Helix, by Sara’s Girl

Seven months after the end of the war, Harry is feeling lost. Fortunately, he is about to be offered an unexpected and sparkling chance to find himself again.

Because I’m still such a tourist in the fanfic world, I thought it would be better for me to follow some recommendations, instead of diving into the pool not knowing yet how to stay afloat. So, I joined a “book club” group at Facebook, and read the August list, which included this work.

In this fic, Harry, Ron and Hermione are back to school for their last year of education, after spending the summer helping to rebuild the ruins left by the Battle of Hogwarts. And the same did Draco Malfoy, who during the process of reconstruction and the first months of school had detached himself from everyone and, to Harry’s eyes, seemed to merely exist, not caring for much. This troubles Harry and he wants to approach to him, talk to him, but doesn’t know how. The opportunity arises when, after an incident that drove to a bit of a fight during a Potions class, McGonagall reprimands them both and put them in detention. Their punish consists in taking care of some very delicate magical snails and make sure they mate and lay their eggs. The mating process happens only during the frozen nights of december, in the proximity of the lake, and they must spend practically the entire month babysitting these creatures, learning to coexist together like adults.

This is an advent fiction, so everything happens in 25 or so days. It was a very fun concept, and a very entertaining reading, but I couldn’t entirely let pass the notion that in less than 25 days, they basically fall in love and Harry even fantasizes with them moving in together. I mean… I could understand that they might have an underlying attraction or feelings for each other and all those days spent together moved things forward, but they were just beginning to acknowledge their feelings when Harry was basically dreaming of marrying Draco. Whoa, dude, slow down.

Anyway… Despite that,  I did really like and enjoy this fic so very much, and do recommend it. The story is very heartwarming and fluffy and angsty and smutty and all the good things. It also has a lot of Hagrid, which is much appreciated, and even a glimpse of Neville/Luna, which was cute. It can be read and downloaded here

Oh! Unusual mandatory pet: Solomon, the frost snail. And about that: at the end of the month, when there were discussions about the selected fics, it was brought up by the admin that this author in particular seems to be fond of unusual pets, so that would explain why seemed to be one in every single thing I read, although the first one I noticed was written by a different author.

The Claiming of Grimmauld Place, by bixgirl1

When Grimmauld Place begins fighting against Harry’s ownership of it, he decides he needs help to train the historic home — but little does he expect that it’ll be Malfoy who’s most suitable for the challenge. However, as Malfoy and Harry get closer, Harry comes to understand that expectations aren’t always the best path by which to guide his heart — and in the process learns just what is needed to make a house a home.

I honestly don’t remember if the idea of magical sentient houses is something that is canon for the Harry Potter universe, but to me it made total sense and if it isn’t, I really wish it were. It also made total sense the fact that Harry was completely clueless about it.

Another cool idea, that never crossed my mind before (which probably explains why I should just read and never write), was taking Harry out of his Auror job and putting him as DADA teacher, which, canonically, is something we know he does very good. I never really felt the Auror thing, you know? But then, I don’t get why anyone would want  to be a cop in our muggle reality, either, so…

I particularly enjoyed the presence of Draco’s Slytherin friends, and the idea of all of them turning into decent people is really heartwarming, although I’m not so sure about how on or off character they’re portrayed. But if Draco gets a redemption arc, why not everybody else? Side note to self: I must reread the series ASAP. It’s been years since I read the last book, and I never did a proper binge-reading, from 1 to 7. And, as I realized when I read PoA a couple of years ago, I’m afraid that my book memories were mostly replaced by movie memories… Additionally, after reading little else other than fanfics in the last couple of months, I don’t know what’s what anymore.

This fic also had something that I thought it was rather odd, but then, as I kept reading other works, seems to be a recurrent trope: unusual pets. I don’t know if maybe is that the authors were following certain prompts, and the prompters like to have some fun at their expense, or just want to add them for comedy value, but seriously though, what a strange practice. In this case, there is Paul, Harry’s garden gnome, and Francis, Draco’s *magical* Galápagos tortoise (what?) (well, yes, apparently a pet passed from one generation to the other) (really? no peacocks, though?)

This was SUPER FUN! The author did a great job and it’s a very enojoyable reading, with healthy doses of comedy, smut, fluff, angst… All what a girl wants. My first Drarry ever and I just understand everything now. This fic sent me down into a spiral of Drarry that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to leave. Nor that I’d want to… Drarry for life!

This fic can be read and/or downloaded here