Riptide -- Team Epilogue

Warnings: Infidelity, but hey, it's Team Epilogue, what do you expect?

Killing off Ginny?
Nyahaha (okies, goes off to read now)

Oh, this was all kinds of lovely. Humorous and angsty and sexy and sweet. I absolutely loved it!

Wow! You know that I wasn't expecting that ending. I think it really speaks to his character though. That tension between his selfishness and his breeding proved enormously interesting to read. Very, very well done!

Thanks
Bubba

Absolutely loved this.

♥

I should probably sleep on this story to make up my mind, but I'll take the risk and spill my jumbled thoughts now and hope there will be a flurry of better comments to distract you from it. I did read it twice, which didn't help as much as I'd hoped.

So, this was some good writing. I thought Harry and Draco's characterisations were solid, well-developed and consistent. There was wit and lovely, warm, dark-ish humour. There's a lot of background and detail. There were beautiful expressions, like "Draco felt like an insect caught in amber" (oh, my). The flow is very good, conversation natural and the plot either well-constructed or insanely genious, but I'm not sure which. My interpretation is all over the place; it's very, very disconcerting.

Having said that, I didn't really feel that this was a Harry/Draco story. It was mostly like a Draco-centric gen fic with a sideorder of a couple of ships. The ending was ambiguous - I first thought that Draco chose Asteria over Harry, but now I'm thinking he really chose himself over either of them.

As for Harry, I kept waiting for him to fall apart and blub about his life being a big mess and how he doesn't know who he is anymore. When I say his characterisation is solid, I mean ... he's solidly insane. He's unpredictable, irresponsible, a thrill seeker - all the things Draco said. Also, after his trip around the world and his new look, I got a very unwelcome image of Buck Angel and wasn't entirely able to shake it. But my brain is to blame for that.

Harry was certainly engaging, but then most lunatics are. All in all, he came across as very unbalanced. I completely disagree with many of his "ideals" (basically, the whole "you've gotta live your life" thing ... I was wit Draco on things like duty and unpleasant realities) and rather thought that he was being a prick to both his children and Draco. Kids that young aren't all right with mummy and daddy sending them messages that mixed, no matter how satisfied with their adventurous lives said parents might be. Also, tempting Draco was like kicking someone already on the ground - he knew what his life was like, knew he wasn't exactly happy. Why rub it in his face if you're not even definitely interested in offering him a new life?

Draco, obviously, was wonderfully sympathetic. Mature, witty and observant, except around Harry, when he becomes flustery and un-self-possessed. He's so out of his depth with him and it's endearing as hell.

I've bitterly resented JKR for pairing Draco off to a (very) minor character's little sister, because it's so beneath him. He is a Great Character and deserves a significant spouse. You're along those lines here - he is leading a very insignificant life, which I'm sure not many would have envisioned for him. He doesn't really know his son and doesn't have sex with his wife. He seems generally very lost and somehow dismissed from the world, and everything about him is just touching.

(This is stretching on to unneeded lengths, but please, let me think aloud for a little longer or I'll burst.)

Now, having said all that, I have a sneaking suspicion I'm preaching to the choir. Considering the title and the summary and the fact that every time I frowned at something in the story, it was immediately "confirmed" ('yes, Draco thinks so too', 'yes, it's a cliché' etc) ... I think there's some definite mindfuck potential in this story. For the reader. Like, what were the Polyjuice references about? Who's the fool? Who's the follower?

I say Harry was intentionally presented as the fool and Draco as the other fool who almost followed him. Am I completely off the mark? Either way, this was a very thought-provoking and unsettling piece. I gave you full marks for use of prompt. Well done!

Yours,
the Mistress of Confusion and Self-contradiction

P.S. Just to clarify: this was positive feedback. Anything that makes my head steam this effectively is good.

Justified?

I love it when stories leave you with so much to say and much to think about. I agree with some of your points on Harry's characterization when you said Harry was certainly engaging, but then most lunatics are. All in all, he came across as very unbalanced. I completely disagree with many of his "ideals" (basically, the whole "you've gotta live your life" thing

I got the sense in a way that it was justified because he essentially had to live and if need be die for everybody else and that he really never had that from the moment he lost his parents. I think he snapped and stopped doing what was expected and be selfish.

