Tomarry AU where Tom HATES this book he read because his favourite character dies a miserable death. So what if his favorite character was a no-named side villain? Why does it matter that he only had like seven lines (seven is Tom's favourite number anyways)? He was still gorgeous, smart and strong and beautiful — and it doesn't matter that others think he isn't all that because they would never know him— understand him like TOM DOES.
An AU where Tom has a healthy obsession with a character named Harry Potter, a no named baron's son who was the first to go against the king (MC's father, and the mc who is incidentally known as Draco Malfoy, ahem anyways); he tries to “poison” him. But he gets caught or to be more precise he ends up sacrificing himself for the common girl Hermione Granger (the female lead, I'm sorry guys but imagine the fucking drama.) who gets blamed for his transgressions.
But that is not why Tom falls for this weak villain, no — it's because he respects how this no-named orphan became a baron on his own two feet without anyone being there for him especially in a world where old money and title is everything— and he hates how he had to give his life for the MC to notice the female lead? (Harry is better looking and smarter than her anyways — Tom, in an online forum perhaps.)
Anyways, now imagine Tom dying (he hated it so yes he ends up looking for immorality anyways.) and waking up in the world he hated. Now imagine, Tom Riddle, waking up in the body of a Duke who wasn't even given a name in the novel. (He would know because he has a photographic memory, ok? It's totally not because he read it more than 14 times) and then saying fuck it and owning it.
Just think, Tom taking over the world slowly with his worldly knowledge while trying to keep Harry alive because even though he was right about Harry being smart; the guy treats his life like Draco treats his money - you get the idea.
So I just had a very interesting conversation with my dad. He and I have always bonded over similar interests in media (ie movies, books, shows, music etc.) and we were discussing Harry Potter and what a 'What if...' series for that would look like.
Suddenly he drops on me that he always thought Hermione and Draco should have ended up together. In his head he always saw the treatment of Hermione as more of a schoolboy crush that turned to obsession. That Draco didn't know how to treat his feelings towards the pretty and smart muggle-born because he was always taught to be disgusted by them.
My father proceeded to articulate a beautiful verbal Dramione head canon with details and reasonings for a little under half an hour and that the end of his explanation... I told him about fanfiction and sent him a link to AO3. Something tells me he's going to benefit greatly from this, but I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that my dad is a Dramione Shipper
Hermione grizzled into the arm she'd been using for a pillow, her head splitting and her mouth dry as the desert.
"Noooo," a gruff male voice complained when she stirred, beginning to wriggle out of the arms she'd laid spooned in all night.
"Shhhh," she sighed. "Oh, my head."
"Granger?"
Hermione sat up slowly, rubbing her hands over her face and trying to remember why she'd drowned herself in whiskey and wine to wake up dead like this.
"Just.... quiet, Malfoy," she muttered without looking at the surprised blond on the bed beside her.
"We went home together?" He rasped. "Again?"
"Seems so," she mumbled. "Urgh, I need a shower."
Shuffling across the bed, she rose from it naked and stumbled to the bathroom of his flat, knowing the way well. After all, this wasn't the first time she'd made this particular mistake.
When she felt vaguely more human, Hermione got out and dried off, pausing to brush her teeth before wrapping her hair in a towel and returning to the bedroom still naked. Malfoy was sprawled on the mattress, looking worse for wear, a few love bites littering his neck and chest that she knew she was responsible for.
"Are you staying for breakfast?" He checked while Hermione helped herself to his wardrobe, not about to put last night's ballgown back on in the harsh light of day.
"Yes, please," Hermione murmured.
Draco nodded, rising from the bed too, also naked, she noted with appreciation even if her head was splitting. He dressed quickly before leading her out through his impressive flat and into the kitchen where an elf was already taking care of feeding them.
The first time she'd slept over, she'd taken umbrage with an elf feeding her, but on this, the eleventh time, she hadn't the energy to make a fuss.
"So," he said quietly when they both had cups of tea in hand and a plate of greasy breakfast food before them.
"Must we discuss it every time, Malfoy?" Hermione sighed. "We drink too much and we fuck. And in the morning after it happens, we swear it can never happen again, but it always does. Just accept it."
He eyeballed her in silence after that as they slowly polished off their breakfast.
