hd_hols ([info]hd_hols) wrote in [info]hd_holidays,
2007-12-30 00:12:00
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Happy H/D Holidays, el_princess!

Author: [info]blamebrampton
Recipient: [info]el_princess
Title: An Act of Simple Devotion
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco (Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Theodore Nott/Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ginny/Neville)
Summary: It’s a age-old story. You fancy a boy and you think he fancies you. Sure there are problems – attacks on former Death Eaters, crazed tabloid journalists and your girlfriend – but you have a cunning plan. Now if he’d only explain the L. Ron Hubbard-like references …
Rating: R
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warning(s): None
Deathly Hallows compliant? Yes, until the epilogue, which does not exist.
Word Count: 13,368
Author's Notes: Hi el_princess, I made it most of the way with most of your prompts … I apologise profusely for my failures on one or two (Harry just would not be v shy, and they insisted on snogging), but have cheerfully avoided all of your squicks, so I’m counting it as a draw. In my head some of this counts as witty dialogue. Feel free to point out the need for said head to seek professional help should your mileage differ! Thanks for such a detailed checklist, I hope you like where things ended up. Happy Holidays! And thanks, to NQ for her magnificent modding above and beyond the call!
PS Although I can’t name her, I should, in the interests of accuracy, point out that my beta is unbelievably brilliant in every way.


( An Act of Simple Devotion )
Tags: [fic], rated: r, round: winter 2007

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[info]corpus_delecti

December 30 2007, 06:33:54 UTC 4 years ago

I usually never comment on fanfiction since it's such a personal thing, but this... It's amazing and satisfying and funny and poignant and utterly perfect.

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 14:05:41 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you! It was my first every fest fic and I cannot tell you how much your comment soothed my nerves.

[info]roma_fics

December 30 2007, 08:20:10 UTC 4 years ago

Wonderful witty story. Harry's manipulation of the press--clever. The first reunion meeting in the Leaky Cauldron--inspirational. (I'm trying to keep my sentences short *g*).

Seriously, this story kept me entertained from the beginning to the end. It had so many things I like in a fanfic story: politics, harry and draco both being smart and funny. No character bashing. Heck you even redeemed Dawlish. The POV changes were so well done.

I liked Harry's explanation of Dawlish to Draco. I think the idea of the young people (the DA) reforming to make sure they are on top of things when the Ministry is too slow is a brilliant idea. And harry and draco's relationship was so wonderful in its progression. I LOL at the Quibbler article and how Draco was now set up to save Harry. Perfect.

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 15:19:40 UTC 4 years ago

Short sentences are good! I don't hold with character bashing -- I was so pleased to see you enjoyed that. I think that after the failures of so many adults during the war, this generation can never wholly trust their bureaucracies. It's like my generation believing in superpowers -- we just can't wholly! Thank you so much for the detail you gave here, it was wonderful feedback that I really appreciate.

[info]leochi

December 30 2007, 09:25:41 UTC 4 years ago

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! My absolute FAVOURITE of all the nice fics on H/D holidays. Love the story, the way you depicted the characters, finally a really nice Ginny :-) and above all such a sweet Draco. The strong friendship among the group was an element I particularly liked.
Kudos to you for this amazing story! Can't wait to discover who you are so I may read everything you've written ;-))

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 14:07:28 UTC 4 years ago

Oh Leochi! I felt so guilty when I read this, because not only did I think "Oops! I think she already has!" but I am nowhere near finishing the fic that YOU gave me an idea for! But I will! I promise I will!

[info]leochi

4 years ago

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[info]old_enough

December 30 2007, 12:12:49 UTC 4 years ago

They're not quite in character--they're actually acting adult! {{SHOCK}}} I really, really like it. What a wonderful story-teller you are. Thanks for sharing your work.

Anonymous

December 30 2007, 12:22:42 UTC 4 years ago

HEH! After seven books and multiple traumatic experiences, I could not resist allowing them a small amount of maturity! Thanks, and you are very welcome.

[info]el_princess

December 30 2007, 13:48:16 UTC 4 years ago

Oh my gosh! My gift-fic...I just wanted to let you know I have all intent and purpose to read this soon soon soon but the appearance of my extremely Christian aunt into my family home has slowed down my ability to do so. As soon as I can...I'll be all over it!

