Winter Fest Recs
Long time no see! I've been very much enjoying reading at hd_holidays and smutty_claus this month, so how about some recs. Starting with the one that is mine all mine!
Harry/Pansy
What We Thought We Knew by Anon NC-17 7,500. Summary: Some things are better left unsaid, but that doesn't mean everything.
I really loved this. The author worked from my prompt "They never talk about it, but everyone knows," which I think was used amazingly here, the atmosphere is brilliant. It's 8th year and we get to see a few students point of view of the supposedly secret relationship between Harry and Pansy. The characterisations were great, and then there is some of the hottest smut I've seen in this fest! Harry, with the hints of how he is trying to figure out where he is after the war is wonderful. Especially read if you like a slightly domineering Harry, yum.
Tonks/Charlie
Traditions by Anon NC-17 7,377. Summary: It's Halloween... there's no harm in a little treat to go with a trick or two, right?
This is so much about the Tonks voice. Set early in OotP, we have a Tonks who has a history with Charlie, a relationship from school that was finished but never resolved. This is the Tonks we meet in that book so completly it blows me away, it's rare I feel Tonks is so right. The sex is scorching and there are plenty of tricks as well as treats.
James/Lily
Until My Dying Day by Anon NC-17 ~7000. Summary: Lily Evans hates James Potter. James Potter is in love with Lily Evans and is determined that one day she is going to love him back.
Part of what is great about this fest is that it encourages me to read ships I wouldn't normally. This is certainly one of the them and it was great. It tells James and Lily's story over the years, deftly moving through time and showing us glimpses of their time. I really buy this being a James that Lily would eventually fall for. There is some lovely marauder stuff, especially Sirius and James' friendship. There is also scorching sex, including toys and spankning, yay! It is of course heartbreaking, because even the happiest fic with these people in is, but the ending is lovely. Please give it a try, even if James/Lily isn't usually your thing.
Harry/Draco
The Ties That Bind by Anon PG-13 ~61,000. Summary: Upon Andromeda's death, Harry and Draco are given custody of Teddy. Their lives will never be the same again.
This is a great story with lots of Teddy, without being sappy-gooey. Harry and Draco are forced to live together and they don't just get along. It's hard and messy and they don't understand each other. Harry was great, there were so many wonderful hints to how his childhood messed him up, which are built upon to him trying to raise Teddy and deal with Draco. There's lots of wonderful Hermione, and by the end I am turned around to this Ron as well. Really, though, at it's heart, it's a long, slow, Harry and Draco need to learn to understand how to work together story. With a fabulous mystery thrown in at the end for free.
Deck the Halls by Anon T 9,665. Summary: After returning to Hogwarts for his final year, Harry finds a part of the castle that has been left untouched by the Christmas spirit. However, his plans to decorate-and perhaps heal some old wounds-are thwarted by Draco Malfoy, who has managed to find the one place that still feels like the past. Draco thinks Harry can eat an ornament if he thinks he can ruin Draco’s new refuge.
Christmas story! 8th year! Learning to coexist! This is a little gem (ok, I know 10k isn't that little, but it feels like it to me). Harry decides to decorate a room, but that's where Draco likes to read. I loved the Harry at the heart of this. He has set himself a mission and he's going to complete that damn mission. Draco just wants to a quiet place to read, but he won't let Harry interupting run him off. There's great growing friendship, them having a chance to act like kids for a bit, and lots of christmassy goodness. Plus a Ron who is wonderful and some stupid crows.
Here's The Pencil, Make It Work by Anon NC-17 ~49,500. Summary: Harry thinks "Why is Malfoy working in a coffee shop in muggle London?" is a much simpler question than, "Are you going to accept that auror offer and, if you don't, what will you do?"
This is probably going to be the star of this fest and there is a reason for that. I find it hard to express the way this story made me feel, but it is something I've rarely experienced with stories written in the past 5 years. It is like I felt about fics when the whole idea of reading them was still relatively new. I think part of why I love 8th year (which this is not) is because I really want stories that deal with the aftermath of Deathly Hallows. This does this beautifully. The characterisations are so perfect for me. Harry is undirected and unsure. Draco is a mixture of determination and uncertainty. The wider cast of characters is beautiful. The trio are the trio I love and want them to be. It is a story about people and change and learning. It acknowledges Teddy's existence beautifully, with a particualrly lovely scene with Andromeda. If you don't read HP fic any more, if you don't read H/D, or long fics, or whatever, please still give this a try. It is worth it.