On the other hand Draco also had expectations put on him from his family but maybe he wasn't as affected because it was on the scale Harry had to live up to people's expectations

I was liking this very much until the last 20% or so... the ambiguous ending tanked it for me.

Really? The ambiguous ending was what made it for me. Different tastes, I guess, but I thought it really spoke true to Draco's character and his penchant for not 'going along' with what Harry Potter wants. Sort of like a glimpse of the Draco from Hogwarts, even after all these years.

a well-written fic, and a good use of the prompt, but i've got to say that i didn't like harry at all. i don't think we were supposed to, but man was he a jerk at times. i was curious about why he seemed to be telling draco so much about his life (the first couple times they bumped into each other), and it turns out that he wanted to seduce Draco and get him to cheat on his wife! jerk :/

but yeah, a very well-written and interesting fic.

I loved this story. I even liked the ending.

I loved Harry being fun, lost, exploring, etc... It was all of those things that he should have done in his youth and didn't. Kudos for Ginny for recognising it. Their marriage would never have lasted if they didn't take the break. Now, after the years of playing it would be a real decision to be together. Draco saw the writing on the wall.

Draco's attraction was like a moth to a flame and while he had the choice to be carefree, he knew in the end he would get burned. Did he settle? I don't think so, I think he grew a new appreciation for his wife and his life.

I loved the stories in the papers and Harry's relationship with the kids that came through.

wow, the ending was a complete and utter disappointment. it almost makes me regret having spent 2+hours reading this. i'm not even sure anything happened in this story...i mean, draco realizes his life isn't all that great? he alredy knew that. and harry has a few ups and downs but seems inclined to stay with ginny. yeah, disappointment pretty much sums up my feelings about this fic.

I'm very impressed with the conversation Draco and Harry had about the possibilities of a relationship between them. I was much more sympathetic to Draco than to Harry - I do think Harry & Ginny are incredibly lucky that their family & children & friends were so understanding about their choices and the ambiguity of their lifestyle, despite the expectations that the public has of them. Draco's resentment of this, his envy and his derision of what he deems Harry's selfishness was very real. I really liked the struggle, and the portrayal of Draco's life as something he just had to perpetuate rather than effect. It's true to life; hedonism is all very well in the abstract but it doesn't work out a lot of the time, and I like how this was handled in this fic.

I kinda understand why people would find this story unusual - but for those very same reasons - the non-ending, Harry's mid life crisis et all - I really loved it. How what started out as a bit of an experience for Harry become more. And the way they are constantly drawn together no matter what they end up doing - it was lovely. The future possible possibilites, they make me wonder - but I was so happy with the ambiguous ending because I did *not* want to see Draco just break up his marriage without really knowing for certain. And he wasn't. For Draco, family is the biggest part of his life and seeing him walk away from his marriage in this fic does not make sense. At least not yet. If he'd chosen Harry or Asteria for certain, it wouldn't have felt right at the time.

The Draco in this fic reminded me of The Years That Walk Between by femmequixotic - it developed his character just as much as the romance between him and Draco.

Harry and Draco had two wholly separate schools of thought and I couldn't help thinking, yes. My sister is going through something similar with her boyfriend where they've kinda got two completely different approaches to life and relationships. I can see Harry throwing off the shackles of regular life and making the impossible happen - even when everyone else, especially Draco, can't.

I liked that Harry was The Fool which set this fic apart from the others. Also your summary is love, looking back at it :)

My favorite fic for the prompt and I talked about it here:
http://gossymer.livejournal.com/153492.html

Thankyou for an excellent read ♥

This was beautifully provocative. Your characters are believable. It was as if I was watching someone's life unfolding before my eyes. I mean, they are so realistic, their emotions, their logics (Harry's slightly twisted, Draco's strangely sensible, which just shows how much he's grown after the war), their talks. Wow, I LOVE their conversations, so subdued, but there's this underlying current of something, and I can see that they are both trying to figure that something out, Harry especially, as the story progresses.