[info]el_princess

December 31 2007, 12:10:28 UTC 4 years ago

I LOVE it! This is the bestest fic I could have every asked for. I hope I didn't go over board with the prompts. I think you got them in very nicely.

Firstly, even though Harry wasn't shy, I loved his characterization: all the little touching of Draco that he doesn't realize he's doing. All the sexual tension...gah! Also, all the precautions he's taking to make sure the Ministry doesn't go bad on them. *adoration* Finally, Harry taking an active stand against something. Also, also, his manipulation of the media was ace!

Secondly, Draco was wicked, seriously. I literally want to take him home with me. The way his war-time actions are tied up nicely here, how he was forced into most it yet he is still trying to make up for it. The one single most greatest thing in this entire fic was how Draco wouldn't let Harry in the house until it was completely over with Ginny. Snog around he may but now Draco has morals! He stopped from doing something he wanted, to protect the feelings of a someone he doesn't really care about. Oh that was most fantastic.

I think it was mucho witty! Best line ever: “I don’t know what’s more disturbing,” he says lightly. “That we harbour a serial groper in our midst or that he truly believes he looks good in that blue shirt." LOL...I loved Draco measured yet snarky response! I can't believe he kept his temper...he really is mature!

Also this line made me snot so hard:
“Draco’s family has been obsessed with domestic fowl for generations,” Oh joy!

and and: “Never compare me to a member of the Royal Family again if you would like to live,” Draco grumbles. “Chinless Germans the lot of them.” *Scoff!*

Before I completely crash LJ with my squee, I'll leave you with this:
“I’m thinking of starting a religion for tax purposes. Have you felt the light of Potter as your own personal saviour?” After this fic, I definitely would!




[info]blamebrampton

4 years ago

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[info]acidic_lipstick

December 30 2007, 17:03:54 UTC 4 years ago

Draco grins. “Oh Harry, you’re from the Middle Classes, not the Middle Ages, move with the times.”

Harry catches up. “Oh.” He thinks for a minute. “That must be a hell of a yacht.”

ROFLMAO! Killed me with laughter that did!! Lovely fic ♥
I loved seeing the mature versions of the trio and rest- surprising yes, some might even argue OOC- but I personally think you worked it wonderfully ♥ You gave them reasonable rationale for their maturity which I loved very much. And Harry's clever manipulation of the media was hilarious! I didn't even get what he was getting at till the end! Bravo~

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 14:59:05 UTC 4 years ago

Oh I'm glad you liked those lines, they were two of my favourites to write! It was originally meant to have more time for transformation at the beginning, but of the 14 writing days I had, I ended up with about three, so I think I will probably rework it at some point over on my lj. But I very much enjoyed writing it, and am so glad you enjoyed reading it!

[info]afterjune

December 30 2007, 17:44:12 UTC 4 years ago

oh, so lovely! i absolutely adore this Draco, whom i think is a plausible extension of his DH self here; there's more emphasis than usual on how he was forced into being on the Dark side during the War, and a lot of expansion on how he tries to make up for it afterwards by being consciously mature and selfless - he joins the anonymous!collective with the help of alcohol :))), speaks to the non-Slytherins cordially (most of all Harry, of course :D), restrains Harry from entering his room, tells Harry to choose Ginny (that bit really made my heart ache) - he's grown up, in essence, and so has Harry. i always like to think that after all that they've been through in HBP and DH, the boys can be mature enough to work together in the hopefully cohesive post-war world. and they do ♥

and Harry! i love the way he comes up with his own special gift for Draco, but more than that, how he consciously keeps a band of his closest friends together to always protect against the looming what if? and how he says “Mostly I worry that it will be me who becomes so convinced he’s right about what’s best for everyone that he turns into a monster. Because they’d let me. They’d lie to themselves for the longest time and, by the time they woke up, it would be too late.”? that was just brilliant, and a wonderful minor character detail that i felt was very important. the supplementary characters didn't go unnoticed either; i especially loved your ever-observant yet not overly pushy Hermione - and the Malfoys!

the present tense here really worked; although it is often used as a device that intentionally draws attention to itself, i forgot all about it while reading and it certainly didn't detract from the fic! more than anything, i think it really created a sense of things happening rightnow (like in the fire scene), which somehow made all of it more real - the insecurities, the tension, the tenderness. i was also pleasantly surprised by how their relationship started so early on in the fic (albeit in secret) since so much of H/D focuses on the process of getting them together rather than what happens afterwards! that just gave me a sort of warmth through the whole story because it felt like the boys were together and that was most important of all.

your writing has this indefinable quality of subtlety, humour and yes, poignancy; it just makes me want to read the fic over again, and look for your other stories after the reveal. thank you!

