lomonaaeren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lomonaaeren) wrote2009-10-13 07:11 am
lomonaaeren) wrote2009-10-13 07:11 am
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Story Sketch: Ragnarok
This is not so much a full progress report as the sketch of a story that I wanted to get down. It’s gone through several permutations in my head and finally settled into what feels like a workable one, and I don’t want it to escape.
This story is about political power and magical power, but from a different perspective than I usually take. In it, Draco is the youngest member of the Wizengamot, after ten years of trying (so he would be about 30). He’s finally redeemed the Malfoy name from the mud that Lucius dragged it through and made political connections of his own. Even more precious, he has a secret from almost everyone (except his parents): he’s done experimental rituals that increased his magical strength. He has that power available if he needs it, but as a hidden weapon, since he would rather achieve his ends through other means.
As a member of the Wizengamot, of course he gets to learn the Wizengamot’s secrets. He’s especially eager to learn more about Ragnarok, the elite corps of wizards the Wizengamot has used since the war to destroy rising Dark Lords and occasionally other dangerous people or things, like artifacts the Department of Mysteries can’t cope with. Their existence is barely rumored outside the highest circles of the Ministry.
Imagine his astonishment when he realizes that Ragnarok consists of exactly one wizard: Harry, who was supposed to have emigrated to Australia years ago when the publicity became too much for him but has led a secret existence instead. Harry was investigating Voldemort’s attempts to create super-wizards after the war and accidentally walked right into the middle of one ritual, rather like the ones Draco has used, that changed his magic into a powerful, destructive, barely-controllable thing. He’s especially good at annihilating people and things, making it seem as if they never existed in that particular spot. Draco is fascinated.
Harry is not. He wants to get rid of that magic, which is slowly destroying his body from the sheer stress of channeling that much power, but all his attempts at the necessary rituals have failed because, as he has discovered, he really needs two people to do it. Now here’s Draco, whose hidden magic he senses at once, and Harry thinks he might have found his answer. In return for Draco helping him, Harry offers to complete one mission for him, thinking that Draco must surely have some enemy he wants destroyed.
But Draco has different ideas. Such as increasing his power to match Harry’s and teaching Harry about the fact that he deserves more than serving as the Ministry’s hidden weapon—essentially the same thing he did in the war against Voldemort, if for a different master—and finding some way that Harry can survive the sheer torrent of his magic.
Usually I write stories about the renunciation of power or the very careful wielding of it. This story is going to be different because it’s going to be Bastard!Draco rather than Secretly Good!Draco and Cynical!Harry rather than Worn-out!Harry. (Tell me you would not be cynical after ten years of serving as a hired murderer because it's the only thing you can do that might help instead of hurt the general public). We’ll see how it goes.
This story is about political power and magical power, but from a different perspective than I usually take. In it, Draco is the youngest member of the Wizengamot, after ten years of trying (so he would be about 30). He’s finally redeemed the Malfoy name from the mud that Lucius dragged it through and made political connections of his own. Even more precious, he has a secret from almost everyone (except his parents): he’s done experimental rituals that increased his magical strength. He has that power available if he needs it, but as a hidden weapon, since he would rather achieve his ends through other means.
As a member of the Wizengamot, of course he gets to learn the Wizengamot’s secrets. He’s especially eager to learn more about Ragnarok, the elite corps of wizards the Wizengamot has used since the war to destroy rising Dark Lords and occasionally other dangerous people or things, like artifacts the Department of Mysteries can’t cope with. Their existence is barely rumored outside the highest circles of the Ministry.
Imagine his astonishment when he realizes that Ragnarok consists of exactly one wizard: Harry, who was supposed to have emigrated to Australia years ago when the publicity became too much for him but has led a secret existence instead. Harry was investigating Voldemort’s attempts to create super-wizards after the war and accidentally walked right into the middle of one ritual, rather like the ones Draco has used, that changed his magic into a powerful, destructive, barely-controllable thing. He’s especially good at annihilating people and things, making it seem as if they never existed in that particular spot. Draco is fascinated.
Harry is not. He wants to get rid of that magic, which is slowly destroying his body from the sheer stress of channeling that much power, but all his attempts at the necessary rituals have failed because, as he has discovered, he really needs two people to do it. Now here’s Draco, whose hidden magic he senses at once, and Harry thinks he might have found his answer. In return for Draco helping him, Harry offers to complete one mission for him, thinking that Draco must surely have some enemy he wants destroyed.
But Draco has different ideas. Such as increasing his power to match Harry’s and teaching Harry about the fact that he deserves more than serving as the Ministry’s hidden weapon—essentially the same thing he did in the war against Voldemort, if for a different master—and finding some way that Harry can survive the sheer torrent of his magic.
Usually I write stories about the renunciation of power or the very careful wielding of it. This story is going to be different because it’s going to be Bastard!Draco rather than Secretly Good!Draco and Cynical!Harry rather than Worn-out!Harry. (Tell me you would not be cynical after ten years of serving as a hired murderer because it's the only thing you can do that might help instead of hurt the general public). We’ll see how it goes.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2009-10-13 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)I have to disagree with other reviewers: I don't think one should have to be particularly old to be a member of the Wizengamot. While Dumbledore reached a very advanced age, there are very few actual grandparents running around in the Harry Potter series, and those who are (like Neville's grandmother) seem too old for politics. It's an odd paradox of the canon: everyone seems to marry and have kids young, but only those who are side characters or Dumbledore can live to a more advanced age, and yet the Wizengamot is reportedly a bunch of old fuddy-duddies. Look forward to your portrayal of the other court members in general.
So, the whole concept suggests either a dual Harry/Draco POV or just a Draco POV. The real question, however: gen, or preslash, or slash? It helps Draco's standing to have married into a 'light' family, but that ties down his allegiances. And, like many of your readers, I'm a Drarry fan. A big one. Be interesting to see how that all goes. Since potentially, Draco will be the first person who can handle Harry in his current shape; seemingly if Harry was with anyone romantically while in over-powered-mode, he'd pull a Superman/Man-of-Steel and kill them with the force of his ejaculation.
Can't wait for the next update.
-Jolene
no subject
He loves power for its own sake, and for the fact that he can have revenge on people when he has it.
I think the name is leading people to think more old wizards sit on the Wizengamot than is actually the case. After all, not all the wizards present at Harry's trial are described as being old.
This will be slash. Draco is going to be the kind of person who rejects the thought of a marriage to help him get ahead because he would rather do it all on his own and with as few reciprocal obligations as possible.
...I really did not need that image about Harry, thank you.