What do you think?
Rate this book
Measure Of A Man
To truly know someone is to differentiate between who they once were, who they are now,
and who they're capable of being. Hermione realises the duality of one man as she rectifies
what she knows of the past and begins to understand the pieces of who Draco Malfoy is now:
a father, a son, and a man.
and who they're capable of being. Hermione realises the duality of one man as she rectifies
what she knows of the past and begins to understand the pieces of who Draco Malfoy is now:
a father, a son, and a man.
1308 pages, ebook
Published April 22, 2022
325 people are currently reading
2364 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
April 21, 2025
I’m done! I’m finally fucking done reading this! This must be how mountain climbers feel after reaching the top of Mt. Everest; minus the extreme athleticism and altitude sickness.
Let’s summarize: it’s over a decade after the war, and Hermione is Healer Granger. She’s been tasked with the long term assignment of helping a witch who has a little-studied form of magical dementia. The trouble? It’s Narcissa, Draco Malfoys mother. But Hermione pushes forward, and soon meets little Scorpius, Draco’s five year old son, who is terribly traumatized after losing his mom six months prior. Hermione trudges forward, getting to know the three remaining Malfoys, with varying degrees of success, while also dealing with the MacLaggen family who are being tyrants in the Wizengamot, and the threat of Greyback, who has wanted Hermione blood since the war. Believe it or not, there are plenty of other plot points to sift through as well.
I’ll just come out and say it; this book was way too long. I believe it clocks in at almost 600k words, which is long enough for 6-8 books and I am NOT exaggerating. Some books, like Manacled or The Stand, can justify being that long. This book cannot. The multiple plots were just too many, the extremely long and drawn out conflicts went round and round way too many times on the same topics, and to be blunt, reading this in its entirety was like pulling teeth. And Hermione and Kingsley taking turns speaking like a mixture of Master Yoda and Gandhi kinda made me want to scrub my brain. Things that I loved: Draco. Duh. The side characters and their friendships and nuances. Scorpius and Albus’s friendship. Really, there was a lot to love, but I don’t want this review to be long enough to be ironic, so I’ll leave it at that.
Let’s summarize: it’s over a decade after the war, and Hermione is Healer Granger. She’s been tasked with the long term assignment of helping a witch who has a little-studied form of magical dementia. The trouble? It’s Narcissa, Draco Malfoys mother. But Hermione pushes forward, and soon meets little Scorpius, Draco’s five year old son, who is terribly traumatized after losing his mom six months prior. Hermione trudges forward, getting to know the three remaining Malfoys, with varying degrees of success, while also dealing with the MacLaggen family who are being tyrants in the Wizengamot, and the threat of Greyback, who has wanted Hermione blood since the war. Believe it or not, there are plenty of other plot points to sift through as well.
I’ll just come out and say it; this book was way too long. I believe it clocks in at almost 600k words, which is long enough for 6-8 books and I am NOT exaggerating. Some books, like Manacled or The Stand, can justify being that long. This book cannot. The multiple plots were just too many, the extremely long and drawn out conflicts went round and round way too many times on the same topics, and to be blunt, reading this in its entirety was like pulling teeth. And Hermione and Kingsley taking turns speaking like a mixture of Master Yoda and Gandhi kinda made me want to scrub my brain. Things that I loved: Draco. Duh. The side characters and their friendships and nuances. Scorpius and Albus’s friendship. Really, there was a lot to love, but I don’t want this review to be long enough to be ironic, so I’ll leave it at that.
September 26, 2024
A massive slug of a book where Hermione talks like a pro-vegan fortune cookie.
September 17, 2024
✅✅ Scorpius
� Cottagecore/Healer Hermione
� Daddy Draco
� Characters and relationships
� Slowburn romance
� Sexual tension and some smut
� Development of the characters
� Plot
�(🆗) Pace (writing sometimes)
4.5 stars
After leaving the ministry and her rising career for health and personal reasons, Hermione devoted her time and energy to becoming a healer and building herself a nice and cozy home in the country, where she grows her plants and vegetables, takes care of her chicken, and listens to her friends whenever they need peace and come to her place. She’d been asked multiple times to come back to the ministry, but she’d had enough of their corruption and carelessness. When she takes the assignment of treating Narcissa’s degenerative disease, Hermione knows it would be hard because the type of care she provides is constant: she cooks for her patients, brews their potions, monitors them in their home, and is on call 24/7 for them. She expected to struggle with Narcissa’s strong personality, and to have tose awkward moments with Draco, but she never expected to find love and a family with them.
Measure of a Man is a healing journey for Draco and Scorpius, and it’s about finding meaning and purpose for Hermione. It’s not just a love story, it’s full of self-reflection and philosophical discussions. It might be heavy at times, but it is truly a gem once you take the time to read it. There is also action and politics in this story, as the threat of Death Eaters is still there, and the Ministry is just as corrupt as it was during the war. On top of the healer/researcher angle and the romance slowly blooming, Hermione, Draco, and the other characters have to duel with Death Eaters and fight the corruption in their government before things get worse and they end up with a third war.
