Stupid

I thought It'd put this review in both places since... well, it was amazing. I haven't cried this much in years, and that's saying something.

Pairing: HHr
Summary: Hermione's wandering train of thought as she washes the dishes. 'Ron will kill me if he sees me cleaning without a wand. You're a witch, act like it! he'd say. He doesn't understand that I need the distraction...'
Rating: soft M
Length: 8 Chapters, 77K
Location: FF.net

I just finished this, moments ago, and I've still got that pain in my throat and that tiredness in my eyes from their dripping. Stupid by The Seamonkey was a complete surprise for me. When I don't like something immediately, or I can't see where it's going, I'll usually go back to searching without much thought and it's final. Every time I see the story again I'll remember that I couldn't read it before and move right along. I was so close to doing that.

I was maybe 3 paragraphs in and I just couldn't catch on to the writing style, or the phrasing, or the tone of Hermione's POV. I remember a while ago when I couldn't even STAND a story written in first person... I'm sure it's in one of my rules lists on Loves Dramione from 2008. The first instance of "I" and I'd run back to searching again. And with this one I went right back to the search, but read the summary again (bit elusive, isn't it?) with the HHr pairing and the Ron/Hermione descript. But then the word caught, "distraction" and the title "Stupid" and I was determined to figure out what that could mean in this story. Did she cheat? Was she this close to tearing off Harry's clothes at the very sight of him? Did they make some sort of mistake and she was living a lie?

Of course, any of these things could apply and more. So typical, so common in fanfiction are these types of stories that I can usually predict how they play out. I'm just good like that. But no, I was seriously wrong!

This is a story about long lost love, with it standing right in front of you and your very soul dedicated to protecting that person and your life from your feelings. Barely living and going through the motions so as to not mess up the perfect life around you whilst knowing that it is in fact the most imperfect, sad, grey life that's been carved out for you and the slightest touch can set it off. It's a story about self-denial and restraint and just so much goodness for the benefit of others that, although I didn't get it at first, is just so characteristic of both Harry and Hermione.

I'm crying again just thinking about it.

I have searched long and hard for an HHr worth mentioning, and have found few. I can't get away from HD and DHr, but this is just something so amazing that I doubt I'll ever be able to read another in the pairing without comparing the two. Please give it a read, you might not get it at first but.... wow.