Tremble & Depart

by DarkoftheMoon

Draco Lucius Malfoy. Death Eater. Disposable.
Life on probation at the Ministry meant keeping his head down and his mouth shut. On his first field assignment he’s tasked with investigating an abandoned Death Eater manor hiding more than a few secrets in its walls.
Stuck with the only witch who agreed to work with him.

Genres: Fan Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Adult, Audiobook

270 pages, Unknown Binding

Published December 5, 2020

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something that kind of bugs me about Dramione fanfiction is that a lot of authors seem to forget about magic and just write a Draco-Hermione love story. Magic is an afterthought. So I get really excited when an author uses and expands upon magic in the Wizarding World, and that happened here in such a fun way. Draco the potioneer in this one makes some cool-ass potions!

The majority of this story has Draco and Hermione navigating a "maze" of sorts in Nott Manor, and growing closer all the while. The Nott "guardian" oversees their journey - a dragon in painting or bust form in every room. Each room had an interesting "trap" for them to navigate, and each room helped progress their relationship in some way. The library maze was written convincingly as atmospheric horror - love.

Another thing this fic did well was understand Draco and Hermione as canonical and canon-diverging characters. The author also built their backstories in a believable way - their stories easily fit within canon. (Let me acknowledge, I don't really care about canon, but I like when D/H feel like themselves). The author did particularly well writing Malfoy's dialogue to reflect character - when he regresses back to his defensive self, the dialogue is sharp and snappy.

I have finished most of the acknowledged "god-tier" fics, and this one is pretty darn close to a top fic for me! Really enjoyed it.

[Nikoleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

[Amna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Such a wholesome, sweet fic with a very cool concept.

Draco and Hermione were both so canon in this one, the characterisation made it so I could actually see this happening like years after Hogwarts

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Granger what are you doing?” Draco said, and vanished the smeared potion from her hand. “There’s undiluted bobotuber puss in it, that can cause blistering on the skin. That’s fourth year shit, you know that! You can’t just touch a poison.” There was a determination to his brow, casting diagnostic spells and murmuring healing spells that she didn’t need. Cleaning her hands and holding them in his own, inspecting them.

“Draco, you’re being ridiculous. My skin is fine.”

While he continued fussing over her hand she took a drop of the poison and put it on her tongue.

And somehow that led to Theo offering a comforting pat on the shoulder which turned into heated snogging followed by clumsy yet passionate sex on his expensive sofa. Said Chosen One left his flat without so much as a goodbye and Theo drank himself into a stupor.

The anger and hate and sadness he’d kept inside came to the surface, gasping for air. Theo broke his entire shelf of glassware, screaming. Until Harry held him, murmuring words Theo couldn’t hear but sounded nice. He had a nice voice and his arms were strong enough to hold Theo up.

After a few glasses he said, “I have perhaps gotten myself into a bit of a situation.”

Draco laughed and refilled his glass. “Worse than mine? Is that even possible?”

Theo contemplated for a moment, knocked back the liquor, and said, “Yes. Perhaps.”

“And do you wish to divulge any further information at this time?”

“Unlike you it wasn’t years of pining—”

“I didn’t pine for years—”

“You’re not at all subtle and yes, you pined. Pansy always asked me what I thought about Hermione and it finally made sense in fourth year when you drooled over her at the Yule Ball.”

Draco’s ears turned red and he busied himself with his drink. Confirmation at last, Theo thought with a smile.

“Anyway, back to *me*, for a change,” he said, draining the last bit from the bottom of the bottle. “There was no pining it was sort of like being hit by the Hogwarts Express. Full speed, no brakes. Just absolutely clobbered.”

“Tippy will take very good care of Miss Granger,” she said, tiptoeing closer. “Master Draco will need to let go of her so that Tippy may help.”

He hadn’t even realized he was holding her hand.

“If your witch could forgive you, do you think my sister could forgive me? Is there even a chance?”

And if he was willing to go through everything he went through for his parents, there was worse he would do for her.

“I thought you’d be thrilled to have an excuse to send me to Azkaban.”

“Because I know Hermione. And I told Theo I needed to see for myself.”

“See what?”

“That you love her,” Potter said, as if it were that simple.

Draco was quiet. Clenching his jaw.

“I needed to know it wasn’t just her.”

Nothing had changed in her features. Her curly hair fanned out behind her head where it rested against a plush pillow. The soft hands he knew could grip tightly were folded over her stomach, above the blanket. He brushed his fingers over her forehead, pushing the curl aside. The skin was warm. He knelt beside her, knowing it was wishful thinking. Knowing that until he’d figured out the missing ingredient for the antidote, she’d remain asleep.

But he tried it anyway. Kissing her still lips. She didn’t wake.

“In sixth year I had failed to complete my task from the Dark Lord. I wasn’t eating or sleeping, really. Just skirting by in my classes and avoiding all of my friends. I didn’t really talk to anyone and no one talked to me. No one really looked at me anymore and I didn’t care. But at breakfast one morning everyone else was leaving and I just kept staring into my coffee cup. Occluding so much that I wasn’t really focusing.” He took a breath and closed his eyes again, and he was back on the bench at the Slytherin table. Chin resting on his hand. Watching the reflection on the coffee. Something startled him out of it and he looked up, only to lock eyes with Hermione Granger. Across the Great Hall, alone at the Gryffindor table. “She saw me. In that moment she wasn’t a Muggleborn; she was just a girl. And she saw me.”

“And?” The Guardian sat patient, painted eyes gleaming.

“And I knew she understood me.”

“Will you run for her?”

He thought of the sculpture room. Of being held by the throat, high in the air. “I’ll do anything for her.” The path opened, and he ran.

