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.

The Elusive Snorkack

The Elusive Snorkack by Kethlenda

Summary: There’s something unsaid and unresolved, something suspended in the air between them, and though she’s rarely at a loss for words she’s not sure which ones to use now.  Oneshot, 2,200 Words.

Why You Should Care: It was a ship nobody really saw coming — that no one could have seen coming, really — and it didn’t take long for the fic to start.  Chance and circumstance threw Luna and Dean together, and while Jo has suggested they might not be forever, there does seem to be a little something sparking there.  Kethlenda writes Luna in many of the same ways JKR does, and while this piece would technically be from Luna’s POV, it’s a limited POV that follows her instead of getting inside her head.  The “Luna-ness” comes from the dialogue and the details, and I have to say it’s one of the best Luna stories I’ve read in some time; she’s terribly difficult to write well, but Kethlenda seems to do so with ease.  This is a story about transition: of people out of war and of people into relationships.  Quite nice.

Why You Might Not Care: There’s actually very little “shippyness” in here.  It’s there, and it’s sort of the main subject, but I found the subtext more compelling.  This is more Luna’s story than Dean’s, but Luna’s the sort of character who naturally dominates almost any scene she’s in, so I’m not terribly surprised.  Even in the canon, the presence of Luna has a tendency to shift the focus: we don’t lose Harry, but he doesn’t have our full and complete attention like he usually does.  It’s funny how there are some supporting characters that just always do that.