"Do you have my cream knitted jumper? He asked when the food was almost all gone.
"Possibly."
She did. She wore it around the house whenever she had a bad day and wanted to be cosy because it was the softest thing she owned.
"Can I have it back?" He smirked, quirking an eyebrow.
"No."
He blinked before a soft snort of laughter escaped him.
"Next time we do this, maybe we'll go to your place, and I'll steal back all the clothing you pinch, then," he teased.
"Next time?" She frowned.
"You've just said to accept it keeps happening even when we swear it won't," Malfoy shrugged. "Perhaps we ought to consider letting it happen without needing to get uproariously drunk at work functions before it does?"
Hermione's brow furrowed.
"You're suggesting we... make this a regular thing?"
"I think it's already a regular thing, Granger. What's this, the tenth time we've done this?"
"Eleventh," she corrected.
"Mmm."
They eyed each other speculatively in silence for a long time after that before Hermione sighed and got to her feet. Rounding the table, she thanked the elves for breakfast and wandered to the living room, collecting her shoes and dress on the way.
"Until next time, then?" Malfoy met her by the fireplace, holding a small pot of Floo powder.
"I'll see you at work tomorrow," Hermione nodded.
She huffed in surprise when, before he let her step into the fireplace, he cupped her cheek and guided her mouth to his, kissing her softly.
"Think about my offer," he murmured against her lips when they broke apart.
Hermione nodded, climbing into the fireplace and dropping her powder, whizzing away, knowing she'd do more than think about it and knowing she was probably going to end up marrying the ridiculous man.
"Do you like my daddy?" asks little Scorpius gently petting her hand.
Draco dropped his now 4 year old son at her bookstore for children's book reading. Even though the reading ended freaking 15 minutes ago she actually doesn't mind having little Scorpi with her. Which is strange cause she doesn't like children in general.
"No".
"Why? I think he's cute... don't you think the same?"
"No, Scrop, I don't think you father is cute."
"But... but... maybe hantsome?" he pursing his lip and she can't stand his cute face.
And maybe... maybe she really think that Draco Malfoy in a way is cute. And DILF...
"It's handsome, love. And maybe yes. I find your father handsome. And you too."
"Wohoa." he screams.
"And he is a PIA." she mutteres under her breath hopping that Scorp won't hear her. But she guesses that it's just not her day, cause Scorpius looks at her with a very serious face and asks "What a pia?"
And suddenly she needs to find a way to tell something... something appropriate.
"Ehm... PIA... Pia means a Parent I Adore..."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
"Cool."
5 hour later Malfoy house
"Daddy, daddy, you know what miss Mione told me today?"
Draco chuckles slightly while tucking his son to bed.
"No, what?"
"She told me you are a PIA."
He stops immediately. Turns his eyes to his son watching him smile with one of the biggest smiles. That's making him to burrow his eyebrows.
"She told you that I'm a pia, correct?"
"Mghm... do you know what it means, daddy?"
"No, son, but enlight me."
"It means," he starts wishpering like it's the biggest secret in the world, "the parent I adore."
It doesn't make any sense to him. Did she... Did she just assault him or does she think about him in a way he thinks of her. Fuck, Hermione Granger definitely messing with his head.
Today was the day, you waited for Hermione at the normal spot on Platform 9¾. This morning you got dressed quickly in a blue blouse and black pelleted skirt, your mother always swore that you dressed as if Ravenclaw was more than just your house but your whole wardrobe. You were more than a half-hour earlier than the past couple of years due to your excitement. Taking a seat with your things and your two animal companions, Lyra your cat, and Hawthorn your owl, you began to go over what you know about the coded book to pass the time. Looking over what you know, it becomes clear that Merlin may have originally written in code to protect what he found from dark wizards.
Given that Morgan le Faye was one of the most powerful witches, a dark one at that, and a part of Authur's court it made the most sense for such caution but the more you looked at the code the more confusing it got. Once you were at Hogwarts you'd have access to all your code and cipher books again but until then you had to work with what you remember. The first thing about any code was to check for repeating words which you found quickly when Draco first presented the tome and journals to you.
