HP recs: multiple slash pairings
Posted on October 10, 2007
Filed Under HP recs masterlist, HP recs |
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Fics are sorted in alphabetical order by title (articles excluded).
Long fics (over 20K words)
The Black Road, by Guede Mazaka (start from the bottom; also here) #
Harry/Lucius, Snape/Sirius; some Harry/Snape, some Harry/Draco; NC-17. Summary: Once upon a time, Harry Potter was killed and Voldemort won the war. Things went from bad to worse, and strangely enough, this was even true for those that had supported Voldemort. Nothing in the world was as it should have been. And then there was a second chance, and things changed. They did not, however, change nicely or easily or even willingly. Warnings: Non-con/dub-con, violence, gore, Christian themes.
The link to this story was sent to me by Niccy. While I like it that people send me links to what they think to be good fics, it’s not that often that I like the fics. They are often what I call decent juvenile writing: plot, plot, plot, acceptable spelling and grammar but barely anything else. No deep, or even credible, character psychology, random motivations; no wisdom, no particular writing skill, no enchanting imagery. I often read such fics; I don’t know why I do it when I know I’ll quit pretty fast. But if I somehow don’t quit after 5-10 chapters, I have a feeling as if I’ve eaten a cellulose pill instead of food: filling but completely unsatisfactory.
This long and snobbish preface has a sole purpose to tell you that this story is not like that.
The author marks the story as AU. It’s not AU in the sense that it changes known canon events to create something different. It’s set post-HBP and uses a lot of HBP details; nothing of canon is changed. But the author calls it AU because some things are taken rather far from what we can see in HP books. However far a universe where people turn into animals, where a soul can be split, where there’s a sport with four balls played on broomsticks and so on can be stretched, the stretch isn’t unlimited. Here we can see a post-war world. Voldemort won. Harry died. The resistance is lurking somewhere on the edges. One day Lucius is sent to investigate a suspicious location formerly known as Hogwarts and encounters — yes, Harry. But Harry is nothing like he had been before he died. I won’t tell you what he is because the gradual discovery is too pleasant. I’ll only tell you that the fic uses Christian concepts — it’s the crux of it. Were it another fic, I’d probably run away very fast ‘cos you know, angels, devils, blah-blah-banal. But here it’s a plot device that is incorporated into the HP-verse really smoothly. It works here, the further the better as you learn more hows and whys. It doesn’t look implausible! Harry is creepy but I can’t help sympathising ‘cos he’s not as inhuman as he seems at first glance. I also couldn’t help sympathising with Lucius, Severus and Draco. Look what they got themselves into!
Now see the warnings — they are all things I don’t like in fanfic but here I don’t find them either squicky or annoying because I think they serve their purpose. I awfully enjoyed the story. Plot! It has a very interesting plot!
This fic offers an entirely different perspective of the post-HBP and post-war world. You won’t find there plots and conflicts you are used to. What is more, this is one of the most refreshing fics I’ve read in a long time: very unusual and even crazy in some respects but credible, well-written, action-packed, and making one feel for the characters, even as imperfect and sometimes sinister as they are in this story. Fascinating fic, give it a try! Those who followed it along with me when it was a WIP can tell you it’s worth it.
Have I intrigued you yet?
Casualties of War, by Hans Bekhart (or here) #
Harry/Draco, Remus/Sirius; NC-17. Summary: When the second war against Voldemort begins, Remus Lupin and Draco Malfoy are its first casualties.
Citizen Snape, by Lydia Lovestruck (or here) #
Snape/Lupin, Snape/OC, Snape/Ron (UST), Ron/Lucius; NC-17. Warnings: Death Story, Male Pregnancy, Unusual Sexual Situation. Summary: After the Fall of Voldemort, Ron Weasley discovers an old secret, a shameful betrayal and the truth about his best friend’s parentage.
As is clear from the title and as the author says, “it’s a sort-of thematic homage” to Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane. This is a fascinating long story. It’s better to read it not thinking about the pairings ‘cos it will allow you to follow Ron in his search more closely. The plot goes along the plotline linked above, with certain variations, only exchange Kane for Snape. It’s really well-adapted, but you can read it even if you haven’t seen the film. In such a case it will be just an engaging story, with a mystery, an investigation and interesting characters. And some fantastic plot twists!
