Manacled

Manacled is an incredibly popular and often-recced dark romance Dramione fanfiction by senlinyu, first published from 2018 to 2019. The premise of the fic is that Voldemort has won the Second Wizarding War and has enslaved the Muggle-borns and executed the entire Order of the Phoenix. In February 2024, the author announced that they were reworking the story to be published as an original novel, and that Manacled would be removed from Archive of Our Own at the end of 2024. The work was removed from AO3 on 1 January 2025. 
For many new readers, Manacled was their gateway fic to the Dramione pairing. While the story was illustrated by Avendell after completion of the fanfic (these illustrations can be found throughout the work), the fic also spawned its own fandom and inspired a huge amount of fanworks for it, ranging from podfics, translations, fanart, fanbinding and other fanmerch. 
The fic also broke containment and was shared outside of fannish circles, mostly on TikTok. Its popularity on BookTok may have indirectly lead to the unauthorised publishing and sale of the fic as a book. 
==Summary==
Author's summary on AO3:Plot Summary by Reddit user Draquia:
== The Work ==
SenLinYu started posting Manacled to Archive of Our Own on 27th April 2018, with the first six chapters posted on that date. The work — 77 chapters including 3 epilogue chapters totalling 370,515 words — was completed on 19th August 2019. The work had become enormously popular by 2024, with more than 16,000 comments and over 10.3 millions hits before it was taken off the platform at the end of 2024, making it one of the most popular works in Harry Potter fandom and the most popular Draco/Hermione works by the metrics measured on AO3 in 2024. The work was relatively popular during the writing of the fic as well, though not approaching the figures reached by 2024; shortly before the final chapter was posted it had 5,822 comments and 8,062 kudosArchive of Manacled first chapter from 9th August 2019, Wayback Machine., with plenty of fans reading along with the work as it was posted.
The fanwork would pick up peaks of renewed interest amongst different groups of readers in fandom spaces over the subsequent years. Two notable peaks of popularity on TikTok were during the spring of 2021 and fall of 2023. It trended on BookTok specifically in a significant way around about September 2023, and the increased attention sent a lot of new readers to the work.
The author also wrote bonus content such as deleted scenes and other short stories related to the story. One takes place during the flashbacks and one takes place after the end of Manacled.
*Deleted Scene
*Post-Fic One-Shot 
== Art ==
On April 30, 2020, Avendell posted a series of fanart for Manacled on their Tumblr, then posted part two on May 6, 2020. The art was subsequently added to the work on AO3 on May 20, 2020. The inclusion of a cover for the fanfic, as well as illustrations throughout had a significant impact on both the fic's subsequent rise in popularity as well as an increase in the use of fanart covers for fanfiction in the Dramione community.
== Author Comments ==
The author kept a side blog where they could answer questions about Manacled, and often discussed their process. Here they talk about their frame of mind at the time they wrote the story: 
And here they speak about Manacled's unexpected resurgence in popularity:
==Fan Response==
Manacled has been widely discussed, not just within fandom spaces but also, due to it breaching containment, in more general book or reader spaces. While the fic was being written, a fan group formed on Facebook where readers discussed the work, and discussions and sharing of fanworks on Tumblr were also common while the fic was a work in progress.
Some fans who read Manacled have described feeling "destroyed" by the fic or experiencing a strong emotional reaction to the work. The fanwork has been described as desolate and difficult to read at times, due to the extent of tragedy, pain, and death that occurs throughout. Some fans of the work have discussed how the grim tone of the work and the focus on morally grey characters were what they enjoyed most about the work, particularly the exploration of characters going through some of the worst suffering imaginable and how that would affect them. 
Whilst writing the work, in response to asks, SenLinYu discussed how the work was heavily influenced by gothic literature and how they very much see the work as one of tragic romance . When the work became popular on TikTok, some readers shared 'Me before and after reading Manacled' as visual demonstrations of their reactions to the work. The comments sections also involved discussions of people's emotional reactions. There were also particular lines within the work — such as the final lines of the work and the portrayal of Draco's possessiveness over Hermione — which were used in fanworks or the source of a lot of emotional reactions.
