QUICK BUT NECESSARY AUTHOR NOTE to ensure a comfortable stay in the labyrinth: This is a Harry/Draco romance set in the canon HP universe, covering all seven years of schooling as a series of Memory Vials. These chapters present more like Deleted Scenes than a Rewrite. The plot is the love story and will go on through post-war, covering an 8th year of schooling. Everyone is largely in character (hopefully), and Draco is the troubled little snob you know and love but with more dimension added to his character. (Messy and messed up characters are a specialty in my own published novels, so I adore every second of writing for Draco.)

I'll be referencing the movies while I write, and might favor a movie depiction once in a while, but it's recommended you read along with the original books to avoid loss of context, unless you read them already, which should suffice. As long as you know the books, you're well-prepared to read this fic. It's meant to stick to roughly 95-99% of the canon while allowing for artistic license (I create new creatures, spells, etc. along the way). It's as canon as possible. If you want to avoid giving Rowling your money and don't have the original books, you can buy them second-hand or check them out at the library. We're LGBTQIA+ safe here, me being trans and Ace myself, but I won't tell you how to get your hands on the source material. (Also, just because I'm Ace doesn't mean the smut won't get intense...)

Content Warnings and Possible Triggers: vulgar language, very strong sexual content/smut (underage and adult), mature themes and situations, alcohol and substance use, homophobic bullying and harassment, conversion therapy, dark themes, morally ambiguous situations, omniscient 3rd-person POV with tactical head-hopping, and pretentious poetry. Draco and Harry will experience other pairings, but the focus and endgame is entirely Drarry. In fact... there's so much Drarry you might get sick of it.

This fic is available on AO3 and you do not need to register with the site to read or comment on it. I enjoy using FF, but AO3 will give you the best reading experience, since all my author notes are intact and it's easier for me to update/tag/etc. It's also easier for readers to navigate the story there also, imo. That said, you won't lose any of the story content if you prefer reading on FF. I'll continue posting the story here until it's finished.

Constructive feedback is welcome, and enjoy reading!

Letter #1

MS. GRANGER,

I'm excited to write to you because you of all people understand where I'm coming from. You, out of everyone, suspected the truth from very early on and offered to help me publish the omitted parts of my story, now that you have the power in your office to do so.

I'll be conveying each Memory Vial to you by owl. Transcribe them using your most trusted and open-hearted Ghost Writer—a writer who won't be swayed by the politics still affecting us ever since the end of the Second Wizarding War. Furthermore, please make sure whoever you assign to the task understands to not gloss over my mistakes. I was hardly a saint—as Draco once accused me of being—and don't wish to be whitewashed into the annals of history as a sinless man.

As chief editor of Pyrfidous Press, you have my full permission to alter whatever you wish, in so far as it does not change the heart and soul of these Memory Vials. These are my most Precious Truths, and I wish for them to be handled with due care.

That said, I look forward to reading and editing the initial drafts by the end of the year, if not sooner. I trust very little changes will need to be made. You value the truth as much as I do—and concealing the truth does no good to anyone, save for those who would rather remain ignorant.

There are those who will want to tamper with these Memory Vials—or destroy them, or possibly leak them in some cases. I trust you know why. I would be grateful if you prioritized the security of these Vials. Given the very personal and sensitive nature of their contents, I would rather publish this story according to our own timeline and not someone else's.

Expect the Vials to be delivered one by one without prearranged delivery times, some with my own owl, but the rest will be delivered using Draco's. Be on alert, and give my regards to Ron. I hope his foray into Magical Vestments is proceeding just as he had hoped.

We ought to set up a meeting—a double-date, even. You, me, Ron, and Draco. It would be lovely to see your smiling faces again, and to hear how things are going with the wedding preparations. I received your request for me to be your Man of Honor—but also an equally-as-tempting request from Ron for me to be his Best Man.

You two have given me an impossible choice to wrestle with, and I have half a mind to flip a Cockney Coin to make the decision for me.

I'll write again soon. I love you both, truly. And, again, I'm very grateful for your resourcefulness and help.

Your best friend always,

HARRY POTTER

P.S. I've scribbled a note that I would like to be the Foreword for the coming manuscript. If it's too much—or not enough—for what it's designed to do, then feel free to edit or leave it out completely. I think it would do well, however, to prepare the reader for the controversial content contained within these Vials.