The narrative principle is very unusual. It’s told by grown-up Ron Weasley who set himself a task to investigate Snape’s past because of the last words the man said before dying ‘in Ron’s arms’. Snape said that he had seen somebody called Raven but whomever Ron asks, they don’t know anybody with this name. So he meets people, speaks to them, analyses clues. The story is told backwards as Ron gradually steps deeper into past. He digs and digs until all pieces begin falling together and a most tragic and incredible story comes to light. It’s incredible for Ron but not for us, readers, because the way it’s written makes this weirdest story very believable. It’s rich with original ideas and nuances that at the same time remain credible. One might say that she doesn’t recognise Ron’s voice, but I would answer that after several years of war a person might change rather drastically, especially considering that we last saw the said person as a teen.
In my opinion, it’s a very interesting story, a bit bewildering, but in a good way, well-written and moving.
Choosing Loyalties, by Ntamara (or here) #
Harry/Snape, Snape/Voldemort; Snape/Dumbledore, Snape/Quirrell and Harry/Voldemort implied; NC-17; AU. Summary: Ten minutes before Hagrid arrives to tell Harry of his wizarding parentage and destiny, Harry is kidnapped by a Voldemort-controlled Quirrell while Peter Pettigrew casts a doppelganger spell and takes Harry’s place. Nobody could suspect that the Harry Potter at Hogwarts is an impostor, and that the real Harry Potter is locked away in Riddle Mansion. Warnings: Violence. Non-con.
This is an AU fic where Harry is kidnapped and raised by Voldemort. There are many twists and more than one pairing. And even if formally Harry/Voldemort isn’t *the* main pairing, it essentially is. You should read the story to find out what I mean. I wouldn’t want to re-tell its plot because many interesting things happen there. This fic also has the mood that you can often feel in Ntamara’s AU fics. I don’t know how to define it, I can only say that I like it a lot. This fic made me feel contented that it I’ve read a long, interesting story; creative, rich with sub-plots, details and problems, but still they were not troubling because this is not the genre aimed to trouble readers. I really enjoyed this fic!
Dark Beginnings, by Dzien (you’ll need password) []
Sequels: Centre of Twilight and The Iridescent Conclusion
Harry/Draco, some Draco/Snape, Harry/Snape, Draco/Crabbe, Harry/Snape/Draco; Harry/Lucius and Harry/Bellatrix implied; NC-17. Summary: This story follows on from OoTP. After leaving King’s Cross station with the Dursley’s, Harry was abducted by Death Eaters. Such an experience is bound to leave scars…
Draconic Recall and Dragon Tear Resurrection, by Vera (dragons_muse) (or read both here) []
1) Snape/Draco; Harry/Draco; Harry/Ginny in the past, NC-17. 2) R; Snape/Harry/Draco. Summary 1: Harry sneaks down to the kitchen in memory of his wife and winds up remembering a whole lot more, including the slow disintegration of his friend and lover. Summary 2: Ten years after Draco’s death, Harry and Severus venture to his side for his possible resurrection.
Flora and Fauna, by swtalmnd #
Neville/Remus, Snape/Harry; NC-17. Warnings: Slash, rimming, brief violence. Summary: School is over, Voldemort is defeated, and it’s time for Neville to figure out what the future holds.
Neville is one of the characters that don’t interest me in relationship fics at all. So I don’t really know why I started reading this story. But I don’t regret it in the slightest, even though it contains more things that I’m not interested in, such as One Big Happy Slash Family (when everybody is paired up and they are all gay) — with the exception of Ron/Hermione. BUT! This story contains a thing for which I’d be ready to read even Dobby/Giant Squid.
I crave fics that show how wizarding business works in detail. Not just, you know, “Remus owns a bookshop” or “after the war, Snape works in an apothecary.” I want to know what they do day by day: where they find supplies, who and how they sell things to, how much money they spend on this and that and how much their profit is. I want to see unusual magical items, spells that help them, and such. Amy’s fic contains all of this and so much more. I feel my eyes begin shining as I’m cataloguing it all inside my head! Neville and Remus start a tiny company that will be supplying rare flora to various shops. The plants they work with make me SQUEEE! Adam’s Apples? Killed me dead. Fire Briar Rose, Stuart and Alice, Breathworms and Bubble Bees, and rainbowberries! And how they grew the greenhouses!
