Away Childish Things

This is just so lovely. I read it at 9am today. Cried. Spent all day at work thinking about it, came home, and read it again! I don't think I've ever read a fic that does a child's perspective so well. All of Harry's little flinches and his self-protective instincts and Draco's slowly dawning understanding makes my heart hurt so good. Thank you for posting... I can't wait to read more!

This was incredibly sweet! Especially the in between birthday idea, and the constellations! Excited to see where this story goes :)

OH NO THIS IS VERY VERY GOOD

Oh my god oh my god oh my god. I haven't even read this yet, I just wanted to flail a bit to express how excited I was to get the notification that you posted a Drarry fic! Eeeeeeeeeee! Off to read it now!

Wow that was beautiful. I sobbed 90% of the way thru. Thinking of how Harry was treated and just ow wanting so badly to be good and loved. Wow.

Oh this is of to a beautiful start! I look forward to more! <3

I am incredibly excited to get to read another Harry/Draco story from you!! This chapter had me immediately on board to go on this journey with you. My heart went out for poor 10-year-old Harry, thrown into a frightening situation and still bravely trooping on, completely unused to expecting kindness from any adult at every turn. I love everything about how the de-ageing has shaken up their usual dynamic—all the moments where Harry is privately star-struck by Draco, Draco reacting to how cute Harry is a child and, of course, his slow-dawning horror about Harry’s home life. Also!! Draco feeling pleased because baby Harry is so impressed by him and showing off a bit with his magic was so charming and in character.I am so curious about what Harry and Draco’s relationship is like in the present day as adults and why Draco decided not to go to get help from Hermione. I can't wait for the next update—thank you for sharing your writing with us. <3

Ugh. This is just so so lovely! And absolutely heartbreaking. I love everything about this so far. The hot chocolate and magic lessons, the in-between birthday, the stories about the constellations. I love Draco being patient and understanding as he starts to understand more about Harry and what he's been through. And, wow, are you able to write Harry's POV well or what!? Writing for kids is super tough, but you absolutely nailed it, even though almost everything Harry is thinking made me sob. Just gorgeous. So excited to see what come next!Edit: also, can I say how much I love the last two tags on this? :)

Oh god, my heart is melting! Harry, little bby, I just want to hug him. God, I can't wait for the updates to find out what happened to turn Harry into a kid again, and what happened in the time before, what kind of relationship he and Draco had and what both of their lives looked like. You write this so wonderfully and I love how utterly lost Draco seems to be, it squeezes my poor heart in the best ways. I hope they'll be alright.

I haven't even read the chapter yet (well only the first few paragraphs) and I'm commenting because I felt the urge to say this looks incredible and so different from anything I've ever read. Also I got so excited when I checked my e-mail when I woke up and I saw you've posted a new Drarry fanfic I just felt like saying you're one of my favorite authors and I'm looking forward reading this fic. You're incredible, thank you so much!!! (I'm sorry for the poor english skills)

This is wonderful :) And regular updates, too, I really look forward to them.

Oh! Oh wow! Beautiful story.

This is the first fic I’ve read of yours; I stumbled across it by accident. I’ve been drawn in completely by the first chapter. Addressing the Dursley’s and Harry’s childhood is one of my favourite things to read when it’s done well. It’s really hard to find but you’ve done it. I’m so excited to see how this is going and also to look through the rest of your fics !

I cried through this whole chapter, golly that made my heart ache. I'm not usually drawn to de-aging plots but Draco's reactions whenever Harry unintentionlly reveals the extent of his abuse is just heart wrenching. <3 It is so touching to see him take care of Harry like this and I'm curious to see what happens next!

So heart warming! I love it a lot!❤Please a quick update!!!

OMGs, what an opening (* grabs tissues *) ...