She smiled, and it was sunlight. It was warmth and health and *alive*.

“I told you you were brilliant,” she said, and he folded over her, burying his face in her neck.

He couldn’t believe how angry he was. And how like his mother he was when he was angry.


Sooooooo refreshing and so badly needed.

[Daniela Filipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3,5⭐️}

A vontade de ler fics famosas, que inevitavelmente são de guerra, mas querer uma pausa de fics de guerra, trouxe-me até aqui.

Esta fic deu vibes de Failsafe, e daquela missão horrível de Hogwarts Legacy, da loja assombrada, mas com mais slow burn e tensão sexual. Se no jogo eu tivesse um Draco (ou o Sebastian 😏) a acompanhar-me, tenho a certeza que tinha gostado mais da missão. Moving on…

Fics em que a Hermione e o Draco trabalham no Ministério e têm de trabalhar juntos e ir em missões, são sempre interessantes. Também acho bue piada ao facto de que a mansão do Theo é sempre amaldiçoada e meio senciente.
Para além disso, adoro coisas com riddles e jogos, por isso, esta fic não tinha muito por onde errar. NO ENTANTO:

Apesar de serem menos de 400 páginas, acho que a fic é grande demais e acaba por enrolar um bocado. Quando cheguei a meio já estava a ficar meio aborrecida e a segunda parte foi menos interessante, porque eles já não estavam na mansão. Então, ya, acho que podia ter tido menos 100 páginas.

Agora se me dão licença, muitas pessoas usam fics como palate cleansers, mas eu preciso de limpar o palato ENTRE fics. Imma read something else, preferably with less than 300 pages

[Hayden Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well earned 4.5 stars! There wasn't much I disliked about this story.

Hermione is a junior cursebreaker for the Ministry of Magic (because of course she is) and is plenty happy there.
Draco is a paper pusher for the Auror department and he hates it. Cleans his desk at the end of every day like he's just waiting to be fired for being a ex-Death Eater. He thinks he is disposable and no one can blame him based on how he is treated by the public.
Draco and Hermione are sent to investigate a sentient house of horrors: the Nott estate. There they encounter all kinds of different puzzles that are constantly trying to kill them. They learn very quickly they have to work together or they'll be forever stuck in the house, dead or alive.

I loved the exploration of magic, curses, hexes, and the like in this story. The action started quickly and absolutely evolved into a great story from there. There is no slow burn here; who can blame them? Fearing for your life will really bring people together.
I appreciate that Draco wasn't suddenly okay just because Hermione noticed him. When he got mad, he quickly reverted to short, clipped sentences and early-20s-year-old pouting.

If you're looking for a story with a Guardian that speaks in riddles, a house that is actively trying to kill you, and a sassy-ish Theo (who I wish had gotten more screen time, tbh), this is for you.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Time couldn’t be held in his hands. It ran through the cracks between his fingers and flowed over the edges.”

“He’s spend half his life with darkness, Hermione, and you’re the golden light beaconing at the end. Don’t be an illusion.”

This was clever. The tricky house was really entertaining to read. I knew there was going to be a time difference but I didn’t really expect much else that happened. Theo and Harry are just adorable. I think sometimes they make me smile more than Hermione and Draco’s cute moments. Less expected I suppose cause I go into the story for dramione.
Anyways this was clever and I enjoyed it. Hopefully it got me out of my slump.

[Emma Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect mix of fun and heartfelt. The combination of haunted house, puzzles, pining idiots, a little danger and laugh out loud humour made this such an enjoyable read. The magic system has been expanded upon in a really imaginative way but still has the comfort of a hp fic. The Dramione was dual pov, medium-burn with the perfect amount of healing, longing and delicious slice. The added surprise of NottPott was the cherry on top. A great read whenever but I highly recommend as a Halloween treat.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fic had lots of spell and potions which I loved, as quite a few fics always forget about the magic side of things. Great yearning from both Draco and Hermoine, and I'm a sucker for a Harry and Theo relationship, especially with a sassy Theo and ride or die best friend Harry.

Satisfying ending, interesting premise, would recommend!

[Leona Lei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ao# Spotifi Paper Cranes Audiobooks 30 chapters After the war HG & DM work for the Ministry of Magic and need to find out who is trying to kill muggles with blood magic poison. Theo and Harry together.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story. Not enemies to lovers or anything like that. Just a cute story between the two, very friendly.
I had to skip some parts because they were taking to long to describe things but in general is a good cute book

[Matilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Think all this fanfic reading is, in fact, just preparing me to enter my annual(?) fantasy sprint.
A great dramione fic that for once was actually a more about the magical fetch quest than forgiveness and overcoming one's guilty conscious.

[sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

4!

[Arijana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[K Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot, had some pacing issues but over all really enjoyable. Good true to form Draco and Hermione and lots of magical elements which was fun

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kezban · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

i thought it would be way more interesting than it was.

[Jewel Port · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I liked the concept..a lot on internal dialog ue. I felt the characters were canon, or how I imagined them to be. I always wanted the angsty glances to be real lol.

[liya · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | nothing special but entertaining enough.

[Alessandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was action, and magic, and a love story.
Quite enjoyed it.

[Fimilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had a lot of elements that I enjoyed: pining, puzzle solving, a slow enough relationship and magic. Regardless, I didn't get as much out of the story as I hoped. The plot had an uneven progression and sometimes things jumped too quickly from one atmosphere to another.

[Tones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable, but felt a tad too long. Between a 4.5 and 4.75* read. I wish we could have seen Draco and Hermione interact more before entering Nott Manor, cause some of the feelings felt rushed.