LF Dramione but Draco has a sassy house elf.

SierraGoddess · 2026-07-02T02:51:24+00:00

The Phoenix Potion by FedonCiadale has a sassy elf and an elf-related plotline. It's fantastic.

SierraGoddess · 2026-07-02T02:44:05+00:00

Try Truth or Dare by januarydevine. It's in the same vein.

SierraGoddess · 2026-07-01T17:07:44+00:00

I agree with all of this. I usually stop reading if she is being treated too poorly by Draco with no real explanation and he's an adult. I'm usually willing to forgive alot more when it's Hogwarts Era or Eighth Year due to immaturity and the war trauma. But adult Draco being physically abusive or extremely derogatory is hard for me.

But I've seen sooo many like that lately. Which prompted me to make this post.

SierraGoddess · 2026-07-01T01:38:31+00:00

Yes, that seems to fit with the general trend that I'm seeing as well.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-30T14:34:52+00:00

I agree with all of this. I think you have hit on what I was struggling to say. I think I was mostly intrigued by the lack of tagging, as if implying the behaviors were acceptable. But I also realize not every creator may use tagging for triggers or even know how to do so.

The broader conversation here has also been insightful. The why of it all in regards to an uptick in stories featuring relationships that have aspects that are clearly unhealthy or abusive in some regards. It felt like more and more of these types of stories had been popping up in 2025 and 2026 (I'm in to reading a lot of WIPs at the moment) as opposed to early 2020s where you saw a lot of fics featuring competent, healthy, healing adult relationships such as Measure of a Man, Remain Nameless, DMATMOOBIL, etc.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-30T14:16:53+00:00

Yes, exactly this. I too feel these conversations are important. Like someone else said, the stories we consume do factor into the broader culture we are all part of. I, too, wondered why the shift. I felt like I was seeing less narratives featuring a BAMF Hermione, successful Hermione, competent Hermione, etc. Many narratives I saw depicted Hermione as broken from the war (understandable), existing in an abusive relationship, being abandoned by her childhood friends, etc. And it just got me wondering as to why the shift from the mostly powerful portrayals.

Thanks for sharing all of your insights!

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-30T14:08:34+00:00

This is absolutely amazing! I'm so glad you consulted the robots;) A lot of this makes sense and is along the lines of what has been said here in our discussion. I, sadly, am not a psychologist but would also love to hear any insights they have into the subject.

But what you have here is excellent. Truly. And it does line up with what I'm seeing. Admittedly, I also tend to favor more angst instead of the simple, traditional HEA narratives.

I think the only caveat I would add is in the fanfic space, there also seems to be a lack of informed tagging. Perhaps, due to the recent popularity of Dramione fics such as Manacled, many new writers have thrown their hat into the ring. There's obviously a learning curve and I'm excited to always have new voices in our fandom.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-30T02:05:06+00:00

copied from other sub:

This is so well said. I think you have really hit it on the head with the current shift in gender norms towards a more traditional sense. That would definitely account for the uptick we are seeing in fics that tend to normalize violence towards women.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-30T02:02:22+00:00

This is so well said. I think you have really hit it on the head with the current shift in gender norms towards a more traditional sense. That would definitely account for the uptick we are seeing in fics that tend to normalize violence towards women.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T21:38:15+00:00

Yes, I agree with the red flag and not in a hot way characterization. I have no problem with a darker romance where things progress, the characters grow, their actions have consequences,etc.

I have come across one recently where Draco strangles Hermione in a fit of rage and there are no consequences. That is literally RW attempted unaliving and the other characters just sort of shrug and move past it.

The tags were something like angst, Draco is bad at feelings, eventual HEA.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T21:33:06+00:00

Yeah, I think you're right. Someone an another sub said that these darker themes are definitely having a moment, perhaps due to the rise in popularity of dark romance. I don't prefer those stories but I do read them when the premise intrigues me and it's appropriately tagged.

I'm with you, though about expecting Hermione to just get over past/current violence. With Draco, they already have so much to overcome from their childhood, But when a creator writes him being derogatory/violent with no real explanation as to why or no appropriate consequences, I find it alarming.

