The Price of Valour by leemarchais & Romany Walker

[capitu]

Title: The Price of Valour
Author: leemarchais & Romany Walker
Rating: NC 17
Word Count: 400,000 Approx.
Summary: What happens when someone you hate needs you more than anything else? When it's life or death, either battle to the end, or die trying.


This fic just got back on line after the author had taken off, which is all kinds of awesome because it's really incredible. Harry is afflicted by a mysterious disease that keeps weakening him to the point he can't move, Draco becomes his Healer and full-time carer. And it couldn't have happened in a worst moment in Harry's life; he just found out Ginny has been cheating on him for months just a few weeks before their weeding, and the Weasleys side with her (there is some Weasley bashing on his fic).

One of the things that make this story so beautiful is the slow development of the characters. Harry's gradual acceptance of his condition and everything he goes through, his feelings and thoughts, there are scenes that will bring tears to your eyes, but many that will make you smile, the way he starts seeing Draco beyond what Draco shows to the world and Harry's own awareness of himself changes. And there's Draco, who is very stoic at first, but his perception of Harry changes as he takes care of him, he comes to admire Harry's strength and vulnerability and becomes extremely protective of Harry, making him the center of his own universe.

Narcissa eventually becomes a huge support for both of them, and she's lovely written, too.

It's such a beautiful, slow paced story, with a lot of character development and intense feelings. You're lucky it's back on line, don't miss the chance to read it.

This story is mostly bottom Harry, though they switch a couple of times.

I know you can get the PDF from AO3, but the author has a beautiful version of it that includes art. Get it here: The Price of Valour PDF.

Comments

[reijamira]

Gods, this fic is so long. I still haven't got the time to finish that 572K snarry fic, and here you are recommending another "monster" of a fic. And with a hurt!Harry. I can already feel the pull. :D This goes into my ever growing Must Read folder. Thanks for the rec.

[capitu]

Haha. I knew you'd feel the pull of this fic hard. The hurt Harry as the caring/nursing is irresistible!

[demarafis]

Please excuse me for butting in - which is the 572k Snarry you were talking about? I'm thinking of getting back into fandom again. *g*

[reijamira]

Oh, you're welcome. :) I was speaking of Philo's Fate Is A Four Letter Word. It's actually a threesome Snarry with Kingsley being the third party. But --- don't run away. It really works great here. I still have to read the last 25 chapters. Sadly, real life is keeping me so occupied I don't have much time for fandom lately. :(

Hope you like it. It's still a very thrilling and great plotty fic.

[demarafis]

Thanks for the rec! Real life is what pulled me away from fandom, haha. My classrooms block my phone's signal somehow and I can't play games in class, it's too obvious. Hence my asking about long fics and maybe getting back into fandom ;)

I actually thought of Philo's The Apple Tree instead of FATE because I thought it was the longer of the two. Have you read the Civil War series by sushi? It's another long Snarry fic on my TBR list.

[reijamira]

You're welcome!

I've heard about the Civil War series, but I've never read it. People say it's supposed to be great, though. I think I have it somewhere in my Must Read folder.

[reijamira]

This has reached the almost the top of my reading list. Before I can start reading I have to ask: Does it have a happy ending?

[capitu]

It does have a happy ending. But you have to be patient with this story. They don't get together for quite a while, a lot from the beginning is about Harry coping with his illness, and there's plenty of character development, but it has beautiful scenes that touch your heart as well.

[reijamira]

Thank you! No matter how long it takes to get there, as long as it has a happy ending I am a happy reader. :)