LETTERED!!!!!! I am swooning, I'll have you know, absolutely SWOONING over this. Just. The way you've written Harry's reactions, and how Draco doesn't know how to read them at first, like thinking Harry's only joking about the cupboard, and then slowly catches on that Harry's childhood was really not good. The way Harry justifies it all, like when he's thinking that Vernon shoved him around, but it never really hurt him, and the way he keeps trying to hide any vulnerabilities from Draco, like the fact he hasn't got any friends. I have kind of a soft spot for fics that explore the effects of Harry's abusive childhood, and this is giving me all the feels. And then the bit where he tries to guess Draco's age made me cackle out loud. (Fifty!! Forty-nine!!!) I also adore the way you've written Draco here, even through Harry's de-aged eyes he feels like he's come such a long way from the awful boy he was at Hogwarts, I'm having a lot of feels about that too. This was a wonderful way to start off my Friday, and I'm absolutely over the moon that there's 12 more parts (!!!!!) that you'll be posting (every four days!!!!!!!), I'm so excited to see where this goes <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I’m so in love with this story already. I’ve never seen Draco in this light, written quite this way. Can’t wait for more! Yay!

This is great!

Oh, I love this so much!

It's good for Draco to try. I bet this will make whatever current relationship they have better

I'm so excited. this is gonna be like the best 13 chapters I've ever read. I'm so fucking ready for this! thank u alot for sharing :D xx

Oh, all this understated sadness and then, "“You needn’t call me sir,” he said." I cracked up. What a perfect balance. I'm so excited about this story!

This is so good!!! I love child fics and deaging fics, and although I've only read one chapter of this one, it's already one of my favourites! Thanks so much for this! ❤

Like others in the comments, when I received the notification that you’d posted a new work, my heart skipped a beat. I thought of the moment when Harry walks in on Draco wearing glasses in Another Mask Behind You, and Rabbit healing Harry’s thigh (I think) in The Boy Who Only Lived Twice. Your works are embedded in my life and imagination in a very deep way. I’m so glad you’ve turned your magic toward a de-aging fic. It’s my first time reading one, and I am finding it very very sad and heartwarming in pairs. Blessings to your community for supporting this beautiful work. It is a gift to this fandom, as all your others have been.

This is absolutely beautifully written. My heart hurts for little Harry. Can’t wait to read the rest of it!

This is amazing!! I'm already so invested in the story, even though we're just one (glorious, 17k) chapter in! Your characterizations are so heartwrenchingly perfect. It was brilliant to de-age Harry to the month right before his eleventh birthday. The abuse that he suffers in earlier childhood often gets put aside in favor of later events, but honestly, it's so intrinsic to how he perceives the world, and who he eventually becomes. There were so many points in the story which reinforce that, making the events of canon even more inspired and heroic (Harry's answer about wanting to become a builder just broke my heart :'( ).I'm not sure if you have/work/are in the frequent company on young children, but there were so many "aha" moments in Harry's speech, narration, and outlook that are so age-appropriate, it's rare to see with this degree of authenticity and consistency. And I'm so curious as to what the present-day relationship was like for Harry and Draco; you leave little clues, just enough to get a slight idea(s) but to leave us intrigued and needy for more.The pacing is fabulous, and a master class in "show, don't tell." I thought I wouldn't have the time or energy to make the commitment to read a longer fanfic right now, but you've proved me happily wrong. I can't wait for the next update. Thank you so very much for this!! <333

<3<3<3

My heart hurts. I'm in awe of your skills as a writer -- so in awe that I forget what I'm reading has been written by someone. Somehow, you managed to write wholly from the perspective of a ten year old while managing to weave a story that feels way too grown-up for one. And as to that, I'm heartbroken over how you've rendered both Harry and Draco in this. Harry's ever-present tension and fear, and Draco's slow understanding of what his home life could potentially have been like, makes me want to scream and pull my own hair out by the roots. (Which yeah, okay, sounds a little dramatic but I don't care because this is fantastic and I love it so much.) And the little touches of humor you've added (from Harry's perspective and Draco's dialogue especially) made me think you're just...an unfair person, frankly, because I shouldn't be laughing about Harry's thoughts on Draco's first attempt at a Patronus right after being eviscerated by lines before, but I was. This is so effing splendid, four days seems like forever. ❤❤

