hdcup_mod ([info]hdcup_mod) wrote in [info]hd_worldcup,
@ 2008-04-27 14:36:00
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Entry tags:fic, nc-17, prompt: the hanged man, round i, team ewe

The Arc of the Pendulum - Team EWE
Title: The Arc of the Pendulum
Team: EWE
Author: [info]brummell
Prompt: The Hanged Man
Wordcount: 30,262
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: A bit of gore
Summary: After his father casts a mysterious curse on Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy is forced to try to make things right.
Author's Note: This is an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, with some tribute paid to Disney's 1991 animated feature. Many thanks to my betas, w and b.
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.

The Arc of the Pendulum


For a description of teams, please see our FAQ.

Poll #1178389
This poll is closed.
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: None

1. Is the author/artist true to their team? Yes/No vote ("yes" is worth 2 points, "no" is worth 0)

2. How well did the author/artist use their Prompt? 1 to 9 (1 being the least)

3. How much did you like this story/art overall? 1 to 9 (1 being the least)


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[info]towerofwisdom
2008-04-27 01:09 pm UTC (link)
This was utterly amazing. I love how you've made Beauty and the Beast fic the canon -- and the characters -- so perfectly.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 05:47 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! I'm so glad the adaptation element worked for you.

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(Anonymous)
2008-04-27 02:02 pm UTC (link)
omg i'm so glad i took time off from abstaining from the internet to read this incredible work. i love how everything builds up to the end, so perfect. and first time sex was awesome too. and everything totally fit with the prompt too (:

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]brummell
2008-05-23 05:48 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! Working with the prompt was both fun and really challenging, so I'm glad you thought it fit.

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:)
(Anonymous)
2008-04-27 02:07 pm UTC (link)
this story was so amazing! i'm not a usual fan of werewolf!harry, but i thought all of the characters were really believeable, and that the plot was fantastic!! :) :)

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Re: :)
[info]brummell
2008-05-23 05:48 pm UTC (link)
Thank you for taking a chance with werewolf!Harry in this story. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

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[info]mytailorisrich
2008-04-27 03:02 pm UTC (link)
My heart clenched many times while reading this fic. You really know how to get to ppl's hearts through your writings. Congratulations and thanks for this amazing fic.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 05:49 pm UTC (link)
Thank you so much! I'm very glad some of the emotion came through and that you enjoyed this.

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[info]zanzou_chan
2008-04-27 03:58 pm UTC (link)
Oh. My. God.

This was fantastic. Just... amazingly, amazingly fantastic. This is a WONDERFUL adaptation of Beauty and the Beast-- there were moments in the story where I could see the movie in my mind EXACTLY, and it was just done perfectly. You completely let the characters grow into the scenes, instead of trying to force the scenes on the characters, and it was WONDERFUL.

There are so many things that I could talk about that I loved in this story. Narcissa, Lucius's insanity, the description of the curse, the IDEA of the curse and it's cure... everything was just spot on. Completely and utterly.

:X I might come back later to leave a more detailed review, or I might have to wait until I reread the story, but even if I don't, this was just.. just lovely.

Great job, a real credit to team EWE. :) I feel like this fic is everything I could want an EWE fic to be, frankly.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 05:54 pm UTC (link)
I'm glad you found that the adaptation worked. And I'm happy that you mentioned Narcissa, because I was worried that I underplayed the importance of her role in the chain of events. Thank you for this lovely comment!

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[info]ravenqueen55
2008-04-27 04:44 pm UTC (link)
This was a lovely tale! Creature!fics of any type are a weakness of mine, and I loved this new approach to the genre. It was dark and deep and, at the same time, the relationship building between Harry and Draco left me with such a wonderful feeling. Well done!

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 05:56 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! As a creature!fic-writing novice, I'm immensely relieved that this worked for a seasoned creature!fic reader :)

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[info]meri_oddities
2008-04-27 05:47 pm UTC (link)
Excellent. This story builds just right. I liked the development of Harry and Draco's relationship. I enjoyed reading this story a lot.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:00 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much - I hoped that their relationship wasn't rushed or stagnant. So glad you enjoyed this!

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[info]the_flic
2008-04-27 06:09 pm UTC (link)
Wow, this was a great story and despite readingyour summary I forgot all about it being an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast because you entirely made it your own. Draco's pain came across so very real, in all aspects of his life, all his guilt and sadness and regret. I really enjoyed reading it from his point of view. Wonderful xx

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:06 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! I'm delighted that you forgot about the adaptation, since I tried so hard to fuse the two worlds without showing a big seam. So glad you enjoyed this :)

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[info]biffes
2008-04-27 06:11 pm UTC (link)
I'm speechless and in total awe. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this story. A couple of times I was on the verge of tears. It was heartbreaking, beautiful and believeable. Everything, even Lucius' madness made sense in the end, but the actual H/D interaction was what made this a gem. Thanks for this amazing story! ♥

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:07 pm UTC (link)
I'm so glad you found it believable - I was worried that it might stretch the bounds of emotional realism too much. Thank you for reading and for this lovely comment!

