Fangirl Monday
In a shocking twist, the majority of my recs are for SSHG fics. Try to contain your surprise! Now, a while back, I compiled a huge list of recs for my most favorite ship ever, but I made the mistake of posting it on my journal before the SSHG Exchange finished. So I was delighted when I heard about this Fangirl Tour, because it gives me a chance to squee about some of the fics I loved that were posted towards the end. And when I say 'squee', I mean 'chatter endlessly', so brace yourselves. :P
(Pic by arival)
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Apprentice and the Necromancer
Author: juno_magic
Link: http://juno-magic.fancrone.net/blog/junofanfic/hp-fanfic/the-apprentice-and-the-necromancer
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione saves Snape’s life in the Shrieking Shack. While he is still in coma at St. Mungo’s, slowly recovering from his injuries, he’s put on trial for his crimes. In spite of Harry’s efforts to get him pardoned, Snape’s freedom comes with a condition. He gets released on probation for three years. To prove his social rehabilitation, Snape needs to find a wife within these three years, or it’s a life-sentence in Azkaban for him. (there's another page of so of the 'summary', but you get the picture)
Why I fangirl this: This is the fic that made me start shipping SSHG! There I was, innocently checking out some H/Hr fics a f-lister had recced me and feeling something was lacking. When I was a kid, I shipped Harry and Hermione so hard, but when I tried to get back into it as an adult (!), it just wasn’t satisfying to me anymore. So I decided to look up some HP crossover fics, just to give it some flavor and get me interested- which was how I came across this, even though it’s technically not a crossover, having only borrowed a concept from Garth Nix’s Abhorsen books, but hey.
I just went, ‘Snape and Hermione? Are you kidding me? Dream on! How ridiculous is that?!’ But I wanted to see how the necromancer’s bells would be used, so I read on- and got sucked into the most captivating and satisfying ship ever. The angst is hardcore, okay, like, soul-crushing at points, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m usually a little baby when it comes to angst, but from the strength of the writing and the incredible interaction between two characters I’d never even considered as a viable couple, I was so quickly invested in their relationship that I had to keep going. This fic broke my heart and made me beg for more, and after I finished it, I was a fully-fledged, hardcore SSHG shipper.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: A Matter of Decorum
Author: kerravonsen
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/223695.html
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione casts a hair charm. Lucius Malfoy makes a bet with Snape. But is Severus playing the role of Professor Higgins or of Mephistopheles? SS/HG, Post-DH, EWE.
Why I fangirl this: Where do I begin? This fabulous fic is just so perfect I could almost swear the author must have used Legilimency on me to glean all the things that would make me squee the most and incorporated them into the most flawless fic of all time. :P I cannot be calm and objective about this fic, it just makes me so happy and flaily. I love ‘eighth year’ fics where Hermione is an adult but she’s still a student and after the war, she’s come to have a different perspective on things, most especially the enigmatic Severus Snape. I adore fics where he acts as her mentor and they become closer without even consciously realizing the subtle changes in their relationship, it really just makes me twirl for joy.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Emissary
Author: labrt2004
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/205524.html
Rating: G
Status: Complete
Summary: A father recounts a series of meetings with black-robed emissary.
Why I fangirl this: I love reading people’s reactions to Hermione and Snape’s relationship, most especially her parents and how they view this stern, forbidding, austere figure- not only nearly twenty years older but also her former teacher! It’s just fun seeing them process that, hee. This fic has, hands down, the best characterization I’ve ever read of her parents- it’s written from her father’s pov and brings him to life so vividly that it’s a shock to realize none of the creatively detailed and delightfully layered background is actually sourced from canon (from which we don’t even know his first name *sniffs disdainfully*). Plus, I so rarely get the pleasure of seeing Snape interact with Hermione pre-Hogwarts, so that was cool. :D
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Incense of the Heart
Author: sc010f
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/230150.html
Rating: NC-17
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione learns that even though you've defeated a Dark Lord, saved the world, and earned an Order of Merlin doesn't mean you've got it all.
