Static

Static by Galfoy
Summary: The Order rescued Draco and Lucius Malfoy after Lord Voldemort turned on them. All the safe houses are full and Hermione Granger is the only one who can take them in. Will she agree after having suffered a drastic nervous breakdown?
Location: FF.net
Rating: M
Length: 79K
Time Period: Post
Smut: 7/10
Status: Complete
Pairing: Dramione

This fic makes me think of the classic Dramione stories. Yet, instead of Draco and Hermione as Head Boy and Girl at Hogwarts eventually falling for one another, we've got a typical snarky Draco with a calmer Lucius, and a truly catatonic Hermione.

The Fallout

I admit, I have yet to finish this fic. It's been my first venture onto Hawthorn & Vine, but I'm glad that I joined to read this! I'm quite a ways into it, and it has a very slow buildup (which I appreciate when I need something for the long-haul). It tells a somewhat epic story of the war, told from Grimmauld Place.

The Fallout by everythursday
Summary: Hermione learns about growing up through the redemption of Draco Malfoy
Location: H and V
Rating: M
Length: 233K
Time Period: War
Smut: 8/10 (It isn't extreme, or raw. It's very 'just' and appropriate)
Status: Incomplete
Pairing: Dramione

Her Shoes

I'm back! After a long summer of work and H/D reading, I've gotten my muse back and with it, my love for Hermione. 

I have decided to start with "Her Shoes" by one of my top F-listers margaritama. I began reading this fic when it first came out much earlier in the year, but for some reason held off midway through. It is complete now, so I read it from start to finish over the past few days and was just as excited about it as the first time! 

Location: AFFN, GE

The summary for this story is:

"Draco Malfoy has demanded Hermione Granger head up an important new Wizard and Muggle venture he's funding. They'll be working at his home. Why would he do this? It's clear he can't stand her. Isn't it?"

Warnings: BDSM, Bond, M/F, Dom, Oral, SoloF, Spank

Rating: Adult ++

Length: 19 full chapters, Mid length

Time Period: Post Hogwarts, rather AU

How Good?: So, so good!

And the Smut?: Downright naughty

Status: COMPLETE

Pairing: Dramione

Ever notice how the great writers of fanfiction come up with an idea, stick to it, and manage to come out with an awesome story no matter how different it may be to other people? No matter how it starts out, or how odd or farfetched people call it? Or how many mixed reviews it gets? And to still come out on top, with EVERYONE loving it?! Margarita rolled this one out, with a standoffish and dreadfully aloof Draco and a Hermione addicted to expensive, designer shoes. And it works (out) so nicely! 

And when I say Margarita has style, I mean it. A style all her own, with witty phrasing and easily flowing reading like no other. It's fairly rare that I find a fic that can move me to tears, have me laughing out loud, and at times angry enough to write the author a big chunk of my mind about what she's done with a situation, only to have me wanting more and more and more at the end. And this was her first fic, I believe!

This story is intense, yet playful, stuffed with obsession and girlyness and heartache and sweetness. I wish I could give more detail without giving it all away, but I doubt I could. But I will say this: you won't find an easily submitting Hermione here. Sure, she might be lead by some heady attraction at times but she fights for equality, and is one of the stronger Hermione's I've ever read... and I've read alot... 

Love y'all, and I'm happy I'm back! I have another fic that I've given a shot and read today, and am ready to post my response while I'm on here!

-13Secrets

The Nymph Hunt

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

" Sometimes you're a hag in a nymph's body, and sometimes you're just a witch trying to hide the nymph in you..."

Location: FF.net, (here)

Title: The Nymph Hunt

Author: akashathekitty

Rating: T

Categories: Best Short Story, Best Draco

There were some things that I really just didn't like about this fic... But Everything else was perfect! Draco and Hermione's interaction was fun, funny, and a bit quirky. I love the idea for the costumes... I hope that wasn't a spoiler!

Pros: Wonderfully written, complete, funny, and had a certain level of predictability that comes with knowing the characters well!

Cons:... Hag?

Hydrotherapy

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"Draco finds a trip to the showers after playing Quidditch...enlightening."

Location: Pure Arrogance, (here)

Title: Hydrotherapy

Author:eilonwy

Rating: NC17

Categories: Best Short Story

Incredibly... hot, sexy, humid, and all manners of wet! This is short and steamy, romantic and I can't believe it wasn't nominated for Best Smut! I'm absolutely RAVING here!

Pros: Hot, and so very nice! No technical issues of any sort, and I wish it never ended!

Cons: Sequel, anyone?

