HP recs: Sirius/Remus
Posted on September 29, 2007
Filed Under HP recs masterlist, HP recs |
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Fics are sorted in alphabetical order by title (articles excluded).
Long fics (stories over 50K words, long series and such)
Beyond the Veil, by Helene []
PG-13. Summary: Trapped in a world where he can be neither seen nor heard, Sirius Black struggles to communicate to his friends that he may not be as dead as they think he is… and that something dreadful lurks beyond the veil.
I wouldn’t say that this fic was ideal for me. In my opinion, it’s a bit too long (or too explanatory) in places, so sometimes I was tempted to skim through, particularly closer to the end. But on the other hand, it has most original theories considering the Veil, the history of magic and wizarding world and different magical artefacts, the theories that are consistent and very thorough. I also liked Sirius’ existence on the other side, it was very persuasive, sometimes nearly physically. All in all it’s an interesting and enjoyable reading.
The Maddest House, by Busaikko (link to the tag; you’ll have to scroll) ##
NC-17. AU, HBP-compliant. Summary: “In the aftermath of Halloween 1981, Sirius Black finds himself in a safe house with baby Harry.”
I love Busaikko’s tone: a bit dry and understated, it often works better than anything overly emotional or flowery. And look, I’m reading Sirius/Remus! But it has a young Harry and Sirius struggling with the role of a parent, and this is my sort of plot.
Quote: Harry looked up from the hole he was making in the tomato patch. “Wa,” he said, tugging at the longest earthworm Sirius had ever seen.
“It’s a lovely wa, Harry, but I think you’d best leave it alone.” Sirius had discovered that distraction worked wonders. “Look–how’d you like this rock instead? It’s pointy.”
Harry let go of the worm and grabbed the rock tightly in one chubby fist. He had been helping Sirius in the garden since morning. Sirius supposed that if he just let the mud dry, he could peel it off the boy. Didn’t girls do that, for fashion?
While picking a quote, I found that there were too many scenes I would love to use as a teaser. I mean, the fic is lovely but without any sugary mushiness (and scary, and tense, and sad, and a hundred other things!), and the balance of loveliness and darkness, of fun and bittersweet, the balance of all things is wonderful — but I couldn’t possibly show it in just one quote. It’s a serious story, with poverty and past betrayals, child-rearing and odd jobs, with loss and compassion and love. There’s interesting magic, really interesting and detailed, and it’s the thing I probably love best in HP fics. And the narration is supported by wonderful illustrations by Almost Clara. All in all, a complex, moving story.
Shoebox Project, by Lady Jaida and Dorkorific #
PG-13; WIP. Mixed-media fic.
Stealing Harry Universe, by Sam Vimes (copperbadge) (or here, more frequent updates) ##
R. Stealing Harry, Tales From the River House, Laocoon’s Children (WIP). AU where Sirius and Remus kidnap Harry from the Dursleys and raise him by themselves. Tales… show us Harry’s life with Sirius and Remus in hiding, and also the home lives of Draco, Neville and Padma. The next story in the arc, Laocoon’s Children, follows Harry when he, Draco, Neville and Padma enter Hogwarts, where we are in for some sorting surprises.
In my opinion, this is by far the best ‘Harry is sorted into Slytherin’ AU and one of the best AU fics at all. Everybody knows about this fic, but let it be an excuse for me to express my adoration. Sam offers us the example of how one should write an AU about Harry’s childhood and about Harry’s being sorted into another house. Once again, this fic is exemplary. It doesn’t have the main drawback of “resorting” AUs, i.e. simple retelling of entire canon scenes with the changing of minor details. Sam constructs a different universe. His fic is perfectly ballanced between *new* and *known*. Think about standard fics that work with this plot. AU is often born when a single event went differently. On some reason unknown to me, most authors develop their plots after that event as though the only thing that follows from a different choice is the same events with different participants. So we can see 1877774512 fics that are nothing more than canon with exchanged names of the characters: say, Ron is a bully and Draco is a clever boy who helps Harry solve the mystery of the Philosopher’s Stone. And so on, and so forth. Looks like playing the same RPG on your computer, choosing a different character: the costumes and abilities of your character vary, but the plot is the same, as are enemies and allies, and the old man on the outskirts of the village says the same thing whatever you do. Opposite to them, Sam’s universe is much more complicated. He doesn’t stick to canon; in his fic we can see only references to (or sort of resemblance of) canon scenes, and each of them is sheer joy for readers. And don’t forget excellent writing!
Medium-length fics (~15 to 50K words; stories you can read in one go but it will take some time)
Gryffindor No. 1: part 1, part 2, part 3, by Anniesj, Casira and Circe Tigana #
NC-17, AU. Warning: This story contains GRAPHIC depictions of violence, sex, and other very wicked and terrible things. People die in lots of brutal ways. It’s very AU and very dark stuff.
