Happy Fourth of July, Americans! Unfortunately, there is an extraordinary shortage of Drarry fanfiction based on this holiday. It's almost like they're from the UK or something. Weird, huh?
So in lieu of that.... Fake dating!

I assembled about half of this list while watching Ponyo. It was not time efficient.

NaNo word count for today: 1972

Under 10k

General

Title: Purple, Peach and Vibrant Green

⚯͛ By: QueenofThyme
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13462836
Rating: Clean (the only thing here not G-rated is a little swearing. And a little innuendo. Perhaps a touch of canoodling. Look, the author tagged it as G, not me, I'm an innocent bystander here).
Author Summary: Draco Malfoy has a waiter pretend to be his date to impress an ex. Of course, it helps when that waiter is exceedingly attractive and happens to be Harry Potter.

Tag List: Muggle AU, Past Draco/Blaise, 3k

Commentary: Add QueenofThyme to your growing list of authors you should read everything by. This fic is an exceptionally good one-shot set in the Muggle world. Harry and Draco are strangers, but Blaise is walking their way and "quick pretend to be my date!" Except Draco doesn't even have to ask. He and Harry are just that in tune. Pansy is also beautiful in this, as usual.

Discussion Zone for Purple, Peach and Vibrant Green

Mature

Title: Quick, Malfoy. Kiss Me.

⚯͛ By: digthewriter
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/5530514?view_adult=true
Rating: Mature
Author Summary: Harry thinks kissing Malfoy is a good way to keep all the girls away. Draco thinks kissing Potter will make people stop bothering him. Everybody wins!

Tag List: Hogwarts 8th year, EWE, win/win, fluff and angst, 10k

Commentary: I'm thinking I need a new symbol for authors to watch out for (you know, in a good way). Start looking for a ⚯͛ in front of names. Even if you discount all the non-Drarry Harry Potter fanfiction, the fanart, and works shorter than 1000 words, Digthewriter has posted one hundred and thirty-seven fanfics you should read. Yeah, you read that number right. Twenty-six of these are over 10k. All of them are worth a read (though I'll admit, I've not quite managed it myself). But let's talk about this one in particular. Firstly, it's exactly 10,000 words, so including it under this header was a debate, but I finally decided to. Secondly, it's one of my favourite fake dating tropes: you help me and I help you. Malfoy has been dealing with a lot of bullying since the war, Harry has been dealing with a lot of girls being way too interested in him, and so they decide to work together. They don't start as friends, either, by the way. It's enemies helping enemies here, and I love it.

Discussion Zone for Quick, Malfoy. Kiss Me.

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Title: Some Dance to Remember, Some Dance to Forget

⚯͛ By: loveglowsinthedark
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17484848
Rating: Mature
Author Summary: "I feel good," Harry murmurs, nodding. "I usually do, while you're around."
"Potter," whispers Draco, moving his feet just in time when Harry guides them in a slow circle.
"Don't, Draco, please."
"The press isn't even here, today."
Harry's arm tightens around Draco. "I know."
"Then why are you--?"
"Can't you ever just shut your fat mouth?" asks Harry exasperatedly. "It's one dance."
Draco's lips twitch. "Just the one?"
"For now," says Harry.
They spin again, perfectly timed, and in that moment, they're blissfully alone.
Over time, fake turns real.

Tag List: friends to lovers, roommates, non-linear narrative, Blaise/Luna, 5k

Commentary: Draco and Harry have a great dynamic in this one. They want to help each other and they don't really care what others think of them. And, of course, the feelings are always bubbling below the surface.

Discussion Zone for Some Dance to Remember, Some Dance to Forget

Explicit

Title: Bundled

⚯͛ By: gracerene
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17626064
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: Harry thought pretending to be Draco's lover during their newest case would be the strangest thing to happen to him this week.
He was wrong.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Auror Harry Potter, Auror Draco Malfoy, Auror Partners, Undercover Missions, Sharing a bed, pureblood culture, inspired by fanart, 4k

Commentary: Secluded romantic getaway, fake identities, and bed sharing (with a little bit of a twist, because there's a spell preventing them from touching each other). Enjoy

Discussion Zone for Bundled

10k-49k

Teens and Up

Title: Harry and Draco Break Hogwarts

By: dylanpidge
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14112672/chapters/32517231
Rating: Teens and Up
Author Summary: What would you do to alleviate your boredom? Harry and Draco are willing to form a pretend romantic relationship to cause utter chaos throughout the castle. McGonagall can only count down the days until graduation. And of course, this wouldn't be a real fake relationship story if the two didn't fall in love along the way.
* Russian translation available.