Manacled was also a fairly popular gateway fanwork, with some fans of the work discussing how it was the first piece of fanfiction they had ever read and, having read it, they went on to read other fanworks, both within and outside of the Harry Potter fandom. As a fanwork, Manacled arguably does not quite so easily fit within the marketed genres that books are more often categorised into, which can lead to it being recommended in spaces where the readers aren't as used to fanfiction tropes or the approaches to fanworks which are apparent in Manacled. For example, the bleak outlook for the characters and the amount of suffering they experience would appeal to fanfiction readers of whump and angst, which are less common tropes in traditionally published works. Some of the fan response reflects this as do some of the critical responses — particularly those coming from spaces like romance BookTok — and there has been some tension arising from misunderstandings around fandom etiquette. However, there were also a fair number of fanfiction readers and Dramione fans who couldn't get into Manacled either, with critiques such as the characters being out of character and the repetition within the work being brought up by a number of those who read it and didn't enjoy it. The more people outside of fanfiction spaces learnt about Manacled the more hype the work got; particularly on TikTok where people were keen to find out what the current work trending on BookTok was about. Some people felt this led to the fic becoming overhyped and people being disappointed when they eventually read it, especially those who were unfamiliar with fanfiction. 
There has also been regular discourse over the years about how dark the fic is; some fans take issue with the amount of gore, violence, and rape within the work, with some arguing that the work is problematic and that rape was romanticised. Others felt that the relationship between Hermione and Draco was a toxic relationship and thought its popularity amongst younger readers on TikTok and other platforms would give them incorrect ideas about romance and relationships; this often prompted various types of Fiction vs. Reality Discussions. As the work was appropriately rated and tagged, many people from fandom — whether they liked the work or not — would highlight that SenLinYu had provided adequate warnings to make an informed judgment before reading. However, some of those critical of the content, were less concerned with whether the work was tagged or not, and more on why it existed at all or why someone would want to write or read it. 
From this have come discussions about how exactly SenLinYu will rework the fic to be an original novel, with some fans expressing scepticism that today's reading audiences — particularly outside of some fandom or dark romance spaces — would be willing to read the characterisations as they stand in the fanwork. 
=== Popularity of Tropes and Characterizations ===
While Manacled is not the sole, or even main, source of certain tropes within the Dramione fandom, it may have played a part — directly or indirectly — in the growing popularity of some. 
* Morally Grey Hermione Granger - While Hermione as a morally grey character had been written in fanworks before Manacled (inspired by some decisions made in canon), many readers on social media have sought out recommendations for other, similar characterisations for Hermione after reading Manacled and enjoying it.
* Healer Hermione Granger - SenLinYu's development of magic and associated mechanics to counter or heal horrific wounds and dark magic are often a positively discussed element of Manacled, and Hermione's role as the conflicted healer who did what was necessary was another element of her character that fans of the work began to seek out elsewhere.
* High Reeve Draco Malfoy (or similar) - SenLinYu credited lady_of_clunn's work Uncoffined as inspiration for choosing the title of High Reeve, and Draco being a Death Eater was not an uncommon characterisation or story-line within fanworks pre-Manacled. However, there were some specifics in the brutality, capability, and efficiency of killing of the High Reeve Draco from Manacled which seemed to have been popularised by the work.
* Possessive Draco Malfoy - As above, works had previously explored Draco as a possessive person (more commonly in Harry/Draco works), but the particular way SenLinYu wrote possessiveness in his character appealed to many fans. 
* Voldemort Wins
* Origami cranes - While at Malfoy Manor, Hermione makes origami cranes with newspaper pages. Fanart sometimes depicts paper cranes in the background, or Hermione creating them, or even just a single crane with a quote from the story inscribed on it.
===Fan Groups=== 
*Group with over 11k members on FaceBook formed while the story was being written.
===Fan Binding ===
There is significant interest in having a bound copy of Manacled, but due to the typesets being taken and sold for commercial use the typesets many used to print Manacled were taken down FanFic Book-Binding. In fact, a search on Etsy reveals many copies for saleEtsy search for Manacled Bound Book . Due to predatory practices by some, SenLinYu revised their policy on fanbinding for giveaways, disallowing them I have recently started the hobby of binding and I know that due to people taking advantage and profiting off your work, permissions have changed..
The author explicitly allows fan binding for personal use and this is one fan activity many fans of Manacled engage in. 
Some examples of fanbound copies:
* by WangXianEXO
* by Worlds Between Bindery 
*Manacled by SenLinYu - Half Leather Fanbinding by Cattle Abduction Bookbinding on YouTube
==Unauthorized Distribution of the Fic for Profit==
Manacled was one of the main stories at the centre of a binding for profit controversy: see 2024 Harry Potter Fanbinding Controversy for further details. SenLinYu was also made aware that Manacled was being sold as an ebook — on Amazon Kindle and other locations — and asked for their followers on Twitter to send details so they could be reported and taken down. A number of listings were successfully reported and removed.
