This is my last rec and I will shortly be switching off posting access for the last time. Thank you, everyone, for all of your lovely comments over the past month. crack_van has been a labor of love these many years, and it's really gratifying to know that it has meant so much to so many people. ♥

Fandoms: ONE DIRECTION / HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Harry Styles/Nick Grimshaw, OT5 Friendship
Length: ~99,000 words
Author on LJ: waspabi
Author on AO3: waspabi
Why this must be read:

I spent a good few years in Harry Potter fandom, and have read a lot of crossovers since then, but very few have been as fully-fleshed and whimsical as the best of the fics written in that fandom. This is an exception.

It's 2010, twelve years after the defeat of Lord Voldemort, and the biggest problems in Harry's life (that's Styles, not Potter) are the fact that he's apparently hooked up with his new DADA professor (Mega Fit Nick From the Club), and Louis' seeming determination to drive Gryffindor's rivalry with Slytherin over the cliff of no return. Includes appearances by many of the Harry Potter characters, and a backstory that makes the 1D/Radio 1 characters' presence feel organic.

In which Harry makes too many Care of Magical Creatures similes, Liam is a facsimile of a sham of a lie of a Prefect, Zayn is handy with the hexes, Louis thinks petty rivalry is for winners, and Niall divines the future (and the future is chaos).

Title: who knows me half as well as me by ten_miles_til_midnight
Pairing: Jordan Eberle/Taylor Hall (Pairing Primer here)
Length: 13,945 words
Author on LJ: til_midnight
Author Website: Author page on AO3
Why this must be read:
This is a wonderful AU fusion with the Harry Potter universe (magic, but no Death Eaters or canon characters appear). Jordan is a Muggle born wizard, and he decides he loves hockey enough to live in the non-magical world. He meets Taylor, and despite the differences in their backgrounds, he can't give up on the chance to have it all.

who knows me half as well as me

Fandom: HOCKEY RPF/HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews
Length: 111,000 words
Author on LJ: staraflur
Author Website: Staraflur's hockey rpf at AO3
Why this must be read:

All fandoms must, of course, have a Harry Potter AU, and Hockey RPF is no exception. I find that they're often pretty great fics as well, and, again, no exception here.


In this case, magic is an alternative for Hockey, and it does not (gasp) take place in Hogwarts, but in a magical school in the US, which is quite unusual but works brilliantly. There's a North American Triwizard Tournament, which our hockey players take part in. Kaner is his somewhat less than serious/studious self, and Captain Serious is Captain Serious.

It is incredibly well-written, I was continually actually laughing, and glued to my screen for 100k+ words.

Bring it if you really want it

Fandom: AVENGERS (2012)/HARRY POTTER
Pairing: none
Length: ~2k
Author on LJ:igrockspock
Author Website: AO3 page

Why this must be read: Because it literally is, pretty much, how Natasha's life would have gone if she'd been part of Rowling's universe. And because this fic maintains so much of the characters backgrounds/motivations while still staying true to the setting in which it is placed.

( Excerpt )

Rise and Join a New Order

Fandoms: Sherlock Holmes/Harry Potter
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Length: 7, 198 words
Author on LJ: N/A, but goes by Pandarus on Dreamwidth.
Author Website: Archived at AO3
No Warnings Apply

Summary: "So," said John, feeling out of his depth once again. "An owl." It was the same mild, politely curious tone of voice with which he had previously found himself uttering such things as: "So – three bags of frozen AB negative," and "So – a selection of human ears."

"Goodness, John, with deductive prowess like that you'll soon be putting me in the shade," Sherlock said tartly. "Can't sneak anything past you, can we?"

Why this must be read: A really lovely example of  'getting to know the eccentric Holmes family' fics.  There's well executed characterization all around, with practical John caught between Luna’s baffling attempts at Muggle diplomacy, and Sherlock’s usual  avoidance and melodrama when faced with family. Relationship wise it's slightly romantic, with an original back story that helps explain Mycroft's overprotective big brother streak too. Just a great use of imagery and dialogue, makes the crossover seem natural even as John struggles with the bizzare.

