"The magic of first love is our ignorance that it can ever end."
~ Benjamin Disraeli

 

Updated 2/23/04

Harry Potter
Recommendations

Victoria swore she wouldn't get involved in HP fandom, and she hasn't (well, unless you count writing about 30 HP stories as 'involved.' She doesn't.) That hasn't stopped her from reading and loving some of the stories, though. Especially that yummy Sirius/Remus slash.

Stories may contain OotP spoilers. Read at your own risk.

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Acts of Necessity by Jedi Boadicea
Snape washes his hair. A nice introspective Snape, and one I can believe. (V)

After the End by Arabella and Zsenya
Long, *complete* (finally) post-war novel that tackles Harry's PTSD, Ginny's last year of school, Mr. Weasley as Minister of Magic and all the clean-up and rebuilding that go into life after wartime. The writing is good - I didn't mind the big focus on Ginny, because each of the huge ensemble gets a moment to shine.

My one complaint? Sirius and Remus are coded as lovers in this story -- they live together, they go to bed at the same time, they fight like an old married couple, where one appears, the other is never far behind, etc. -- and yet they, out of every couple (and I do mean *every* couple) are never given *one* romantic moment. I could rant, but I won't (I've already mentioned it in my review on SQ, so eventually the authors will be aware that I think this *g*).

Other than that, get ready to curl up with a good, long read. If you are not in love with Arthur Weasley by the time it's all over, you have no heart. (V)

Afternoon/Into Night by Schuyler and Amatia
Harry, Ron and Hermione are just learning how to please each other. Sweet and hot. Not explicit, but still sexy. (V)

All Souls Day by phineas
Gorgeous, breath-stealing Remus/Sirius fic, evocative, tight - every word just fits and builds on the one that came before. Just. Beautiful. (V)

All Through the Night by Casira
Fun with the Hogwarts choir. Sirius hears a mysterious voice in the halls after choir practice, and investigates. Lovely sense of balance between boyishness and yearning, between childhood and the darker times that are coming soon for all of them. And great appreciation for music. (V)

Alone by Bounce
Sirius is more broken than Remus realizes. Short, bitter and real. (V)

Alpha Male by Laura Smith
James and Sirius may be the ringleaders, but they know who's really in charge. James submits. (V)

Always a Woman by Sam Vimes
Bellatrix Black plays her games with Sirius and Remus during their schooldays. Twisted, hot and bitter, with a kicker of an ending. (V)

The Ambiguously Gay Werewolf by Jack Ichijouji
Sirius and James argue about whether Remus is gay. Then they try to find out. Sweet, short, hilarious fic. (V)

Anatomy of a Dysfunctional Relationship by zahra
Harry hates Draco. He really, really does. That doesn't mean he won't take what he wants, though. Now, this is the kind of alpha male jostling for dominance slash that makes my little heart go pitter-pat. Harry and his shadow self, and how different are they,

Apogee by llamajoy
I don´t know why this wasn´t on the list earlier, but I somehow forgot(!) it in the transfer from my "rec these" file to the actual recs page. It's a beautiful story of hide and seek wherein Remus finally lets himself be found, though Sirius is technically the one hiding. Sweet boys in love. Go read. Now. (V)

The Art of Make Believe by Abaddon
Brilliant, subtle HP/BtVS crossover. Harry Potter is just an ordinary boy with a big imagination, until he gets sent to the guidance counselor. (V)

Assigning Blame by V
Remus has a Potions accident that leaves him and Sirius allergic to each other. Funny, snarky, slightly wistful. And I love this Lily. (V)

Away from Home by Sam Vimes
Marshmallows around a campfire and James, Sirius, Remus and Peter try to come up with scary stories. Remus has one, but it won't suit their needs. Sniffly good "Remus talks about the change" story. (V)

Beast by Nope
What to say, what to say... Well, I said, "Whoa!" when I read this. *g* I think you will, too.

