New story idea
Dec. 20th, 2007 07:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lomonaaerenThis 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.
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.
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Date: 2007-12-21 12:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2007-12-21 01:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2007-12-21 02:04 am (UTC)*cackles at Lucius and Narcissa* Lucius likes boys too, he just doesn't want to admit it. ;)
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Date: 2007-12-21 02:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
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From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2008-03-02 01:54 pm (UTC) - Expand=DDD
Date: 2007-12-25 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-28 06:39 pm (UTC)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.