This is a Gangster No. 1 inspired fic. I haven’t seen the movie, but I was entranced with the fic. Lupin is the leader of Gryffindor gang. Sirius is a non-entity. One day Lupin calls him, and after a ‘test’ Sirius joins the gang. Be warned, this is not a nice fic. Everybody in it is cruel and malicious. What I like most of all in this AU is that in all its weirdness and nastiness it sort of sharpens what was only mentioned or hinted at in canon. It explores the possibility. We know that Marauders were often childlishly cruel and vegentful, we know they were pranksters. See what comes out of it in this fic.
Mischief Managed: part 1, part 2, by Krabapple #
AU, PG-13. Summary: Everyone deserves a little happiness, even Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Author’s Notes/Warnings: Alternate Universe set during Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts. Also known as “Sirius Black and the DADA Professor.”
Seven Things That Didn’t Happen On Valentine’s Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did, by Pru (rageprufrock / lupercali) ##
R. Summary: “This is the weirdest Valentine’s Day yet,” Peter mused. / “But not ‘ever,’” Remus said dryly.
This fic is just so very good! It’s difficult to make me read a MWPP era fic because I’m not so interested in the Marauders’ past. But this story grabbed hold of me from the first line. It shows us Valentine’s days from the first through the seventh year of Marauders at Hogwarts and through them their life. One day a year but it’s tells us more than some fics showing months day by day. As for me, this fic has an amazingly precise narrative intonation. It’s tender, it’s amusing. I’m in love with its so imperfect Sirius, its Remus through whose eyes we see most events, and even with its selfish and foolhardy James. Very good reading.
Short fics (under 15K words)
Arpeggio, Pru (rageprufrock / lupercali) #
PG. Summary: Remus meets Sirius on the Hogwarts Express when Sirius’ piano falls on his foot.
The Fairytale Way, by Zahra (hackthis) #
R. Summary: Once upon a time, in a land not very far away…
Five Ways Remus Lupin Never Raised Harry Potter, by Juliette Kelley (locked; or here) #
PG-13. AU. Summary: “Summary: Five scenes. Five different ways Remus Lupin could have raised Harry Potter, but didn’t.”
The fic isn’t fluffy at all but somehow sweet. Five versions of how Remus might have ended as Harry’s caretaker. I particularly like the one where Harry goes to Beauxbatons, but really all the five parts are good. I love the fics about Harry’s childhood, and “five things” fics, so here it is.
Hereafter, by Zionsstarfish (or here) #
PG. Summary: Remus finds out what awaits him after death.
The Moon’s Significant Tremble, by Setissma and Linnpuzzle ##
NC-17. Fic and art collaboration. Non-magic AU. A/N: It is an AU fic in which Remus and Sirius are muggles and meet on a train and Remus is, in fact, a school teacher and Sirius is, like, an investment banker, and then, you know, it all goes downhill from there.
I rarely even like Sirius/Remus, but I LOVED this fic! It’s perfect, especially for a Muggle AU. It’s so sensual, beautiful, touching. I love it, every single detail of it! :)
new The Problem with Eggnog, Uncommon Thoughts, and Sharing a Bed with Sirius Black, by Xylodemon #
Remus/Sirius, NC-17, short. Summary: In which Sirius is possibly naked, and Remus’ mind is not the safest place to be.
I don’t read Marauder-era fics because there aren’t many writers who write them the way I like. What’s wrong with this statement? There’s Xylodemon, this is what! Because Xylodemon writes totally the best Marauders out there. So I read them. And love them every time, this being no exception. She writes amazing boys’ voices! You’ll fall in love with these guys even if you are totally uninterested in them, promise!
Scenes From Another Life, by Helene #
PG-13, AU. Summary: “The night James Potter died, Sirius Black stopped to think, and three lives unfolded another way.”
Another fic where Sirius and Remus raise Harry, don’t kick me :) Pleasant, well-written. I like the flashback scenes of their family life.
that the science of cartography is limited, by Dorkorific #
R.
This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours, by zahra (hackthis) (or here) #
PG-13. Non-linear fic. Summary: Summary: There’s only one story in the entire world and everything else is a variation thereof.
This fic is not quite AU, but not non-AU either. You’ll see when you read. It’s a very sad and beautiful story, excellently written. Zahra usually twists things just enough for them to lose their simplicity. She does it in another Sirius/Remus fic of hers, The Fairytale Way, that I probably love better, but it’s farther from AU than this one.
Wandering, Gets You Down, by hiddendaze #
PG, AU. Summary: “Sirius leaves home and Remus Lupin creeps into his life. Alternate Universe, Hogwarts years 6 & 7″ AU premise: Remus is in Ravenclaw and doesn’t really know Peter, James and Sirius. Consequently, there is no Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
For once, this AU is not “Sirius and Remus raise Harry” :). Here Remus is a Ravenclaw and Sirius has to first start liking him for the merits other than being at the same dorm or mutual mischief making. Sweet, pleasant fic, featuring a charming, awkward teenage Sirius.
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