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 15:31:23 UTC 4 years ago

This review meant so much to me, and continues to. I wanted to thank you not just for myself, though, but for the real commitment that you have shown to so many writers in this fest. The thoughtfulness of your reading and your generous comments are such a wonderful gift, thank you very much.

[info]afterjune

4 years ago

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[info]i_claudia

December 30 2007, 18:09:25 UTC 4 years ago

This is such a lovely fic!! Just the right mix of humor and tension... and I love your characterizations! I was doing alright, reading it, until this line:
...and Draco is making a noise that sounds something like a small frog faced with the decimation of the Amazonian rainforest.
I sprayed tea all over my computer, I was laughing so hard.

This is definitely going in my rec folder!

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 15:45:22 UTC 4 years ago

I do apologise for the tea explosion, and hope that the computer suffered no lasting harm! Cheers!

[info]frayach_nicuill

December 30 2007, 19:05:50 UTC 4 years ago

Bravo! Well done! What a wonderful story to start off my Sunday with. I was grinning the whole time. Loved it :) Loved your Hermione and your Ron ("an utter prick with fabulous manners" *g*) and your Luna and your Neville (*adores*) and your Narcissa and your Lucius (omg! the conversation between him and Harry was worth the price of admission alone!) and your Justin and your Theo and Theo's quick thinking aunt and even poor Dawlish.

And, oh, did I forget to mention your Draco and Harry? Must remedy that :)

Thank you so much for writing and sharing this. It really did make my morning.

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 15:48:37 UTC 4 years ago

This is me on reading that you enjoyed this story:
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! MUPPET ARMS!!!!

It was horribly undignified.

I wish I could draw well, because I had such a clear mental image of the look on Lucius's face through that discussion. I may need to take lessons.

[info]coffeejunkii

December 31 2007, 00:30:27 UTC 4 years ago

potterism! hahaha! that's a religion i'd join ;). oh, this is fabulous. i so adore how forward harry is with draco--i'm glad harry wouldn't be shy for you. i think i like this version much better [harry who knows what he wants and goes for it = guh]. draco's wonderful, too. i like a quiet draco. i am really taken by the idea of the organization-without-a-name becoming the future of the ministry. that makes so much sense and would be really good for the wizarding world.

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 15:55:51 UTC 4 years ago

Thou shalt not think before acting, until thou hast suffered beyond all reasonable lengths and at which point thou shalt actually realise that thinking can be helpful.

Thou shalt rebel against everything. Including your canon-dictated One True Love.

Thou shalt wear thy hair in a fetchingly disorganised fashion.

Thou shalt notice when other fetching young men do likewise.

Thou shalt realise early on that 95% of the adults you know are bloody idiots or happy to see you killed.

...

There are a few more to go before I'm ready to print up hymnbooks ...

[info]anathema91

December 31 2007, 06:06:08 UTC 4 years ago

This was beautiful. I really loved it.
You brought every single character in this story to life in such a fantastic way. You've made me adore all the nameless!collective members so thoroughly.

And the Harry/Draco dynamics in this were just perfect.

Wonderful work!

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 15:56:06 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you!

[info]fourth_rose

December 31 2007, 08:42:29 UTC 4 years ago

I loved this story. I'm a sucker for political HP fic, therefore seeing Harry beginning to use the power he has - while clearly realising its limitations - made me squee. You write maturing!Harry very believeably - he's not yet an adult, but he has been through too much to still act like a child. I also liked that you picked up Harry's story right after the final battle - actually I found myself wishing that it would go on much further into the future because I'd love to see where you're taking the boys from there :)

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 16:02:33 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you so much!

It's wholly possible there will be more at some point; this was written very quickly as a pinch-hit and I was never wholly happy with it (you're quite right in your other comment that it seems there are missing steps in Draco's motivation, and, more particularly Ron's). I have a terrible feeling that the rest of the story wants to be told -- it does go to some unexpected places from the glimpses I have seen.

[info]fourth_rose

4 years ago

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[info]cynikal_lemon

December 31 2007, 08:46:11 UTC 4 years ago

Oh the banter between Hermione and Draco. Absolute LOVE!!

