Death and King’s Cross

Death and King’s Cross by Sciathan File

Summary: Who was to know Death had etiquette enough to be personalized? Oneshot, 10,074 Words.

Why You Should Care: Because it’s my very favorite Harry Potter afterlife fic ever, I think.  It’s amazingly well characterised and considered, with each afterlife tailored to the individual.  It is completely canon, having been launched from the springboard of the King’s Cross chapter in Deathly Hallows, and it’s just really, really well done.  JKR would approve, I think.  Hedwig’s interlude especially made me smile.

Why You Might Not Care: If you dislike afterlife fics, that is all this one is about.  Otherwise, it’s really an excellent comment on the characters it covers.  Definitely worth the time to read.

The Delusionist

The Delusionist by Sciathan File

Summary: In the Wizarding World, people who have passed on are remembered by their portraits. Some cling to these seemingly living and breathing works of magic and forget that they are, like Muggle portraits, breathed into life by the artist who created them. Oneshot, 9,300 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is a really excellent look at a concept in the Harry Potter world rather than a particular character — though the ones that appear are as well written as you could possibly wish for — and it is by far the most interesting and complete consideration wizarding portraiture has received.  It is a story about the process and the hand that creates the portrait just as much as it is about the cultural traditions based around the portrait.  This fic is anchored by an original character that is well suited to the subject matter, crafted to suit the explorative nature of the piece, and the fic’s non-linear style acts as a focusing lens on scenes that might otherwise have been about the characters in them.  Fabulously well done.

Why You Might Not Care: This is one of those fics that is more about an idea than a character, and some folk don’t bother to read anything that hasn’t got a “/” in it somewhere.  Sure to attract and be remembered by the genfic connoisseur.

Stealing Harry

Stealing Harry by Copperbadge

Summary: “Harry didn’t see why sharing a street with strange Mr. Black should mean he couldn’t go into the bookshop. After all, nobody actually knew that he owned it, and he had it on good authority that the shop itself was mostly run by another man named Moony.” Novel Length, Alternate Universe, Approx. 85,000 Words.

Why You Should Care: Alternate Universes are fun. They’re fun to write and they’re fun to read, and Stealing Harry by Copperbadge is no different. It’s a well paced, fully developed and well thought-out universe that branches off canon without feeling too contrived. In addition, it features a complex and interesting Remus/Sirius that feels like a fresh and original take on an over-written pairing. Their characters are familiar yet different, as all well constructed AU characters are, and while this version of Sirius may feel too settled for some people’s tastes, there is something wonderful endearing about him as he navigates deeper into the unknown territory of this new romantic relationship.

Why You Might Not Care: I’m not thrilled with the characterisation of eight (and a half) year-old Harry in this fic. Most of the time he comes off as quite a but younger than that, except occasionally when he comes across as quite a bit older; never once in this fic did the dialogue given to him sound like it might actually have come from an eight year-old boy, or at least not any eight year-old boy I’ve ever known. Snape’s character is likewise somewhat distanced from the Snape we know from the books, but considering this was written in 2005 without some of the canon knowledge we have today, I think overall the AU nature of this fic justifies the characterisation enough to be going on with. Be mindful of a handful of NC-17 scenes throughout the latter half of this fic that are not at all worksafe.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Best AU Fic — Third Place

An Undying Passion for Cupcakes

An Undying Passion for Cupcakes by Ignipes

Summary: “That morning, when they were finishing breakfast, she had been very insistent: ‘I’m going to make them the Muggle way… That’s the proper way to make these cupcakes.’ ” Oneshot, 4,622.

Why You Should Care: In places it’s quite funny, and in others it’s just so well written I can’t help but rec it. It’s AU, taking place in a post-Voldemort world where Sirius didn’t die (or at least, didn’t stay dead), and there’s been some attempt to create an after the war that reflects some of the same price as the one JKR created. Hermione’s story, particularly, is rather touching despite being “frosted” with humour. In the end, though, I rather think this is mostly fluffy.

Why You Might Not Care: I think it suffers from trying to do too much with too few words. Either it’s a moderately fluffy piece of AU post-war or it’s an in depth AU treatment of another version of events. In the end, this fic tries to be both, and ends up not really being either. The AU world hinted here is fascinating and would fill several chapters of several novel-length fics well, but the gaps that inform the characters written are too big to get much out of this story (aside from a moderate understanding of Hermione’s journey) but fluff. There hasn’t been a clear enough picture painted of the path taken that resulted in this AU endpoint.

As Before

As Before by Atrata

Summary: “That’s the worst, I think.  When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller, but for want of an understanding ear.” Drabble, 635 Words.

