Drarry Recs

Featured: Unique POVs

Y'all, I am tired today. And so in an effort to not burn out, I had to ask myself what would be easy and quick to rec. What would I not have all that many of, at least if I only looked at the really good ones?

I decided on something I'm not sure will be very popular, but that I love a lot. Unusual POVs! I'm sure there are more great ones out there, but here's what I thought of. Remember to rec your own at the bottom if you've got 'em!

Under 10k

General

Title: Mission Impossible

By: kjp_013
Link to Livejournal: https://serpentinelion.livejournal.com/427511.html
Rating: Clean (well, okay, a very fair amount of swearing, but otherwise, clean).
Author Summary: It was their motto: Never a case too small. There were, though, cases that were maybe a bit too big.

Tag List: I don't even know what to tag this, Hogwarts 8th year I think, EWE, humor, 5k

Commentary: Can the animals of Hogwarts conspire to get Harry and Draco together? Damn right they can. Now, actually succeeding, well, that's another matter...
Feat: Hedwig, Trevor, Pigwidgeon, Mrs. Norris, and more.

Discussion Zone for Mission Impossible

10k-49k

Mature

Title: Erosmancy

⚯͛ By: astolat
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/7609768
Rating: Mature
Author Summary: Blaise was immune to whatever it was people usually felt around his mother, for which he was profoundly grateful, since no one needed an Oedipal complex on quite that spectacular a scale, but that didn't mean he didn't have a thorough respect for her gift.

Tag List: Magical Theory, bonding, 11k

Commentary: Blaise Zabini, my beloved.
In this fic, Blaise's mother learns that Draco has the power of erosmancy, which could be very dangerous for him. See, usually, erosmancy allows wizards to transfer power from someone else to the person they're bonded with. But if Voldemort found out Draco had it, who knows what he would have him do. So, it's up to Dumbledore to keep Draco safe, and it's up to Blaise's mother to train his powers. Of course, at some point in there, Draco naturally has to bond to someone. (Winking at you, Harry).
Narrated by Blaise Zabini, of course!

Discussion Zone for Erosmancy

Over 50k

𐂂🥇 Title: Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love

By: aibidil
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12256968/chapters/27852360
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: In which a group of wizards' rights activists goes on the offensive after a prohibition against love potions, forcing the magical world to confront the horror of magic's role in sexual assault and the murky legal nature of consent. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Draco are swept together to solve the case, and in the process they're made to confront their own love and lust—with and without potions.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Potions theory, case fic, lust potion/spell, consent, Wizarding traditions, magical university, courtroom drama, social justice, UST, soul bond (intentional), mutual pining, getting together, Patronus, 80k

Commentary: this fic got me out of a huge reading slump, so it'll always be on my rec lists. The POV switches four times: Ron, Draco, Hermione, then Harry; so each character gets about 20,000 words to tell their part of the story. Social justice Hermione Granger is so fun to me when done correctly. This does it correctly.
Warnings: Frank discussions of the implications of love potions and what they mean for consent

Discussion Zone for Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love

___

Title: What's Eating Draco Malfoy?

By: i8thecookie
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11992257/chapters/27130890
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: [Content Warning~ Eating disorders].
"Tragedy struck today when Anorexia Nervosa claimed a young boy's life," he spoke loudly. "Very sad. He will be missed by one person, maybe two. Awful. Now to the weather with Carl!"
Ginny could not help herself; she burst out laughing. She didn't know what was more absurd. The way Malfoy joked about his own death or the fact that he had watched muggle TV. Muggle news even.
"You're a bloody lunatic!" she snorted, and Malfoy's smile widened.
"Darling," he said in a posh accent. "We're all bloody lunatics, that's why we're here in the first place." He started to stand up. "Now that you're here, that goes for you too." He began walking away from her, slowly tilting his head as he spoke over his shoulder.
"Welcome to the loony bin, Weaslette!"

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Mental health, eating disorders, drug use, angst, mutual pining, grief, hurt/comfort, happy ending, 75k

Commentary: This fic is so dear to me. Ginny narrates most of the first half because it's about her starting treatment for her eating disorder and her developing friendship with Malfoy, who is also in treatment, but the POV switches later on (I can't recall if it's to Harry or Draco or perhaps both).

The Drarry content is not present until a good portion of the way through, but when it is present, it's good. They're both struggling, not sure how they're meant to be living their lives or how to be okay, and they both have to face their own separate battles before they can really work well together.

Recovery in this fic, like in life, is not linear. There are relapses, there are struggles, and there are times when you can't determine if things have gotten better or worse for our main characters.

I was hesitant about starting this fic for several reasons. I don't tend to love books about coping with anything like mental health, addiction, disorders, physical health, disability, etc. that center romance as the main plot. Why? Because, all too often, the authors romanticise the issue itself, or the characters only get better once they start to fall in love. That's not what I want to read about, because it doesn't feel true to life. Worse yet, often authors are writing about issues they've not experienced first-hand, and you end up reading something that is somehow simultaneously pitying and intended as inspiration-porn. It's horrible and awful in ways I cannot put into words.

This fic is not that! The POV choice is strong here because this fic isn't that. Ginny's story is not about healing because she's falling in love with someone, not in the slightest. Draco's story is not about learning that it's worth keeping himself alive because now here's Harry Potter come to love him. They are taking steps towards recovery not because the book needs a happy ending, but because they're putting in the work to get there. Making adjustments, being honest with the people in their lives, asking for help, admitting their problems, learning and growing, and taking it one day at a time.

They have missteps and they continue to struggle because their problems are not things that simple "willpower" will erase—they are real, legitimate disorders that have altered the way their brains work. This fic understands that eating disorders and mental health issues are things you struggle with lifelong. That even when things are good, that does not mean the problems are over or that they don't affect you.

Now, is it perfectly written with stunning prose and never-clunky dialogue? No. Is it paced like a bestseller and free of any errors? It isn't. But it's got so much heart. And it is a very honest and real portrayal of mental health issues that still manages to end on a high note without it feeling like, "hurray! All our problems are solved! We can go home now because love cures all."

Warnings: Lots of discussion of eating disorders and mental health issues (borderline personality disorder, depression, etc. I tried to be very cautious when reading this fic because I knew I had to consider my own mental and physical health. I am glad I was cautious but happy to report that I got through the fic without it triggering anything negative. Take care of yourself; make smart choices.

Discussion Zone for What's Eating Draco Malfoy?

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