(no subject)

[elyss_blair]

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned my love/hate feelings about Harry Potter and HP fanfic.  Since I couldn't think of anything else to write about today, I thought I'd expand on that.   I don't think it's possible to spoil HP at this point, but just in case, be warned :) ....The truth is I loved, loved, loved the first four books.  Then the fifth book came out and I chalked my disatisfaction up to the death of Sirius. (I really hate character death in fiction.  I've had enough to  deal with in real life.)  But my disatisfaction grew with books six and seven.  There wasn't anything specific (except, as far as I was concerned anyway, more unneccesary deaths).  The writing was still good.  The characters were still the characters I loved from the first books.  It was sort of like craving brownies and getting hot cocoa.  Chocolate is still chocolate and it sort of satisfies the craving, but not really.One caveat, I haven't read any HP books in four years, and honestly all I really remember of the last book is that I didn't like it, so if I gets some facts wrong, please be understanding.  Basically, I just remember feeling like the resolution was too much philosophy, not enough magic.  Also, I wanted HP to get a HEA and, at best he got a bittersweet ending. So anyway, after finishing the last book, I put them all on the shelf and pretty much forgot about anything Harry Potter related for the next 4 years.Then, I was poking around Keira Marcos website looking for something new to read while I was on vacation last spring.  Unfortunately, the only  thing I hadn't read yet was Birth of the Serpent King a Harry Potter story that is AU after the fourth book (I think).  I thought, what the heck, I've loved everything else she's written, including Star Trek XI  AU,  which was something else I never thought I'd read.  I was hooked.  As soon as I got home I dove into the fandom.  Some was really, really good.  Some was really, really, REALLY bad.  Some made me wish I could bleach my brain.   Eventually, I began to piece together exactly what I wanted from HP fic.  

• Something that goes AU round year 5 or 6
• Harry has a character arc that shows him growing and maturing (not remaining a petulant teenager, not suddenly becoming mature and understanding after one 15 min conversation, not simply becoming sullen or fatalistic.)
• Harry/Draco-- but it has to be gradual and well thought out to get them past all the crap between them. They also have to be at least 16 or very light on the physical stuff, because underage makes me a little squeamish
• Snape as mentor. (Hey, I did say AU right?) Again, has to be gradual and thought out.
• Harry has to keep his original friends even while expanding his circle to include Slytherins.
• A really good plot that includes the destruction of Voldemort.
• Bonus points if Sirius survives/is eventually saved or resurrected. (I know, I know, but I love him and Harry deserves a HEA that includes his godfather, at least.)

Things I prefer to avoid in fic

• Ridiculously OOC Harry, Snape, Draco etc.  Obviously with au and slash there will be some, but it can be well written and believable.
• Character bashing. I like Hermione, Ron, etc. I just think Harry needs a different perspective to be well rounded.
• Phenomenal Cosmic Power. Some fics just make Harry unstoppable with no repercussions. I want him to win and to have a HEA. I just want him to have to work for it a little.

Pretty much that's it.  And now I am thinking about writing my own au.  Hopefully I could do the above requirements justice.  If I ever get around to it, that is.