Great first chapter! I love de-aging fics and was just saying the other day that I wanted to find a good one where Harry gets de-aged and then this happens! So thank you! And I can't wait for the next chapters, it made my Friday.You're really good at depicting both Harry as a child with his mannerisms, actions and thoughts, and Draco misreading the signs till it suddenly dawns on him what Harry's childhood might actually have been like. And I really enjoyed how you de-aged him to before he found out about magic and met Hagrid and Ron. Having Draco explain everything was brilliant.Thoroughly loved this chapter!

So sweet! I loved this so far and can't wait for the next chapter!

Oh my god, I got so excited getting this notification!Your writing as always is incredible, I was really waiting for something like this. Little abused Harry just wrenched my heart... and I may have had a bit of a cry.Can't wait to read the rest!

oh this was sweet and sad and wonderful all at once, thank you

oh my gosh I loooooooooove when you write Draco/Harry, you're my all-time favorite writer for that pairing. so glad it's already finished so we don't have to wait too long between updates!! I've honestly never read a de-aging fic before, so I'm interested to see where it goes. gahhhhh I love when Harry's confused because someone cares about him, it makes my heart ache so much. hurt/comfort fics are like crack to me. can't wait for more!

This is so, SO beautiful. Truly. The way you’ve captured a child’s voice — with so much RESPECT for it, too. You’re not talking down or cute-ifying anything... this is breathtakingly realistic and so beautiful and sad and hopeful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us and I am so excited to read more. <3

Oh you're writing in a fandom I follow, and of course it's utterly wonderful. I love how many layers there are here — the things that are unspoken but obvious (like Harry's abuse), and the things that are slower to unravel (like what Draco thinks of the adult Harry). I can't wait for the rest of it!

Aaahhh! This is really cute! I loved it!

Um excuse you, how dare you attack my personal feelings like this?????? Never mind that I was choking back tears from time to time, the way Draco is reacting to this is similarly fucking heartbreaking!! I can't get enough of it. What a wonderful way to reveal Harry's abuse!!I'd absolutely love to read more! ^^

you're literally making me cry. i need to know what happens next

Oh my god this is so cute! “Merlin,” Mister Malfoy murmured. “I thought my memory had exaggerated how obtuse you were. No wonder we never got on.”I'm dying XD

Thank you so much for writing this! I'm excited to see where this goes, I really look forward to the next update!

Ohhh my goodness, this is heartbreaking — and at turns funny and hopeful and wonderful. I cried a few times, and seeing your comment above about the parts that made you cry happening in later chapters makes me a bit worried about the rest of us too! But all the more excited to read more, at the same time!Your characterization of both Draco and baby Harry is so spot on throughout - from Draco feeling pleased and trying to show off a bit (he SO WOULD, and it is delightful), to the signs of Harry’s abuse and the ways in which Draco’s reactions unfold as he gets a better idea of what Harry went through. Many commenters have said this already, but it absolutely bears repeating that you write Harry as a child so well. Harry guessing Draco’s age had me cracking up between the tears, especially. I’m so glad you’ll be updating every 4 days (!!!), because I cannot wait for more of this. Thank you!

I wonder if Draco got a chance to talk to Granger and why Draco was with Harry do they work together and if so I wonder for how long. Great chapter!

WOW. I am inlove with this!!! I got all warm inside from the way you wrote about them by the fire... *hearteyes* Harry's child POV is perfect. Draco's softness and concern. PERFECTION.This is brilliant, you're brilliant. ♡

