The Darkest Art
Stories occurring between Dumbledore's arrival at Privet Drive and Snape's arrival at Malfoy Manor
(The Time Period of Half-Blood Prince)
20 stories currently
Will and Won't
Horace Slughorn
An Excess of Phlegm
Draco's Detour
Title: Two-A-Side Quidditch
Author: cwarbeck
Line from canon: Harry remained within the confines of the Burrow's garden over the next few weeks. He spent most of his days playing two-a-side Quidditch in the Weasley's orchard (he and Hermione against Ron and Ginny; Hermione was dreadful and Ginny good, so they were reasonably well matched) and his evenings eating triple helpings of everything Mrs. Weasley put in front of him.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 6 in Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 2444
Notes from author or recommender: A fun look at Harry's time at the Burrow before his 6th year.
Link for the story:Here
The Slug Club
Title: The Most Marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex
Author: antoshevu
Line from canon: “You want to be careful, Blaise! I saw this young lady perform the most marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing her carriage! I wouldn’t cross her!”
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 7 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 1420
Notes from author or recommender: I don’t usually write missing moment fics, but I thought this one was crying out to be written. I waited six months, and decided to give it a try myself!
Link for the story: Here
Snape Victorious
The Half-Blood Prince
Title: Scent of a Woman
Author: deena_s
Line from canon:They chose the [seat] nearest a gold-colored cauldron that was emitting one of the most seductive scents Harry had ever inhaled: Somehow it reminded him simultaneously of treacle tart, the woody smell of a broomstick handle, and something flowery he thought he might have smelled at the Burrow.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 9 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story:PG
Word Count:2038
Notes from author or recommender:Both Harry's and Ron's experiences with the amorentia potion.
Link for the story: Here
Title:Scent of a Man
Author:deena_s
Line from canon: "And it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and --"
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 9 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 2896
Notes from author or recommender:Hermione's experience with the Amortentia potion and then Ginny's, although that part is not canon. It's still a great story, though.
Link for the story: Here
Title: Praise out of Season
Author: summerborn
Line from canon: “Excellent, excellent, Harry! Good lord, it’s clear you’ve inherited your mother’s talent. She was a dab hand at Potions, Lily was!”
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 9 in Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG
Word Count: 1205
Notes from author or recommender: A nicely balanced story with interaction between Lily and Severus, with Slughorn being very realistic in his preferences for his favorite students.
Link for the story: Here
The House of Gaunt
Hermione's Helping Hand
Title: Episodes: The Sixth Year
Author: PigWithHair
Line from canon: “We’ve got Quidditch tryouts this morning!” said Ron.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 11 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: R
Notes from author or recommender: This is a 10-chapter story of various missing moments throughout Half-Blood Prince. They are Ron/Hermione centered and this particular "episode" is the Quidditch try-out scene, with poor Ron feeling very jealous of Harry, but they're all very well-written.
Link for the story: Here
Silver and Opals
The Secret Riddle
Felix Felicis
The Unbreakable Vow
A Very Frosty Christmas
Title:Well, They'll Have a Bed Anyway
Author: fitzette
Line from canon: "----- everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway," said Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly harassed
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 16 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: G
Word Count: 1367
Notes from author or recommender: This is one of my personal favorite missing moment stories of all time. I have remembered it since the first time I read it, and it took me some serious effort to track it down for this site. It was worth it, though, because it is just as marvelous as I remembered.
Link for the story:Here
Title: Dumbledore’s Man
Author: aggiebell90
Line from canon: “Dumbledore’s man through and through, aren’t you, Potter?” “Yeah, I am,” said Harry. “Glad we straightened that out.” And turning his back on the Minister of Magic, he strode back toward the house.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 16 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG
Word Count: 3569
Notes from author or recommender: It's Christmas at the Burrow, and it's shaping up to be an interesting one. After a surprise visit from her prat of a brother and the Minister of Magic, it's up to Ginny to talk to Harry.
Link for the story: Here
A Sluggish Memory
Birthday Surprises
Elf Tales
Title:Lying There
Author: ginny_lola
Line from canon: "Ginny came in to visit while you were unconscious," [Ron] said.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 19 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: G
Word Count: 975
Notes from author or recommender: I'd never read this scene redone before, but it's great, from Ginny's point of view, and just shows that Harry's fantasies about Ginny fauning over his unconscious body may not have been so far off the mark.
Link for the story: Here
Lord Voldemort's Request
The Unknowable Room
After the Burial
Title:Sleeping with the Enemy
Author: snorkackcatcher
Line from canon: "What were you doing up there with her" shrieked Lavender Brown, staring right through Harry at Ron and Hermione emerging together from the boys' dormitories.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in:Chapter 22 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story:PG-13
Word Count: 1,150
Notes from author or recommender: A fun story with a great twist!
