Malfoy made the stupid move and tried approaching Buckbeak thinking he was just a dumb bird, and was about to be greeted by talon shaped consequences.
Only Harry moved faster and pulled her away just in time, changing how she looked at the same boy who still rescued her after all she's said and done.
Unfortunately, habits are hard to break and she still told her father about the dangerous creature that tried to attack her. And for Lucius' only child, he doesn't need blood to pressure the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. However Malfoy was only made aware of how far her father took it after the decision.
After spending nearly a full school year with these developing, confusing thoughts for Potter. Being in his orbit in the library, in the hallway, between classes...hearing her word was now about to kill Buckbeak, she's not laughing about it when the trio find her and the other Slytherin watching from the hilltop.
One of the fics in my big list is no longer available due to the account being suspended. However, I have gotten in contact with the author and have permission to post it here. Its a shorter piece during the Final Stand about paternal sacrifice, and a great unique take. Written by @zeldazealot , their alt is @GalacticKaiser
“HARRY POTTER… IS DEAD!”
Luna grabbed her wrist to stop her from rushing towards Hagrid. Dracaena could barely stop herself from crying out. Her mind still denying that the limp body the half-giant was carrying was that of the boy she loved. The Death Eaters laughed at the assembly of students, learning that their best hope was dead. “And now… it’s time to put your faith… in me…” the Dark Lord declared. “Come forth and join us… or die…”
Only two did were not laughing. “Dracaena…” her father called out in an almost whisper that cut across the silent courtyard. The rest of the students turned toward her, as her father called out again, extending his hand. “Dracaena… come… please.” her mother called.
Dracaena took a step forward, and Luna’s grip on her tightened. “Luna… let go… please.” She turned toward her friend, Luna’s grip released as their eyes met. “Thank you Luna, for everything.” She said softly as she walked toward the Death Eaters.
“Ah… well done Dracaena well done…” the Dark Lord said as she approached him. Her skin crawling as he… it embraced her. “I’m sure we can make up for your… past failings” it whispered to her as she was released.
She finally finished her walk across the courtyard and met her parents, they were speaking to her, but she couldn’t listen. Her eyes were glued to the body Hagrid carried, the cold dead form of Harry Potter, the Boy she loved.
She choked back a sob, but the tears began to flow. She gripped her wand tight, tighter than she ever had before, and just as the Dark Lord began speaking to the crowd… she pointed it at the Dark Lord.
“AVADA-“ she hesitated, for just a moment.
“Dracaena, Dracaena, you are not a killer.” The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to her echoed in her mind… he was right. Dracaena Malfoy was not a killer. Potter would hate her if she was…
“Oh… how disappointing…” the dark lord had turned towards her and raised his wand. Dracaena closed her eyes, but a ghost of a smile appeared on her face. She knew when she opened her eyes she would get to see him, smiling back at her. “I’m sorry for being such a coward everyone…” she thought.
“Avada Kedavra”
“NO!” Something hit Dracaena and she was thrown to the ground hard, her wand clattering across the stone floor. She heard a loud thump, then a scream… her mothers scream. Dracaena opened her eyes and saw the lifeless body of Lucius Malfoy on the ground between her and the Dark Lord.
Hello, world.
I’m a scenario writer from Japan.
Right now, I’m writing my own Harry Potter fanfiction, following the original story while reimagining Draco Malfoy as a girl — Lyra Malfoy.
In my mind, the story has already grown into something much bigger than a romance. Nine different themes, including love, are moving alongside each other, shaping the relationship between Lyra and Harry all the way to the final chapters.
(Thinking through everything surrounding the Sectumsempra incident was honestly painful for me.)
At the moment, I’ve finished the first draft through Chamber of Secrets.
Every day, I see wonderful illustrations, stories, ideas, and beautiful moments shared here on X.
I’m genuinely happy to be here among all of you, creating something of my own alongside so many people who love these characters and this world.
Thank you.
Draceana frowned. “Distracted by something, Potter?”
“Yes, the way you styled your hair.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.
