never saw. Eight years later, he meets a little boy whose face is a match for his.

They Are as Legion [R] by rivertempest | art by mayfly_78
Summary: What is the price of peace? Some things are worth more than others, and Draco Malfoy will finally understand the value of selfless love-that is, if he survives.

Worth Fighting For [R] by alexajohnson | art by jezzifishie
Summary: Though seven years have gone by since the War, Draco can't seem to get out of the past. When he hits rock bottom, it's his three-year-old son Scorpius who makes him realize he wants to take control of his future. And that decision is only the beginning of a journey that will change him forever.

A Marked Man [R] by little_dollface | art by farfadine
Summary: Draco needed to remember everything about this day, even the painful parts.

Friday Night is a Game [NC-17] by scarletladyy | art by inspired_ideas
Summary: Hermione always looked forward to Friday.

Of Daisies and Stars [K] by elektra30 | art by leochi
Summary: Sometimes, this boy reminded him too much of too many people. Post-DH, EWE?

Playing the Cad [R] by grander_fanfics | art by deathjunke
Summary: Draco drives Hermione crazy, but not in a good way. What happens when he realizes he might have feelings for her? Can he change his ways before she kills him?

Fic Spotlight

Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: ashleyfanfic
Length: 48,389+
Rating: MA
Warnings: explicit sexual situations
Summary: Veela!Draco! discovers that his mate is the least likely person on the planet, and the discovery leads him and his father in new directions...

amethyst18's Thoughts: When I first read this story, I was immediately blown away by the creativity and depth conveyed in the writing. I've always been intrigued by veela! fics, and after the first couple of chapters, I realized that was something very special about this one.  The dynamic between the characters is truly captivating to read,  the details concerning veelas and their rituals are both detailed and realistic, and the chracterisations are well-developed and right on target!  I have a hard time swallowing fics that are completely bogus, but the world created in this story is both believable and brilliant. This fic will completely suck you in and will demand your attention, and in my opinion, that is the best kind! 

ashleyfanfic has done an incredible job of creating a story that not only captivates the reader, but also explores the world of the veela and the measures a man will explore to achieve his destiny. This story is truly a diamond in the rough and well worth the read! :)

Fic Spotlight

Title: Friday Night Secrets
Author: yesterday4
Length: cca 21,000
Rating: R
Warnings: EWE or as the author says “my way out of the epilogue, so it does include Draco/Astoria and past Ron/Hermione, although it all ends up the way it should. Ahem”. Couldn't agree more. Without “ahem”. I'm dead serious.
Summary: After the war, Hermione and Draco meet at a Muggle pub, and it’s the start of something unexpected for both. Then, what good are expectations anyway?

dianoram's Thoughts: Details. It's all in the details with this one. This story has won me over from the start and I return to it every few months to read at least a portion of it. It's one of those stories that are warm, wonderful and make your heart swell. Well, mine was quite filled in the end.

Hermione and Draco start talking in a Muggle pub and it's awkward, beautiful and strange. And filled with humour. What starts as an anomaly becomes a pattern; thus the most unlikely friendship develops. The secrets they both share during those Friday nights aren't huge, but they are life-altering. And what is most striking of all – their secrets fit together. It is the slow development of their friendship that captures the attention. Both are real – Hermione is not perfectly proportioned and Draco is still pointy, though his attraction is undeniable, on more levels than one. Read it a leisurely pace and enjoy every small revelation they share with each other.

Now, I'm certain every reader will find details of his/her own that they will appreciate. Mine are countless but I'll mention just a few: first and foremost, Hermione's self-ironic voice that leads you through the story, relaxed Harry, shrewd and supportive Ginny, lovely Astoria, trading barbs across the pub table, finding a guy for Granger, inter-house unity, letter from Malfoy, Braveheart references that made me almost cry and then grin the goofiest smile in the history of mankind... Freedom, indeed.