==Fan Works==
Manacled prompted a lot of fanworks, both while being written — with SenLinYu adding in links to fanart and other fanworks as they wrote — and after the fic ended. On AO3 there are 47 works linked directly to Manacled as being inspired by the fic; it has also been translated into 14 other languages by fans; and there is a tag 'Inspired by Manacled - senlinyu' on AO3. The Senlinyu Fandom Organisation Spreadsheet has more than 364 fanworks related to or inspired by the fic. 
===Fanfiction ===
====Alternate Point of View ====
There are a number of fanworks which explore Manacled either from the perspective of a character from Manacled, or another Harry Potter character and how they experienced the universe which SenLinYu created:
*Unbound by acciosashaa and Shackled by buzzylittlebee, are both retellings of Manacled from Draco Malfoy's perspective.
*Bound and Blinded: The Ballad of Hannah Abbott by LadyofBoneandIvory, a fanwork set in the alternate universe created by SenLinYu, following the character of Hannah Abbott.
*The Secrets We Keep by wickedsiren, a fanwork following Theodore Nott's storyline in the Manacled alternate universe.
*Fragments by pennblack, a fanwork set in the Manacled alternate universe from the perspective of Dean Thomas, also featuring Blaise Zabini as a primary character.
*Shadowed by 3AM__Writer, a fanwork showing parts of the Manacled story from Harry's perspective.
====Missing Scenes====
Other fanworks of the fic focus on scenes between, before, or after the work SenLinYu had written.
*Manacled - in revealing the truth by weegomo - An alternative ending to Manacled, where the truth about Hermione and Draco's involvement in defeating Voldemort was not hidden
*Final Words by athenaswisdom - A work set many years after the ending of Manacled.
*The Surrogate Files: A Postmortem Report by rufflejax - A work in the style of a formal investigation into the Surrogate program from Manacled.
====Influenced by====
Other works were not set in the Manacled canon, but took influence from the characterisation or the world-building that Manacled had, or were otherwise heavily inspired by it. 
*Close Encounters by LeighJ - A work inspired by Manacled and Secrets and Masks. 'Narcissa Malfoy betraying Voldermort to save her son brings Draco Malfoy, reluctantly, into the folds of The Order. This does nothing to dull how much Hermione Granger despises him, or vice versa. In close contact with each other, it's predictable that the underlying tensions will come to a boil.'
*Fallen Dynasty by goldensunflowers98 - Another work where the author cited being influenced by Manacled and Secrets and Masks. 'Six long years after the Battle of Hogwarts, war and bloodshed rages on and widowed Hermione Granger is practically the Order’s personal martyr. The head soldier and spy, her days consist of nonstop trials of taking down Voldemort’s army and going on secret missions to uncover secrets to ending the war once and for all.'
*Love and Other Dragons series by orphan_account - A collection of works inspired by Manacled and the Rights and Wrongs series. 'This is a “what if” type of alternative universe series where each part is exploring how would Hermione and Draco get together if ‘that and that’ happened, e. g.: what if Voldemort had won, what if Voldemort had lost, what if Draco and Hermione were to attend Hogwarts Eighth Year, what if Draco was an Auror, etc...'
===Podfic===
* Manacled by senlinyu - a Podfic by ETL Echo Audiobooks (requires Ao3 account for access)
===Vids ===
Other fans used fanart or scenes of Emma Watson and Tom Felton from other media, mixed with clips and scenes from TV shows or movies, to create fan vids for Manacled. Once Manacled became well known on TikTok, the inclusion of Avendell's multiple fanart pieces in the fic allowed for a low threshold to create short edits.
*Draco & Hermione | Manacled by stillhotterthanyours - A fan trailer for the fic.
*HOUSE OF MEMORIES | draco & hermione [manacled] by heartphantom - A vid where the creator started out from the song choice, which they felt represented how they saw High Reeve Draco.
*MAKE IT OUT ALIVE | dramione (manacled: the flashbacks) by heartphantom - A vid focused on the flashbacks from the fic.
*ff: #manacled by senlinyu by slytherinsvault - A TikTok edit to The Hanging Tree
* and did not fight by trvgaryen - A TikTok edit to Daylight, focusing on a line from the fic that has been much repeated in discussions and fanworks
*Manacled, Netflix by maviienrose - A fanvid edit posted to TikTok where the creator has made a Netflix style homepage trailer for the fic.