The summary ties it all up very well, both of them fools in their own way, like the blind leading the blind, Harry trying to make Draco do something when he's not even sure he could do it.

The irony, the ambiguity of the ending, the indecision, are all so incredibly real and sad, in a way. Even though Harry and Draco didn't get together in the end, I still feel like there might be hope, that there's a relationship for them both after two years.

big ♥

I think the first time I stopped breathing was when Harry sang and it was breathtaking. I was very worried how it'd turn out. But all was explained right then. The story had an amazing structure about it: statement - explanation, with the witty newspapercuttings inserted. You created a pirate!Harry image in my head - tattoos included -(which I thought impossible), and amazingly I accepted him as he was, with all his bizarreries. We rarely get to see Harry this alive, not his usual brooding self. He is the debaucher, he tempts Draco and he is the real Fool who seeks new experience but at the end making Draco a fool, too. Loved how the children were also included, being their own person and Harry being fond of them.

I honestly couldn't imagine a more perfect example for a DH compliant fic.

Very nice, fiction and very realistic. I could honestly see your Draco coinsiding with the Draco from the books. The loyalty to his family, his appearance above all--and I love the fact that he chose his life. I agree with biffes as well, we don't get to see Harry like this very often. He was very loose (around my area we say 'chillay'), very cool. He seemed very carefree though, possibly too care free.

I like the ambiguity too. Who really is the fool here? Draco--or Harry? Honestly, I have to side with Draco. He may not be "living" up to Harry's standards, but you can't miss what you never had... I empathize with him. Honestly I do, and that has to be chalked up to good writing.

interesting. I think I liked the crazy articles the best, which is saying a lot since I generally find those boring and tldr; in fic. I liked the idea of Harry and Ginny mutually deciding to go find themselves though. If only, right?

This had me laughing out loud in many places. I loved Harry's relationship with his kids, and I really, really dug the way he and Ginny were managing their relationship -- even if it didn't turn out so wonderfully for poor Draco.

It's interesting how Harry was "immoral" philandering one and Draco was the one who was reluctant to break from traditional morals. It's not necessarily what one would expect, yet it works with their characterisation.

This was one of the most refreshing stories I've read in awhile. I loved the humor, the style of writing, the Prophet stories being put in reminding me of gossip magazines, the characters, their voices and dialogue, descriptions, basically everything!

The end came as a huge surprise to me because I live in the happy ever after where my boys get together forever. It's the fluff in me, but this ending worked well with this, as much as I hate to admit that lol
Beautifully written!

This was beautifully written, and I found it very sad.

Oh my God. Draco, Draco, Draco. As soon as I finished I just sat in front of the screen for about a minute with my hand over my mouth. I still don't know exactly what to think except wow.

Funnily enough, I both loved and hated (or let's temper it, both liked and disliked) your Harry.

I liked him because he had a character - strong, vibrant character that I find he kind of lacked in the books. I also liked him, for I find it believable for someone, who's never had that many relationships and who got together with someone very early in life (and really it was not even so much his choice as Ginny's) to go through such not-quite-middle-age crisis.

I disliked him, though, for his blatant disregard of Draco's situation and needs. This Harry was quite egotistic and pushing, even though he gave Draco some choice over the sexual relationship they had. It is quite easy to 'look for yourself and your needs' when you know you'll alway have a home to go to, have the society behind you, have your friends' support no matter what. But it is not the same for Draco, and Harry acts completely blind to that.

Draco on the other hand was very well-developed character; actually, after all canon!Draco went through, I find this possible future Draco very realistically probable. I liked the turmoil and insecurity that battled with his need for freedom and adventures.

I saw the comments above about the ending, but I honestly don't see the Draco you described make another choice but his family, no matter how dysfunctional.

