Man of Property

Man of Property [Part One] [Part Two] by Josan PQ

Summary: After the war, an injured veteran Severus Snape finds sanctuary. AU, 7,000 Words.

Why You Should Care: There’s something very human about this story, something warm that we can all engage with. It seems to deal with the trivial facts of one man’s attempts to return to reality, but occasionally it seamlessly slips into something deeper where it has the ability to shed some light on darker topics. Extra points for exciting facts about House-Elves.

Why You Might Not Care: Written pre-DH so Snape Lives. Gratuitious pretty house-porn, and also gratuitious house-elves.

Now or Never

Now or Never by QueenB23

Summary: “Scorpius Malfoy, who was a Slytherin and a pureblood.  Who, even worse, was the son of Draco Malfoy, a man that her parents barely tolerated when they saw each other in public.” Novel Length Work in Progress, 94,000 Words (and counting).

Why You Should Care: Queen B does not go the predictable route here, spending thousands upon thousands of words in the long slow build up that at long last comes to fruition as Rose and Scorpius inevitably realize their feelings for each other.  Instead, she brings us in minutes before they come together and writes us a story that is equal parts about the now or never nature of teenage love and the complexities of loving across the Romeo-and-Juliet lines of family history and hostility.  Rose and Scorpius are fantastically realized, both as lovable and fallible as real people, and Queen B has given equal consideration to her supporting cast of youngsters and adults alike; parents Hermione and Ron are particularly wonderfully crafted, and their interaction with their daughter on the issue of the Malfoys is true to their character, personalities, and history.  A hopelessly romantic and carefully realistic portrayal of what Scorpius/Rose might really be like, and a unashamed exploration of the charming angst and desperation of teenage love.

Why You Might Not Care: I have hesitated so long in reccing this because it’s a work in progress, and I generally don’t rec unfinished works.  That is more a guideline than a hard and fast rule, however, and I feel this fic is well worth following.  At times, this fic seems to get lost in the sometimes too-passionate day-to-day comings and goings of Rose and Scorpius, but isn’t that exactly what teenage love is all about, really?  Love at sixteen and seventeen has always been that sort of I didn’t see you yesterday and it was just terrible, how did I ever endure it kind of thing, and so the silliness that frequently irks me also delights me because of its honesty.  Heads up for scenes with NC-17 content peppered throughout, starting somewhere around the ninthish chapter.

Thanks to:  So many people who rec’d this to me several times over, including most of the UR.org Roomies, especially Erin and Liz.

Untitled

Untitled by Fernwithy

Summary: “Andromeda had no trouble finding Draco and his son in the waiting room.” Drabble, 725 Words.

Why You Should Care: There is something completely awesome about the Draco Malfoy Fernwithy creates in this little off-the-cuff ficlet.  Completely awesome. Draco usually leaves me feeling all *meh* inside, but this Draco I could read about at length.  There’s depth and maturity there that reach all the way through his cameo in the epilogue and down beyond into the core of the books, pulling in just enough influence from Lucius and Narcissa to makes it all add up.  Officially my favorite Draco characterization ever, and I hope all the Draco fangirls out there will remember that I avoid Draco fics like the plague before they spam me with what they think are better ones.

Why You Might Not Care: Um…. eh?  Fernwithy was rec’d here just the other day, but we could all just consider it random clumping and get over it.

Teddy Lupin and the Forest Guard

Teddy Lupin and the Forest Guard by Fernwithy

Summary: This story follows Teddy Lupin through his first year at Hogwarts. Novel Length, over 100,000 Words.

Guest Rec’d By: Auds

Why You Should Care: Fernwithy writes an amazing Teddy, one who seems age appropriate and reminiscent of an 11-year-old Harry Potter, yet without feeling like a total copy of JKR’s work. The new characters she introduces seem like they always existed in this universe and were just waiting to be introduced by her. The relationships between the characters are all so rich and carefully thought-out that it makes for a touching and emotional story. Humor is also nicely done in this story, as is drama — but without it ever moving into slapstick or angst.

Why You Might Not Care: Well, perhaps you’re bored with Teddy or you don’t have room in your head for another amazing Teddy characterization. Or perhaps the format of the chapters and all the back-clicking you’ll have to do will turn you off of it. Don’t let those two things keep you from experiencing this masterpiece, though — it’s fantastic.

Home Invader

Home Invader by Ichthyosaur

Summary: Ron is home alone with Rosie and Hugo when a spider attacks!  Humour, Oneshot, 1,856.

Guest Rec’d By: Kira

Why You Should Care: Fangirls, rejoice!  Daddy!Ron is the sex.  The over-the-top reaction that Ron and little Rosie have to the intrusive spider is hilarious and their interaction whilst facing off the spider with their brave Gryffindor courage is adorable.   Ichthyosaur does a delightful job of placing our favourite characteristics each from Ron and Hermione and reflecting what home life would be like in the Granger-Weasley family, post-Epilogue – filled with Gryffindor courage and makeshift kitchen armour!

