Shipper's Manifesto: Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

[pokeystar.livejournal.com]

aka: Skating (in Hell) on Butter Knives

Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger



Blurb: This is not the pairing that brought me here (and by here, I mean the Harry Potter fandom).

At the beginning of 2007, before the release of Deathly Hallows and the Order of Phoenix hit the theaters, I was gripped by a Snape obsession.

Was he a spy? If so, for whom? Where did his allegiance lie? Would he be redeemed? Burning curiosity led me to critical tomes, where I found an essay entitled "To Sir, With Love" by Joyce Millman (Mapping the World of Harry Potter, 2006 ed by Mercedes Lackey). I was aware of fan fiction, but I hadn't thought of it in the context of a children's series. Millman opened my eyes. I started reading plunged myself into the ss/hg archives, eventually landing on "Roman Holiday" by Anna - the first in a series of three stories, incomplete - that started out with a dm/hg whirlwind romance. And I was hooked. I love dramione for two main reasons: Draco is a sarcastic smartass (my ultimate weakness) and there's fantastic potential for a comedic Karma smackdown. I love him best when he falls big, and who better to bring him down than the poster girl for Muggleborns?

However, those are just my reasons, and I've already confessed dramione is not my OTP, per se. So, I asked a few friends why they like the swot and the swine together. Here's some of what they said:

"[T]hey're both intelligent, both witty, both have a seriously scary power level (see: Rita Skeeter), both are isolated from their families to some extent (Hermione's are Muggles and rarely seen, Draco's are Death Eaters who nearly get him killed). Add on to that the lure of forbidden love and we're in the land of extra-canonical ideal ships." - bookishwench

"Draco is cunning, clever and ambitious. He likes being in the spotlight, and who else do we know likes that? Hermione Granger, Hogwarts resident know-it-all. Her hand is constantly up in the air, casting a shadow over everyone else, and she makes no secret of thinking herself to be always in the right." - silvia_elisa

"[H]ermione has a Florence Nightingale complex. There's no denying it -- she would try to save anyone from harm. She's compassionate, she's got a fierce sense of justice, she's loyal, she's brave, she can find good in anyone...you get the drift. And there ain't more damaged a piece of prime meat that Draco Malfoy." - dormiensa

"They are fire and ice, constantly pushing against the other, challenging [each other], neither one can actually overpower the other, but they try." - becauseshecan

"[Draco's] character brings the opportunity for all kinds of shenanigans into the mix. Hermione in particular needs this kind of relief." - grizel

"I think [Hermione] thrives off challenge and that's exactly what he is. A very big (very hot) challenge. It might frustrate her, but I've always thought it's in her nature to gravitate towards someone like that. Draco wouldn't sink into routine easily, and I think she needs someone like that." - cupcaked

"I'm constantly surprised and pleased at the fact that the fandom still has a lot of quality fan artists and authors[.]" - vox_rowan

"You have to do a quadruple Lutz with a backflip and butter knives for skates to get these two together, especially in a way that feels fresh to the reader. It's really hard! This can lead to suspension of disbelief getting chucked out the window sometimes, and that's annoying, but it can also lead to some insanely creative ideas." - riptey

"I don't think D/Hr is more plausible or logical than other ships. I just know I enjoy it more." - itsbeenvery

If you want to enjoy it more, you should read the following stories:

Fic Rec #1: The Dragon's Bride
Author: Rizzle
Link: http://grangerenchanted.com/enchant/viewstory.php?sid=2336&ageconsent=ok&warning=1
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: Epic. Plotty, angsty, humorous, and mysterious. Takes the OMG! We got drunk and woke up married trope on a rollercoaster ride. Be careful. TDB will suck you in and not let go.

Fic Rec #2: Acceptable Loss
Author: celticsass
Link: http://grangerenchanted.com/enchant/viewstory.php?sid=1278
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: Explores the morality of making choices and attempting to change the past, while being an engaging and compelling romance. A story very elegantly constructed.

Fic Rec #3: The Velveteen Noose
Author: Marmalade Fever
Link: http://dramione.org/viewstory.php?sid=52
Rating/Warning(s): T

Why This Must Be Read: Chock full of literary references, Noose features insane!Hermione! - and how often do you get to read that?

Fic Rec #4: Polaris
Author: slytherinlaurel
Link: http://dramione.org/viewstory.php?sid=149
Rating/Warning(s): M

Why This Must Be Read: An unusual Marriage Law Challenge fic, Polaris is a gorgeously simple tale about two people struggling with grief, and learning (again) how to survive, to live, when all seems lost.

Fic Rec #5: In My Time of Dying
Author: savage_midnight
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/dmhgficexchange/285237.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13

Why This Must Be Read: One of the best epilogue-compliant fics I've ever read, In My Time explores the fallout of a War that no one won, really. Least of all, Draco Malfoy. It's powerful, packing an emotional punch, and told from Hermione's perspective, In My Time has a supremely satisfying ending.

Fic Rec #6: The Beggar Thief
Author: gravidy
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/dmhgficexchange/258504.html (you'll need to join the exchange to read)
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: I was shaking with awe and adrenaline when I finished reading The Beggar Thief. Like a really good action flick, it will keep you tense with suspense until the very end. I don't want to spoil the surprise (and there are lots of them) by discussing it too much, so i'll leave you with this warning: Clear your day calendar. Because Thief will suck you in and not let you go, until it spits you out, begging for more.

Fic Rec #7: Restricted Actions
Author: little dollface
Link: http://dramione.org/viewstory.php?sid=291
Rating/Warning(s): MA

Why This Must Be Read: Sexy as heck, and funny to boot, Restricted is a little slice of heaven that will make the darkest day seem bright. And enchanted socks are teh awesome.

Fic Rec #8: Gravity
Author: floorcoaster / luckiest1
Link: http://dramione.org/viewstory.php?sid=50
Rating/Warning(s): M

Why This Must Be Read: This is one of the first Dramione fics that I read as a work in progress, and to this day, I remember the wonderfully giddy, swooping feeling I'd get every time a chapter was posted. I envy you all, who read it for the first time. I really, really do.

Fic Rec #9: The Nothing Fights
Author: somandalicious
Link: http://dramione.org/viewstory.php?sid=228
Rating/Warning(s): PT

Why This Must Be Read: Trust Draco Malfoy to turn arguing into a courtship ritual. Trust Hermione Granger not to let him get away with faulty reasoning. Trust me when I tell you that "The Nothing Fights" is a delightful, whimisical read. Features my favorite line ever:

Hermione growled—or at least he thought it was a growl. It was something between a gargle and a huff. Either way, he hadn’t expected it and peered at her curiously. “What’s that?” He cupped his ear and his pink tongue flickered out to wet his lips. “I’m not fluent in Gryffindor.”

Fic Rec #10: Parade of the Sun
Author: everythursday / sage
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/dmhgficexchange/343119.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: I'm bookending this list with another epic. I have an icon that reads "There are no words to describe it's powerful awesomeness." 'Nuff said.



Finally, I recommend taking a look at bookishwench's essay on dramione: Why Draco/Hermione?