This was fantastic. I love Millicent, and it's so rare that you find a story that portrays her realistically and sympathetically.
Millicent's early romantic/sexual encounters were dead-on, honestly. Especially with Nott--at first he seemed like a really honestly decent person, before he tried to take advantage of her, and I was just as dismayed as Millicent was at his unwanted advances. You portrayed Millicent's insecurity and confusion very well--on the one hand she'd like a bit of romance, and on the other hand she doesn't like to feel used, or that she's not good enough for the boys she's involved with.
Good characterizations of the other Slytherin girls as well. Pansy is very catty and disagreeable without being reduced to merely a stereotype of the "mean girls" who torment other people in high school.
And Draco--yes. Not fanon!Draco at all, but not as bratty as we see him in canon--I can easily accept it, though, since we view Draco in the books only through Harry's eyes, and I'd imagine Draco puts on a different face when in the company of others. Instead of being a two-dimensional villain or a snarky sex god, which are the two main cliches fanfic!Draco often falls into, he's a normal teenage boy, slightly arrogant, but capable of friendship and respectful to the people he cares about. Snowman!Harry was a really cute touch--because honestly Draco's a bit juvenile like that sometimes, but it was funny and in-character and allowed for this sweet little moment between Draco and Millicent.
What I like about this is that it could quite easily be taken out of the HPverse and set in a modern non-magical high school, and still work just as well. The characters and situations are very real and believable. There was angst, but not too much angst, and there was cute, but not too much cute. Altogether a brilliant story.
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Date: 2005-06-25 02:34 am (UTC)Millicent's early romantic/sexual encounters were dead-on, honestly. Especially with Nott--at first he seemed like a really honestly decent person, before he tried to take advantage of her, and I was just as dismayed as Millicent was at his unwanted advances. You portrayed Millicent's insecurity and confusion very well--on the one hand she'd like a bit of romance, and on the other hand she doesn't like to feel used, or that she's not good enough for the boys she's involved with.
Good characterizations of the other Slytherin girls as well. Pansy is very catty and disagreeable without being reduced to merely a stereotype of the "mean girls" who torment other people in high school.
And Draco--yes. Not fanon!Draco at all, but not as bratty as we see him in canon--I can easily accept it, though, since we view Draco in the books only through Harry's eyes, and I'd imagine Draco puts on a different face when in the company of others. Instead of being a two-dimensional villain or a snarky sex god, which are the two main cliches fanfic!Draco often falls into, he's a normal teenage boy, slightly arrogant, but capable of friendship and respectful to the people he cares about. Snowman!Harry was a really cute touch--because honestly Draco's a bit juvenile like that sometimes, but it was funny and in-character and allowed for this sweet little moment between Draco and Millicent.
What I like about this is that it could quite easily be taken out of the HPverse and set in a modern non-magical high school, and still work just as well. The characters and situations are very real and believable. There was angst, but not too much angst, and there was cute, but not too much cute. Altogether a brilliant story.