Discussion: Wartime Harry and Draco

[pink_mint]

I made a post to accio_hd_fics the other day asking if anyone could think of stories or art depicting WWI or WWII. I couldn't think of any, but I was hoping I was wrong.

Many thanks to roma_fics because she remebered a piece she thought was great, and oh, wow, do I agree. It features Harry and Draco, amongst several other characters, in a trench.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR (or) Steady On, Soldier

by massicot

The drawing is intense and cool and very well done. It's the kind of thing I was looking and hoping for. And what really delighted me about the piece is that it's a magical AU. I think it's so special.

But sadly this is the only thing that came up. I'm surprised this is the case, especially since the Harry Potter series had a first Wizarding War and lead up to the second Wizarding war. It seems like it would have been done extensively and become almost a cliché.

Why hasn't it been done? This is an unmarked territory for Harry and Draco. I'm craving more stories and art like this, and I'm inspired to add to it. I think I have my prompt idea for my hd_holidays sign-up! Distress and romance during a wartime fall and winter - my heart flutters just thinking about it! :-D

Comments

[nuclearsugars.livejournal.com]

Hee, it's something I've seen done once or twice in Merlin fandom, but probably because that fandom lends itself to non-magical AUs more easily for some reason. I think with the H/D pairing, there is a lot of room to play in JKR's world and maybe that's why some writers don't like to branch out in our plain old Muggle realm.

Now we just have to poke you for SS!Draco and stalwart!brit!soldier!Harry. :D

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Well, that does make a lot of sense. And I know non-magical AUs aren't very common. But there's so much potential! ;-) Plus, I love the idea of a magical AU.

Ha ha, yes, it's meant to happen! I must do it. :-D

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

You need to draw some WW1 and WW2 H/Ds now, you realise? ;)

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

HA, I do realise! And that's not good, because I have other art to do. I'll work it in somehow. But you should draw some, too! (Do you see, this is my plan? Mua ha ha!)

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

I've been putting off art-drawing for two weeks now... my muse is taking a break with his boyfriend D: I might someday because the thought of H/D in uniform is unf!

YOU MUST DRAW MOAR.. *nods*

(Also, you are evil :P)

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

No! Tell your muse to back, now! I want more art from you.

. . . the thought of H/D in uniform is unf!

YES! Exactly! :-D

(You will succumb to my ways, darling. :-P )

You saw Bry's Draco I did, yeah? But Monday there will be more art from me! *dances*

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

I don't know why he doesn't want to come home. D:

(Backs away from Mint's web of doom)

OMG YES - I VIEWED IT AT WORK AND FORGOT TO REPLY OMG....

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

!!

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Because metafandom will be round to take away your internet privileges for being appropriative

Also tbh it would involve putting Draco in German uniform surely which is a little Squee harshing

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see.

Surely Draco in a Death Eater uniform should be just as Squee harshing. Oh, but I forgot - it's fictional, so it's all right. ;-)

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Well pretty much. I wouldn't get all indignant about it because life is too short but I think ... they just buried a group of young men at fromelles with full honours after finding them in a mixed grave and spent rather a lot of money on dna analysis to work out who was whom because people still do care about what happened to their relatives.

And that's just ww1.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's absolutely horrific. Any war is horrific. I'm not trying to deny or belittle that. But just because it's in a children's book under a different name doesn't make the issue any less.

And as you can see from the cartoon in my post, WWI was depicted in Charlie Brown, and there isn't anything much more Squee-inducing than Snoopy. But I wouldn't use the word "squee". There has been and can be emotional, moving, uplifting stories, films and art having to do with the world wars. I'm only surprised there isn't more in the HP fandom, what with all the similarities to the Harry Potter series - you yourself assumed Draco equals Death Eater equals German soldier . . .

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I assume Harry is going to be British, and so Draco has to be on the other side, which makes him German.

What Jo did was to take elements, side step so you were't directly quoting them and go, this is like enough to make my point and not like enough to be disprespectful.

And I suspect that's why people don't take the side step back to directly quote SS uniforms. Because it makes them uncomfortable. Not because it makes Draco look bad, but because it's people's families. And if you don't make him SS it'll be that you're downplaying the seriousness of deatheatering, and then people will get all arguing about whether ordinary Germans knew etc.

And before you know it, Metafandom is posting updates three times a day, fandom wank melts down under the strain, and the internets are all broked.

So people stick to the snakey and mask theme with the black robes because it's not exactly hard on the eyes.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Those are great points! Yes, it makes people uncomfortable because it hits close to home. I completely understand what you're saying.

