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Hey Sarah. Here for another of your winning reviews.
Drastoria is one of my OTPs so I just had to read this story!
I've always been fond of the idea of Draco happening to meet Astoria (either for the first time or seeing her again) after the war and find it very appealing, as if they were bound to be connected one way or another. So your take here is right on point for me.
You've shown Draco struggling with his past and trying to distance himself from the old ways he doesn't agree with anymore, and I've always been a sucker for his redemption arc as Draco is one of my favorite characters. I liked that he struck a friendship with Astoria almost instantly, and that he's not shy about admitting he'll miss her once she goes back to Hogwarts.
I rather enjoyed that Draco kept discovering all these little things about Astoria and freaking out a little about finding out that he has more feelings for her than friendship, and I thoroughly loved the lighthearted way you wrote Astoria as well.
The ending was sweet, and overall I liked the premise on which you wrote the story. I'm still going through your AP but in case you haven't written any more Astoria for now and you ever decide to do it again in the future, make sure to let me know :)
Susana
Okay, but this story sounds so cute!!! The punny name was exactly what reeled me in, and I’m excited to read it!!
Oh lord, well, I thought this was gonna be a sort of fluffy story but already I’m angry at the beginning lmao. I feel really bad for Draco, because from what it looks like, he seems to be a changed man, and the way he reacts to the women spilling his tea on him is really quite mature of him! I’d frankly be very angry if people did stuff like that to me unwarranted.
Haha, Astoria is genuinely a refreshing character! I like that she seems upbeat and happy, as it looks as if that she’s what Draco needs right now! I think that Astoria could really be a positive influence on him.
(Also? Camila Mendes as Astoria Greengrass is something I’d never expected but strangely is a good fit for her! I personally imagine her as Korean, but Camila fits perfectly as well!)
Oof, it’s really disheartening to see how the war has affected him, and how Draco is dealing post war. I’m really glad that he’s trying to get himself out of that place and take care of himself.
Draco’s and Astoria’s friendship is very refreshing, and is actually different from most portrayals I’ve seen; usually I’ve seen it from the lens of like two souls finding solace from each other after the war, and I suppose that’s what they are here, but I haven’t seen it so lighthearted and positive like this.
Also, Astoria’s friends are a bit weird not gonna lie, but I guess when you’re friends with a Malfoy, you’re gonna get some looks.
Hm. Draco’s instincts are concerning and saddening to see. If he’s been conditioned to think that, imagine what it had to take for him to even get to that point. I hope he gets and receives better than that in the future.
Ooh, chocolate candy cane tea actually sounds so good! I want to try some.
Aww, poor Draco! That seems to my consensus this whole story, lol. I think Draco might just be a little afraid to love, but I think he’ll come around soon enough.
Alright so? This is a really great story, and you’ve done a great job of bringing Draco and Astoria together in an organic way, and I love how you used tea to help them find a common point of interest.
If you write more like this, please hit me up!! I enjoy reading fics such as these ones!
Hi Sarah!
This review is part of the Red vs Gold February review thingy.
I mentioned this before, but I think this story is simply adorable. I like the trope you used of separating the sections of the chapter with types of tea (and it made me thirsty). You made me feel sorry for Draco from the beginning. I can’t imagine child Draco putting up with total strangers knocking coffee all over him (“my father will hear about this!”), but adult Draco is resigned and takes it in stride. It really got to me how he doesn’t even try to clean himself off, he just tries to get his tea and get out of there as quickly as possible. I also appreciated how jumpy he is when Astoria draws her wand to clean him up. He’s so shocked that anyone would want help him instead of curse him. It’s a very nice “meet cute.”
The dialogue between Draco and Astoria seems so natural. I like how she’s not afraid to tease him and just treat him like a regular person. Too bad his mother didn’t seem to enjoy the Christmas present, but at least he and Astoria had an excuse to spend some time together while they shopped for it. I also laughed when they were in the shop and Draco’s convinced the tea is poisoned and doesn’t want to try it. Too funny.
So then, silly Draco has to go and be a jerk just because he likes a girl. I really liked the line you wrote “but he doesn’t manage to move fast enough to avoid seeing it [her face] fall.”