Link for the story:Here
Horcruxes
Sectumsempra
Title:Quidditch in the Snow
Author: Bring and Fly
Line from canon:Harry, laughing with the others, was glad to have an innocent reason to look at Ginny; he had received several more Bludger injuries during practice because he had not been keeping his eyes on the Snitch.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 24 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story:PG
Word Count: 2877
Notes from author or recommender:A really fun story by a great author.
Link for the story:Here
Title:A Good Mood
Author: critmo
Line from canon:The creature in [Harry's] chest roaring in triumph, he grinned down at Ginny and gestured wordlessly out of the portrait hole. A long walk in the grounds seemed indicated, during which -- if they had time-- they might discuss the match.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 24 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG
Word Count:2565
Notes from author or recommender:The after-kiss afternoon from Ginny's point of view. A fun story.
Link for the story:Here
Title: A Walk in the Grounds
Author: Felix Felicis
Line from canon: The creature in [Harry's] chest roaring in triumph, he grinned down at Ginny and gestured wordlessly out of the portrait hole. A long walk in the grounds seemed indicated, during which -- if they had time-- they might discuss the match.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 24 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: G
Word Count: 3,531
Notes from author or recommender: Another great post-kiss story. There are a lot of these kicking around, but they are all really fun to read.
Link for the story: Here
Title:Willpower
Author: Chreechree
Line from canon:Yet Harry could not help himself talking to Ginny, laughing with her, walking back from practice with her; however much his conscience ached, he found himself wondering how best to get her on her own.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in:Chapter 24 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story:PG-13
Word Count:2180
Notes from author or recommender:A few moments during that long waiting period after Dean but before the Kiss from Ginny's point of view.
Link for the story: Here
Title: Kiss
Author: inell
Line from canon: And without thinking … Harry kissed her.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 24 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: G
Word Count: 100
Notes from author or recommender: Cute drabble that I could not not include.
Link for the story: Here
The Seer Overheard
Title: Gambling
Author: siriusly_cullen
Line from canon: Harry found himself newly and happily impervious to gossip over the next few weeks. After all, it made a very nice change to be talked about because of something that was making him happier than he could remember being for a very long time, rather than because he had been involved in horrific scenes of Dark Magic.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 25 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 334
Notes from author or recommender: A sweet little gem about Ginny and Harry's take on Ron and Hermione.
Link for the story: Here
The Cave
The Lightning-Struck Tower
The Flight of the Prince
Title: No Coward
Author: LadyKatie
Line from canon: “DON’T -- ” screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them -- “CALL ME COWARD!”
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 28 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 1944
Notes from author or recommender: This is a really wonderfully crafted story about Snape’s last Halloween, after he had killed Dumbledore, and could sense his own death coming quickly.
Link for the story: Here
The Phoenix Lament
Title: Crossing the Threshold
Author: shimotsuki
Line from canon: "Harry, guess what?" said Tonks from her perch on top of the washing machine, and she wiggled her left hand at him; a ring glittered there. . . ."I'm sorry you couldn't be there, Harry, it was very quiet."
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 4 of Deathly Hallows
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 3579
Notes from author or recommender: External forces push Remus and Tonks into getting married much sooner than they would (or should?) have done -- with almost no chance to prepare themselves for this major change in their relationship.
Link for the story: Here
The White Tomb
Title: Like a Sister
Author: SeaNymph
Line from canon:"You said to us once before," said Hermione quietly, "that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we?" "We're with you whatever happens," said Ron.
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 30 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: G
Word Count: 2904
Notes from author or recommender: A 2-part story, with the first part dealing with Ginny's accepting Neville's invitation to the Yule Ball and the second part dealing with a conversation taking place after Dumbledore's funeral.
Link for the story: Here
Title: Understanding
Author: Chreechree
Line from canon: “Well . . . I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew this would happen in the end. I knew you wouldn’t be happy unless you were hunting Voldemort. Maybe that’s why I like you so much.”
Chapter and book canon quote is found in: Chapter 30 of Half-Blood Prince
Rating for the story: PG-13
Word Count: 4475
Notes from author or recommender: Ginny seemed to sort of expect that Harry was leaving her when they were talking after Dumbledore’s funeral. What clues did she notice in his behavior? How did she feel about it? This story offers an opinion that I think sticks pretty close to both of their canon personalities,although we know from Deathly Hallows that they never actually got as intimate as this story shows. But, be that as it may, it is still well-done. This is the third part of a series, so if you enjoy it, consider reading the others.
Link for the story: Here