This is a massive fanfiction, probably the longest I’ve read so far, but while it is very long, in the end, I felt that everything was there for a reason, and if some parts felt a little long at times, I realized that they had a reason to be there. The characters and their interactions with Hermione all serve a purpose, they are not just there to add some “mundane� moments. Sure, they have fun together, but even in those moments when they are relaxing and enjoying themselves, for example during their girls� night, there are still some significant conversations happening, and in the long run, it helps the plot to progress� I am not sure if that makes sense� I guess what I am trying to say is that while it’s a very long fanfiction, it is worth the time and energy because it is very well-written, thought-out, and developed.
Hermione is very rational and pragmatic in this fanfiction. She takes the time to analyze everything to know every possible outcome and choose the best path, whether it is about healing a patient or making a personal decision. It fits well with her intense character, but it became a little tedious near the 75% mark when she was overanalyzing everything and doubting herself and Draco. The only thing she didn’t overanalyze in this book is her relationship with Scorpius. The way he started to trust her and look for her every day, and the way she took it upon herself to help him however she could was heartwarming. Seeing her being willing to argue and fight for him, and also learning from him was perfection. Their bond is so pure and strong, it was wholesome to see the development of their relationship.
I also liked that she was so fierce and so protective of her independence. She has strong beliefs and while she is open to other points of view, she never let anyone push her around or bully her into doing something she doesn’t want to do. She is also flawed, like every human being, and she is aware of her flaws, and being aware of them and embracing them instead of hiding them and pretending they do not exist makes her a better person.
Draco is often portrayed as a character that does not believe he deserves love and happiness, and it was the case here too at the beginning, but we got to see him grow and change so much, until he realized and accepted that he deserved love and good things too.
Even better, once he decided that he wanted love, more specifically Hermione’s love, he was clear about it, so there was no beating around the bush forever and endless miscommunication. Their relationship felt very mature because of that and I loved it. Also, seeing Draco growing into his father’s role and all that it entails, seeing him having those “firsts� with Scorpius and being so touched by the affection he received, and also so proud of his son was ADORABLE.
This fanfiction defines the meaning of slow burn. It was very slow, but also a realistic progression of feelings between two complex adults with a life of their own to consider. They couldn’t just jump headfirst into a relationship without any care for the possible outcome. That being said, while I loved the maturity of the characters and the fact that they took the time to think before getting involved, it felt a little repetitive to read every inner monologue of Hermione while she was trying to fight her attraction to Draco, and later on when she was trying to figure out if she was willing to give her 100% to this relationship.
There is also some smut, but while being explicit, it’s not the spiciest I’ve read. It’s just enough to keep things sexy and to have the satisfaction of seeing this sexual tension finally go away, but it doesn’t detract from the plot.
Scorpius was the cutest, most adorable, and precious little boy ever in this fiction. How can we not fall hopelessly in love with him, his kindness, and his pure heart? Even better than Scorpius, was seeing Scorpius interacting with Hermione, and Scorpius becoming friends with Albus. I had an inkling since the first time we saw Albus that the two boys would become friends, but having Hermione organize playdates between the two was just too cute.
Honestly, this fiction is as cute and heartwarming as it is intense and deep. I highly recommend it to any Dramione fan looking for a slow-burn romance with amazing and wholesome characters and an elaborate plot, and also with enough time and energy to read over 2,000 pages.
🙂
� Cottagecore/Healer Hermione
� Daddy Draco
� Characters and relationships
� Slowburn romance
� Sexual tension and some smut
� Development of the characters
� Plot
�(🆗) Pace (writing sometimes)
4.5 stars
The father. The son. The man.
After leaving the ministry and her rising career for health and personal reasons, Hermione devoted her time and energy to becoming a healer and building herself a nice and cozy home in the country, where she grows her plants and vegetables, takes care of her chicken, and listens to her friends whenever they need peace and come to her place. She’d been asked multiple times to come back to the ministry, but she’d had enough of their corruption and carelessness. When she takes the assignment of treating Narcissa’s degenerative disease, Hermione knows it would be hard because the type of care she provides is constant: she cooks for her patients, brews their potions, monitors them in their home, and is on call 24/7 for them. She expected to struggle with Narcissa’s strong personality, and to have tose awkward moments with Draco, but she never expected to find love and a family with them.
Measure of a Man is a healing journey for Draco and Scorpius, and it’s about finding meaning and purpose for Hermione. It’s not just a love story, it’s full of self-reflection and philosophical discussions. It might be heavy at times, but it is truly a gem once you take the time to read it. There is also action and politics in this story, as the threat of Death Eaters is still there, and the Ministry is just as corrupt as it was during the war. On top of the healer/researcher angle and the romance slowly blooming, Hermione, Draco, and the other characters have to duel with Death Eaters and fight the corruption in their government before things get worse and they end up with a third war.