I also liked how Amy wrote Neville without prettifying him. He’s so sweet here, a bit pudgy, and much better with plants than with people. I suspect this fic won’t be everybody’s reading: it’s slow and detailed, but not much happens there plotwise. They just work for their business and have some small adventures, joys and discoveries on the way. But if you like lots of original but very plausible everyday magic and interesting OCs, give it a try! I’m still completely charmed with all those small but lovely details.
Great Expectations, by Arsenic Jade ##
Harry/George; Draco/Fred; PG-13. Summary: “Harry defies expectations, George gets what he wants, Fred and Draco play mind games. A comedy of errors…or something.”
There are such things that appear to be a very comforting read. You read them and feel good, contented. Great Expectations is like that, besides, it’s interesting. I didn’t want to pause while reading although it’s not action/adventure. Actually, this fic is the type of reading I like most of all, so naturally I loved it. I love Arsenic’s fics in general.
Green Lights, by Underlucius ##
R; pairings are asked not to be revealed. Summary: Part of the Classic Canon Challenge, Great Gatsby - Malfoy Style.
This is not fanfic. This is literature. Not because it retells a classical novel. This is literature because it’s rich, deep and so masterfully written that it takes you inside the world the author created. The language is sensual — but not cloying. It’s seemingly impossible not to feel what the characters feel, not to hear and see what they hear and see: raindrops on your skin or the bubbles of Champaign tickling your palate, the darkness and silence of the night surrounding you, and so on.
The character the author chose for the narrator, a grown-up Ron Weasley, is perfect for this type of story where the main events are centred around somebody else, so the narrator is an observer rather than dramatic persona. After the war, Ron is hired to keep watch over Lucius Malfoy who’s under house arrest. Harry and Remus’ house happens to be not far from there. Accidental, isn’t it? From the very beginning there are hints of a meaningful backstory and of something vaguely wrong in the present; they become clearer and more pronounced as Ron’s understanding grows and as we learn more of his thoughts, and in the end it all falls together into a breathtaking story.
This is one of my most favourite fics ever. As for me, it’s awesome, one of the finest fics out there.
Memoirs of a Death Eater Whore, by Nimori (you’ll need password) []
Harry/Snape, Harry/Lucius, Harry/Draco, Harry/Sirius, Harry/Voldemort, Lucius/Draco, Snape/Sirius, Lucius/Sirius, Sirius/Draco, Harry/Neville, Sirius/Neville. NC-17. Summary: The rise and fall of Harry Potter. Warnings: ambiguous consent, BDSM, necrophilia, rape/non-con, slash, threesome.
Harry is captured and then trained for a year and a day for the role of Voldemort’s personal whore. He’s drugged, used, abused and never let out of his room.The life in the Death Eaters’ heave is horrendous in the most HP-fic-cliché way, but the fact that it’s cliché for a slave-fic / Death-Eaters-whore fic doesn’t spoil it at all. It’s compensated with how Harry is written. Harry in this fic is truly frightening because of his gradual loss of humanity and personality, the further the more. Of the other main characters, I especially liked how Nimori wrote Snape. I don’t want to spoil the main plot twist (which occurs rather early in the series), but whatever happens, it doesn’t cancel the dystopian nature of the fic. This is not my favourite fic of Nimori’s, but it’s interesting.
Minor Arcana, by Isolde (cursive) (or here) ##
NC-17; Snape/Harry, Snape/Draco, Draco/Harry, Draco/Lupin. Summary: A wizarding tradition is revived in Harry’s 7th year that will change the lives of Snape, Harry and Draco. Inspired by “The Courtship of Harry Potter”. Warnings: Ambiguous Consent, Chan 16-18, Multiple Partners.
Minor Arcana, I came to think, offers everything a satiated and experienced reader could wish. It’s exquisite. It’s sophisticated without being too complex. The plot is wound around the revival of an old and long ago forgotten ritual, the Rite of Engagement. A precise portion of politics makes the novels very persuasive in the respect of channelling canon ideas and saves them from a very common flaw. The flaw of author’s naivete: when you read a story and can’t help feeling like you are taken for a child or a fool; when you think, “How is it so simple? Just came and killed and now let’s celebrate? Just came and bang-bang, now let’s soak in the after-war angst? Haven’t you read the original books?” But at the same time Minor Arcana is not just a political HP novel.
