Fascination ~ Sara’s Girl
In the absence of hatred after almost seven years, Harry recognises that feeling nothing at all for his former enemy has been the strangest thing of all. This new, consuming fascination with the Slytherin is at once disturbing and liberating. It’s something. He feels something, and it’s confusing and wonderful.
Sweet, funny and with plenty of heart - exactly what you’d expect from a Sara’s Girl fic. However small or supposedly plotless, I cannot resist the warm blanket of her words. There is an unparalleled fun and vigour to her work, an irresistible charm that’s always expertly balanced with enough sentiment to avoid superficiality.
Her fics always leave me with the biggest smile on my face.
drarry . era:hogwarts . oneshot . r:pg13 . AU . (ish) . l:short . g:humour . g:romance . a:sara'sgirl .Obsessive (Compulsive) ~ Xylodemon
Summary: Harry dreams in red and white.
“Oh, fuck.”
“I told you not to talk,” Malfoy says, Harry’s prick hard and slick against his cheek.
“You also said you wanted to hear me scream.”
“Things were different, then. I don’t give a shit any more.”
Ughghgh so so good. Ok I usually roll my eyes at canon rewrites as they are often heavy handed and I’m of the opinion; why not write 8th year if it’s Hogwarts you’re after - why recoin the past when there in lies so much? But this is inspired. The weaving of canon and author creation are seamless and I loved the school boy anger that’s unique to this era, the narrow focus of hate they have for one another (the loss of that in later fic is only to be expected - there is just something about teenagedom that breeds obsession). Also it is not a stretch to believe this. Harry wouldn’t be sexually assertive at school (later certainly, once he gained confidece). Malfoy would make it happen if it did. He would be in the slightly unhinged, risk prone state due to the impossible strain he was under. He needs an outlet, I love that here this was his.
I sort of loved Harry’s oddly victorian wank material and simply who doesn’t have a crush on Sirius? but mostly I just enjoy any bi/pans Harry vibes.. I don’t think I’ve praised the writing enough, the tone is spot on for me and that scene on the carriage? unffff alert. also fucking dynamite warnings: angst, fightsex, semi-public sex, frontage ~let me die
drarry . era:hogwarts . c:HBP . AU . (of HBP) . r:nc17 . l:medium . oneshot . g:angst . t:violence . a:xylodemon . favourite .The Eight Tale ~ Lettered
Summary: Draco Malfoy tries to fix the past, but instead mucks it up some more. For Harry, it all becomes quite clear.
Harry thinks he’s Regulus Black, at first. They know he’s dead, but that’s what Harry thinks. They catch him skulking in the woods, and even though he has blond hair (and it’s thinning), he has grey eyes, and Harry only ever saw just that one photo. He’s in his thirties; maybe something could have changed, and he has the Black cheekbones, so much so that when Harry stuns him, and binds him with a spell, he almost says a name—a name that isn’t Regulus at all. The man just grins, and says, “You got me, Harry.”
He seems very pleased.
I normally despise time-travel type fics but I found this really interesting. It was sort of ‘above the fact’ if you know what I mean, and had an almost lyrical quality with the storytelling. It was sad too, but in a way I really enjoyed - more poignant than weepies. And in my book you can never go wrong with a bit of meta~
drarry . l:medium . oneshot . r:nc17 . c:HBP . AU . of DH . g:mystery . g:angst . era:hogwarts . t:meta . a:lettered . timetraveller!malfoy .break down your walls (you’ve been branded like property) ~ mentalistecbm
Draco stops caring.