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 16:04:35 UTC 4 years ago

Cheers, dear!

[info]catsintheattic

December 31 2007, 10:00:07 UTC 4 years ago

An Act of Simple Devotion

Despite the wonderful H/D, I loved this sentence best:

Led a rebellion, got tortured, killed a snake. Does wonders for the confidence.

*cheers to Neville*

I smiled when Ginny commented on the prince with the shiny sword, because it was connected to Neville - the slayer of Nagini!


I liked the politics, Harry's interaction with Dawlish, the idea of the teens forming a new organisation. It was a very interesting idea, because those things can go terribly wrong, in all their good intentions.

But if things change, you are ready.

So subtle.

What we are is the future of the Ministry. Most of us will be working for them within two years. We are the wave of change for the good that will clear out all the crap that has been allowed to fester there.”

“So, just like a revolution, but with business dress and legislation?” Lee grins.

A clever way to put it!


The only reason I grew up questioning everything was because no one ever loved me enough to teach me certainty.

That was another very interesting perspective. It might be true for Harry, but I'd disagree on it in general. Because true love should be about being able to question the other person's beliefs without the fear to lose their love.


I also enjoyed the flow of the language very much. So calm and light and yet carrying so much meaning. The constant change between Harry's second person perspective and Draco's third person perspective made for a refreshing read as well. Loved the friendly banter of all the characters, the humour was great!


I also loved how much growing-up they had done, that was so incredibly rich...

“I miss hopeful Harry,” he says, not looking back. “And righteous Harry had a certain charm in retrospect.”

Harry follows him up the stairs. “They’re still here,” he replies. “They’re just more complex now.”

And your Draco, he was just everything he should be: responsible, witty, funny, caring. I can see that he could be that person, if treated in the right way.


Harry's reason to stay with Draco, because he (I) wanted to be with him (you), and not, because he (you) broke up with Ginny (her) - thank you so much for that!


My only complaint is that it ended. I wish I could simply sit there and watch them a bit longer...

Thank you very much for sharing!

[info]blamebrampton

January 7 2008, 16:06:15 UTC 4 years ago

Re: An Act of Simple Devotion

Oh Cats, you are the loveliest commenter! I am so glad that you are on my F-list! You know about my Neville-love, so I will leave that alone, but I wanted to say something to this:

[info]blamebrampton

4 years ago

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[info]snottygrrl

December 31 2007, 12:21:54 UTC 4 years ago

this was an extremely nice way to start 2008.

i loved the plot and the characters (yays for not-a-bitch!ginny) and i'd gush more but it's nearly 2am and it's time to sleep.

♥

[info]blamebrampton

January 8 2008, 03:17:06 UTC 4 years ago

Your comment was an equally lovely way for me to start 2008! Happy New Year, Sno!

[info]tiger_iris

December 31 2007, 18:13:40 UTC 4 years ago

Very nice fic. I especially liked the new organization. It would be great to read more about it, and maybe to find who is responsible for the mysterious attacks?

Dialogues were great, especially between Hermione and Draco. Neville was awesome and I loved that Ron was the one to persuade Draco to join them. I also had a lot of fun with all the references to Justin's yacht. You succeeded in writing a very witty fic, while weaving a subtle and deep relationship between Harry and Draco. And yes for Potterism as the new religion!



[info]blamebrampton

January 8 2008, 03:32:25 UTC 4 years ago

I'm so glad you liked Hermione/Draco. I worried that she was stepping a little too far away from her youthful prissiness, but then in Canon, she already has, and so with the war won and a regular fella, I think that she would be very relaxed and possibly even playful. And she would be one of those insisting that with truth, you must have reconciliation.

I wrote this as a pinch-hit, and very much enjoyed it, but I think that it actually wants to be a much longer story. While it will takle me a little time to write I will send it off to some comms when I do so that you will find out about the attackers, eventually ...

[info]oboros

December 31 2007, 20:57:38 UTC 4 years ago

enjoyabe story. thanks for sharing! I liked how you opened the parts w/ Harry's POV and then turned to Draco's. :)

[info]blamebrampton

January 8 2008, 03:37:12 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you for letting me know! Glad you liked it!

[info]mahaliem

December 31 2007, 22:47:39 UTC 4 years ago

This was marvelous! I loved everything about it!

