Immature

Immature by Walkingcensure

Summary: Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter are seven years old, plump, cute, and innocent. Life for them is all about cake, ice cream, friendship bracelets, and premature vows of love. Humour, 8,713 Words.

Why You Should Care: Because it’s so cute! Mini!Marauders and Mini!Lily may just be the best things ever. There’s a wonderful ruefullness about reading this story, it takes you back to the dramas of being seven and all the crazy stuff you used to believe and it’s fun. Additionally, the author manages to keep all the characters pretty in character, and also passably young. It’s a nice gimmick, but done so well that it feels like more.

Why You Might Not Care: Vaguely AU. Also, small people are not everyone’s cup of tea. Plus, Lily/James.

Note: I haven’t actually been able to pin down Chelle about recs, but I guess I’ll just post as many as I can as often as I can until Chelle tells me not to…?

Surprises

Surprises by Lady Bracknell

Summary: Lily likes surprises, and this thing with James Potter has been positively filled with those. Drabble, 678 Words.

Why You Should Care: Ahhh… this tops up my James/Lily metre nicely.  It’s sweet, a bit romantic, and mostly sigh-worthy fluff.  Lady Bracknell’s just damn good at finding all those impossible little nothing moments that mean so much.

Why You Might Not Care: All about James/Lily for people who ship elsewhere.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by Nellie Darlin

Summary: The real reason Lily Evans keeps turning James Potter down?  She’s already sleeping with his best friend…. Romance/Drama, 18,890. (NC17)

Guest Rec’d By: Kira

Why You Should Care: A canon-compliant Lily/Sirius fic that manages to (fantastically!) document how Lily migrates from one Marauder to another without being dreadfully angsty or making her seem like a fickle shrew.  Nellie writes with an entrancing voice that creates perfect imagery and captivating characters.  What really wins me over is the excellent dynamics that she writes between the characters – Lily and her conundrum between James and Sirius – and how, despite it being a Lily/Sirius fic, she manages to fill in the transformational gaps for James from “arrogant, bullying toe-rag” to love of Lily’s life and the Lily/James moments are precious.  The final scene is possibly one of the best fanfiction end-offs I’ve ever read; it takes my breath away every time.

Why You Might Not Care: There’s not much here for people who can’t stand Lily/Sirius, but if you’re even mildly neutral towards the pairing, you’ll find this fic endearing.  There’s an OFC best friend for Lily, which is common enough in Marauder-era fics, and while this one’s a little bubbly, she doesn’t annoy and serves as an important plot device as opposed to others who are window-dressing Mary Sues.  Personally, I was initially a bit off-put by under-aged sex (16 y.o’s – but I frankly prefer to think that no one at Hogwarts is tapping any ass until they permanently leave the gates), but apparently that’s all the rage these days with young whippersnappers.

Haggis From Algernon

Haggic From Algernon by Vea and GhostOfBambi

Summary: The fic about nothing. Humour, 101,594 Words.

Why You Should Care: Because it’s funny, and there’s not enough funny left in this damned fandom. Part-crack, part-romance, part-cat!worship, this fic is two talented comic authors playing with Lily, James and the eponymous Algernon to whom I give my heart.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s almost crack, and, hard as they try, there’s no poignancy or worthiness. Not drink-safe.

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

Sirius Black, Super Genius

Sirius Black, Super Genius by Mistful

Summary: “A few weeks later with Valentine’s Day drawing inexorably nearer, it began to dawn on Remus that this did not appear to be one of the daydreams Sirius toyed with and then forgot about, like the time he wanted Dumbledore and McGonagall to get married and have superchildren.”  Humour, 8,953 Words.

Why You Should Care: I have no solid understanding of the precise agreed-upon meaning of the term “crackfic”, but if I had to describe what the word means to me, I would probably use this fic as Exhibit A.  And B.  Also C through Z.  This is one of those fics that zig-zags so violently across the line between comedy and parody that it becomes its own beast.  It’s completely over the top while still somehow managing to have a solid foundation under all that crack; this one doesn’t just bring the clichés, it practically invents new ones.  I can’t decide if Mistful is a genius or completely Sirius-Black insane.  Probably both.

