Erised Recs! (+1)

[dicta_contrion]

Can you believe that December is half over? I cannot. Really, I can't. There might be some denial involved, but wow, that flew by. And if December is half over that means Erised is half over (definitely in denial about that! I want more!) and this is post is going to be so long already that it's probably best to get reccing before the list gets any longer!

Erised Fic Recs

The Light More Beautiful by firethesound - NC-17, 81k - Thirteen years after Draco accepts Potter's help escaping the horror of his sixth year, he returns to England where he makes the unfortunate discovery that Potter is still as obnoxious as ever. And worse, more than a decade overseas hasn't been enough to dim Draco's obsession with him.
This fic has one of the best collections of memorable, well-developed, fascinating details I can remember coming across. There are so many parts that had me laughing out loud (not in the colloquial internet "lol" way, in the "don't wake the neighbors" way) and so many others that got me right in the feels. I'm really torn between talking about what they are and not wanting to spoil them, so you should probably go read this and then come back and flail with me about them.

Love Comes Tumbling by taradiane - NC-17, 22.5k - 'Harry's thoughts were of how much he would have done differently with Malfoy over the years, and of Dumbledore's final words to the other boy . . . "It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now." Maybe, Harry wondered, he could find some mercy, too, and give Malfoy the second chance that Dumbledore had believed him worthy of.'
This eighth year fic is so well written! It feels seamless and just flies by, in that way that looks easy but that only a really good writer could make look easy. It brings out all those things that make eighth year fics a delight - there's castle rebuilding, there's student gossip, there's sneaking into dorm rooms. It's great! Also loads of fantastic details and a Ron and Hermione whom I totally buy and adore. Lots of fun, with a not-insubstantial side of feels. Wonderful.

No Quiet Find by blithelybonny - NC-17, 10k - War makes a man tired...some more than most. Draco needs rest.
I'm worried I'm not going to be able to do this fic justice. It's unusual in the best of ways: immersive and gorgeous and emotional. I felt so thoroughly pulled into the world of the story. It tells the story through Draco's POV after he's become a member of the Order, with the caveat that he can't quite keep track of time or the order of things, and the way the story is told makes that into an experience. It's moving and beautiful.

One Thousand Bars by lumosed_quill - NC-17, 19k - And I will hold on hope / And I won't let you choke / On the noose around your neck / And I'll find strength in pain / And I will change my ways / I'll know my name as it's called again
This Draco is fantastic. Sharp and snarky and stubborn and proud and complex. And Harry is a wonderful match for him - smart and stubborn and a fighter. The dynamic that evolves between them is wonderful. I was (quite happily) torn between heart-soaring and heart-wrenching moments, and the gorgeous writing and fantastic details made reading this a pleasure.

Erised Art Recs

Easy Like Sunday Morning by this_bloody_cat and iwao - PG, Graphite on Paper, SAI - The best mornings start with a kiss and a coffee.
This portrait of Harry and Draco's weekend mornings is a thing of beauty. The image itself is beautiful, filled with light and color and wonderful details. It also does a fantastic job of conveying warmth and comfort and attraction; basically, it really feels like an easy Sunday morning, and that's a joy to behold.

Everything by disapparater - PG-13, Hand drawn, digital - Whatever Harry's question, Draco's got the answer.
This is so charming and adorable that I don't entirely know what to do with myself. It's told as a comic strip, with Harry and Draco going on a bunch of dates, and each one is so perfectly detailed and funny, and seeing their relationship together and how it progresses and how the story ends - just, so many delighted feels as things unfold. And there's this adorable refrain throughout that I don't want to ruin, so just go, check it out, it's fantastic.

Let's Duel by kazuya22 - G, Digital art, Photoshop and SAI - Shall we dance?
The sense of tension and anticipation that this artist has managed to convey is awe-inspiring. It's a gorgeous image, full of movement and suggestion. The color palette and the composition really drive it home. One of those images I could (did) sit and stare at for a while.

Love and Communication by anemonen - PG, Pencil - Harry’s jealous that Draco and Ron have got so close while working as Auror partners.
This piece is so evocative! The artist has made fantastic choices about what not to include. The details we see - changes in Harry's eyes, in Draco's posture, in Hermione's expression - convey emotion beautifully. Also, Harry with a cat! It's adorable and the conclusion is delightful.

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars by primea - PG-13, Digital - Sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.
The composition is the first thing that got me here. The sky behind Harry and Draco looks so vast and, in addition to being beautiful, it makes the intimacy between them even more special and, for lack of a better word, intimate-feeling. And then, Draco's tattoo. It's wonderful, and the symbolism of it is moving. Gorgeous.


And one non-Erised rec! There's so much to read right now that I'm mostly resigning myself to falling behind on Owlpost and minifest and advent fics (and week two of erised, whoops). But I fell into reading one advent fic, and it's beyond awesome. vaysh is drabbling in the verse of Frayach's Bound Skerry, with nods to marguerite_26's remix, Come back to me, and if you haven't read either of those fics, I'd totally advise it. But, not why we're here!

Vaysh's extension of this verse is gorgeous. Every installment is spare and beautiful and moving. I'm in awe of anyone who can tell a story in 100 words and these drabbles not only achieve that but elevate the form. They're stunning and, especially if you know the source material, very moving and engaging and thought-provoking. They say so much about the characters and what they want and how they need to find it, and do it through consistently beautiful, poignant images. I'm permanently on the edge of my seat about them, always keeping an eye out for the next installment and thinking about what might happen next. Serious highlight of every day, and the kind of story and story-telling that's stayed on my mind even when I'm doing other things. So, go read The Postmaster here, or go here to start from the beginning. And if you want to talk about it after, I am so all about that.

Enjoy these fantastic stories! And really, go check out H/D Erised in its entirety. There's so much amazing writing and art coming out every day that it was, tbh, a bit difficult even to pick stories to rec. We are one hell of a lucky fandom.