Heaven Forbid

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"She held the Muggle pregnancy test limply in her hands, and the red plus sign glared at Draco dauntingly, his very own monster come to wreak havoc in his world."

Location: dmhgficexchange, (here)

Title: Heaven Forbid

Author: empathapathique

Rating: NC-17

Categories: Best Short Story, Best Heart-Wrenching Angst, Best Draco

I just, sort of, finished this fic... I liked it, and by the authors writing ability it is clear why it was nominated. I had some problems following the story and what was going on Then and Now but I did my best to read through it. How I went about reading it was probably the source of my confusion. I couldn't read it all in one sitting, so I read a little here, and a little there, and couldn't actually follow specific issues at once... All I can say is, "my bad."

Because of my mistakes, I'll only list the Pros with this story!

Pros: Well written, planned out, and great execution of such a heavy topic (abortion). 

White Knickers

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominations

"A short vignette between Draco and Hermione."

Location: LJ, (here)

Title: White Knickers

Author: Bunney/Krissy

Rating: PG, ought to be T in my book

Categories: Best One-Shot

Another awesome one-shot! This was no usual PG fic. As soon as I saw that rating, I almost immediately skipped it, but it was worth the read! There is no fluff here, and although it's sweet, you there's no beautiful story line to fall back on... I wish I could say more! Smart, sexy, yet subdued.

Pros: Amazing, in character, hot.

Cons: I wish there was more! Not that it should be longer, but I just didn't want it to end!

Companion fics!!!

White Noise: http://bunney.livejournal.com/511164.html

White Light:  http://bunney.livejournal.com/525998.html

The Nothing Fights

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Awards

"And she fell for him like her heart was a mob informant and he was the East River."

Location: dmhgfixexchange, (here)

Title: The Nothing Fights

Author: somandalicious

Rating: Light R

Categories: Best One-Shot, Best Comedy

I absolutely adored this fic, and that's saying a lot! So nice, so complete, it was long enough to get used to the plot and acquire some expectations of the coming events, but not too long... So funny!

Pros: Perfectly written, betaed, organized. Hilarious, yet sweet, and an awesome Hermione! 

Cons: I almost wish there was a sequel! Or a companion!

That Ferret!

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"Draco Malfoy has been a constant pain in my you know where for the last six years. But now ... “Going to the library, huh? Can’t wait until 8?” He whispers softly, teasing me. “Like I said, you just can’t resist my charm.” That ferret!"

Location: FF.net, (here)

Title: That Ferret!

Author: emaji

Rating: T

Categories: Best One-Shot

This is a first-fic with a really good idea behind it, but it's not my favorite. I think it's because I'm picky, and one-shots are really not my "thing," but it was a good first shot for emaji!

Pros: Nicely written, no horrendous grammar or technical issues.

Cons: Really short, no real story (just an idea), climax? plot? Unclear transitions between thoughts, actual spoken words, and story happenings...

Leap Year

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"Nobody needs anybody, Granger. They just want the point of pain."

Location: dmhgficexchange, (here)

Title: Leap Year

Author: basicaquatics or attica (?)

Rating: PG-13

Category: Best One-Shot

For some reason I held off on reading this fic... Like, the first time I opened it, I immediately backtracked to the Nom Page to find something else... I guess I figured it would be too long, or something I ought not start until I had enough time to read it on my computer instead of my Blackberry... Either way, I did read it, and I did like it!

The style is a bit... new to me. I'm one to pay attention to specifics, in grammar, and sentence structure... And along with that, the story itself was really different... I've done this in the past, focused a fic almost entirely on the characters and their characterizations, somewhat glazing over the backstory, and even the setting. In this case, I would have appreciated some more backstory, a lead-in or something. It almost comes off as AU, especially in the beginning...

But despite this, and the fact that it's PG-13, I did like it. It is nicely written, and it's definitely deserving of the nomination!

Pros: Well written, really different, and rather quirky in spots!

Cons: Confusing structure for those who don't understand the pacing, very little backstory, comes off as AU often, maybe even AH...

How You Need It

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"When Hermione finally comes to her senses and tries to divorce Ron, he refuses to give her one. Can Draco of all people help Hermione learn to love again, or will Ron get in the way of their happiness? DMHG, HPGW. DH compliant minus epilogue."

Location: GE, (here) and FF.net, (here)

Title: How You Need It

Author: dynonugget

Rating: M

Categories: Best Novel-Length, Best Fluff

As most of dyno's fics are, this one is perfectly written, well thought out and organized! If you want good, honest fiction, this story is for you... The issues involved are very real, and even though this fic is fluffy, it's rather painful in spots. Great read, great work!