Why You Might Not Care: I suppose it all depends on what you define as crackfic and whether or not you like crackfic.  I put forth only that in reading this I managed on several occasions to force hot tea through my nose in an attempt not to choke on my own laughter.

Twenty Random Facts About Lily and James

Twenty Random Facts About Lily and James by Thistlerose

Summary: Lily, James, and a popular LJ meme. Oneshot, 1,500 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is made up of the pieces that make a two people, and especially the pieces that make them work so well together.  Wonderful, brief glimpses into two lives cut short, and beautifully poignant without being indulgent.

Why You Might Not Care: Surprise!  It’s another list fic!  There’s also some non-essential but ridiculously blatant Remus/Sirius that definitely didn’t have to be there, but that’s Remus/Sirius for you.

Rush

Rush by Infinitesimal

Summary: He whispers, hot open mouthed kisses, and she tastes like cinnamon from her toast that morning and the butterbeer he had bought for her, ran all the way to Hogsmeade under his cloak and bought for her, just because she said she’d never tried one before. I want you to experience everything he’d told her, and she’d looked so innocent. Oneshot, 1,408 Words.

Why You Should Care: I know I recced Infinitesimal just the other day, but this fic is so noteworthy that I hope you’ll let it pass. This short and simple Lily/James piece is so richly emotive and carnally passionate that something within you stirs as you read it. At first glance it just feels like a pointless, mussed-haired moment, but the details about the emotions and facets of the characters give this piece light, shade and depth as the characters stand gingerly on the edge of the precipice.

Why You Might Not Care: Rated NC-17 and at times gets a little close to being a little PWP-ish, but mainly it’s character-driven, not porn-driven.

Once Upon a Time, In Winter

Once Upon a Time, In Winter by CatFoxBird

Summary: He had to see her, just once more. Oneshot, 1,923 Words.

Why You Should Care: I’m not really sure, actually, except that there’s something about it I quite like.  Maybe it’s the mixing of unrequited romance and creepiness that suits Snape’s character, and how — for a little while — his motives and plans for that night are seriously in question, and it feels like the story might move into darkfic territory in a hurry.  Wonderful tension that breaks on the lighter side.

Why You Might Not Care: I probably would have liked this fic even more if it had moved into darkfic territory, because there is serious potential to dive head-first into some obviously dark themes.  It would have been a different story, though.  And probably a different character.

41 Random Facts About James Potter

41 Random Facts About James Potter by Xylodemon

Summary: A few things James thinks you ought to know.  41 is an odd number, but that’s precisely the number of things James was willing to talk about. Oneshot, 2,200 Words.

Why You Should Care: It says 41 Random Facts and the setup is a listfic, but in actuality, this is more fic than list, and each point segways easily into the next.  This, I feel, is how listfics should really be done: with more emphasis on the word fic than list.  Xylodemon’s take on James is really quite excellent, and the portrait she paints of him is all-ecompassing in only 41 verses.  Very well done, and better than your average listfic.

Why You Might Not Care: There might be slash connotations dropped in here or there, but by and large they’re either not there at all or almost missable.  Scratching this fic off the list because of that would be an error, in my opinion.

Map of the Problematique

Map of the Problematique by SullenSiren

Summary: “He’s going to make it a RULE.” Before they went their separate ways, Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail shared a flat. The flat had rules. This is how it went. Drama, 15,406 Words.

Why You Should Care: I feel like I haven’t rec’d a good, general Marauder fic for ages, so here we go: this is an absolutely smashing fic about the Marauders in their few years between Hogwarts and the fall of Voldemort, as accompanied and illuminated by a list of rules on taped-together pieces of parchment. It’s quite an underhanded tragedy, how the war and their work for the Order and Dumbledore slowly tears these four boys apart. We see them when times are still good and when they are as tightly bound together as brothers; then we see them slip away from each other and watch each of them fall by the wayside. The huge gaps of time missed near the end of this fic and the silence it brings with it is just as poignant as the moments SullenSiren does show.

Why You Might Not Care: There’s blatant Remus/Sirius, and it deserves at least an R rating, and maybe an NC-17, for it, so be warned: those who do not like slash will wrinkle their nose. That’s really about it, though.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Popular Choice — Best Multi-Chaptered Fic; 2008 Hourglass Award, Admins’ Choice — Angst (tied)

The More Things Change

The More Things Change by Shimotsuki

Summary: Sirius Black has been unnervingly polite ever since Lily found herself actually kissing James Potter. Oneshot, 1,344 Words.