Now all you had to do was figure out which words were part of the code and which were filler, you sighed as you looked over the passage you had copied. What words truly didn’t belong and which were the true code yet to be deciphered? As you sat there confused at your notes you didn’t hear the soft footsteps on the tile making their way towards you.
“We aren’t even on the train yet and you are already studying without me,” Hermione dressed in her normal casual clothes said as she set Crookshanks down to play with Lyra before sitting down next to you.
“Studying without you, never” closing your notebook before turning to look at Hermione, “Just a little puzzle Draco gave me to keep my mind extra sharp to beat you at the History of Magic, again,” you said as you hugged your her.
“I doubt Malfoy can help you beat me at anything, but I’ll take your word for it. Since you two are totally not into each other or anything of the sort,” she said as she looked down at the pen Draco got you for last Christmas.
“Hey now look who’s talking. You spent most of the summer at the Weasley’s and all you did other than fight with Ron was think about him,” you said crossing your arms as your cheeks turned red.
“Well he’s just being difficult and an oaf,” Hermione said as she looked down at the floor while blushing “Besides its not like we don’t hang out a lot we are practically glued to each other once Harry is around.” Saying as she looks up at you as another friend starts approaching from behind you as Hermione scowls at them.
“Well I think the three of you need to-AHH” you were cut off as someone tickled your sides from behind as you elbowed them in the stomach hearing them groan.
Hermione couldn’t help but chuckle as she saw Draco Malfoy dressed in an all-black suit hunched over holding his stomach as a ‘punishment’ for sneaking up and tickling you.
“Not funny Granger,” Draco said as he looked at the Gryffindor annoyed before he then Y/n turned around and looked at him, “Merlin’s sake Y/n that hurt.”
“Haven't I told you not to sneak up on me Draco,” you said jokingly as you got up and helped him sit down next to you. “Don’t you remember what happened last time someone did that?”
“I remember. I remember.” He said as he sat down on the small bench with you and Hermione as he leaned his head back groaning in pain.
“Says the one who didn’t learn from it and did it anyway,” Hermione said as she rolled her eyes. It was no secret that Hermione didn’t much care for Draco but in recent years he had become tolerable since she saw firsthand how different he was with you around.
“Last I remember I didn’t scare her, it was that Weasbee and Pottah,” Draco said as he looked over at Hermione with an amused expression, “I remember that I was working with Y/n in potions like always and Weasbee thought it would be a grand idea to try and take her wand while she was adding to the potion but he bumped her and then the potion blew up.” He said chuckling lightly before groaning again as his stomach still hurt.
“Ron bumped into her because Goyle and Crabbe behave like toddlers, you insufferable blonde ferret,” Hermione argued as you rolled your eyes at your two friends fighting like siblings.
"Hey now Harry dared Ron to do it," you tried to say before Hermione took out her frustration on Draco.
“Ferret? Why am I a ferret?” He said while sitting up and looking at both Hermione and Y/n as she shrugged her shoulders just as confused as he was.
"Because you are a spoiled, privileged, know-it-all trickster who up until two years ago was a bully toward me and so many other students," Hermione said as she looked at the blonde shooting daggers.
"And I've apologized for it," Draco said slightly pissed off as he looked from you to Hermione "I know I wasn't exactly the best these past couple of years," Draco said calmly as he looked over at Hermione before looking at you sadly as he knew that you hated the fighting. "I'm trying my best to make up for what I've done."
"I understand that Malfoy, but just because you are taking the right steps doesn't mean everyone will be quick to forgive you," Hermione said calmly while gathering her stuff and cat, "I'll see you later Y/n," she said before walking towards the Weasleys and Harry who just showed up.
"You have to admit Draco," you turn and look at him, "She is right. You kinda did put most of Gryffindor through hell until last year."
"I know I know," he says while looking down at the train station floor. "Thankfully you talked some sense into me before I got worse." He said shifting a bit in his seat remembering how angry you were after the Buckbeck incident. "Though I still don't understand how you tolerate Granger when she gets like that," Draco said as he sat up and looked over at the mostly ginger group as they chatted.
"Because despite how much you two hate each other my life wouldn't be complete without my two amazing and smart best friends," you said smiling at the blonde boy.