It isn’t some heartfelt epiphany in the Great Hall or even sudden affection for the Mudbloods and Muggles of the world. He’s sitting in what the house-elves have told him is the ‘Room of Hidden Things’, and realises that he no longer gives a fuck. Not about the war, not about who wins and who loses, not about who lives and who dies.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS FIC, IT’S GORGEOUS AND I LOVE IT SOMETHING FIERCE. (I’m just going to sort of ‘copy and paste’ the comment I left because I’m lazy and unoriginal)
“God this was perfect and lean, with no extra padding, just pure unadulterated wordy bliss. I loved how raw and canon it felt, how harsh and realistic, but how you managed to make it sweet and funny in places too. Incredibly well rounded. And the hopeful — as I read it — nature of the slightly ambiguous ending complemented the minimal style to your writing wonderfully.”
I stand by that, but I also wanted to add that this is a slightly different hogwarts-era Harry than the usual one I incounter, more self-assured maybe? I loved that though, it feels natural here. I also loved the brief Harry/Ginny (pah ha Draco, who does that?) and RON, whose role is again brief, but it is definitely a case of quality over quantity.
Writers really don’t need to work hard to make me love Ron. Just give me some classic weasel and I’m a happy bunny. Also fuck yes Harry the Rimmer returns and I am, yet again, vindictated in my assertion that this is a fabulous fandom conspiracy.
drarry . era:hogwarts . HBP slight . AU . l:short . r:nc17 . oneshot . a:mentalistecbm . g:angst . favourite .Shit Happens ~ jad
Technically, Harry’s never done this before, though he’s thought about it, of course—really, what bloke hasn’t—and he’s never had it done to him, for sure. But then, Harry had never battled a Basilisk or a Hungarian Horntail before, and he hadn’t done too shabby there, either. With those for comparison, he muses, this will be a piece of cake.
AHAH THIS IS SO HOT I CAN’T COPE. The author says this is just a drabble, but really? This is just fucking sexy sauce whatever it is. Ugh fights-turned-to-sex is just my weeeeakness. Also I have a thing for inexperienced but “fuck-it I’ll do it anyway” Harry and a ‘Remote’-style Draco who will give up control, but only if you work for it (and you’ll be damn sure to get bruises in the process). Also SNAPE. IS. GENIUS. I love a bit of gobsmacked Ron, vintage Creevey and who can resist a cheeky betting pool?!
AU . a:jad . c:HBP . drarry . era:war . g:humour . g:pwp . l:short . oneshot . r:nc17 . t:violence .Survival Instinct ~ lavillanueva
Summary: Voldemort has issued a proposition: if Harry Potter will return to Hogwarts for his seventh year, no harm will come to the students’ families. Harry’s saving-people-thing won’t let him say no.
Harry’s temper flared. “Yeah, not being taught to kill each other, that’s real pathetic. What could Dumbledore have been thinking to send us off without that useful bit of knowledge?” He spoke loudly, and heard a sharp intake of breath behind him. Carrow spun around and Harry felt a sharp blow land across his face and a blast of pain explode in his ear. He shouted in surprise and had to grab the desk to keep from falling to the floor; he felt dizzy and unbalanced. He was pretty sure his classmates were whispering behind him, but he couldn’t hear them through the ringing in his ear.
“I believe I asked you to call me Professor, Mr Potter,” Carrow said gleefully. “I daresay Snape was right about the appalling lack of discipline in this school. Got no respect for your superiors, have you?”
“I wouldn’t know, Professor,” Harry retorted. The words sounded tinny in his ear. “I don’t see any of my superiors here.”
Not my favourite fic, but the only time I’ve read a decent lengthy 7th year re-do. There are stronger and weaker points for sure, but I so enjoyed the chance to see a little Hogwarts - the dark-edition (most mourned skipped-over part of DH for me – practical decision I know, but how grizzly/awesome would it have been?!) Nice save with the brief horcrux involvement, and there is something fun (ignoring the torture/maiming obvs) about Harry getting pervy ideas via “voldemort-cam”. Also there is just a lot of classic canon smartarse Harry-with-a-cause backchat, which is as good reason as any to rec a fic I think.