And finally, a happy ending with a sweet kiss. I liked how Astoria drops her tea and Draco ends the story the way he began it—covered in scalding liquid. Nice work!
Yours,
Noelle
Hi Sarah! Here for RvG and the Magical Menagerie.
This was so ADORABLE! Honestly, this was just so fluffy and perfect - a cute Draco/Astoria fic and a relationship built on the foundation of tea. What more could a girl ask for?
I felt so sorry for Draco at the start of this chapter. I can definitely imagine things like this happening - probably little aggressions directed towards him, likely from people who hadn't even fought in the war but wanted to make a point now that it was over - but it doesn't make it any easier for him to deal with. I think he's quite mature (maybe resigned would be a better word choice) in his reaction, but I was really happy to see Astoria treating him like a human and helping him out. It says a lot about how he's doing that one little bit of kindness can make such a difference to his day.
And Astoria - she's just so wonderful in this. I'm so intrigued by her character because she's essentially a blank canvas as far as her portrayal is concerned, but I loved what you did with her here. She's so genuine and nice and kind - but despite that, she has got a darker past and has an understanding of what Draco's been through, and I think that's partly why she can accept him for who he is (and what he's done in the past), and why Draco is drawn to her. I thought that you portrayed that attraction and understanding so well in this story, and I loved reading your versions of them.
All of the little scenes with a different type of tea for each were so wonderful! I think that my favourite is probably the Christmas tea, and I think that's where Draco really starts to realise what Astoria means to him, as more than just a friend, but the whole piece was just lovely.
I loved the way that you book-ended this story with the Victorian Chai at the start and end, to show the way that the two of them had come full circle, back to the tea that started everything, which also really showed how much the two of them had grown and the way that they'd moved forward together. This was adorable, and I would love to read more of you writing the pair of them!
Sian :)
You, my dear, are actually trying to kill me with cuteness.
Drastoria fics are like my ultimate indulgence. They're here when all i want to do is curl up under the covers and feel all happy- or in this case lounge about in the sun and do nothing but read. My other favourite thing. TEA! I've started enough wars over this that you know that and oh my days girl i love you so much right now. This was like, how did you put it, christmas in a cup!
I feel so sorry for draco in the opening section. Yes, he did some horrible things but he is clearly remorseful and trying to move on with his life. If even sitting in a cafe is difficult without someone spilling a drink on him then that doesn't make it easy. The fact that draco bloody malfoy is accepting it makes it all the worse/ more pathetic as well. The teenage him would never have let that happen yet here he's just a broken version of his former self.
Astoria though... she's a little ray of sunshine isn't she? The hair flick and the cup of tea, the attitude and the fact that she's just so nice is perfect characterisation. She's got a darker past and has been through a lot but despite that she carries on. It's the way i love her to be portrayed and you have nailed her!!
Moving to Earl Grey and beyond this is ADORABLE!!!! They have a great chemistry and showing how they interact and understand each other was perfect. Their shared experiences really come to light here and shows how well they get each other. Really we see this though the rest of the fic. Their world isn't perfect, it's difficult and occasionally horrible and while Draco sometimes wallows in it Astoria has a cup of tea and feels better. She almost trains him out of the darkness with each cup and i can't get over the amazing fluffiness of the whole thing! You've just written their whole relationship so perfectly!
Then there's the ending and agghhhh.... SSSAAAAAARRRRRAAAHHHHHH I need more!!! Like... Please? For me? The twin? Maybe?
Loved it and love you, as always!
Deni <3
(written for for RvG and the Magical Menagerie.)
Hey there!
I'm dropping by a review for the Magical Menagerie and for Gryffindor's Red vs. Gold review battle for January 2019. I've seen all the links for this in our review thread and I've been meaning to stop by, so finally, here I am.
I should tell you upfront that I'm incredibly particular with fluff. It's possibly my least favorite genre of story, mainly because I feel like people often make it overly idealized and unrealistic. That said, this was excellent. You did a really good job of showing that the world around Astoria and Draco certainly isn't perfect. No one has forgotten who they are or what they did, but within each other they find some solace. It's the perfect reason for them to come together.
