Recent Entries

Entry tags:

Gen Rec: one thing (or the other) by rougeatre

title: one thing (or the other)

author: rougeatre

rating: T

tags/content: slightly meta i suppose, all dialogue between women, Female Friendship, Femslash

summary: "It’s men that started this war, and it won’t be men who end it. It will be women. Do you hear me? Women, like you and me."

wordcount: 7k

rec notes: This is an absolutely breathtaking character piece, but it's more than just that: layered through the story of Lily's relationships with other women over the course of her life is rich insight into the way the magical world and the war might shape a woman's life, her choices. The language of this fic is just incredible and it's left me with something ponderous weighing at my chest - sadness, because of course this is canon compliant, but also it's that this fic tapped into real heart, absolute emotional realism. Masterful, tbh.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: 100,000 Galleons by bixgirl1

title: 100,000 Galleons

author: bixgirl1

rating: E

tags/content: Travel, Seduction, Pining, Oblivious Harry, Falling In Love, Humor, wanking, Voyeurism, light D/s elements, Dirty Talk, Bottom Harry, Oral Sex, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, Rimming

summary: When a weekend with Harry gets purchased at a Bachelor charity auction by Malfoy, he's sure the trip is going to be filled with disaster.

And it is. It really is.

Just... maybe not in the ways he thought.

wordcount: 28k

rec notes: Alright we all know I have some specific weaknesses and I keep forgetting that bachelor auctions is one of them.

but yeah.

god this is my favorite most recent thing I've read though!!! It's SO fun - Harry and Draco's muggle activities shenanigans - and the UST, and the bit of relationship conflict that gets fully explained at the end and makes perfect sense and nothing has ever been more satisfying to me?? also Harry is so fucking stupid, my stupid horny son, smh

anyway but really this is really really fun PLEASE read it and enjoy it as much as I did (if you haven't yet) :^)))

Entry tags:

Anthony/Zacharias Rec: You Know What I Mean by kingdra (aroceu)

title: You Know What I Mean

author: kingdra (aroceu)

rating: T

tags/content: Hogwarts Eighth Year, Quidditch, Getting Together

summary: The only reason Zacharias was going back to Hogwarts was because Anthony Goldstein had Owled him that he would, that McGonagall had told him that they were going to have Quidditch for the next year, and that Ravenclaw was going to beat Hufflepuff for the Quidditch Cup.

wordcount: 9k

rec notes: With apologies to my co-mod, who wrote this, but the time has come to embarrass you. This is one of those fics I've read over and over again, and not just because it was a gift for me. It's one of those gems that hits all the right notes that a getting together fic ought to: all the beats of establishing the friendship, subtly putting it into "what are we" territory, and building to crisis point. There's Quidditch and rivalry and banter, there's a kiss that's both sweet and funny and a little frustrating, and it's eighth year, so honestly what more could you want? Even if you're not usually minor character oriented, I would heartily recommend diving in and giving it a read, for something short, satisfying, and perfectly formed.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: Partners of the Four-Legged Variety by carpemermaid

title: Partners of the Four-Legged Variety

author: carpemermaid

rating: E

tags/content: Crups (Harry Potter), Auror Harry Potter, Crup Trainer Draco Malfoy, Living Together, Domestic Fluff, Domestic Bliss, Banter, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Flirting, Innuendo, Praise Kink, Dirty Talk, Anal Fingering, Rimming, Romance, Getting Together, Post-War, Post-Hogwarts, Puppies, H/D Pet Fair 2016, Pining Harry Potter, Pining Draco Malfoy, Courtship, Dating, Implied Switching, Slow Burn, Bottom Harry, Top Draco Malfoy

summary: “Training starts in the home, Potter, so your new Crup and I will need to stay with you for a few weeks while I show you how to properly train and bond with him.”

The Auror Department is instating a K9 Crup Unit, and Harry is the first to sign up. Turns out the professional trainer is Draco Malfoy, and he has to live with Harry as part of the Crup training programme.

wordcount: 18k

rec notes: okay so YES I do have a special weakness for animal related fics... crup trainer Draco is so good though. His professionalism is so in-character, and hilariously contrasts with Harry's propensity to just being spoiling and loving. I also super loved that not-so-hinted praise kink in there, with this fic about dogs, It Is Ideal. Also while there is domesticity it doesn't really drag on and is paced nicely for an 18k fic and is a super enjoyable read!

