Plot Summary
The World Turned Upside Down
The story opens in the aftermath of Voldemort's triumph at Hogwarts. Harry Potter is dead, the Order is crushed, and the world Hermione Granger knew is gone. The survivors are rounded up, and Hermione is captured, separated from her friends, and marked as property. The new regime is brutal, and the conquered are forced to kneel or die. Hermione's world narrows to survival, as she is swept into a system of magical slavery, her fate to be decided by the victors. The old rules are gone; the new ones are written in blood and fear.
The Auction Block
Hermione and other captured women are held in the Ministry, branded with magical tattoos that bind them to their new owners. The Death Eaters organize an Auction, where the conquered are sold to the highest bidder. The process is dehumanizing and terrifying, with the girls' value determined by their blood status and perceived purity. Hermione is the star prize, her virginity and fame making her the most coveted Lot. The Auction is a spectacle of cruelty, and Hermione is sold to Draco Malfoy, who outbids the others for reasons she cannot fathom.
Chains and Choices
Hermione is taken to Malfoy Manor, where she is given her own suite and treated with a strange mixture of coldness and care. The Malfoys' motives are unclear, and Hermione is left to wonder if she is a trophy, a bargaining chip, or something else. She is not raped, but the threat is ever-present, and she is forced to navigate a world where her agency is stripped away. The magical tattoo binds her to the estate, and she is watched at all times. Yet, small acts of kindness from Draco and Narcissa hint at cracks in the Malfoy façade.
The Malfoy Bargain
Hermione discovers that Draco's purchase of her was not just about power or cruelty. He is haunted by the war, and his feelings for her are complicated. As the months pass, a fragile trust develops between them, built on shared secrets and mutual survival. Narcissa, too, becomes an unexpected ally, lending Hermione her wand and access to the library. Together, they begin to plot, researching the magic behind the tattoos and the boundaries that keep Hermione—and all the enslaved—trapped. The cost of this alliance is high, and the risks are deadly.
Survival in the Shadows
Hermione throws herself into research, determined to find a way to break the magical chains binding her and the others. She learns of the Scourers, historical magical slavers, and pieces together the dark magic behind the tattoos. The Malfoy library becomes her sanctuary and her prison. Meanwhile, the world outside is in chaos: the True Order, a resistance movement, is growing, and the Death Eaters' grip is slipping. Hermione's relationship with Draco deepens, blurring the lines between captor and captive, and she must decide how much to trust him.
The Cost of Kindness
As Hermione and Draco's bond grows, so does the danger. Their relationship is a secret rebellion, a refusal to let the world define them by blood or war. But kindness has a cost. Hermione is forced to confront the trauma of her captivity, the deaths of friends, and the guilt of surviving when so many did not. Draco, too, is changed by love, risking everything to protect her. Together, they make sacrifices—some small, some irrevocable—in the hope of a future neither is sure they deserve.
Secrets Behind Locked Doors
The Malfoys' secrets run deep. Hermione uncovers Lucius's hidden memories, revealing his attempts to play both sides and his ultimate plan to protect his family. The truth about the tattoos, the Auction, and the resistance comes to light. Allies are not always who they seem, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. The cost of freedom is steep, and Hermione must decide who to trust as the world outside the Manor begins to burn.
The Potion and the Plan
Hermione succeeds in reconstructing the antidote to the tattoo potion, with Draco's help. The antidote is tested, and it works—Hermione is free. They risk everything to get the antidote to the True Order, using Charlotte, a key operative among the enslaved, as their contact. The plan is fraught with peril, and the lines between love and survival blur as Hermione and Draco face the consequences of their choices. The hope of freedom for all the enslaved hangs in the balance.
The Price of Freedom
The True Order attacks Edinburgh Castle, aiming to free the enslaved. The battle is brutal, and Hermione witnesses the cost of rebellion firsthand. Friends die, and the world is remade in fire and blood. Hermione and Draco are separated in the chaos, and she is forced to make impossible choices to save herself and others. The aftermath is a reckoning: the old world is gone, and the new one is uncertain. The price of freedom is paid in lives and love.
