When Good Characters Go Bad . . .

So. I've been around the HP (Harry/Draco, mostly) fanfic block a few times, and by now, I've seen it all, or almost. A lot of the things being written are scarily bad. A lot are scarily good. It's easy enough to stay in character, yet most people don't bother. It's also easy enough to use spell-check, but a lot of them don't bother with that either. I'm not saying my word is law, or that I have god-like insight, but I think I can offer pointers if you are wondering how to attain that wondrous state of not being a horribly painful cliche.

I would say-- ignore fanon. If you have to, ignore canon (but it helps to know both). A well-written story is a well-written story, and you could easily write really good fanfic just following general rules of character development, pacing, and believable human psychology. But all that sounds vague. Let me give you a few examples.
      Fanon Cliches of H/D Love [not Lust]

1) - Draco has to kill Harry because of orders [i.e., Lucius/Voldemort]
    - realizes he can't [``but I love Harry!"]
    - realizes he wants to make up his own mind
    - blah blah joins the Light Side blah

2) - Draco isn't antagonistic anymore
    - Harry wonders why/has to investigate
        + is intrigued
    - Harry becomes impromptu counselor
        + bonding
    - Harry is snapped out of obliviousness
        + becomes obsessed himself

3) - Draco has something Harry needs [or wants]
    - familiarity with darkness
        + to show Harry
        + to help Harry fight it [blah, war, blah]
    - ``you hurt so good" [i.e., pain/anger makes Harry feel more alive]

4) - Harry and Draco are thrown together by events
    - during the war
    - working on a project both are invested in
        + come to understand each other
    - Harry sees Draco has his uses

5) - Draco's physical effect on Harry [while fighting/fucking: lust] makes Harry question everything about himself
    - Harry trusts his new instincts
        + disregards common sense and proceeds to shag like bunnies
    - Harry sees Draco's gentler/emotional side
    - Harry "just falls" in love/lust
        + becomes obsessed himself

6) - Draco decides to pursue Harry thus changing a basic aspect of their former dynamic.
    - ``You want me??"
      ``I want you?!"
    - Harry loses former compass
    - Draco acts in more varied ways, confusing & mystifying & intriguing
    - Harry's view of Draco expands & so does the room for more feelings
    - Draco plays hard-to-get, inflaming Harry
        + IP..!

7) - Harry wakes up and smells the sexy [also known as #2 with a ``lemon twist"]
    - usually Draco is acting aloof [Harry/Draco role-reversal]
    - Draco remembers his former obsession
        + ``He's good/evil but I want him!"
        + yeay, bye-bye logic, etc.

~~
DRACO:
    appears:

- vain
- arrogant
- generally unlikeable
- tactically challenged
- witty, heavily on the snarky side
- temperamental
- cowardly (to an extent)
- competitive
- sneaky (always)
- picky
- pouty
- a liar
- passionate
- selfish
- weak, yet
- strong-willed
- pitiless
- obsessed with lineage/father/Malfoyness
- carries grudges
- obsessive/dogged/stubborn
- vindictive, but not hateful
- petty
- easily antagonistic
- amoral
- underhanded
- immature
- confrontational when unthreatened
- manipulative/controlling
- shameless
- envious
- loud
- insecure
- intelligent - interpersonal; learning
- judgemental

    thinks he is:
- treated unfairly
- a leader [by force]
- right
- unlucky
- sexy.
~~~~~~~~~~~
HARRY
    is:
- reasonably sincere
- stubborn
- reasonably blunt
- obsessed with Voldemort/his parents
- competitive
- sneaky when he needs to be
- rebellious
- lucky
- reasonably stoic
- witty, but not really snarky
- easily likeable/liked
- reasonably honest
- judgemental
- reasonably forgiving
- amazingly sane/together/stable
- highly moralistic
- leader [by example]
- emotional, but not sensitive; often withdrawn
- driven/dogged
- reckless
- strong-willed
- reasonably self-confident
- obsessive
- strangely mature, in ways
- observant
- highly moralistic
- devoted to his friends/cause
- daring, brave, etc
- somewhat secretive

    appears:
- easy going & agreeable, to an extent
- quiet, to an extent
- intelligent - problem-solving, guessing, but not emotionally

    thinks he is:
- responsible for all evil he couldn't prevent
- not that special; average [not being humble]
- good at quidditch but not much else.
~~


Things that make me cry in horror and defeat, as far as characterization, aka, Worst Sins Imaginable:


    
- Draco cries. Harry cries. Hermione cries. REENA CRIES

- Draco (or, rarely, Harry) is a sensitive intellectual. NOT. please no. please.

- Draco is open and honest about his feelings, and says he's sorry.

- Harry is a doormat, always understanding and forgiving.

- Draco is of course, flamboyantly gay, while Harry is "straight-acting"

- Draco is a slut. Harry is a slut. *Reena tears hair out*

- Ron is the stereotype for all homophobes everywhere.

- they call each other by first name almost immediately

- they are soulmates, but It's Not Meant To Be.

- Harry has forgotten that he's ridiculously well-adjusted, all things considered, and becomes the posterchild for depression. Cue Draco, being sensitive.

- Harry is gay, gay, gay. Harry and girls don't mix, never have, never will.

- Draco's behavior is all Lucius' fault. If Lucius "went away" it'd all get better.

- Draco mellows with age, and becomes "reasonable", because people change drastically for no reason other than being a few years older.

- Harry crumples after Draco leaves him, and that sends him over the edge and he just -has- to leave the wizarding world and become a muggle. That, or he kills himself.

- their love isn't meant to be. Thus suicide is the only option. Harry is the suicidal sort, didn't you know? That, or homicide.

- Harry soon cares about Draco more than anything, more than life or his sanity or his best friends. Draco is his everything. Ron and Hermione just have to understand (But usually they don't. Shocking.)

- Draco is actually a very smart and powerful and important wizard. As powerful as Harry. Who knew?

- Draco is the sexiest thing on two legs and everyone thinks so (not just Draco. -Everyone-. Except Ron.) Harry is second place.

- two words: leather. pants.