The device of the Rite also allows the author to create a frail and intricate construction of relationships and intrigues. Add some mystery caused by unexpected and complicated gifts and magical artefacts, unclear Death Eaters’ plots, believably unpredictable behaviour of the main characters grounded in their (very credible) psychology. Add also a very strong sexual undercurrent. And you have it, a wonderful, long, interesting story that will engage you for hours.
On a Sure Foundation, by anon #
Godric Gryffindor/Salazar Slytherin, Albus Severus/Scorpius, Harry/Snape, NC-17, long novella. Warnings: DH canon compliance…to a point, hurt/comfort, bloodplay (of sorts), sex magic, orgasm denial, cock ring, rimming, object insertion, mild bondage, spanking. Summary: In Albus Severus Potter’s Seventh Year at Hogwarts, he discovered something magical, something scary and exhilarating, something he isn’t sure he can tell anyone else about– oh, and that odd manuscript of Salazar Slytherin’s was kind of neat, too…
It’s full of things I don’t usually like but it’s a really compelling reading. I couldn’t get away from it all day. I’ll start with contras, but please, read this rec to the end!
So. I think Harry/Snape chapters could be easily cut three times shorter and the message would get through just as well. There are occasional surges of ‘epithitus’, not frequent. There are a couple of things that might be considred canonical errors, or maybe they need to be clarified a bit more: the passing on of the Parseltongue to Harry’s son and the main plot point with the stone of the Head of House. Then, everybody is gay. And coupled up. Which I don’t like. There’s a lot of sex. A lot, I mean it. Hot, wonderful sex. But so much of it that I started scrolling past it after a while and wouldn’t mind cutting it in favour of plot every once in a while. Then there’s my dislike of Founderfics to take into account: I don’t usually like Founderfics because I want them to be longer and more detailed than what well-written ones usually are, and the long ones are usually not written the way I like.
But. This is an entrancing story. Interesting, even very interesting. It holds your attention all the way through, and despite my grumbling about the things that I’d suggest to cut were I a beta for it, the alternating of scenes and time-lines sets up a nice pacing. The story grips you and makes you worry about the characters. You want to know how each plot line will be resolved. You are curious about the way they will cross. Founders era is depicted in the way to make me a lover of Founderfics — concentrating on their relationship, with lots of historical and magical details and passion to stick to your memory and evoke empathy for long-dead heroes. I really liked how Salazar and Godric were written! The sex was hot. I was rather overwhelmed with the amount of it, but if you like lots of sex, you’ll appreciate it. And the main plot twist was creative and really interesting. Besides, in the current, now closed-canon fandom when so many good fics got hopelessly jossed while it was open, with lots of good recent EWE fics, is it really worth it to be bothered by such things when you are offered a compelling, plotty, romantic, creative story? I answer for myself, certainly not :) I enjoyed the story.
The Pendulum of Choice, by Rushlight ##
Various pairings; G to NC-17. General Caveat: Here you will find pairings for Harry/just about everyone you can think of (along with other varied m/m pairings). There is noncon and death and angst and other assorted nastiness. On the flip side, there is also love and humor and hope and trust.
When Hogwarts is on the brink of being destroyed and the only two survivors are Harry and Albus, the latter sends Harry to travel through alternate universes. And so Harry does. Each chapter shows us one of the multiple parallel universes where a different choice has led to a different future: Muggles won and wizards are outlawed; Harry got sorted into Slytherin, etc. Eventually the “real” Harry (not that the Harrys of the other universes aren’t) will have to stay in one of them. But still the story consists of consequent chapters that represent equal and simultaneously existing universes. This is an excellent fic.
A Question of Etiquette, by swtalmnd #
Snape, Harry, George, Fred in different combinations; NC-17; WIP. Warnings: Slash, underage (16), twincest, threesomes, BDSM & general kinkiness. Summary: Snape takes it upon himself to teach Harry the etiquette of arranging homosexual liaisons in the wizarding world. The twins help with the practicals.