The Night of Fire
Voldemort is killed, and the Great Order collapses. The True Order sweeps through Europe, liberating the enslaved and hunting down the guilty. Hermione is rescued, but the trauma of her captivity lingers. The world is in flux, and justice is swift and often brutal. Trials begin for the Death Eaters and their collaborators, and Hermione is caught between her desire for justice and her loyalty to those who saved her. The night of fire is both an ending and a beginning.
The Gilded Cage
Hermione is celebrated as a hero, but she is also scrutinized and doubted. The world wants her to be a symbol, but she is still healing. The lines between victim and survivor, traitor and hero, are blurred. She fights for the fair treatment of the enslaved, the right to testify, and the exoneration of those who helped her. The new government is flawed, and Hermione must navigate politics as treacherous as any battlefield. The gilded cage of fame is its own kind of prison.
The Breaking Point
The trials of the Death Eaters are swift and often unjust. Hermione fights for due process, even for those who wronged her. She testifies, advocates, and challenges the new order, risking her reputation and safety. The world is hungry for vengeance, and Hermione must decide what kind of justice she believes in. The breaking point comes when she must choose between her own happiness and the greater good.
The True Order Rises
The True Order takes power, but the scars of war remain. Hermione is offered a place in the new government, but she is disillusioned by the compromises and betrayals. She works to free the last of the enslaved, to heal the wounds of the past, and to build a future worth living in. The cost of victory is high, and the world is still full of ghosts. Hermione must find her place in a world she helped remake.
The Last Horcrux
Hermione and Draco uncover the existence of a final Horcrux, hidden in Romania. Together, they risk everything to destroy it, facing the last vestiges of Voldemort's magic and the darkness within themselves. The journey is perilous, and the cost is almost too much to bear. But in the end, they succeed, breaking the last chain binding the world to the past. The future is uncertain, but for the first time, it is possible.
The Trial of Truth
Draco is put on trial for his crimes, and Hermione fights to save him. The world is eager for a scapegoat, and the line between justice and revenge is thin. Hermione's testimony is a confession of love and a plea for mercy. The trial is a crucible, burning away the lies and leaving only the truth. In the end, Draco is sentenced to a short term in Azkaban, but he is alive, and the world is changed by the truth Hermione brings to light.
The Weight of Justice
The war is over, but the work of rebuilding has just begun. Hermione is offered a place in the new government, but she chooses a quieter path, working in a bookshop and helping to heal the wounds of the world. She fights for the forgotten, the enslaved, and the lost. The weight of justice is heavy, but she carries it with grace. The world is not perfect, but it is better, and Hermione finds peace in the work of mending what was broken.
The Heir of Malfoy Manor
Hermione inherits Malfoy Manor, a final gift from Lucius and a symbol of the new world. She uses her power to protect those she loves and to build a future where no one is chained. Draco returns, and together they begin again, not as captor and captive, but as equals. The story ends with hope: the world is still wounded, but love and justice endure.
Characters
Hermione Granger
Hermione is the protagonist, a survivor of war, slavery, and trauma. Her intelligence, resilience, and compassion drive the narrative. She is marked by loss and guilt, but refuses to be defined by her suffering. Her relationship with Draco is complex, evolving from suspicion to trust to love. She is both a symbol and a person, fighting for justice even when it costs her everything. Her journey is one of agency reclaimed, trauma survived, and hope restored.
Draco Malfoy
Draco is Hermione's captor, ally, and lover. He is shaped by guilt, fear, and the legacy of his family. His love for Hermione is both his salvation and his undoing. He risks everything to protect her, defying his family and the world. His journey is one of redemption, as he moves from complicity to resistance, from self-loathing to self-sacrifice. He is a study in the possibility of change, and the cost of kindness in a cruel world.
Narcissa Malfoy
Narcissa is a complex figure, torn between loyalty to her family and the demands of survival. She is a mother first, and her love for Draco drives her to acts of quiet rebellion. She aids Hermione, lending her wand and access to the library, and ultimately helps orchestrate the Malfoys' escape. Her grief and strength are palpable, and she is a reminder that resistance can take many forms.