"When you put it that way it seems as though your friendship with both of them makes you feel whole, like how mooncalves without the moon hide away during the day. They would be lonely without the light of the moon every night,” said the soft angelic voice of Luna Lovegood as she knelt down to play with Lyra as both Draco and you looked at her dumbfounded.
“Luna you scare me sometimes with how accurate you are,” Y/n said as you smiled at your whimsical friend.
"And how you randomly appear," Draco said under his breath as you nudged him slightly, "I'm just saying."
"You two remind me of these Kneazles I raised over the summer," Luna started as she picked up your cat, "Both searching for some new adventure but coming back together when it gets too hard to go alone," she said mysteriously as she handed Draco the cat before leaving to get her stuff as the Hogwarts Express that just pulled into the station.
"We remind her of what?" Draco turned to you confused as Lyra played with his black tie.
"Apparently cats. But it was maybe, sweet? I don't know anymore" You said smiling a bit as you stood up and began to gather your things. "Come on now ferret boy we got a train to board." turning to him as you loaded up your trolly.
Draco groaned as he stood up and walked with you pushing his trolly as your cat jumped from his shoulder onto your trolly. "Really? I'm not a ferret," he said as he looked down slightly annoyed at the new nickname you made.
"Oh, come on Darco ferrets are smart and brilliant animals. Plus they are some of the cutest mammals out there," you said trying to ignore the blush forming as you nudge him while walking.
Draco blushed slightly as he looked up and smiled at you. "Ferrets are smart and brilliant you say?" he said as he walked with you.
"Indeed my dear Dragon, Hermione may have meant it as an insult but it does suit you," smiling as you parked your trolly by the luggage attendant and put Lyra in her carrier next to Hawthorn.
"Gotta catch up with a few friends," you said as you hugged Draco. "I'll see you and those journals, in a bit okay?"
"Yeah I'll see you soon Y/n," he said as he held you close not knowing that a few friends were watching from inside the train.
Draco POV
After Y/n walked away towards the booth that Hermione was most likely in. Draco just stood there for a minute before going to the booth his friends were in.
"What was that all about?" said Pansy as she was standing arms crossed just inside the hallway of the train.
"Excuse me?" he said confused about what Pansy meant as he tried to walk past her to their normal booth.
"That hug with Y/n. Please tell me you two finally started dating." Pansy said as she continued to block his path while smirking at him.
"No Pansy we didn't," he rolled his eyes, "Now please move I'd like to sit down." Getting more frustrated by the second.
"Well that's a shame, I like how she makes you less grumpy," she said as she stepped out of his way. "And she clearly has-” Before she could continue she was cut off by her boyfriend Blaise Zabini.
“Pansy, let him sit down and relax before you start gossiping, please darling,” Blaise said as Draco finally found his best mate in their normal booth.
“Fine I'll let the 'ferret boy' relax," smirking as she sat down next to Blaise as Draco sighed while sitting down across from the couple.
"You heard that?" Draco questioned as he wasn't angry but more embarrassed than anything else.
"Oh please Dray, I hear everything," Pansy smirked as the train car began to fill up with students from Ravenclaw and Slytherin.
"That's what scares me," said Draco under his breath as he looked out the window and saw all the parents waving at their children from the platform.
Blaise chuckled as he was the only one who heard Draco since Pansy was too busy watching people get onto the train car and carefully eavesdropping on each conversation. Draco's thoughts went to the journals and tome he had you look at. The books were safe in the black messenger bag you got him for Christmas since he put a small protection charm on it just in case someone wanted to take it.
Draco hadn’t been paying much attention to the conversation his friends were having until he felt someone sit down next to him. He turned his head slightly and saw Theo Nott had sat down next to him.
“I see that Draco is his normal quiet self. Nothing interesting happened this summer?” Theo asked as he looked over at his friends.
"Well I can tell you one thing that didn't happen this summer," Pansy said smugly while looking at Draco.
"Oooh, do tell Pansy. I'm all ears about what the 'Prince of Slytherin' wasn't able to achieve," Theo jokingly said as he leaned back looking at Pansy.
"Well our dear prince still hasn't confessed his undying love towards his dear childhood friend Y/n this summer," she said dramatically as Blaise rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"He didn't," Theo said pretending to be shocked as he turned toward Draco. "Come on mate it's been a good while now since you've started 'fixing' up your attitude and building up the courage to tell her how you feel, so why haven't you?" he said teasing Draco's new behavior.