AU . a:lavillanueva . c:HBP . drarry . era:hogwarts . g:angst . g:humour . g:romance . l:long . oneshot . r:nc17 . g:action .Snatch ~ didntyoupotter
Summary: Harry is comatose, Hermione and Ron aren’t much help, and Draco isn’t sure about anything anymore.
“Why are there two beds in Harry’s room?” Hermione asked, when she came to visit a few days later.
“Why don’t you ask Harry?” Draco said, and turned to leave.
Hermione grabbed his arm. “I won’t let you take advantage of him, Malfoy.”
“If I were taking advantage of him there wouldn’t be two beds, would there?”
OH SNAP! You just got out-bitchy-gay-logiced Hermione, how do you like them apples?! (sorry I’m in a weird mood…) This is sweet. And lovely. A great little three-part read. I love a good memory-loss fic, and even if Ron and Hermione felt slightly assassinated by the plot, I still really enjoyed it. Watch out for some classic Draco theatrics (bags by the stairs? really?), drunken fights, ill-tempered Harry and some mental *fireworks*. Also a beautifully cinema-worthy ending. Aww.
(Don’t be fooled there is angst. I never read anything without a least a little pain)
drarry . era:hogwarts . era:posthogwarts . chaptered . r:pg13 . c:OotP . AU . g:angst . t:disability . t:amnesia . a:didntyoupotter . lightside!malfoy . g:romance . l:medium .Love is… ~ Melusinahp
Summary: This is a story about love. It is not a romance
Now.
Do it now before you stop being able to do anything at all.
I DIDN’T WANT TO READ THIS AGAIN. Because it is that good. I took me about an hour to mentally prepare myself for second go around.
This is dark my friends. And a lot more ambiguous than I normally favor. And bleak. Or I chose to read it as such. I like my darkfic grounded and believable, so as to prevent the character’s becoming nothing more that malefic guises under a recognisable name. I like to be able to sense the characters innate being underneath their struggles and this a trifecta of accomplishment. Pansy’s presence in h/d fic is not unusal but her role here is. This is undoubtably the most canon accurate DH-Pansy that I’ve ever read and there was a sort of brilliant release and easiness to reading her so unreformed. And Draco, oh god. I’m still not sure of his motives. I mean, there is a romantic/hopeful way to interpret his actions. but is that realistic? I did enjoy the “lesser of to evils” dynamic, that felt veeery authentic to me. Draco did alway know how to play the long game, know thine enemy, exploit a weakness, when to SHUT THE FUCK UP. If you take the negative route, he is extraordinary here. And maybe that’s more interesting idk?
Ugh for some reason it felt more natural for my to read it that way, this fic has a way of getting under my skin. It is all so very desperate and dubious. I’m trying not to ruin the catalysis to events here (although they take place before the beginning of the story) ~ it’s just THIS FIC IS THE ONLY OCCASION I’VE LIKED IT. Normally I’m like fuck no, this is unexceptable! -but here, it’s oh so fucking ideal. This has to be my favourite darkfic? I know me and favourites are like sex-promises — fickle to the extreme — but this is a special one. And ANGSTY does even begin to cover it. If HP had been an adult book, I’m certain something akin to this would have happened, because life just likes to fuck Harry over and watch him attempt not to drown under the weigh of responsibility and knife-to-the-heart loss. loss.
Voices.
*weeps* They are perfect. Good and Evil. Saintly and Devilish. Honour and morality vs. Revenge and desire. I love how their original incarnation and purpose changes, squews, morphs away from necessity/comfort - to reveal the worst of himself. And the doubt!!!! How much is him ~ how much this the work of independent forces at play? I love how the answer is never really forthcoming.
I’m so incoherent right now it’s ridiculous..but there are just some fics that have a bigger impact on you than others. Also I found this hot. I think I’m fucked in the head.