===Fanart===
The fic has inspired a large amount of fanart of varying types, here are a few examples 
====Cover art====
File:Manacled cover art by nadiapolyakova.jpg|alt=black and white illustration of Draco holding Hermione chin, text reads "Manacled'|Cover art by nadiapolyakova (2020)
File:Manacled cover art by irinakulish fanart.jpg|alt=illustration of Draco removing a mask from his face, in front of him is Hermione wrapped in a red cloak and her partially obscured by a large white bonnet, text read 'Manacled'|Cover art by irinakulish_fanart (2021)
File:Manacled cover art by theartofmiha.jpg|alt=illustration of Hermione, Draco and Masked figure clustered together, in front of Hermione is a paper crane. In the backgraound are leafless trees. Text reads 'Manacled, senlinyu'.|Cover art by theartofmiha (2023)
File:Mancaled cover art by swottydoodler.jpg|alt=illustration of Hermione with her arm around a masked figure, she is surrounded by roses and a paper crane. Text reads 'Manacled, story by senlinyu, art by swottydoodler'|Cover art by swottydoodler (2024)
====Illustrations====
File:Manacled by Kalycoris.png|alt=Hermione and Draco embracing with Draco resting his head on her chest|Manacled by Kalycoris (2019)
File:Manacled art by castiss.art.jpg|alt=illustration of Hermione laying on the ground surrounded by coffins|Untitled Manacled art by castiss.art (2021), posted with a quote from the epilogue 
File:Malfoy’s Rune Scars.jpg|alt=illustration of Draco starching at his back that is cover in letter shaped scars|Malfoy’s Rune Scars by heart0glass (2024)
===Graphics/Edits ===
* by dracomalfoymiongranger (2019)
*Hermione Granger as the Order's Potion Mistress by ectoheart (2019)
* graphics with manips by grapesodaandpuddin (2020)
* by rinamorten (2023)
* by aemondseyepatch (2023)
==== Examples====
File:Manacled moodboard by stinkyweasley.png|alt=Images of: a hand taking a gloved hand; gold framed painting on a wall; a hand surrounded by red material; two hands touching with their pinky fingers; one hand grabbing the wrist of another overlaid with the text 'I want all of you. Your body, your heart, your soul'; two hands reaching out of the darkness; a man in a white dress shirt; two hands with matching rings; someone hugging another person tightly.|Manacled moodboard by stinkyweasley (2021)
File:MANACLED, chapter 13 New Year’s Eve at Malfoy Manor.jpg|alt=Images of: two set of hands encased in lace gloves; a posh living room with white couches and low tables; a dark haired woman with her hand around the wast of a blonde man; a shadowed figured in a ballgown descending a staircase; a clock about to strike 12:00; a hand covered in rings held against a black clothed chest.|MANACLED, chapter 13 New Year’s Eve at Malfoy Manor by mary-shelley-1816 (2022)
File:Best reads of 2023 - Manacled by SenLinYu.png|alt=Images of: a face covered in mask; a necklace with a green colored stone; paper cranes hanging by string; a log cabin in the woods; a woman in a red cloak; a blonde man laying in bed; a woman with long curly hair; someone holding a vial of liquid; hands with with a thick pair of gold bracelets on each wrist.|Best reads of 2023 - Manacled by SenLinYu by hannaslibrary (2023)
===Fanmixes===
* by littletoska (2024)
==Meta and Detailed Reviews== 
*I read Manacled by SenLinYu (a Harry Potter FanFic) by Aviva’s Library
*A deep dive into MANACLED by SENLINYU (explain the plot part 1) and MANACLED BY SENLINYU RUINED ME (explaining the plot pt 2) by Diemmi Le on youtube
*Fic Review: Manacled by Senlinyu. The Handmaid’s Tale-esque Dramione war story that’s taking AO3 by storm. posted to r/HPfanfiction Oct 31, 2021 on r/HPfanfiction and crossposted to authors blog
==Fan Reactions and Reviews==
===Critical Reviews===
==Further Reading==
*A 'Harry Potter' fan fiction that imagines Harry died in the wizarding war has taken over the book community by Samantha Grindell at Business Insider (Sept 25, 2023)
* by Elizabeth Minkel at Wired.com (Feb 28, 2024)
* The Endless Appetite for Fanfiction; Wayback ; archive link by Elizabeth Minkel (Dec, 2024)
==References==
Category:Het Fanfiction
Category:TikTok
Category:Recursive Fandom