The Case of the Unwelcome Owl

Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Length: 11,540
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Spoilers for the entire book series
Author on LJ:
Author Website: CallicoKitten on AO3, LowkeyLyesmiths on FFN
Summary: When Draco first meets Harry he knows he's met someone special, it just takes him a while to work out why.

Why this must be read: There are a plethora of fics where Harry deals with being thought of as a hero and Draco gets redeemed through some dramatic act. This fic paints a far different picture. Harry and Draco’s character development is done through their daemons. Harry’s daemon settles into an ordinary shape that surprises everyone except himself, proving that Harry is at heart just an ordinary kid thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Draco’s daemon settles into a fantastic shape, which causes him both joy and grief, but ultimately gives the reader the idea that Draco has always had the power to redeem himself just through being who he is.

The rest of the story follows the series to the letter, and I found myself becoming deeply involved with the idea of daemons at Hogwarts, how that relates to students getting sorted and what their daemons are, and how having daemons affects the war, Death Eaters, Voldemort, etc. The series basically flies through canon (7 books in 11K words) and the end is particularly heart-wrenching although it does leave hope for the future. I’d definitely classify this as a worthwhile angsty read.

The Hare and the Phoenix: the entire series on AO3 or each individual part on FFN: Neala, Andrasteia, and The Hare and the Phoenix

First of all I want to apologize for a late start to the Comics van this month, but hopefully I'll be able to make up for lost time!   While in recent years I've definitely leaned towards reading more Marvel, I have a fondness for DC.  Either way expect a variety of characters/comics.

Title: The Better Men by TurtleTotem
Pairing: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier
Length: 77,963 words
Author on LJ: turtletotem
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:
( Seamlessly interweaving of XMFC within the world of Harry Potter )

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: (Tom Riddle/Harry Potter)
Length: (70589 words)
Author on LJ: http://rightonthelimit.livejournal.com/
Author Website: Rightonthelimitin AO3
Why this must be read: A Tom/Harry love story its certainly not always sweet... it can have and a very dark side by its own nature...  This story is anything but abusive but very certainly dark and seasonal: Zombies do I need to add something else??? 
Still its an awesome story dark and apocaliptic but oh so hot and passionate!!! honestly one of the most intriguing stories ever and the hottest I ever read... Not only that but it holds you there, incapable of leaving, until its over... 
The end whille different it will not didapoint... promise:)...

Summary: They had been driving around aimlessly, raiding supermarkets, fighting for their lives. Killing people who were in reality no longer actual people.

( Read more... )

Counting Bodies Like Sheep

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: (Tom Riddle/Harry Potter)
Length: (92,809 words)
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Paimpont in FFNET
Why this must be read: Another of the best dream and fairytale Tom/Harry stories of the sweetest type and the very first one I read, perhaps the best of its kind and from one of the best authors. Paimpont certainly knows her art and anyone that would read one of her stories will leave feeling happy:)

Summary: After Dumbledore's death, Harry searches for answers in the Pensieve. But something goes wrong. Trapped inside a memory, Harry finds himself back at Hogwarts in 1945 where he meets an 18 year old Tom Riddle teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.


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To Kill You With A Kiss

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: (Harry Potter, Severus Snape, gen)
Length: (318,389 words)
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: kbinnz in FFNET
Why this must be read: Another amazing epic Slytherin Harry with Snape adopting him this time... again great characterization and while dark at times, the humor was such that it had me in stiches on the whole story...
Summary: One lonely little boy. One snarky, grumpy git. When the safety of one was entrusted to the other, everyone knew this was not going to turn out well... Or was it? AU, sequel to "Harry's First Detention"

"
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Harry's New Home

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: (Harry Potter, Severus Snape, gen)
Length: (175,130 words)
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: jharad17 in FFNET
Why this must be read: One of the best if not the best Slytherin Harry with great characterization and dark humor... but most of all really life like...
Summary: As a first year, Harry is sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor, and no one is more surprised than his new Head of House. Snape mentors Harry fic.



"Hmm," said a small voice in Harry's ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent -- my goodness, yes -- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting. . . . So where shall I put you?"

Harry gripped the edges of the stool and a horrible thought struck him, as horrible thoughts always do when you're very nervous. What if he wasn't chosen at all? What if he just sat there with the hat over his eyes for ages, until Professor McGonagall jerked it off his head and said there had obviously been a mistake and he'd better get back on the train? Had that ever happened before?

