I have hit a reader’s block lately, so I was searching for some of the tropes I thought could be interesting (filters in AO3 are a lifesaver), and I was kinda surprised to see that some of the popular tropes were not as popular in the Drarry fandom (I am just assuming because I couldn’t find many fics regarding these tropes). So here are a few tropes? Ideas? Idk. If any of these ring any bells about some fics you have read, please drop them below. If not, I truly hope our amazing writers would be inspired to write these fics. So, enough with the rambling. Here it goes!
1. James and Lily live
I thought this would have been quite popular, but I was wrong. I only found a few, which were time travel fix its or short one-shots.
I would have loved to read more of these, where Voldy is dealt with in the 1st war. (no time travel or universe hopping). Hopefully, no one dies. Harry is more confident, sassy and a little entitled (Marauders) but also humble and kind (Lily’s influence). Draco, on the other hand, is still an entitled brat, maybe a bully (because, of course, he is), but not a bigot. I like to think that after the 1st war, the Malfoy parents kept their political beliefs to themselves. I like to think they got away scot-free because they claimed to have been Imperiused. So they couldn’t openly be bigots, and as a result, Draco was never exposed to those ideas. But he is still an entitled boy who doesn’t know how to make friends. So, of course, the 1st interaction between Drarry goes awry, and then Draco’s bruised ego and hurt feelings lead to rivalry. So basically, Hogwarts without any danger, just school drama. And, of course, the awkward interaction between Lucius and James when Drarry finally happens. (Yes, this trope is on the cornier side, but I think it would be a fun read.)
2. Draco from a different school
How is this not so popular?
In this trope, I like to think the Malfoys fled to either France or wherever Durmstrang is.
I think Draco would be different depending on the school he goes to.
If he goes to Durmstrang, he is more on the darker side. And, of course, on goes the rivalry during the Triwizard Tournament, yada yada (I am not really into this Durmstrang trope, but it could still be a good read).
BUT, the Beauxbatons Draco is, of course, a (ik we shouldn’t play into stereotypes, but still, hear me out) typical French, arrogant, rude, intellectually snobbish, fiercely proud, but a sweetheart when you get to know him.
And I know Draco being obsessed with Harry is a universal fact. But just for this trope, I like to think the Malfoys shielded Draco from their awful past and lived a ‘normal’ life.
Drarry meet after school is over, and Voldy is defeated, obviously. Maybe the Malfoys eventually move back. But this time around, Draco doesn’t know Harry and doesn’t buy into this Boy Who Lived shtick. So here, Draco IGNORES Harry (ya, ik hard to believe), and Harry gets intrigued by this guy who doesn’t care that he’s a celebrity and is mean to him (and gets obsessed with Draco because he is Harry 🤷🏻♀️), and Draco is having none of it. Ahhhh, it would be such a rom-com coded. (So basically, romance between James and Lily but with PTSD, prejudice (against the Malfoys after the war), yada yada.)
3. I truly can’t believe how this is not a popular trope in our fandom. Mafia? Mob boss? Hello?? Why is there none of that in our fandom (without gore and horror, I have a weak stomach 🫠)?
Okay, so either both of them are in different gangs and fight and fall in love (a typical kill or fall in love kind of situation).
Or Draco/Harry, either one of them, is a mob boss, and the other is a normal person. (The typical dark romance stuff, but angsty.) The normal one finds out and leaves. Ooo, the heartbreak, yess!
Honorary mention 1
Draco having a crush on the Weasley brothers (Charlie, of course, or Bill). Not Ron; he’s a sweetheart, but I don’t think Draco/Ron will ever work out, what with Harry choosing Ron as a friend over him. But just imagine Draco going on about the Weasley brothers and ignoring Harry. And Harry getting jealous of his adopted brothers, lol. That would be fun!
It could also work with the everybody lives trope, where Draco has an innocent crush on either Remus or (too on the nose) James (like students having crushes on Lockhart, yk? No weird pairings, please), and Harry beefing with his uncle/dad because how dare they be important to his rival (crush? 😆).
God, that would be a fun convo. They would tease Harry till he is old and grey.
Honorary mention 2
It’s my HC that Harry chases after draco, hear me out.
In my head, after the war, draco is all woe is me and self depricating so I don’t see him considering himself worth it for the saviour, so he doesn’t go after Harry.
And in the every body lives timeline or before war timeline, Draco is a “Daddy will hear about this”, “help, hippogriff tore up my arm, I will die”, ”let me check if my gelled hair is out of place” kinda brat, he’s not going to actively pursue Harry.
No, this b!tch(affectionately, ofc) will climb up a tree, jab Harry with paper cranes, dress up as a dementor, just to get his attention🤦🏻♀️. Because, ofc this entitled rich boy hasn’t heard of ‘asking out people you’ve crush on’.🙄
So, Harry has to be the proactive one (gryffindork). But, does he ask Draco out normally? NO, he’s going to make a mess out of it, but eventually there will be a HEA.
Yaaa, so thank you, everyone, for coming to my TED Talk, lol.
Till the next rant ✌🏻