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[info]tomatoe18
2008-04-27 06:16 pm UTC (link)
I am simply amazed. Blown away by the tale you weaved. It shows how much thought goes into this story. I didn't know what I should be expecting with "an adaptation of Beauty & the Beast". Something more fairytale-ish, I suppose, but this is so much better than that.

There were a lot of elements in this story that I loved. Anything that deals with magical theory is always fascinating for me; who would have thought of reversed lycanthropy? It always gives stories much more meaning and connection to the actual series by J.K. Rowling. And this story is also abundant with plots and twists and actions, just the way I like it.

Each character was also, I felt, correctly written. They were so spot on and completely believable. Both Draco and Harry are so human, flawed and yet heroic in their own ways. My heart goes out for both of them.

This story is not what I would call romantic - in fact, it's quite a dark one - but I can just feel how strong their need and love for one another. Their bond is so deep here... the way Harry needs Draco and the way Harry is the only one Draco is willing to make a selfless sacrifice for is very romantic indeed. I cried many times during the duration of reading this long story, especially during those moments when I realized just how much they need each other to survive. And the end... oh, so very deserving, for the both of them!

Definitely the best one from this prompt. Thank for this satisfying read and keep up the good work!

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:18 pm UTC (link)
I'm very glad that the theory behind the curse worked for you; that was something that took me weeks and weeks to think through :) And I'm very happy that Harry's humanity came through along with Draco's, since the limited POV makes me afraid that I'm not spending enough time on him even though he's so very important.

I think the concept underlying my devotion to Harry and Draco as a pairing is in how irresistibly they are drawn to each other and how opposite they are. My goal in writing fanfiction, then, is to show how that attraction/repulsion can grow into something huge, for them, and explore ways in which they can find that they're not only attracted, but that they need each other. So I'm glad that need came through somewhat.

Thank you for this wonderful comment!

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[info]gina87
2008-04-27 06:19 pm UTC (link)
Wow! This story is soo amazing! You wrote a werewolf!Harry story...I think this is the first time I read a good one! I soo much loved the idea of this curse and it was so like Harry that he overcame it. The way you wrote Harry is fantastic....you can feel how struggles to remain sane and how Draco helps (in his usual way).
OMG and the sex scene...wow...loved it.

Really enjoyed it a lot! Thank you soo much!

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:19 pm UTC (link)
Thank you so much! What a lovely compliment. I'm really happy that you liked the way Harry came across, since I'm always afraid that writing Draco POV will fail to showcase how wonderful I think Harry is.

I'm so glad you enjoyed this!

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[info]alaana_fair
2008-04-27 06:25 pm UTC (link)
Fabulous story! Creative and heart wrenching with a completely satisfying payoff at the end. Thanks you!

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:20 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjoyed this.

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[info]anathema91
2008-04-27 06:44 pm UTC (link)
Wonderful!
I'm still all choked up from the hospital scene.

From beginning to end this was an utterly engaging and thoroughly satisfying read!

Thank you for sharing!

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:20 pm UTC (link)
Thank you for reading! I'm so glad it held your interest all the way through.

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[info]lickingbeads
2008-04-27 07:12 pm UTC (link)
Rolling on the floor laughing, and sobbing my heart out, alternatively. This was amazing. ♥

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:24 pm UTC (link)
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed this (despite yo-yo effect). :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)
The Arc of the Pendulum
[info]catsintheattic
2008-04-27 07:18 pm UTC (link)
I enjoyed your story very much! I liked how you portrayed Harry, his wolfish nature, and that's something, because I don't like creature!fic in general. I liked how he was so tired of fighting and yet made the effort again and again. The shock when you showed him after the three weeks of Draco's absence - what a change. And again he made the effort to be human. That's so Harry!

The narrative language really intrigued me, you managed to capture that special sound of a fairy tale extremely well. The story itself was very gripping and moving. The misunderstanding such a classical H/D moment, where Draco finally was able to do something unselfish and Harry didn't recognise it first. Lucius whole role in the fic, from his insanity to the evilness of the curse, worked as a perfect evil counter-balance to Draco's change.

Thank you for an exciting read!

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Re: The Arc of the Pendulum
[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:39 pm UTC (link)
Thank you so much! I'm glad your dislike of creature!fic didn't extend to this story too. I hoped that Harry's struggle wouldn't become too repetitive, so thank you for your comments about that, and about Lucius too, who had great potential to be way over-the-top. I'm very happy that you enjoyed this.

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[info]jackie_brown
2008-04-27 07:22 pm UTC (link)
I really enjoyed this, the plot was satisfying and i thought werewolf harry was very convincing :)

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:41 pm UTC (link)
Thank you so much! I'm very glad Harry worked for you.

