A Marauder’s Map

A Marauder’s Map by Xylodemon

Summary: Seven memories found in Sirius Black’s pensieve, one for each of his years at Hogwarts. Oneshot, 7,076 Words.

Why You Should Care: Xylodemon always delivers something worth a read, quite frankly, and these seven pinches from Sirius Black’s school-days is no exception.  There’s enough character to keep the boys defined, though this fic’s focus is Sirius in particular.  My favorite bits are the pranks — good Marauder pranks are difficult to come up with, especially ones that mix magical execution with light-hearted, boyish goals.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s a little overly generic, to tell the truth, though perhaps it wasn’t back when it was written in September 2005.  Similarly, a splash of Remus/Sirius is thrown in and then never really developed or explained, which makes its inclusion — for me — a little pointless, though die-hard Remus/Sirius shippers will probably disagree vehemently.

Stealing Harry

Stealing Harry by Copperbadge

Summary: “Harry didn’t see why sharing a street with strange Mr. Black should mean he couldn’t go into the bookshop. After all, nobody actually knew that he owned it, and he had it on good authority that the shop itself was mostly run by another man named Moony.” Novel Length, Alternate Universe, Approx. 85,000 Words.

Why You Should Care: Alternate Universes are fun. They’re fun to write and they’re fun to read, and Stealing Harry by Copperbadge is no different. It’s a well paced, fully developed and well thought-out universe that branches off canon without feeling too contrived. In addition, it features a complex and interesting Remus/Sirius that feels like a fresh and original take on an over-written pairing. Their characters are familiar yet different, as all well constructed AU characters are, and while this version of Sirius may feel too settled for some people’s tastes, there is something wonderful endearing about him as he navigates deeper into the unknown territory of this new romantic relationship.

Why You Might Not Care: I’m not thrilled with the characterisation of eight (and a half) year-old Harry in this fic. Most of the time he comes off as quite a but younger than that, except occasionally when he comes across as quite a bit older; never once in this fic did the dialogue given to him sound like it might actually have come from an eight year-old boy, or at least not any eight year-old boy I’ve ever known. Snape’s character is likewise somewhat distanced from the Snape we know from the books, but considering this was written in 2005 without some of the canon knowledge we have today, I think overall the AU nature of this fic justifies the characterisation enough to be going on with. Be mindful of a handful of NC-17 scenes throughout the latter half of this fic that are not at all worksafe.

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

Our Private Universe

Our Private Universe by Busaikko

Summary: Watch Remus, Peter said, look for evidence; but what Sirius found was something different. Christmas 1979. Romance/Angst, 12,000 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is so much more than slash. This is the most beautiful story I think I have ever read: it gives Remus a history and a humanity, and it gives Sirius a beautiful naiveté which is so fitting. The search for the spy is such an intriguing part of the Marauder story and the author’s gentle handling of it makes the final inevitability of it all the sadder. Unlike so many fics about this particular era, Busaikko uses our prior knowledge to make this beautiful tragedy, rather than powering through as if it were new. The characterisation is lovely, as is the raw emotion carried through it, complimented by the sweetness of falling in love and some unexpected humour. Perfect.

Why You Might Not Care: Slash, yes, yes, and rated for one short section towards the end. Which may or may not be required, depends on your perspective. Enjoy, m’loves.

Charmbreaker

Charmbreaker by Orange_Crushed

Summary: They smile and tell him that he’s grown, as if this were a real reunion; which is funny because he feels that he’s been shrinking, and that he won’t stop until he has reduced himself to nothingness, like a star. Oneshot, 6,571 Words.

Why You Should Care: Because everyone has said it at least once — “All Marauder stories are the same these days.” Well, not this one. Using the idea that Remus was made to leave Hogwarts after the Prank, Orange_Crushed spins a wonderful alternate reality. You really feel the wasted years slip by as Remus submerges himself into another life, not so much the Muggle world, but a strange balance as he carves his own niche. This story progresses wonderfully, and the events are such that I wouldn’t mind seeing them fleshing out into a chaptered fic. All of the supporting characters just feel right, and Remus himself is lovely. Lastly, and I hate to say it, things almost turn out better this way, for everyone involved; there is so much potential in the ending (and I love the phrasing in the final lines, so wonderful).