Tag List: Hogwarts 8th year, EWE, part of a (short) series, 19k

Commentary: this might qualify as a crackfic (though I'm not a huge fan of that term) but it's cute and funny. Poor McGonagall, having to put up with our boys.

Discussion Zone for Harry and Draco Break Hogwarts

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Title: Love Adjacent

By: glamourtentia
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14272083
Rating: Teens and Up
Author Summary: Even as an eighth year, Potter's still as much of a buffoon as ever. Fortunately, Draco is brilliant and knows how to take advantage of the situation for the both of them. Between their secret arrangement and the familiar sense of competition that comes along with it, they each find a little bit more than they were looking for.

Tag List: Hogwarts 8th year, EWE, side Hermione Granger/Pansy Parkinson, side Ron Weasley/Blaise Zabini, 22k

Commentary: Ah, yes, my favorite method of dispelling Malfoy's bullies. "What's it to you?" Gallagher sneers. "What are you, his boyfriend?"
Draco almost laughs out loud at the very idea. Potter, his boyfriend. Hilarious.
"I am, actually, yeah," says Potter." Of course, get ready to enjoy a very aggravated Ron Weasley, Draco and Harry competing to see who's the better fake boyfriend, and Pansy's wonderful Howlers.

Discussion Zone for Love Adjacent

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Title: Keep Your Friends Close (But Your Enemies Closer)

By: WhenJoshIsJoseph
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12915576/chapters/29510013
Rating: Teens and Up
Author Summary: After some disturbing events in Muggle London, the Wizarding Community's most eligible bachelor Draco Malfoy is assigned a guardian - both for his 'safety' and 'that of the Wizarding Community'.
Fate just has to have Harry Potter assigned to him.
OR
The one where Draco Malfoy has switched playing fields after the war, and is a full-on Muggle aristocrat, much to Harry's surprise.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Draco in the Muggle world, Falling in love, split POV, Forced Bonding, Accidental Bonding, Forced Proximity, 13k

Commentary: Incomplete! I doubt there will be any updates as last was 2018. The summary actually does a good enough job of explaining the plot, methinks. A few more details in case: Godfather Severus Snape, exploration of pureblood society, Dray as a nickname (this is a blehh! for me, but I find it funny when it's sarcastic), and Draco in six-inch heels. It ends before they kiss, but feelings have started to show, and honestly yes it's worth a read even if it's never finished.

Discussion Zone for Keep Your Friends Close (But Your Enemies Closer)

Mature

Title: Bad Faith in Name, But Gracious in Nature

By: megyal
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/435738
Rating: Mature (I'd argue it's Teens and Up, at most)
Author Summary: Wizarding children have developed a life-threatening condition caused by an old curse. The cure is to be found in the Malfoy Library; surprisingly, Malfoy is willing to help, but only if Harry helps improve his standing in the Wizarding community.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, fluff, Wizarding world ailments, Auror Harry Potter, 13k

Commentary: Oh how I love the second trope featured here as well! Ailments that affect a lot of the Wizarding World and the cast having to cure them are so fun. Also, Teddy content always makes me happy, and he's featured a pretty fair amount in this (with Andromeda too, as she's the one raising him). It's one of the reasons Draco and Harry start to bond.

Discussion Zone for Bad Faith in Name, But Gracious in Nature

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Title: The Frisky Furnishings of Malfoy Manor

⚯͛ By: Writcraft
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13012515
Rating: Mature
Author Summary: The course of true love never did run smooth.
Or: Hermione has a crafty plan, Harry and Draco are fake boyfriends and wizarding traditions have a lot to answer for. Featuring awkward dates, mince pies, a saucy sofa and a line of sequined house-elf haute couture nobody asked for but got anyway.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Bisexual Harry Potter, sharing a bed, Malfoy Manor, Forced Proximity, sentient magic, courting, 19k

Commentary: This is an old favourite. It starts with Harry and Hermione working together for social justice which is a trope I like a WHOLE lot (albeit fairly specific and rare). They're trying to raise visibility for same-sex couples. Of course, how many ways are there to raise visibility for same-sex couples aside from... openly being in a same-sex relationship (and having the benefit of being as famous as Harry Potter, of course). And even better, this fic features traditional courting, which is another trope I just love! Pureblood/classic Wizarding world traditions are on full display. In return for agreeing to very visibly publicly court Harry, Draco asks for Harry's help magically renovating Malfoy Manor (enter: sentient magic). Harry's job is, of course, a magical renovation specialist. There's SO much banter and flirting and UST that you'll just absolutely melt. Have fun.

