A must read ... if you can handle it.

[sesheta66]

Well, folks, if you like angst, and if you can handle major character death, this is the fic for you. But at the heart of this story is finding love when you least expect it.

Like I said, if you can handle it, you must go read A Certain Kind of Memory by jamie2109. It will rip your heart out.

For those that prefer to read these things in one go, she has now posted the prologue (where the link above takes you) and all the chapters. The only thing remaining is the epilogue, which she has said she'll post later this week.

Title: A Certain Kind of Memory
Author: jamie2109
Rating: NC-17 overall.
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Word Count: Total ~ 92,000 words
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. I’m really just creating a ‘what if…?’ scenario and playing with them.
Summary: What would you do if you were given less than a year to live?
Warnings: Major Character Death.
Author’s Notes: The story is set some seven years after the end of the war. EWE, though, there is no DH epilogue in this story.

You will not see the character death in this story. It takes place outside the text, between chapter 15 and the Epilogue. If that makes it any easier to read, then please do so and be my guest. My hope was to make this quite an uplifting story of finding love where you least expect it and learning to appreciate the wonderful special moments we sometimes take for granted.

Comments

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

oh you... *squishes* thank you! You've made me blush now haha.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, honey. You know how much I love this fic, and I do look forward to the epilogue.

I sobbed like mad today, you know. And I know that I will think back on this story often. The thing is, even though it was heart-wrenching, the things I think back on are all the heartwarming and uplifting moments. That nearly perfect year that we all wish we could have. ♥

And to think it all started with a NaNo challenge? Oooh! I'm looking forward to what you come up with this year. *nods*

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

Well, that's good that it's the uplifting things that you'll remember. I think that's what Harry was trying to do by not telling anyone - their memories will be of the good times.

And I'm thinking I'll try an original slash fic this year for NaNo, if I can think of a plot. Eeeep....I will actually be looking for a job by then and graduating and all that stuff...omg I will have to grow up!!!! *hides*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know that's what you had wanted to project in this story, so you should know that you succeeded. Even while you ripped out my heart.

Ooh ... kinda the opposite of me last year, when I quit my job and tried very hard to avoid grown-up stuff. :D I'm still working on that.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*wibble* I cried a little just reading this post. No wai. I'm gonna go and read some fluff. *is still traumatized by Beautiful World by Cinnamon*

It does sound like a wonderful story but ...

(I was hoping that the character death bit was a ruse! *CRIES*)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

It's not a ruse. Yesterday, before I ended up reading it (I had to defer it by a day, because I was writing a happy-ending fic, and knew I wouldn't be able to after reading that), my eyes started to well up and my heart started to race, and my chest tightened, just seeing the post and knowing what was coming. *nods*

After I started to read, I bawled. And bawled all the way through. Then afterwards, I continued to cry and had to read some fluff to make myself feel better (I recommend the humorous EWE fic for the Chariot prompt). My eyes are still puffy this morning.

Having said that, the story was so incredibly good, and I know I'll remember the happy parts (them falling in love) for a long time to come.

*wibbles*

[winnett.livejournal.com]

That is huge! I want to read it, Because I love ANGST, but it is HUGE! *wriggles* I just need a month off of everything but reading. :)

Thanks for the rec... I will get to it eventually.

[facecat.livejournal.com]

I keep looking at this story heading & that's as far as I make it. It has received recs by others & I would like to get in on the good but - my heart, I don't think, can handle it right now. But thanx for the heads up - maybe some day... ;)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

It was a tough decision for me. I probably wouldn't have read it if it weren't hers. I didn't know it would be a character death fic as the two of us were encouraging each other during the NaNo month last year (when she wrote it). I had already said how I would read it, and then felt compelled to. BUT I did tell her I might not be able to, because ... well ... Harry dies.

Once I started, however, I was hooked. So every Monday I read a chapter and wept for him. And I wept for Draco being the one who remained. And I'm starting to cry again now, typing this, so I'm going to stop.

It is truly awesome, but yeah ... completely, totally ripped my heart out. *weeps*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

If you can take the pain of Harry dying, you really should read it. It's such a treat, and is something that will remain with me for a long time.

You know, it sounds so huge. But she posted weekly one-chapter installments, and it was great. So you could do that. But, admittedly, it dragged out the pain, so I had a weekly cry. There were a couple I think that didn't make me cry, but most did. Just none as much as the last one. And the first one (though I read the first three or four chapters in one go).

[facecat.livejournal.com]

the one who remained
That's what kills me right there. End of life fics or when they end up together somehow after one or both has died I can handle but when one dies & one is left behind - very tough. I will have to give it more thought. I get into moods where the more angst the better (I blame aoifene for this) so I'll wait for one of those to hit. Thanx again.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

I'm getting my fill 'o angst via hd_worldcup.

Yeah ... wait for the mood to strike. It'll be so much better then.

[winnett.livejournal.com]

I love keeping up with posted stories. So much fun! I didn't get on this band wagon, though, which sucks. I definitely like a good death story. Thanks again for posting about it.

I love a story that builds emotion in me.

[scarlet-malfoy.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reccing this.... I enjoyed it so much. *cries* I'm a little astonished that I finished this in less than three days, in the middle of finals week. After I would finish a paper, coming home from the lab to read this would be my treat. My treat of ANGST. I was less hurt by this fic than Beautiful World, but only because I knew what was coming this time... though that didn't make it any less haunting and truly heartbreaking. I just love their little clique of friends... all of Harry's perfect days with them were so wonderful. Me being the angst whore that I am, I would have liked to have read the death scene... but that's just because I'm slightly masochistic when it comes to fic, haha. Thanks again! ♥ =)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. 'Twas an awesome read, and I had to share.

Glad you enjoyed it.