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: Draco's Delicious Dilemma by darkmagicalgirl

title: Draco's Delicious Dilemma

author: darkmagicalgirl

rating: T

tags/content: Not Epilogue Compliant, Future Fic, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés

summary: Draco Malfoy bravely deals with new coffee shops, Harry Potter, low-sympathy coworkers, feelings, free muffins, Looks, and some extremely rude signage.

wordcount: 5k

rec notes: I'm not a huge fan of coffee shop AUs, so believe me when I say: if you read only one, make it this. It stands out from your usual because the characters are clueless adults, not clueless teens - no offence, but that's not my cup of tea, if you'll pardon the pun - and instead of someone working at a coffee shop to make ends meet, you have Harry running one in Hogsmeade as a retreat from the world, which he sorely needs. This is played off against Hogwarts Prof Draco, who has two braincells and has to use both of them to fight a talking sign (a lovely worldbuilding touch) and work out that Harry's into him. Laugh out loud funny, a quick read, and high reread value.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: The Vanishing Department by dicta_contrion

title: The Vanishing Department

author: dicta_contrion

rating: E

tags/content: Forced Proximity, Bickering, Fighting, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Kissing, First Time, Light Bondage, Blow Jobs, Rimming, Resolved Sexual Tension, Getting Together, unusual careers, Post-War

summary: The things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, even if that involves a lot more form-filling, bickering, covert glancing, miscommunication, and flying furniture than we might expect.

wordcount: 48k

rec notes: I love this for a lot of reasons, primarily because I love the irony of Draco working at a department wrt Vanishing because of his Vanishing Cabinet shit; and also because there are lots lots LOTS of excellent lines in this that didn't make me want to skip a single word - and I get bored pretty easily and start skimming. (I usually don't bookmark fics I don't finish word for word.) This was just hilarious and loads of fun AND I have to say that the character switch POV could not be any better. I like Draco's cynical depression and Harry's... overall idiocy, and tbh this is the kind of fic I could see actually happening in future canon. God.

Entry tags:

Anthony/Neville Rec: bring your curses home by facingthenorthwind, let_it_be_extraordinary

title: bring your curses home

author: facingthenorthwind (spacegandalf), let_it_be_extraordinary

rating: M

tags/content: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, the war on drugs, Neo-Death Eaters, Judaism, jewish law, LGBTQ Jewish Character(s), Non-Binary Neville, Multimedia, Genderqueer Character, Canon Jewish Character, The Ministry of Magic (Harry Potter) is Terrible

summary: Anthony Goldstein, Ministry Prosecutor, has to prosecute a case involving neo-Death Eaters and the Imperius Curse ten years after the war ends. There's something more to it, though, and he can't get the Auror division to investigate -- so he's going to have to take it into his own hands.

wordcount: 14k (WIP)

rec notes: Okay, this is filed as a shippy rec because there's a prominent ship, but I'll be honest: I'm here for the gen just as much as the ship. What I love about this fic is that no stone is left unturned on the authors' quest to pick apart various details of the Potterverse and in taking JKR's half-baked analogies to their natural conclusions. The thoroughness and depth of the worldbuilding is staggering, and it's told not only through fic but through newspaper articles, memos, letters, and the like. Anthony is a compelling protagonist and his Jewishness is prominent and written with love. Though this is ongoing, I know roughly where it's going (full disclosure, this is an "I'm friends with the authors" rec) and let me tell you: it's going to be good.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: Under the Same Sky by Writcraft

title: Under the Same Sky

author: Writcraft

rating: E

tags/content: Non-Sexual Kink, Non-Sexual Submission, Puppy Play, Under-negotiated Kink, Internalised Kink Shame, First Time Bottoming, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Boys In Love, Slow Burn, Collars, Light Bondage, Dogs, Ministry of Magic Ball, H/D Pet Fair 2016, Post-Hogwarts, Top Draco Malfoy, Switching, Sub Harry Potter, Romance

summary: “It wasn’t…” Malfoy stops and there’s something tentative in his voice, the hint of an apology in his words. “It was never about you, Potter.”