"It's complicated," Draco said coldly as he looked at his friends while loosening his tie.
"Bloody Hell Draco, no it isn't," Theo said while throwing his hands up, "You fancy her, ask her out on a date."
"You are ridiculous," Draco said as he stood up, "Move Nott," almost growling as he looked at Theo.
"Fine be in denial," Theo said as he stood up and moved out of the way. "But just know if you don't make a move, someone else will."
Before anyone else could say anything to Draco he was already out of the train car. On his way, he grabbed the bag with the journals and the tome checking to see if anyone tampered with it. Once he was sure nobody messed with it, he continued to where Y/n would meet him.
Normal POV
You'd been staring out the window waiting for Draco to come with the journals for only a few minutes thinking about all the secrets Merlin kept in his journals. To think after all this time, that one of the greatest wizards of all time's journals were at your disposal, let alone with your best friend. You were too lost in thought to hear the compartment door open and close before someone sat down next to you.
"What are you thinking about?" Draco said as he took out the journals and tome before standing up and closing the compartment blinds carefully.
"Nothing that you don't already know," you said happily as you opened the first journal. "How was the Slytherin gang? Pansy still the school gossip?" you questioned as you took out your notebook and pen.
"Still the school gossip it seems," he said as he took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie before sitting back down next to you, "Blaise is his normal quiet self. Pansy hasn't changed him yet, thankfully," smiling as he watched you began to write some notes.
"I highly doubt that Pansy can change him unless he wanted to though I believe his attitude about blood status has improved since I started helping you understand," looking up from the tome to look Draco in the eyes for a moment before copying down more notes. "Even if it was hard at first."
Draco smiled as he listened to you talk about his friend and how much progress he made since that first day you started 'whipping him into shape'. He'd never admit to anyone except you, his mother, and Blaise how much of an ass he really was two years ago. Theo had made fun of him after he once saw you and Draco practicing with Luna and Neville practicing charms by the Black Lake. Theo complained about how he was hanging out with Looney Lovegood and Loasy Longbottom, for some reason this made Draco mad when he talked about your friends but he didn't understand why.
"Hard yes, but it's easier thanks to you and your endless amount of patience," he said as he looked over at what you were copying down, "Are those star maps?" confused about how you got to star maps.
"I decoded a few of the first lines and they were talking about how 'Casseopia greets the Lion and the Dragon on a cool evening. Once greeted the confusione shall disappear from thy parchment' so I drew up a rough star map to see how the stars would be positioned during the coming months," you said as you explained happily what you found.
"So when do Cassiopeia, Leo, and Draco greet each other in the night sky?" he said awkwardly unsure if this was a big clue or not.
"it seems so but I'll check the star maps in the library to be sure. So how does it feel that your namesake is a part of this riddle my dear dragon?" teasing him a bit as you nudged him playfully.
"Confused yet important," he said as he sat up giving you his smug smirk. "And if it wasn't for me snooping around my family library we wouldn't be on whatever adventure this is." nudging you back as he normally would though it felt a little different.
"Well as much as that is true, you'd be lost without me Draco," smiling as you stood up, "probably best to get changed into my robes before I get lost in the journals"
"I'll stay here till you get back Y/n," smiling as he watched you open the compartment door and close it behind you. He looked over your notes while you were gone trying desperately to read your handwriting when he thought he saw the slightest hint of a heart next to his name.
Description: Violet Ellis is about to have her whole life change in ways she never could have predicted. A story of love, loss, anger, and magic. If you had told 10 year old Violet that she was a witch, she would have laughed. And if you told her that her entire life was a lie? Well, she wouldn’t have believed you. But 15 year old Violet? She doesn't know who to trust or who is on her side. Except for him.
Song Rec.: Violet and Draco's Playlist
TW: Angst, Big Emotions™️, death, abandonment (of child), illegitimate child, mentions of war and death eaters. Bullying (from slytherins). Slowburn. I’m not British, so forgive me if I completely butcher this… If I missed anything, let me know.
Other: Slowburn romance, sort of fast-paced story.
Drop some good dramione fics. And not the ones where they secretly have sex the whole time. Like 8th year forgiveness and growth after the war type stories.