Lucius Malfoy
Lucius is a master of playing both sides, always calculating, always planning. His love for his family is real, but it is twisted by ambition and fear. He is both a villain and a victim, and his final act—leaving the Manor to Hermione—redeems him in part. His death is a catalyst for the story's final act, and his legacy is both a burden and a gift.
Ginny Weasley
Ginny is Hermione's best friend and a key figure in the resistance. She endures unimaginable suffering, but never loses her fire. Her role in Voldemort's defeat is crucial, and her relationship with Hermione is a lifeline for both of them. She is a reminder of what was lost, and what can still be saved.
Ron Weasley
Ron is Hermione's oldest friend, and his journey is one of loss and survival. He is broken by the war, and his relationship with Hermione is forever changed by what they endure. He is a symbol of the cost of war, and the difficulty of moving on.
Blaise Zabini
Blaise is Draco's friend and a key ally in the resistance. He is charming and resourceful, but his loyalty to Draco and the others comes at a high price. His trial is a crucible, and his fate is a reminder that justice is often imperfect.
Pansy Parkinson
Pansy is a survivor of the Auction, and her journey is one of loss and resilience. She is both a victim and a fighter, and her relationship with Hermione is a study in unlikely friendship. Her testimony is crucial to Blaise's defense, and her survival is a victory in itself.
Charlotte Selwyn
Charlotte is a key figure in the resistance, organizing the network of enslaved women and passing information to the True Order. Her death is a devastating loss, but her legacy endures in the freedom she helped win.
Antonin Dolohov
Dolohov is one of the story's most terrifying villains, a Death Eater who embodies the cruelty of the new regime. His obsession with Hermione is a constant threat, and his death is a moment of catharsis and horror.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix is Voldemort's most loyal servant, a figure of terror and madness. Her relationship with Draco and Narcissa is fraught, and her death at Draco's hands is both a liberation and a tragedy.
Plot Devices
Magical Slavery and Tattoos
The magical tattoos are both a literal and symbolic device, representing the loss of agency and the dehumanization of the enslaved. Their removal is a central plot point, and the research into their origins and antidote is a metaphor for reclaiming power. The tattoos also serve as a means of control, and their destruction is a turning point in the story.
The Auction
The Auction is a spectacle of cruelty, reducing people to property. It is a crucible for the characters, forcing them to confront the reality of their world and the choices they must make to survive. The Auction is also a narrative device for exploring themes of agency, consent, and resistance.
The Library and Research
Hermione's research into the tattoos, the Scourers, and the Horcruxes is both a means of survival and a metaphor for reclaiming agency. The library is a sanctuary and a prison, and the act of learning is an act of rebellion. The research is also a plot device for bringing Hermione and Draco together, and for driving the story toward its resolution.
The Horcrux
The discovery and destruction of the final Horcrux is the climax of the story, representing the last vestige of Voldemort's power. It is a test of courage, love, and sacrifice, and its destruction is both a personal and political victory.
The Trials
The postwar trials are a crucible for the characters and the world. They are a means of reckoning with the past, but also a site of new injustices. The trials force Hermione to confront the limits of justice, the dangers of vengeance, and the possibility of forgiveness. They are also a narrative device for exploring the complexities of survival, complicity, and redemption.
Occlumency and Memory
Hermione's Occlumency is both a shield and a prison, allowing her to survive trauma but also forcing her to confront it. Memory is a recurring motif, and the act of remembering and forgetting is central to the story's exploration of healing and justice.
Analysis
The Auction is a harrowing, unflinching exploration of what it means to survive in a world built on cruelty and power. It is a story about the loss and reclamation of agency, the trauma of captivity, and the possibility of love and redemption in the darkest of times. Through Hermione's journey, the narrative interrogates the meaning of justice, the dangers of vengeance, and the complexities of forgiveness. The story refuses easy answers, instead offering a nuanced portrait of survival, complicity, and the slow, painful work of healing. In the end, The Auction is a testament to the power of hope, the necessity of resistance, and the enduring strength of love.
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FAQ
Synopsis & Basic Details
What is The Auction about?