But then, in a way, the whole Death Eater business waters it down, makes it tolerable and not as uncomfortable. If you mix that with an air of "coolness" to be a Death Eater (e.g. Lucius) . . . well, you can see where I'm going with this.

Over analizing of course, but I'm playing devil's advocate. ;-)

[roma-fics.livejournal.com]

OMG How could I have forgotten one of my favourite fics????????

Seriously, if you want your heart ripped out and then maybe put back together here is a fic for you. It's long and I do mean long and plus it has a sequel. The original was written before HPDH.

The Burning Times by DracosDirtySecret
http://thehexfiles.net/viewstory.php?sid=3579

Summary: At the end of the War, wizarding governments worldwide have reconstructed themselves from the ground up. People from the wizarding world now find themselves co-existing with those from the Muggle world and vice versa. Draco Malfoy finds himself appointed an Ambassador by the new Minister of Magic, Albus Dumbledore, and Harry Potter is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. This is where life as they know it ceases to exist. When Draco is sent away to a far off land, he lands himself in a world of trouble and is sent to a Muggle prison. Stripped of his ability to perform magic, and denied any contact with the outside world, Draco finds himself unable to even contact the new husband he left behind. But Draco’s woes are nothing compared to those of his husband’s... M/M, Slash, A.U., Angst, Dark Fic, Character Death, MPreg, Drug Abuse, Rape, Torture, O.C.(s), & OOC just to give you fair warning.
Genres: Angst, AU, Dark!Fic, Drama, Tragedy
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Adult Language, Angst, OC, mPreg, Non-Con, OOC, Sexual Content, Violence, Drug Usage, Rape

Warning Note: There is the equivalent of the Holocaust.
The Sequel is also on The Hex Files.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Yay!! Oh, I am so reading this. Thank you, sweetie!! :-D

[celemie.livejournal.com]

Draykonis did a commission of h/d at a bar in wwii uniform (at least it looks that way to me), which, like all of her stuff, is INCREDIBLE: http://unassumingpumpkin.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d27ubol

There are also some adorable as/s stories and pictures from the "as/s through the ages" fest. One set in late twenties Germany (http://community.livejournal.com/the_ass_fest/88804.html#cutid1), one during the blitz (http://community.livejournal.com/the_ass_fest/88545.html#cutid1), and one during wwii, where Scorpius is sent to England for protection and lives with the Potters (http://community.livejournal.com/the_ass_fest/86719.html#cutid1). All are very good.

There really should be more though! Please, draw us some!!! I know I've been craving a Dumbledore/Grindlewald 20s to wwi novel for AGES!

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Yes! That piece by Draykonis is so cool it acts like an AC unit. HAHA.

I'm excited to take a look at these AS/S stories and illustrations! You know, now that I look at that gorgeous illustration by ghot from Between Two Worlds, I remember seeing it before - but I didn't read the story! And the other two I haven't seen at all. Yay! Thank you for all the recs, honey!!

I will draw some, I promise. :-D And I like the sound of that Dumbledore/Grindlewald novel!

[celemie.livejournal.com]

Haha, like an AC unit! I like that!

Yeah, that ghot picture is absolutely spectacular!!!! Just Scorpius' hair sets the time soo well!!
(The two wwii ones are better)

[mijeli.livejournal.com]

Ohh, I remember this piece, and it's just as shiver-worthy the second time. I agree, absolutely fantastic, both deep and just kick-ass cool.

Why the scenario hasn't been further explored... well, I'd presume just because it's obviously hinted, but still takes place in a different world. What I love about the Potter!verse is the magic, not the reality of it all. (But I'm not big on AUs in general.)
Also, I can only speak for myself, but as an Austrian citizen I have no desire to keep occupying myself with WWII more than I really have to (and it's rubbed in your face constantly if you live here). I figure it's too dark a setting for many people to traipse around in for fun - which is after all what fanfiction / fanart is about for most. I agree with shiv here: Not because it makes Draco look bad, but because it's people's families.
Lastly, many writers might want to avoid the role of the "moral educator" that could come with writing war and destruction.

Am I contradicting myself here, praising the art, then dismissing the comparison? :o You know, I obviously enjoy the aesthetic parallel, because I'm one morbid f*ck ;), and I'd be all over Distress and romance during a wartime fall and winter in your style. I could probably even enjoy reading such a story if it was credibly written and not overly "teach-y". I'd be really hesitant though to draw or write it myself.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

All your points are excellent, sweetie! I would also only like to read something like that if it were, like you said, credibly written and not overly teach-y.