Why You Might Not Care: AU is just simply not some people’s cup of tea, and I can respect that — however, I do recommend that you look past your preferences and give it a try. It really is a jewel of a piece. Also, I think Remus/Sirius is implied here, but anything that alludes to it can be taken as a close friendship. It’s very slight.

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

This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours

This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours by Hackthis

Summary: “There’s only one story in the entire world and everything else is a variation thereof, so the idea that Sirius fell through the veil and died is just one potential ending out of hundreds of thousands. Remus doesn’t like that particular ending, so he’s going to choose another one.” Drabbles, 883 Words.

Why You Should Care: For the Remus/Sirius lover, this is six little connected snippets of heartbreaking AU gold. It’s straightforward, presenting each alternate scenario honestly and without frills instead of breaking into developed stories. Each one left me wishing it had happened that way instead, and they’re just so perfect. I’m finding it quite difficult to be eloquent about these. Just read them, you won’t be sorry.

Why You Might Not Care: There’s a brief moment of explicitness, and this is quite obviously slash. If you scoff at Remus/Sirius, this isn’t the story (or rather, stories) for you. Also, you might wish they had been longer: each one has the potential for a full-blown tale behind them. However, they work quite well as they are.

Tea Time

Tea Time by NovemberSnow

Summary: “Never knew werewolves were such fiends for tea.” Drabble Collection, 10 x 100 Words.

Why You Should Care: Ten beautifully interconnected 100 word drabbles about Remus, done just the way I like ’em: perfectly. The thread that strings these moments together is thin but strong, and while each of these drabbles could stand along perfectly well, together they are even better. Fine work from a fine fic author.

Why You Might Not Care: Remus/Sirius ahoy, mates. All G-rated, mind, but definitely there nonetheless.

Seven Things That Didn’t Happen On Valentine’s Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did

Seven Things That Didn’t Happen On Valentine’s Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did by Pru

Summary: “At seven thirty-six AM on February fourteenth, the giant squid climbed out of the Hogwarts lake, dragged itself in front of a nondescript part of the castle, and began to sing “Daisy”. Before the encore performance and right after a glorious vibrato finale, the squid dedicated the song to Severus Snape, who had appeared at one of the nondescript windows at twenty minutes ’till eight.” Valentine’s Day over seven years at Hogwarts. Humour/Romance, 25,256 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is so funny — and so Marauder. Of course they would have prank wars on Valentine’s Day. As ridiculous as it gets — trust me, the summary is only the start of things — you never stop believing that it could have happened. It’s equal parts romance and humour, with just a little bit of angst towards the end to keep the saccharine from becoming overwhelming. A perfect fic for today.

Why You Might Not Care: Some of the formatting is a bit off, but that’s a minor irritation. One of the seven sections runs quite longer than the rest, but it never stops being amusing. Also, this is quite decidedly Remus/Sirius, and though about half of the fic focuses on the actions of all four Marauders, the ship does take over at the end. If you’re not interested, don’t read it, but I highly recommend that you do; I love this fic.

If I’m A Fool For You

If I’m A Fool For You by Esinde Nayrall

Summary: On New Year’s Eve, Remus Lupin makes a promise to Sirius Black. Five days later, Remus Lupin makes a promise to himself. If he keeps them both, it will be the hardest thing he’s ever done. Romance, 84, 000 Words.

Why You Should Care: It’s hard to write Remus/Sirius originally: it’s all been done before, but this fic feels fresh. The author has very clear characterisations of Remus and Sirius and they’re quite out of the norm, and yet they fit perfectly with the adults we know they will grow into. But this fic is more than heartbreaking (which it is, by the way. There’s a whole load of angst. I cried. I never cry at fic.). James and Peter are also really well characterised; these feel like real people and the way they react to different situations is also very real. Not to be missed.

Why You Might Not Care: There’s slash. Lots of slash. Some NC-17 slash. Quite a bit of NC-17 slash, actually. And also, angst that makes you want to die, just to stop it. And a rubbish attempt at using the Black Family Tree. As in, Sirius’ mother is Cassiopeia and his uncle Alphard is dating a guy called Marius. But yes. Read this fic, it’s fabulous.

