Kiss A Boy In London Town
My comment can never do your story justice. I know that. But still, I have to try to tell you how utterly brilliant this story is.
This was so rich with details: the pastries, the talking statues in the church, the silver frogs on Sophie's cloak... Narcissa's acceptance - I could have kissed her! And Ginny rocked (being not fond of her in canon, this means even more)! Pansy/Theo had me in tears. So sad. And alas, so realistic. Draco having had fanboyed Severus - that's so very cute. *sniffs*
I loved Draco in this. I always enjoy when he is portrayed as someone who has grown up. He was great. So amicably with Scorpius, eye-to-eye in a good trusting way with Sophia, tender towards Narcissa. I enjoyed the complexity of his friendship with Pansy, that he understood what she had done and that this didn't destroy their friendship.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like had we made different choices, all of us. Not just after the war but before it. But I've not a time-turner. And what-ifs are of no use. I've a son I'm proud of and an ex-wife I adore and a mother I worship. And for that I've little to complain about.
I loved how he was able to appreciate his life, he seemed so centred. And yet he was by no means perfect. He was human, with fears and wrong decisions, like his affair with Theo.
Loved to see how fast and hard Draco was falling for Harry, how he cast everything aside to be with him. Dreaded the backfiring, of course, but it was so beautiful to watch how Draco became so innocent again. Especially when he made love to Harry in that last scene, but before as well, when they were dating.
Then again, we're not Gryffindors, are we? And our nest was trampled underfoot, sending us slithering away in fear. I don't think any of us have quite overcome that yet. We all lost too much, in our own ways.
I think that part of this explains Draco's stubbornness to let go his job. He has worked so hard to define himself, to make a living and take care of his family. And Harry in his glorious, self-centred jealousy demands that Draco should let go. Draco's mantra: I'm good at it - it's so obvious, and yet something that's very hard for Harry to comprehend. As for Draco, he realises that he can't go back, but it's hard for him to admit this to himself.
The sex between Harry and Draco was scorchingly hot! That last sex scene was so beautiful. The difference between this and the beginning, when Draco said that all sexual activities were the same to him, showed just how much he had changed.
And the ending was perfect. It's a dream come true, this openness and mutual support. A family of friends and lovers, of Whores and Aurors, Gryffindors and Slytherins. New lovers and old.
Somehow it strangely works.
Mostly.
This is what I dream of. And to see it come true in a story really made my day.
Thank you very, very much for this story. It will stay with me for a long time.