Why I fangirl this: I’m a sucker for fics that force Hermione and Snape into close proximity under non-romantic circumstances and how their perspective on each other changes as they’re forced to deal with one another as something more than teacher/student because the situation makes it impossible to maintain that barrier. And this fic accomplishes it in such an imaginative manner by delving into the source of magic in a brilliant and innovative way. It’s always incredible to see a writer challenge our basic assumptions about magic and show a whole new side nobody has thought of before. And the sly undercurrent of humor running through this fic is made of win, I lol’d so hard!
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Karakuri
Author: talesofsnape
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/227775.html
Rating: 15-18ish
Status: Complete
Summary: When the last of the Lestranges dies in Azkaban, Hermione Granger and her colleagues in the Department of Mysteries have thirty-one days to assess and catalogue the entire contents of the family vault before it's passed on to Narcissa Malfoy. As if planning a wedding wasn't enough stress by itself. Artefact inspired by the work of Clive Barker. The word karakuri means a "mechanical device to tease, trick, or take a person by surprise". It implies hidden magic, or an element of mystery.
Why I fangirl this: Hmm, my reasons are remarkably similar to those above- Hermione and Snape forced together by fate’s whims AND a wickedly funny style of writing. Seriously, the scene when our fave couple meet is hysterical and their bicker/banter routine is excellent entertainment. Though coming together under less than ideal circumstances, the way their relationship becomes almost cozy with regular doses of snarkery is just really sweet and entertaining.
Also, Hermione’s wonderful friendship with Luna and Neville (still an awesome trio, just a different configuration), as well as snippets of Snape’s friendship with Lucius (yay! I want to believe there was someone that gave a damn about him all those years). Bonus win- Snape has an adorable puppy named Bowie! :D
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Sometimes That's What It Takes
Author: swissmarg
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/196285.html
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione despairs of Snape ever wanting her for anything more than running his errands. Until his unhinged physical therapist hits her with an untraceable curse and she ends up literally on cloud nine
Why I fangirl this: The trio friendship years after Hogwarts is lovely and believable- a lot of fics have the boys practically disowning Hermione when they find out how she feels about Snape, and yet here, it’s just another one of her quirks that they tolerate with good humor, if an unflattering amount of disbelief. Because I've so often hated the way the boys treat her in canon, I really enjoy fics where the friendship is healthy and rewarding.
Plus, I love the rare fic where Hermione develops feelings for Snape but manages to deal with it in a mature manner and is kind of resigned to it and realistic about the whole situation, rather than embarrassing herself by being obvious about it or embarking on cringeworthy seduction attempts, etc. etc. Even if she can't have what she wants, she'll still do her best to be a good friend to him, and I love that, it makes me cheer for her! (unlike the Hermione of HBP who was a jealous shrew and really not very endearing to me) The first-person POV is so well-written, I adore her inner musings and how it usually leads back to Snape in some way. ^_^
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Coward’s Kiss
Author: madamelecourayer
Link: http://ashwinder.sycophanthex.com/viewstory.php?sid=22544
Rating: 'Brazen', as per Ashwinder's system, so...M?
Status: WIP
Summary: Gryffindors are bold and courageous. Slytherins are cunning and ambitious. But who is the coward when it comes to kissing?
Why I fangirl this: A lot of times, for me, the appeal wears off after the first kiss or two. Once the couple locks lips, the rest of the story is often predictable- they’ll hook up, it’ll be (sometimes nauseatingly) fluffy and domestic, maybe there’ll be a misunderstanding or fight of some kind before the reconciliation, then the happily ever after.
But this fic! I love how the attraction almost gets the better of them at times, but it doesn’t propel them into domestic bliss. The sizzling chemistry doesn’t force an instant bond between them, which I like, because they do have some rocky history to deal with and they know so little about each other, it’s just unrealistic to immediately be like ‘zomg, soul mates!’. So yes, they may share a few intimate moments during the course of the story, but it’s still ‘Professor Snape’ and ‘Miss Granger’, they have a mission to focus on and a lot of work to be done, even if the growing attraction (and feelings!) are a bit of a distraction on occasion. I love the contrast between the breath-taking passionate scenes and then the formality as they compose themselves and get back to the task at hand.