She scoffed. “Like you would notice such things. Now, follow me three steps to your right.”
He followed her instructions, and saw that Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame Maxine, so dwarfed by her that the top of his pointed hat barely tickled her chin. Despite that, she moved with a grace unbecoming of a woman so large, even more than Fleur, who is in the middle of a waltz with a slack jawed Roger.
Draceana swayed with him. “Do you think Hagrid is jealous?”
Harry looked back at her. “Of Dumbledore?”
“He is dancing with who he fancies, after all.”
“I hardly think he could ever think such things of the headmaster.”
“You would be surprised at what infatuation does to people.”
“Speaking from experience?”
Draceana clicked her teeth and looked away.
“Just an observation, is all. Take two steps back.”
The movement brought him near Mad-Eye Moody, who was in the middle of an ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra. She was doing everything she could to avoid his wooden leg, but somehow keeping the semblance of a dance going.
“Nice socks, Potter.” Moody’s voice was a growl as he passed, his magical eye focused on Harry’s legs through his robes.
“Oh - yeah, Dobby knitted them for me.” Harry flashed a grin at that.
Draceana’s grip tightened over his hand. “How is the house-elf?”
Harry looked at her, confused, but her tone was too soft to feel biting. “He… is alright, working in the kitchens. He frequents Gryffindor quite a bit.”
“I see… even with freedom he chooses to be a servant, does he?”
“For a galleon a week, and one day off each month.”
“That’s hardly that much.”
“It’s better than whatever your family gave him.” A harsh venom had creeped into Harry’s tone.
“...I suppose so.”
The admission left him speechless.
“One step to the left.”
He followed her next few steps in silence, unsure of what to think anymore. Once the final, quavering note from the bagpipe sounded, his chest fell in relief. Applause for The Weird Sisters filled the Hall, and Harry moved to leave the dance floor.
Draceana’s grip on his hand remained. “The dance isn’t over.”
He could hear the first few notes of the next song start to play, something energetic, spry. At the edge of the dance floor, he could see Ron and Padma sitting. His friend was glaring at Hermione and Krum, who had started a new stance. His partner had her arms and legs crossed, one foot jiggling to the music.
He looked back at Draceana. “Let’s sit-”
“Let me tell you what is going to happen” She nodded between Hermione and Ron. “That muggle girl is going to approach Weasley after having a nice dance with Krum. She is going to be all smiles, but he will be lashing out, no doubt talking about some nonsense rather than what he really feels. There will be a toss up, and it is going to be extremely awkward. You could sit front row to that, which I admit has a certain amusing appeal to it, or you could suffer another dance with me.” She still held onto his hand.
He looked at her, then at Ron. He could feel the anger radiating off of his friend. They’d just returned to speaking terms, and there was a high chance that anything he said to calm him could break that. He wasn’t even sure if his presence would help, either. Yet, to dance with Draceana… why was he even considering that option at all?
“Time’s up, Potter.”
She tugged him deeper into the dance floor with a grip that was surprisingly strong.
“What are you-”
She placed his other hand on her waist again and started to move. So fast was she that he had no choice but to follow her.
Draceana giggled. “Oh? You certainly fell into step quickly.”
“I would trip otherwise!”
“Perhaps you would, but I am a very good leader.”
Despite his irritation, he knew that to be true. They weaved and danced across the floor completely to her rhythm, and so focused was he on his feet that he had no time to object. She giggled the entire time, the sound different now. It was lighter, softer, and had he not known who it was coming from, Harry might have guessed it was someone else entirely. In the face of everything, he felt his own smile start to form.
Then he saw Cedric and Cho.
They danced close together, their eyes closed and completely lost in the music, in their own little world, with no room for him to ever be by her side. Helplessness crept into his chest, and he felt his jaw start to clench.
“...does it hurt, Potter, to see the one you adore infatuated with someone else? I could give you a solution.” Draceana’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“What?” Harry couldn’t pull his eyes away from them.
“Look at me.”
“What are you-”
“Look. At. Me.” Her hand, firm yet gentle like her tone, pressed against his cheek and turned it towards her.