Why You Should Care: Because something of this sort probably would have happened.  James and Sirius’ friendship was so tight that Lily taking up a certain amount of James’ time must have upset the balance a bit, and it would have taken all the Marauders some time to adjust to this intrusion; Sirius taking it the hardest seems very accurate, considering his character.  The interaction on the tower between Lily and Sirius is well written, and Lily and Sirius’ characters are nicely portrayed; both of them are clearly defined without the author needing to explain to us in a long, dialogue heavy, angsty scene.  Well done.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s very to-the-point.  Perhaps a little *too* to-the-point.  The scene on the tower and at the breakfast table the next day are excellent, but I think I would have appreciated a little longer build.  A few more interactions between the five.  This seems too short.

The Enforcer

The Enforcer by EmilySavsTheDay

Summary: Lily becomes sick at a Quidditch match, and James comes to see her (but only after he’s done playing, of course). Oneshot, 3,870 Words.

Why You Should Care: Oh, the banter!  This is how I feel James and Lily really should be, you know.  I think the combative nature of their early relationship would have translated into glorious and hilarious Josh’n’Donna-esque pedeconfrence banter (for those of you who don’t know, that’s a West Wing reference there).  This is like that.  Two people of equal wit showing each other they care by way of carefully placed digs.  Love it.

Why You Might Not Care: That up there is my impression of these characters, I admit, and yours might be different; if so, this might strike you as out of character– though we know so little that it’s really all about personal preference when it comes to James and Lily, isn’t it?

Bouquets

Bouquets by ShootingStar

Summary: She still has the dried rose bouquets he sent her, you know. Back when he pursued her eagerly, happily, when he fed her corny pickup lines and tickled her at every opportunity. She never did throw the flowers out. She doesn’t know why. Oneshot, 1,258 Words.

Why You Should Care: ShootingStar really strikes a nerve here. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, she says, and I found myself with unexpected tears in my eyes. It’s Lily/James as it probably did happen; it’s not cliched, it’s realistic. Cleverly structured, using moments and memories, this is Lily’s maturity as she realizes just what she missed. And by including a moment of sweetness at the end, the author avoids this being pure angst and gives a message of hope.

Why You Might Not Care: Because you’re heartless. This is adorable in a tear-jerking kind of way.

Three

Three by ChristyCorr

Summary: “You ponder how you did this to yourself. There’s no one else to blame, but it’s just easier to take out your frustration on Death Eaters, garden gnomes and Alice Longbottom.” Oneshot, 4,568 Words.

Why You Should Care:  I’ve got this secret little addiction to fanfic that fills in some of the particulars of the prophecy, and this is probably one of my favorites.  Second person point-of-view is not the easiest way to write, but Christy pulls it off with aplomb.  Combined with a thoughtful — and not altogether typical — character design of Lily and heavy internal dialogue, this fic is a wonderful study of normal people in crisis, and of the nine month transition a woman goes on to become a mother.  Chock full of little revealing moments and clever asides.

Why You Might Not Care: Buggered if I know.

Awards: 2007 Hourglass Award, Best Drama — First Place.

Newton Knows Best

Newton Knows Best by EntirelyToo

Summary: Lily and James learn Newton’s Laws of Motion first hand. One Book in Motion tends to prevent two Objects Not in Motion from snogging in the stairwell… Humour, 16,628 Words.

Why You Should Care: Anyone who’s been to a Physics lesson will find themselves howling with laughter at this fic: it’s monumentally brilliant. This is the kind of plot bunny that appears at two in the morning in conversations with friends, and it takes a writer like EntirelyToo to pull it off with this much humour. It’s fluffy, funny, random in a good way (as opposed to a ‘why the hell?!’ way) and original. With huffy!Lily and teasing!James, you’ll never see Physics the same way again.

Why You Might Not Care: Pure fluff lies here. Nothing angsty. Nothing tear-jerking. If you don’t like to laugh, don’t look this way. (But do reconsider. Laughter is the best medicine, after all.)