Why You Should Care: Written sometime between the release of Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, this piece reflects one of so many possible outcomes of the complex relationship between Snape and Harry, had the chips of plot fallen differently.  There’s a lot of room for interpretation in these six hundred words, which makes it all the more interesting — especially when we apply what we know from Deathly Hallows about what motivated Snape.

Why You Might Not Care: In the words of the author, it could be Snape/Harry if you squint (you really have to want it, though).  Otherwise, it’s fairly clear-cut gen.

The F Words

The F Words by Antoshevu

Summary: “Remus and Tonks’s was the worst.  Not that the others hadn’t been dreadful—Colin’s, which was just unreal, Dennis pale and unblinking by the grave with their Muggle parents; Mrs. Weasley wailing at Fred’s, gathering her remaining children to her expansive bosom so that all that Harry could see was a forest of red hair and blotchy faces. And one bright, brown eye, locked on his.” 20,900 Words.

Why You Should Care: There are a lot of stories about what happens after the battle in Deathly Hallows, from lots of different perspectives and angles.  This is another, one that follows Harry through the days after, then the weeks after, then even the months after.  It’s actually a series of six fics, though for me they are more chapters of the same than they are stand-alone stories.  Well written, with much thought given to the loose ends left to tie.

Why You Might Not Care: The Dursley’s chapter is a bit far reaching, I think, but overall it’s quite well characterised.  I think people who try to write Harry are at a supreme disadvantage, because he’s the character we know the best from the series.  Out of JKR’s hands, he never seems quite right to me; this does come as close as anything, though.  There’s lots of Harry/Ginny, some Ron/Hermione, and some Luna/Dean for those with ship preferences.

Getting The Point

Getting The Point by Arabella

Summary: Hermione and Ron at the Yule Ball. Romance, 16,406 Words.

Why You Should Care: Arabella is one of the few authors who I trust with Trio-era fics. She’s got JKR’s knack for storytelling: her fic is action packed, but heartfelt, and the characters are human and flawed and lovely. Her Ron and Hermione are so meant to be. Ah. Le Fluff.

Why You Might Not Care: Le Fluff. Cough.

Two Conversations

Two Conversations by YKuang

Summary: Harry has a hypothetical toe fungus. Ginny thinks he’s odd. Hermione thinks he’s odd. Everything happens at four in the morning. And it’s all canon. Oneshot, 1,665 Words.

Why You Should Care: The friendship between Harry and Hermione is a tricky one to write without straying into awkwardness, romance or the library and YKuang deserves a medal for this one. The interaction between Ginny and Harry is suitably sweet, and the author does a good job of connecting awkward!Ginny with grownup!Ginny. But it’s the characterisation of Hermione that really makes this fic stand out. I hate the character. I love this fic. Go figure.

Why You Might Not Care: This isn’t one of those fics that makes you laugh out loud, or cry, but it’s beautiful in its own, quiet little way and sometimes that understatedness is the best kind of genius.

Snape’s Portrait

Snape’s Portrait by JS1976

Summary: Eight years post-Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for a conversation with an old adversary. Oneshot, 7,349 Words.

Why You Should Care: Snape’s overall characterisation is good, and his dialogue is often spot-on and deliciously snarky.

Why You Might Not Care: It never would have happened. I don’t think Harry’s characterisation is very accurate, and while I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s necessarily OOC, the whole set up does feel quite contrived and strained, and the fic suffers quality-wise because of it.

Note: Forgive the extreme lateness and the brevity…. the jet lag is killing me right now and my brain isn’t entirely working properly, but it’s a rec so yay team me!  I’ve been out of town on holiday for the last nine days, and intend to get to some housekeeping and broken links and such ASAP.  Cheers, all!

The Birthday Boy

The Birthday Boy by Lady Bracknell

Summary: On his seventeenth birthday, Teddy Lupin is forced to face a message from beyond the grave, and a cake with his face on it. It was enough to make anyone hide at the bottom of the garden. Oneshot, 4,482 Words.

Why You Should Care: Another Lady Bracknell fic. Really, I probably should stop reccing her at some point, but she just has this impossible plethora of fantastic stories and I can’t help myself. This is mostly about Teddy, and a little about Harry, and a lot about the similarities between the two, which is just as JKR intended. Harry knows more about what it’s like to be Teddy than perhaps Teddy realizes, and it’s easy to see why these two characters would connect without trying. Lovely.

Why You Might Not Care: Another Lady Bracknell fic. So, while I can’t really think of a good reason, it’s possible y’all are just sick of being pointed at the same person. Ah well.