It's dark. Chilling. Post-war and all is not what it seems, and the glittering surface hides a rotten core. Ginny grows up and things will never be the same. Blood and sex and magic and power, and who really won the war. (V)

Before the Breach (Reunion Remix) by Sullen Siren
A Sirius/Remus story that I really enjoyed - there's some humor to leaven the tension between them, and the Sirius voice feels right to me. Of course, I am a Sirius/Remus OTP shipper, so... yeah. I really like this one. (V)

Beyond the Veil by Helene
Sirius has to find his way back, with help from Harry, Remus and... Snape. This is a beautifully plausible explanation for the Veil, its purpose and what it might be like for Sirius on the other side of it, not of the living nor of the dead. (V)

Better Forgotten by Mary Borsellino
Remus makes a promise. This story makes me achy. So beautiful. (V)

Between Werewolves by Pirate Perian
Have you wondered about Remus's conversation with the werewolf in the bed next to Arthur's? I have. I really like this characterization of Remus - it gets his sense of humor and compassion right. (V)

Black Is the Color by A. Vulgarweed.
LotR/HP cross that is not for the faint of stomach, but is hilariously creepy. Snape meets the Witch-King of Angmar and things get a little out of hand. (V)

A Bludger to the Heart by Smitty
Sirius is having difficulty dealing with the way Lily takes up so much of James's time. He and Remus have a chat. Lovely. (V)

Breaking Control by Sam Vimes
Remus is a past master at hiding his feelings, but eventually even he has to break. *sniff* He's drunk and Tonks is there and it really, really hurts. (V)

Breaking Tradition by Mortalus
Bwah! Harry dies of natural causes at a ripe old age, and an unexpected mourner pays a visit to the funeral. Too funny. (V)

Call of the Wild by the WolfieTwins
Okay, this is spectacular fiction, well-written, well-plotted, kept me completely engrossed in the story of what happened to Remus Lupin during the 12 years between the Potters' deaths and his coming to teach at Hogwarts. How much do I love Remus struggling with the burdens of leadership, becoming a famed monster-hunter, falling in love not once but *twice* (whee! Go Remus! Get laid!) (though it must be said, this is in no way a romance so don't go into it expecting that), and generally doing lots of cool stuff instead of being homeless and pining for Sirius. This was Remus the Vampire Slayer (minus the quick quips), and it *works*.

My one reservation is about his view (and the whole story's view, really) of lycanthropy. It doesn't jibe with what he says about it in PoA, to me, and I was vastly uncomfortable with the idea that *he* would be comfortable with bringing more werewolves into the world (whether by biting *or* by birth, the latter of which I'm not sure I buy, but I don't know much HP canon on werewolves), though I totally love his determination for the humans and the werewolves to at least get along without violence. (V)

Chase by Zaria
A series of snapshots of Remus and Sirius's life together and then Remus dealing with being alone after OotP. Quiet and poignant and real. I'm willing to overlook the "Remus smokes opium" business (though can I get a WTF? over that) because the rest is good. (V)

Christmas on the Dai Llewellyn Ward by Emily Anne
And another on the subject of what, exactly did Remus say to the werewolf in the bed next to Arthur Weasley? I foresee a whole *subgenre* of these stories, and as long as they get Remus like this, I'll read them happily. (V)

The Collar by The Fanwank Avenger
This was written for me and it is hot hot hot like a very hot thing. Remus. Sirius. A collar. A distraction. Sex. Guh. (V)

Concerning Flying Lessons, Snuffboxes, And One Hundred Galleons by Mary Borsellino
Ah, MWPP. Seventh year. James is trying to convince Lily to go out with him. Sirius and Remus are circling each other warily. Much fun; sweet and romantic. (V)

A Cup of Rain by penknife
The first full moon night Remus and Sirius spend together (though they're not, you know *together* in this story; it's gen), post-GoF and pre-OotP. Remus is distracted, Sirius doesn't want to spend the night in the rain, and then they're Moony and Padfoot again, but they can't ever go back. I liked this a lot, especially Remus's behavior under the influence of the Wolfsbane (I believe *he* would defer to Padfoot, but I have no doubt the wolf is an alpha when he's in charge of things). This is a lovely piece of character work -- subtle, quiet and moving. (V)

Darkness Dying by Iniga
I was looking for fic that explained why Sirius distrusted Remus back when he convinced James and Lily to make Peter their Secret-Keeper, and recommended this to me. It's very, very good, a sharp, in-character portrayal of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, at least from what little we know of them. The story continues in Interim, which focuses on what happens to Peter, Remus and Sirius in the twelve years before they meet up again, and then continues through the events of Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire and beyond with Innocence Lost and Found, Cyanide (which focuses on Percy Weasley), and Parvati Among the Slytherins, and then climaxes with Raised to the Third Power.

