Harry-Centric Rec List
Well, I've got another rec-list for you. This one is Harry-centric. It's mostly gen, though I think there's one or two Harry/Ginny in there. They're in no particular order.
EDIT 8-21-07: I've added some new fics to the bottom of this list. The summary's are the author's and the link text will be taken from the story. *is lazy*
Please note that any fic after the NEW marker may contain DH spoilers.
Title: A Meeting With the Minister
Author: coyotegoth
The title is pretty self-explanatory. I'm a big fan of Harry being a jerk to Scrimgeour, what can I say? Though, this scene has an interesting take on things.
"I... I won't betray the Order's secrets," he said, "...and I'll never tell you anything about Dumbledore. Never. If that's what you want... you'd best send me to Azkaban right now, and lose the aid of your "Chosen One" for good."
Title: As Before
Author: atrata
This one is kind-of creepy. It's very short. Snape is captured and in absence of other options, Harry is the executioner. Not very likely, I'll give you that, but the mood of the fic intrigued me, so there you are.
"His Pensieve," he spat. "The bastard left me his fucking Pensieve."
Title: Seeking the Seeker
Author: r_becca
Harry disappears after the final battle, but Ginny is determined to find him. Sounds cliche, but it's interesting regardless if you like Harry/Ginny.
It was only a few days after that Harry left with Ron and Hermione, setting off to fulfill his stupid destiny.
Title: Afterwards
Author: nekare
Wonderfully poignant post-war one shot. I like emo Harry, but I also like emo-but-healing Harry. *giggle* Mostly, I just like stuff that requires tissues to read.
He can feel more than see the confused looks Ron and Hermione share over his shoulder, but he stops caring when they wrap their arms around him, Hermione sobbing slightly and Ron wincing from the wound in his arm but holding on tightly nevertheless.
Title: Blue Lips
Author: gnusferatu
This is a chilling portrait of what could happen to Harry if Jo decided to be callously realistic. Harry can't move on after the final battle, but his friends just won't wait for him anymore.
On his good days, Harry often thought that Voldemort had managed to curse the entire world with his dying breath. On his bad days, he knew it was just how people were.
Title: Cracked
Author: florahart
This is a funny little piece. Harry is an auror, but is having problems because things around him keep cracking down the middle in the shape of a lightning bolt. Is it a warning about the nature of his own scar? I doubt it.
Evidently with pinking shears; the perfect lightning bolt shape of what was left of each side was clear even from this odd angle.
Title: For What Has Been Stolen
Author: ranaeressea
Harry goes to Godric's Hollow, but finds that it doesn't change anything. There's nothing there except the same darkness that is always with him. Quite emo.
He isn't greeted with the feelings of family or of love, just the emptiness of the shadows lying before him. The hollow in his chest seals itself off at last-refusing once and for all to be filled with substitutes for what has been stolen from him.
Title: Heroics
Author: confusedkayt
This is a bittersweet Harry/Ginny oneshot. Harry is at the wedding and Ginny reaches out to him, but he shuts her out because there are things he doesn't want her to have to know. I like it, because I waver between wanting to kick Harry in the face and just give him a hug. He's so incredibly stubborn, but I understand why he's doing it. And it's just sad, because a seventeen-year-old kid shouldn't have to make these kinds of decisions.
She stumbled as she swayed back and forth, singing along with that stupid love song. She started to cry when she hit the chorus, some silly thing about how a prince had to fight or something, and Harry was sure that it was terribly romantic.
Title: Light a Candle
Author: musesfool
After the war, Harry finally has time to grieve, and to give Sirius a proper send off.
"We should have given Sirius a proper send-off, but there just wasn't time. But you'll do right by him now, I'm sure." She gives his shoulder a light squeeze and smiles before moving on to say hello to Ron and Hermione and Lupin.
Title: Submission and Dominance
Author: virginia_bell
A hero and an untouchable after the war, Harry is free to do as he pleases, only he's not the same person that he used to be. He goes to visit Draco in Azkaban. It's an angsty fic and Harry is semi-dark, but it's more plausible than most.
But after the parades and parties had ended and normality restored, Harry threw away the presents and the letters of thanks, feeding them to the fire that burned within him. And he came to realize that nothing had changed.
Title: Black Ocean
Author: nekare
After the war, Harry, Ron and Hermione get some time to be normal teenagers: getting drunk illegally at the beach.
Harry feels too drunk; too intoxicated by this moment, the fact that they’re still alive after all they’ve been through.
NEW FICS
Title: The White Ravens
Author: leni_jess
Stories told in the darkest of nights.
Stoicism, though, wasn't enough to bring the world's enemy down. Nor was Potter's luck, which seemed to have deserted him.
Title: Coventry
Author: crucio_4_coffee
Dungeons are supposed to be cold. Dark places, cold places. Dank perhaps, or maybe excruciatingly dry. They can be prepared for, if you know they are coming.