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)

World Without End

World Without End by Kitestringer

Summary: Albus has no need for Legilimency to know this, to know what Remus and Sirius were to each other. He’d might as well be looking in a long-ago mirror. Drabble, 645 Words.

Why You Should Care: It’s so patently obvious when she points it out, and yet you feel like she’s slapped you in the face. Ever word of this drips with dreadful, raw emotion. Every bit of Albus’ pain is laid bare, reflected in Remus’ loss, and you start to understand just what must happen when good people are deceived by their own hearts. This piece rips you to shreds. Beautiful, but terrible.

Why You Might Not Care: Major angst. Major angst. Beware.

Faded Laughter

Faded Laughter by Mary Borsellino

Summary: Ginny finds a portrait in the attic. Oneshot, 1,386 Words.

Why You Should Care: This fic almost brought tears to my eyes. The premise is that Ginny finds an old portrait of Sirius in the attic, and the way it’s told is so sweet and quintessential. Young!Sirius is so filled with energy and passion, and this is contrasted by the almost lethargic Ginny that we meet: so young and yet so old. And there are these fabulous moments, like when Ginny thinks that she could be infatuated by Sirius’ charm, or when Sirius refers to the Weasleys as ‘spawn’. Particular kudos for using Ginny and not Harry, the more obvious choice. It’s nice to see her with some true emotion and sensitivity.

Why You Might Not Care: A little too short to give as much impact. Plus Mary Borsellino falls into the old trap of just having to include a moment of Remus/Sirius. But it’s nicely handled and actually adds somewhat to the fic.

Being An Historical Record of Events Surrounding the Unfortunate Truth-Or-Dare Game of February the Twenty-Second, and Consequences Thereof

Being An Historical Record of Events Surrounding the Unfortunate Truth-Or-Dare Game of February the Twenty-Second, and Consequences Thereof by MoonPants

Summary: “He was aware not only of James’s grin, but that Peter was smiling and sitting forward, too — and oh, God, so was Sirius. All of them grinning, laughing a little, waiting to hear the outcome of another good — if slightly cheap — joke of James’s. For a brief, terrifying moment, Remus found that he hated every last one of them. They were bastards and they had no idea and he hated them.” Mostly Humour, 26,905 Words.

Why You Should Care: While I don’t particularly adore slash, every once in a while I come across one I thoroughly enjoy and — as per usual — it’s a Remus/Sirius fic.  This one in particular is a nice read, with nice characterisations of each of the Marauders (we-ell… for the two-point-four seconds Peter’s in the story, he seems well characterised, anyway) and a nice build up into the steamy bits.  It kept my attention throughout, made me laugh regularly, and it was interesting to follow Sirius on his journey through this one.  MoonPants also gives us a reason for James and Co. being so damn comfortable with homosexuality, and while it’s a bit plot devicey it is still there, which is more than I can say for a lot of slash fic.  Also?  Props for the guts to give this fic the longest title I’ve ever seen.

Why You Might Not Care: Well, this is for the slash lovers here.  It’s also NC-17 slash, just so no one’s surprised, with a couple of Not-Work-Safe sections.  The author warns that a lot of the plot elements have been “stolen” from other stories — and there are a few cliches here, make no mistake — but she carries them off with good enough writing that you don’t really notice them so much. 

One Bowl of Kisses

One Bowl of Kisses by Victoria P

Summary: Remus kisses him, a tender thing, all soft breath and chapped lips. Oneshot, 1,134 words.

Why You Should Care: It’s adorable! It’s Remus/Sirius and it’s fluffy with a little bit of angst and it’s so damned cute! I just want to gather this fic up in my arms and hug it, because it’s so damned lovely. The style’s nice too: Victoria P uses lots of different little twists of literary devices so that each mini-section feels fresh and individual, and yet it’s wonderfully cohesive. Ah. It’s just so wonderful.

Why You Might Not Care: Look away now if you don’t like slash. This is a bit of Remus/Sirius slash and if you don’t like it then there’s really nothing here for you at all. But if you can bear slash, this fic is perfection.