Why You Might Not Care: Epilogue fics aren’t suited for everyone, particularly those about the next generation.  However, the fic stands strong on its own without the Epilogue (read: without the names Rose and Hugo pulled from those pages.)  It’s just a splendid read to see Ron in a father/daughter situation; guaranteed to resonate with anyone who has an arachnophobic significant other or offspring.

Variations on a Happily Ever After

Variations on a Happily Ever After by GM Weasley

Summary: All was eventually well, but it took nineteen years to get there. Drabble Collection, 7,400.

Why You Should Care: This is a wonderful series of drabbles centered around the women of the Harry Potter universe and life beyond the epilogue. Insightful, thoughtful, and occasionally even mundane, these little snatches of the painfully ordinary process of moving on after the end of the story are well worth your time. Angelina’s thoughts on her wedding are particularly well done.

Why You Might Not Care: These drabbles could have been tighter, and occasionally they suffer from awkward syntax. A couple of passes from a sharp-eyed beta would have alleviated this problem.

A Little More Time

A Little More Time by Jess Pallas

Summary: Was it possible to save two lives without altering history? Was it possible to give them a future twenty years after they had supposedly died? Teddy Lupin thought so…. Novel Length, 120,029 Words.

Why You Should Care: This, I suppose, technically classifies itself as AU, though to be fair there’s actually nothing in it that contradicts the canon of the books — that is, after all, rather the whole point. This is one of the only Remus-and-Tonks-didn’t-die fictions I’ve ever read, and it is by far my favorite. The characters are well realized and the plot is engaging — the young man Teddy Lupin has been especially lovingly crafted to inherit pieces of both his father and his mother. Remus and Tonk’s relationship has received the same kind of attention, and in a lot of places I forgot that it wasn’t JKR I was reading.

Why You Might Not Care: NoblePrat!Remus ahoy! I love him and feel canon justifies him, but some people might not agree. And if NoblePrat!Remus bothers you, there’s a good chance NoblePrat!Teddy will too….

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

When September Comes Again

When September Comes Again by AuntBijou

Summary: Life comes full circle for everyone, even Muggles.  Oneshot, 1,222 Words.

Why You Should Care: These sorts of genfics are always fantastic.  It includes exactly zero canon characters, yet is completely canon, and it just warms your heart right up.  Original characters and ideas written like this are why I love fanfiction as much as I do.  It’s lovely to see that someone else thinks about those Muggles that live their lives so close to the magical world that they must be at least a little aware of it, even though they’ll never be a part of it.

Why You Might Not Care: I can’t think of a single reason.

Cauterize

Cauterize by Lady Altair

Summary: “In truth, Harry’s photograph is the least interesting of all.” Drabble Collection, 1, 496 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is post-DH stress syndrome written through pictures, and gives a really realistic sense of being a survivor, trying to pick up the pieces of the war. Dennis Creevey is, like every character he photographs, just trying to find a way to return to normal, and the struggles are beautifully and subtly portrayed. There’s almost no description of feeling, it’s all about the visual: show not tell to perfection. Lady Altair’s skill as a writer is clear in this well-crafted piece.

Why You Might Not Care: I don’t really know. If you can stomach post-DH writing, and most people can, if they try hard, this is well worth reading.

Box, Opened

Box, Opened by Halrloprillalar

Summary: Girls and politics. Drabble, 100 Words.

Why You Should Care: It’s a Harry Potter/Adrian Mole crossover. It’s a 100 word drabble. It’s by that girl that did the Snape-counsels-gay-Hogwartians drabble (recced here 07.01.08). It’s funny, and rips the piss out of canon (in a good way) and Dumbledore features.

Why You Might Not Care: No content, no meaning, no worthy messages. It’s, basically, a witty one-liner. But what’s wrong with that? Also, will make no sense if you haven’t read Adrian Mole. However, if you haven’t, do.

A Life in a Box

A Life in a Box by RedSioda

Summary: “Daddy, this is the best story in the whole world.” Oneshot, 4,116 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is really, really lovely.  It’s the story of the importance of family history and of knowing where you come from and being proud of it at the same time you create your own life and your own history.  This is a beautiful piece about the Longbottoms, and about the things we pass on that come to be so much more than just things.  It is about family tradition, and about hanging on to and letting go of the past, and about the importance of story-telling.  And, at the centre of all that, RedSioda has very thoughtfully created the middle-aged character of Neville and his growing family on the basis of JKR’s spoken canon.

Why You Might Not Care: This is a Neville/Hannah (though the ship is by no means the centre of this fic) and might make some staunch Neville/Luna shippers unhappy for that reason.

The Rules of Being a Godson

The Rules of Being a Godson by Copperbadge

Summary: Teddy Lupin never gets too close or feels too much; his godfather’s son never does anything else. Drama/Romance, 12,329 Words.