With memories of the war still fresh on his mind and Malfoy back in London, Harry's past refuses to stay buried. As Harry tries to grapple with life and love, Malfoy seems determined to make him confront his deepest desires and Harry has to try not to lose his heart all over again.

wordcount: 39k

rec notes: Even if you aren't into petplay please please read this. I rarely like fic where Harry and Draco get along so well, but this one still has their canon dynamics radiating between all the interactions that it feels natural and also makes me warm and fuzzy inside. The non-sexual petplay was wonderful and cute (and ok I might have a thing for it) and Harry's subspace narrative was very sweeting and compelling *___* Also I kind of have a weakness of past-but-brief post-canon Draco/Harry? This is just a wonderful read, especially in kink negotiation and trying to work things out, and that the kink wasn't particularly sexual makes the negotiating aspect even more compelling. I love kink negotiation because it shows the development and maturity of a relationship, which imo can be as fun as watching a relationship come together itself. Also.......... me sap

Entry tags:

Sirius/Remus Rec: The Fall of the House of Black by starfishstar

title: The Fall of the House of Black

author: starfishstar

rating: T

tags/content: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Romance, Gothic Romance, a very different way they met again during PoA, finding their way back to each other at last, some drama and angst in accordance with the conventions of gothic romance, but I promise that all is well in the end!

summary: Remus Lupin has heard not a single word from his old friend Sirius Black since Sirius retreated to his family’s ancestral home, abruptly and without explanation, twelve years ago. Now Remus receives an urgent letter from Sirius, begging him to visit the House of Black.

wordcount: 16k

rec notes: God, when this fic promises gothic, it really delivers. Even if that's not your thing, I'd suggest reading this anyway, and letting it become your thing. This is a story where the setting is as much a character as any, lovingly and vividly described, and inhabiting the entire narrative. I love the premise too, and the way the magic is woven throughout. I don't want to say any more because this is one of those fics where you need to find everything out for yourself - go forth!

Entry tags:

AS/S Rec: Hold the Phone by NurseDarry

title: Hold the Phone

author: NurseDarry

rating: M

tags/content: Chatting/messaging, phone sex, Ravenclaw Albus, Slytherin Scorpius, written pre-CC

summary: A very drunk Scorpius dials Al and tells him dirty/lame jokes and it leads to something more.

wordcount: 7k

rec notes: this is the most charming thing and it stuck with me since the first time I read it. it has the delightful "liked from afar but didn't really talk much" as precedent; Scorpius's jokes are delightful; and the minor details especially wrt the Potter family are wonderful. also, Al not knowing what to say and just replying LOL is so much (also relatable.) love this one

Entry tags:

Sirius/Remus Rec: This Word Lies At The Bottom Of A Lake by berhanes

title: This Word Lies At The Bottom Of A Lake

author: berhanes (sqvalors)

rating: T

tags/content: Canon Compliant, Marauders' Era, Post-Prank, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Dreams and Nightmares, Black Family, Drowning, Prophetic Dreams, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Sirius Black & James Potter Friendship

summary: Briefly he'd considered going to visit Remus, but Sirius has too many stacked up feelings about him to add any more, and he doesn't trust himself not to ruin their carefully patched situation in the wake of the incident – it's only been a year, after all, and there's no better way to shatter a barely recovered friendship than by doing something stupid like throwing out a declaration of love in the middle of explaining the myriad ways in which your family is deranged and terrible. So instead Sirius had hailed the Knight Bus and requested Bowness-on-Windermere.

wordcount: 8k

rec notes: I don't remember many of the details of this fic on account of the fact that I was in an emotional fugue state throughout reading it - well, all the better to reread, over and again. Short but incisive and to the point, and with the kind of characterisation that will absolutely leave you heartbroken. If the James and Sirius friendship is perfect, then the relationship between Remus and Sirius is transcendent. It's all written with such a deft touch that the prose has stuck with me ever since I first read this over a year ago. Really exceptional.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: Moneymaker by dicta_contrion

title: Moneymaker

author: dicta_contrion

rating: E

tags/content: Suits, martinis, Leather Jackets, Muggle Life, Muggle/Wizard Relations, Draco Malfoy in the Muggle World, Auror Harry Potter, Negotiations, Banter, Mildly Dubious Consent, Kink Negotiation, Blow Jobs, Face-Fucking, Anal Sex, Office Sex, Suit Kink, Praise Kink, Dom/sub Undertones, Tension

summary: As a top trader, Draco has power and money, suits and cars, houses and good champagne - everything a person could want. So when Auror Potter comes looking for help, Draco can't think of anything that might persuade him to lend a hand.