Two Men To Make One Brother

Two Men To Make One Brother by Jamesly

Summary: He, Sirius, he is the heir; he is the one to carry the name and the fortune and the status, not Regulus, with his runny nose, curling toes, and doughy cheeks. Oneshot, 3,120 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is an excellent story about two brothers who both love and hate each other for reasons that only make sense to siblings. Mostly, though, it’s the story of the younger of the two; Sirius’ POV provides us with both prologue and epilogue like bookends, but Regulus is the one we get to know the best. They experience the range of emotions most siblings do — jealously, affection, fraternity — and Regulus struggles as he tries not to notice Sirius drift farther and farther away. In the end, though, no matter how much we’d like to hate our family, we still somehow love them anyway, because they are family; Jamesly nails the mix perfectly.

Why You Might Not Care: There is some Remus/Sirius slash used to drive the wedge even further. Personally, I don’t think it was needed — I think the piece would have been more powerful without something so taboo and anvilicious to sink the nail, but if it could have been simply the drift of choice that sent Sirius and Regulus in two different directions. The slash is there, however, for better or worse, though it isn’t the focus by any stretch.

The Shortest Distance Between Two People

The Shortest Distance Between Two People by Riko

Summary: In which Sirius learns that growing up isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds. Oneshot, 8,054 Words.

Why You Should Care: If The Shoebox Project was only text, told entirely from Sirius’ POV, and around 100,000 words shorter, this is probably what it would be. I love the way this has been structured as a series of brief moments, conversations, and events in Sirius’ life. The major things are there, but they fall into the background because when you’re a teenager the big things are less the point than the smaller, day-to-day things. This is a very believable story about a boy growing up and growing into himself, and the slash is done very well. Sirius and Remus are entirely boys to whom the concept is vaguely terrifying and wrong, but can’t quite help themselves. I like the lingering sense of unease this fic ends on, as if the author has left it up to us to decide whether or not Sirius and Remus ever do make a real go of it after The Prank, and I wonder if maybe it’s too far out of the realm of possibility to think maybe they didn’t — that maybe some things and some betrayals are too big to get over. The writing is fabulous, and though the framework is entirely Sirius, you get a feeling for each of the Marauders as Sirius sees them, and the language is brilliant. Fantastic all the way around.

Why You Might Not Care: There’s a steamy little scene in an abandoned classroom people who don’t do slash won’t enjoy, but there’s more here than just the slash, and I heartily suggest all readers give it a read. It’s very, very good, and captures the transitional teenage years amazingly well.

Awards: 2008 Hourglass Award, Admins’ Choice — Drama

25 Stories Penknife Never Wrote About the Marauders

25 Stories Penknife Never Wrote About the Marauders by Penknife

Summary: In which Penknife successfully avoids signing up to write 100 stories about the Marauders, and merely sums up instead. All prompts taken from the fanfic100 table. Humor, Drabble Collection, 1,284 Words.

Why You Should Care: Penknife not only pokes fun at the Marauder genre fiction in this one, but at her own fiction as well.  Remus/Sirius are most particularly highlighted in this little parody, and the concept of fanfic100 is also made canon fodder by in this good-natured comedy of cliches.

Why You Might Not Care: If you’re not a parody person, or dislike slash so much you can’t even read about it when it’s being mocked.  This is like a little commentary on a Remu/Sirius fic you can’t remember the name of but are sure you read.

Grasp

Grasp by Laura Smith

Summary: The dead don’t dream. Drabble, 509 Words.

Why You Should Care: The thought that Sirius might be trapped forever in a purgatory such as this breaks my heart a little, because I feel he has earned his rest and not the pain of being this flimsy, half-formed ghost. It’s unclear whether or not the people Sirius spies upon are real or ghosts of souls themselves, but I think that is as Smith intended. The language is sweeping, like the wind-blown folds of the cloaks of Dementors, and there is the tang of restlessness throughout. The observation that “Arthur is not made for heroism, but he stands there as he always did” is just… wow. It made the hairs on the back of my neck tingle in that way only amazing prose can.

Why You Might Not Care: This is touched (slightly more than only vaguely) with Remus/Sirius slash connotations, but it compliments the piece nicely rather than takes away from it. It is a softer angst, but angst never-the-less, and herein there are no happy endings.