“You are here because he fears himself too much to let you run free, but he fears death too much to kill you. I am here because he cannot live without someone to hate and blame for his problems. If he kills me, who will he blame for his failures?”
Title: A Little Behind the Times
Author: akissinacrisis
A foray back in time to retrieve a Horcrux means that Harry has an unexpected encounter with someone he didn’t intend on seeing. Suddenly, Hermione’s rules about not meddling with the past become a lot harder to keep.
What is Dumbledore doing at the Ministry? It’s 1992, term hasn't finished yet -
Title: Black Light
Author: eumenides1
Once, when he was still a child and not yet a wizard, Harry had gone with the Dursleys to a great cathedral, he hadn't known which, and Aunt Petunia, caught up in giving her Dudders culture, had not seen fit to enlighten him.
But Dumbledore taught him patience (a lesson Sirius never learned), so he waits for his chance.
Title: Cloak
Author: inthesewalls
Harry shouldn’t have to hide anymore. Voldemort is dead. It’s over.
He can afford it, now. He doesn't need to push back everything that's not consuming hate and anger.
Title: Ouroboros
Author: tkp
Everyone keeps saying how trite and sappy and lame the epilogue is. As I've mentioned, I find it CREEPY. Here is why.
You walk through King’s Cross to see Albus off to Hogwarts for the first time, and your head is crowded with paternal thoughts of loss.
Title: The Delusionist
Author: sciathan-file
She taps the end of her wand on the canvas, muttering a well-worn incantation and replaying a borrowed memory in her head.
Taking a deep breath and controlling his breathing (and taking a glass of water kindly conjured up by Professor Sprout) at last, he said, “The portrait. Snape’s portrait.”
Title: Tread Softly
Author: akissinacrisis
He doesn't think it can ever go back to the way it was.
During the war, he had never been able to tell whether his fantasies were saving him from madness, or driving him towards it.
Title: One More Such Victory
Author: cesario
After the battle, Harry has one more job to finish.
There is a marked difference between the Severus Snape Harry knew in life and the dead one that appears before him now.
Title: Portraits and Pictures Past and Present
Author: alchemistc
Harry and Snape have a talk about pictures Harry discovered in his Aunt Petunia's attic.
Snape snorted. “Oh yes, I’m sure you would have enjoyed that. You’d have had better vision and greasier hair, and a rather more biting tongue.”
Title: In Still, Quiet Moments
Author: mindabbles
Harry had never expected to feel all these things when he held him during moments that were quiet and still.
An image of Sirius whispering that to a baby seventeen years ago, and meaning it as intensely as Harry did now, flashed across his mind. He quickly decided not to start out Teddy's life making promises he couldn't keep.
EDIT 8-21-07: I've added some new fics to the bottom of this list. The summary's are the author's and the link text will be taken from the story. *is lazy*
Please note that any fic after the NEW marker may contain DH spoilers.
Title: A Meeting With the Minister
Author: coyotegoth
The title is pretty self-explanatory. I'm a big fan of Harry being a jerk to Scrimgeour, what can I say? Though, this scene has an interesting take on things.
"I... I won't betray the Order's secrets," he said, "...and I'll never tell you anything about Dumbledore. Never. If that's what you want... you'd best send me to Azkaban right now, and lose the aid of your "Chosen One" for good."
Title: As Before
Author: atrata
This one is kind-of creepy. It's very short. Snape is captured and in absence of other options, Harry is the executioner. Not very likely, I'll give you that, but the mood of the fic intrigued me, so there you are.
"His Pensieve," he spat. "The bastard left me his fucking Pensieve."
Title: Seeking the Seeker
Author: r_becca
Harry disappears after the final battle, but Ginny is determined to find him. Sounds cliche, but it's interesting regardless if you like Harry/Ginny.
It was only a few days after that Harry left with Ron and Hermione, setting off to fulfill his stupid destiny.
Title: Afterwards
Author: nekare
Wonderfully poignant post-war one shot. I like emo Harry, but I also like emo-but-healing Harry. *giggle* Mostly, I just like stuff that requires tissues to read.
He can feel more than see the confused looks Ron and Hermione share over his shoulder, but he stops caring when they wrap their arms around him, Hermione sobbing slightly and Ron wincing from the wound in his arm but holding on tightly nevertheless.
Title: Blue Lips
Author: gnusferatu
This is a chilling portrait of what could happen to Harry if Jo decided to be callously realistic. Harry can't move on after the final battle, but his friends just won't wait for him anymore.
On his good days, Harry often thought that Voldemort had managed to curse the entire world with his dying breath. On his bad days, he knew it was just how people were.
Title: Cracked
Author: florahart
This is a funny little piece. Harry is an auror, but is having problems because things around him keep cracking down the middle in the shape of a lightning bolt. Is it a warning about the nature of his own scar? I doubt it.
Evidently with pinking shears; the perfect lightning bolt shape of what was left of each side was clear even from this odd angle.
Title: For What Has Been Stolen
Author: ranaeressea
Harry goes to Godric's Hollow, but finds that it doesn't change anything. There's nothing there except the same darkness that is always with him. Quite emo.