I loved that you used the tea flavors to mark segments of your story. It's unique and relevant to the narrative. I really appreciated that.
I also really liked how you took the beginning with Draco covered in tea and made it come full circle. You even used the same tea, I noticed. That was a very nice touch.
Your characterization in this was lovely as well. A lot of times in fic, Draco is written as this super snarky, emotionless, unfeeling character who meets the right girl and suddenly turns into a puddle of weepiness. I feel like he is neither of those. In this, he's a young man who's been through a tough time the past few years. He's made mistakes and is paying for them, so maybe he's a bit guarded, but he isn't emotionless. When he realizes he's falling for Astoria, his hesitation, his need to protect her, and eventually his overwhelming desire to be with her all come across as very realistic.
You did a really good job on this piece! Thanks for writing such a lovely little bit of fluff. :)
~Kaitlin
Hi there! I'm stopping by for the Magical Menargerie!
Okay, first and foremost, I'm not gonna lie - I saw the banner for this over on TDA, thought it was pretty, and that compelled me to click the link. Then I saw that it was about Drastoria and nearly died from joy. :D
Before I get into the adorableness (because there is SO much fangirling I need to share!), I'd first like to commend you on making Draco's life post-war... not pleasant. Like, I can totally imagine him having a difficult time out in public in the months (and even years) following the war. We, the readers, know what he was going through and that he isn't an inheriently bad person, but the wizarding world doesn't know that. So I appreciated the depiction of him getting jeered at by random passersby. It was sad, of course, but realistic.
Okay, now back to the cute things lol.
First, I really loved the character development here. I like that Draco isn't angry about the way he's treated (it shows that he understands why people are angry), but he's just sort of... passive about it. He knows people are just being stupid, and him not lashing out about it shows how much he's grown. But, furthermore, I like his growth from wishing-he'd-been-better to actually-working-toward-making-things-better. This helped highlight what a positive effect Astoria had in his life.
And Astoria... you did a phenomenal job with her as well. I adored her bubbly personality and how she subtly forced Draco into taking a new perspective on the world. She's definitely what he needs at this point in his life!
The use of tea as a plot device was really interesting. I like how each flavor was the backbone of a new development in their friendship/relationship, and having it come full-circle with Victorian Chai was very well done.
Favorite line: "Pro tip: try that 'poor little rich boy' act on someone who hasn't ever been to your manor before." I genuinely lol'd at this. :D
This was an excellent story, love!
Cheers,
Reilly
SARAH MY LOVE <3 Here to leave a review for the Magical Menagerie!
Ohmygod this was the cutest thing ever. My love for tea knows no bounds and my love for Drastoria is also basically infinite so this was like a little piece of pure heaven and I so desperately needed it today. I love how Draco and Astoria became friends first and how she’s just this little bubble of positivity that you can’t help but be charmed by. I’ve seen so many characterizations of her, but this sort of witty and bright characterization of her is definitely easily my favorite.
I also love your characterization of Draco. I’m glad he isn’t mopey or depressed but simply resigned—and then with Astoria, I started to see a shift in him actively trying hoping for better things for the future and working for better things. I really appreciate that you didn’t underplay the comments and judgement he receives but still focused on creating a positive story for him.
THAT SAID. FRICKIN IDIOT. DRACO, SERIOUSLY.
tbh that idiocy is pretty in character too though :P
The kiss at the end was the cutest and I love that it ends with the same tea it started with. How adorable poetic! And I also really love all the teas you picked?? Okay brb need to go make myself some tea now lol.
Super well done, I really enjoyed reading <3
Hey Sarah!! :)
RIght off the bat, I LOVE the pun of the title! :P Also, I just love that it's a Draco story because who doesn't love a Draco story, especially a post-war one? I'm a huge fan of tea as well, so this was definitely on my next to read list and you did not disappoint at all, Sarah! Over the years I've seen various characterizations Astoria Greengrass, but I think yours is unique in that you recognize her youth compared to Draco & Daphne's class but still show her strong spirit and resolve after being branded Death Eater-affiliated also thanks to her parents. Having her hold a job in a tea shop during the summer is great and shows a different side of being magical teenagers -- they've still got to earn pocket money somehow! I also like how this was organized by splitting into different teas as the "scenes". It's a nice touch and each tea has ingredients or aromas unique to that spice and flavor combination, and this is evident in the scenes as well, based on how Draco & Astoria act and talk with each other. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but either way, I REALLY enjoyed it.