He didn't think he could face going back to the Dursleys having failed at his very first test of wizardry. Dudley would laugh, and Aunt Petunia would sneer, and Uncle Vernon would tell him he'd always known Harry would come to no good at all . . .

Anywhere at all, he thought fiercely. Anywhere I can belong.

"No preferences, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? Well, if you're sure -- better be SLYTHERIN!"

The utter silence in the Great Hall was deafening.

Harry lifted the battered hat off his head and looked around at all the shocked expressions surrounding him, and he bit his lip, hard. He turned to look at Hagrid, at the end of the head table, and the giant man was frowning, which made Harry's heart plummet. Near Hagrid, though, next to the stuttering Professor Quirrell in his absurd turban, sat a man with dark eyes, a hooked nose and a curtain of greasy dark hair, his face a study in complete surprise before it went carefully blank.

Harry recognized that look, from his own repertoire, when he was upset or really angry about something, but didn't want the Dursleys to come down on him because of it. He was used to hiding, and by the continued silence around him, he knew he would have to hide here, too.

The dark-eyed man captured Harry's gaze and after a long moment, nodded his chin toward the table where Harry had seen other new Slytherins go. So Harry obediently slid off the stool and handed the hat off to Professor McGonagall before making his way over to his new Housemates.

Once there, he stood next to the table, with the newly sorted Slytherins staring up at him like he had three heads, maybe four. He was sure he was about to told to "bugger off" for the space of one breath, then two, before one of them, a stringy looking boy, sorted into the House just two before Harry, slid over on the bench and gestured to the space now open beside him. His name was Nott, Harry remembered. Theodore Nott. "Sit down, Potter. And quit gawking for pity's sake."

"Thanks," Harry said, and slipped into the seat, ducking his head to avoid the stares.

But the rest of the Hall finally recalled what they were doing before Harry's sorting startled them, and went back to watching the hat as "Thomas, Dean" was sorted into Gryffindor. He got the expected cheers that everyone so far – except Harry – had received, and was followed by "Turpin, Lisa" going into Ravenclaw, and "Weasley, Ronald" into Gryffindor. "Zabini, Blaise," was last, and landed in Slytherin. Harry clapped along with others at his table, and made room as Zabini came to sit down on the other side of Nott.

Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and put it away.


Better Be Slytherin!

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: (Tom Riddle, Harry Potter, gen)
Length: ( 315,509 words)
Author on LJ: 
Author Website: The Fictionist in FFNET
Why this must be read: This is honestly the best story ever writed about Tom and Harry. a true epic, amazingly intriguing, with plots, upon plots, upon plots, that holds you to the edge of your seat until the very end. The very best characterisation of Tom ever writen and a very real Harry that puts his very slytherin brain in constant use. The story may be gen but it has nothing, apsolutly nothing, that slash readers won't find apealing in this relationship, the deepest I ever read... Also my favorite story of all time...no contest...
The prequel and sequel are also amazing (wips)

You always get the stories where Harry goes back into Tom Riddle's time, then either stays or gets sent back. End of, unless he tries to make Voldemort good. But what if thing's went differently? What if, just once? someone followed a time traveller back?



Harry stared down at the Gryffindor table, ignoring the looks that the Staff and other students were sending him. It was the opening feast and he looked different, he knew it. He looked different and he acted different. How could he not?

It had been a bizarre summer - even by his rather messed up standards. Time Travel. He'd just spent a year in 1943 - Tom Riddle's fifth year at Hogwarts. The year before everything changed, with the Chamber of Secrets and the rise of the Dark Lord…not that Tom hadn't been Dark Lordish. He was, most definitely at times.

He wasn't Voldemort though. Harry could see that now

. He smiled slightly wistfully to himself. It was inconceivable that he could spend a year as Harrison Evans, the other half of the Slytherin Duo, and not change. It wasn't the kind of change that could be explained though. Ron and Hermione could sense that he was different, but he didn't even know where to begin in explaining why. They would freak out, completely.

The running theory, from what he had gathered, was that Cedric's death had traumatised him big time. A slight shiver ran up his spine. That hadn't been particularly easy, he admitted it, but he wasn't broken by it. He wasn't.