Author thistlethread (who has an AMAZING dark+Sleep Token inspired Dramione one shot, btw) gifted me this heartbreaking edit for Of Roses, Hummingbirds and Bees, and I’m lost for words.
The part where Draco is running gets me every single time. The music, the last line, everything about this is beautiful and sad and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it.
I’ll never get over this.
My heart is full and a little broken.
If this is not a sign for me to finally sit and start writing the rest of the chapters, I don’t know what it is.
Today I realized I've been plotting my romance writing all wrong. Oops! Lucky for you, I think I figured out how to solve this problem. *Gestures to the camera* come along with me and let's figure out how to write romance plots together!
When I'm sketching out a story idea, I generally use some simplified version of Dan Harmon's story circle (ok so this link is not an endorsement of Dan Harmon as a person, but I have found this plotting device helpful), which is itself a simplified version of Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey. The double-simplified version looks something like this:
You (character in a zone of comfort)
Need (want something)
Go (venture outside the comfort zone)
Search/Adapt (adapt to the new situation)
Find (finally get what they wanted)
Take/Sacrifice (but sacrifice/pay a price)
Return (go back to the comfort zone)
Change (different than they were before)
The problem I keep running into is that I never know what goes where, especially as the number of characters and side plots increases. It's also a little hard for my brain to translate this tool that came out of adventure epics to what I need for a romance/rom-com plot. Usually I look at this list, get overwhelmed, and zoom way too far out, filling in these answers based on what I, the all-knowing author, think they should be. The end result looks a lot like (we're using Dramione as our example, but any characters will do):
You: Hermione Granger
Need: To find love.
Go: To a place where you can find love.
Search/Adapt: For/To love!
Find: LURVE
Take/Sacrifice: The love????? But sad now????
Return: With love!
Change: Loved 😍
And. Uh. That's not a plot?
Where I went wrong is that people in the story don't know they're in a story (unless they do, in which case you should probably sleep with one eye open because your characters know what you've done to them). Your characters are unreliable. They only see what's in front of them. By zooming all the way out to LURVE, I erased everything that's fun to read that gets us to our HEA (or, if you're devious, non-HEA).
So, it stands to reason you should fill out this story circle (story bulleted list?) from the perspective of your character, not you. (This is probably very basic science and congratulations if you got there way before me. You don't need this post. You should be writing this post.)
But even more important in a romance? That need, the thing your main character wants, is kind of a red herring. The character thinks this is their primary need/goal to get them out of whatever slump they start out in, but you, the author, know that what they actually need is to fall in love with the Love Interest.
Then, during the Search/Adapt phase, when your main character is looking for that thing they need or trying to achieve their primary goal or whatever, they start to learn more about the Love Interest. Their perspective shifts, and they realize they were wrong before. The Love Interest is what they actually need. This is probably where most of your story will happen. During this step, there's only one bed, the characters are fake dating, they get trapped in an elevator, etc.
Sadly, just when we think the main character has come to their senses, they are offered the exact thing they *thought* they needed the whole time. Bonus point if the thing they thought they wanted is in direct conflict with accepting the affections of the Love Interest.
During Take/Sacrifice, the main character has to choose. Are they going to pick love or the thing they thought they wanted at the beginning of the tale? In a multi-chap, you might let your character choose the original need/goal (or struggle for a while with the choice). In a one-shot, you might not have enough space for this and the character chooses love.
Next, in the Return, if it isn't the consequences of the character's own actions. A character who chose their need/goal over love during Take/Sacrifice needs to make amends to the Love Interest. The character who chose love has to deal with not getting the thing they needed at the beginning of the story. Depending on your fic's vibes, you might invent a magical solution for the character to get everything they want here. Alternately, maybe the character suffers and loses everything. This seems like a lot to cram into the end of your tale, and it is, so try not to drag it out too long. Your reader has gone on a long journey with your characters and they don't want to read fifteen chapters of sadness before the end (or maybe they do?). If they aren't already, the characters want to be together at this point, they might just need a little shove to get there.
In the final step, take a moment to show us how the character and their life have changed as a result of going on this journey. They are now in a new comfort zone / status quo and are ready for further adventures, should you so choose.