This is a massive fanfiction, probably the longest I’ve read so far, but while it is very long, in the end, I felt that everything was there for a reason, and if some parts felt a little long at times, I realized that they had a reason to be there. The characters and their interactions with Hermione all serve a purpose, they are not just there to add some “mundane� moments. Sure, they have fun together, but even in those moments when they are relaxing and enjoying themselves, for example during their girls� night, there are still some significant conversations happening, and in the long run, it helps the plot to progress� I am not sure if that makes sense� I guess what I am trying to say is that while it’s a very long fanfiction, it is worth the time and energy because it is very well-written, thought-out, and developed.
Hermione is very rational and pragmatic in this fanfiction. She takes the time to analyze everything to know every possible outcome and choose the best path, whether it is about healing a patient or making a personal decision. It fits well with her intense character, but it became a little tedious near the 75% mark when she was overanalyzing everything and doubting herself and Draco. The only thing she didn’t overanalyze in this book is her relationship with Scorpius. The way he started to trust her and look for her every day, and the way she took it upon herself to help him however she could was heartwarming. Seeing her being willing to argue and fight for him, and also learning from him was perfection. Their bond is so pure and strong, it was wholesome to see the development of their relationship.
I also liked that she was so fierce and so protective of her independence. She has strong beliefs and while she is open to other points of view, she never let anyone push her around or bully her into doing something she doesn’t want to do. She is also flawed, like every human being, and she is aware of her flaws, and being aware of them and embracing them instead of hiding them and pretending they do not exist makes her a better person.
Draco is often portrayed as a character that does not believe he deserves love and happiness, and it was the case here too at the beginning, but we got to see him grow and change so much, until he realized and accepted that he deserved love and good things too.
"But what I won't do is live in a delusion of your creation and pretend that this is nothing."
Even better, once he decided that he wanted love, more specifically Hermione’s love, he was clear about it, so there was no beating around the bush forever and endless miscommunication. Their relationship felt very mature because of that and I loved it. Also, seeing Draco growing into his father’s role and all that it entails, seeing him having those “firsts� with Scorpius and being so touched by the affection he received, and also so proud of his son was ADORABLE.
"He will be the hardest lesson you'll ever learn."
This fanfiction defines the meaning of slow burn. It was very slow, but also a realistic progression of feelings between two complex adults with a life of their own to consider. They couldn’t just jump headfirst into a relationship without any care for the possible outcome. That being said, while I loved the maturity of the characters and the fact that they took the time to think before getting involved, it felt a little repetitive to read every inner monologue of Hermione while she was trying to fight her attraction to Draco, and later on when she was trying to figure out if she was willing to give her 100% to this relationship.
There is also some smut, but while being explicit, it’s not the spiciest I’ve read. It’s just enough to keep things sexy and to have the satisfaction of seeing this sexual tension finally go away, but it doesn’t detract from the plot.
"Thank you for choosing me."
Scorpius was the cutest, most adorable, and precious little boy ever in this fiction. How can we not fall hopelessly in love with him, his kindness, and his pure heart? Even better than Scorpius, was seeing Scorpius interacting with Hermione, and Scorpius becoming friends with Albus. I had an inkling since the first time we saw Albus that the two boys would become friends, but having Hermione organize playdates between the two was just too cute.
Honestly, this fiction is as cute and heartwarming as it is intense and deep. I highly recommend it to any Dramione fan looking for a slow-burn romance with amazing and wholesome characters and an elaborate plot, and also with enough time and energy to read over 2,000 pages.
🙂
August 31, 2024
This was too long to have the same philosophical discussions repeatedly. It was near impossible to differentiate between characters during dialogue because they all essentially talked with the same voice. There were aspects of this that I did enjoy but overall relatively mid
October 18, 2024
DND at 77% i’m sorry but this fic felt like it was never going to end and i realized i’d spent a week of my life trying to convince myself that i would eventually enjoy this. where was the chemistry?? i love a slow burn but like there should still be some burn? i just never never felt like they were actually that into each other beyond Hermoine having a really sweet relationship with Scorpius. it’s giving “i guess i’ll be with you because my kid likes you�.
October 26, 2024
I’ve known dead turtles that move faster than this story.
September 23, 2024
This was torturously long for no reason whatsoever. There was barely a plot (at least in comparison to the length) and so little chemistry between Draco and Hermione despite this being the most agonizing slow burn of slow burns imaginable. I wrote out a novel of a review that I’m not posting since it’s too harsh, so I’ll just sum it up in 8 words: I’m so glad that’s over and I’m exhausted.
September 15, 2024
Hermione is queen, but Daddy Draco is everything!
March 5, 2025
more like measure of my fucking patience.
it was good but man was it long so i’m counting it as three books cuz i can.
it was good but man was it long so i’m counting it as three books cuz i can.
January 14, 2025
If I said this was the worst-written book I’ve ever read, I wouldn’t be exaggerating.