- Voldemort's victory reshapes the world: The Auction is a dark Harry Potter Alternate Universe fanfiction set after Voldemort wins the Battle of Hogwarts. The story follows Hermione Granger, captured and stripped of her freedom, as she is forced into a system of magical slavery.
- Sold to the highest bidder: Hermione is entered into a horrific auction of captured Order members and sympathizers, where she is purchased by Draco Malfoy. This unexpected turn thrusts her into the heart of the Death Eater elite's world, forcing her to navigate a dangerous new reality under his ownership.
- Survival, secrets, and unexpected alliances: Held at Malfoy Manor, Hermione must grapple with the trauma of her captivity while attempting to understand the complex and often contradictory treatment she receives from Draco and his mother, Narcissa. Her fight for survival evolves into a quest for freedom, uncovering dark secrets about the new regime and the magic binding the enslaved.
Why should I read The Auction?
- Deep exploration of dark themes: The story unflinchingly tackles mature and difficult subjects like magical slavery, trauma, and the psychological toll of war, offering a raw and emotional narrative that pushes the boundaries of the Harry Potter universe.
- Complex and evolving character dynamics: The central relationship between Hermione and Draco is a masterclass in navigating power imbalances, distrust, and the slow, painful development of a bond forged in the crucible of a brutal new world.
- Intricate plot and world-building: Beyond the central relationship, the fic builds a detailed post-Voldemort society, complete with its own political structures, social hierarchies, and dark magical underpinnings, creating a compelling backdrop for a story of resistance and survival.
What is the background of The Auction?
- Voldemort Wins Alternate Universe: The core premise is a deviation from canon where Voldemort defeats Harry Potter at the Battle of Hogwarts, leading to the subjugation of the Wizarding world under Death Eater rule. This establishes a brutal, oppressive regime where blood purity dictates status and the conquered are enslaved.
- System of Magical Slavery: The story introduces a formalized system of magical slavery, where captured individuals are branded with binding tattoos that link them to their owners. This system is central to the plot, driving the initial conflict and Hermione's quest for freedom.
- Post-War Political Landscape: The narrative explores the political structure of Voldemort's new world, including the roles of prominent Death Eaters, the subjugation of the Ministry of Magic, and the emergence of a fragmented resistance movement (the True Order) operating in the shadows and from abroad.
What are the most memorable quotes in The Auction?
- "Not alone.": This phrase, first spelled out by Hermione with grapes in the Ministry holding cells (Chapter 3) and later echoed by Ginny (Chapter 5), becomes a powerful motif representing the enduring connection and shared struggle among the enslaved women, a quiet promise of solidarity and resistance in the face of dehumanization.
- "It's the right thing to do.": Uttered by Draco when Hermione asks why he bought her (Chapter 11), and later by Hermione when explaining why she must stay at the Manor (Chapter 30), this phrase encapsulates the complex moral choices characters face and the often-unseen motivations behind their actions, highlighting the story's central theme of finding morality in a morally bankrupt world.
- "I love you.": Draco's confession to Hermione (Chapter 38) is a pivotal emotional turning point, revealing the depth of his feelings and the culmination of their fraught relationship. Its raw simplicity underscores the profound connection they've forged amidst trauma and darkness, redefining their dynamic beyond that of captor and captive.
What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does LovesBitca8 use?
- Intense, visceral internal monologue: The narrative is primarily told from Hermione's first-person perspective, offering deep access to her psychological state, trauma responses, and evolving emotions. This creates an intimate, often claustrophobic feel, immersing the reader in her subjective experience of captivity and survival.
- Strategic use of sensory detail and motif: LovesBitca8 employs recurring sensory details (e.g., smells, textures, sounds) and motifs (e.g., specific colors, objects like grapes or mirrors, locations like the library or the gazebo) to symbolize character states, foreshadow events, and add thematic depth beyond explicit plot points.
- Controlled pacing and narrative misdirection: The story balances moments of intense action and horror (the Auction, battles, torture) with slower periods of character development and research. The author strategically withholds information and uses subtle foreshadowing to build suspense and reveal plot twists, often challenging reader assumptions about character motivations and allegiances.