I'll note that the start is a litle rocky- when I read the first chapter, I thought it was kind of a bit silly and I dismissed it for a while, only to return later when it was much longer and I was desperate. And to my joy, once the story got going, it was pretty damn amazing! Also, the writing is exquisite- there are some people who have a functional writing style that just conveys the story efficiently, and then there are authors like this whose work is sheer poetry.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Left Hand of Fate
Author: annietalbot
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/228834.html
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Summary: (original prompt) Hermione is all set to marry Ron, when an altercation in Diagon Alley results in his untimely death. She shuts herself off from the world. Ghostly Ron decides to matchmake and decides on Severus, who has hidden away pretending to be dead. How does he manage to get them together?
Why I fangirl this: Ron is often vilified in SSHG fic, so it’s refreshing to find him so sympathetic and endearing in this fic with his determination to look out for Hermione’s best interests, even after his death. And while I may hate the pairing, I like that Hermione’s shown as grief-stricken over losing him and has to deal with her depression over that tragedy. Ron’s death could’ve been a shallow contrivance simply to get the ship happening, and yet it’s handled so deftly and sensitively. I also love the way Snape’s initially grudgingly involved in ‘helping’ Hermione before becoming invested in their relationship as time goes on. His style of ‘tough love’ is abrasively in-character, lol.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Professor’s Discretion
Author: twelveyearsinazkaban
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5441799/1/The_Professors_Discretion
Rating: T
Status: WIP
Summary: The only thing keeping Hermione out of trouble and Harry Potter alive is... the Professor's Discretion. AU.
Why I fangirl this: I was disappointed by Deathly Hallows. No offense to anyone who enjoys it, but I thought it was an unholy abomination of a book. Then along comes this epic AU take on DH and it is a welcome balm to my wounded soul, it just fixes everything I had a problem with in the book and makes palatable some of the iffy, questionable choices that characters made. I love this fic because it’s like the smart version of the series, what characters would do if they were actually engaging their brains and not just blindly following a cold, calculating, information-withholding, ‘for the greater good’ preaching asshat.
Anyway, Dumbledore-hatred aside, I love the way that Hermione and Snape work together to try and save Harry, and how this unlikely partnership shows each of them a new side to one another that they didn’t expect to admire, and over time, this secret alliance becomes more and more important as they work to keep Harry alive and fight the war. My favorite dynamic in fics is where it’s still platonic and appropriate between them, but there are moments which could be interpreted as shippy and which send me flailing gleefully while not moving too fast or venturing into OOC-territory. The way Hermione and Snape’s interactions are written here really is so very wonderful and amazing and I am madly in love. ♥
(Kathryn's on a yacht somewhere around South Africa at the moment, but hopefully she'll update when she gets back in November. *fingers crossed*)
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: There, Where I Can Never Find You
Author: machshefa
Link: http://sites.google.com/site/sshgexchange/home/there-where-i-can-never-find-you
http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/223109.html
Rating: R
Status: Complete
Summary: You disappear into a moon lit night, and I imagine I might have seen you go if only I'd been paying attention.
Why I fangirl this: I have pretty strong preferences and I’m almost never swayed into reading anything that goes against my interest areas; one of my turn-offs is RST. I’m interested in the development of the relationship, not the aftermath. But I ate my words when I had the good fortune to come across this fic. It is so achingly beautiful and poignant, with bonus poetry and illustrations! And it has the perfect level of angst- enough to make my heart ache but not an overload calculated to shatter it completely, and the romance is just divine. Plus, wonderful trio friendship! (I know I seem to talk about her friendships almost more than the ship, but that the ship will be well-written is a given, and also, it’s just such a relief when the boys aren’t made out to be total gits who impose upon a long-suffering Hermione)
---
(Pic by lattelady)
Fandom: Labyrinth (Jareth/Sarah)
Title: Into the Rose Garden
Author: dryad13
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1903586/1/Into_the_Rose_Garden
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: Sarah has good grades, a circle of friends, and a cute boyfriend. Life's great...right? So why does she have the strange feeling that something's missing? Fairy tales show that magic will make you or break you. Which category does she belong in?