The Shoebox Project

The Shoebox Project by Dorkorific and LadyJaida

NOTE: The Shoebox Project LJ community has been hacked. The link that purportedly points to a “new” archive actually points to a keystroke-logging virus. Until the community has been restored, I’ve pointed the link to a place where you can download Shoebox chapters in PDF format.

Summary: A multi-media Remus/Sirius extravaganze, with plenty of James, Lily and Peter thrown in to make things extra-fun. Novel Length, Probably over 100,000 Words.

Why You Should Care: This is… this is the Remus/Sirius fanfic, people. There is no other better, no other more in depth, and no other that is more realistic. If it was canon, this is how it would have been. Dorkorific and LadyJaida never forget that these are teenagers in the 70s to whom the idea of homosexuality is not an entirely comfortable one, and the coming together of Remus and Sirius is achingly slow; at some places, they almost move backwards. But every section of this fic is so fantastically well written — like a huge collection of smaller stories that link together — that it probably wouldn’t matter if Remus and Sirius never figured it out, because there are plenty of other reasons to stay and read this. It is romantic, completely comical, but 100% real and I adore it. The characters are all fantastically written, and each has their own distinctive personality (which is often a difficult thing to find in Marauder fics) and I love it. Love, love, love it. There are notes between friends, diary entires, and dozens of fantastically drawn “photos” of the golden age of the Marauders. I love it.

Why You Might Not Care: It’s addictive. When you start, it’s very difficult not to stop. It’s also still a work in progress, and sometimes there are significant lags in between updates. But it the end it is all worth it, because this is easily one of the top five Marauder fics I have ever read. If you are one of the very, very few people who hasn’t already found this, make some time and get over there and read it for God sakes, in case the internet collapses in on itself and The Shoebox Project disappears forever. Go. NOW.

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

Redeeming Time

Redeeming Time by Minx (Thanks to gomita23 for the new link!)

Summary: In the year after Sirius plays his trick on Snape, James and his friends confront changes in themselves, in their relationships, and in those around them. Novel Length, Oneshot, 45,725 Words.

Why You Should Care: Another author tackles the impossible task of the Marauders during their last couple of years at school. What she does not do is give us every excruciating detail, but rather writes four stories that connect into one larger one. This is most assuredly a Remus/Sirius and a James/Lily, but it’s all told from James’ POV, which is an unusual choice for a slash fic. It makes the slash much more palatable for those of us who don’t usually read it, and what’s really well done is that James has to do some mental adjustments as he finds out the truth about Sirius, and later Remus, which is what any young man would have to do when confronted about this by two of his best friends. James has trouble adjusting, and while it might not be as much as real life, it is there where usual slash just sort of bypasses the awkwardness of the situation without a word. Also, I adore James’ parents in this fic, and for the rest of my life I will always believe that his mother was a painter and had just such a room full of paintings of James, canon be damned.

Why You Might Not Care: The slash is all above board, and while it only just scrapes the delicate chastity of a kiss, it’s most definitely there and dominates the story. The boys seem a little too young throughout, like fourteen or fifteen year-old versions of themselves instead of sixteen and seventeen, and Peter is conspicuously and often absent, but in the end I enjoyed it despite all that, so good on Minx. Me and slash don’t typically get along so well.

The Taste of Apples

The Taste of Apples by Setissma

Summary: Remus is in love with someone she isn’t, Tonks has the wrong eyes, and Harry Potter smiles. Implied Slash, 3,750 Words.

Why You Should Care: It’s just… an interesting idea that doesn’t make any sense at all, yet makes a lot of sense at the same time. I don’t know how this fic does it, but it manages to be Remus/Sirius and Remus/Tonks almost in the exact same moments. It’s just very original, and while I’m not typically a huge slash fan, this fic just drew me right in. The author does a great job making you sympathetic to Remus while at the same time hating him just a little bit for using Tonks.

Why You Might Not Care: Those who don’t like slash, probably not your best bet. It’s transitional, and there is no actual slash shown, but it’s not under the radar either. The style of this may not appeal to everyone: it feels almost poetic in places, and the author likes to play with language. It’s also just a little bit… strange.