Unexpected Consequences

by lauren3210

Fandom: Harry Potter
Relationships: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Dean Thomas/Ginny Weasley
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Harry was going back to school. He was going to play Quidditch, sleep in lessons, hang out with his friends, and generally just enjoy being a kid for a change. And he was also going to do it while being bonded with Malfoy, because apparently life was just going to continue throwing curveballs at him. Harry didn't know why he expected anything different.

Cover art by Alekina.

Genres: Fan Fiction, Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance

157 pages, ebook

First published April 12, 2015

Reviews

[Exina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9 stars!

We’re after the war, 8th year, the Malfoy family is sent to Azkaban. But Draco is offered the possibility to return Hogwarts if he agrees to submit to being bound to someone for a year.
The bonding spell is kind of a house arrest under supervision instead of spending the sentenced time in Azkaban. He asks for Harry Potter.

First, I don’t really like the idea of the bond. It’s very dangerous: it gives almost total control over a person – it doesn’t seem, no!, it isn’t ethical, it’s very much like the Imperius Curse. After the war, how something like this can be allowed to use and be legal? But this is the base of the story, so I have to accept it. It’s a magical bond, and as it must work, it softens the hard edges of Harry and Draco’s personality to make it easier for them to cooperate. It brings their agreeable traits to the surface and keeps the not so agreeable ones at bay.

I love forced proximity in stories, and the working method of the bond is interesting – apart from the dubious ethical issues. It’s even more interesting what happens when the bond is removed.

The story is told from dual viewpoint, which is brilliantly done. Both of them are full of want and hope and doubts. Plus Harry feels, too, that this bond thing is not exactly right - he thinks that somehow he’s forced Draco into it.

“He was under the influence of the bond, Hermione, he had to want whatever I wanted! His choice to say no was taken away, and I took advantage of that! I - I abused him, I fucking ra-” Harry slid down to his knees and buried his head in his hands. “Oh my god, I raped him.”

As always, Hermione is there to help him to see the light.

“Nope.” Hermione popped the consonant, looking pleased with herself. “All the bond did was soften the edges of your personality traits that rub each other the wrong way. It stopped you both from thinking about all the bad history between you.”

There are so many spectacular details in this story: attentive Harry, furiously protective Harry, smiling Draco, insecure Draco, reasonable Draco, difficult Draco, McGonagall, Hermione and Bitsy.

The cover artwork is stunning.


Recommended!

[Maiko-chan [|] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5stars

There hadn’t been much time for Draco to think about what it would actually be like, to spend so much time so close to Harry, but if he had, he didn’t think he would have envisioned this.

lauren3210 brings us an 8th year bonding fic between Harry and Draco where Draco has been given the opportunity to live out his sentence either within Azkaban or under the command and care of a witch/wizard for a year - obviously not a tough decision - and Draco chooses Harry to be his caretaker, knowing that Harry will be one of the few choices the Wizengamot will approve of to keep watch over Draco and the only one whom Draco trusts not to take advantage of being able to magically influence/control everything he does. I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story.

The easiness of their interactions, the glares Harry sent at the odd whisperer he overheard saying unpleasant things about Draco, the way that Harry looked at him whenever he thought that Draco wasn’t paying attention, it all added up to Draco feeling things he’d told himself long ago that he shouldn’t feel.

It was the way his grey eyes blinked sleepily in the mornings, teeth biting down into his bottom lip as he tried to remember the charm to warm his coffee. It all captivated Harry, and it was irritating, annoying, frustrating.

That was when Draco thought he might give up, that the next time his mouth clamped down around a scream, he would instead scream for Harry, even if it would make him look at Draco with yet more pity in his eyes. Draco was a coward at heart; he knew this, and he knew it would only be a matter of time before he caved. But until that moment, he wanted Harry more than he was afraid of the pain...

A small part of him wanted to laugh, because he was finally being freed. He’d gone from being under the thumb of his father to living in fear of the Dark Lord, to being ordered around by Harry Potter, and now for the first time he was really going to be free, when all he wanted was to crawl into Harry’s arms and stay there forever. He couldn’t decide if it was ironic, or just awful, terrible coincidence.

Draco had slipped into all the empty spaces in Harry’s life as though he belonged there, as though those spaces had been carved out specifically for him.

Notes:
-in a word: beautiful
-that fanart - used as the coverart for the story here - is completely gorgeous and I'm in love with it. Also Draco's ass looks perfect - which it is - and I approve

[Elizabeth (Lizzy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Cláudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl, you earned that Kudo. I should find a way to give you more.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hogwarts Year 8, Potter and Draco are back for their final school year. Harry hasn't given any thought to Malfoy but when he is asked to be bonded to him instead of going to Azakban his plans change for the year. Malfoy must follow all commands and stay close to Harry for one year. Neither of them are happy about it but Harry is the best choice. Soon their feelings start to appear. I really liked this one, my one critique is that I wished there was more to the ending the pacing felt a bit off. Regardless of that this is one of my favorite reads.

[Tobe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uses the bonding trope in an interesting way. Fun 8th year fic.

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually delightfully original for a forced-bonding fic.

The only way Draco can stay out of Azkaban is to agree to be bound to another wizard who's agreed to take responsibility for him for a year. Harry's asked by Kingsley to be the one Draco's bonded to, and he initially says no because this particular bond basically makes Draco a slave. After seeing how others might take advantage of having Draco at their mercy, Harry reluctantly gives in.

After they reach Hogwarts, there are some familiar bonding-fic elements, but enough is still unique enough that it felt fresh.

Some Favorite Quotes:
wait and see what kind of man he might grow into now that he had a proper chance.

Draco had slipped into all the empty spaces in Harry's life as though he belonged there, as though those spaces had been carved out specifically for him.

when he'd had to lock himself away in case he cut someone with his sharp edges.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drarry Fanfic. Eighth year at Hogwart's, Harry agrees to be Draco's bonded guard so that Draco can avoid Azkaban and finish his schooling.

[Airi · Rating 4 out of 5]

2018: 4 stars
2024: 4 stars