snowgall

I feel like I've yammered on about this fic in post after post, but somehow I've never formally recced it until now! But given that I devoted a whole post to bonding fics just the other day, I really must rec the one bonding fic to rule them all :)

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Bond by annafugazzi
Originally published July 20, 2005 on fanfiction.net

Rated: NC-17
Word Count: 204,000
Summary: Yet another one of those Harry And Draco Are Forced To Be Together By Something Beyond Their Control And Then Stuff Happens Leading To Twoo Wuv stories. Because every HD writer has to write at least one.

Why I love it:
This is another of those fics that's so easy to read over and over again. The bond happens right away, which gets the fic moving right from the start, yet their relationship under the bond develops unhurriedly and at a nice reasonable pace. I love how both the emotional and physical aspects of their bond increase incrementally and in parallel. They both fight it at first, but Draco is (somewhat surprisingly) the one who accepts it with more grace - though he does have to resort to taking a 'patience potion' so he can better deal with a skittish Harry :)

I also love how all the sex scenes are not only hot, but integral to the plot or to character development (and those are always the best kind of sex scenes!) Even though there's a lot of smut, it never feels gratuitous.

This fic was begun prior to the publication of HBP, and is a 7th year AU. Some of the events therefore deviate from canon, but it hardly matters, as the characterizations of all of the students and staff are still spot on and the plot is captivating. Great fic!

Excerpt:
"My goodness, Potter, you do get angry rather easily, don't you?" Malfoy was maliciously delighted. "You should do something about that, you know. It's not good for your nerves."

"Don't listen to him, Harry," Hermione said, reaching out to pat his arm comfortingly and drawing back just in time as Harry flinched in alarm.

"Is it about the questions she was asking, about previous sexual history?" Malfoy asked, pitching his voice low enough for only Harry to hear, and Harry tried to blank his features but it was too late. "That's it, isn't it? Snogged a lot of boys, have you, despite your 'I'm not gay' protests to the contrary?" Malfoy grinned at him maliciously. Harry opened his notes and pretended to study an Arithmancy chart.

Malfoy observed him for a moment. "No, that's not it," he decided. "So..." he peered at Harry closely, then said slowly, "Or is it the other way around?" Harry's pulse sped up. Malfoy's mouth dropped opened in shock. "Potter. You're not a virgin, surely?" he said, scandalised.

"Shh!" Harry hissed, but it was too late - everybody sitting near them had heard, some students were turning around to look at them, and Malfoy had a look on his face that was very close to horror. Harry covered his eyes, utterly mortified.

"You're... Mordred." Malfoy put his head down on the table. "I'm going to find whoever set this curse," he moaned, "I'm going to find him and kill him, and then I'm going to resuscitate him so I can kill him again."

Harry crossed his arms and set his jaw, not trusting himself to say anything. If you hex him, you'll feel it, he reminded himself. A little discomfort or pain is fine. What you want to do to him would probably kill you through the damnable bond.

"How can you-" Malfoy raised his head, "You're nearly eighteen years old, for god's sake! What in hell have you been waiting for? An engraved invitation?"

"Apparently, I've been waiting for you," Harry snapped at him.

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The author has also written two brief sequels to Bond (my favorite of which is Not Seamus' Fault) as well as an excellent DVD extras commentary for the fic, including deleted scenes and timelines and all sorts of fantastic material. Don't miss these!

And hey - even if you've read this before, you might not have done so on AO3. If it's a favorite of yours, here's your chance to go on over there and leave the kudos for it you couldn't leave before on ff.net :)

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