New story idea

[lomonaaeren]

This is another new WiP idea that’s been stirring around in my head for awhile, but only assumed definite form last night.



In 'A Changing of the Guard,' which would probably take place post-DH but doesn’t necessarily have to, Harry has become obsessed with disguises—masks, glamours, Polyjuice Potion, actual alterations to his eyes and hair, and acting lessons to change his accent, the way he walks, and so on. It started as a means to go unrecognized in public after he defeated Voldemort. But Harry eventually made it into a business, Metamorphosis, which can supposedly offer a suitable “stranger” for almost any occasion. In reality, the workers of Metamorphosis are all Harry, who’s created a semi-permanent alter ego, the Manager, who meets with clients to ascertain their cases and decide how interesting and worthwhile they are. If he decides to take them on, then Metamorphosis closes and focuses on that one situation for however long it takes to resolve. (Harry does this so he won’t run into awkwardness by being asked to play multiple roles in two cases at once). He’s been a bodyguard for foreign wizards, an intimidating “expert” to give small businessmen an edge in their struggles with larger shopkeepers and the Ministry, and an apparently perfect husband-to-be for pure-blood daughters who want their parents to get off their backs about having a family. In a few cases, he’s even provided familial “reassurance” by posing as the boyfriend of a lesbian witch. Harry gladly helps with such cases, since he’s deeply closeted himself. (Wizarding society in this story tolerates homosexuality happening, but only in private; one can’t announce one’s orientation unless one wants to suffer complete social ostracism).

Then Draco Malfoy comes to Metamorphosis. It turns out that he actually wants to convince his parents he’s gay, even though he sleeps with both men and women, because he’s become so disgusted with Lucius’s behavior that he needs Lucius to disown him. Then he can build up his own reputation and fortune until his parents beg him to come back, sexual orientation or not. Vengeance and vindication, all in one neat package. He wants the Metamorphosis worker he hires to be his boyfriend.

Harry creates a new personality for the job, named Brian. He is absolutely thrilled to be a gay man playing a straight man playing a gay man, and he finds the thought of Malfoy depending on him hilarious.

And then Malfoy starts to fall in love with Brian. He sees no reason not to continue the relationship, because he really does like men. Harry gets more and more uneasy, since he knows he’ll retire “Brian” at the end of the job, the way he always does, and anyway he’s been lying to Malfoy since the beginning. He tries to communicate this to Malfoy, but since he can’t tell him the truth without revealing exactly what Metamorphosis does and thus destroying his own business, Malfoy just thinks “Brian” is playing hard to get and chases harder in return.

And then Harry starts wondering exactly how much of his personality when he plays Brian is his own and how much is Brian’s—how real is the man in the mask?



I think this story will be fun to write, because it’ll involve a theme of changing shape and identity that I love, and along with the angst, there will be many funny scenes of Lucius and Narcissa having to come to terms with the fact that their son sleeps with boys.

Comments

[damedbx.livejournal.com]

OMG!! is this another crack fic?? oh. I cannot wait to read it! your ideas are so wonderfully juicy!! XD

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Nope, not crack-fic. There would be funny moments, but also serious angst.

[damedbx.livejournal.com]

XD

[astartes-amazon.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting :DDD

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[shukuun.livejournal.com]

Ahahaha, I love this idea---especially the thought of how Lucius and Narcissa would react. *snicker*

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Oh, Lucius and Narcissa are going to be so hacked off in this story.

[ura-hd.livejournal.com]

Your creativity knows no limit. Sounds cool!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I can see the possibilities for a really intricate plot. Will be waiting patiently.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This will probably be the next story I take up after 'Forgive Those Who Trespass' is done.

[gilith-ramaloce.livejournal.com]

I look forward to this!!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[kbybee.livejournal.com]

*squee!!!* That sounds absolutely fantastic! What a wonderful and creative idea....

*cackles at Lucius and Narcissa* Lucius likes boys too, he just doesn't want to admit it. ;)

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I must admit, after the amount of fanfic I've read, I have a hard time seeing many of the male HP characters as completely straight.

[lycias.livejournal.com]

Brilliant idea. I can already feel the angst though :( But I love this Harry! So Slytherin and I love him closeted . Definitely take this and run with it!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

The angst will be strong. Harry is especially frustrated because he got into an ethical trap he never meant to get into; most of the clients of Metamorphosis accept that their "friends" or "escorts" won't stick around past a certain time limit. Draco just assumes he can make Harry/Brian fall for him and agree to stay.

I like closeted Harrys, too, or at least Harrys who have to argue a bit with their sexual orientation.

[suonguyen.livejournal.com]

Sounds awesome, you come up with the best ideas. I like how Draco wants to prove he can be independently wealthy from his parents so that they come begging for him back! Look forward to this one! LOL I still need to find time to read your other ones :D

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

That sounds like a Draco motive to me. If his parents dragged him down too much, then he might strike out on his own just to prove who the real Malfoy was.

[xrain-princessx.livejournal.com]

What an amazing idea. I eagerly await first chapter. :D

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It will probably be a while before I start writing it, though, as I want to finish at least one of my works-in-progress first.

[firedraygon97.livejournal.com]

Gay pretending to be straight pretending to be gay. :P I'm going to enjoy this fic, I know it. The whole Metamorphosis shop is such a wicked idea. I'm looking forward to it!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This is the most complicated career idea I've come up with for Harry so far. I'm looking forwards to seeing how it unfolds.

[(Anonymous)]

You just pointed out one of the things that I like very much about your stories. You've often given the characters very unique careers, it's so creative and original! Auror and Ministry workers are quite interesting, of course, but it's kind of overused that an idea such as yours is many times more interesting! I almost can't wait for this one, although the rest of An Intellectual Love Affair series definitely makes it worth the wait ;P. With the end of Forgive Those Who Trespass (with all those very-interesting-but-extremely-gory-and-oh-so-wonderfully-descriptive-that-I-almost-can-see-them details!), maybe you can start it soon? I'm looking forward to it!

=DDD

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm loving this so much, and it's only the summary!

[weis07.livejournal.com]

As I understand in the long secondary run it will be story about finding himself. Through all glamour and disguises Harry chooses he’ll be somehow translate bits of his personality at the same time thinking that he hides them. But in reality this situation is quite common – we use masks of all kind to do something that we wouldn’t do wearing our “own” face. And considering Harry’s situation – if this will be after-war events – he hadn’t much time to understand himself completely because of constant need to prepare to fight. He doesn’t know what person he became. Thus the masks/disguises. Trough them Harry may experiment, try different ways of living, to communicate at the same time not being in the spotlight. This way he really can hide and be (or try to be) himself, just Harry, try to found out who is Harry.
Draco’ situation is clearer and vindictiveness seems fit for him, but as far as I understand the same experience that made it impossible for Harry to learn to live affects Draco as well. In this aspect they are very much alike – I think. And maybe through all this masks and double pretenses they will see the real persons that they become. And maybe when they understand just who they are and be content with this, they also understand that not only this new awareness of them is precious in itself, but the other person, who made it possible, is treasure too. Maybe under all this masks they will see the beauty of each other and find a way to show it to the partner.
And, frankly, I don’t believe in bad narrow-minded Draco. I think JKR underestimated him greatly. I hope in this story Draco will be as smart, cunning and strong as in other your stories.