"Harry?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"Hmm?" he looked up, forcing himself into attention and out of his own thoughts.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine," he smiled, briefly. "I'm fine." He pushed another forkful of spaghetti into his mouth.

"You seem…different," she offered.

"Do I?" he replied blandly. "Good different or bad different?" he winked. She looked surprised for a moment. Confidence, another change, he knew. It was just that Tom had always demanded confidence, or at least a mask of it. It was part of being a Slytherin, you had to be the picture of confidence or the vultures would swoop and tear you apart.

Why was he even thinking about Tom? It was over. This was his time now, he would go crazy if he kept thinking about back there. Voldemort was still here.

"Just different," she hedged. He shrugged, sympathetically.

"People can change," he said softly. He had, and he'd hoped Tom wouldn't. He'd hoped so much…yet Voldemort still seemed to be here and Salazar didn't that feel like a shard of ice through the stomach? Unless Tom's universe had turned into an Alternative one, if such a thing even existed.

There would be another him, possibly, living with his parents. Tom would probably be the Minister of Magic by the time he was thirty. Harry's lips curved slightly. Zevi Prince would of course be a potions master who travelled the world showing off his crazy skills. He let the thoughts trail off. He couldn't dwell on that. He just couldn't. Now he just wished his heart would obey the logical aspects of his mind.

"I suppose so," Hermione agreed, studying him.

Before it would have made him shift and want to tell her everything, but after being under Tom's intense psyche out appraisals anyone else's scrutiny seemed rather pale in comparison. There he went again. Thinking about the past. It was just hard to adjust. He'd almost walked to the Slytherin table when they entered the Great Hall, and Malfoy's (as in Draco's) little witticisms only served to amuse him. He'd almost called him Abraxas, because damn they looked similar.

He ate another mouthful pasta. The sorting had finished, with several new additions to every house. He twisted his hands in his lap for want of something to do. It felt weird sitting here, surreal. It really shouldn't have, but it did. He almost wished he was back in 1943, which was ridiculous, because a large fraction of his time there trying to find a way back. Who knew that all he needed to do was get hit by a killing curse. It was just, he'd FINALLY accepted his place there, and now he was slammed back into his time.

Fate hated him.

With a vengeance.

They finished eating, as Harry tried to participate in the conversation around him to the best of his ability. Dumbledore rose to speak.

And a white glow grew in the centre of the room.

Everyone stared at it, in a mixture of terror and curiosity. Harry felt insides jitter. No, it couldn't be. That light…it was so familiar. The voices coming out of it were growing louder, like a train rushing down a tunnel.

"Are you sure it worked?" that was Alphard.

"Are you saying that Tom would have got it wrong?" And that was Lestrange - as sycophantic as ever. He got the oddest urge to burst into hysterical laughter as five figures formed in the middle of the hall. Alphard Black. Cygnus Lestrange. Abraxas Malfoy. Zevi Prince. Tom Riddle. Everyone gaped.

"What is the meaning of this?" Dumbledore demanded.

He saw Tom give the old man a glance over, his lip curling slightly at the multicoloured robes with bumblebees on them, then scan his eyes across the room before focussing on the headmaster once more.

"I'm looking for someone," Tom said. "Harrison Evans." There was a whisper of murmuring across the room. Harry bit his lip, the Slytherin Heir always did have a flair for dramatics. "You might know him as Harry Potter?"

Every murmur dropped instantly into silence, their eyes zooming onto his figure like a neon sign. He figured he might as well stand up and make it official. Tom smirked.

"So you are still alive then? Damn. I was getting so hopeful."

*** Fate's Favourite ***

Harry felt a grin slip onto his face.

"Nope," he replied thoughtfully. "You're still not funny. I'd give up on your dream of becoming a comedian…what are you guys doing here?"

"Looking for you," Abraxas offered. "Tom missed seeing your pretty little face around and decided he had to go hunt you down. Blatant favouritism, that's all I'm saying…"

Harry arched a brow slightly at the explanation. Tom rolled his eyes at him in response. Harry's grin widened.

"Aw, I always knew you'd miss me!" he quipped.