Calling it “too long� feels insufficient as a critique. There are long books that are still engaging. The horrifying mistake here is inserting unnecessary actions and/or descriptions into the core plot/action. For example, in the chapter Observational Awareness, in the section starting 11 July (and seriously, what was the point of dividing chapters into sections? That’s literally what chapters are for! One chapter has 4-5 or more separate parts, often set in entirely different times and places. One chapter should equal one chapter, not multiple), Draco and Hermione are having a dialogue. Yet, we’re forced to catch the unnecessary details of how Draco makes tea. Because if we don’t pay attention, Hermione will later draw our attention to it, asking what tea he’s making, as if it were crucial. Moreover, we have to follow how Draco first makes tea for himself and then for Hermione—right in the middle of an intense conversation. The topic they’re discussing is quite important, so why are we wasting time with this tea-making sequence? If you wanted a romantic tea moment, then make it a separate scene—more detailed and focused—so we can properly see the chemistry between the characters. But instead, we get a “let’s add this and that, and throw in some more descriptions, just in case the reader is too stupid to understand.�
Oh, the logic errors� An example: again, in Observational Awareness, in the section starting 11 July, we see Draco freshly out of the pool, naked, while making tea. He and Hermione are talking, and we clearly see that Hermione is quite affected by him—especially in the sentence: “all Hermione could do was watch as every muscle in his back moved with the gesture�. Then, as if that never happened, in the very next section (Sky Full of Stars), Draco feels embarrassed about showing Hermione his bare chest?! “I don’t need to take my shirt off to—� What?!?!
You put up with all of this thinking that Hermione, Draco, and the other characters will develop over time, but I’m sorry to say, they’re all stuck in their teenage phases. Hermione supposedly doesn’t know any of these people she’s been surrounded by all this time until this book comes along. Kingsley, Andromeda—they’ve all been around, but Hermione acts as though she’s only now discovering them because the plot demands it. She’s been seeing Pansy, she’s been intertwined with Daphne for years, but Draco? Oh no, she’s only “just meeting him� now. Sure, maybe the Malfoys were in France or whatever, but there’s a Draco who’s constantly a topic of conversation at the girls� table, and yet our Hermione doesn’t know him? Has never seen him?
This is the same girl who screams “I’m not getting married, mom, okay?!?�, thinks she’s doing politics by saying “What would you know about running a country? Hmph!�, kisses a boy once, runs away in embarrassment, and then denies the kiss ever happened—acting like it’s the gravest sin she’s ever committed. She can’t even tell her “closest friends� about it. She raises flowers like she’s playing with baby dolls in the sand, never once wondering, “Why can’t I seem to make relationships work?� She never thinks, analyzes, or acts like an adult. The protagonist’s mindset is permanently stuck, and the book tries to convince us that she’s so strong and capable. It’s laughable. Ridiculous. Completely juvenile.
Draco? Oh, he wears glasses and solves puzzles, so now we’re supposed to believe he’s an adult. Yet he can’t exchange a few words with his own child, and somehow Hermione’s magic wand of mediocrity teaches him how to communicate. And don’t get me started on how they have the nerve to preach about adulthood. This just makes the book even worse.
Overall: DO NOT read this book. Ever. I personally hate leaving a task unfinished, which is why I forced myself to complete it, but it’s an absolute disaster. And to make matters worse, there’s a group of people on TikTok marketing this as if it’s a brilliant book. Don’t fall for it. The intelligence of this author is questionable. Forget reading this book—just don’t bother.
Thank you.
Calling it “too long� feels insufficient as a critique. There are long books that are still engaging. The horrifying mistake here is inserting unnecessary actions and/or descriptions into the core plot/action. For example, in the chapter Observational Awareness, in the section starting 11 July (and seriously, what was the point of dividing chapters into sections? That’s literally what chapters are for! One chapter has 4-5 or more separate parts, often set in entirely different times and places. One chapter should equal one chapter, not multiple), Draco and Hermione are having a dialogue. Yet, we’re forced to catch the unnecessary details of how Draco makes tea. Because if we don’t pay attention, Hermione will later draw our attention to it, asking what tea he’s making, as if it were crucial. Moreover, we have to follow how Draco first makes tea for himself and then for Hermione—right in the middle of an intense conversation. The topic they’re discussing is quite important, so why are we wasting time with this tea-making sequence? If you wanted a romantic tea moment, then make it a separate scene—more detailed and focused—so we can properly see the chemistry between the characters. But instead, we get a “let’s add this and that, and throw in some more descriptions, just in case the reader is too stupid to understand.�
Oh, the logic errors� An example: again, in Observational Awareness, in the section starting 11 July, we see Draco freshly out of the pool, naked, while making tea. He and Hermione are talking, and we clearly see that Hermione is quite affected by him—especially in the sentence: “all Hermione could do was watch as every muscle in his back moved with the gesture�. Then, as if that never happened, in the very next section (Sky Full of Stars), Draco feels embarrassed about showing Hermione his bare chest?! “I don’t need to take my shirt off to—� What?!?!
