This was really a marvelous story. You are truly that master of the slowly developing 'dislike to friendship - to understanding to love' type of love story for Harry and Draco. Those are my favorite type. This one brought tears to my eyes because it was so moving. I can see Draco trapped in the Manor, broken and uncertain, but trying to be strong for his mother; wondering what he's going to do with himself. Your imagery is beautiful and I especially loved this; "...a large stretch of the Malfoy gardens gleamed with row after row of green and red, and steamed gently with the decay proper to a swamp, busy with death that was turning into life." I think this is the perfect correllation to Draco's own situation - busy with death now turning into life. Perhaps I'm being overly analytical but I absolutely loved the focus on Draco's choices at the end. So much of his life and his actions have been dictated by forces outside of himself - I appreciate that Harry understood that he couldn't pressure Draco into anything - that it had to be his choice. I was literally holding my breath as I led up to their face to face meeting, wondering if there'd be awkardness or shyness. It made me smile to read it and this... "After a moment, his eyes sliding shut while something wonderful happened to his mouth, Draco decided he didn’t mind." made me laugh. Excellent story. I know you've been asking for ideas but I love everything you write. So my request it to just keep at it.
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Date: 2007-10-08 01:58 am (UTC)Perhaps I'm being overly analytical but I absolutely loved the focus on Draco's choices at the end. So much of his life and his actions have been dictated by forces outside of himself - I appreciate that Harry understood that he couldn't pressure Draco into anything - that it had to be his choice.
I was literally holding my breath as I led up to their face to face meeting, wondering if there'd be awkardness or shyness. It made me smile to read it and this... "After a moment, his eyes sliding shut while something wonderful happened to his mouth, Draco decided he didn’t mind." made me laugh.
Excellent story. I know you've been asking for ideas but I love everything you write. So my request it to just keep at it.