Why I fangirl this: I'm so picky when it comes to Laby fic and this one just ticks all the boxes for me. I love the way that Sarah and Jareth get thrown together again, love the mentor-student dynamic, love the banter-and-bickering, love the way the Underground is juggled together with her ordinary everyday life at home and school...yes. ♥
Fandom: Labyrinth (Jareth/Sarah)
Title: Oubliette
Author: Scion of Kushiel
Link: htthttp://www.fanfiction.net/s/3147226/1/Oubliette
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: Five years after the Underground, Sarah Williams encounters someone who couldn't, shouldn't be real. But is he?
Why I fangirl this: Jareth turns up to Sarah's school as a new professor! Well, knowing my professor/student kink, you can imagine how eagerly I devoured this fic! :D It's pretty straightforward on the whole, but there's an underlying note of angstiness, especially with the mini-stories that Sarah writes for her class that offers some insight into the Underground. It's funny that for all the scope for the imagination offered by the Underground, it's the fics where they explore a relationship in our world that pique my interest, I suppose because they're on more of an equal playing field. The romance is tense and delicious and just sends shivers of delight down my spine. ^_^
Fandom: Labyrinth (Jareth/Sarah)
Title: The Enticement
Author: Scattered Logic
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1254216/5/The_Enticement
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: In exchange for returning to the Labyrinth, Sarah is offered what she desires most... She's about to learn there is a huge difference between fantasy and reality.
Why I fangirl this: There's often a lot of angst or drama in Laby fics, it's kind of a win-lose situation, especially in the ones where Sarah has to leave her family and life behind if she wants to be with Jareth- or worse, when she's trapped Underground and has no desire to be there at all. What I love about this fic is that the Labyrinth strands Jareth in her world, without his magic, and they have to find a way to get along with each other. While I adore a powerful, intimidating Jareth, there's something to be said for this dynamic where they are equals, or where he's vulnerable and relying upon her at some points, and it's just such a lovely fic where they learn more about each other and develop a mutual affection.
(Pic by arival)
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Apprentice and the Necromancer
Author: juno_magic
Link: http://juno-magic.fancrone.net/blog/junofanfic/hp-fanfic/the-apprentice-and-the-necromancer
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione saves Snape’s life in the Shrieking Shack. While he is still in coma at St. Mungo’s, slowly recovering from his injuries, he’s put on trial for his crimes. In spite of Harry’s efforts to get him pardoned, Snape’s freedom comes with a condition. He gets released on probation for three years. To prove his social rehabilitation, Snape needs to find a wife within these three years, or it’s a life-sentence in Azkaban for him. (there's another page of so of the 'summary', but you get the picture)
Why I fangirl this: This is the fic that made me start shipping SSHG! There I was, innocently checking out some H/Hr fics a f-lister had recced me and feeling something was lacking. When I was a kid, I shipped Harry and Hermione so hard, but when I tried to get back into it as an adult (!), it just wasn’t satisfying to me anymore. So I decided to look up some HP crossover fics, just to give it some flavor and get me interested- which was how I came across this, even though it’s technically not a crossover, having only borrowed a concept from Garth Nix’s Abhorsen books, but hey.
I just went, ‘Snape and Hermione? Are you kidding me? Dream on! How ridiculous is that?!’ But I wanted to see how the necromancer’s bells would be used, so I read on- and got sucked into the most captivating and satisfying ship ever. The angst is hardcore, okay, like, soul-crushing at points, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m usually a little baby when it comes to angst, but from the strength of the writing and the incredible interaction between two characters I’d never even considered as a viable couple, I was so quickly invested in their relationship that I had to keep going. This fic broke my heart and made me beg for more, and after I finished it, I was a fully-fledged, hardcore SSHG shipper.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: A Matter of Decorum
Author: kerravonsen
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/223695.html
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione casts a hair charm. Lucius Malfoy makes a bet with Snape. But is Severus playing the role of Professor Higgins or of Mephistopheles? SS/HG, Post-DH, EWE.