I don’t know what devil pushed my hand to click on the link leading to it, but I did, and now I want more, dammit! But seriously, I don’t regret. Because this fic has two things that I like very much. First, it has a wizarding tradition, in this case, the special etiquette that the wizards who prefer the same sex follow. And first Snape, then Snape and the twins (whom he previously taught) teach Harry. Aww!
Second, this is long porn. You see, however much I enjoy reading PWPs, I can’t say I actually like them because they all blend together in my memory, so I’m unable to tell one from another. A serial PWP is another matter. It’s not easy to forget a 400-Kb PWP. They are at least memorable and often highly enjoyable. And they mostly happen to be more than porn, even when porn is the main plot, forgive me the paradox.
Don’t listen to my blabbering. swtalmnd is very good at writing the hottest sex, so just go there already!
A Theory of Glass, by Snegurochka Lee (or here) #
Remus/Sirius, Remus/Bill, Sirius/Lucius; NC-17. Summary: The untold story of the battle at the Department of Mysteries is that when Sirius went through the veil, Remus went after him… and came out in a different reality. Now he must find Sirius, put three disrupted worlds back in place, and ultimately decide which one is real – and which one he wants to stay in. Warnings: As per Cathy’s request: top!Remus, rough sex, bondage, biting, hair pulling, dubious consent, dirty talk, rimming, and a tiny bit of blood play. There is also voyeurism, 17-year-old consensual sex, and character death within alternate realities. Beware of AU scenarios (see summary), but overall this is not actually an AU story.
I love the Alternate Dimension scenarios where a character happens to get into another version of their own world and has to figure out the differences. I’m even more excited when it’s a multiple-universe scenario. Which is exactly what this fic is. Or not. No, not exactly. If I tell you that this a sort of spiritual journey Remus has to undergo, you’ll probably imagine that it all happens in his head — and it won’t be what this fic is. So I guess you’ll have to read and see yourself.
What I can say without spoiling the fic is that all the scenarios and relationships within them are plausible; the what-ifs, interesting and thought-provoking. And the story as a whole is even better than its parts. I really enjoyed it.
Touch and Go, by Arsenic Jade #
Snape/Lupin, Harry/Draco; NC-17. Summary: Remus gets captured. Severus brews up new potions. Draco defects. It all comes together somehow.
Who’s Got Trouble? by jenadamson #
Remus/Sirius, Remus/James, AU, NC-17. Summary: A former lover walks back into Sirius’s life, with unforeseen consequences. Casablanca pastiche.
Although this story seems like just a “random AU” at first, it’s not so; it’s a What-If AU, the kind I like best. The roles you see in the first chapters aren’t random at all; they follow from the characters’ past actions and choices, which you will learn of further in. In a dystopian world where Death Eaters play the part similar to police, a middle-aged, detached and cool Sirius Black tends his bar. He doesn’t care about politics. But politics clearly cares about him ‘cos it stubbornly interferes with his life, first through his brother, then through his former friends, now revolutionaries who insist on meeting people in his bar. The story is alluring, and I wish to praise the author for the fabulous use of minor characters, Slughorn in particular. Very enjoyable!
Short(ish) fics
Alright Without You, by Carawen Javolia (or here, locked) []
Harry/Snape; Draco/OFC; PG-13. Non-magic AU. At HPSS Fuh-Q Fest at kardasi.com, Wave 5. For password join the kardasi-security y!group. Challenge: AU - Draco Malfoy has come to Hogsmeade in search of education, but instead he falls for the beautiful younger daughter/son (character of your choice) of Albus Dumbledore. Problem: his Love has an older brother, Harry, who is possessed of a headstrong (and shrewish) disposition and Dumbledore has declared that his oldest must be married before he’ll give the younger’s hand in matrimony. Help arrives in the form of his father’sold friend, Severus Snape — a nobleman, sadly fallen on hard financial times, who has come to Hogsmeade in search of a rich spouse. Who,exactly, will tame who?
This is the second story influenced by Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen in general I’ve read. What to say? This is quite enjoyable reading. The style, although not perfect, is a style, which is good; besides, it excuses the inevitable sappiness of the ending. The dialogues are somewhat simplistic but they fit in the general scheme of things here. This is not the type of AU where you can recognize the characters of HP-verse in the alternate universe. Harry is nothing like Harry, Draco is anything but Draco, the same can be said about Severus and Albus. But somehow it’s fun nevertheless, and it’s interesting to see what roles the author chooses for them, what events of HP world are included in this fic and how they are changed to suit the alternate settings.