As the series goes on, the author seems to have given less attention to technical details (there are typos and occasionally, words are left out, and honestly? We all know the war's not going to wrap up until the 7th book), and while there's some lovely Sirius/Remus subtext (if you choose to see it), it definitely remains a completely non-romantic story, which for me is perhaps its main weakness (Sirius and Remus are so MFEO it hurts). Snape is brilliant and bitter, Ron and Hermione are brave and loyal, Sirius is charming and slightly mad, and I just want to take Remus home and, well, yes. Ahem.

Anyhow, I spent three nights reading through this series almost non-stop because it's really well done, minor quibbles aside. (V)

Darkness Falls by Laura Smith
Hot hot hot Remus/Sirius at the Evanses' – Sirius is trying to get away from Petunia and Remus is just trying to find some peace and quiet, but instead they find each other, and then the lights go out. And did I mention the hot? This story pushes so many of my buttons in such a short space, I can't even be coherent. Guh. (V)

Defense Against the Dark Creature by Allemande
Remus is hired to teach at a school for young werewolves. I liked this. I liked this so much I wanted *more*, more of his thoughts on being among children who are like him, more of the children's response to him, and to having a teacher like *them*, more about how the school came into existence and how he would eventually win over all the other teachers. I like this Remus, rueful and wistful and just a little scared and oh-so-hesitant to ever open up, even to people he knows will understand (and it breaks his heart - and mine - that they should have to).

I even wanted more of the original characters, and for me to say that, well... you know it means the OCs are good stuff. Anyhow, I *think* it's complete. It reaches a point that struck me as an end, and it's not marked WIP, though it could go on, and I'd enjoy that. (V)

Deus ex Machina by Silvia Kundera
Draco is going to defeat Harry through epic poetry. Yeah, you heard him. Epic poetry. This is funny, bittersweet, and in character. She's making me like Draco, and that's just not right, but it is a sign of good writing. (V)

Disparity by Maki
Fred contemplates the differences between him and George. Short, sweet and a nice exploration of the twins from the inside. (V)

Docet Minervam by Grace
::chokes:: Okay, there are some strikes against this, like the formatting and the misspellings, but the concept is too funny, and the execution... let's just say that this may be Hogwarts' unlikeliest couple (no, not Hagrid/Squid. Shut up.), and I'd pay a dollar to see it in canon. (V)

Down from the Tree: Actions by Firelocks
Dumbledore announces that Lupin has been hired as the new DADA teacher. Snape remembers the Prank. Great Snape characterization. I didn't like him here any more than I like him in the books, but I understood him. Then read Down from the Tree: Consequences by Arabella, in which Sirius recalls The Prank as he waits for the Dementors in Flitwick's office. Dumbledore lets the punishment fit the crime, and while I feel bad for Sirius, really I do, my heart damn near broke for Remus. Absolution by Arabella is the third story in the trilogy, a lovely, understated conclusion. (V)

Draco Malfoy the Amazing Bouncing...Rat? by Maya (the epilogue is here)
Oh. My. God. I almost died laughing. I don't care if everyone and her uncle has recced this, you must read it. Now. Especially if fanon!Draco irritates you like he irritates me. This is too funny to miss. (V)

Drowsy Dialogues by Morgan D.
Oh so sweet story of Harry and the Lump Under the Blankets. Just a nice slice of family/homeyness. Completely jossed by OotP, but I wish it weren´t. Harry deserves this. So does Sirius. (V)