You put up with all of this thinking that Hermione, Draco, and the other characters will develop over time, but I’m sorry to say, they’re all stuck in their teenage phases. Hermione supposedly doesn’t know any of these people she’s been surrounded by all this time until this book comes along. Kingsley, Andromeda—they’ve all been around, but Hermione acts as though she’s only now discovering them because the plot demands it. She’s been seeing Pansy, she’s been intertwined with Daphne for years, but Draco? Oh no, she’s only “just meeting him� now. Sure, maybe the Malfoys were in France or whatever, but there’s a Draco who’s constantly a topic of conversation at the girls� table, and yet our Hermione doesn’t know him? Has never seen him?
This is the same girl who screams “I’m not getting married, mom, okay?!?�, thinks she’s doing politics by saying “What would you know about running a country? Hmph!�, kisses a boy once, runs away in embarrassment, and then denies the kiss ever happened—acting like it’s the gravest sin she’s ever committed. She can’t even tell her “closest friends� about it. She raises flowers like she’s playing with baby dolls in the sand, never once wondering, “Why can’t I seem to make relationships work?� She never thinks, analyzes, or acts like an adult. The protagonist’s mindset is permanently stuck, and the book tries to convince us that she’s so strong and capable. It’s laughable. Ridiculous. Completely juvenile.
Draco? Oh, he wears glasses and solves puzzles, so now we’re supposed to believe he’s an adult. Yet he can’t exchange a few words with his own child, and somehow Hermione’s magic wand of mediocrity teaches him how to communicate. And don’t get me started on how they have the nerve to preach about adulthood. This just makes the book even worse.
Overall: DO NOT read this book. Ever. I personally hate leaving a task unfinished, which is why I forced myself to complete it, but it’s an absolute disaster. And to make matters worse, there’s a group of people on TikTok marketing this as if it’s a brilliant book. Don’t fall for it. The intelligence of this author is questionable. Forget reading this book—just don’t bother.
Thank you.
September 18, 2024
I liked some aspects and starred several quotes, but this is not a romance centered fic, and it’s too long with too many philosophical discussion that were wordy. It’s not bad, just not my cup of tea, although I did enjoy some parts
January 22, 2025
It just isn't for me. I don't find the narrative voice compelling or interesting, but it is repetitive and dragging. There isn't a distinct change from narrative to dialogue either, it's the same winding voice.
Two stars for the amount of thought and detail that has gone into researching the disease and applying it to the magical world, and for attempting such complexity for every single character.
Two stars for the amount of thought and detail that has gone into researching the disease and applying it to the magical world, and for attempting such complexity for every single character.
September 17, 2024
4.5 ðŸŒ
I feel so emotional, it's been almost a whole month that I've been reading this monster of a fic, and it's finally come to an end. That epilogue made me shed a tear, and it was more happy than sad.
This fic is so different from my usual taste, the blood, sweat and tears put into this are evident and the characterisation and character development is where it truly shines.
Even though this had a much wider focus than the dramione I still loved it. It's not a 6-star but it has its own place on my favourites shelf. Honestly, this is probably better written than some of my 6 star dramione faves, but different things speak to different people.
I loved Hermione in this, her character and development was unique and distinct but also soooo well done. Scorpius was the star of the whole thing, his relationships with Hermione, Draco and Narcissa and him coming out of his shell were my favourite parts, even more than the dramione. YES I KNOW that's crazy coming from me. Another thing I grew to actually adore was Hermione and Narcissa's relationship, it was a tough journey but it got there and to the point where I was genuinely sad at Another hyperspecific thing I actually LOVED in this fic, which surprisingly is not seen in other fics is the huge focus on female friendships, and Hermione, finding so much comfort in her female friends and talking about "girly" things and deep topics and growing and caring about each other as their lives change. Since Hermione is so stereotypically penned down as the introverted bookworm, I tend to see her either being very much on her own in fics or just Ginny and sometimes even Ginny isn't a great friend. So seeing the book hermione who loves interacting with her gryffindor girlies shine here with such a huge cast of found family, imperfect, friends was soo utterly heartwarming to read about, and a real standout for me.
I just realised I've barely talked about the actual romance ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ But, let me just preface by saying it's definitely not what I mean when I say I love dramione romance, the passion and toxicity and angst. But that's not to say it wasn't good in it's own right. It was just more realistic, quieter, mature and more adult (ofc I mean they're in their 30s) than the dramione I prefer. So that's why I think I was more taken by other aspects of the story even though I still enjoyed their dynamic.
I can't explain it until you read it but it just had a different vibe to most other dramiones I've read. I totally get why it's so polarising and some people love it to death and others hate it. I do love it, it's a favourite but not top top tier (solely out of personal preference, not quality).