Harry/Pansy
What We Thought We Knew by Anon NC-17 7,500. Summary: Some things are better left unsaid, but that doesn't mean everything.
I really loved this. The author worked from my prompt "They never talk about it, but everyone knows," which I think was used amazingly here, the atmosphere is brilliant. It's 8th year and we get to see a few students point of view of the supposedly secret relationship between Harry and Pansy. The characterisations were great, and then there is some of the hottest smut I've seen in this fest! Harry, with the hints of how he is trying to figure out where he is after the war is wonderful. Especially read if you like a slightly domineering Harry, yum.
Tonks/Charlie
Traditions by Anon NC-17 7,377. Summary: It's Halloween... there's no harm in a little treat to go with a trick or two, right?
This is so much about the Tonks voice. Set early in OotP, we have a Tonks who has a history with Charlie, a relationship from school that was finished but never resolved. This is the Tonks we meet in that book so completly it blows me away, it's rare I feel Tonks is so right. The sex is scorching and there are plenty of tricks as well as treats.
James/Lily
Until My Dying Day by Anon NC-17 ~7000. Summary: Lily Evans hates James Potter. James Potter is in love with Lily Evans and is determined that one day she is going to love him back.
Part of what is great about this fest is that it encourages me to read ships I wouldn't normally. This is certainly one of the them and it was great. It tells James and Lily's story over the years, deftly moving through time and showing us glimpses of their time. I really buy this being a James that Lily would eventually fall for. There is some lovely marauder stuff, especially Sirius and James' friendship. There is also scorching sex, including toys and spankning, yay! It is of course heartbreaking, because even the happiest fic with these people in is, but the ending is lovely. Please give it a try, even if James/Lily isn't usually your thing.
Harry/Draco
The Ties That Bind by Anon PG-13 ~61,000. Summary: Upon Andromeda's death, Harry and Draco are given custody of Teddy. Their lives will never be the same again.
This is a great story with lots of Teddy, without being sappy-gooey. Harry and Draco are forced to live together and they don't just get along. It's hard and messy and they don't understand each other. Harry was great, there were so many wonderful hints to how his childhood messed him up, which are built upon to him trying to raise Teddy and deal with Draco. There's lots of wonderful Hermione, and by the end I am turned around to this Ron as well. Really, though, at it's heart, it's a long, slow, Harry and Draco need to learn to understand how to work together story. With a fabulous mystery thrown in at the end for free.
Deck the Halls by Anon T 9,665. Summary: After returning to Hogwarts for his final year, Harry finds a part of the castle that has been left untouched by the Christmas spirit. However, his plans to decorate-and perhaps heal some old wounds-are thwarted by Draco Malfoy, who has managed to find the one place that still feels like the past. Draco thinks Harry can eat an ornament if he thinks he can ruin Draco’s new refuge.
Christmas story! 8th year! Learning to coexist! This is a little gem (ok, I know 10k isn't that little, but it feels like it to me). Harry decides to decorate a room, but that's where Draco likes to read. I loved the Harry at the heart of this. He has set himself a mission and he's going to complete that damn mission. Draco just wants to a quiet place to read, but he won't let Harry interupting run him off. There's great growing friendship, them having a chance to act like kids for a bit, and lots of christmassy goodness. Plus a Ron who is wonderful and some stupid crows.
Here's The Pencil, Make It Work by Anon NC-17 ~49,500. Summary: Harry thinks "Why is Malfoy working in a coffee shop in muggle London?" is a much simpler question than, "Are you going to accept that auror offer and, if you don't, what will you do?"
This is probably going to be the star of this fest and there is a reason for that. I find it hard to express the way this story made me feel, but it is something I've rarely experienced with stories written in the past 5 years. It is like I felt about fics when the whole idea of reading them was still relatively new. I think part of why I love 8th year (which this is not) is because I really want stories that deal with the aftermath of Deathly Hallows. This does this beautifully. The characterisations are so perfect for me. Harry is undirected and unsure. Draco is a mixture of determination and uncertainty. The wider cast of characters is beautiful. The trio are the trio I love and want them to be. It is a story about people and change and learning. It acknowledges Teddy's existence beautifully, with a particualrly lovely scene with Andromeda. If you don't read HP fic any more, if you don't read H/D, or long fics, or whatever, please still give this a try. It is worth it.