Discussion Zone for The Frisky Furnishings of Malfoy Manor

Explicit

Title: Never Feel the Burning Light

⚯͛ By: carpemermaid
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/7604692/chapters/17307832
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: When it falls to Draco to restore his family name to its former glory the road ahead of him is long, but with Harry Potter's help and a plan that is just this side of ridiculous he just might succeed at accomplishing his goals and getting what he wants. What neither of them plan on is falling in love along the way.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Party Games, Fake Marriage, Living Together, Sharing a Bed, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Denial, Mutual Pining, Jealousy, Hero Complex, Drunken Shenanigans, 48k

Commentary: (Recced in previous chapter too). This fic is locked, which means you need an AO3 account to read it. For those of you not in the know, it takes at least a few days to get an AO3 account, sometimes as much as two weeks. You have to submit your email and get an invitation, but it's worth it. Carpemermaid, the author, has a lot of good fics, but most of them are locked on private like this one. However, if you love the fake relationship trope as much as I do, go submit your email to read and come back when you're approved. In the meantime, you've got some other recs to tide you over. The summary and tags do a good enough job describing the bulk of the plot.

Discussion Zone for Never Feel the Burning Light

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Title: it is a strange thing to nourish what could kill you (in the hopes it does not kill you)

⚯͛ By: dicta_contrion
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20261158
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: The DMLE thought sending Harry and Draco on a few dates would blow their biggest case wide open. They may be right about that – and completely unaware of what it could mean.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, friends with benefits, case fic, Auror Harry Potter, Unspeakable Draco Malfoy, 18k

Commentary: This fic is great because they're having fun with it. They're acting like a couple to catch a killer who targets couples, and so they're giving each other pet names and ordering the most expensive things on the menus and just having a jolly ol' time (I'm not a huge fan of pet names in general, but I don't think they're bad here).
The plot isn't all daisies and sunshine, though. Harry and Draco bicker, they argue, and of course, in a murder case, anyone can be a suspect.... But the good parts of this fic are really the interactions between people. Everybody's present, from Blaise to Seamus to even Susan. I'll warn you that the ending might leave you feeling conflicted and unsatisfied, though, because it's fairly open. Also, the poem this fic is based on (just look up the title if you're curious) is one I like quite a bit.
Warnings: Potential dub-con. Telling you why would be a huge spoiler, but if you look at the author's notes at the end of the fic, they'll explain the situation. Vaguely, the characters just might not have all the information about each other they would need to make an informed choice to be together.

Discussion Zone for it is a strange thing to nourish what could kill you (in the hopes it does not kill you).

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Title: Twixt Naught and Never

⚯͛ By: emmagrant01
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/321033
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: A decade after the defeat of Voldemort, Draco Malfoy works in the Misuse of Potions department of the Ministry of Magic and is assigned to investigate a London pub suspected of being involved in illegal potions trade. To his surprise, the pub is owned by none other than Harry Potter.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, mystery, First time, drug use, club/bar setting, 20k

Commentary: Fake relationship (brief), Auror case, sexuality realization, and Percy Weasley, could you ask for more? This fic isn't about fake dating per se, but every moment of it that's included is perfection.

Discussion Zone for Twixt Naught and Never

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𐂂🥇 Title: A Convenient Impracticality

⚯͛ By: firethesound
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/5277644
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: Somehow Harry ends up agreeing to a fake relationship with his ex-nemesis-turned-friendly-acquaintance-with-benefits, except for some reason it involves an awful lot of actual dating and, sadly, not much sex. Confused? Harry is too, but when has anything with Draco Malfoy ever been as straightforward as it seems?

Tag List: Past relationship, Pining, Friends With Benefits, Obliviousness, Bad blind dates, Semi-Public Sex, Bickering and Banter, Sharing a Bed, Bars and Pubs, Drunken Shenanigans, many attempts at getting some cake, Hermione and Pansy teaming up, win/win, 38k

Commentary: this is one of my favourite fics. I'd read it a million times. It takes the top spot on this list easy. If you only read one fake dating fic, make it this one.
Basically, Harry and Draco broke things off a while back. They weren't an official couple or anything, just sleeping together, and they kept it a secret from their lovely friends (the reasoning becomes more obvious once you get to know Pansy and Hermione in this fic and fall in love with all their antics).
But then their friends set them up on a blind date (the Slytherins and Gryffindors have merged friend groups in this! Plus Luna, of course). So Harry and Draco agree to pretend to see each other so the women will stop setting them up with random strangers all the time. And to sell it, Draco makes Harry agree that they won't fool around during the two months, they'll only get to know each other. Because they've got to be realistic, you guys. Yeah, that's why /s.
Featuring: Harry and his friends living at Grimmauld Place, feelings that are clear to anyone with a brain (so, not Harry), intense attraction (that both parties opening acknowledge), considerable efforts to obtain cake (don't get between Ron and food), bed-sharing, and so. much. feeling.
My ESA could feel me getting too excited while typing this so she came and sat on me and meowed until I would chill out a little. Gotta love that.

