Breathe Me

Breathe Me by Andromeda311

Summary: “It’s like the sword of Damocles, nothing but a thin string between this and free fall. Nothing but a thread between safety and-” Romance, 15,307 Words.

Why You Should Care: Andromeda/Ted has become more common, and many of this rec site’s readers have some incarnation of the story laid out in A Keen Observer set as their personal canon — I am one of those, but this incarnation fascinated me. It’s from Ted’s point of view, which I have not seen elsewhere and is such a great idea. Andromeda311’s longer writing is just as good as her lyrical one-shots, with a certain beauty to the storytelling and hilarity in Ted’s internal musings. It’s sweet at times, it’s angsty at times… I cannot describe how good I think this is.

Why You Might Not Care: There is no reason. Breathe Me is an excellent story and you should start reading… now.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Admins’ Choice — Het Romance

For Luck, For Laughs, For the Unknown

For Luck, For Laughs, For the Unknown by ThistleRose

Summary: If she tried, she might be able to keep him here just a little longer. Hands were more convincing than words, sometimes, and a tongue– Oneshot, 1,130 Words.

Why You Should Care: I love the idea that Andromeda knew Ted was leaving, that he didn’t just slip away in the dead of the night leaving a note on the pillow or not come home one day from work. I feel as though that’s how it would have happened, because I’m certain Ted respects his wife enough that he wouldn’t have abandoned her and that Andromeda would understand that it would be his best chance at making it through the war. This piece is the moment they break away, and the difficulties of trying to be mature and do the right thing when all you really want is just one more minute.

Why You Might Not Care: This has been rated NC17, and while I can see why I’m not sure it goes on long enough to entirely deserve this ranking. It’s brief but definitely there. Perhaps not quite work-safe, but it’s not the focus of the story and shouldn’t be the determining factor of whether or not you choose to read it.

Of A Sort

Of A Sort by FernWithy

Summary: A series of stories about the experience all Hogwarts students share: being Sorted into their houses on their first day at school. Novel Length (abandoned), 49,388 Words.

Why You Should Care: FernWithy says in her notes that she considers this idea of hers woefully overused, but I confess I have never read a compilation like this, so for me it’s quite original. It deals a little with sorting and a lot with how the first day of school can very much affect the rest of your educational life. The seemingly benign choices made on the Hogwarts Express have lasting repercussions, some of which we’ve seen even in canon.

Why You Might Not Care: This appears to have been abandoned as she began to attempt the sorting of the Trio Era characters, but I have rec’d it for the strength of the things I think are more valuable — that is to say, the fact that she’s already tackled the characters we haven’t seen being sorted. It’s been about a year and a half since an update, and I sort of wish she’d just ended it with the sorting of Tonks instead of trying to slog onwards. We’ve already seen Harry’s generation and their sorting, so I feel it’s unnecessary. Parts have since been made AU by new canon factoids offered by JKR, but it still stands quite well.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner by DeepDownSlytherin

Summary: Ted and Andromeda have always thought of themselves as fairly open-minded parents, so how will they react to their daughter’s new romance? 5,011 Words.

Why You Should Care: Once again, I find myself recing something written by DeepDownSlytherin and hoping you won’t think I’m pigeon-holing myself too much. This is a delightful fic about parents, daughters, and boyfriends that aren’t what or who you expect. It’s a light-hearted and sweetly written family portrait, and anyone who’s ever brought someone home to meet the parents will enjoy this. I adore Ted and Andromeda as an older couple, and thoroughly love the dynamic between them and their daughter.

Why You Might Not Care: Technically, this fits into the world of DeepDownSlytherin’s “A Keen Observer” but, yet again, the author makes sure it’s not required reading. This is mostly cute and character-driven, but humour is threaded through the piece and Ted especially — as all fathers everywhere — keeps you smiling. Occasionally just a teensy bit fluffy, but the writing is always worth it with this author.