He didn’t know what he expected. Anger at being ignored? Amusement at his suffering? What he would have never guessed was the look she held in that moment. It was completely serious, without the edge of her pride, the mockery that always sat behind her eyes, and those remained absent in the small smile that followed.
“There, now you’re not looking at her, are you?”
For what may have been only a second, Harry’s heart stopped for an eternity. Words formed behind his lips, but crumbled even quicker, he could feel the warmth of her hands more than ever before, and the face that looked up at him continue to rob him of all thought. The music stopped for just a moment to let those who were tired leave the dance floor, but he stayed, unable to move a muscle.
The music started again, and they began to dance.
She still guided him, their movements smoother through this song than the others. Maybe it was just because it was slower, something for swaying rather than stepping, but his hand never left hers, just as his words refused to leave his tongue.
Draceana smirked up at him. “What’s this? You’ve become mightily obedient, Potter.”
“I…”
“Do you see how easy it is when you just listen to me? You could consider this a lesson.”
The teasing edge to her voice brought attention creeping back. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hermione and Ron in an argument at the edge of the dance floor, with Padma nowhere to be seen. He felt the need to intervene, but from the expressions that they had on their faces, he knew deep down it wouldn’t make any difference. He should dance inst… was he really thinking of that now?
Draceana pressed her lips into a pout. “Well, it’s no fun if you’re going to be a plank of wood.”
He looked down at her, a spike of irritation finding him as he saw the triumphant and smug air return to her eyes. Even with that, he had to admit that this dance floor was her domain, and that there was no way to get one over on her while they remained.
So he chose to take her from it.
His hand wrapped around her wrist and he began to walk towards the entrance hall.
“P-Potter? What are you doing?”
He ignored her words for the moment and continued on his way. Out of the corner of his vision, he saw Hermione storm away from Ron, only for Krum to show up behind him a moment later. Dumbledore was dancing with Professor Sprout, Ludo Bagman was in the middle of speaking with Fred and George, the three laughing before parting ways, only for Percy to greet Bagman afterways, wringing his hands with a sheepish look on his face. Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen, and perhaps in another time that would have been important to Harry, along with all the other dynamics he glanced over, but in this moment, none of that really mattered. If Draceana was going to play games with him, then he would do the same to her.
Her protests continued in whispers that only he could hear, but he ignored them as they made their way through the entrance hall and out of the front door. Despite her words, Draceana never pulled at her hand and continued to follow him. The fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden continued to wink and twinkle during their descent down the front steps, and soon they found themselves surrounded by bushes that wrapped around in winding, ornamental paths, punctuated by stone statues.
The sound of splashing water trailed into Harry’s ears, perhaps from a distant fountain that he couldn’t see, but what he noticed was that there were still people around, sitting upon carved benches. He pulled Draceana along one of the winding paths, deeper and deeper into the maze in search of a spot with no one around. Her words had gone silent, but her wrist felt hotter for some reason. Eventually, he found another fountain, this one without anyone else nearby, and he guided her to right in front of the structure before spinning around, which nearly made her jump.
“S-so, what is it, Potter? Embarrassed at how bad you were at dancing?”
“No, I’m merely doing what you suggested.” He switched from holding her wrist to her hand and grabbed her waist.
That made her jump. “W-w-w-what?!”
“I’m looking at you.”
He moved, not in a sudden, jerking way to make her trip, but in the same way that she did to stop him from talking.
“P-Potter! T-this is u-unacceptable!”
“You are welcome to stop at any time.” He stepped back twice, and she followed. “But it looks like you can’t.”
“N-nonsense! T-this is pity! You’d look like a fool dancing by yourself like this!”
He smirked. “So why don’t you take control?” He swayed to the side. She stepped closer. “Or was it all the people around before that made you so smug? If only they could see your face now.”
Red had filled her cheeks, clear against pale skin illuminated by the moonlight. The color of anger… it was anger, right?
He moved faster to escape that thought.
