Eden (fanfic)

""Am I supposed to be moved by your pathetic pleas? How dare you ask me to pity you? I detest you!""

- Lucius Malfoy

‘Eden’ by Obsessmuch is an AU Harry Potter fanfic centered on the unusual pairing of Hermione Granger and Lucius Malfoy. Hermione and Ron are held as hostages by the Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy is given charge of the pair, but the muggle-born Hermione gets under the hardened bigot’s skin. Lucius is determined to break her before she breaks him. Hermione is determined to survive. Both are forced to confront the darkest corners of their souls in order to achieve their objectives.

‘Eden’ is notable for being not only extremely long (at 364,082 words and 50 chapters), but also relentlessly dark and disturbing. Its slow pacing and strong themes of psychological horror mean it’s not for everyone, but it’s adored by its fans, having spawned a lot of fan-art, videos, and even a song.

This fanfic provides examples of:
"Avery: Such charming language. You must be very proud of your son."
 * Anguished Declaration of Love: all get one.
 * Asshole Victim: Dolohov, Bellatrix. too, to an extent.
 * Be Careful What You Wish For: Hermione realizes this at the end of the story.
 * Berserk Button: No one messes with Hermione except Lucius.
 * Betty and Veronica: With Hermione as Archie, Betty is Ron with Veronica as Lucius.
 * Break His Heart to Save Him: Or her heart, to be precise…
 * Break the Cutie: Hermione, oh so much.
 * Brother Sister Incest: Toyed with when Ginny turns up in one chapter. See also Moral Event Horizon.
 * Cannot Spit It Out: Lucius. Dear god…
 * Can't Stand Them Can't Live Without Them
 * Deadpan Snarker: Lucius at first. Avery later takes it Up To Eleven

"Ron: What now, Lucius FUCKING Malfoy? WHAT NOW?"
 * Dogged Nice Guy: Poor Ron…
 * Emotionally Tongue Tied: Lucius.
 * Evil Is Sexy: Somewhat averted. Hermione never describes Lucius as attractive. Played straight with Bellatrix and Avery.
 * Guilt Complex: Hermione. Over everything.
 * Knight Templar: Lucius and Avery.
 * Love Hurts: Yep.
 * Love Is a Weakness
 * Love Martyr: Hermione.
 * Love Redeems
 * Love Triangle: Type 7
 * Mind Rape: Lucius to Hermione.
 * Moral Event Horizon: Lucius Also, Avery trying to
 * No Sympathy: Avery, Bellatrix to a lesser extent.
 * Precision F Strike: Ron gets a very satisfying one.
 * Precision F Strike: Ron gets a very satisfying one.

"Lucius: It’s darkness that shows us what we truly are. In the dark, one can be whatever one wishes to be."
 * Primal Fear: The dark for Hermione.
 * Psychological Horror
 * Rape As Drama
 * Scarpia Ultimatum: Lucius pretends to offer Hermione one of these to save her parents’ lives
 * Stalker With a Crush: Dolohov, Bellatrix and Lucius.
 * Stalking Is Love
 * Villainous Crush
 * What You Are in The Dark