Well...maybe one thing.

wordcount: 17k

rec notes: This is really an excellent fic ~~and not just because I am constantly horny on main~~. The banter is delightful and Draco's characterization is *chef's kiss 10 times* and like, yes, the sex is smoking hot, but even if that's not a thing you care about please please please just read it for the banter. And if the sex is something you care about (I mean, look at all those good kinks!), well, read it, and also know that the banter is excellent as well. Also I just really like it when Draco is well off in the Muggle world post-canon.

Entry tags:

Percy/Oliver Rec: Plein Air for Two by eloiselovelace

title: Plein Air for Two

author: eloiselovelace

rating: M

tags/content: Humour, Fluff, Portrait Sex

summary: Percy just wants to do his job, not another guy... at least until the portraits of Messrs. Padfoot and Moony take over his office. A tale of one man's badly faltering denial, set twenty years post-war.

wordcount: 16k

rec notes: This is a weird way to start a Percy/Oliver rec, but this is the fic that made me ship Remus/Sirius, when I first read it in about 2008. (Yes, I'm ancient.) It's a sequel to Trompe L'Oeil for Two, which is an R/S but I wasn't interested in them at the time so I went straight for the Percy/Oliver fic. (But you should read them in order!) It's a great premise - portrait!Remus and portrait!Sirius keep boning in a painting that hangs in Percy's office, which makes him super duper horny - and it's carried out with good humour, and just a little bit of angst. Well, this was written in 2006, so a lot of the angst is with the benefit of hindsight. On that note, this is a fantastic snapshot of fandom as it used to be. The fic is linked on LJ, and posted on an external archive called Skyhawke. These are the kind of places we had to look on the regular, in the days before Ao3! Even if you aren't interested in the fic, I would advise clicking through and around anyway, either to give yourself a nostalgia trip or to learn a bit of fandom history :P

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: The Arc of the Pendulum by brummell

title: The Arc of the Pendulum

author: brummell

rating: E

tags/content: HP: EWE, Minor Character Death, Mild Gore, Mythical Beings & Creatures, Werewolves

summary: After his father casts a mysterious curse on Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy is forced to try to make things right.

wordcount: 30k

rec notes: I know everyone and their mother has probably read this fic but as these things go we will all have to put up with me putting up the classics (that I've read) here, especially in the case if there are H/D people who haven't read this yet *hint hint*

this is basically the fic that made me realize I like werewolf fic (to be fair this was nearly a decade ago). I've reread it a few times since the first - most recently this week, for this rec - and it never fails to grip me and make me emotional and SAD about Harry and Draco. I am always sad about Harry and Draco! is this a surprise to anyone anymore??

Beauty & the Beast is basically my favorite 'classic' princess tale and this has the elements I love the most about it; the rescuing-from-wolves bit (especially even more ironic in this fic, since it's a werewolf fic); the taming and reluctance of the ~beast; the tender relationship that develops. also what I really liked about this fic is that Draco doesn't stop being Draco, he doesn't start saying sappy or kind shit even when he and Harry have reached a truce or mutual affection, and sometimes he still verbally fucks up and doesn't apologize for it. also the bit at the end where the *descends into incoherent blubbers*

anyway. if you haven't read this yet, 🅱lease read it. also I should note that while I have a somewhat obvious? preference for top Draco this has top Harry in it and it's still one of my favorite H/D fics of all time so

Entry tags:

Gen Rec: Fields Beyond Fields by montparnasse

title: Fields Beyond Fields

author: montparnasse

rating: T

tags/content: Post-Hogwarts, Post-Second War with Voldemort

summary: After the war, Padma and Parvati met the monster.

wordcount: 8k

rec notes: This is another fic from the original run of the Obscuro fest, and it also happens to be one of the most beautiful fics ever written, as far as I'm concerned. It took me a very long time to read, and I don't mean that as an insult: it's just that every time I finished a sentence, I wanted to go back and read it again, and luxuriate in the language, let all the meaning and the visuals wash over me. It's artful.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: Unexpected, A Holiday Tail of Mistaken Identity

title: Unexpected, A Holiday Tail of Mistaken Identity

author:

amightypenguin

rating: M

tags/content: Animal transformation, hidden identity, Christmas, not epilogue compliant

summary: After an accident involving a two year old and a wand, Harry (much to his dismay) is sent to Draco, who believes he’s caring for a pet. A large pet with a bad attitude.

wordcount: 24k

rec notes: I am a huge huge sucker for animal transformation fics so this is one of my favorite H/D fics ever. Draco taking care of animals is so cute and Harry listening to Draco jerk it is awkward yes but one of my fav tropes still!!!! And Draco coping with living in the manor (alone :((() and the bond that he and Harry develop is so sweet and I am just all over this fic every day of my life.