"It got boring," Tom said. "No one to hospitalise." Harry opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

"That was once," he scowled. Tom smirked.

"What's going on here?" Dumbledore demanded, sounding somehow both faint and forceful. Harry realised with a flash that they were still standing in the middle of the Great Hall.

"Harrison Evans is Harry Potter," Abraxas stated. "And we decided to take a leaf out of boy wonder's book and go on a futuristic, on in his case-"

"-Don't say pasteristic," Zevi muttered. "It's not a word!"

"-Pasteristic," Abraxas continued smugly, "holiday. Is that the sorting hat? Excellent, I presume you can get us some room in the Slytherin dorms?"

Dumbledore frowned slightly, a lack of twinkle in his eyes. Harry took the time to look back at the Gryffindor table.

Ron looked gob smacked, an odd shade of puce. Hermione seemed stunned. His eyes were drawn to Ginny, who's were fixed on Tom's in absolute horror. Her face was ashen. Harry felt a pang of sympathy. Crap. He hadn't thought of that.

"I'm not sure that would be possible," the headmaster said tightly. Tom smiled; charmingly, chillingly.

"Shall we go and seek accommodation elsewhere then?" he questioned politely. "Perhaps with my future self?" Dumbledore blanched at the implications and Harry frowned a little.

"How long have you been here, Tom?" he asked. Tom merely pulled an innocent look at him, before his expression changed and he strode over. Harry jolted as he was yanked into the aisle by his Gryffindor tie. Tom pushed him towards the Sorting Hat.

"Re-sort him," he ordered. The Hat blinked at them both, if a hat can blink. Although, Harry supposed that most Hat's didn't burst into song and mind read either… "Gryffindor," Tom said. "You've got to be kidding me. Damn, you really were the little light side lamb."

"I've already sorted him twice," the hat whined. "I'm not doing it again. He makes my head hurt." Harry glared at the rest of his Slytherins and they instantly wiped away their expressions of sympathy and agreement.

"Then just say Slytherin," Tom said flatly. "And you won't have to go anywhere near his twisted mind."

"Twisted mind?" he repeated delicately. "Coming from you?"

"Gryffindor," Tom replied, as if that was a point to make. "I suppose it's the hero complex-"

"-I don't have a hero complex!" he insisted.

"No," Lestrange said snidely. "You really do. It's pathetic."

"What?" Harry tilted his head, smiling. "Like you?"

"I'm not pathetic!" Cygnus hissed. Harry merely smirked, watching as the other got more and more agitated in his insistence.

That was how the accommodation got sorted.

Finally, maybe some half an hour and a couple of failed attempts to get the student populace to leave for their dorms, things got sorted.

The 1943 crew were given beds in the Slytherin dorms and schedules. Tom argued that they needed six beds, and Harry point blank refused to get resorted leading to Abraxas, Zevi and Alphard all exchanging bets and galleons.

At last though, everything official was pushed out of the way. The student body, previously restrained by the staff and curiosity to see how things would resolve, exploded in questions and chatter. Hermione had assured him that they would be talking in the common room - but for now she had first years to help in her role of Prefect. So did Ron. The other Weasley's had a distraught little sister to console. Harry felt slightly guilty for not going with them.

"Are you really THE Harrison's Evans?" A Slytherin, whom he vaguely remembered to be called Theodore Nott, questioned in a voice of awe.

"Hi," Harry said awkwardly. The present time Slytherin's were mostly staring at them all, forming opinions and schemes as they tried to mesh this new information into a plan of action.

"But, that means you're Tom Riddle," Nott murmured, his gleaming eyes giving away his careful posture.

"Are you perhaps related to Pollux Nott?" Tom questioned with a vague interest.

"He's my grandfather," Nott said. Tom nodded.

"Mm, you look like him," was all he said.

"Potter can't possibly be the same person as Harrison Evans!" Pansy Parkinson exclaimed, rather stupidly in Harry's opinion. "Evans is like…" she trailed off, a touch of colour appearing on her cheeks.

"I assure you, he is," Tom said coolly. "Parkinson is it?" Pansy looked down, subdued. Harry sighed. Tom had never much liked Cassius, her grandfather.