Why I fangirl this: Where do I begin? This fabulous fic is just so perfect I could almost swear the author must have used Legilimency on me to glean all the things that would make me squee the most and incorporated them into the most flawless fic of all time. :P I cannot be calm and objective about this fic, it just makes me so happy and flaily. I love ‘eighth year’ fics where Hermione is an adult but she’s still a student and after the war, she’s come to have a different perspective on things, most especially the enigmatic Severus Snape. I adore fics where he acts as her mentor and they become closer without even consciously realizing the subtle changes in their relationship, it really just makes me twirl for joy.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Emissary
Author: labrt2004
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/205524.html
Rating: G
Status: Complete
Summary: A father recounts a series of meetings with black-robed emissary.
Why I fangirl this: I love reading people’s reactions to Hermione and Snape’s relationship, most especially her parents and how they view this stern, forbidding, austere figure- not only nearly twenty years older but also her former teacher! It’s just fun seeing them process that, hee. This fic has, hands down, the best characterization I’ve ever read of her parents- it’s written from her father’s pov and brings him to life so vividly that it’s a shock to realize none of the creatively detailed and delightfully layered background is actually sourced from canon (from which we don’t even know his first name *sniffs disdainfully*). Plus, I so rarely get the pleasure of seeing Snape interact with Hermione pre-Hogwarts, so that was cool. :D
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Incense of the Heart
Author: sc010f
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/230150.html
Rating: NC-17
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione learns that even though you've defeated a Dark Lord, saved the world, and earned an Order of Merlin doesn't mean you've got it all.
Why I fangirl this: I’m a sucker for fics that force Hermione and Snape into close proximity under non-romantic circumstances and how their perspective on each other changes as they’re forced to deal with one another as something more than teacher/student because the situation makes it impossible to maintain that barrier. And this fic accomplishes it in such an imaginative manner by delving into the source of magic in a brilliant and innovative way. It’s always incredible to see a writer challenge our basic assumptions about magic and show a whole new side nobody has thought of before. And the sly undercurrent of humor running through this fic is made of win, I lol’d so hard!
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Karakuri
Author: talesofsnape
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/227775.html
Rating: 15-18ish
Status: Complete
Summary: When the last of the Lestranges dies in Azkaban, Hermione Granger and her colleagues in the Department of Mysteries have thirty-one days to assess and catalogue the entire contents of the family vault before it's passed on to Narcissa Malfoy. As if planning a wedding wasn't enough stress by itself. Artefact inspired by the work of Clive Barker. The word karakuri means a "mechanical device to tease, trick, or take a person by surprise". It implies hidden magic, or an element of mystery.
Why I fangirl this: Hmm, my reasons are remarkably similar to those above- Hermione and Snape forced together by fate’s whims AND a wickedly funny style of writing. Seriously, the scene when our fave couple meet is hysterical and their bicker/banter routine is excellent entertainment. Though coming together under less than ideal circumstances, the way their relationship becomes almost cozy with regular doses of snarkery is just really sweet and entertaining.
Also, Hermione’s wonderful friendship with Luna and Neville (still an awesome trio, just a different configuration), as well as snippets of Snape’s friendship with Lucius (yay! I want to believe there was someone that gave a damn about him all those years). Bonus win- Snape has an adorable puppy named Bowie! :D
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: Sometimes That's What It Takes
Author: swissmarg
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/196285.html
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Summary: Hermione despairs of Snape ever wanting her for anything more than running his errands. Until his unhinged physical therapist hits her with an untraceable curse and she ends up literally on cloud nine
Why I fangirl this: The trio friendship years after Hogwarts is lovely and believable- a lot of fics have the boys practically disowning Hermione when they find out how she feels about Snape, and yet here, it’s just another one of her quirks that they tolerate with good humor, if an unflattering amount of disbelief. Because I've so often hated the way the boys treat her in canon, I really enjoy fics where the friendship is healthy and rewarding.
