Magic/Psychic/Powers/Shifter Sherlock AU Fic Recs
Hello all!
This is my first attempt at using LJ for real. I've been keeping a hand-written list of my favorite fanfics and I figured this would be a good way to put it on the computer so I don't lose it. I also hope that someone will find it helpful maybe. I've probably got a few hundred fics I've written down, scattered throughout my many notebooks, so I'll be separating them by theme. I'll also make sure whatever I list has not been deleted at the time this is posted. By the title of this post, this one is a list of anything that has to do with magic or obvious fantasy of some kind. Here we go!
Harry Potter Specific Crossovers:
- A Study in Magic by ArtemisRayne
A Study in Magic - ArtemisRayne - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: A string of disappearances in London is baffling both the Yard and Sherlock Holmes, but a mysterious new clue makes John realize that the case may be linked to the wizarding world that he's tried to leave behind. As they get more entangled in the case, Sherlock is dancing ever closer to John's secret, and when they stumble into the suspect's crosshairs, everything that John has fought to build since Afghanistan may fall apart.
Notes: Sherlock is a muggle and John is an Ex-auror. Complete. ~20,000 words.
- Expecto Patronum by thisisforyou
Expecto Patronum - thisisforyou - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: In which eighteen year-old Sherlock and twenty-one year-old John, first-year Auror trainees, embark on an impromptu study session which leads in very wonderful directions that neither of them had dared to expect.
Notes: EXPLICIT but very good and not a PWP. Sherlock tutors John on the theory of the spells they need for their upcoming exams, while John tutors Sherlock on the spells themselves. Complete. ~ 2,300 words.
- Like a Phoenix by chappysmom
Like a Phoenix - Chapter 1 - chappysmom - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: “So, why are we going to … Little Whinging? How is there even a town named Little Whinging? Is it next to Greater Whinging? Part of Blubbering County? Bisected by the Distraught River, perhaps? Ridiculous.”
John just sighed. “We’re going because Lestrade asked us. He said this was right up your alley-a classic locked room mystery, clearly a murder, but with absolutely no clues or evidence left behind, not to mention an undetermined cause of death. Victim's name is Vernon Dursley."
Notes: Case fic. Muggle!Sherlock, Wizard!John. First fic in the series. Complete. ~38,000 words.
- A Wizarding Barista's Field Guide to Seducing a Muggle by paradigmfinch
A Wizarding Barista's Field Guide to Seducing a Muggle - Chapter 1 - paradigmfinch - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: To help pay for Healing tuition, John Watson gets a job at a coffee shop in Muggle London, where he soon sets his sights on a particularly gorgeous customer.
John's seen plenty of Muggle films. How different can it really be to woo a Muggle?
Notes: Super fluffy and well-written. Complete. ~ 29,000 words.
- you are a paradigm by 1electricpirate
you are a paradigm - 1electricpirate - Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: Sometimes, only sometimes, when Sherlock is very far away and absolutely guaranteed not to return for at least three hours, John sits on the sofa and lets the tea make itself.
In which John is (reluctantly) a wizard, Mycroft is (apparently) omniscient, and Sherlock is (surprisingly) oblivious.
Notes: First in a series. Eventual Johnlock but if I recall correctly, that does not happen until later in the series. Complete. ~10,000 words.
- A Very Potterlock Christmas by CatieBrie
A Very Potterlock Christmas - Chapter 1 - CatieBrie - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: “Wizarding…” Sherlock trailed off catching the word John had foolishly hoped he’d miss.
“Yeah, that’s the kicker.” John tried to continue and it stuck in his throat. Coward, he thought viciously at himself.
Sherlock waited, uncertain and intent and John drained his glass, waiting for the burn to settle a little stronger in his stomach. He took a deep breath and on the exhale finally managed to force free: “I’m a wizard.”
Notes: First in a series. Wizard!John, Muggle!Sherlock. John was "adopted" into the Weasley family much like Harry was, but John lost contact with them when he left the wizarding world. Eventual Johnlock. Complete. ~27,000 words.
