I am addicted to Dramione fan fiction, and Wait and Hope gave me everything I wanted and more out of this couple I totally ship now!
Format: Fan Fiction/E-Book
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Page Length: 214 pages
Publisher: Archive of Our Own
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “You have bewitched me, body and soul.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
Here’s a summary in my own words: Wait and Hope is a story of Draco rebuilding his love with Hermione after her memories from the past six years are destroyed working with a dark magic object. The story also involves Hermione rebuilding her friendships with Theo, Blaize, and Pansy while learning how her friendships with Harry and Hermione have evolved. The majority of the story, though, focuses on her rebuild with Draco.
I really enjoyed this fan fiction. Draco and Hermione are goals.
There are several things I really liked about this version of Dramione. First, I love that Hermione Grainger kicked Ron Weasley to the freaking curb. Yes!! My hatred for Ron is deep and eternal, and I automatically love a version of events in which Hermione shook Ron off. But, I digress...
I think what I enjoyed most about this book is it dealt with some of the practical implications of a Draco/Hermione love. First, the balance between her Slytherin friends and her Gryffindor friends was tenuous at best at times. The Slytherins are protective of her in a different way than Harry and the albeit annoying Jenny are protective. And honestly? I prefer the Slytherins to the Gryffindors in this book. There are a few points that Harry "casually" asks if she has fallen back in with the Slytherins once she gets her feet back under after losing her memories, and even though books have no tone technically, I can just hear the condescension in his voice. And, I love that Hermione stands up for her Slytherin friends with the same bravery as she does Harry et al.
Second, Draco's fear that he won't be able to replicate his love with Hermione is real and almost tangible, mostly because he doesn't really know how he made her fall in love with him in the first place. (I DO! IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE HER EQUAL!). His feelings are strong, and they almost control him. I like this version of Draco that gets a little out of control because his feelings for Hermione run so deep, and I like a Draco that is his own man independent from his family like he is in this story. I did miss my Narcissa time, though, and I even found myself missing Lucius, that crazy bastard, at times.
Third (and probably what I love most of all), I love how Hermione slides right back into love with Draco without even realizing it. I love that their connection is so strong, so powerful, so effervescent, that her soul knows she belongs with him even when her mind hasn't caught up yet. Her connection to Draco is almost palpable in this version of events, and even during her rebuilding time with him, their feelings for each other are shimmering and shaking on the surface, hoping to break through. They have an emotional and physical connection that is really well-written in this story.
Fourth, I am freaking obsessed with Hermione's friendships with Theo, Blaize, and Pansy, particularly Theo. I was pulled to Theo in this story in a way I haven't been in other versions. (Although, I did like the Theo version in The Auction). Theo's commitment and true friendship to Hermione in this story was really touching. I mean, the guy was willing to go to Azkaban for her! And, the scene in which he apologizes to her once he's released from the ministry was really emotional to me. His struggle to apologize and his guilt was almost tangible, and I was just really moved by their friendship.
I think most of all, though, I liked that Hermione's memories didn't really matter in this story because her love for Draco is truly timeless. I am 100% emotionally invested in Dramione and in the couple that JKR refused to give us in the original version of events. But, I am also very pleased that Dramione has been created externally from JKR, and that she does not get any of the credit here!
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