[info]blamebrampton

January 8 2008, 03:44:01 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you SO MUCH for the lovely rec that you wrote. A mutual friend of ours pointed it out to me and I was deeply moved. And then I found that you wrote one of my favourite fics of the fest (though I have a terrible suspicion I still haven't commented ... ) so I had to friend you in a hopelessly fangirly way.

[info]mahaliem

4 years ago

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[info]rickey_a

January 1 2008, 07:19:46 UTC 4 years ago

this was a really nice read
I liked how you had the youth rallying together and burying old hatred
Harry's "plan" was great, I wonder if Hermione helped him with it;)

[info]blamebrampton

January 8 2008, 03:46:13 UTC 4 years ago

It was All His Own Work, though Hermione was so impressed Harry used his brain that she cheerfully conspired with him.

But yes, it was a case of bury old hatreds or repeat their mistakes, and I think they have chosen the only logical course.

[info]grey_hunter

January 1 2008, 11:14:37 UTC 4 years ago

This story was so good! I usually have a prejudice with fics written in present tense because they tend to be angsty, but this one wasn't. Heh I needed a few goes to figure out that the italics is Harry's POV and the rest is Draco's, though. :D I liked the insight to both or their minds and this was a nice way to do it. I loved the witty dialogue (why people like to make Harry out as a stuttering idiot I'll never know) and that Harry was so confident or at least he knew what he wanted and didn't hesitate to make it happen. I liked the smooth shift from Draco being seen as the enemy into the others accepting him in their midst (although I was surprised by Ron and was wondering what he had taken heh). Harry's plotting was inventive, and it didn't take up too much of the story as I feared it would - it was just the right proportion; you to have found the perfect pacing. I also liked the resurrection of the Order and that not everything was perfect but it was mostly only mentioned in subtext. Oh, and I loved the first-time sex scene. Thank you for sharing.

[info]blamebrampton

January 8 2008, 04:06:19 UTC 4 years ago

I am too old to angst ...

Good call on the Ron shift, I had an idea that they would have discussed the fact that they needed to Really Move On right after the Battle of Hogwarts, but ran out of time to come up with a way of writing it. Oops. Thank YOU so much for commenting, and for being such a brilliant commenter to so many writers, it is very much the fandom version of noblesse oblige -- in all the good and gracious ways!

[info]grey_hunter

4 years ago

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[info]irresistableplx

January 1 2008, 13:38:28 UTC 4 years ago

What I liked most about this is how Harry Intorduced Draco into the wizarding world as his boyfriend. I mean all the time, we see fics talking about Harry and Draco just giving no care about the rest of the world as long as their immediate family is okay with it.

That progressive get together, not some love-at-first-sight-fuck-me- now-please get together, coupled with a show of Harry's inner slytherin is such an enjoyable read!

Thank you

[info]blamebrampton

January 10 2008, 13:24:29 UTC 4 years ago

Your comment on An Act of Simple Devotion

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it and so sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you! Harry always looked like someone who would be prepared to plot if he thought it was worthwhile.

[info]differente

January 1 2008, 17:40:06 UTC 4 years ago

oh, i quite liked this! :)

[info]blamebrampton

January 10 2008, 13:24:49 UTC 4 years ago

Your comment on An Act of Simple Devotion

Thank you!

[info]yodels

January 1 2008, 20:44:37 UTC 4 years ago

I found this totally engaging and compelling. As many have mentioned, the boys seem so mature here, especially since it is so soon after the war. I just loved watching how everything unfolded; I could easily make this my new canon. Really, a treat to read.

[info]blamebrampton

January 10 2008, 13:26:40 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you very much. I always thought that after the war they would be much more grown up in terms of their broad outlooks, while being occasionally very daft in their specific behaviour, which is why Hermione's not entirely joking about the drinking and snogging (even if she plans to do it on days when she has no study commitments only).

[info]a_clear_day

January 2 2008, 00:46:21 UTC 4 years ago

Delightful read
<3

[info]blamebrampton

January 10 2008, 13:26:59 UTC 4 years ago

Your comment on An Act of Simple Devotion

Thank you

[info]ura_hd

January 2 2008, 01:25:38 UTC 4 years ago

very lovely

[info]blamebrampton

January 10 2008, 13:27:22 UTC 4 years ago

Your comment on An Act of Simple Devotion

Thank you!
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