Plus, I love the rare fic where Hermione develops feelings for Snape but manages to deal with it in a mature manner and is kind of resigned to it and realistic about the whole situation, rather than embarrassing herself by being obvious about it or embarking on cringeworthy seduction attempts, etc. etc. Even if she can't have what she wants, she'll still do her best to be a good friend to him, and I love that, it makes me cheer for her! (unlike the Hermione of HBP who was a jealous shrew and really not very endearing to me) The first-person POV is so well-written, I adore her inner musings and how it usually leads back to Snape in some way. ^_^
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Coward’s Kiss
Author: madamelecourayer
Link: http://ashwinder.sycophanthex.com/viewstory.php?sid=22544
Rating: 'Brazen', as per Ashwinder's system, so...M?
Status: WIP
Summary: Gryffindors are bold and courageous. Slytherins are cunning and ambitious. But who is the coward when it comes to kissing?
Why I fangirl this: A lot of times, for me, the appeal wears off after the first kiss or two. Once the couple locks lips, the rest of the story is often predictable- they’ll hook up, it’ll be (sometimes nauseatingly) fluffy and domestic, maybe there’ll be a misunderstanding or fight of some kind before the reconciliation, then the happily ever after.
But this fic! I love how the attraction almost gets the better of them at times, but it doesn’t propel them into domestic bliss. The sizzling chemistry doesn’t force an instant bond between them, which I like, because they do have some rocky history to deal with and they know so little about each other, it’s just unrealistic to immediately be like ‘zomg, soul mates!’. So yes, they may share a few intimate moments during the course of the story, but it’s still ‘Professor Snape’ and ‘Miss Granger’, they have a mission to focus on and a lot of work to be done, even if the growing attraction (and feelings!) are a bit of a distraction on occasion. I love the contrast between the breath-taking passionate scenes and then the formality as they compose themselves and get back to the task at hand.
I'll note that the start is a litle rocky- when I read the first chapter, I thought it was kind of a bit silly and I dismissed it for a while, only to return later when it was much longer and I was desperate. And to my joy, once the story got going, it was pretty damn amazing! Also, the writing is exquisite- there are some people who have a functional writing style that just conveys the story efficiently, and then there are authors like this whose work is sheer poetry.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Left Hand of Fate
Author: annietalbot
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/228834.html
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Summary: (original prompt) Hermione is all set to marry Ron, when an altercation in Diagon Alley results in his untimely death. She shuts herself off from the world. Ghostly Ron decides to matchmake and decides on Severus, who has hidden away pretending to be dead. How does he manage to get them together?
Why I fangirl this: Ron is often vilified in SSHG fic, so it’s refreshing to find him so sympathetic and endearing in this fic with his determination to look out for Hermione’s best interests, even after his death. And while I may hate the pairing, I like that Hermione’s shown as grief-stricken over losing him and has to deal with her depression over that tragedy. Ron’s death could’ve been a shallow contrivance simply to get the ship happening, and yet it’s handled so deftly and sensitively. I also love the way Snape’s initially grudgingly involved in ‘helping’ Hermione before becoming invested in their relationship as time goes on. His style of ‘tough love’ is abrasively in-character, lol.
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: The Professor’s Discretion
Author: twelveyearsinazkaban
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5441799/1/The_Professors_Discretion
Rating: T
Status: WIP
Summary: The only thing keeping Hermione out of trouble and Harry Potter alive is... the Professor's Discretion. AU.
Why I fangirl this: I was disappointed by Deathly Hallows. No offense to anyone who enjoys it, but I thought it was an unholy abomination of a book. Then along comes this epic AU take on DH and it is a welcome balm to my wounded soul, it just fixes everything I had a problem with in the book and makes palatable some of the iffy, questionable choices that characters made. I love this fic because it’s like the smart version of the series, what characters would do if they were actually engaging their brains and not just blindly following a cold, calculating, information-withholding, ‘for the greater good’ preaching asshat.