Note: So late today do to chaos of the “my internet isn’t working” fashion. In the end, I walked to a friend’s house and used his internet for fear of missing a day (horrors!). Let’s just say, this is not a good day for this to have happened…. *sigh*

So Much Lighter Now I Have Met You

So Much Lighter Now I Have Met You by EverBlue3

Summary: “I guess, given the significance of all you represent, I expected you to be heavier.” Sirius’s initial thoughts following Harry’s birth. Oneshot, 1,657 Words.

Why You Should Care: There’s such a truth, artless and open, about this fic. Harry’s birth, even before he Lived, was such a momentous occasion — the tortured passions of war projected in something innocent and fragile — and in Sirius’ mind here we see the thoughts and feelings of the time. It’s sweet and sad and all the fears and worries coming pouring out to this child: not in an exaggerated way, but with true depth of character. We see everything Sirius hides and we see everything Sirius can’t bring himself to think, let alone say. And yet behind it all is the echo, the shadow, the style with that arrogance and that teenage playfulness that we all know and love. There’s so much being said, and yet there’s still a real, definable character in there. EverBlue3 lets us truly understand how it must have felt to hold the child, to feel its pulse and know its importance.

Why You Might Not Care: I’m not really sure. It’s sweet and sad and a little bit funny, and I reckon there’s something here for most people.

Apologies: Again, this is late, I’m sorry. Let me explain: if I don’t have time to post the rec the night before I email myself the link and the story summary and write them at school. Occasionally I have an issue at school (such as, today, the computer rooms were all closed for software trials) and I have to do it when I get home. I don’t abandon you, I swear!

The Boy Who Lived

The Boy Who Lived by PigWithHair

Summary: Set many years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry is asked to reflect. Oneshot, 4,962 Words.

Why You Should Care: If it’s a difficult thing for a fanfiction writer to track back a character and write them significantly younger than they are in the source material, then it’s probably even more difficult to extrapolate them far forward in time into old age. Old people aren’t the easiest characters for fanfic writers to wrap their heads around (probably because most of us are under 30 and still quite young ourselves), and in a lot of cases we end up with a character that doesn’t feel old enough. This fic ages Harry and Ginny (and Ron as well) very nicely and very realistically: they are cranky, crotchety, temperamental and nostalgic. They move like seniors, they talk like seniors, and they sound like seniors. Their interaction with the younger generation captures that certain “when I was your age we walked to school in waist deep snow uphill both ways” without leaning too heavily on cliches or abandoning JKR’s original character. This is a character piece on Harry as he reflects on a life lived and the things and the people we take for granted. Superbly good.

Why You Might Not Care: Ginny might be a touch too cranky for some people, but old age makes grumps of us all. Harry’s perfect.

Awards: December 2007 Gold Star Award for Excellence in Harry Potter Fanfiction.

Wallflower

Wallflower by DrArchie

Summary: It takes Ginny three weeks to speak to Harry again after the Battle of Hogwarts. Oneshot, 1,384 Words.

Why You Should Care: After the war, Ginny and Harry’s reunion can’t have been easy – emotions flying everywhere like house-elves on Butterbeer, and this fic really captures that. It’s gently humourous, but there’s a lot of truth in here about what it must have been like for Ginny after the second war, how she might’ve coped, and it’s wonderfully human – showing the ridiculousness of desperation. Although it’s light-hearted, this fic moved something within me.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s Harry/Ginny, it’s post-war and it’s both angsty and funny. If any of those put you off, maybe skip this one.

Interlude

Interlude by Biggrstaff Bunch

Summary: “Still, if he could lock her up in a tower, he would. Even now. Though she’d probably die from some sort of tower-inflicted catastrophe, and it’d be all his fault just the same, and possibly there’d even be a prophecy…” Oneshot, 1,597 Words.

Why You Should Care: It’s the first time Harry and Ginny speak to each other since the battle at Hogwarts, and the inner monologue is just so very Harry.  Ginny is also written well, which is something that is difficult to find.  In too many fics I find Ginny pushed into teetering over the edge of the Mary Sue-ism that JKR has left her perched next to, and it takes an author of some considerable discipline not to send her down that way but keep her walking that thin and often blurry line; Biggrstaff Bunch does an excellent job of keeping her real.  Harry, too, feels right.  I’ve read fics where Harry is still avoiding her, and those somehow don’t make sense after Harry’s duty has been done.  Here there is mutual respect for the role the other played, and Harry doesn’t cling to heroics after the time for them is passed.  Very nice.  A sense that these two people have grown up.