“H-hold on Potter, you’re moving too fas-”
His feet tipped over each other as he stepped back. It wasn’t enough to make him fall, but he did stumble, Draceana still in his grip. He pulled her against his chest out of reflex, holding her tight until the world felt steady around him. He relaxed his arms when he did, a small flash of guilt coursing through him.
“Sorry, that wasn’t part of-” His words cut off when he looked down at her face.
It was an expression he’d never seen before, from anyone, let alone Draceana. A distant, yet close look beyond the eyes that met hers. It felt deeper, a connection that made them look at a part of each other neither one knew the other possessed. A trance came over him, but not one fueled magic. She started to move closer, and he didn’t back away.
“Harry?”
Draceana was the first to snap back to normal. She stepped away from him and looked away just as Cedric Diggory rounded the corner of a path. Cho was with him, but stayed behind as he approached Harry.
“What are you doing out here?”
Harry shook his head to bring back his senses. “Just getting some fresh air is all.”
“Ah, we’re of like minds there.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Draceana and Cho acknowledge each other with a nod.
“This is actually perfect.” Cedric pulled Harry off to the side and leaned in, keeping his voice low. “I owe you one for telling me about the dragons. You know the golden egg? Does yours wail when you open it?”
Harry rubbed his face and blinked.
“You alright?”
“Y-yeah, sorry this tournament is getting to me a bit, but yes, it does wail.”
“Well… take a bath, okay?”
“...what?”
“Take a bath and -er- take the egg with you, and -er- just mull things over in the hot water. It’ll help you think… Trust me.”
Harry stared at him.
“Tell you what.” Cedric wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “Use the prefects’ bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that stature of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password’s ‘pine fresh.’ Gotta go…” He looked back at Cho and grinned. “Want to say good night.” He patted Harry on the back and hurried back to Cho.
Harry's eyes followed the two of them as they disappeared, his eyes fixed on where they left for a while. He eventually looked away, seeing Draceana near the fountain, looking away from him.
“Malfoy, I should-”
“He told you something related to the tournament, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Then you better hop to it, Potter.” She placed her hands on her hips. “I will not be having the champion who took me to the ball lose in the next match.”
He stared at her for a moment, the feeling in his chest settling when he was sure that the Draceana he always knew was back. “Do you need me to walk you back?”
“As if I need an escort. Go on.” She shooed him away. “I wish to take a moment here anyways.”
Harry moved towards the exit, but stopped just before Draceana was out of sight. “Malfoy.”
“What?”
“You… were right, it was better to stay with you tonight.”
She crossed her arms and held her head high. “Of course I was, now go.”
He shook his head with a small laugh, and left.
***
Draceana waited a good, long while after Harry left before moving. She drifted over to a nearby bench in a daze, the heat that she barely kept contained before burning her face a bright scarlet. She buried herself into her hands, head spinning at what had just occurred. Her heart beat so loudly that the sound of the fountain was lost under its drumming, and no matter how hard she tried to settle her breathing, it left her bated, the fog slipping through her fingers. She wanted to squeal, to shout, to do something to let all these feelings go, yet at the same time wished they would never leave.
She had seen it.
It was only for the briefest form of a second, a flash that was so quickly taken away by that blasted Cedric, but she knew that she was not hallucinating. So often had she seen that light in his eyes when he stared at Cho, at that Weasley girl, so often had she wondered what she could do to see that same radiance when he looked at her, and tonight, she had seen it. It may have only been a glimmer, one that lasted for less than a breath, but in that small moment, the light of Harry Potter’s eyes was hers.
And the smile on her face was the purest it had ever been.
2/2
Big shout out to @spookyh8r for inspiring me to write this, give his version a read too! And of course @hayes_gens for the art to spring off of.
This was a doozy, I know, but I hope all of you enjoyed!
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire might be coming to Switch and Switch 2 on October 8.
A new leak claims that’s the release date, and it also lines up with info previously shared by Shpeshal_Nick about the Gen 3 games coming sometime around late September or October.
Dataminers have found Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald references in the Switch version of FireRed and LeafGreen, while Pokémon recently posted high-quality Ruby and Sapphire footage.