And now, regarding the ending, my hope is that Hermione
I feel so emotional, it's been almost a whole month that I've been reading this monster of a fic, and it's finally come to an end. That epilogue made me shed a tear, and it was more happy than sad.
This fic is so different from my usual taste, the blood, sweat and tears put into this are evident and the characterisation and character development is where it truly shines.
Even though this had a much wider focus than the dramione I still loved it. It's not a 6-star but it has its own place on my favourites shelf. Honestly, this is probably better written than some of my 6 star dramione faves, but different things speak to different people.
I loved Hermione in this, her character and development was unique and distinct but also soooo well done. Scorpius was the star of the whole thing, his relationships with Hermione, Draco and Narcissa and him coming out of his shell were my favourite parts, even more than the dramione. YES I KNOW that's crazy coming from me. Another thing I grew to actually adore was Hermione and Narcissa's relationship, it was a tough journey but it got there and to the point where I was genuinely sad at Another hyperspecific thing I actually LOVED in this fic, which surprisingly is not seen in other fics is the huge focus on female friendships, and Hermione, finding so much comfort in her female friends and talking about "girly" things and deep topics and growing and caring about each other as their lives change. Since Hermione is so stereotypically penned down as the introverted bookworm, I tend to see her either being very much on her own in fics or just Ginny and sometimes even Ginny isn't a great friend. So seeing the book hermione who loves interacting with her gryffindor girlies shine here with such a huge cast of found family, imperfect, friends was soo utterly heartwarming to read about, and a real standout for me.
I just realised I've barely talked about the actual romance ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ But, let me just preface by saying it's definitely not what I mean when I say I love dramione romance, the passion and toxicity and angst. But that's not to say it wasn't good in it's own right. It was just more realistic, quieter, mature and more adult (ofc I mean they're in their 30s) than the dramione I prefer. So that's why I think I was more taken by other aspects of the story even though I still enjoyed their dynamic.
I can't explain it until you read it but it just had a different vibe to most other dramiones I've read. I totally get why it's so polarising and some people love it to death and others hate it. I do love it, it's a favourite but not top top tier (solely out of personal preference, not quality).
And now, regarding the ending, my hope is that Hermione
November 18, 2024
This book felt like the literary equivalent of breadcrumbing.
After several weeks of very little payoff, I've became very frustrated with the lack of character development from both Hermione and Draco. Scorpious was well done. So not referring to him.
I gave it two stars for cottage core Hermione despite it having such a meandering and inconsistent plot. Some chapters were excellent, but then they were usually followed by several chapters where NOTHING happened. This fic could've done with some serious editing, as whole chapters could've been removed and it not changed the plot or characters at all.
I love a good slice of life, slow burn read, but this eventually just felt like an endless slog (This fic is incredibly long). I'm really sad since at first it seemed to have had so much potential.
DNFed at 70% after feeling like I hadn't been enjoying the book in a while and didn't want to keep climbing everest when my TBR is growing.
After several weeks of very little payoff, I've became very frustrated with the lack of character development from both Hermione and Draco. Scorpious was well done. So not referring to him.
I gave it two stars for cottage core Hermione despite it having such a meandering and inconsistent plot. Some chapters were excellent, but then they were usually followed by several chapters where NOTHING happened. This fic could've done with some serious editing, as whole chapters could've been removed and it not changed the plot or characters at all.
I love a good slice of life, slow burn read, but this eventually just felt like an endless slog (This fic is incredibly long). I'm really sad since at first it seemed to have had so much potential.
DNFed at 70% after feeling like I hadn't been enjoying the book in a while and didn't want to keep climbing everest when my TBR is growing.
February 22, 2025
I DID IT!!!!!!! I FINISHED THIS FIC!!!! Holy crap this was long. Was it necessary for this story to be equivalent to 5 traditional length novels? No. Not at all. The first 30% was fun. I like the world and relationships dynamics that were built. The middle felt repetitive with no progression of plot. And the end felt rushed and anticlimactic.
Obviously I’m obsessed with reading hermione and draco fall in love. Additionally, I’m obsessed w little Scorpius. But this story exhausted me. I would recommend reading another book at the same time as this, something fast paced. I think that would make the vibes of this fic more enjoyable and less desperate for a plot.
Obviously I’m obsessed with reading hermione and draco fall in love. Additionally, I’m obsessed w little Scorpius. But this story exhausted me. I would recommend reading another book at the same time as this, something fast paced. I think that would make the vibes of this fic more enjoyable and less desperate for a plot.
September 15, 2024
Feminists are going to hate this Fic Hahah
April 9, 2025
Story was really good but is was just soooo longgggg. Would have given 4 stars if it was shorter
January 29, 2025
If you had your heart broken by Manacled, this is the book for you. It will heal your soul and put you back together, if only you give it time.
Fair warning: the romance takes a while to develop, but fear not cause a different relationship fills that void spectacularly in the meantime. It's the sweetest, fluffiest, most heart-warming thing ever and it will make the wait so special, so romantic, and all the more worth it.