"Can you leave off building your little empire for one night? Jeez. You have a serious superiority complex," he said.

"It's not a superiority complex if he actually is better," Cygnus snapped defensively. "At least, he is to you. Tom, I implore you to let me teach Evans the meaning of respect!"

Tom looked faintly amused. Harry laughed, with a slight edge of cruellness that he was pretty sure he'd picked up from the Slytherin heir.

"Oh superior one," he gushed mockingly. "I implore you to let me teach Lestrange some tricks. I could even find some dog biscuits and collar - it would be adorable!" he fluttered his eyelashes. Cygnus looked furious, Zevi, Abraxas and Alphard were distinctly gleeful by contrast.

"Damn, it's good to have you back Harry," Alphard said.

Harry shook his head.

The interrogation continued.

Much later, at the teacher's firm insistence, the Slytherins (past and present) headed for the dungeons while Harry went to the tower. Now that he'd got over his surprise, his stomach was beginning to churn with the thought of what his friends would think.

He had yet to introduce his groups of past and present, and frankly, he didn't find that to be a bad thing at all. They could stay apart in his opinion and never actually talk to each other. Of course, it would be brilliant if they could get on…but he highly doubted they would.

There was a hush as he stepped through the portrait hole, only to be confronted by the grim, probing faces of most of Gryffindor. Ginny was on the sofa, with Fred and George's arms around her. He felt another shock of shame.

"Hi guys," he braced himself.

"Was there something that you forgot to mention, Harry?"


Fate's Favourite

Sorry to be so extremely late but life was quite hard this month when the summons finally came...


Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: (Tom Riddle/Harry Potter, Minerva McGonagall/Pansy Parkinson)
Length: (75,027 words)
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: SweetSorcery in AO3
Why this must be read: This is a known and loved story, but one I couldn't resist waxing poeticaly about. A lyrical love story about love and second chanses that could change the world. While it hasa dreamy sometimes almost fairytale it is also an adult story to the full meaning of the world with amazing characterisation and wicked humor. A true masterpiece to the fandom and pairing and at my humble opinion the best one to start exploring said pairing.

The greatest changes in history seem to occur in quick succession and are often set off by single, isolated incidents. Incidents such as a young witch's refusal to take the Dark Mark, one of Professor Binns' lessons in History of Magic given to a mixed sixth year class, and a very unlikely alliance based on courage and hope.


( Read more... )

http://archiveofourown.org/works/266699

Vidder: dazzleme7
Musical Artist: Coldplay
Pairing: Ron/Hermione
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's Website: YouTube
Why ths vid must be watched: I've decided to rec the earlier version of this because it is far superior. Hannah has put up a secondary version which incorporates footage from DH2, so you can check that out too. This vid is perfection to Ron/Hermione fans. The vid captures the essence of Ron and Hermione's struggle to actually get to one another throughout the whole series, but particularly in DH1. A great shippy and uplifting vid.



Lights Will Guide You Home (Fix You)

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairings: Harry/Narcissa, Scorpius/Pansy/Hermione and background Draco/Astoria
Length: 4,900k
Author on LJ: chantefable
Author's Website: N/A
Why this must be read: Originally written for last year's smutty_claus, chantefable takes these unlikely pairings, thrusts them into a storyline involving sex magic and writes it in 1920s noir style fiction. Yes, noir fiction. The prose is so divine in this, it nearly melts your brain. Harry and Narcissa are thrown together in an explosive way and although the idea of Hermione and Pansy in a functioning relationship might seem a strange notion, throw Scorpius into the mix and it's wildfire. Once again, it is NC-17 so please heed the warning.


A Night in December

Title: Open House
Pairing: Gen
Length: 2,165
Author on LJ: N/A
Author's Website: FFN
Why this must be read: This crossover is hilarious, plain and simple. Morticia and Gomez decide they want to send their kids to Hogwarts. Chaos ensues. There's also a great scene with the Sorting Hat, Pugsley and Wednesday. Completely crack concept, completely IC.



Open House

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairings: Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger (with a dose of Ron/OC)
Length: ~105k
Author on LJ: thesteppyone
Author's Website: FFN
Why you must read this: The Steppy One has admittedly used a premise from the TV show One Tree Hill and inserted it into the world of Harry Potter. I've never watched the show but that didn't mean I didn't understand and appreciate the story. Hermione makes a mistake that costs her Ron. When she comes back to discover that Ron is with another woman, her world starts to unravel.