Hidden Details & Subtle Connections
What are some minor details that add significant meaning?
- The specific locations of scars and tattoos: Hermione's "Mudblood" scar from Bellatrix (Chapter 3) and Yaxley's signature tattoo placed just above it (Chapter 3) are not random; they physically mark her subjugation and the layers of trauma inflicted upon her body, highlighting how the new regime literally brands its victims over their past identities.
- The significance of specific books and literary allusions: The repeated mention of A Tale of Two Cities (Chapter 6) and Jane Eyre (Chapter 10) in Hermione's suite and the library, alongside discussions of Brontë (Chapter 7), Hugo (Chapter 7), and Dickens (Chapter 6), subtly connect Hermione's experiences to themes of revolution, identity, and confinement found in classic literature, suggesting her story is part of a larger, timeless struggle.
- The subtle differences in Malfoy family magic: Lucius's ability to create a blood boundary only Malfoys can cross (Chapter 32), Narcissa's Legilimency and unique ritual magic (Chapter 21), and Draco's specific wandless magic capabilities (Chapter 2) hint at inherited magical traits and family secrets that play a role in their survival and interactions, suggesting their power extends beyond their political standing.
What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?
- Pansy's early knowledge of the Auction and its details: Pansy Parkinson's seemingly throwaway lines about the Auction and the price of virgins in the Ministry holding cells (Chapter 2) are not just cynical remarks; they foreshadow the reality of the event and hint at her prior knowledge or connections to the Death Eater elite, subtly setting up her later role and complex relationship with the Malfoys.
- Draco's reaction to Hermione's Amortentia scent: Hermione's memory of smelling honey in Amortentia in Slughorn's class (Chapter 3) and glancing at Draco, who was glaring at Ron, is a subtle callback to their shared history and Hermione's long-held, unrequited feelings, foreshadowing the complex emotional undercurrents that will later define their relationship in the darkest of circumstances.
- The recurring motif of mirrors and reflections: Mirrors appear at key moments (Hermione's reflection in the Ministry showers, Chapter 3; the cracked mirror backstage, Chapter 5; her reflection in Draco's bedroom, Chapter 20), often reflecting a distorted or fragmented image of Hermione, subtly foreshadowing shifts in her identity, self-perception, and the blurring lines between who she was and who she is forced to become.
What are some unexpected character connections?
- Pansy Parkinson's deep connection to the Malfoys and her father: Pansy's confession to Hermione in the Ministry holding cells (Chapter 4) reveals her long-standing, complex relationship with Draco and her father's harsh expectations, providing unexpected depth to her character and explaining her presence among the captives despite her pure-blood status. Her later rescue orchestrated by Blaise and her father's subsequent actions (Chapter 25) highlight the twisted family dynamics at play.
- Charlotte Selwyn's role as a key resistance operative: Charlotte, initially appearing as a Carrow Girl serving drinks (Chapter 15), is later revealed to be a vital link in the True Order's communication network (Chapter 28). Her seemingly subservient role hides a dangerous mission, creating an unexpected connection between the enslaved women and the broader resistance movement.
- Lucius Malfoy's unexpected connection to Andromeda Tonks and Teddy Lupin: Lucius's hesitation at Dover Beach (Chapter 31) when faced with Andromeda and Teddy, ultimately lowering his wand, reveals a surprising connection to his disowned sister-in-law's family. This moment of unexpected mercy hints at a deeper humanity beneath his cruel exterior and suggests complex family ties still hold some sway over him.
Who are the most significant supporting characters?
- Narcissa Malfoy: Beyond her role as Draco's mother, Narcissa becomes a crucial, albeit quiet, ally to Hermione. Her acts of kindness, lending her wand (Chapter 4), providing access to the library (Chapter 7), and ultimately defying Death Eaters to protect Hermione (Chapter 21), reveal her as a complex figure whose maternal love drives her to subtle acts of rebellion against the regime she is ostensibly a part of.
- Pansy Parkinson: Initially presented as a typical Slytherin bully, Pansy's character is given significant depth. Her survival story, complex relationship with her father and Draco, and later role in assisting Hermione and Blaise (Chapter 34) position her as a key supporting character whose journey highlights themes of resilience and unexpected alliances in a broken world.