Discussion Zone for A Convenient Impracticality

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𐂂 Title: dirtynumbangelboy

⚯͛ By: magpie_fngrl
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12800142/chapters/29215728
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: After Harry's unfortunate encounter with his ex, Draco Malfoy makes him a proposition. Draco wants his parents to stop matchmaking him and Harry wants to make his ex jealous. All they need to do is simply pretend they're in love. Problem is... Draco already is.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Drug use, Past Astoria/Draco, Past Harry/OMC, 39k

Commentary: I love this fic with my whole heart and soul. It's another one I spent ages looking for once after I couldn't recall the title. Surprising since the title is... unconventional.
Astoria's just broken off her beard Relationship with Draco, and despite having come out to his parents, Draco knows they'll begin trying to set him up with tonnes of pureblooded women. Enter Harry, who conveniently needs a date for a gala (and is still reeling over his recent breakup). Of course, they have trouble getting along at first, but they learn to make it work.
Draco's friendships here are phenomenal. Of course, Astoria is lovely, but Blaise is too (plus hilarious), and you'll love every second. Harry, too, is surrounded by good people, and you'll love his characterisation here. If you like fics where the characters are already aware of their sexualities so at least that's out of the way, then this one is perfect. If you like the trope where characters specifically discuss how to best fake date (kiss me right there for exactly twelve and a half seconds), then this fic is perfect.
Excerpt: 'Joaquin Villena's coaching the St Mungo's staff team,' he says as they walk down Diagon Alley. 'For your charity match.'
Harry groans. 'I'll have to break my leg. Will you break my leg?'
'It would be my pleasure,' Malfoy drawls. 'But first you have to give me a reason. I don't break legs just for fun, you know.'

Discussion Zone for dirtynumbangelboy.

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𐂂 Title: The One Where Draco Loses his Mind and Gains a Boyfriend

By: oldenuf2nb, ⚯͛ sassy_cissa

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23506078
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: "How is it Potter can manage to drive me crazy and yet make me want to help him? I have to have lost my mind to even consider this insanity."

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Potions Brewer Draco Malfoy, Auror Ron Weasley, 18k

Commentary: This fic was declared a snitch immediately upon completion, no debating necessary. Ron, Hermione, and Harry are all so funny together. They just have a perfect group dynamic, truly. Draco is his classic self here, always assuming people have horrible (and impressively convoluted) plans to embarrass him, and Harry is his classic self here (bad at speeches), so really it just goes together wonderfully. You won't regret a moment spent. Oh, and there's an auction scene, auctioning off a lunch with Harry at the Leaky. If you're into that (I am). And Draco is posing as Harry's date because they're at a banquet and Harry's ex-boyfriend is there. Most of the fic occurs over one night.

Discussion Zone for The One Where Draco Loses his Mind and Gains a Boyfriend

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𐂂 Title: The Gentlewizard Club

⚯͛ By: Sophie_French

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/2106744/chapters/4594389
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: Draco wants what Draco wants. And if he has to snuggle up to Harry to get it, well, surely, Draco can handle that. Problem is, not sure Harry can.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Smitten Harry, Auror Partners, Sharing a bed, first time, humor, implied/referenced homophobia, 28k

Commentary: Ohhhhh my god. Wow. This fic. I think I'm in love with this fic. I originally bookmarked it halfway through the first chapter because I was terrified I would somehow lose it. That's how much I was enjoying it.
First of all, it's hilarious. Draco is just so funny. (This fic is part of a two-fic series, by the way, and the second one is equally amazing). He really wants to be accepted to this gentleman's club (gentlewizard, if you will) and for that to happen, somebody already in the club has to agree to sponsor him. So he asks Harry (who didn't even know he was a member and doesn't want to be one), only to realize that sponsors must be family members/next of kin. So, of course, they have to date. Harry agrees because he's in love with Draco (even if he doesn't know it yet) and believes that he deserves to feel fully accepted by Wizarding society.
Now, Draco in this fic is different from other Dracos you've read. In fact, in their Auror partnership, Harry is the one who has to be serious enough to do all the paperwork. And they're good friends already, although they find each other exasperating. Draco spends hours each week reading out love letters Harry receives by owl to the whole office. You'll enjoy it, just trust me.