- Finite Incantatem by HollyShaddow88
Finite Incantatem - Chapter 1 - HollyShadow88 - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: When Minerva McGonagall makes a surprise visit to Baker Street, a part of John's past that he hoped he put behind him comes crashing back to the forefront. With a baby and an overly curious Sherlock Holmes in tow, John is forced back into the world he put behind him to bring a stop to the mysteriously familiar deaths haunting London.
Notes: First in a series. Post HLV. Eventual Johnlock. The third fic in the series is a WIP and was last updated 06/2019. The first two fics are ~52,000 words and the last one is projected to be about the same length.
- The Master of London by teacup_of_doom
The Master of London - teacup_of_doom - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: The City of London is a city with secrets. John Watson has secrets of his own.
Murders have begun to mount in London, spreading from the Wizarding community to the Muggle. The Aurors can't handle the situation on their own, while New Scotland Yard has been forced to approach Sherlock Holmes for help.
John may have the only solution, and he's not interested - he gave up magic years ago, thanks.
Notes: OKAY! This fic is a WIP (hopefully not abandoned) and was last updated 12/2018, but there are 19 chapters posted with ~92,000 words, so more than enough content. It. Is. Incredible. Probably my favorite Potterlock fic I've ever read (mostly in part because I LOVE fics where John is special in some way, but also because as far as I remember, it is very well written). There are also a lot of other characters (some that you will recognize and others that seem to be OCs) with their own stories going on simultaneously and providing background information. Set after Sherlock returns from The Fall, but does not follow S3 at all. So good. So, so good.
Shapeshifter AUs:
- All Things Inherit by BeautifulFiction
All Things Inherit - BeautifulFiction - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: "For John, it's not a bullet that throws his existence into disarray - it's a bite."
In a world where twelve percent of the population are Mactiri - people with the ability to turn into wolves at will - John finds himself struggling with a new and horrifying existence. The victim of a shocking attack, he is discharged from the army and sent home, determined never to acknowledge what he can now become.
However, when his health starts to fail, it is up to his enigmatic new flatmate to show him that perhaps his life is not the nightmare John believes it to be.
Notes: EXPLICIT but not a PWP. There's just fairly explicit sex eventually. Johnlock. Probably the best and most believable werewolf/shapeshifter fic I've ever read in the Sherlock fandom. Complete. ~53,000 words.
- Father Figure by kestrel337
Father Figure - Chapter 1 - Kestrel337 - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: “You want me to foster an orphaned were, who fear-shifted at a dangerously young age, and is non-reactive to shift-inhibitors?
I can't do that, Mike."
Notes: In a similar vein as All Things Inherit, wolf shifters are known and not uncommon. Greg Lestrade is a 4 year old shifter who has been recently orphaned and placed into the care of one John Watson, who is also a shifter. TW for children in peril and hints that Greg's life before John was possibly not very great. No explicit child abuse but it seems to be slightly implied sometimes. Pre-Johnlock but they get mostly there by the end of the fic. Complete. ~41,000 words.
- How to Build a Heart Out of Ashes by Teumessian
How to Build a Heart out of Ashes - Teumessian - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: In an AU where a small number of the population become Changelings at a young age, at 17 John Watson believes he's destined for Normal life but then the Change takes him and he is sent to the Baker Institute. There he meets Sherlock Holmes.
Notes: EXPLICIT, TW for childhood sexual abuse, non-explicit depictions of child abuse, explicit and in-explicit drug and alcohol use, children in peril, kidnapping/human trafficking of children. This is a very good fic but please be warned if any of the above bothers you. Eventual Johnlock. Technically a high school AU. Complete. ~145,000 words.
- Velociraptor caenaculi (or What Lives in the Attic above John Watson's Bedroom?) by Kryptaria
Velociraptor caenaculi (or What Lives in the Attic above John Watson's Bedroom?) - Kryptaria - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: Scratch marks on the stairs. Dead rats in the freezer. An order of pizza that John doesn't share.
And then things get really strange.