This is so stunning. I am loving Harry’s POV, especially the way he rationalises the Dursley’s abuse and makes excuses because it seems normal to him, even if it confuses him sometimes (like the part where Harry thought Draco was confusing and so he wanted to go back to his aunt and uncle because they make sense and he understood the rules there - but at the same time he really didn’t want to go back at all and that confused him. So good). And all the mentions of Draco being like something out of a fairytale! A too good and handsome prince. I love it. We get a real sense of Draco’s character and his changing understanding of kid!Harry - from being irritated, to placating harry and humouring him him because he’s a kid, to a deeper, painful understanding of what harry’s homelife is like, to this fond protectiveness. Loved the touch about Draco struggling to cast a patronus and then managing it a few minutes later after seeing Harry so happy. So cute.I can’t believe we’re going to get even more of this! I feel so blessed. Thank you for your hard work. i wonder if we’re going to see other characters. Will Harry get to meet his grown up best friends? (And ouch, he’ll be surprised by the fact that he has friends : ( ) Will Draco and Harry reach a deeper understanding? Regardless of what happens, Im excited to read more! Your writing is wonderful. This was skilfully written. Thanks for sharing x

This is so perfect, i think you made harry really sound like a child, i love him very very much and it hurt my little heart when he spoke/not spoke about him abusive family. Also, i laughed so much with his comments on things, when he noticed the eyebrows on the owl i died (idek why that souded so right to me but yeah). Love the way you write and love all your characters, can't wait for the next chapters! <3

Oh my gosh I love this! Especially the part where Harry hopes a novice is someone who loves children.This was so sweet and touching and beautiful!!

Oh my god this was so beautiful!! The 10-year-old Harry has been portrayed in such a defined way. It was a pleasure reading this chapter. Thank you so much for sharing :D

[I am just totally blown away by this story and I can't put my thoughts into words, so I cheated on the comment and used YOUR words with my incoherent thoughts attached. Thank you for writing and sharing with us! Subscribing now so I can keep up with the updates.]He was tall and slender, like a straw, [ - I will never recover from this description of Draco. All throughout this chapter, Harry's voice/POV is so distinct and clear! You've thought of EVERY detail to make this so real.]and still striking enough to be an actor. Or a magician. Harry guessed he shouldn’t be surprised the man could summon owls. [ - Seriously, I just LOVE Harry's descriptions of Draco.]Harry didn’t really think about grown-ups having mums, but of course they did. He supposed Mister Malfoy’s mum must be very beautiful. [ - Just so child-like and precious and clever!!]In those cases, Harry had always assumed Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia had told them what a liar he was, but for the first time it occurred to Harry that maybe he just looked like a liar. [ - oh my god, I'm getting emotional here...]Mister Malfoy laughed some more, and it was such a nice sound, nicer than anything Harry had ever heard before. Way better than Take That. [ - this is such a sweet moment, I can't handle it!]Everything looked nice when Mister Malfoy was concerned, Harry supposed. [ - Draco is making Harry happy and my little heart can't take it.]Going back over to the cabinet, he pulled out some chicken—which seemed disgusting, keeping chicken in a cabinet. But Mister Malfoy was magic, so maybe the cabinet was magically cold. Then from another cabinet he took out some vegetables, and Harry tried to rally, pretending vegetables weren’t the worst ever. [ - Honestly I was waiting for this moment as soon as they entered the kitchen and saw no fridge, and it was 10000% better than I could've imagined.]“Would you like to have a lie down?”That was exactly what Harry wanted to do, and so he said immediately, “I’m not tired.” [ - Really though, how are you capturing ten-year-old Harry's voice so perfectly? What is this sorcery?]Harry nodded to show he knew what the word “novice” meant, even though he didn’t. He hoped it meant someone who loved children. [ - I actually put my hand to my chest and said “aw! aw!!!”]They changed the floor green, and the ceiling blue, the bookcases purple with yellow polka dots. Draco made his own shirt yellow with orange stripes, then his hands blue, his hair pink. Harry smiled, and Draco looked so, so pleased. [ - This story is already so full of beautiful childhood moments and I'm just so happy! This whole scene gets more and more gorgeous with each passing sentence!]It looked more like a stick-figure dog than a bear, but Harry guessed maybe Draco wasn’t a good artist. [ - Hilarious and perfectly in-character!]

What an awesome beginning. Please, continue. It's a perfect read.