To clarify how these steps work for a romance plot, I changed the labels and made you a little graphic. Please ignore that I don't make graphics and a 12 year old on Canva could have done better.
The formula looks like this now:
You: Hermione Granger is in her comfort zone. Note: in fanfiction, you don't have to do as much character development with an established character who is behaving as expected. Use this time instead to highlight the limitations of their comfort zone. You can also use this space to set up their romantic foil, especially if that character is behaving in an unexpected way. For example, if Hermione is being very driven and high-achieving, the reader doesn't need a lot of context for her behavior; they already know this version of her from canon. But if her would-be paramour Draco Malfoy is acting kind and considerate, the reader is going to want more information since in canon his behavior is usually presented as rude/entitled/etc. Don't spoil the surprise of why he's different, just show us the ways he's not what we expect. (Reveal his secret in Step 4 - Learn).
Need: Hermione has The Wrong Goal (pass legislation, solve a mystery, avoid sleeping in the room with only one bed). This might be a very noble goal, but it's at odds with Hermione's true, secret, hidden goal of being in love with Draco Malfoy. Why? Because she doesn't know that being in love with Draco is where she's headed yet.
Go: To the place that Hermione's Wrong Goal requires. Pass legislation? Lobby all the Sacred 28s sitting on the Wizengamot! Solve a mystery? Go undercover to find out who did What in Which Room with What Object. Avoid sleeping in the hotel room with only one bed? Go to the concierge and ask for a new room. What's important is that wherever Hermione goes, she's forced to be near Draco Malfoy, the object of her true, secret, hidden, goal (to fall in LURVE).
Learn: This is where Hermione and Draco are forced to work together to solve the problem of the finding/achieving the Wrong Goal. Through this process, Hermione realizes Draco's exactly what she didn't know she was always looking for, etc. Unfortunately, her original goal is still at odds with being in LURVE with him. Cue tension. Example: They're at the concierge desk begging for a new room; he's offering all the money in his vaults, she's trying to appeal to the hotel staff's sense of human decency. She admires his tenacity. He realizes she's witty and a little bit underhanded. He likes this. She has a fleeting curiosity about how the tenacity would manifest in bed. Oh no.
Find: In this step, Hermione is confronted with an opportunity to obtain her original Wrong Goal. Example: Well what do you know? The bribe and the appeals worked. The concierge has found one other room in the hotel. Dramione are no longer forced to sleep in the room with only one bed.
Choose: Unfortunately, lurving Draco is still at odds with Hermione's original goal, so she must choose between him and what she originally thought she wanted. She might have a lot of introspection here, where she considers the merits of different choices. Maybe she even talks it out with him or someone else. If this is a one-shot with a happy ending, she has grown and developed sufficiently by now to make the right choice and choose Draco. She sacrifices the original goal for him. If this is a multi-chapter fic, she chooses the wrong original goal over him and loses him as a result. Example: They both go back to the room with only one bed. He's going to collect his things and go to the new room. They hesitate. Is it really necessary for him to move rooms? Draco has so many items, and some of her stuff is mixed in with his stuff. He looks at her with eyes full of newfound respect. "What do you think, Granger?" Hermione sacrifices her original goal, calls the concierge back, and lets them know that they won't be needing the new room after all, but "Please enjoy whatever ungodly massive tip Mr. Malfoy left you. I know I sure will."
Reap: Now it's time to reap the consequences of the choice Hermione made in Step 6. In a one-shot, maybe Hermione's all done. She heads back to her old comfort zone with her new relationship. Depending on the tone of this story, maybe there's some way that she gets to have her original goal and her relationship. However, in a multi-chapter fic, this is where Hermione has to do some work to make amends for choosing wrong (that is, for not choosing Draco). If it's a multi-chap with a happy ending, she succeeds, Draco forgives her, and they smooch. Example: They're back in the room. There it is - just the one bed. All those slightly naughty things they thought during Step 4? Oh yeah. They're going to try them all out. Fade to black, etc.
Change: Some final scene showing how things are different now that Hermione has what she really needed (the D). Example: They wake up the next morning way past check out and have to extend their stay. Bummer!