I actually quite like Draco & Astoria as a couple in general, but you've made me like them as a pairing even more thanks to your skill in weaving their slow burn story in under 2500 words for the collab! Very well done, Sarah! :)
~MadiMalfoy x
(Magical Menagerie 2: Team Griffin)
Sarah! Here for January RvG (go Gold!) and the Magical Menagerie... and because of the pun, really.
You may or may not be aware how much I love tea, and having a fic centered around it is absolutely thrilling to read!!!
Victorian Chai: a favorite of mine. Astoria is great here. She's friendly, coy, and helpful. Already, I know she's a good match for Draco. Earl Grey: some time has passed, and yet... I can tell Draco really, really likes her. I mean, he's planning on writing to her while she goes back to Hogwarts. Sarah, how did you manage to make Draco Malfoy into a sweetheart? I blame the tea!
Chocolate Candy Cane Tea: I am very fussy when it comes to chocolate and mint cominations, so I started off this section quite skeptical. But somehow you got past my reservations and melted my heart with that cute outing--and it is the PERFECT gift for both Astoria and Narcissa!! White Papaya... oh Sarah, no, you didn't.... That's all I'm going to say about that.
Victorian Chai again: Well, I'm glad that Draco comes to his senses... and acts upon his feelings!! And I also appreciate how you came back full circle at the end: Draco has a drink spilled all over him, but this time, he's kissing Astoria!
You did such a good job at creating a slow burn in 2500 words. You rocked this challenge, Sarah! :D
Hi Sarah!!
So, not even going to lie, I finished reading this and immediately made myself a cup of tea because it just felt right. Although uhhh I very much need to get my hands on chocolate candy cane tea because that sounds absolutely incredible.
I really like how you’ve portrayed both Draco and Astoria here - they’re both outcasts in their own way and they’re both trying really hard to leave their former selves behind. I feel bad for Draco, getting treated so poorly, especially when he was so much more complex than just a run-of-the-mill bad-guy Death Eater - but at the same time, it makes a lot of sense that people would look down on him after the war because of the side he was on. I’m glad that he’s managed to uncover that manuscript about recovering memories and hopefully making a name for himself that doesn’t involve his Death Eater past - he deserves that kind of redemption arc, tbh. (I will still maintain that the biggest injustice of the HP books is that Snape got a redemption arc and Draco didn’t because one of those people definitely deserved it more.)
I think the way you wrote this story - broken up into short little scenes that show their relationship in snippets - is honestly perfect. We get just enough of a scene to start feeling things, but then it moves on to the next. Like, we get the whole slow burn thing where you want to throw something at a wall for a hot second when he walks out on her out of absolutely nowhere because he doesn’t want to hurt her, but instead of waiting ages for an update, it’s there just a few paragraphs later. It’s all the emotional roller coaster without the agonising lag time, haha.
Anyways, this was adorable and I loved it.
-Taylor
Written for the Magical Menagerie event and January RvG
okay i absolutely love the whole idea of using tea as a plot device because honestly, tea is my favourite drink in the world and it was awesome reading about all the different flavours you've incorporated!
your draco and astoria are adorable in their...well, insecurity at first but also they're not too shy or anything, they're just two people with similar experiences that bond over it and i can absolutely see that happening between them. the fact that they start this friendship that spans over and survives astoria being away at hogwarts id wonderful and, for me, the way relationships should start (as friends). they're both people who are a bit shunned by the rest of the wizarding world and they find each other and help each other.
i love how they tease each other and the fact that they start off that way and it feels and reads so naturally that i don't even have to wonder how they became friends and later end up in a relationship.
the line about how avoiding her had done nothing for him at all is great - i think it shows draco's character and feelings for astoria well, and that it bridges the previous parts with the ending in a good way.
i just love this story and draco&astoria sarah! you did a great job!
kris
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