Pros: well organized, betaed, and executed. Wonderful story, interesting characterization of Ron.

Cons: Almost too much fluff, (with good reason) extremely OOC Draco. 

Pathetic

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"Granger was dead. Granger was dead and everyone was acting like the sun had burnt out, like life was no longer worth living, like they should all just walk straight into the lake with their mouths open and drown. Pathetic."

Location: FF.net, (here)

Title: Pathetic

Author: I-Can-Spell-Confusion-With-A-K

Rating: T

Categories: Best One-Shot

This was a very short, in character Draco POV fic... Really nice! It was simple, not particularly layered or deep, but it had an attitude that I'm not used to finding in one-shots. This reads as a fic that didn't take much time to create, but like a really good idea that was written out for all to see... 

Pros: Wonderfully organized, in character Draco, great feel, complete

Cons: I would say that it's short... But I really couldn't imagine it being any longer.

Longing

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"Hermione has a longing, caused by none other than Draco Malfoy."

Location: GE, (here)

Title: Longing

Author: dynonugget

Rating: NC17

Categories: Best One-Shot

Longing was really really sweet, nicely written, and particularly pleasant. I'd just finished the most intense, angsty smutfest fic I've ever come across so this did come off as rather "light," but in a GREAT way. Pretty short, but then again, it's a one-shot!

Pros: Well written, by dynonugget, sweet, and the drama was not too dramatic.

Cons: The length if you don't like one-shots :)

Atonement

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"DH, post-epilogue. Twenty years after the war, Draco is plagued by remorse. In his mind, Hermione is the only one who can grant him the absolution he is seeking. Hermione takes him up on his offer, to suffer for her. Angst, BDSM, Humil, M/F"

Location: AFF.net, (here)

Title: Atonement

Author: Emily Waters

Rating: NC17, Adult++

Categories: Best Short Story, Best Heart Wrenching Angst, Best Hermione

Wow. Just wow. Great night read, awesome semi-quick read. If you aren't afraid of humiliation, and heavy BDSM themes, this is absolutely perfect. It isn't too short, it felt complete, very well written, and it even made me want to read a bit more by Emily Waters before the hour's through. 

Pros: Engaging, perfect length, emotional, well written, well-betaed, complete

Cons: A bit heavy if you don't like BDSM, angst, and humiliation.

Black & Blue

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Location: GE, (here)

Title: Black & Blue

Author: pokeystar

Rated: PG-13

Category: Best One-shot, Most Creative

I'm not one for one-shots, so this one was a struggle for me! There were a lot of things I liked, but quite a few things I didn't. Personal taste, I imagine, based on the fact that almost everything I read is 50K and I've formed a preference for that length. 

I liked it, didn't love it, but it was very creative and interesting... The layout is somewhat genius, but only if you understand what the writer is doing. I love the little dynamic Draco and Hermione have here... it really is unique, though. 

Pros: Perfectly betaed, great idea, very creative, pleasant characterizations, no extremes

Cons: Confusing, doesn't seem complete, to many time switches

Heart and Soul

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominee

"Dear Miss Granger, I understand and sympathize with you, however there is very little else I can do. While I know how difficult Mr. Malfoy can be, you are his last hope... Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore. AU/AR, M/F"

Location: AFF.net (here)

Title: Heart and Soul

Author: Tassana Burrfoot

Rated: NC17, Adult+ (nothing extreme)

Categories: Best Novel Length (50K or more), Best Romance

I just finished this fic by T. Burrfoot and it had it's ups and downs, but I know I couldn't put it down! Good characterizations, awesome plot, and a backstory like no other. The concept, though a bit sped through, was really... I wouldn't say unique, but very well thought out. This is a plot that most would find typical and common, but it really isn't. Their experiences... I suppose I can't give anything away!

Pros: Great plot, story, phrasing, and concept, complete.

Cons: Quick paced periodically, overly fluffy/mean in parts, spelling issues.

The Dramione Awards Round 5

The Dramione Awards

Round 5 Nominations

Alright, so it's that time again! Well, it has been that time again... for a while yet! But now that all the nominations are up, and I have plenty of time, I can get through them all and vote appropriately! I couldn't do this with the Smutastic Awards, but I'm on it for the Dramione's! 

So yes, I must read, or have read, every fic to vote right. Right, correctly, whatever... I said "appropriately" above so we'll go with that one. So I am going down the list, (in my own order) reading the fics one by one. And now I have a plan!