Dumbledore's Creatures by Liz Barr
Snape and Lupin have a conversation during Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm admittedly a Lupin-whore, so I really love seeing him as Liz writes him -- calm, sad, knowing, with just a hint of mischief. Sigh. (V)

Emotional Scar by Laura Smith
A heartbreaking and hot Remus/Giles fic set soon after Sirius is sent to Azkaban (why yes, I did sort of poke her into it, but I didn't have to push too hard. She was completely willing, because Remus/Giles? Is The Hotness.) (V)

The End of the Beginning by Mariner
Giles and Ethan run into some magical folks in the summer of 1981, and get caught up in their struggle against a deadly enemy. Yes, a BtVS/HP crossover that actually takes into account the differences in metaphysics and tackles the question of how MWPP could have become so fractured, plus Ethan and Snape snark, Giles being Research Guy and a lovely version of James and Lily that made my heart ache all over again for their deaths. (V)

Entertaining by Schuyler
Once a month, the Gryffindor boys get together post-war, for cookies and reminiscences. The style and structure work for such a short piece, and Schuyler gets the mood right -- the odd feeling when you´re with people with whom you´ve been through a lot, and with whom you´ve spent a lot of time, but you don´t anymore. And now the rec is longer than the fic, so I'll shut up. (V)

Ephemeris by penknife
Brilliant, awkward, beautiful fic in which Remus knows better than to get involved with a post-Azkaban Sirius, but he's not sure he cares. The dialogue, the characterizations, everything is dead on in this story, and so, so good. Much with the ache in the chestal area.

A quote:

"Molly worries about the children," Remus said. "They're growing up so fast."

"And we didn't?" Sirius said.

"And we did," Remus said. "And look how we turned out."

"Why don't you get angry at me?" Sirius said. "It would be less infuriating."

"I could try," Remus said. "If you care to be insulting a bit more."

"Werewolf," Sirius said.

Remus grinned.

"Say that again."

"Werewolf," Sirius said, grinning back. When they were children, this would have ended with Remus tackling him off the step and rolling him over on the grass. That didn't seem likely now.

"That's odd," Remus said, glancing back over his shoulder. Sirius followed his gaze.

"What--oof!"

Sirius let himself be knocked off the step, he told himself, for old times' sake. Possibly, he thought, face down in the grass, he hadn't had much choice in the matter. Remus was lying on top of him laughing helplessly into his shoulder.

This fic is subtle and bittersweet. Oh, my sweet, sweet puppies. (V)

Faded Laughter Against Her Ear by Mary Borsellino
Ginny finds a portrait of 15-year-old Sirius Black in the attic at Grimmauld Place. Beautiful and sad and just... Sirius. (V)

The Fairytale Way by zahra
Sirius Black knows how the story is supposed to go – he knows he´s Prince Charming, and Prince Charming´s not supposed to want a Prince Charming of his own. But he does. And he decides to rewrite the story in his own inimitable style. Lovely. Zahra has a nice light touch with the puppies. (V)

Fall on Me by Mariner
Fabulous Sirius/Remus friendship fic that damn near broke my heart. Sirius has to face what he fears the most, and it's a surprise to both men. (V)

Flame and Shadow by Maya
Ron Weasley and Pansy Parkinson. It's convenient. It's sex. It's... much more than either of them expected, and Ron gets to be happy and have lots of sweaty sex, which makes *me* happy. Hermione's a little off (i.e., prissier than I think she would be), but I managed to overlook that, and think you should too. (V)

Footnotes by Jennifer-Oksana
Snape tells Hermione a few home truths about her place in the trio, and in history. Sharp and insightful. (V)

Forever After by Laura Smith
A hot and tasty bit of Remus/Hermione porn, with a lovely salute to Remus/Sirius and a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" that will give you a whole new appreciation for the fairy tale. And Remus's storytelling abilities. Guh. (V)

Forever Means Not Alone by Tali
This has some writing issues, but oh, it makes me achy in the chestal area. Sirius is feeling alone, and Remus decides he doesn't have to. Quietly poignant, this story rings true, even with the misused apostrophes and other ... errors. (V)

From Portrait to Portrait by ava_ked
Phineas Nigellus's thoughts as he travels from portrait to portrait in search of the last of the Blacks after Dumbledore gives him the news. *sniff* (V)

Ghosts by Minx
Three snapshots involving drinking - the first is freaking hilarious, as MWPP discover a secret passageway into the basement of the Hog's Head, where all the liquor is stored. The second is a bitter "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" affair, with Sirius and Remus sniping at each other in October 1981. The third is a bittersweet reunion. (V)

A quote from the last part:
"Oh, yes. There's a box in the attic."