Anyway, Dumbledore-hatred aside, I love the way that Hermione and Snape work together to try and save Harry, and how this unlikely partnership shows each of them a new side to one another that they didn’t expect to admire, and over time, this secret alliance becomes more and more important as they work to keep Harry alive and fight the war. My favorite dynamic in fics is where it’s still platonic and appropriate between them, but there are moments which could be interpreted as shippy and which send me flailing gleefully while not moving too fast or venturing into OOC-territory. The way Hermione and Snape’s interactions are written here really is so very wonderful and amazing and I am madly in love. ♥
(Kathryn's on a yacht somewhere around South Africa at the moment, but hopefully she'll update when she gets back in November. *fingers crossed*)
Fandom: Harry Potter (SSHG)
Title: There, Where I Can Never Find You
Author: machshefa
Link: http://sites.google.com/site/sshgexchange/home/there-where-i-can-never-find-you
http://community.livejournal.com/sshg_exchange/223109.html
Rating: R
Status: Complete
Summary: You disappear into a moon lit night, and I imagine I might have seen you go if only I'd been paying attention.
Why I fangirl this: I have pretty strong preferences and I’m almost never swayed into reading anything that goes against my interest areas; one of my turn-offs is RST. I’m interested in the development of the relationship, not the aftermath. But I ate my words when I had the good fortune to come across this fic. It is so achingly beautiful and poignant, with bonus poetry and illustrations! And it has the perfect level of angst- enough to make my heart ache but not an overload calculated to shatter it completely, and the romance is just divine. Plus, wonderful trio friendship! (I know I seem to talk about her friendships almost more than the ship, but that the ship will be well-written is a given, and also, it’s just such a relief when the boys aren’t made out to be total gits who impose upon a long-suffering Hermione)
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(Pic by lattelady)
Fandom: Labyrinth (Jareth/Sarah)
Title: Into the Rose Garden
Author: dryad13
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1903586/1/Into_the_Rose_Garden
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: Sarah has good grades, a circle of friends, and a cute boyfriend. Life's great...right? So why does she have the strange feeling that something's missing? Fairy tales show that magic will make you or break you. Which category does she belong in?
Why I fangirl this: I'm so picky when it comes to Laby fic and this one just ticks all the boxes for me. I love the way that Sarah and Jareth get thrown together again, love the mentor-student dynamic, love the banter-and-bickering, love the way the Underground is juggled together with her ordinary everyday life at home and school...yes. ♥
Fandom: Labyrinth (Jareth/Sarah)
Title: Oubliette
Author: Scion of Kushiel
Link: htthttp://www.fanfiction.net/s/3147226/1/Oubliette
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: Five years after the Underground, Sarah Williams encounters someone who couldn't, shouldn't be real. But is he?
Why I fangirl this: Jareth turns up to Sarah's school as a new professor! Well, knowing my professor/student kink, you can imagine how eagerly I devoured this fic! :D It's pretty straightforward on the whole, but there's an underlying note of angstiness, especially with the mini-stories that Sarah writes for her class that offers some insight into the Underground. It's funny that for all the scope for the imagination offered by the Underground, it's the fics where they explore a relationship in our world that pique my interest, I suppose because they're on more of an equal playing field. The romance is tense and delicious and just sends shivers of delight down my spine. ^_^
Fandom: Labyrinth (Jareth/Sarah)
Title: The Enticement
Author: Scattered Logic
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1254216/5/The_Enticement
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Summary: In exchange for returning to the Labyrinth, Sarah is offered what she desires most... She's about to learn there is a huge difference between fantasy and reality.
Why I fangirl this: There's often a lot of angst or drama in Laby fics, it's kind of a win-lose situation, especially in the ones where Sarah has to leave her family and life behind if she wants to be with Jareth- or worse, when she's trapped Underground and has no desire to be there at all. What I love about this fic is that the Labyrinth strands Jareth in her world, without his magic, and they have to find a way to get along with each other. While I adore a powerful, intimidating Jareth, there's something to be said for this dynamic where they are equals, or where he's vulnerable and relying upon her at some points, and it's just such a lovely fic where they learn more about each other and develop a mutual affection.