Animagus in One Week (Money-Back Guarantee!), by Amanuensis (or here) #
Sirius/Lupin/Harry, Lucius/Snape, implied Voldemort/multiple; NC-17. Warnings: Smut. Slash. Slavery. Spankings. Silliness.
I recced this fic while it was anon with the following: “This fic has the kind of black humour like those dark fics by Amanuensis that aren’t really that dark but are wickedly amusing. Very enjoyable, I hope it’s so even for those who wouldn’t pick it to read because of the pairings. Give it a chance!”
Then added an ETA after the reveal: “Trust me to rec a fic by Amanuensis as a fic that reminds me of Amanuensis’s writing :)”
As Sharp As Sunlight, by Amanuensis ##
Harry/Lucius; Snape/Sirius; Draco/Hermione off-screen; NC-17. Warnings: Angst, Non-con, Mpreg. Summary: “A squicky fate awaits our heroes after their defeat. Can anything be salvaged?”
I included this story in my ’super league’ selection of the best MPreg fics I’d read. I still think so.
This is a darkfic that makes me feel warmer than many fluffy fics ever could. Voldemort has won. But he doesn’t want to dispose of the captives, why waste good healthy wizards? He wants to use them for a kind of breeding farm. Male bodies are altered, special potions are administered, the captured wizards and witch are given to their masters (see the pairings). If you are into such darkfic, go ahead, you’ll find what you’re looking for in physical aspect of slavery, pregnancy, gender-change and non-con, and in mental aspect as well. The story is told by Sirius whose lover is killed before his eyes and who, because of it, suffers their fate even harder. But if you aren’t into it, wait! Give it a chance, please. You won’t emerge from this fic ill and squicked. You’ll find incredible beauty there, and maybe even comfort. I did. This is an absolutely wonderful fic. Besides, as all Amanuensis’ stories, this one is very well-written.
Better To Curse the Darkness, by Amanuensis (or here, locked) #
Various - see the fic headers; NC-17. Summary: Dark betrayal with a twist. Several twists. Warnings: Non-con. Chan (Harry is not quite 16).
This is a PWP that in its absence of plot has more of it than some action/adventure fics. I was stunned when I read it. Such turns and twists, such vivid, nearly tangible sex and cruel (but sort of not) manipulations — and plot in general. This is a trademark fic of Amanuensis’s. Incredible!
Blind by Light, Deaf by Dark, by Nimori #
Snape/Harry, Lucius/Snape, Lucius/Harry, implied Lucius/Snape/Harry; NC-17. Summary: Severus is caught in a trap of his own making. Warning: chan.
new Counting Shadows in the Dead of Night, by snegurochka_lee #
Remus/Harry, Teddy/James Jr., Harry/Ginny implied. NC-17, ~10K words. Summary: “Well,” Remus told Harry, his body glowing translucent in the moonlight, “if you’re wondering why you’re having such trouble accepting that Teddy has crossed that boundary, as it were, into your son’s bed, you might ask yourself if it’s because you regret that I never did the same, crossing into yours.” Warning: Some dark themes.
That was … well, unusual and interesting and disturbing. Spoilery thoughts ahead; highlight to read if you want to be spoiled, otherwise, come back after you’ve read it to see if you came to the same conclusion: Just as I finished the story, I wanted to know why Teddy was doing it to Harry. Because remember the suit Remus in Harry’s ‘nightmares’ wears, highlighted at the end when Teddy delivers his speech? But then I thought, “Wait a moment. We don’t know that Teddy is doing anything! Maybe it was Harry’s mind that was doing it? Maybe he saw Teddy wearing this suit and solemn brown hair and projected it on his Remus? Or ‘Remus’?” I think it’s Teddy though. Well, I think so now. I’ll have to reread it to make sure. But that’s the pleasure of a well-done story with an ambiguous ending. It fucks with your head in a delicious way. I’m really impressed :) It was a real pleasure to read.
The Dystopia of Draco Malfoy, by ElectricAndroid # (locked)
R; Draco/Harry, Draco/Ron, Draco/Zacharias Smith. Summary: Draco is left with no one to intercede for him. Warnings: NOT non-con – is explained inside the fic… dark!harry.
