Springtime_gen recs for week three
...aaaand some more springtime_gen recs for week three (as panamdea just said to me, "you really are jetlagged, aren't you?").
Eight of Swords, Nine of Wands, Lavender Brown, Neville Longbottom, Various Others (PG, ~13,550 words. Summary: Adulthood begins when we take responsibility not only for ourselves but for others. Lavender and Neville are seventeen and in their seventh year at Hogwarts. Their time to be adults has begun.
Another of several excellent, insightful seventh-year stories that have been posted during this fest. I was slightly thrown by the idea of Lavender being Muggle-born (although there's nothing in canon to contradict it - I'd simply never considered the possibility), but it allows the author to give Lavender a very different experience to that of Neville during a time when their fates are closely linked. The characterisation of Lavender and Neville (as well as the supporting cast) is very plausible, and the story is often moving. The author also delves into the darkness of Hogwarts during this year with a degree of thoughtfulness that I've only rarely seen in fanfic. A wonderful coming of age story.
Heartstring, Ollivander, Luna, Dean (G, 1,750 words). Summary: In the summer after the war, they need wands again.
This is a gorgeous, gentle, refreshing postwar story - as lazy_neutrino put it, like a warm breeze after rain. It's imbued with the sadness of war, but it also made me smile.
Things Are Not What They Seem, Sirius, Narcissa, Walburga, Bellatrix, Andromeda (G, 13,547 words). Summary: Deceit and manipulation are storied traditions of the Black family, employed with equal dexterity by all, even by those who seek the truth.
I can't really improve on that summary, except to say that the story is brilliantly executed. It's set just after Andromeda's defection, and everyone has their various motives for what comes next. Eleven-year-old Sirius may not have a clue what's going on, but he's as determined as the rest of his family to get what he wants.
Here Is No Place, Lily, James, Sirius (PG, 2,992 words). Summary: A housewarming party The Greatest Party Ever yields a quiet moment between friends.
This starts slowly, but gradually builds into a lovely, evocative piece examining the situations of Lily, James and Sirius as they set out into adulthood.
Things that can be taken away from you, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ginny and Ron Weasley, Minerva McGonagall (PG-13,~ 6,500 words). Summary: For five warriors, considering moving away from Hogwarts after the battle also means leaving something of themselves behind, willingly or not.
A perfect postwar coda with plenty of dramatic tension to remind us that the war may be over, but the problems aren't. Wonderful characterisation (I particularly liked the fact that Luna really has her own place here, rather than being a device to help others grow), and beautiful writing. One of my favourites.
Eight of Swords, Nine of Wands, Lavender Brown, Neville Longbottom, Various Others (PG, ~13,550 words. Summary: Adulthood begins when we take responsibility not only for ourselves but for others. Lavender and Neville are seventeen and in their seventh year at Hogwarts. Their time to be adults has begun.
Another of several excellent, insightful seventh-year stories that have been posted during this fest. I was slightly thrown by the idea of Lavender being Muggle-born (although there's nothing in canon to contradict it - I'd simply never considered the possibility), but it allows the author to give Lavender a very different experience to that of Neville during a time when their fates are closely linked. The characterisation of Lavender and Neville (as well as the supporting cast) is very plausible, and the story is often moving. The author also delves into the darkness of Hogwarts during this year with a degree of thoughtfulness that I've only rarely seen in fanfic. A wonderful coming of age story.
Heartstring, Ollivander, Luna, Dean (G, 1,750 words). Summary: In the summer after the war, they need wands again.
This is a gorgeous, gentle, refreshing postwar story - as lazy_neutrino put it, like a warm breeze after rain. It's imbued with the sadness of war, but it also made me smile.
Things Are Not What They Seem, Sirius, Narcissa, Walburga, Bellatrix, Andromeda (G, 13,547 words). Summary: Deceit and manipulation are storied traditions of the Black family, employed with equal dexterity by all, even by those who seek the truth.
I can't really improve on that summary, except to say that the story is brilliantly executed. It's set just after Andromeda's defection, and everyone has their various motives for what comes next. Eleven-year-old Sirius may not have a clue what's going on, but he's as determined as the rest of his family to get what he wants.
Here Is No Place, Lily, James, Sirius (PG, 2,992 words). Summary: A housewarming party The Greatest Party Ever yields a quiet moment between friends.
This starts slowly, but gradually builds into a lovely, evocative piece examining the situations of Lily, James and Sirius as they set out into adulthood.
Things that can be taken away from you, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ginny and Ron Weasley, Minerva McGonagall (PG-13,~ 6,500 words). Summary: For five warriors, considering moving away from Hogwarts after the battle also means leaving something of themselves behind, willingly or not.
A perfect postwar coda with plenty of dramatic tension to remind us that the war may be over, but the problems aren't. Wonderful characterisation (I particularly liked the fact that Luna really has her own place here, rather than being a device to help others grow), and beautiful writing. One of my favourites.