The Bolthole

I think I was planning on doing a 'Fanfic Year In Review' thing this December, but I can't help but gush about this fic by Tepre, aideomai, and GallaPlacidia. The Bolthole, which is also available as a podfic here and here, absolutely caught me at a great time.

It's been in my Marked for Later folder for months, but I decided to read it as I was looking through this folder and deciding to get it lower. I can't believe how long it's taken me to read this, but I also think I read it at a perfect time. So that's really just an important reminder for me: Don't push yourself to do things. The time will be right someday. But I just finished it (and I'm about to read the Bonus Episode on the GallaPod) so I wanted to gush about it while the thoughts are still fresh in my brain.

Draco's relationship with Hermione and Ron is nothing like I've ever read before and I love it! Hermione and Draco as Auror partners? Never have I read that! And it feels like The Bolthole has just raised my standards for my own writing and for my own reading XD The crush Draco has on Ron is so adorable and sweet. The little taste of Dron was just what I needed. And Harry... gosh, this Harry is so hot! And sweet! What a sweet sweet boy! I also definitely struggle with some hoarding habits, finding too much sentiment in the items I have, too much anxiety at the idea of them just leaving me so I really engaged with Harry's feelings. I feel like hoarding is so easy to make fun of from outsiders (because it really is rather ridiculous when you take a step back from your own thought process) but it hurts when people don't take your thoughts and feelings seriously. Like I know it's crazy for me to keep this drawing I made one afternoon when I was seven, but what if I need it? Obviously seven-year-old me thought it was important enough to keep, so why should I disrespect those feelings by throwing it away? The KonMari tidying method has been so beneficial to me, truly.

ANYWAY, there's really no way to express how shocked I was at the turn of events in this fic. Without spoiling too much, the inciting incident came out of left field because we were in Harry's perspective, which was such an effective storytelling choice! And it really speaks to how tunnel vision Harry can get sometimes, being a bit unobservant to the feelings of those around him. This fic was so delicate around all of the serious topics brought up without tiptoeing around everything. I respect these creators so much and I wanna read all of their other work now! This is another fic I definitely want to see on my bookshelf someday, so I hope I could bookbind it soon.