Notes: John is a were-velociraptor. Yes, you read that right. It really is very good. First in the series and all of them have some general humor going for them. All the fics in the series that were posted are complete but the series in general is not. This fic is ~5,300 words, the series is ~43,000 words so far.
General Magic/Things That Are Not Possible IRL AUs:
- Shadows on the Wall by AraSigyrn
Shadows on the Wall - AraSigyrn - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: John came back from Afghanistan psychic. Spoilers to The Great Game.
Notes: Pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Very, very good fic. I'll probably continue to hope for some kind of sequel until the day I die but I'm happy this wonderful author gave us anything at all. (This is the one where John scares the piss out of Moriarty by channeling Carl Powers at the pool, if this rings a bell for anyone. I know someone was looking for it on the SherlockFicFinders thing a while back.) Complete. ~18,000 words.
- The World On His Wrist by bendingsignpost
The World on His Wrist - Chapter 1 - bendingsignpost - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: First, he is shot in Afghanistan. Second, he wakes to a phone call in Chelmsford, Essex. Third is pain, fourth is normalcy, fifth is agony and sixth is confusion. By the eighth, he's lost track.
Notes: HOLY !@#$@&!@%@&#! This author is seriously fantastic. The world building in this fic is absolutely INCREDIBLE. I've reread this approximately 10,000,000 times and will continue to do so until the Internet dies. It's the first in a series but only two fics were ever posted. However, both are complete and are between ~30,000-35,000 words. 100% worth the read.
- Pseudoscience by Winter_of_our_Discontent
Pseudoscience - Winter_of_our_Discontent - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: The only thing worse than being kidnapped by scientists is being kidnapped by scientists with shoddy methodology. Good thing Sherlock’s got a new friend in the next cell.
Notes: Short but kinda funny one-shot. Alternate first meeting where John and Sherlock were kidnapped separately by the same nutjobs and build the start of their friendship via conversations through a concrete wall that separates their adjoining cells. I won't spoil why this is in the magic fic recs. Complete. ~2,000 words.
- The Frost Child by twistedthicket1
The Frost Child - twistedthicket1 - Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: In a world where people are born with a Gift of varying levels, simple John Watson is the last person one might look at when thinking of any strong Magick capabilities. Hiding comfortably in the shadow of Sherlock's brilliant deducing abilities, John is content to keep it that way...
Notes: I don't really have much to say about this except that it's great. BAMF!John. Sort of secret identity but not really? Just John hiding in plain sight, like always. Complete. ~9,900 words.
- On Feathers and Bacon Sandwiches by Kryptaria
New
Session
|
Archive of Our Own
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: No one has ever stayed with Sherlock longer than a month. At least, no human. Fortunately, John Watson isn't about to let the little things - like biohazardous experiments and the constant threat of danger - get in the way of his friendship with a very special, very brilliant man like Sherlock Holmes.
Notes: John is a demon. DON'T FREAK OUT, he's a good one. Very cool but subtle world building. Part of a series but everything after this fic is mostly short but hilarious one-shots playing in this universe. Complete. ~21,000 words.
- they tell me their secrets (will you tell me yours too) by etothepii
they tell me their secrets (will you tell me yours too) - etothepii - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: In Afghanistan, the supplies tell him when they're running low, and the cars always, always tell him when strangers have touched them, and John gets known as having a knack (paranoia, his men call it, but he's never missed a single car bomb) for keeping his men safe.
Notes: John can speak to inanimate objects. He also has some control over them. Very cool one-shot that I wish had a sequel. Complete. ~2,300 words.
- Left by lifeonmars
Left - lifeonmars - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: John Watson is left-handed.
He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible.
Notes: All right-handed people have some kind of power, called a "knack". Most are completely useless and extremely specific (think "can always bake a perfect cake" or "can play a perfect game of golf") but some are very powerful and/or dangerous. And, you guessed it, John is left-handed (because Martin Freeman is left-handed) and left-handed people do not have knacks. Set mostly in S1E3 after the standard episode 1 highlights, but it does flash back to John's childhood and bits of Afghanistan. Complete. ~45,000 words.