This one's not for those looking for a quick fun read, at first it scared me cause that's kind of what I was hoping for, but I persisted and got so much more out of it. This is for you if you're read to embark on a journey and take every step of it side by side with these characters who you'll grow to love and care for and hold in your heart. To laugh with them and grieve with them, to grow with them and learn with them, to understand them and appreciate them and experience everything they're going through. It's an emotional roller coaster but boy, the view sure is beautiful. You'll come to the end of this story feeling like you know these people, and caring so deeply about these characters that you might've read about in so many different shapes and forms, but still being in awe of this particular depiction.
I believe this is the closest—and maybe the most realistic—thing to canon I've ever read, you can tell the author did her homework and took her time to learn every aspect of these characters' personalities, behaviors, their quirks, fears and values, it almost felt like she knew them personally, like they were real people she was studying and writing about. The attention to detail is outstanding, there are so many different medical, cultural, historical, scientific and political references that must've taken so much time and fact-checking to perfect, and the way she describes baking, gardening, beekeeping and so many other hobbies in rich detail show you how much she cares about this story and how much dedication was put into it. I won't lie, sometimes it got a little boring and I tuned out for a little bit, but honestly I couldn't complain cause everything just felt right, somehow. It really is all about watching their daily lives, the good, the bad, the in between, the little things that give life meaning and the ones that become so big in such a subtle way that you can't remember what it was like before them, but that make every single milestone feel so meaningful and emotional.
Lastly, and a little bit spoilery, I have to sing the author's praises for the way she wrote about soft, sweet, sensitive Scorpius, about his father's quiet, tear inducing love for him, the relationship and the precious friendship between his parents, and the way H's arrival in his life in such a gentle, respectful way was the beginning of both his and his father's healing process and the beautiful aftermath. If I could, I'd preserve this story and the emotions it made me feel like a dragonfly in amber, but since I can't, I hope I managed to capture at least a fraction of it in this long-but-not-enough review.
I have to say, it did take me a while to get into the story, but once I discovered the audiobook on Spotify the whole thing took off and I found myself wanting to pick it up every chance I got, and even though It took me a month, I was in no rush to get to the end cause I was really enjoying the ride. This is one of the rare books where I purposefully wanted it to last longer, so of course I cried like a child throughout the entire epilogue cause it felt like I was saying goodbye to places and people I loved.
Fair warning: the romance takes a while to develop, but fear not cause a different relationship fills that void spectacularly in the meantime. It's the sweetest, fluffiest, most heart-warming thing ever and it will make the wait so special, so romantic, and all the more worth it.
This one's not for those looking for a quick fun read, at first it scared me cause that's kind of what I was hoping for, but I persisted and got so much more out of it. This is for you if you're read to embark on a journey and take every step of it side by side with these characters who you'll grow to love and care for and hold in your heart. To laugh with them and grieve with them, to grow with them and learn with them, to understand them and appreciate them and experience everything they're going through. It's an emotional roller coaster but boy, the view sure is beautiful. You'll come to the end of this story feeling like you know these people, and caring so deeply about these characters that you might've read about in so many different shapes and forms, but still being in awe of this particular depiction.
I believe this is the closest—and maybe the most realistic—thing to canon I've ever read, you can tell the author did her homework and took her time to learn every aspect of these characters' personalities, behaviors, their quirks, fears and values, it almost felt like she knew them personally, like they were real people she was studying and writing about. The attention to detail is outstanding, there are so many different medical, cultural, historical, scientific and political references that must've taken so much time and fact-checking to perfect, and the way she describes baking, gardening, beekeeping and so many other hobbies in rich detail show you how much she cares about this story and how much dedication was put into it. I won't lie, sometimes it got a little boring and I tuned out for a little bit, but honestly I couldn't complain cause everything just felt right, somehow. It really is all about watching their daily lives, the good, the bad, the in between, the little things that give life meaning and the ones that become so big in such a subtle way that you can't remember what it was like before them, but that make every single milestone feel so meaningful and emotional.
Lastly, and a little bit spoilery, I have to sing the author's praises for the way she wrote about soft, sweet, sensitive Scorpius, about his father's quiet, tear inducing love for him, the relationship and the precious friendship between his parents, and the way H's arrival in his life in such a gentle, respectful way was the beginning of both his and his father's healing process and the beautiful aftermath. If I could, I'd preserve this story and the emotions it made me feel like a dragonfly in amber, but since I can't, I hope I managed to capture at least a fraction of it in this long-but-not-enough review.
I have to say, it did take me a while to get into the story, but once I discovered the audiobook on Spotify the whole thing took off and I found myself wanting to pick it up every chance I got, and even though It took me a month, I was in no rush to get to the end cause I was really enjoying the ride. This is one of the rare books where I purposefully wanted it to last longer, so of course I cried like a child throughout the entire epilogue cause it felt like I was saying goodbye to places and people I loved.