(READ WARNINGS. - Also on second reading I found it less soul-crushinly austere, maybe I’ve become less pessimistic Idk, CURSE YOU AMBIGUOUS WRITING TALENT)
((edit: I think I’ve made this sound traumatising! That wasn’t my intention. or not entirely. It is a bit though, but incredible still and I honestly just loved it for all the reasons above))
Guilty Pleasure Rec: Starts With a Spin ~ Maxine
It lasted less than two seconds, and that was too long for Harry. He pulled back almost immediately, wiping his mouth on the back of his sleeve, though it was completely unnecessary because there had never been a kiss that was more tightly close-mouthed than the one that he and Draco had just shared.
Malfoy was doing the same thing, cheeks growing a deeper pink to match the color that Harry could feel burning in his own.
“Well that was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever experienced,” Malfoy finally spoke up, breaking the deafening silence that had fallen. He sneered at Harry, and the green-eyed boy scowled right back.
“Not my fault you suck at kissing.”
“Oh, sod off, Potter.”
Ok, time to get majorly side-eyed. In fic terms, this is akin to that cheap-arse red lingerie thats hidden in the back of your wardrobe. You know the one that’s too slutty, and polyester, and makes you look like something off of ’babe-station’? But even though the modern-woman in you is screaming that you should find it shallow, and debasing, it makes you feel hot and dirty, and ready for a crotchless tumble in the mud with x-tina? This is my pleather get-up. Yeah, ‘Starts with a spin’ is pretty much just an excuse for gratuitous adolescent sex and voyeuristic Hogwarts sex-parties, but you know what? It’s fun. It’s not the best written fic, nor the most original, but it doesn’t take its self too seriously and come on, how could you not find pleasure and hilarity in a smashed, mini-skirt-wearing Draco, publicly dry-humping Harry up against a wall?
(Ouch, I can already feel the multi-pronged weapons favoured by the judgemental-taste-police. But at least it doesn’t do the whole; FIRST-TIME ANAL? ~ NO IT DOESN’T HURT, YES YOU FOUND MY PROSTATE FIRST THRUST, GIVE IT TO ME HARDER, IT’S NOT LIKE I HAVEN’T HAD SOMETHING CUCUMBER SIZED UP HERE BEFORE!!%$£ and there’s also gay Seamus so — case made I think)
drarry . era:hogwarts . chaptered . r:nc17 . c:OotP . AU . g:humour . g:pwp . t:guiltypleasure . a:maxine .The Haunting ~ Sara’s Girl
“Dare I ask?” Harry ventures, pausing in his terrorization of the grass.
Theo smiles serenely, leaning back against the tree trunk. “Draco seems to think that a nicely worded begging letter will convince me to come and save him from a Haunting.”
“A what now?”
“A Haunting, Potter.” Catching Harry’s blank expression, Theo looks momentarily scandalized. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”
“Not a clue. Why don’t you tell me, I think I’m all researched out for the day.”
“Oh, fantastic. Let me educate you, Potter.” Theo twists his quill in fingers that are long and elegant but at least as bitten-nailed as Harry’s. “You’re going to love this. This is History of Magic - the interesting version. TheSlytherin version. Sitting comfortably?”
Harry nods, amused and intrigued. He’s never seen Nott quite so animated before; his hard dark eyes are practically gleaming.
“As I’m sure you know, the three most important accompaniments to a magical education are pride, punishment and sex. Obviously,” Theo begins, not even looking to Harry for confirmation.
“Obviously,” Harry says faintly, though it’s anything but.
“The Haunting tradition embodies all of these. It’s just for sixth and seventh years, of course,” he adds quickly. “You can’t go around using sex punishment on the others. That would be weird.”
“Weird, yes,” Harry mumbles, staring at the side of Theo’s head. Sex punishment?
Sara’s Girl says this is silly and yes, maybe it is, but it’s also written by Sara’s Girl which makes it serious quality - no exceptions. Sometimes I just need something romantic and funny without cut-myself pain-tears and cut-you anger – there’s no shame in wanting a little light, comedic relief! I just love the worlds she creates and I love this Harry with his persistence and impulsiveness and his big gay crush. Her dialogue is always fabulous and a Nott/Harry reluctant bromance? - I LOVE it! This sort of fic makes my giddy with cuteness squeals.