Sirius snorted. "Of course there is."

After a second Sirius's tone registered with Remus. He lifted his head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, that's what you do, isn't it? Put everything away and forget about it." Sirius picked up his glass with an unsteady hand. "Do you have a box for me?"

"What?"

"Do. You. Have. A box. For me?" Sirius repeated. "You know. To go along with all the other boxes. What did you do when-what did you do with all my things?"

Sirius had never asked that before. Remus was silent.

"You put them in a box and forgot about them, didn't you? Forgot about me."

"No," Remus said painfully. "You know I didn't forget you."

"But you wanted to." Sirius drained his glass and refilled it. "And there's a box."

[...]

Sirius looked around. "Some of these boxes aren't labeled."

"Of course not." Remus leaned on a rickety chest of drawers. "How do you label your failures?"

The Gift by Schuyler
Gilderoy Lockhart is recovering, and one day, Dumbledore brings him a toad named Trevor and a secret. I love the tone of this story, and the way Lockhart is suddenly likable and human, and he´s not the only one. He gets to live his own fairy tale, and it´s not too sappy or too dramatic, but just right. (Minor OotP spoilers) (V)

Go Down Laughing by Mrs. Ron Weasley
A cut above the typical "James figures out about Sirius and Remus" stories. I like the narrative voice she gives James -- it feels right, like a seventeen-year-old boy who's arrogant, but still decent and willing to stick up for his friends, even if their relationship throws him a bit at first. (V)

The Good Morrow by Fay Jay
Remus wakes up in an interesting position. Sweet, funny first time story, and I love this line: Hitherto unknown portions of his friend's anatomy were cheerfully making their presence felt in the most disconcertingly intimate fashion. Sirius Black, it appeared, was considerably less heterosexual than all previous evidence had seemed to indicate. Okay, that's two lines. But the whole fic is clever like that. (V)

The Greatest Treason by Caliah
Snape's thoughts the morning after Sirius escapes from Hogwarts in PoA. Snape's betrayal of Lupin's secret, and his own hard-won integrity. Incisive and believable and makes me almost want to feel sorry for him, in spite (or possibly because) of what he did to Remus. (V)

Green Candle by Caliah
Hermione contemplates necessity. This fic captures the Hermione who is brilliant, but scary. With emphasis on the scary. I liked it a lot. (V)

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner by Molly Moon
Lily's eight months pregnant and having cravings. James is away, so Peter and Remus help out. To say more would spoil, and you can see the plot twist coming a mile away, but it's still pretty damn funny. (V)

Hair of the Dog by torch
*snicker* Dumbledore forces Snape and Sirius to reconcile. (V)

The Happy Valley Puppy Farm, aka Canis M's Sirius Black/Remus Lupin page
I rarely do blanket author recs, because there's usually something I dislike or can't in good conscience recommend, but Canis M's stuff is... sweet, hot, poignant, lovely - if you are in any way a fan of SB/RL, just read it all and be so very happy, and then poke her to write more, faster. (V)

Harry Potter and the Mai Tai of Doom by sushi
Harry runs into Voldemort while on vacation in Hawaii. Much drinking is done, and a summer fling is had. *snicker* (V)

He Said It That Knew It Best by Lexin
Harry goes to stay with Sirius and Remus for two weeks during the summer after GoF. He learns some things he didn't expect to. Quiet, nice Harry POV. Remus is a little too... not feminine, but not as mischievous as he seems in canon, but it's not terribly OOC. And what he does for a living is just brilliant. (V)