The plot, while cliche, is given a completely new twist under her expert fingertips. Her writing is engaging and even though you (hopepraybeg) that Hermione and Ron get it together, she makes the journey utterly heartbreaking and unforgettable. This is one of those fics that has your heart twisting because of the emotion. She makes characters I normally dislike completely wonderful and relatable, especially Lavender, who normally has such a wicked place in R/Hr fanfiction. Ginny also plays the part of a wonderful best friend. A worthwhile read for all the romantics, for everyone who has made a bad decision and anyone who believes in true love.




Leaning Slightly to the Left

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Harry/Luna (past Harry/Ginny, Ginny/Scorpius, James/Teddy)
Length: ~33k
Author on LJ: snegurochka_lee
Author's Website: Ao3
Why you must read this: Lee's writing is sophisticated and engaging. Harry finds his wife shagging Scorpius Malfoy and from there, everything he knows spins out of control. Until Luna. Everything is in character here, from Ginny and her indiscretions to a very amusing Draco. The relationships between Harry and all of his kids completely steal the show here. Lee writes Luna and her zany characteristics perfectly here and she's not over the top at all. If you're normally into canon pairings, this is a great introduction to something a bit more spicy.






A Life So Very Much Less Than Ordinary

Hi everyone! I'm back reccing for Harry Potter this month. I've got some gems to pass along, so I hope everyone gives them a chance :)

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Gen
Length: 2400
Author on LJ: trinsy_fics
Author's Website: See above
Why this must be read: This short fic is all about how Remus copes with the various events in his life after the tragedy at Godric's Hollow. And who better to help him than the ghost of James? Many fics deal with the friendship of all the Marauders or Remus/Sirius and James/Sirius and this is a beautiful piece than explores the connection between Remus and James. A wonderful and sad ending to boot.

Heroes for Ghosts

*sighs as she leaves the keys for the van in the bowl, next to the door* That's me done for another month. I had a blast and hopefully you all found some new HP fic to enjoy.

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairings: This is mostly a Trio + Draco adventure fic but with distinct Ron/Hermione and background Harry/Ginny
Author: sand_dollar (not on lj)
Length/Word Count: ~340k and ~252k respectively
Author's Website: Their profile on hpff.com
Why this must be read: This is definitely a diamond in the rough pair of stories. Please don't let the word count scare you off. These stories are amazing. Set post-DH, sand_dollar creates a world that is very authentic. Things aren't quite right with the wizarding world and just because Voldemort is gone, doesn't mean that trouble isn't still around the corner.

The characterisation of the trio is perfect and sand_dollar paints an amazing picture of Draco in this world where Voldemort has been defeated but the action never stops, particularly for Harry and Ron who always seem to attract trouble .I particularly loved Hermione, who has never been the type to sit out on the action and she is perfectly in character in the second story, in particular. Sand_dollar also uses first person effectively and switches POV seamlessly. Set aside a weekend each and run, don't walk.

The Onset of Autumn
If Spring Ever Comes

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Gen
Length: 2k-ish
Author on LJ: fiery_flamingo
Author's Website: Couldn't find one
Why this must be read: This is a gen piece originally written for hp_darkfest. The author dives right into the angst and really examines the way the Black family deals with grief. The story focuses on Andromeda, who has lost the most out of any of the Blacks. A really excellent story that rips your guts out.

In This Valley of Dying Stars

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Ron Weasley/Hermione Grager
Length: 3:35
Music:  "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons
Vidder on LJ: I don't think she has one
Vidder Website: YouTube
Why this must be watched: Ron always gets such a bad wrap in fandom and it was so refreshing to see some hero worship of him and the mistakes he's made. This vid tries to understand things from his point of view. It is cut really well and it makes you fall in love wih the character all over again!


Little Lion Man

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger
Length: 2500
Author on LJ: mugglemama
Author's Website: FFN
Why this must be read: This was originally written for the 2011 Canon Fest here on LJ. I laughed so much when I first read it and then I discovered that mugglemama had written it , reread it and laughed some more. When Harry Potter gets drunk, he tries to give Ron some advice about his sex-- specifically, sex with Hermione. Don't drink anything while reading.