A fully worked example:
You: Hermione Granger is bored at her job at the Ministry of Magic. She unexpectedly bumps into her former archenemy, a now polite and reserved Potions Professor Draco Malfoy. She learns that Minerva McGonagall, the current Hogwarts Headmistress, is retiring.
Need: Hermione needs to prove to Minerva, Hermione's longtime mentor, that she's the right person to hire over the other candidate, who just happens to be polite and reserved Professor Malfoy, even though Hermione has never taught students a day in her life.
Go: To avoid her obvious bias, Minerva sets up a series of practical trials to determine which candidate will win the job. Hermione and Professor Malfoy enter the obstacle course.
Learn: When the practical trials start turning dangerous, Hermione and Professor Malfoy must work together to stay alive. Unfortunately, working side by side shows them they have more in common than they thought.
Find: Hermione is presented with an opportunity to sink Professor Malfoy's ship: she learns that he never finished his Potions Mastery. If she reveals this information to Minerva and betrays Draco in the process, the job of Head of Hogwarts will be hers, and the dangerous practical trials/threat to her life will be over. But what about the romantic "something" budding between Hermione and Draco? Well, that's just an acceptable loss. Hermione's career trajectory is on the line!
Choose: Is this a one-shot? Then Hermione chooses "right" at the last minute and decides to sacrifice the job for love and keeps the information to herself. Is this a multi-chapter fic? Then Hermione chooses "wrong" and decides to sacrifice love for the job. She tells Minerva. Draco is devastated.
Reap: If this is a one-shot, Hermione returns from the trials holding hands with her new boyfriend. While they were in the trials, Minerva figured out a way for them to both get the job somehow! If this is a multi-chapter fic, Hermione returns from the trials alone, with her brand new job and a hefty side of guilt. Realizing her error too late, she works to make amends to Draco.
Change: A year later, the Co-Heads of Hogwarts Hermione Granger-Malfoy and Draco Malfoy-Granger celebrate the one-year anniversary of the trials and their relationship by burning Minerva's horrible obstacle course to the ground.
I've written all this out in list format because, well, you saw the circle I made you, but the circle has the benefit of helping you visualize that where your character is in Step 8 (Change) becomes the new Step 1 (You, character in zone of comfort). If you are writing multiple scenes, you can apply this plot exercise to each scene, even if these little micro plots are very small (e.g., Hermione forgets her quill and has to ask Draco to borrow his). Hermione obviously won't have big revelations about how she doesn't really need a quill and is actually in love with Draco each and every scene, but you can still play around with your characters pursuing one goal only to realize their true aspirations mid-way through a scene using the story circle framework. Plotting this way will help you make sure everything you write leads to some sort of change in your character. And that's character development baybee!
When you're ready to level up your story circle skills, remember that in a romance you probably have at least one other main character whose needs you'll have to service. Your new job is make a story circle for the love interest! Note the ways that the two characters' needs/goals align and the ways that they are in opposition. When the characters' story circles are in opposition, you get tension, when they're in alignment, you get softness! Just make sure that whatever is keeping your blorbos apart is actually forcing them together. Meaning, if they have opposing Wrong Goals (Step 2 - Need), make sure that they still have to work together or be near each other somehow (Steps 3 & 4 - Go & Learn) to be able Find (Step 5) what they thought they were looking for. Also make sure that their true, secret, hidden goal is the same (at least for a happy ending fic): they want to end up in love with each other. The characters may come to this realization at different times, and that may guide whether they choose the Wrong Goal or Love during Choose (Step 6) and who has to make amends during Reap (Step 7).
Finally, if you're an alpha or beta reader, try making these circles/lists for the fics you're reading. It should clarify what's going on in each scene and help you identify what's missing from a story.
i just realized i never came on here to give an update but i absolutely adored draco malfoy and the mortifying ordeal of being in love. a much needed break from my manacled breakdown
It starts low and gradually builds in volume before it drags out in one long wail of something terrible. Its frightening and heart breaking. A pillow over her head before she stuffs cotton into her ears. And still, it does nothing to drown out the echo residing inside of her.
And so it is with a sense of dread and determination that Hermione finally jumps from her bed. She throws on her coat, her slippers and stuffs her hands into her pockets as she leaves the warmth of her home.
A bit of a ghost story.
A bit of a love story.
A lot of both.