Hee! I think the appeal of the art is that it isn't at all teach-y, and it isn't dark in the sense of dealing with heavy issues. It shows magical trench warfare, and that's about it.

You probably read this in my Hols sign-up, but this is a scenario that I would like to see:

AU WWI: Manfred von Richthofen!Draco and British ace!Harry, with flying battle scenes and maybe Draco and Harry blowing out each others planes (brooms?) and landing in France's countryside/wilderness, stranded. Non-magical or magical.

Now, while I know Richthofen is controversial, I think a story like that would be exciting and different, and really just another way of putting Draco and Harry together in a stressful situation. It isn't set up to be terribly teach-y or intensively about the war. Rather, the time acts like a base setting for the boys and their character development.

What are your thoughts about that? :-)

[mijeli.livejournal.com]

I completely agree about the art here - it really lacks any "educational" vibe, which is why it's so exciting to look at. A really well-done piece *loves*

Yes, I read about this scenario, and tbh, I had to ask Almighty Google about the Richthofen guy :o Honestly, I like what you came up with here (also, I have a much less problematic relationship with WWI than with WWII), and I would very much like to see this picked - especially as art!

and really just another way of putting Draco and Harry together in a stressful situation
Good point. I find myself agreeing again! :) Bringing them together where they're most separated - that's what's so intriguing about this pairing, after all. I'm generally not one for AUs, but I'll admit that in this case, it's extremely fitting: two different sides in the same war, the enemies not as different as they'd like to think. Hm, it grows more interesting with the minute I think about it, really!

[okydoky.livejournal.com]

Oooh you've got me wanting to read a nice war-time fic now. Maybe with spies and battles and secret liasons. Mmm. :)

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly, darling! That sounds so perfect. :-D

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

I am really just commenting to use my David Draco as girl in HJ uniform icon. ;)

And it is true - there is little H/D fic/art that is set directly within the war. I can see how placing them in WW1 or WW2 is not very popular to write - I wouldn't want to write it, too AU. I am guessing there must have been more war stories before HBP and DH.

The most recent war fic I can think of is winnett's History of the War (http://winnettfics.livejournal.com/66353.html), but you know that already. :)

I seem to remember an older, short fic where Harry and Draco fight together, and people know just from looking at them that they are for each other. Hm ... *off to search*

Not exactly what you are looking for, but have you seen this? tetleythesecond, Witch Night Or How The Word Snitch Entered Muggle German (http://community.livejournal.com/femgenficathon/102032.html).

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Drastic AUs aren't very popular. I don't particularly like them! But I like the world war scenario. And I guess I just see the AUs that there are and wonder why people who like AUs don't like write about the world wars. ;-)

There was a wartime series that I dearly loved that was posted during last December . . . A Winter Wish (http://vaysh11.livejournal.com/123691.html) :-)

Thank you for the recs! I have not seen Witch Night or How the Word Snitch Entered Muggle German - can't wait to read it! And if you do remember the other one, link me.

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

Sweet, I got your mail, no worries. I'm in the middle of a huge edit and sometimes don't get to answer fandom mail as quickly as usually. But I am insanely happy that you like me Rotkäppchen reading. *squishes*

In my sign-up for hd_hols I listed war!fic as one of my preferences to write. I'd love to write one, actually (*waves at Bry, Dyson, Tara and Byaghro*), not as a WWI or WWII AU, but a real HP War AU.

I am still racking my brain about that other one. It was short, I seem to remember (or do I remember a scene from a long fic?). Nor sure if I can retrieve it, but I'll let you know if I do.

Do you know The Reader (http://www.fictionalley.org/authors/aja/TR01a.html) by Aja? It is a wartime fic and just stunning. :)

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Excellent, sweetheart! I'm just glad you did get it - no worries about replying. :-D

I hope you get someone that has that in their preferences, because, God, I'd love to read a full HP war fic from you!!! If my gifter doesn't want to do my first prompt, that was my second (of course, they don't have to do either! ;-) ).

I must have read The Reader, but I don't remember it from looking at it . . . I'll read it with my lunch. Yay!!

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

*cough*IwashopingIgetyouasagifteebecauseIwouldsowriteyoursecondpromptsorrynomanfredvonrichthofenthough*cough*

♥

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

*cough*Iwouldpositivleyabsolutelytwirlandsingfordaysfromtheamountofhappiness!!!*cough*