I actually liked the story for the exact same reason you didn't - not because Harry is trying to bring Draco into the light, but because, despite his inherent good intentions, he's still basically a self-centred person, and the author managed a wonderful 'show, don't tell'. It's Harry's POV and everything should be taken with a grain of salt - because Harry's words and Harry's actions (the way he strings Ginny along, for example) are not the same. There's both light and darkness in Harry and his little sexual awakening happening with Draco behind everyone's back - when he manages to convince himself it's alright to keep it a secret because it's Malfoy, and who cares about him and anyway, nothing compares to how awful Draco is, right? - makes him pretty awful in turn. The fact that Harry is the paragon of light and Draco is the secret keeper of his dark side - while everyone still playing along with their assigned role - made this story a wonderful read for me. Also, the fact that Draco had his own drama going on and Harry was completely oblivious to it, while still using him for sex :).
Well, it's been a long time since I've read this, so hopefully I'm still talking about the same story :).
I tried to rec you stories that pick up a Draco similar to the one in the books and build up from there, but there are wonderful Draco characterizations in these ones, too:
Lotus-Eyed One (http://serpentinelion.livejournal.com/357949.html) by jakuako Between Two Fires of Beltane (http://hds-beltane.livejournal.com/114511.html) by secretsalex Marginal Notes (http://serpentinelion.livejournal.com/254108.html) by blamebrampton Though the night yield no glimmer (http://rainspots.livejournal.com/5775.html) by scoradh (this one's Draco/Goyle) Things We Mistook for Contempt (http://ron-draco.livejournal.com/200725.html) by derryere (Draco/Ron)
I've been out of this fandom for a long time now specifically because I couldn't find any more satisfying things to read and it seemed pointless to waste time searching. Hope these are good, please let me know if I've recced you anything wrong :).
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-10-05 08:06 am (UTC)Well, it's been a long time since I've read this, so hopefully I'm still talking about the same story :).
I tried to rec you stories that pick up a Draco similar to the one in the books and build up from there, but there are wonderful Draco characterizations in these ones, too:
Lotus-Eyed One (http://serpentinelion.livejournal.com/357949.html) by
Between Two Fires of Beltane (http://hds-beltane.livejournal.com/114511.html) by
Marginal Notes (http://serpentinelion.livejournal.com/254108.html) by
Though the night yield no glimmer (http://rainspots.livejournal.com/5775.html) by
Things We Mistook for Contempt (http://ron-draco.livejournal.com/200725.html) by
I've been out of this fandom for a long time now specifically because I couldn't find any more satisfying things to read and it seemed pointless to waste time searching. Hope these are good, please let me know if I've recced you anything wrong :).