- Charlotte Selwyn: Though her time in the narrative is limited, Charlotte's role as a central figure in the enslaved women's communication network (Chapter 28) and her ultimate sacrifice make her a profoundly significant supporting character. She embodies the quiet resistance and bravery found among the enslaved, demonstrating that even seemingly minor characters can play vital roles in the fight for freedom.
Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis
What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?
- Draco's need for control stemming from powerlessness: While Draco claims his purchase of Hermione was "the right thing to do" (Chapter 11), his actions throughout the story suggest an unspoken motivation rooted in his own trauma and powerlessness during the war. His need to control Hermione's environment and protect her (Chapter 6, 11) can be interpreted as a way to reclaim agency in a world where he felt he had none, projecting his desire for safety onto her.
- Narcissa's quiet defiance as a form of self-preservation: Narcissa's acts of kindness towards Hermione and her later defiance of Death Eaters (Chapter 21) are driven by her fierce maternal love, but also by an unspoken motivation to protect herself and her son. By aiding Hermione, she is subtly positioning her family for a potential future where the True Order might rise, ensuring their survival by demonstrating a hidden opposition to the Great Order.
- Hermione's drive for justice as a way to process guilt: Hermione's relentless pursuit of justice for the enslaved and her determination to expose the truth about the Great Order (Chapter 39) are fueled by her inherent morality, but also by an unspoken motivation to process her survivor's guilt. By fighting for others, she is perhaps seeking to atone for surviving when so many of her friends did not, channeling her trauma into a powerful force for change.
What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?
- Hermione's trauma and dissociation: Hermione exhibits complex psychological responses to trauma, including dissociation (Chapter 1, 3), difficulty processing emotions (Chapter 4), and a drive to regain control through intellectual pursuits (Chapter 7). Her journey involves navigating these responses, learning to integrate her trauma, and finding healthy coping mechanisms beyond burying her feelings.
- Draco's struggle with inherited darkness and personal choice: Draco is a psychologically complex character grappling with the legacy of his family and the choices he made during the war. His internal conflict between the darkness he was raised in and his burgeoning feelings for Hermione (Chapter 6, 11) creates a deep psychological tension, revealing a character wrestling with his identity and the possibility of redemption.
- The psychological toll of magical slavery: The story portrays the devastating psychological impact of magical slavery on its victims. Characters like Ginny (Chapter 5), Oliver (Chapter 34), and the Carrow Girls (Chapter 28) exhibit varying degrees of trauma, from outward rage to dissociation and brokenness, highlighting the profound psychological damage inflicted by the system.
What are the major emotional turning points?
- Hermione's realization of the Auction's reality: Pansy Parkinson's blunt explanation of the Auction (Chapter 2) serves as a major emotional turning point for Hermione, shattering any lingering hope and forcing her to confront the horrifying reality of her situation. This moment marks the beginning of her psychological adaptation to captivity and the shift from resistance to strategic survival.
- Draco's confession of love: Draco's declaration of love for Hermione (Chapter 38) is a pivotal emotional turning point, transforming their relationship from one of complex alliance and attraction to explicit romantic connection. This moment redefines their bond and sets the stage for their shared future, despite the external chaos.
- Hermione's decision to stay at Malfoy Manor: Hermione's choice to remain at the Manor and work with Draco to break the tattoos, rather than escape alone (Chapter 30), is a significant emotional turning point. It signifies her growing trust in him and her commitment to a shared goal, prioritizing their alliance and the potential for collective freedom over her immediate personal escape.
How do relationship dynamics evolve?
- Hermione and Draco: From captor/captive to allies and lovers: The central relationship undergoes a dramatic evolution. Beginning with fear and distrust (Chapter 2, 3), it shifts to a fragile alliance based on shared secrets and mutual benefit (Chapter 4, 7). This slowly deepens into a complex bond of care and attraction (Chapter 11, 20), culminating in a romantic relationship (Chapter 29, 30) that defies the circumstances of their initial connection.