Really, how could Harry expect from Draco to throw his whole life away when Harry didn't even promise him love or future. I see that it was supposed for Draco to do it for himself, but at some point in life, there are obligations that weigh more that things that can be found aside without losing one's family and status in society. And, really, good sex for all of two years, if it even last that long, is not enough to tip my scales in favour of leaving a partner.

On another point altogether. I loved some of the small details in the story. Like Harry's horrible singing that had the purpose to help Albus Severus overcome his issues. The newspaper articles. The ambiguity of Harry and Ginny's relationship, up to the part of the snippet from their possibly quite kinky sex-life.

I can't help but wonder if you, mystery author are in fact a married woman that knows what family life really is. I know it only from the POV of a child, and I realise that a lot of the commenters above are actually married and more experienced in this than me, and still would have preferred that Draco and Harry ended together, but I think that a person that really cares for their family (partner and children) would think not only twice, but even ten times before they chose the cheap thrill of sex and adventure over stability, loyalty and support.

I think, you mystery author, did very well on both presenting your story and being true to your team and prompt.

It made me burst out at random intervals and it was so believably true and realistic. Enjoyed it much.

After this set up, it think it would have been dreadfully out of character for Draco to have chosen Harry. In canon, Draco's number one priority is his family. I can't imagine that he'd take the chance of shaming them with the affair. Many believe Asteria to be the only redeeming quality in the the Malfoy family - and being the offical Potter homewrecker - Draco would be publicly villainized. He's clever enough to know this. Even if that didn't happen (for some odd reason) he couldn't avoid the turmoil the Potters are experiencing. I don't think Draco has the sort of bond with Scorpius that could weather that storm. And that's all making the very big assumption that being with Harry would end up worth it in the end. Which you've led Draco (and the reader) to believe is an assumption only a fool would make.

You've done a fantastic job hinting that there was much more turmoil going on in the Potter-Weasley household than Harry (or anyone else) publicly let on too. I'm curious who was posing as Ginny's date in the pub? After the crack about polyjuice, I expect it was one of the younger generation helping to keep up appearances. I generally couldn't give a fig about Ginny, but I was dying for her POV here. I got just a bit with her comment about cock. It was meant to be flippant, but I suspect it's really the root of all this separation and 'finding themselves' business. I can't help but wonder if Ginny is putting up with quite a bit here, because she's pretty sure she'll have what she wants in the end. If that's your intent though, I'm surprised how well the Weasley clan have rallied. They've always struck me as the sort that must call each other out - publicly if necessary - when they've had enough. Hmm.

As for Harry, like many others readers, I'm not very fond of him here. I doubt you meant to build sympathy for him anyway. I don't have a problem with this characterization from a canon standpoint because I feel like we were meant to read between the lines a bit. Draco's POV is limiting but we already know more about Harry than Draco ever will. Oddly enough, the one thing that didn't quite work for me was Harry drinking so much. However, I think we may have had an imposter or two in there as well? ;)

All in all, very interesting exploration of infidelity. It will have my mind turning a bit for the next few hours a least.

WOW! Look at the passion you've inspired! Well done, Epi writer!

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the way that you gave both of them Fool's journeys, Harry's being so external and Draco's being so internal. I love, too, that they were able to swap a lot of their canonical roles: Harry is able to explore his ego and play with his roles in the world, while Draco is driven by duty and ethics.

I personally loved the ending, it was very true to the characters that you had established and it also resonated strongly with the DH epilogue. The integrity of Draco's actions represented real growth for him, and also gave Harry the space required for his family to retake the central role in his life. I suspect that this is an ending that may split readers down age or experience lines, but that's a great thing to accomplish as a writer. Well done!

The title to your story is really appropriate; and I loved Draco's characterization here. Really good job, and excellent beta work.

Oh, and I couldn't leave without telling you that I loved that opening scene of the fic, I loved it to bits - Harry's bad singing has now been impressed indelibly into my poor brain *g*

Hm, I really don't know what I should say about this story. Or if I like it or not...

I liked the beginning of the story...the first scene was really great. And I love the way you us the prompt and the newspaper articles between scenes.

But I really don't know if I like your Harry. What didn't work for me at all was Harry drinking so much.