Why You Should Care: Whether you know him as Sam the Storyteller, SamVimes,or Copperbadge, there is no denying that this author is gold. Previously recced on Coffee and Chocolate for his humour masterpiece, Sublimation and the Snitch, he is perhaps better known for his excellent slash romances, and this piece does not disappoint. Action! Drama! Longing! All in Copperbadge’s wonderfully straightforward style. This is excellent, and the reason I ship Teddy/James about the same as Teddy/Victoire.

Why You Might Not Care: Beware, there are kissing boys in this fic. Also, it was written approximately twenty-four hours after the release of Deathly Hallows, and as such, might not adhere to all interview canon, though nothing leapt out at me during my re-read.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Best Slash Romance — First Place

September When It Comes

September When It Comes by SundanceKid

Summary: Seven years at King’s Cross for Teddy Lupin. Oneshot, 4,577 Words.

Why You Should Care: It just feels so right. Teddy grows up just like any boy might, and my heart was full of love for him by the end. Appearances by others felt very well characterised and realistic, notably Andromeda and Harry, and… it’s just such a good read. You know that full feeling in your chest that’s equal parts triumph and ache? Yeah. SundanceKid’s got that down to a tee.

Why You Might Not Care: If you don’t really care about the Next Generation, you won’t read this fic, and that’s fine. (Otherwise… go.)

A Brief History of a Beautiful Friendship

A Brief History of a Beautiful Friendship by Gingeraled

Summary: “That’s when you decided you had to keep her close by. She was a Weasley and a Gryffindor, and a half-blood at that (which only really mattered when you were speaking to Grandfather) but she had managed to beat a Malfoy.” Oneshot, 2,489 Words.

Why You Should Care: A lot of authors have jumped into giving the next generation whatever personality they see fit, but I love Gingeraled’s Scorpius Malfoy. He’s breaking away from his family’s legacy, but is still so… Malfoy. Rose Weasley is good as well. This isn’t a long and well-developed romance, but it does lead up to the point without throwing it at you incongruously. One of the best versions of this pairing that I’ve seen.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s next gen, it’s Scorpius/Rose; you might not be into that kind of thing. It’s fluffy; you might not be into that kind of thing. Also, there’s a little bit of PG-13 talk for about four lines which just… doesn’t seem to fit with the fairly innocent tone of the rest of the piece. However, that’s brief, and not nearly enough to offset the entire fic.

Aftermath

Aftermath by Georgie

Summary: The rain is like the aftermath. Drabble, 100 Words.

Why You Should Care: Every schoolchild learns about pathetic falacy and the use of weather and changing seasons to show emotion. Here the author uses weather as more, as a symbol of something nearly tangible that Ginny holds onto in her fight back to normality. Like all great drabbles, it says so much with so little. Exquisite.

Why You Might Not Care: Don’t like drabbles, don’t like Ginny, don’t like weather.

All Our Tomorrows

All Our Tomorrows by Sandrine

Summary: Glimpses of Rose, over the years: she doesn’t know it yet, but it was always going to happen like this. Oneshot, 4,697 Words.

Why You Should Care: It’s amazing how quickly ships can arise in a fandom after what amounts to a glorified list of names.  The last chapter of Deathly Hallows has spawned more pairings (both plausible and outlandish) than any other single chapter, and because we don’t know anything about these characters other than their parentage, it’s much easier to allow for “anything goes”.  Scorpius/Rose has become a nice outlet for the closet (and not-so-closet) Draco/Hermione shippers, and this, at least, I don’t find that unbelievable.  Life has a way of working out just this way sometimes.  The interaction between Rose and Draco is particularly on-model, I think.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s a largely generic xxx/yyy ship fic with a few moments of character commentary, and while the writing is of good quality, it won’t blow your mind.  It pokes and prods at a family’s private stereotypes, but probably not nearly as much as it should.

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*

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.

Seven Looks at Luck, Life and Love

Seven Looks at Luck, Life and Love by Thirty2Flavors

Summary: Seven different looks at luck, life & love with Teddy Lupin. Drabble Collection, 1,262 Words.

Why You Should Care: A brief but effective set of seven drabbles centred around Teddy Lupin as a boy. Thirty2Flavors gives us a very real, honest telling of what it might be like to be a young orphaned boy who is both like Harry and not like Harry, and what it might be like for him to grow up as an ordinary boy raised by heroes. As the old cliche goes, the grass is always greener, and I don’t hesitate to say that Thirty2Flavors has a particular talent for brevity that makes me sigh pleasantly — when you choose to use few words, every single one suddenly seams like it should matter. Here, they all do.

Why You Might Not Care: The first fic I’ve rec’d here centred around a New Generation character. If that’s not your cup of tea and you prefer to stay with the characters we know, this might not seem very interesting to you. You should read it, though. Because I said so, obviously.