Harry Potter/Discworld (Teen)

[phantompopcorn.livejournal.com]

Title: End of the Line by shewhoguards
Pairing: Gen
Author on LJ: Couldn't find her
Author Website: FFN
Why this must be read: The Harry Potter/Discworld combination works really well in this story. The events take place in the Beyond, where people wait to watch the next train. Shewhoguards has a great command of the two verses and integrates the character of Death really well into the HP universe. The writing is superb and the author uses emotive language really well. There is a great thread of forgiveness running through the fic, with many characters learning to forgive and move on in the afterlife.

The author integrates several notable HP characters in the course of the chapters and even makes Bellatrix into a somewhat redeemable character. That in itself is amazing. Even if you've never been exposed to the Discworld novels, you'll enjoy this story immensely.


Excerpt

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD GET THIS TRAIN IF YOU WANTED. HE WOULD CATCH YOU UP EASILY ENOUGH.

"No." Fred shook his head, "I'll wait. He'll come."

Well, there was no arguing with that. SOONER OR LATER, EVERYBODY DOES.

It was hard to tell how long they had been waiting. Time didn't seem to work the same way here. Fred had drunk more cups of disgustingly orange vending machine tea than he could count, had seen group after group wait to pile onto the trains.

They were always, without exception, late. He couldn't understand that once he'd figured out where he was, couldn't work out why trains here should get delayed. He's tried to get an explanation from the Guard, and gotten a long steady stare for his trouble. The Guard was good at those.

THERE ARE LEAVES ON THE LINE.

"What line? I'm not sure there's even a line that exists to come here!"

THEY ARE TRAINS. The Guard explained patiently and deliberately. AND SO THEY ARE LATE DUE TO LEAVES ON THE LINE.

"And so if they weren't late?"

The Guard shrugged, THEY WOULD NOT BE TRAINS. TRAINS DO NOT WORK LIKE THAT.

The End of the Line