January 29, 2025
I made it to the end of this gigantic fanfic and it was an amazing journey. Every little detail had a purpose and felt right. I cried more than once. The fact that the story was not only centered on Draco and Hermione but on Scorpius as well was beautiful.
April 12, 2025
This was wayyyyyyyy too long unfortunately. I found myself in the sunken cost fallacy, and felt like I needed to finish the last 4 hours of reading because I had already devoted 30!, but eventually gave myself grace and decided to call it (while still counting it as read since it’s the length of like 6 books).
The story line was overall ok - but there were way to many descriptive sentences that weren’t necessary, and the plot went in too many directions.
For my fellow fanfic lovers - if you’re someone who can keep a read on the back burner and only pick it up occasionally, this may be more your speed. For an unhinged woman like me, no way, I was abandoning all my responsibilities because I just.wanted.to.finish.it and move on.
The story line was overall ok - but there were way to many descriptive sentences that weren’t necessary, and the plot went in too many directions.
For my fellow fanfic lovers - if you’re someone who can keep a read on the back burner and only pick it up occasionally, this may be more your speed. For an unhinged woman like me, no way, I was abandoning all my responsibilities because I just.wanted.to.finish.it and move on.
December 8, 2024
3.5 stars
I had my ups and downs with this one. Needless to say it was way tooo long for my taste.
Some thoughts:
- It was a bit difficult to get into this story at the beginning. There was a lot of lengthy explanations and recaps of the events leading up to where we start this fic.
- But once I've gotten through that, I fairly enjoyed how the story started to unfold.
- And this excitement lasted up until 60% of the fic, and my enthusiasm drastically dropped when we've gotten to act III around 70%.
- I feel that for my taste it would have been a better fit if it was either Narcissa's illness or the ministry/death eater plotline.
- I appreciate the writer's intention to realistically show the timeline of such a romantic relationship, where Hermione and Draco don't fall for each other overnight.
- Overall, many things felt repetitive and dragged out. But it is true that this fic is a marathon and not a sprint.
- Scorpius is really cute.
- Loved the embedded art pieces!!!
All in all, kudos to the author, as this is an epic story nevertheless.
Ps. I added a new edition to this book because I really didn't like the AI art cover.
I had my ups and downs with this one. Needless to say it was way tooo long for my taste.
Some thoughts:
- It was a bit difficult to get into this story at the beginning. There was a lot of lengthy explanations and recaps of the events leading up to where we start this fic.
- But once I've gotten through that, I fairly enjoyed how the story started to unfold.
- And this excitement lasted up until 60% of the fic, and my enthusiasm drastically dropped when we've gotten to act III around 70%.
- I feel that for my taste it would have been a better fit if it was either Narcissa's illness or the ministry/death eater plotline.
- I appreciate the writer's intention to realistically show the timeline of such a romantic relationship, where Hermione and Draco don't fall for each other overnight.
- Overall, many things felt repetitive and dragged out. But it is true that this fic is a marathon and not a sprint.
- Scorpius is really cute.
- Loved the embedded art pieces!!!
All in all, kudos to the author, as this is an epic story nevertheless.
Ps. I added a new edition to this book because I really didn't like the AI art cover.
August 30, 2024
THIS IS A LONG SLOWISH BURN! It was very good but due to the fact that it's a day to day pace it feels like forever but it's an experience that l enjoyed none the less
Side note not that I think they will see this but to the person who took the time to get this fic in GR Thanks!
Side note not that I think they will see this but to the person who took the time to get this fic in GR Thanks!
December 13, 2024
DNF 69%
Stopped myself when I realized I was just reading therapy sessions over and over
It was kinda nice, but the slow burn felt a bit off.
Stopped myself when I realized I was just reading therapy sessions over and over
It was kinda nice, but the slow burn felt a bit off.
Read
September 4, 2024a slowburn masterpiece
December 1, 2024
Never thought I’d be so gripped by this one. It’s slower, methodical, and Scorpius has my whole heart.
January 25, 2025
So proud of myself for finally finishing this! I really enjoyed slowing down to read such a long book at the start of the year.
This book/fanfic was well written and explored sensitive themes. I loved seeing Draco and Hermione both go through stuff together and individually and the supporting cast of characters were so fun to have. I love how they were integrated into the story and was a big fan of all the friendships! There was a lot of character growth and I'm here for it.
This book/fanfic was well written and explored sensitive themes. I loved seeing Draco and Hermione both go through stuff together and individually and the supporting cast of characters were so fun to have. I love how they were integrated into the story and was a big fan of all the friendships! There was a lot of character growth and I'm here for it.
November 21, 2024
Slooooooowwwwwwww burn but worth the journey.
November 27, 2024
5 stars, second to manacled only, my only peeve was that the fridges in the wizarding world were never fully explained and it drove me nuts
January 27, 2025
I just need to put it out there that when my goodreads is dry looking i'm not actually *not reading* i'm just on A03. Dramoine forever
February 16, 2025
2.5 stars really, too fucking long
Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.