The sprawling mountains of the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary offered a perfect chance for renewed self-discovery. Lush landscapes. Majestic beasts. It was intended to be Hermione’s escape. Except, she hadn’t been alone in that plan.
Four years had passed since she last saw him, and to her knowledge, no one else in Britain had either. Rumours had sprouted like plants under a Herbivicus Charm after he failed to return for the second half of their final year at Hogwarts. Even Hermione hadn’t been able to resist the question in nearly every student’s mind: Where had Draco Malfoy gone?
✅ Quick read ✅ Mystery to solve ✅ Dragons and dragon keepers ✅ Pace ✅🆗 Identity of the villain 🆗 Romance (developed too quickly) ❗️❗️Trigger warnings:
When Hermione decides to visit Charlie at the Sanctuary on a whim, the last thing she expected was to find Draco Malfoy also working there. Even more shocking, he and Charlie seem to be friends. Hermione needs a break from her frustrating and underwhelming job, she needs to feel useful again, and she gets a chance to feel just that when a series of mysterious thefts and attacks on dragons happen at the Sanctuary. Someone is stealing dragon blood and other parts, and they need to figure out who before it gets worse.
The intrigue was good, and while I had strong suspicions about the identity of the villain(s) early on, I was not 100% sure until the end. The author managed to create a good mystery with enough clues to make the resolution believable, while not being too obvious.
Sadly, the romance is the part that I didn’t enjoy as much. This whole story happens over only one week, so the romance develops very quickly between Hermione and Draco, giving it an insta-love feeling that I am not a fan of. It was made even worse because they hadn’t seen each other in years, and Hermione was antagonistic towards Draco at first. She went from not wanting anything to do with him and expecting the worst from him to being in love with him in less than a week.
Overall, this was a cute and easy read, but not my favorite Dramione. I still recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read with a light vibe and a fast-paced sweet romance.
3.5 stars The first 70% was fine. I didn’t love the concept of how short her trip was. It felt very fast for them to start liking each other. I needed more angst and deep discussion of the war. But this was easy and fluffy and I appreciated that. At like 76% it picked up and that’s why this gets 3.5 instead of 3 stars.
The perfect fluffy, who-done-it, heart-warming escape into dragon filled mountains. It’s so sweet, its so charming, it’s such a lovely break from character heavy, super dark plot filled fics you can’t help but fall in love with it. It’s not a slow burn imo, but if you’re looking for something feel good with quick pay off this is a must read.
Great story and one that I will recommend further to those that want something not recommended often but also has a bit of a mystery to solve with a buldingi love story around it.
Well done Niffizzle. Thank you for writing this fanfic.
4 stars. Good plot. Wished there would’ve been more to uncovering Draco’s past. One thing that bothered me: The magic tracking maps didn’t make much sense to include if they didn’t actually use/study them.
Between 4 and 5! Not a man bun fan but am totally a dragon keeper Draco fan! A happy magical who done it that was well written. Beginning was better than end. But cute ending with the ribbon. Charlie is a cutie.
Dragon keeper Draco malfoy yes please 🙏 Charlie has always been one of my favorite Weasleys, only after Fred and George. I wish there was more Ivayr content, I love her sm. Love a short mystery fic, this was very enjoyable, my cuties 💕
3.75 ⭐️ this was a wholesome dramionie post war. Draco works at the same dragon sanctuary that Charlie does. It gives Nancy Drew a bit with some problem solving but it’s good!
This was delightful! The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars is the romance was a bit too easy. I like a bit more angst before these two knuckleheads get together. 😂
A charming blend of mystery, magic, and romance—set against the backdrop of the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary. What more could you possibly want?
I first stumbled upon this fic a few years ago, and even after all this time, it still holds a special place in my heart. It’s one of those stories I come back to again and again when I need comfort, adventure, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension.
The setting alone is enough to pull you in—rugged landscapes, majestic dragons, and the ever-fascinating inner workings of the sanctuary. But what really makes this fic shine is the perfect balance between the cozy whodunit mystery and the budding romance. It’s got that classic “something's not quite right here” intrigue that keeps you turning pages (or scrolling) while also serving up some incredibly tender, heartwarming moments.
Draco as a dragon keeper is everything I didn’t know I needed—competent, broody, and just a little rough around the edges. The way his character is written feels so natural and grounded in this new environment. Yes, there’s a bit of instalove, but it’s handled in a way that feels genuine and earned, with enough emotional depth to make it satisfying rather than rushed.
Honestly, I loved it so much I’m seriously considering binding it—because some stories just deserve a place on the physical shelf, too. If you’re a fan of magical creatures, mystery, and romance with a sprinkle of danger and a whole lot of heart, don’t skip this one. It’s a gem.
Hermione visits Charley at the dragon sanctuary where he works, and finds out that Draco works there. They move past their school-time animosity to work together and solve the mystery of who is hurting the dragons. It's a slow burn with great tension and surprising feelings. You are really shown how much Draco has changed and grown as a person. I enjoyed the story and the mystery. The dragons are super fun as well!