Discussion Zone for The Gentlewizard's Club

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Title: How To Make Harry Potter Fall In Love With You: A Guide By Ginny Weasley

By: Yesimawriter

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14066076/chapters/32404506
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: In which Harry and Ginny break up, and Ginny tries to get Harry back by any means possible. Or the one in which Ginny tries to seduce Draco and pretends to date him, and Harry gets jealous.

Tag List: Hogwarts 8th year, EWE, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, falling in love, friends to lovers, fluff, humor, 17k

Commentary: The fake dating here is Ginny and Draco. So, Ginny is trying to make Harry jealous (and he does get jealous... just not for her), and after that fails, she tries to give Draco "advice" on how to get with Harry that is designed to backfire. Only... it doesn't backfire. It goes very well indeed. I'll let you see. (Note: there is moderate Ginny bashing here in that, objectively, she's being a total ass. Still, love you, girl).

Discussion Zone for How To Make Harry Potter Fall In Love With You: A Guide By Ginny Weasley

Over 50k

Explicit

Title: Chocolate and Pastry

By: ⚯͛ agentmoppet, anemonen

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15689913/chapters/36457221
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: When Pansy bets Draco that there is no chance he and Harry could carry out a genuine romantic relationship, he and Harry form a plan. But as their fake relationship progresses, Draco sees a side of Harry he never expected. Harry is struggling with something, pushing it far down inside him where he doesn't have to acknowledge its existence. Draco starts to worry, and then he starts to care, and then... horribly... he starts to fall in love.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, UST, Mental health, poor decision-making skills, 50k

Commentary: Pansy, Hermione, and Ron laugh their asses off about an article in the Prophet, saying there's no way Harry and Draco could manage to date each other without someone ending up dead. Of course, our boys take that as a challenge, but rather than actually dating each other, they fake date. To convince Pansy they could have a real relationship. Yeah, good move, guys.
I love seeing the Slytherins and Gryffindors be friends in this. And I love any fake dating fic that goes as far as scripting arguments. It feels like they're at Hogwarts in this fic, but they aren't. Just good friends, showing up at each other's houses and having lunch together all the time. Anyway, it's a great fic.

Discussion Zone for Chocolate and Pastry

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Title: In the Shadow of Your Heart

⚯͛ By: lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill)
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12282198/chapters/27917463
Rating: Explicit.
Author Summary: And thus began the very strange circumstance of their fake dating in public and real fucking in absolute secret. It was, with no comparison, the weirdest relationship Draco had ever been in – which was to say, it wasn't one.

Tag List: Post-Hogwarts, EWE, christmas, Auror Harry Potter, fluff, friends with benefits, Auror training, clubbing, 51k

Commentary: Consider this an inversion of the last fic. And yet, I like it almost as much. Supportive Ron, a bit of a Ron and Draco friendship, our boys being too stubborn to admit their feelings, and sooooo much chemistry. Harry and Draco starting to have sex in private and formulating a fake relationship in public happen in very quick succession, so get ready for a fair amount of bashing your head against a wall why-don't-they-get-it?! There's also a little bit of Christmas spirit.

Discussion Zone for In the Shadow of Your Heart

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𐂂 Title: Naked

⚯͛ By: bixgirl1
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12478232/chapters/28402196
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: Harry and Draco are sent on an undercover assignment to catch a Dark wizard — which might not be so bad if it weren't at a Muggle nudist resort.
Now Draco has to deal with a very interested Harry, temptation he's long-since learned to ignore, and threats around every corner — including the one to his heart.

Tag List: Auror Partners, Getting Together, Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Magical Theory, Nudity(sooo much nudity), Banter, Flirting, Mystery, Semi-Public Sex, Humour, casefic, 57k

Commentary: You really don't need any more than what the summary tells you here. Except to know that the tension is amazing and that the plot itself is beyond memorable. The feelings are real right from the onset, and the smut is good too. Enough said.

Discussion Zone for Naked

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Title: A Drarry Smut Fic with Fake Dating

By: TheUnamazingTrashKing
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/9646451/chapters/21793289
Rating: Explicit
Author Summary: Draco mistakenly and unknowingly convinces his parents that he and Harry Potter are dating.

Tag List: hurt/comfort, Auror Harry Potter, Muggle curious Draco, mild sicknesses, 75k

Commentary: What it says on tin. Lucius and Narcissa are pretty great here, and Harry and Draco have an unbeatable dynamic in front of them. Feelings develop fast, too, so you won't have to wait long for what the title er... suggests.

Discussion Zone for A Drarry Smut Fic with Fake Dating