- Sand and Silver by WhoGroovesOn
Sand and Silver - WhoGroovesOn - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: John lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground and a strong fear of flying. After an accident on the battlefield sends him home with a wound and a dragon, his new flatmate Sherlock takes it upon himself to cure John's fears and show him that flying as a dragon rider can be just as exhilarating as running on the battlefields, especially when there are murders to be solved and a killer is lurking in London Aerie.
Notes: EXPLICIT. Dragons are a thing in this AU's society, to the point where they are part of the world's infrastructure. Large, flying dragons (and their riders) are used for mail delivery, cargo shipment, in place of airplanes as a means to move people long distances, and to aid war efforts (fire-breathing, flying beast vs enemies? definitely), among other things. Eventual Johnlock but very slow burn. WIP, last updated 09/2018, so I hope it isn't abandoned because it is very good. But it's 165,000 words so far, so more than enough content to read regardless.
- Infinitely Stranger by Aurilia
Infinitely Stranger - Aurilia - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: John was a lot of things - brother, son, friend. Doctor. Former soldier. But the one thing that any Holmes couldn't have expected was the one thing he was best at: Mage.
Notes: Series 1 and 2 re-write with John as an extremely powerful mage. Very long, very good world building. Unfortunately, I believe this has been abandoned because it has not updated since 07/2013. But no matter, because it is ~188,000 words and all but the last chapter has been posted. Super cool fic. Probably the best non-HP magic AU I've ever read.
- Obscurity by UrbanHymnal
Obscurity - UrbanHymnal - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: Because words were magic, because they only would come out when they had the right feel and sound, he couldn’t say simple things like: Dad, leave Harry alone for once or Hey, Amy, do you fancy coming out to dinner with me?
Notes: John can only speak recited words from books, and then only if they had the right "feel" to them. One-shot but not too short. Very well written. Complete. ~7,700 words.
- Maggot and Madman by giantflyingskelesnurtle
Maggot and Madman - Chapter 1 - giantflyingskelesnurtle - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: He looked over to the living room. Sherlock’s eyes were opened, and he was staring at John.
John looked down at himself, trying to see if he had toothpaste all down his front or something, but upon finding nothing looked back up again. There was something in Sherlock’s face that he didn’t like. He felt a slight draft blow through the air, tingling the back of his neck and his wings - oh.
Oh.
Notes: John is a literal fairy and accidentally starts a civil rights movement for magical creatures in a world where magic beings are vaguely known to the population, but are all in hiding because of extreme prejudices against them. Very good fic. Complete. ~71,000 words.
- Finding An Anchor by TheWhiteLily
Finding an Anchor - TheWhiteLily - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: John--this John--is starting to lose his grip on reality.
Notes: Holy Hubble, this FIC! It's a shorter one-shot but SO INCREDIBLY WELL WRITTEN! I think the concept was conveyed beautifully. The idea is that John can see (and essentially lives in) all of the alternate realities, all at once. (If you've seen Men in Black 3, think that cool dude with no skull who can see all the possibilities of every outcome of everything all the time). I'd really love to see a sequel some day but I don't think that's in the cards :( Complete. ~3,300 words.
- Set In Stone by prettybirdy979
Set In Stone - Chapter 1 - prettybirdy979 - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: They say our dreams are our mind's attempt to make sense of our days. John's dreams seem to be making sense of things that haven't ever happened.
Until those things start to happen anyway.
Notes: John starts suddenly dreaming the future. Complete. ~19,000 words.
- Obvious Facts in the Guise of Reality by The_Circus
Obvious Facts in the Guise of Reality - The_Circus - Sherlock (TV) [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
Summary: Your Patron helps define you, your chosen god helps influence the path of your life. Yet John has no Patron Sherlock can see and that niggling itch of a question shoved determinedly to the back of his mind is getting stronger every day.
In a world where every person has a Greek god as a Patron, who is John Watson's?
Notes: Very well written, very cool concept. Complete. ~7,000 words.
And that's all of the magic stuff for now! I'm sure I'll find more after I find some more notebooks xD I'll probably be posting more whenever I find enough with similar themes.