Two Households Both Alike In Dignity by mad martha
Two Households Both Alike In Dignity by mad martha That very first day on the Hogwarts Express, Harry shook Draco Malfoy's hand and became a Slytherin. Ron has hated him ever since. But Harry doesn't hate Ron ... This is a very different read and I wasn't entirely too sure if I was enjoying it or not for much of the time, but I stayed with it to the end and went back and read the earlier parts, which is I guess a recommendation of its own. :-) I started with Part 5 of the series Two Households (as linked) reading to the end of the series and going back to read the first 4 parts as an addendum to the first. It's a Harry/Ron and Sirius/Remus story in a sense that their relationships are important to the story, but it is more a story of fascinating Wizarding World that borrows from canon but develops into a highly original story of its own. Due to Harry's choices here he isn't the brave Gryffindor Harry of canon but a somewhat distrustful and suspicious Slytherin, damaged by his muggle upbringing and the lack of trust that people have in him due to him being in Slytherin House. I understood his character even if I wasn't fond of the changes yet still rooted for him. Ron is written beautifully and intelligently which is such a plus and it is Harry's friendship and eventual love for Ron which is his saving grace. As an addition, Sirius and Remus' place in Harry's life is a treat to read and for a pleasant change, while Harry remains suspicious of almost all the adults in his life and Snape remains a total git throughout, Dumbledore is not painted as the bad guy. If like me you strongly dislike the religious elements (I found them highly intrusive and unwanted) you can kind of skim read them but it might be easier knowing that the author does have have her reasons which become a little more obvious as the series progresses, and as she makes no apology for including these elements as they fascinate her, if you want to read the story you take it as it comes. :-).