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[info]princeofblood
2008-04-27 07:50 pm UTC (link)
This was absolutely wonderful. I'm in love with Beauty and the Beast, and the way you took it and made it fit here so perfectly.
Both Harry and Draco were perfect, and their relationship, and Draco's sacrifice... this is the first fic here that's made me cry, but I am a sap for sacrifice fics.
Anyway, lovely amazing fic, fit the prompt nicely, I loved it!

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:43 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! I'm in love with Beauty and the Beast too, so I'm glad I didn't butcher it for you. So glad you enjoyed this :)

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[info]girl_in_ginger
2008-04-27 08:04 pm UTC (link)
Wow, such a powerful story, full of emotions. Truely brillient; I am blown away. Well done
~GG

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 06:43 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much. I'm so glad you enjoyed this!

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[info]magelet
2008-04-27 08:45 pm UTC (link)
There are so many things I liked in this fic that I don't know where to start. I liked how it was Lucius & Draco still trying to survive after the war. There are so many fics with Narcissa being the surviving parent that it was nice to see a change. The idea of Draco humbling himself to take on a job as a grocer in a muggle store spoke volumes on his level of resignation and maturity. And then Harry as a werewolf, inverse werewolf at that! That was a completely refreshing plot, not that I've read many werewolf fics before but this one was certainly the best. That little jibe at Harry's writing skills was hilarious. The latter one-third of the fic was an emotional rollar coaster. The parallels, the way Draco made up his mind was just... wow. I started tearing a little after Harry's cold one-sided conversation at St. Mungo's, I was so afraid the fic would end with the two of them going on and marrying their respective wives and have Draco's act of love end as a secret that only one of them was aware of. I'm so glad they ended up together. ♥

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:06 pm UTC (link)
I am so pleased that you mentioned the necessity of Draco humbling himself and having to become a more mature person - that was really important to me, that that come across in the very beginning, to lay the groundwork for what happens later in the story. Thank you very much for this lovely comment. I'm glad you enjoyed this story :)

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[info]romaine24
2008-04-27 09:20 pm UTC (link)
Yesssssss! I love creature stories and this plot was so wonderfully thought out. Lucius being so deranged in trying to fulfill one last oath to Voldemort to redeem himself was perfect. And, Gryffindor Harry still trying to overcome things trying to possess him. The scenes of H/D in the manor were incredible. Draco sacrificing himself just had me on the edge of my seat.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:30 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjoyed this.

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[info]lelwani
2008-04-27 09:41 pm UTC (link)
That was brilliant, I enjoyed it thoroughly and laughed myself silly at the image of Potter as a wolf trying to mind his manners at a table and touching food delicately with his paw. That's just too adorable. I also loved all the angst and how you managed to convey Potter's caninenness (is that an actual word..?) and Draco's fear of him and how Potter needed human contact to be able to stay human and there's so many things that I loved about this fic that I can't even start to list them properly.
I think it's my favourite so far.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:31 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! It's so lovely to know what worked for you. I'm glad you enjoyed this :)

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[info]djinniyah
2008-04-27 10:00 pm UTC (link)
Gah, I adored this story. :D I love adapted fairy tales, and you pulled off that genre so, so well here, almost to the point that it *wasn't* Beauty and Beast-based, at all, though it was delightful to pick up on that story as I read. I'm also a sap for unconditional love and sacrifice and human wildness, and you expressed and explored all three so well.

As for your story itself, it flowed/built up perfectly, as did the characters within it. I loved Harry's feral sweetness and Draco's increasing ability and desire to give. ♥ I also particularly enjoyed the underlying theme of the "inverted curse:" Draco's passion for Harry (hate inverted to love), the curse itself (inverted to a blessing, in a sense), etc. etc. All about giving and taking and becoming. Very, very well done. My favorite scene was the sacrifice, watching them both try so hard, which far more powerfully expressed their love for each other than any traditional act of love might have. Guh. *heart breaks*

Excellent job. ♥

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:35 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much! I wanted the themes of inversion, reversal, and opposites to reverberate on as many levels as possible, though I was afraid maybe I was beating people over the heads with it, so it's wonderful to know that it worked for you. I'm so, so glad you enjoyed this, and am very grateful for your wonderful comment!

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[info]differente
2008-04-27 10:50 pm UTC (link)
i think you broke a piece of my heart; i had to stop reading for a while. it's a very nice fic.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:36 pm UTC (link)
Thank you very much - I hope your heart had recovered by the end. ♥

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[info]blonde_cecile
2008-04-27 11:50 pm UTC (link)
Amazing story. Definitely the best fanfiction adaptation of Beauty and the Beast I've ever read. :D

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:37 pm UTC (link)
Thank you so much; I'm glad to have distinguished myself in this narrow category ;)

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[info]misscake
2008-04-28 12:41 am UTC (link)
But where was the dancing cutlery? ;)

Seriously, though, this was lovely. The idea of the spell was fabulous and I loved the characterizations.

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[info]brummell
2008-05-23 07:38 pm UTC (link)
The cutlery went the way of the wonderful songs, sadly.

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed this.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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