He isn't greeted with the feelings of family or of love, just the emptiness of the shadows lying before him. The hollow in his chest seals itself off at last-refusing once and for all to be filled with substitutes for what has been stolen from him.
Title: Heroics
Author: confusedkayt
This is a bittersweet Harry/Ginny oneshot. Harry is at the wedding and Ginny reaches out to him, but he shuts her out because there are things he doesn't want her to have to know. I like it, because I waver between wanting to kick Harry in the face and just give him a hug. He's so incredibly stubborn, but I understand why he's doing it. And it's just sad, because a seventeen-year-old kid shouldn't have to make these kinds of decisions.
She stumbled as she swayed back and forth, singing along with that stupid love song. She started to cry when she hit the chorus, some silly thing about how a prince had to fight or something, and Harry was sure that it was terribly romantic.
Title: Light a Candle
Author: musesfool
After the war, Harry finally has time to grieve, and to give Sirius a proper send off.
"We should have given Sirius a proper send-off, but there just wasn't time. But you'll do right by him now, I'm sure." She gives his shoulder a light squeeze and smiles before moving on to say hello to Ron and Hermione and Lupin.
Title: Submission and Dominance
Author: virginia_bell
A hero and an untouchable after the war, Harry is free to do as he pleases, only he's not the same person that he used to be. He goes to visit Draco in Azkaban. It's an angsty fic and Harry is semi-dark, but it's more plausible than most.
But after the parades and parties had ended and normality restored, Harry threw away the presents and the letters of thanks, feeding them to the fire that burned within him. And he came to realize that nothing had changed.
Title: Black Ocean
Author: nekare
After the war, Harry, Ron and Hermione get some time to be normal teenagers: getting drunk illegally at the beach.
Harry feels too drunk; too intoxicated by this moment, the fact that they’re still alive after all they’ve been through.
NEW FICS
Title: The White Ravens
Author: leni_jess
Stories told in the darkest of nights.
Stoicism, though, wasn't enough to bring the world's enemy down. Nor was Potter's luck, which seemed to have deserted him.
Title: Coventry
Author: crucio_4_coffee
Dungeons are supposed to be cold. Dark places, cold places. Dank perhaps, or maybe excruciatingly dry. They can be prepared for, if you know they are coming.
“You are here because he fears himself too much to let you run free, but he fears death too much to kill you. I am here because he cannot live without someone to hate and blame for his problems. If he kills me, who will he blame for his failures?”
Title: A Little Behind the Times
Author: akissinacrisis
A foray back in time to retrieve a Horcrux means that Harry has an unexpected encounter with someone he didn’t intend on seeing. Suddenly, Hermione’s rules about not meddling with the past become a lot harder to keep.
What is Dumbledore doing at the Ministry? It’s 1992, term hasn't finished yet -
Title: Black Light
Author: eumenides1
Once, when he was still a child and not yet a wizard, Harry had gone with the Dursleys to a great cathedral, he hadn't known which, and Aunt Petunia, caught up in giving her Dudders culture, had not seen fit to enlighten him.
But Dumbledore taught him patience (a lesson Sirius never learned), so he waits for his chance.
Title: Cloak
Author: inthesewalls
Harry shouldn’t have to hide anymore. Voldemort is dead. It’s over.
He can afford it, now. He doesn't need to push back everything that's not consuming hate and anger.
Title: Ouroboros
Author: tkp
Everyone keeps saying how trite and sappy and lame the epilogue is. As I've mentioned, I find it CREEPY. Here is why.
You walk through King’s Cross to see Albus off to Hogwarts for the first time, and your head is crowded with paternal thoughts of loss.
Title: The Delusionist
Author: sciathan-file
She taps the end of her wand on the canvas, muttering a well-worn incantation and replaying a borrowed memory in her head.
Taking a deep breath and controlling his breathing (and taking a glass of water kindly conjured up by Professor Sprout) at last, he said, “The portrait. Snape’s portrait.”
Title: Tread Softly
Author: akissinacrisis
He doesn't think it can ever go back to the way it was.
During the war, he had never been able to tell whether his fantasies were saving him from madness, or driving him towards it.
Title: One More Such Victory
Author: cesario
After the battle, Harry has one more job to finish.
There is a marked difference between the Severus Snape Harry knew in life and the dead one that appears before him now.
Title: Portraits and Pictures Past and Present
Author: alchemistc
Harry and Snape have a talk about pictures Harry discovered in his Aunt Petunia's attic.
Snape snorted. “Oh yes, I’m sure you would have enjoyed that. You’d have had better vision and greasier hair, and a rather more biting tongue.”
Title: In Still, Quiet Moments
Author: mindabbles
Harry had never expected to feel all these things when he held him during moments that were quiet and still.
An image of Sirius whispering that to a baby seventeen years ago, and meaning it as intensely as Harry did now, flashed across his mind. He quickly decided not to start out Teddy's life making promises he couldn't keep.