Nice Things

by aideomai

The first thing that happened was Theodore Nott came back from France.
Words: 22052

Genres: Fan Fiction, Fantasy

75 pages, ebook

First published March 21, 2020

About the author

Fanfiction author

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously written and full of great moments and characterizations. A true treasure. One of the best 8th year fics I've read (and that's saying something because 8th year is my favorite trope and I've read it all). This is how you write Harry and Draco. This is how I want to picture them. I'm in love.

Quotes I adored:



On his way to the kettle, he reached out and, with a gesture that was so careless it had to be very studied, touched Harry’s hair, and so while he dunked his teabag and waited fussily for it to steep and added milk Harry spent the whole time grinning at his back, and he was still grinning when Draco turned around. He’d known Draco was touchy. He’d guessed it, and now he’d had it proved right.

Draco rolled his eyes when he turned back. He said in the crisp, posh voice that used to drive Harry mad, “Well,” and then he came and sat down next to Harry and they drank their tea in silence.

*

The other thing was that Draco was like a puzzle: he never said what he meant, he operated on a different wavelength from Harry. He was something to focus on, something to think about as Harry drifted off to sleep. Harry couldn’t fall into bed and sleep when his mind was blank, or dully repeating everything is okay now. He was used to figuring out who was trying to kill him, or how to avoid Umbridge, or who the Heir of Slytherin was, or what Draco Malfoy was up to. This was a familiar and complex enough thing for Harry to fixate on that he could fall asleep trying to work it out, but all of the anxiety and fear had drained from it. He fell asleep heavy, pleased. I’ll work it out like a caress, a promise.

*

“What’s to understand? We all agreed, there was no point fighting anymore, but it’s -- he can’t be nothing. He’s not nothing to me. It’s -- he’s one of the only ones that gets it. He was there. Obviously he was on the wrong side of it all but he still - he understands - and he doesn’t, doesn’t touch me like I’ll blow him up--”

He was faltering, almost stammering, unaware that that much had been waiting inside him to come out until he’d started. All three of them were staring at him. Draco said faintly, “It’s because I’m afraid of everything. It becomes harder to be frightened of specific things. You probably will blow me up but in the meantime I - I get--”

*

Harry moved across the room very slowly. It was so dark, and he wanted to see Draco’s face better, map out the new details he was suddenly paying attention to. Draco looked up when Harry was a foot away. Harry said, “I’m not fucking with you.”

Draco nodded, a tiny, slight movement. “Okay.”

“Are you,” Harry said, and swallowed, “are you fucking with me?”

Draco let out a shivering breath. “No,” he said, and added quickly and worried, “but since we’re being so communicative tonight and given your -- insane and thrilling honesty policy, I thought I should tell you that I’m still not very good at, um, monitoring my emotions or managing anything half-hearted with respect to you, so if you keep this up I’m probably going to fall in love with you, which will be very awkward for everyone involved.”

“Er,” Harry said. “Well. Wouldn’t mind.”

*

Hours spent talking drowsily into the phone without having to worry about Draco’s keen eyes or being face to face with the hot embarrassment of becoming obsessed with his childhood enemy. (“Nemesis, I used to say,” Draco said. “Gives it a touch of class. Only Pansy and I couldn’t pronounce it right until third year. Anyway, you were already obsessed.”) He’d gotten used to sleeping late in Draco’s bed and wandering downstairs, pottering about with a cup of tea and pretending he might work on some of the holiday essays they’d been assigned, until the phone would start clattering demandingly against the wall and Harry would pick up to Draco saying, “Well, the end times are here: my mother has bought a bicycle.”

*

“Well,” Harry said. He pushed his face against Draco’s ribs, rolling in closer, nudging his foot at Draco’s ankle. He was so long, Harry thought, with satisfaction, as though he’d designed Draco himself.

*

“Give me a nice thing,” Harry said that night.

Draco blinked up at him, sleepy and lazy, like a lizard in the warm. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been,” he said.

*

Theo said, “Oh, I’m going to write a great novel. If I’m still alive,” and then looked very mysterious and said nothing more when questioned further.

[gweeeeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes yes yes yes yes yes

[Yasmin :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Give me a nice thing,” Harry said that night.
Draco blinked up at him, sleepy and lazy, like a lizard in the warm. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been,” he said.”



I liked this!! It was short which is always good, and there was a contemplative feel to it. I wish it was a bit more developed, but I love an after the war fic.

Harry and Draco felt very natural in this, it didn’t feel forced. I did feel they were a bit watered down, but that could just be the aftermath effect. I liked Theo in this, and how all their friends were thrown into the gatehouse. It was a fun concept.

[Cloé · Rating 4 out of 5]

spoiler : they fell in love

[meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

eighth year clingy needy touch starved harry who literally just MELTS in Draco’s arms omg so so soooo good and soft and tender and sweet and perfect

[Tailtiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/232...

[Flor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodore Nott regreso

[Sailorqwn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

loved the atmosphere and how they all were in character (apparently, drarry fics with no ooc are very hard to find), and, ofc, how their traumas were explored - most of the 8th year fics just forget that the kids’ve been through a literal war.

didn’t love the shmex scenes, especially when it was not even tagged, and i specifically was looking for fics with no such things, so kinda ugh. and the narrative was kinda… too vague? like… i felt lost at the time skips and sudden relationship developments.

[spiderlily · Rating 5 out of 5]

For it being a shorter fic than what I usually read - I absolutely adored it. The writing was so lovely and touch-starved Harry just so so endearing. I was cheesin' reading this the majority of the time. Would absolutely re-read if ever needed a pick-me-up.

[Tobe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch-starved Harry, 8th year Hogwarts, and Slytherin hijinks. Swoon.

[GrEatE · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Moony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and short Drarry story. Would have liked it to be longer.

[Charlotte Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

“Theo, can I have a word?”

Iconic.

[rei · Rating 4 out of 5]

aideomai never disappoints

[Brittingbloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely 8th year short fic.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last bit, giving a new understanding and different perspective - almost got me to add another star. Slytherins.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constant switching POVs, seeing Drarry in love from side characters view, meddling Slytherins, 0 angst. Perfect.

[lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

“draco appeared in the doorway and harry realised he’s been waiting for him” it always comes back to them.

[jenn ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg i loved this !!

[Kristyn Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definition of a comfort fic. Perfection. No notes.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

8th year