(Sniggered like an idiot reading this - you will love it I promise! And the ending - *dies*)
drarry . era:hogwarts . era:8thyear . l:medium . r:pg13 . oneshot . AU . g:humour . g:romance . g:fluffyish . a:sara'sgirl .The Long, Slow Sleepwalk Home ~ madsciencechick
He was still angry. He straddled the body and held it to the ground with his thighs, then punched it again, once, twice. The body stopped laughing, its breathing harsh and ragged, its eyes wide. He thought that its expression was probably defiant, but since he couldn’t see to be sure, he chose to believe that it was afraid. He put his hands on the body’s shoulders and shook it, hard. “We’re alive,” he growled. “We’re alive.”
The body began to bleed again.
I normally dislike Post-War fics that were conceived pre-HBP, but every now and then I read an AU that is so sprawling and dark and almost romantic in its pain, that it overrides my misgivings. This is it. I’m a fan of non-linear/alternative storytelling if done expertly and this is wonderful. There is another story within the construction almost. A thought process. Harry’s gaining awareness and self-preservation through denial. And I have a thing for h/d nursing one another back to from near-fatal injuries when strictly still enemies. Conflicted emotions and ever present hate – it wouldn’t be h/d if they didn’t insult each other as they come. There is love and hope here too though. And a poetic, phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes lasting note.
(Also shower-scenes are the hottest thing ever, don’t lie)
drarry . era:posthogwarts . era:war . g:angst . g:romance . l:medium . oneshot . r:nc17 . t:apocalyptic . dark themes . c:OotP . AU . a:madsciencechick .Your Darkest Voice ~ Ivyblossom
Harry Potter is sitting in class. He is copying down everything Professor Snape says; ingredients, antidotes, amounts. Pinch of this, ladle-full of that. His friends are sitting around him; Ron Weasley beside him, Hermione Granger in front; without looking he knows that Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom are sitting behind him. Professor Snape has begun a new list of instructions and Harry is paying attention. The nib of his quill breaks as he presses on it too hard, as he always does; always leaving a mark on the page beneath. A chair scrapes against the floor on his left, and he watches Draco Malfoy excuse himself and walk out of the classroom. But just before he slips out the door, Draco turns back, looks at someone, touches his lips, and smiles.
Harry is so filled with jealousy he can’t remember where he is.
I just read this. It was quite fucked-up. and effecting. Brillant and traumatic. I loved the Ophelia references (Hamlet is my favourite!) ~ actually the whole thing is quite Shakespearian in tone and in that there is a lot of violent beauty. Read the warnings however, as this contains some troubling themes. Don’t let that put you off though - it’s dark but recognisable if that makes sense?
(Thanks for the rec noor!)
drarry . era:hogwarts . chaptered . r:nc17 . AU . g:dark . g:romance . g:angst . t:incest . t:dubcon . a:ivyblossom . l:medium .The Placebo Sequence ~ snegurochkalee
Summary: Harry Potter has only ever had two goals in life: to defeat Voldemort and to bring his followers to justice. One, he’s done. The other is in progress. It should be simple, except there’s one former Death Eater who doesn’t meet the right criteria.
“I know what you’re doing.”
The soft huff of breath against the back of Harry’s neck sent a jolt through him, but he only took a deep breath, methodically pressed the button for the lift and shoved his hands in his pockets. He didn’t turn around. “That so?” He wouldn’t confirm or deny anything. He’d done a lot of things lately, after all, most of them fully sanctioned by the Auror office. Most of them.
“I suppose you think you’re clever, saving the world yet again. It won’t work, though.” The voice turned in a heartbeat from smug to concerned, the whisper increasingly desperate. “They’re onto you.”
