Under the wide, wide sky

I thought I'd better claim my Smoochfest fic. I had so much fun writing this, and it felt good to be writing again after quite a long break. I actually wrote this as a pinch hit (it makes no difference to how long I take though) so I wasn't expecting to write for Smoochfest, but I'm so glad that I did! I'm writing so much less at the moment, but when I'm actually in the middle of a fic it feels like I've never stopped. Anyway, I have a soft spot for Harry working with his hands and had always wanted to retell a fairy tale. And I became quite obsessed with pottery while writing!

( This photo, in particular, inspired me )

Title: Another Sun That’s Brighter Still
Summary: Draco’s parents are trying to force him to marry – just because of some stupid family curse – but Draco isn’t willing to settle for second best. After rejecting one suitor too many, he’s handfasted to a stinky and ragged minstrel and sent off without a Knut to his name.
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Word Count: ~26,500
Author's Notes: I’ve always had a fascination for stories like King Thrushbeard (The Taming of the Shrew is another that springs to mind) despite a sense of unease around some of the themes. Writing this story was a great chance to work out what I like about the trope, and to write a story that I can be happy with. I wanted, I realised, to focus on a humility without humiliation. I hope I’ve managed it. The two songs quoted in the fic are the Neapolitan song ’O Sole Mio (from which I’ve also taken the title), and Do The Hippogriff, from the Goblet of Fire film.

Thank you to my prereader indyonblue, and to my beta evilgiraffe. And thank you to the wonderful mods to this fest, who are always so helpful and, ahem, generous.

Another Sun That's Brighter Still (on AO3)

ETA: I've been on painkillers and antiobiotics all week, and my poor head is all over the place, otherwise I would not have forgotten to link to dustmouth's amazing little sketches for my fic (and others - they are all wonderful)! I am so lucky and honoured that she chose to illustrate my fic. <3