The History of the World by Shaye
Incisive Lily fic, with sharp, clean prose that cuts to the heart of reality, fiction, magic and life in less than a thousand words. (V)

Hogsmeade in the Rain by SlowFox
Harry's railroaded into 'chaperoning' for Ron and Hermione. Parvati is doing the same for Seamus and Lavender. The two of them spend the day together, and Harry begins to see possibilities he maybe hadn't before. Sweet but not cloying, and Harry's very in (pre-OotP angry!Harry) character. (V)

Home by samvimes
Okay, I've mentioned I dislike Snape/Lupin on various grounds. Except for this story. I don't know that Snape is in character, and Lupin is definitely a lot cockier here than most people write him, but it works, somehow. Lupin is running from something, and he ends up running into Snape. Who has to decide what to do. Mmm... cocky!Lupin... (V)

How to Disappear by lise
Post-OotP, Remus grieving. Sue me, I *like* these kinds of stories. They help a little.

A quote:

Grief talks in a hundred different ways, and they all mean to remind you that you're here, no matter how much you deny it.

Incisive and sad. And hey, I'm reccing a second person POV. *g* (V)

How to Say Goodbye by Fandom Dramaturg
Sirius and Remus part for the summer on Platform 9 ¾. Beautifully *real* story of two boys and one´s realization of his feelings for the other. This story has a great feel for the characters, their interactions are wonderfully in character and they feel like real boys who´ve known each other a long time. (V)

How to Transfigure Yourself a Rock Band by Dazzler
Cute, funny, sexy MWPP-era story where Sirius enlists the boys in his new rock band, with lovely Remus/Sirius UST. (V)

House by Kest
Sirius is pardoned. He goes to visit Remus. Elegant, quiet, evocative story about Sirius relearning the feel of his skin, his life, and Remus quietly being there when Sirius needs him. (V)

If You're Breathing by Sandy Justine
Oh. Oh. Just absolutely heartbreakingly perfect Harry/Neville post-OotP. The DA is still around, and Harry's trying to make a point. "If you're breathing, keep fighting" is Harry's rule, and Neville never gives up, even though he doubts himself. Wonderful characterization, well-written action sequence, and so sweetly achy at the end. It doesn't matter which of them has been marked by Voldemort, they're in it together now. (V)

Impropriety by Setissma
Ginny/Remus. No, wait. Don't run away. This is beautiful and painful and hot, and Remus always loves who he can't have, but then he can and he does, and well, we know how *that* ended, right? And years pass, and he's alone, until Ginny stops by, and she knows, and she does, and they do. (V)

In Theory by Thistlerose
Oh. Oh. The war's over, and Remus and Sirius have a quiet celebration, and Sirius has a plan. A brilliant, beautiful, I wish I'd thought of it myself plan. It makes Remus all kinds of happy, too. Lovely, spare, poignant and suffused with hope. I love this story. (V)

An Intimate Conspiracy by Rochefort
The most compelling version of Sirius's 'prank' on Snape that I've seen, this story explains how Sirius could be pushed to be so thoughtless, and why Snape kept quiet about it. (V)

Into the Light of the Dark Black Night by k
A powerful, subtle, sharp and sad exploration of Lily Evans, using her love of the Beatles as a theme and her feelings of dislocation first at Hogwarts and then at home, k manages to write a story that feels completely and utterly *right*, from Lily's first reaction to Sirius being that he's mental to the slow way she finally gives in to James's charm to her alternating annoyance and sadness at the way she and Petunia grow apart. (V)

Journal Entry by almightyhat
A pointed, poignant, post-OotP Petunia fic, adding onto the depth and shading she finally got in OotP. (how do you like my alliteration? *g*) (V)

A Journey in Ten Lies by Switchknife
I requested Bill/Remus and Switchknife wrote this gorgeous, delicate, oh-so-exquisitely painful fic in which Remus lies to himself, and Bill insinuates his way into Remus's life and bed and possibly his heart, but then the inevitable happens and oh, it hurts so much, but in such a beautiful way. *sniffle* (V)