Harry did turn at that, but slowly. He regarded Malfoy for a long moment, heedless of the people pushing past them into the lift. He stepped to the side without thinking about it, and just as naturally, Malfoy followed him, keeping them aligned in their face-off. Harry leaned in as close as he dared. “They,” he said quietly, “or you?” He forced himself to hold Malfoy’s gaze.
H/D Dexter prompt? - recipe for brilliance. I am beyond obsessed with that show so as soon as I read the premise I was like fuck to the yes. This is a darkfic but very manageable and conceivable if that’s not something you normally enjoy reading. The creative pattern of the writing I found to be really engaging and the style and nuances made this quite a memorable, original piece. The whole thing was quite a bit wrong, quite a bit dangerous, tension and a lot of sweaty hotness. Also the perfect length for this type of desperate and sexy vigilante drama.
drarry . era:posthogwarts . l:medium . r:nc17 . oneshot . c:DH . g:dark . t:infidelity . t:characterdeath . ? . a:snegurochkalee . auror!potter . vigilante!potter . dexter . AU .Lights Out ~ marksykins
Summary: Harry’s the prisoner, Draco’s the warden who starts to believe his own lies
“Bet you ten Galleons I get out of here alive.” It’s gallows humour. Weasley knows he’s never leaving.
Draco plays his role. “Gutter rats don’t have ten Galleons.” He wonders how long they’ll question their prisoner; Weasley’s a high-ranking Auror and a staunch supporter of Dumbledore, so he’s bound to hold some useful information.
“Not a gutter rat anymore, Malfoy.” Ron’s face is deathly pale, his freckles standing out in stark contrast. “Where are you taking me?”
“Separating you from Potter,” Draco lies easily. Weasley’s only bargaining chip is as Potter bait, but Potter himself is already a captive.
First darkfic rec! YEESS. This was excellent. I may have mentioned before, but my absolute favourite fics (apart from the obvious plot/humour/angst/sex/well-rounded story gold) are short AU prisoner of war/captivate/safe-house type fics. And this was perfect. I wanted to lick my screen in a show of my undying appreciation. Tension, pain, dubious-morals, resolve (and a tiny smidgin of hope) READ.
Black Coffee on a Lonely Night ~ Femme
“George, darling,” Angelina says, “will you let this breathe?”
George takes the bottle from her. “Nice, but then your sort always are good at choosing wine, aren’t you?”
Angelina slaps his arm. “George!”
Her fiancé winces and glares at her. “What the hell—” He looks back over at me and Potter, and his eyes widen. “Oh, no, I didn’t meant bent. That’s ridiculous. Harry’s shite at picking a decent bottle, and he’s as homosexual as they come, unless you count that one fling with Ginny. I meant what with you being a toff and all. You know wine.”
I bite my lip, trying not to laugh at the horror on Potter’s face. “Yes,” I say after a moment. “I do know wine.”
I’m pretty sure this is the one of the only non-magical AU I’ll be reccing. That’s simply because I always feel like; is it really h/d if they never went to Hogwarts? But then this is Femme so that makes all else irrelevant. I die for an overly British fic (can you be an anglophile if you are actually English?), and you really can’t get much more British than a Daily Mail Sex Scandal Exposé, on a backdrop of Whitehall, featuring a Oxford-graduate LibDem MP and an Cambridge graduate Ex-England Cricket Batsman. Just throw in some tea and crumpets and be done with it! Ordinarily one of my favourite aspects of h/d is their cumulative shit-load of emotional baggage and trauma, and how they manage to work through their past to create some semblance of a relationship- and although I would never wish for them to lose that element, its oddly cleansing to remove the turbulent shared experience of their youth and have the proverbial slate wiped clean.
drarry . AU . l:long . oneshot . r:nc17 . g:romance . t:muggleworld . a:femme . political!potter . sportsman!malfoy . cookery!malfoy . favourite . bob'syouruncle .