Wild Things

Wild Things by Lady Balin

Summary: Lily encounters Padfoot, Wormtail, Moony, and Prongs in their animal forms. Hilarity, romance, and possibly some illicit groping ensue. Humour, 8,329 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is another one of those ideas that had never before occurred to me, but now seems so bloody obvious.  As the summary indicates, there is a twitch of romance, definitely some groping, and a heaping spoonful of hilarity.  I chuckled — I chuckled particularly hard at Peter’s chapter.  Very enjoyable situational comedy.

Why You Might Not Care: When you stop and really think about it, the plot is a little contrived, but such is all stuff worthy of situational comedy — it relies on one-in-a-million chances, strange coincidences, and having the absolute worst possible thing happen at exactly the moment you wouldn’t want it to happen.  The predictable nature is part of what makes it funny — don’t look too deep, that will just ruin it.

How To Write A Love Letter

How To Write A Love Letter by BlueBottleButterfly

Summary: James writes his first love letter. Well, he tries, anyway. One shot, 2,123 Words.

Why You Should Care: I’m a total sucker for this type of fic: silly and a bit mad, and just a bit of fun. This fic is a nice antidote to anything deep, meaningful or philosophical. Sirius and James are just teenage boys, hanging out, having a laugh, thinking about girls and themselves. There’s nothing intellectual about this fic. There’s nothing heart-stopping, or moving, or eye-opening. It’s just fun.

Why You Might Not Care: This characterisation of Sirius is a little cliched, and, as I mentioned, there’s nothing here for someone who wants a really meaty fic. Everything about this is light-hearted. Enjoy.

California

California by Q

Summary: She likes to smoke while she watches the sunset from the hill overlooking the Forbidden Forest. Oneshot, 717 words.

Why You Should Care: I have something of a bias here, because Lily/Sirius is my OTP, but truly, you don’t even need to ship it to love the delicacies of this fic. It’s all about the dialogue, all about what isn’t said. What I find truly interesting is, what they are saying appears to be pretty open: a lot of fics have them saying very bland things that mean a great deal, while here they open up, but their true meanings are still hidden. It’s so clever, I call it a real find.

Why You Might Not Care: Most people aren’t into Lily/Sirius, but unless you’re a virulent hater, this shouldn’t put you off. Although it’s a oneshot, I still reckon this fic could do with a little padding out; some of the beauty is lost merely by constrains of length. It’s not perfect, but it’s a diamond in the rough.

Solace

Solace by SecretLily

Summary: Lily Evans remained shadowed and distant from the world she loved so dearly. Control was Michael’s weakness; temptation hers. Yet, when James Potter enters her life, without so much as a warning or brief hesitation, Lily finds truth. For James Potter refused to give up on her. Work In Progress, 23,613 words.

Why You Should Care: This fic isn’t unique in its subject matter. There are dozens of fics where Lily’s dating a guy who totally doesn’t deserve her and treats her badly. But they don’t do this well. What I love about this fic is its subtlety. This fic doesn’t go straight in with domestic violence, but plays on the surface of emotional possession, meaning that (unusally, for this genre) Lily isn’t OOC: she’s soft and passionate and interesting, and SecretLily manages to show her as a supressed character, a masterstroke in my book. Not only that, but stylistically this fic is beautiful and captures moments with soft, unexpected imagery.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s true. This is another fic where Lily’s dating a total arsehole. And it’s incredibly angsty; I reckon this fic could do with a bit of humour to lighten the tone, but the characterization alone should be enough of a draw to read it.

The Platform

The Platform by Koonelli

Summary: ‘You must have loved her very much, not many people remember enough to wait.’ Oneshot, 1,861 Words.

Why You Should Care: What’s most amazing about this fic is that it was written prior to Deathly Hallows release (like, significantly prior), but uses some of the same imagery to set up the first phase of the afterlife — it’s actually become even more canon than it was before, which is highly unusual. The use of the little girl who assists the dead on their next great journey is wonderful, and I love the fuzziness of James’ memory. I’m not a very spiritual person, but I liked this.

Why You Might Not Care: Um… ah… *shrugs*. I think most people can get behind this one. Certainly James/Lily shippers will get more out of it than anyone else.