Better Than Revenge by Celandine

[Reviews - 8]

1. At the Boar and Apple by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (2335 words)
The title comes from a quotation by the third-century author Diogenes Laërtius: "Forgiveness is better than revenge." The first chapter of this story originated as a response to the August 2005 challenge at The Hex Files, which called for a story that ended with a particular line. It seemed that there was more to be said, however, and so I have continued it from there.

This story is now being translated into French and posted here.

2. In Harry's Room by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (2835 words)
After a month of hiding, Draco is relieved when Harry decides to help him.

3. St. Ceneu's Church by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (2587 words)
Harry and Draco visit the graveyard where James and Lily Potter are buried.

4. On the Green by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3519 words)
Draco uses the Protean Charm on Harry's DA Galleon to summon Hermione and Ron for help and advice.

5. Leaving Godric's Hollow by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3198 words)
Hermione has Harry and Draco come to stay at her parents' for a night, and Harry thinks that moving around to various Muggle hostels is a brilliant plan.

6. At the Grangers' by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3358 words)
Draco is surprised by the kindness shown him by Hermione's Muggle parents.

7. Bishops Foxley by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3535 words)
After spending most of the day practicing hexes, they go to Bristol for the night and have a couple of pints in a club; Harry is taken aback when Draco kisses him.

8. In Bristol by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3789 words)
Draco learns to conjure his Patronus, and tells Harry a little bit of his feelings.

9. Skirfare Bridge Barn by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3375 words)
In Yorkshire, Harry talks with Draco about family expectations, liking boys, and whether Voldemort can find Draco through the Dark Mark.

10. At the Barn by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3939 words)
Draco tries a little bit of seduction, but his attempts are frustrated.

11. To Bath by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3878 words)
They meet up with Ron and Hermione in Bath and discuss the Dark Mark and whether Snape would have lied about its use as a homing device for Voldemort.

12. At St. Mary's Churchyard by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3920 words)
Draco is forced to go with Ron to get chocolate when Harry flips out, and finds that Ron isn't quite so bad as he always thought, though he is jealous that it is Hermione who gets to talk to Harry and settle him down.

13. The Bath Hostel by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4609 words)
Talking to Hermione is helpful, though Harry is disconcerted to learn that she has figured out he and Draco have been fooling around sexually. Along with Ron, the four stay in a hostel together, where Draco makes a very surprising suggestion.

14. In a Welsh Cave by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4734 words)
The two boys talk about house-elves and begin working on possible ways to alter the Dark Mark on Draco's arm.

15. Back to the Cave by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (5194 words)
When the hostel in Bangor proves to be full, the two boys choose to sleep in the cave, where Draco tells Harry that he's always fancied blokes.

16. In the Cave, Still by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (3898 words)
Draco and Harry zip their sleeping bags together to keep warm; some serious fooling around occurs.

17. Inside the Sleeping Bag by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4134 words)
In between bouts of kissing and more, both Draco and Harry open up a little about how it feels to be who they are.

18. To the Granite City by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4798 words)
Harry summons Kreacher to bring Draco's trunk from Hogwarts, and asks Dobby to keep a watch on Kreacher. Draco tries a spell that they hope might serve to alter the Mark.

19. At the University of Aberdeen by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (5033 words)
While they discuss Horcruxes, Draco suggests an identity for the mysterious R.A.B. The boys also talk about Dark Magic in general, and the ramifications of an Unbreakable Vow.

20. In Little Hangleton by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4255 words)
Harry sends a note to Hermione and gets one back. They search the graveyard in Little Hangleton and the ground floor of the old Riddle house.

21. At the Burrow by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4819 words)
Despite Draco's reluctance, they go to the Weasleys' house where they play a pickup Quidditch game with Ron and Ginny while Hermione does some research. Later Harry has a long talk with Ginny.

22. With the Weasleys by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4870 words)
Draco finds himself jealous of Ginny and can't convince Harry to indulge in even a discreet kiss while they are at the Burrow. They go back to Little Hangleton and continue searching the Riddle house for Horcruxes.

23. In Saffron Walden by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4689 words)
Another night in a hostel, a few pints, and Harry tells Draco about Grimmauld Place before they do a bit of messing around.

24. Back to the Burrow by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (5266 words)
Draco finds Harry's ambivalence about their interactions frustrating. He has a talk alone with Hermione, and later has a clever idea to get some of what he wants.

25. To the Black House by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4815 words)
Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ron go to Grimmauld Place with Lupin, Tonks, and McGonagall. Draco attempts to detach the portrait of Mrs. Black from the wall, and Hermione makes a first attempt at altering the Mark.

26. At Twelve Grimmauld Place by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4641 words)
Draco finds a Horcrux and has a conversation with Mrs. Black's portrait. He is relieved when Harry returns as promised.

27. Downstairs, Upstairs by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (5339 words)
Despite pressure from Ron to spend his birthday night at the Burrow, Harry returns to Grimmauld Place where Draco has a birthday present for him. This chapter contains explicit sex, including rimming.

28. In Harry's House by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4617 words)
Draco wishes Harry could make up his mind, but something is better than nothing. He suggests that Harry get Dobby to take care of the house, and they look over books of potions recipes to find ideas for destroying the Horcrux. This chapter contains explicit sex, including rimming.

29. Diagon Alley by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (5164 words)
Harry enjoys the sexual pleasure he finds with Draco, but he's not sure if that's enough. Dobby arrives, and Harry goes to Diagon Alley to purchase potions ingredients.

30. The Library by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4285 words)
While Harry is away, Draco talks to Mrs. Black's portrait again. They play a game of forfeits in the evening, and Harry extracts a promise from Draco. This chapter contains explicit sex.

31. Upstairs in Grimmauld Place by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4621 words)
Harry tries to explain his feelings about Ginny to Draco. When he has a nightmare, Draco comforts him.

32. The Burrow, Again by Celandine [Reviews - 1] (5017 words)
Draco is less than enthusiastic about letting Hermione try to remove the Dark Mark from his arm.

33. In the Garden by Celandine [Reviews - 1] (4841 words)
Harry's promise to help Draco while Hermione tries to remove the Mark produces some not-entirely-discreet results.

34. The Bedroom by Celandine [Reviews - 1] (5458 words)
With the Dark Mark gone at last, Draco has a chance to do something he has wanted for years. Explicit sex.

35. Back Home by Celandine [Reviews - 3] (4819 words)
Having finally admitted something to himself, Harry says it to Draco, too. Explicit sex.

36. The Back Garden at Grimmauld Place by Celandine [Reviews - 2] (5154 words)
Work on the potions progresses, and Harry suggests they should practice some defensive magic as well. Sexual situations.

37. Behind a Rose Bush by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4631 words)
The boys experiment with their Patronuses and play Gobstones for forfeits once again.

38. The Cellar by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (5683 words)
Draco tries to remember the exact words of his Unbreakable Vow, and they are finally ready to test a couple more of their potions on the Horcrux.

39. In the Bedroom by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (4301 words)
When their test of a Horcrux-dissolving potion goes awry, Draco has to call on Hermione for help, and Harry has a significant talk with his friends.

40. At Last, in the Cellar by Celandine [Reviews - 0] (2166 words)
Hermione and Draco talk while Harry is unconscious, and Draco and Harry realize that they need each other.