I am going to review each fic, individually, but not the full on editorials I usually do. They are going to be short, really as a way for me to remember my likes and dislikes for when the actual voting comes around! My review format will contain the author, title, the fics location, the rating, the category(ies) nominated for, the summary, and a little review from me! So please, to the few people who check out my blog here, check those out! I can't really bomb through the 50K+ fics, but I shall try my best! 

This is awesome! So many fics to read, so little time. (June 1-June 30!)

This isn't meant to be a resource, Loves Dramione's sole purpose is and always will be my personal means to link to, recall, and have all of the fics I rec/rev in one place. All authors whose stories are reviewed and hotlinked here are contacted, and permission is granted from each. If an author wishes a review to be removed from my blog, I'll do so-no questions asked!

*I am in no way affiliated with the Dramione Awards, the authors and/or stories represented, or the moderators of the community itself. 

Need and Want

I got back into the groove! Holy crap fanfiction.net is really becoming my best source for fics, new and old. Not only do the pages load easier on my phone, the amount of fiction there is just stupendous...

Through the community "Hermione's Happy Endings," I have found a few fics that have loaded up the memory on my Blackberry: Be Careful What You Bet On by BooBlack, Best Laid Plans by shadowglove, Love and Forgiveness by HarryPGinnyW4eva, and most recently Need and Want by rinny08. 

Location: FF.net

The summary for this story is:

"Head Girl Hermione Granger wants nothing more than a quiet final year at Hogwarts, only to be thwarted by Head Boy Draco Malfoy who offers her an arrangement that might be everything she needs. AU after HBP and DH."

Warnings: AU (?)

Rating: soft M

Length: Medium length, 22 chapters/~45K words

Time Period: 7th year Hogwarts/Post War

How Good?: Pretty good, 8/10

And the Smut?: -/10, see below

Status: Complete

Pairing: Dramione 

Awards: Haven't found any...

***Spoilers

The Bad:

This fic was a pleasant, quick, easy read but by the description I was expecting much more... something. Spunk, heat, and that anticipation that you usually get while finishing a chapter. 

Alot of that anticipation was dissolved with the little previews given at the end of each chapter, along with the writers exceptional foreshadowing. It was too good, and I could tell nearly every "big" point in the story many chapters before they happened. 

The smut was, even though the summary foreshadows otherwise, nearly nonexistent and the relationship was so fluffy at times that... well, it almost seemed indecent for any smut to be written out at all. In the beginning, the deal is made, and I am expecting a plethora of hot and sweaty, but secret, Head Boy/Girl action. They set up their "arrangement" and we expect their first time together, along with the second, and perhaps some kink throughout the story. I mean, the fic is called Need and Want for goodness sake, not Want and Fulfilled. Despite our expectations, I can't remember any actual smut whatsoever... It's like, the set up is there, hints at foreplay, but even the kissing is kept to modest pecks for the most part. What I mean is, she sets up for what sounds like some amazingly randy hotness at the end of one chapter, only for it to be referred to briefly in the next. Or having a lead in with some caresses in one sentence, with some Stephenie Meyer sex smattered about (not even), and then the little "after their fulfilling night, Draco and Hermione went..." afterwards. And by Stephenie Meyer sex I mean the kind where she skips a few lines and you are just supposed to imagine it, in there, the blank space...

I bombed through this story trying to find the heat, but it wasn't there.

The Good:

I AM happy I finished this fic though. This is great writing, nearly perfectly betaed, very well thought out phrasing and sentence structure, and some beautiful descriptions. That's why this got an 8/10. Apart from the dryness of the plot itself, which is a bit half corked, if summarized correctly this fic could very possibly win a Dramione Award if it hasn't already. This has a very, though not particularly, happy ending--something I adore in a fic. 

Draco and Hermione's relationship progresses quickly, and although a lot of hearty information is left out, I can certainly appreciate what the writer has put in! There is a very intense moment at the end but... I really love how it is resolved! I guess I can't say anymore on that!

So, even though it is displayed as a fic with romance and angst, especially with the M rating, this is definitely not meant to be that kind of fic. It's fluffy, with some drama, a pleasant (though choppy) storyline, and should probably, if anything, be rated T. 

The Nietzcshe Classes

I read The Neitzcshe Classes by Beringae was a nice little treat! I finished it yesterday, and enjoyed it for the most part. I'm taking Intro to Philosophy currently, and just read The Gay Science so this was really interesting to find! I almost want to school my professor on fanfiction and Dramione just so he could effectively check out this fic! 

