January recs - HP
A new year and a new post of recs! It's still January in Hawaii and Alaska so there's that :) I've shuffled the fandoms on my recs calendar around a bit, but HP still gets to go first (since I do 2 months for this fandom).
Fics are het, gen and slash. Ratings vary. Please always check fic headers and tags for warnings.
Wrong by sdk (Albus Potter/Scorpius Malfoy)
This is a really dark and kind of creepy fic (non-con/dub-con themes). But I love the way it is executed and the turn-around at the end. It's one of those that leaves an impression on you for a while.
Getting Closer by florahart (Neville Longbottom/Draco Malfoy)
I don't usually read for this ship, but something about this fic caught my attention and I figured I'd give it a try. It was certainly worth it. It's sweet and fluffy post-canon/future!fic but sticks true to characterizations and is a really good execution of the "stuck in an elevator" trope.
This Modern Love by rachelleneveu (Justin Finch-Fletchley/Pansy Parkinson)
It seems like a strange ship, especially one to just jump right into as an established relationship, but once you really start reading this fic that kind of stops mattering because the chemistry between these two is obvious and you kind of stop caring about the mechanics of how they got together in the first place. What matters are all the themes this fic touches, primarily the lingering prejudices in the wizarding world post-war and the lingering hostilities and hurts. I like how this story addresses the fact that a society takes a while to heal after a civil war and that people aren't just going to suddenly put aside their past and what they have always believed, though might and do. The supporting cast is lovely and believable and all the characterizations are engaging. It's an entire world that comes to life.
Mobius by heidi (Barty Crouch/Regulus Black)
This one is some wonderfully delicious angst but also an interesting, and not often done, look/theory of how Barty got involved with Death Eaters in the first place. his anxiety and genuine worry over Regulus are painful and touching.
The Box by RicePaper_Fox (Barty Crouch/Regulus Black)
Another great Barty/Regulus fic. This one has a little more distance from Barty's immediate grief over Regulus' death, which allows it to a little more melancholy and sweet in the flashbacks.
Fugitive by Hijja (Percy Weasley/Penelope Clearwater)
I thought this was a really well-executed look at Percy during the Second War in a moment where he has to put himself into the action of the war, whether or not he realizes that that is actually what he's doing. His snark is also charming :)
A Dangerous Man by Hijja (Remus Lupin, Lucius Malfoy)
This fic was super intense. The interaction(s) between Remus and Lucius ring true and are quite poignant.
In Memory of Love Not Lost by Anonymous (Lily Evans/Severus Snape)
As someone who never quite understood how Lily could end up with someone like James, this fic was great for me! It shows James/Lily in this really realistic way where she does love him but sometimes she just wants to slap him a lot. But the heart of this fic is of course the intense Sev/Lily relationship and how it's full of angst and still canon-compliant but still a spot of warmth.
Art of War by Hijja (Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy)
This fic has some fantastic characterization. Even though I was, at one point, shouting (well...in my head) at Ron that he's a total fool, the way this is written really allows you to sink into Ron's psychology here, despite thinking that he's being terribly silly and naive. Draco's manipulativeness is both terrible and terribly...awe-inspiring. I loved the themes this fic explores - pride, keeping to your sense of self and your internal moral code, friendships and allegiances. The chess allegory is well done and brings up some things to think about as well. And in the end, despite Draco being truly awful in this, you can't help but wonder a little: might he actually have a point?
Remember Remember (the Fifth of November) by hikarievandar (Rabastan Lestrange-centric)
This fic is both chilling and heartbreaking. Rabastan's POV, as the Lestranges and BArty go to interrogate the Longbottoms, is so fascinating and well-done. My favorite thing about this fic, I think - other than the wonderful writing style and imagery - is how it manages to not shy away from the horror of what is going on and yet still evoke sympathy for Rab (and even Barty to an extent) and the obviously tragic situation in which they have found themselves as well.
Fics are het, gen and slash. Ratings vary. Please always check fic headers and tags for warnings.
Wrong by sdk (Albus Potter/Scorpius Malfoy)
This is a really dark and kind of creepy fic (non-con/dub-con themes). But I love the way it is executed and the turn-around at the end. It's one of those that leaves an impression on you for a while.
Getting Closer by florahart (Neville Longbottom/Draco Malfoy)
I don't usually read for this ship, but something about this fic caught my attention and I figured I'd give it a try. It was certainly worth it. It's sweet and fluffy post-canon/future!fic but sticks true to characterizations and is a really good execution of the "stuck in an elevator" trope.
This Modern Love by rachelleneveu (Justin Finch-Fletchley/Pansy Parkinson)
It seems like a strange ship, especially one to just jump right into as an established relationship, but once you really start reading this fic that kind of stops mattering because the chemistry between these two is obvious and you kind of stop caring about the mechanics of how they got together in the first place. What matters are all the themes this fic touches, primarily the lingering prejudices in the wizarding world post-war and the lingering hostilities and hurts. I like how this story addresses the fact that a society takes a while to heal after a civil war and that people aren't just going to suddenly put aside their past and what they have always believed, though might and do. The supporting cast is lovely and believable and all the characterizations are engaging. It's an entire world that comes to life.
Mobius by heidi (Barty Crouch/Regulus Black)
This one is some wonderfully delicious angst but also an interesting, and not often done, look/theory of how Barty got involved with Death Eaters in the first place. his anxiety and genuine worry over Regulus are painful and touching.
The Box by RicePaper_Fox (Barty Crouch/Regulus Black)
Another great Barty/Regulus fic. This one has a little more distance from Barty's immediate grief over Regulus' death, which allows it to a little more melancholy and sweet in the flashbacks.
Fugitive by Hijja (Percy Weasley/Penelope Clearwater)
I thought this was a really well-executed look at Percy during the Second War in a moment where he has to put himself into the action of the war, whether or not he realizes that that is actually what he's doing. His snark is also charming :)
A Dangerous Man by Hijja (Remus Lupin, Lucius Malfoy)
This fic was super intense. The interaction(s) between Remus and Lucius ring true and are quite poignant.
In Memory of Love Not Lost by Anonymous (Lily Evans/Severus Snape)
As someone who never quite understood how Lily could end up with someone like James, this fic was great for me! It shows James/Lily in this really realistic way where she does love him but sometimes she just wants to slap him a lot. But the heart of this fic is of course the intense Sev/Lily relationship and how it's full of angst and still canon-compliant but still a spot of warmth.
Art of War by Hijja (Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy)
This fic has some fantastic characterization. Even though I was, at one point, shouting (well...in my head) at Ron that he's a total fool, the way this is written really allows you to sink into Ron's psychology here, despite thinking that he's being terribly silly and naive. Draco's manipulativeness is both terrible and terribly...awe-inspiring. I loved the themes this fic explores - pride, keeping to your sense of self and your internal moral code, friendships and allegiances. The chess allegory is well done and brings up some things to think about as well. And in the end, despite Draco being truly awful in this, you can't help but wonder a little: might he actually have a point?
Remember Remember (the Fifth of November) by hikarievandar (Rabastan Lestrange-centric)
This fic is both chilling and heartbreaking. Rabastan's POV, as the Lestranges and BArty go to interrogate the Longbottoms, is so fascinating and well-done. My favorite thing about this fic, I think - other than the wonderful writing style and imagery - is how it manages to not shy away from the horror of what is going on and yet still evoke sympathy for Rab (and even Barty to an extent) and the obviously tragic situation in which they have found themselves as well.