- Hermione and Narcissa: From wary distance to mutual respect and affection: Initially, Hermione views Narcissa with suspicion (Chapter 3), but Narcissa's subtle acts of kindness and protection (Chapter 4, 7) gradually build a foundation of wary respect. This evolves into a relationship of genuine affection and mutual support (Chapter 21, 36), highlighting the possibility of connection across seemingly insurmountable divides.
- Hermione and her friends: Strained by trauma and differing experiences: Hermione's relationships with her friends, particularly Ginny and Ron, are deeply impacted by their differing experiences of the war and captivity. While love and loyalty remain (Chapter 5, 37), trauma creates distance and misunderstanding, requiring painful conversations and a slow process of rebuilding trust and connection in the aftermath of shared suffering.
Interpretation & Debate
Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?
- The full extent of Lucius Malfoy's motivations and plans: While Lucius's decision to leave the Manor to Hermione is revealed (Chapter 39), the full depth of his long-term planning and whether he truly anticipated the specific outcomes of the war and his death remain somewhat ambiguous. His complex motivations, blending self-preservation, family loyalty, and perhaps a subtle opposition to Voldemort, are open to interpretation.
- The long-term psychological impact on the enslaved survivors: While the immediate trauma responses of characters like Ginny, Oliver, and the Carrow Girls are depicted, the story leaves open the question of their long-term psychological recovery and how they will integrate back into a 'normal' world after enduring such horrors.
- The future of the Wizarding world under the new government: The story concludes with the True Order in power and the establishment of the International Magical Military Tribunal, but the long-term stability and fairness of this new government remain open-ended. The challenges of rebuilding, addressing past injustices, and navigating international relations suggest an uncertain future for the Wizarding world.
What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in The Auction?
- The depiction of magical slavery and sexual violence: The story's central premise and explicit tags involving magical slavery, sexual assault, and non-consensual elements are inherently controversial and can be deeply disturbing for readers. The unflinching portrayal of these themes is a significant point of debate regarding the story's content and its impact.
- The development of a romantic relationship between Hermione and Draco: The evolution of Hermione's relationship with Draco, her former captor, is a highly debated aspect of the story. Readers often grapple with the ethics and psychological implications of a romance developing from a power imbalance rooted in captivity and trauma.
- Lucius Malfoy's final act and its interpretation: Lucius's decision to leave his entire estate to Hermione (Chapter 39) is a controversial moment. It sparks debate about whether this act is a genuine attempt at redemption, a final manipulative power play, or a combination of complex motivations, challenging readers to interpret his character beyond simple villainy.
The Auction Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means
- The Horcrux is destroyed, but the fight continues: Hermione and Draco successfully destroy the final Horcrux in Romania (Chapter 35), reducing Voldemort to a mortal state and enabling Ginny to kill him (Chapter 36). This marks the end of Voldemort's reign and the collapse of the Great Order, but it is not a clean victory.
- Justice is imperfect, and the past casts a long shadow: The True Order takes power, but their methods are often flawed and brutal, as seen in the swift, sometimes unjust trials (Chapter 38, 40). Hermione fights for due process and the exoneration of those who helped her, particularly Draco and Blaise, navigating a political landscape still scarred by the war and personal vendettas.
- A new beginning, marked by loss and hope: Lucius Malfoy is killed during his trial (Chapter 38), but leaves his entire estate to Hermione (Chapter 39), making her the unexpected Heir of Malfoy Manor. Draco is sentenced to a short term in Azkaban (Chapter 41) but is expected to be released early. The story ends with Hermione finding her place in the new world, working in a bookshop and fighting for justice, while waiting for Draco's return, suggesting a future built on love, resilience, and the slow work of healing.
Review Summary
The Auction is a highly rated Dramione fanfiction with over 21,000 reviews. Readers praise its complex plot, character development, and emotional depth. Many compare it favorably to other popular Dramione fics like Manacled. The slow-burn romance and spicy scenes are highlights for fans. Some criticize its length and pacing, particularly in the final chapters. Despite mixed opinions on the ending, most reviewers consider it a must-read for Dramione enthusiasts, lauding the author's writing skills and world-building within the Harry Potter universe.
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