Location: FF.net

The summary for this story is:

"The Ministry takes action against the remaining prejudice in the wizarding society and asks Hermione for help. “What do you want? Money? Power? Name your price, Granger. I’m not about to let pride get in my way when an Azkaban sentence is on the line.”

Warnings: None listed, but your usual angst, drama, maybe some dubcon. Oh, and character death

Rating: M

Length: 15 chapters, 45K. Not very long, but big for this number of chapters I suppose. 

Time Period: Post War/Hogwarts

How Good?: Pretty good. 7/10

And the Smut?: Beautiful, but not the focus of the story. 

Status: Complete

Pairing: Dramione

***Spoilers

This is very... questionable. When I finished it, I didn't really feel like it was actually done, but not for the normal reasons. It wasn't as if there was this big dramatic  turmoil left unresolved, or a conflict that took a load of chapters, only for it to be scrambled closed hastily. I don't really know how to describe this.

The first thing I thought of after the last chapter was "that was dry." It wasn't full of pain, or passion, and Hermione was COMPLETELY hung up on Ron's death. Throughout the entire thing. And Draco is so detached he should be in an asylum. Practically everything he says is because he's lashing out. Well, maybe not...

You'd think that with Hermione in mourning, and Draco having everything (his parents, his status) taken away from him, that there would be a hot, dramatic, clash of minds and bodies once the initial hate and disgust wore off. But the only connection is the sex, and even in that Hermione is still imagining Ron hating her for it. 

Sigh. This is still wonderfully written, edited, and a plot that I've never read before. I love the quotes, and the themes of each chapter. I loved that. I guess I'm just so used to the big hot messes that I usually read that this was sort of different. But not in the refreshing way. 

:(. 

Freedom's Consequence, Rapture's Reward

Me, the terrible Dramione reader hadn't even heard of this fic, Freedom's Consequence, Rapture's Reward by CelticSass. But then again, I usually don't search for other people's rec lists. I found this story on a list that dynonugget made and immediately started reading it. It was everything I could hope for, and sometimes even more!

Location: FF.net

The summary for this story is:

"When trying to fulfill the terms of a relative's will Hermione Granger enters into a dangerous bargain with her childhood nemesis Draco Malfoy. Fate conspires against Hermione and the arrangement grows more complicated."

Warnings: Mild violence, briefly mentioned dark themes, sexual situations (duh!), adult language and themes. (Nothing out of the ordinary.)

Ratings: M

Length: Long, 26 very full chapters

Time Period: Post War

How Good? Surprisingly good, remarkable, something I would definitely recommend. 8.5/10 for many punctuation problems. If you aren't used to a lack of break indicators, it may take you a while to get in to the flow but it's worth it to try! But it's only punctuation that's the problem, the grammar and phrasing is so perfect, and the "English" like terms are aplenty! 

And the smut? Not the focus of the story, but 9/10 when it is in a chapter. Super hot... 

Status: Complete

Pairing: Dramione

What I look for as soon as I find a potential story to read is first, length, second, completeness. Almost every story that is complete, or has at least 20K words is worth reading and reviewing. So although dyno rec'd it, I still would have read it some day or another...

The warnings for this story are just something I made up from her introductory paragraph. There is no BDSM, no unseemly bloodplay, or Mpreg plotlines. Nothing worth being warned about. Which was pleasant! Shockingly so since I've been reading such "edgy" fics lately that this was so refreshing! 

And you know what else is refreshing? A disgustingly in character Draco. Hermione is her usual stubborn, narrow-minded, bookish self (perfect for the inevitable courting and romance)... but Draco, instead of transforming into this perfect, loving, though still snarky husband who is doing everything imaginable to make Hermione happy and raise a family and yah-dah, CelticSass leaves all of that alone. I trust she did this on purpose, cause it was amazing! To have a heartless, self-centered, self serving, user, prat, unfeeling sociopath Draco as, to me, the focus of the story was just so different, quirky, and just laughable at times. 

And although a slight change was apparent in his attitude toward the end of the story, it was really questionable. He maintained this attitude, and instead of changing to accommodate Hermione's soft/hard loving nature, he had other things to think about. Getting laid, protecting his possessions, and finding every possible way to keep his arse alive. This is what I'm talking about!

Hermione is, at times, just as thickheaded, but it works! He rubs off on her (not just like that), and it works so that Mione isn't trampled over completely in his bossiness...

For those planning on reading this, don't skip ahead! Ever. This fic has quite a few twists and turns, and they are all presented and resolved so well...

***I plan on reviewing "What Happens in Paris" by ArieSemir tomorrow after work... Yes, work! I got a job! Finally!