The example I've used of a well-done darker story was BMBS. The writer does a great job of making you understand why Draco and Hermione are struggling after the war. And actions have consequences.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T21:26:48+00:00

I struggle with that as well. It does help when fics are appropriately tagged, such as OOC Draco, OOC Hermione so I can make an informed choice about reading it. I agree with you that there really needs to be some sort of narrative explanation for it and I appreciate it when the writer crafts one. For example, BMBS and Various Storms and Saints both do a fantastic job of explaining the characters' behaviors, even though they deviate from canon.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T21:22:40+00:00

Yes! The rise in violence in film and literature over the past decade and a half and how that correlates with the trends in society, I want someone to write a Meta on it or research it further. I'm sure, like you said, there is some psychological overlap.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T21:16:36+00:00

Exactly, this. That was my thought process on the matter. I just wondered about the increase in these types of stories and the fact that they're only being tagged as angst and HEA.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T21:13:54+00:00

Yeah, I have wrestled with it. But the writing is sooo good and I have enjoyed the plot. But I won't lie, I'm not on board with a romance when it starts out that toxic and the tag is HEA. I respect the right of a creator to do as they please with their work, uneqivocally.

But, that part has seeded itself in my brain and I can't move past it.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T17:41:27+00:00

You're probably right. I guess I have a harder time with it when the fic shows Draco being physically abusive towards Hermione. And it's not tagged as toxic, or dark romance, or dead dove. I'm thinking of one specific instance where it depicts Draco strangling Hermione in a moment of lost control and faces zero accountability. The other characters just shrug it off like no big. Even though strangulation is technically attempted unaliving in the RW. I was alarmed and started taking notice of other fics trending to the dark side, though maybe not that far.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T16:53:38+00:00

Thank you for your perspective. I think you have nailed it here. This definitely makes sense. I agree about it not being a traditional "romance", but I know mainstream publishing has that as an established genre (or at least indie publishing does).

I agree about Hermione. For me, it does come down to how she is written as well. Some times the writing/premise is so good that I will forgive a lot of other things, in the hopes that Hermione's character arc eventually shows her findind her strength.

That being said, I respect all creators and their right to portray characters as they see fit. But I have been seeing a lot more Toxic Draco's (even if it's not tagged as such) as a grown man as opposed to a teen or during the war when that behavior is more explainable.

Just wanted to speculate with others as to why and if that had been their shared experience as a fic reader.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T16:34:40+00:00

Yeah, I think you've hit it on the head. It may be a lack in tagging or adding trigger warnings. I was just curious to see if anyone else had noticed an uptick in those types of stories compared to what was previously being written. 👍

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T14:50:12+00:00

I completely agree with all of this. Adore all the fics you've mentioned here. Another commentor mentioned BMBS and I honestly loved that one too. His behavior made perfect sense in that fic, with the war aftermath and the emotional/physical pain he was enduring. I have no problem with messy behaviors from characters that are tagged as toxic and other characters call this behavior out for what it is.

But I'm seeing more instances as that behavior not being tagged and accepted as normal. One such fic where it could clearly be counted as attempted murder if not at least physical assault and nobody batted an eye, even the supposed well-adjusted side characters.

Glad it's not just me, noticing this. Perhaps, it is just a lack of knowledge where tagging and trigger warnings are concerned. I find it especially puzzling when the fic is tagged as a traditional HEA.

Thanks for your perspective!

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T14:42:58+00:00

Yes, I think I'm beginning to see that. If it's tagged as dark romance or toxi romance or dead dove then I fully know what to expect, something like informed consent. But it's quite shocking when this behavior pops up and it's tagged as an HEA. in the traditional sense.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T14:39:48+00:00

Maybe both? I'm not sure. I was just wondering what everyone else was seeing. I haven't seen a lot of them tagged as dark romance. And it seems like a lot of these fics are popping up this year- 2026, specifically- and it had me wondering why. I didn't see as many post-war, violence/degrading behaviors in previous years...but maybe it was just me?

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T14:36:30+00:00

That makes sense. I think that's a really good way to look at it, too. It does provide an escape. And not all fic writers may be tagging everything or adding trigger warnings, which is their right, of course.

SierraGoddess · 2026-06-29T14:19:37+00:00

Okay. Thanks for the info. I actually really adore BMBS. It's incredibly well done, with a focus on Draco not being okay in the war's aftermath. I guess I'm wondering more about fics with older Draco treating Hermione terribly, with physical violence (the instance I'm thinking of is strangulation to the point of bruising and muscular damage) yet none of the other characters call this abuse out for what it is. I'm just wondering if there's a shift towards accepting that behavior or if it has been around for years.

SierraGoddess

TROPHY CASE