Why You Might Not Care: All those folk that feel Harry/Ginny is a crock should probably go find a nice Ginny/Draco to read on some other site, least you pull out your hair.  Everyone else, have at it.

Bad News

Bad News by Penknife

Summary: It’s one piece of bad news Harry hadn’t been expecting. Humour, 475 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is short, sweet, and funny, and I can’t believe I never thought about this before because you know this is exactly what the Goblins would do. Exactly.  JKR would think it was brilliant.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s pointless, really.  Just an amusing little drabble written to make you laugh.  But sometimes, that is the point.

Great Man

Great Man by LightGetsIn

Summary: Harry Potter is dead. Drabble, 605 Words.

Why You Should Care: Wow. This is good. This is so simple and so in character and so keenly written that ‘wow’ is the only word I can come up with to accurately summarize how I feel about this little fic. Wow. This little peak into Hagrid’s head and memory as he carries Harry out of the forbidden forest is excellent.

Why You Might Not Care: Did you read the word ‘wow’ up there? Twice? I know it’s Hagrid, but trust me — I wouldn’t lead you wrong.

Blood Will Out

Blood Will Out by Lady Bracknell

Summary: Whilst in pursuit of a suspect, Harry comes face to face with his past.  Oneshot, 3,335 Words.

Why You Should Care: I’m sure there will be more and varied versions of this story coming out in short order now that Deathly Hallows has been released, but for me this one has the right amount of surprise, awkwardness, and accurate characterization.  Harry is not the sort of person who would forget even the last minute sort of kindness his cousin offered him, and all young people look back on their lives with some regret when they get older — that’s part of maturing.  In the end, they are family, and something like this was bound to happen eventually; all they needed was for chance to set it up for them.

Why You Might Not Care: If you can’t even fathom a Dudley that is not a screaming, whining ball of annoying, then this will be strange.

Home is the Place Where

Home is the Place Where by Kyra Cullinan

Summary: Petunia and Harry at the end of the world. Oneshot, 1,151 Words.

Why You Should Care: There is so much bitterness here. The depth of absolute loss, of hopelessness in triumph, and the knowing that not even the face of complete destruction is enough to heal old wounds aches in nearly every word. Petunia is all angles, unable not to cut after years of sharpening herself for it, and Harry is a hero who never wanted to be and hates a world that made him so. They share a moment of understanding in deep tragedy, but no more. Richly sad.

Why You Might Not Care: Some stories do not have — cannot have — happy endings. We’d like to see Harry glory and move on and lead a quiet, happy life, but some heroes are not destined for that end and — perhaps — Harry just might be one of them. Terribly sad, and for some maybe too sad.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Admins’ — AU

Harry Potter and the Polka Dot Plague

Harry Potter and the Polka Dot Plague by Marina Frants

Summary: Harry Potter discovers why polka dots are evil. Severus Snape discovers why it’s a bad idea to forge your medical records. Lucius Malfoy discovers why you shouldn’t give surprise gifts to your boss. Oneshot, 18,966 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is the last of Marina Frants’ Harry Potter fics, and it’s one of those that manages to be entirely too funny while at the same time being almost — but not quite — entirely in character. This takes place sometime after Goblet of Fire and has been made AU by virtue of Order of the Phoenix being published, but it’s still a thoroughly entertaining read. Frants creates the only wizarding illness I’ve ever come across, and manages to make it sound completely canon, which is quite a feat. The interplay between Snape and Harry is some version of canon, though I suspect both — and Snape in particular — have been slightly exaggerated and stretched so as to keep this piece humorous to the end. And it is. Quite funny.

Why You Might Not Care: As I said, Snape’s character is just slightly off, but I feel it’s an acceptable failing since it has been done to serve the funny. Imagine if the Harry Potter series had been written as a sitcom instead of a drama, and this is what Snape would have been. It’s all a little contrived, but Frants thinks it through and writes it all so convincingly that you end up forgetting it by the end. I wish JKR would make the Skittles canon, so that we can all use it.

Direct The Other Way

Direct The Other Way by L. Inman

Summary: Snape feels it is really not a far, far better thing he’s doing, at all. Oneshot, 5,293 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is a curious little interaction between Snape and Harry that takes place after HBP yet still somehow manages to keep both alive and in character without waxing maudlin or making the two of them talk too much. When they do talk, their dialogue is as canon as you could hope for, and the begrudging battle of words continues on its weary way. So much is said about both characters here, and most of it lies in their actions and not their words. Remarkable.

Why You Might Not Care: Some people may thing this is too easy. I’ve often wondered why it couldn’t be exactly this simple, because some things just are that simple.