The Hours

The Hours by Virginia_Bell

Summary: It all weighs upon her like the gold of her locket upon her neck and the gold is like twisted iron. She has tried before but she cannot take it off. Oneshot, 1,078 Words.

Why You Should Care: When I read this, first time, I believe that my mouth was hanging open. This is so good. It’s beautiful, almost like poetry, and yet hints at such darkness and pain. It’s frightening and morbid and I can’t stop re-reading it. The formatting only makes me love it more — in the words of a reviewer, ‘the fractured style reflects her fractured thoughts’. So worth your read.

Why You Might Not Care: This is about the life of Merope Gaunt, before she reached out and tried to take her fate into her own hands; some might not care. It’s dark and hints at incest; some might not like. Also, it’s quite stylistic, which irks some people but only makes me like the piece more.

Sheer Dumb Luck

Sheer Dumb Luck by WinglessFlight

Summary: “Cowards may die many times before their deaths; the valient never taste of death but one.” She laughs because she’s living on borrowed time. Oneshot, 1,175 Words.

Why You Should Care: The repetition throughout this fic is used keenly and strategically, and I feel at long last that I might actually begin to understand Merope Gaunt. This fic is poetic, but it doesn’t run away with itself too far. It’s supremely focused, which has always been the way straight to my heart when we talk fanfiction.

Why You Might Not Care: The focus is Merope Gaunt. But if y’all like character study fics about Petunia and Rita and Hagrid and Gilderoy, then this is precisely your cup of tea.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Best Drama — Third Place

Five Dead Women

Five Dead Women by Snegurochka

Summary: Five vignettes, seemingly unrelated and featuring diverse Potterverse women, explore the link between these women that will answer the question: why are five of them dead? 6,400 Words.

Why You Should Care: There’s something beautiful about a fic that draws subtle links that are canon, but never before apparent. Snegurochka’s style is haunting and tense, the fic is laden with symbolism and suspense. It’s been cleverly crafted, you can see the amount of premeditation and effort in the structure and the reader really appreciates the writer’s work.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s symbolic and beautiful. but tends to get carried away in itself – this fic could do with an edit and a good cut. But it’s worth it, trust me.