In this fic we can see a personal Hell of Draco Malfoy. The fic is not terrifying, nor is it really dark. Harry is the victor; Draco’s side has lost. Between the defeat and the awaiting trial, Draco is serving to the victors’ amusement. Their cruelty is twisted, they don’t aim to torture him, they aim to humiliate. The protagonists aren’t who you would expect, and they aren’t proper ‘good guys’ either. This is an odd fic that manages to be more than PWP being a PWP by genre, and more than a kink-fic being rather kinky. I like it.
Faint Indirections, by girl tarte ##
Neville/Percy, Snape/Potter - sort of, PG-13, ~11,500 words. Written for the snape_after_dh prompt: Professor Longbottom converses with Severus Snape’s portrait.
It’s not the first time I fell for a story of Tarte’s, so I came to the conclusion that I love her writing. It’s subtle, very stylistically pleasing, and never over-explained — not under-explained either! It has just enough details and hints for you to figure things out, see, for example, Malfoy here or how the figure of the headmaster is introduced.
This story is told by Neville who works as a new Herbology professor. Despite his war-time period of heroics, he didn’t lose his shyness or some of his fears. We can observe his own story develop and see other people through his eyes. A truly wonderful fic, highly recommended!
Fide, sed qui, vide, by cirquedusangre #
Snape/Draco, Snape/Lucius, Snape/Harry, Draco/Lucius; NC-17. Warnings: character death, violence, angst.
Extremely pessimistic, misanthropic, gloomy view of the world. Elaborate structure with several planes excellently combining at the end - it’s like a puzzle picture that becomes clear only when the last pieces are put in their places.
I’m not fond of darkfic, but it’s difficult to not appreciate such a darkfic as this. The main characters written absolutely non-complimentary: Snape is a cold and twisted bastard who counts betrayals, Draco is shallow and cowardly. They don’t appeal to you, they don’t call for your compassion, but at the same time they look very *real*, and there are many details and small scenes that make this fic truly memorable. Definite recommendation.
“Good…” Draco didn’t like the way that Snape was staring at him. Glaring, more like. Had he done something wrong? Were the apples taboo? He gulped and glanced at the apple, and then attempted unobtrusively to nudge a bowl in front of it.
A Hard Lesson To Learn, by Anj (or here) #
Lucius/Draco; Snape/Draco, Harry/Draco; NC-17. Summary: Draco spends his first Christmas away from home, and can’t stop thinking about his father, and the lessons he’s learned over the years. But sometimes, lessons can do more harm than good. Written for Moshes for merry_smutmas.
Good, smooth writing, interesting concepts; very intense, rich with nuances. Maybe it’s not how I see Draco, but the fic is so good that within its universe I’m ready to believe in this version of him. I enjoyed the story.
A Journey In Ten Lies, by Switchknife #
R; Bill/Remus; Remus/Sirius. Summary: Not everyone wants the same things. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter.
Lord Voldemort’s Diary, by Violet Quill #
Voldemort/various DEs, Lucius/Snape; R. Summary: Not quite a year in the world of Death Eater orgies, world domination, and good hair. Written for the imitation challenge, in the style of Helen Fielding (ala Bridget Jones’s Diary). Parody.
This fic is hilarious! It’s difficult to write a silly parody so that it’s not only silly but funny too. This fic of Violet Quill’s is a masterpiece in this respect. I was howling with laughter.
Mischief and Madness, by Isis #
Het and slash: Snape/Minerva, Harry/Draco, Ron/Hermione; PG, with an optional NC17 Harry/Draco epilogue. Summary: “A Potterverse version of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Written for The Classic Canon Challenge.
Beside being funny, this fic is really interesting. First of all, it’s not Isis’ usual manner of writing. Yes, yes, she can write nearly in any style or genre. Here she creates a subtle parody, using clichéd details: expressions, characterisation, how the bits of backstory are introduced. The air of parody helps her create the intonation necessary for a Shakespearean cross-over comedy. It is funny, more so if you follow those ironic stylistic hints. And there is a surprise ending, or even double surprise. Light and very pleasant reading.