ALSO HAZZA PLAYS FOR THE CANNONS IN THIS FIC IT'S VERY MINOR BUT I LOVE IT A LOT

Entry tags:

Padma/Sally-Anne Rec: Girl Meets Girl by VerboseWordsmith

title: Girl Meets Girl: A Study of Sociomagic Attitudes Towards Female Bodied Same-Sex Attraction

author: VerboseWordsmith

rating: T

tags/content: Hogwarts Sixth Year, Minor Canonical Character(s), POV Minor Character, POV Alternating, Chromatic Character, Queer Themes

summary: The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it, and the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about in The Daily Notes From History of Magic. An alternate look at Sixth Year.

wordcount: 10k

rec notes: This is one of those fics that was utterly formative to my HP fandom experience - early on when I was looking for minor character fics to love, I found this, and it's always stuck with me. There's an excellent cast of minor character and their antics are fun, fresh, true to school life. I just really love the way this fic does the "finding yourself" trope, with humour and heart.

Entry tags:

Draco/Harry Rec: With a Candle to Guide Me by daftfear

title: With a Candle to Guide Me

author: daftfear

rating: M

tags/content: Angst, creature!fic, explicit sex, coarse language, mentions of self-harm, suicide attempt

summary: Draco wakes up in a nightmare, caught in the horror that’s haunted him since childhood. Desperate and trying to make sense of all that’s happened, Draco finds the only person who seems to want to give him answers is Potter. But being near Potter holds questions too—ones Draco isn’t sure he wants to ask. Even if it means turning down a way back to solid ground.

wordcount: 29k

rec notes: I literally cried nonstop while reading this (or, nearly nonstop. In bouts, probably about four times.) I know it's in first person but PLEASE DON'T LET THAT DETER YOU BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD. It's so good written in first person that I don't think a third person version of this fic could have made me cry as much. It is emotional and there are elements of mystery/suspense in it and there are non-canon backstory elements that make perfect sense and I am just SAD. and EMOTIONAL. and SAD.

the characterization was wonderful and self-hating self-deprecating Draco is so (clenches fist) and honestly I think the bits with the house elf made me the saddest the most. I am literally tearing up just thinking about it this is embarrassing

Entry tags:

Sirius/Remus Rec: Eclipse Season by theheartischill

title: Eclipse Season

author: theheartischill

rating: T

tags/content: Canon Compliant, Slice of Life, Solar Eclipse

summary: Sirius wanted to go. He wanted to get out, to escape, to run, fly, somersault out of the castle and keep going. He wanted to be not-here, but there was no there he wanted to land at; he wanted to be moving, going, leaving. Where? Anywhere, but not for long. Anywhere as long as it was away.

(Or: two boys, three snapshots.)

wordcount: 7k

rec notes: As characterisation goes, it doesn't get much better than this. I mean this is really a masterclass in character study, relationship study, pure cathartic emotional writing. If you're looking for something short that will nevertheless fill you with deep and potent emotions, this is the fic for you.

Entry tags:

AS/S Rec: Appreciation by perculious

title: Appreciation

author:

perculious

rating: T

tags/content: Humor, Kissing Practice, Ravenclaw Scorpius

summary: Albus has been having some strange feelings lately, so he decides to talk to his best friend about it. Scorpius has some ideas about how to deal with the problem.

wordcount: 2k

rec notes: This fic is the first fic I think of whenever people say that they only read long fics or whatever. It has been since 2011, it's stuck with me for that long! I don't think content-wise there's anything particularly special about this fic, it's just the storytelling and the JKR-like attention to detail this fic has that really makes it such a satisfying read in only 2400 words. Scorpius is very Ravenclaw in this and j'adore; and Albus is very (slightly discreetly?) Slytherin in this. I'm also a sucker for practice kissing fics so this is just one of those fics that you read when you want to feel warm and happy and satisfied.