Unsolicited Advice

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Mostly gen with a little Harry/Ginny
Author on LJ: Couldn't find one
Author's Website: FFN
Why this must be read: This is a real gem. hgfan poses the question, "who exactly gave Harry Potter the talk about sex?" and answers it in ten different one-shots, brought together by their common theme. My favourite by far was the lesson from Snape but all of them are funny and even touchin (no pun intended).


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Educating Harry Potter

Fandom: HARRY POTER
Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Astoria Greengrass
Length: 200k
Author on LJ: Couldn't find her
Author's Website: FFN
Why this must be read: Not much is known about Astoria Greengrass, except that she eventually marries Draco Malfoy. This story is the cure to all 'who is Astoria?' fics. Audrey breathes life into the character and she is certainly not a Narcissa copycat in this story--not by far. Audrey classifies this story as 'canon compliant with a twist', so you can read it and picture the final scene in DH. The twist is also amazing and is explained really well so you go "well of course that makes sense!". The romance is wonderful and perfectly in character for Draco and also for families that were on the losing side of the war. Audrey also writes some sizzling smut in this, so much that she's been nominated over at hpfanficfanpoll. This story is long but so well written, you want to give your whole weekend over to reading it. An amazing exercise in quality storytelling and characterisation.



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Dirty Little Secrets

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger
Length: 74k
Author on LJ: She doesn't have one
Author's Website: Her blog is here
Why this must be read: Kari's writing is nearly flawless, so that in itself is enough reason to check it out. The subtitle of this story is "A DH Subplot" and quite obviously, takes an AU detour through the events of Deathly Hallows. The premise is that the consequence of Ron and Hermione discovering their closeness a little sooner affects the trio during their jaunt for Horcruxes and during the final battle.


Hallowed Hearts: A DH Subplot

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.


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The End of the Line

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Ron/Hermione (with some Ron/Lavender)
Length: 38,000
Author on LJ: Couldn't find one
Author's Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read: The author takes the well-documented fanon cliche of 'Hermione disappears from the wizarding world and returns' but she takes it to a completely new level. The story begins with the Aurors discovering someone has used Obliviate on Ron. When they break it, everyone wonders, how the hell did they all forget Hermione? Ermynee creates a mystery with plenty of twists, turns and reveals. Her concept of magic is excellent and it interweaves seamlessly into the story. She is a master of suspense and cliffhangers.


Making Memories

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Severus Snape/Hermione Granger
Length: Epic (~289k)
Author on LJ: miamadwyn
Author's Website: FFnet profile
Why this must be read: I had to triple check that this hadn't been recced yet. I'm the last person who would advocate student/teacher relationships OR SS/HG however this story is such a gem, that I have eaten my words and converted. Every SS/HG fan has read this story so I am hoping to convince those other readers who may not be interested in the pairing to give this story a chance.

First of all, the story starts out with the typical AU Marriage Law premise but Mia makes it believable. Hermione is nothing but prepared and logical, so of course, she was would ask an adult who was also a member of the Order, a powerful wizard and someone who would guarantee her protection from Voldemort to marry her. It makes complete and total sense. From there, Hermione's world completely changes. Mia takes the reader on one awesome ride, complete with evocative language and expert storytelling.

The story is an epic, in more ways than one, and very popular in the fandom. Give it a chance, you certainly won't regret it!


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Care of Magical Creatures

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairings: Rose/Scorpius with background H/G, R/Hr and D/A
Length: ~3,200
Author on LJ: thenewradical
Author's Website: Couldn't find one
Why this must be read: This is a wonderful break from all the depressing angst I've been reccing lately. Rose invites her boyfriend and his family, the Malfoys over for Christmas dinner. Chaos, hilarity, old grudges get in the way of a perfectly normal evening. And why wouldn't it? This story is hilarious and if you've ever had a family that isn't exactly well-behaved around Christmas, you'll sympathise with poor Rose and Scorpius. And it has a lovely ending to boot.



A Weasley Family Christmas (with special guest stars, the Malfoys)