Narcofellatio, by Shocolate #
Perm any two from five in the Gryffindor boys’ dorm, NC-17. Claim: The narcofellatio curse is accidentally embedded in the Gryffindor boys dormitory. Since the bloke doing the sucking is never awake to remember and therefore each one is sure he’s immune, no one’s in a big hurry to find a countercurse.
Hilarious and lovely. 10K words of pure porny fun. Features a wonderful Neville. An ideal goodnight or good morning fic. I was laughing all the way.
Prejudice, by Ria (kessie / quillstrokes) (or here) []
Draco/Blaise; Harry/Snape; PG. Summary: When several of the Slytherins refuse to obey Voldemort and look to Snape instead, they know it will be difficult. But with the prejudice of their classmates, it seems they shouldn’t have bothered. But whoever heard of a Slytherin giving up?
Seven Days After Remus Died, by Xylodemon (or here) []
Harry/Sirius, implied Remus/Sirius and James/Sirius; NC-17. Warnings: Mild necrophilia. Summary: Sirius is falling apart, and Harry doesn’t know how to pick up the pieces.
Upon The Matter Of Britain, by Femme #
Various; PG-13. Snarry Games entry. Team: Wartime. Genre(s): Angst & Romance. Prompt: Relic. Summary: Trapped by an ancient magic, Severus’s only hope of rescue comes from a war-weary Potter.
It has little to do with Snarry despite being an entry in the Snarry Games (that is to say, other pairings, including those that feature Snape or Harry, are much more prominent than Snape/Harry here), but otherwise it’s quite delightful. What I liked best was, of course, the story about Merlin and the magic in it. The bush! Wowsome! What is more, the story is very interesting and, knowing the author, well-written. Wonderful reading!
We are the dead, by Sazzlette #
Sirius/Harry, James/Sirius, NC-17. AU - James is alive and hiding out at Grimmauld Place. Warnings: Chan (aged 15), rimming, stolen parts from OotP, canon fuckery. Summary: “This here—” Sirius took a deep breath, and felt James tense under his fingertips, “—this is Harry. Everyone, this is James Potter.”
The premise, guys, the premise! At an Order meeting, there’s an unexpected visitor: one James Potter, living and breathing. Chaos ensues. I was totally sold on the first paragraphs, but the rest didn’t disappoint either. Perfect Sirius, perfect teenage!Harry, wonderful parent!James; complicated relationship triangle, fantastic hot sex. I loved how this AU was constructed and I love how the story was told. There are things that are left behind the scenes, so to say, but they don’t detract from the story. Delightful!
We Bargain for the Graves We Lie In, by Violet Quill (or here, locked) #
Lucius/Percy, Snape/Percy, NC-17. Warnings: dubious consent, prostitution, object penetration, voyeurism, humiliation, slight BDSM, dirty talk. Summary: The war is over, and Voldemort is in power. When Snape emerges from hiding and visits Lucius Malfoy in the remnants of the Ministry, he finds that he wasn’t the only one forced to make sacrifices. One of his former students has traded himself into a humiliating existence…
I’d call it Violet Quill’s trademark PWP, i.e. a short story centred around sex but showing us enough of the world and characters to be memorable and interesting. She’s a master of this kind of fic. There’s power play and sly insults flying between Lucius and Snape; there’s a seemingly dehumanised Percy whose character and motivations are unclear but then gradually show through; there’s even a sort of plot. Not to mention lots of hot sex. Delightful!
The Years That Walk Between, by Femme #
Snape/Draco, Draco/Harry, NC-17. Summary: Draco finds his way after the war.
Wow. Femme strikes with all her might here. Yes, if you’ve read many of her fics, you’ll recognise the themes. Yes, they are sort of the same. But wow, how it’s done here! It’s beautiful, gorgeous, powerful. Repeating what I said in my comment, I cried my eyes out but somehow the story is still very heart-warming. Both of the main relationships are written beautifully here. I was happy to read about these grown-up Harry and Draco, fathers and husbands. And it’s one of the best stories that speak of grief that I’ve read: at the beginning, it’s suffocating, at the end, bittersweet, but it’s a journey that makes a reader richer and wiser.
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this is pj's fannish place made with the goal to be a sort of public library of (or a gateway to) fanfiction. I read mostly slash, I love sex and various kinks, so if you are underage and somehow wormed your way here past net nannies and warnings, please surf responsibly and go somewhere else when you are asked to!
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