Just Let It Be by Nym (links to the front page of the site)
Sirius is relearning how to be a wizard, a friend. A man. Remus helps. This story made me rethink a lot of the assumptions I've had about Sirius and Remus, both together and apart. It hurts, the regret and the lost years and the fumbling toward renewing their friendship, but it's the good kind of pain, that sting of tears you feel because something is too true to be denied. I am in love with this story. I want to marry it and have its babies. Or maybe I want to have Remus and Sirius' babies. I'm not sure. (V)

Just Like My Daddy by Liz Barr
What if the Potters were more like the Malfoys than Harry could ever believe? Slash. NC-17. Pre-series. (V)

Just Like This by Casira
Remus and Sirius have an argument, and then they make up. Whoo boy, do they. Slightly wistful and yet still hot. (V)

Knowledge Is Its Own Reward by rabbit and v-Jinx-v
Dumbledore and Snape discuss a student. Snape learns being right all the time is dangerous. Absolutely hilarious. (V)

The Language That God Speaks by Liz Barr
A wonderful Harry Potter/Sandman crossover that runs with Terry Pratchett's idea that "all libraries are one library," with great characterization of all parties, and a Hermione I really, really like. The Language That God Speaks (Hushed Voices Speaking Remix) by AJ Hall, totally works as a retelling from a slightly different angle. Love them both. (V)

The Last Temptation of Remus J. Lupin by kai
Remus has to make a choice, and either way, it costs him dearly. This is a lovely bit of characterization (ignore the horrible nickname "Remy" - it's a friend from childhood, before Hogwarts, who calls him that), and Remus dealing with how the choices he makes seal his fate, to paraphrase his mother in the story. Will he choose himself or the Order? And how will he live with the choice? (V)

Learning to Fight, Counting the Reasons and Breaking the Right Heart by Setissma
Watch as James/Sirius, Lily/Remus becomes James/Lily, Remus/Sirius with a minimum of melodrama and all the right teen angst ingredients. (V)

Legacy by Moony
Gorgeous, sad, and just -- *sniff* Two moments in time in the library at Hogwarts. Sirius Black makes his mark. (V)

Let Me Count the Ways by Spintwin
Okay, this is my first foray into reading Percy/Oliver slash (a pairing I don't actually get), and it's a sweet, quiet little story that just works for me for some reason. Don't expect anything outrageous or overwhelming. It's the story of how brothers see things that maybe other people miss. (V)

Lightning Has Just Struck My Brain by Dazzler
Harry discovers some things about Neville Dumbledore wishes he hadn't. Creepy, good, and oh-so-plausible. (V)

The Literal Game by Sam Vimes
Remus loses a bet, takes James out for Chinese and tells him a story. Brilliantly Remus. I love him even more after this story, if that’s even possible. And did I mention it's hot? I don't know why I like Remus/James, but I do. Especially like this. (V)

A Little Night Air by penknife
McGonagall and Snape snark on each other and their respective houses and it´s all very British and proper and yet you can't help but think they may actually respect and even ::gasp:: like each other. Shocking, I know. Lovely fic. (V)

The Lodger by Mad Martha
Hmm... I'm not sure I buy one of the central conceits of this story, about Harry's disappointment in love, to be vague, but it's a plausible post-war fic that really hits with a believable portrait of what the war did to the survivors, of whom Harry may be one of the most damaged. Considering I'm not a Harry/Draco fan, I found this surprisingly poignant and sweet in its delineation of their burgeoning romance. (V)

Lovers for Tonight and Go Back to Being Friends by mysid
Remus and Sirius in a 'friends with benefits' relationship, and how that works out. These two stories (and the ancillary fics - When Moony Met Sin and When Sin Met Snuffles) hit so many of my personal buttons that I can't really be objective (there are some grammatical errors, including the hellacious misuse of "I" where "me" is called for [a grammatical error none of these characters would make in speech or narration], but like I said, my buttons were pushed. Repeatedly.).

We have Remus in love with Sirius, who is oblivious both to Remus's and his own feelings. We have James and Lily being supportive and wise best friends (as usual, Peter is sort of a non-entity). And (here's where the button-pushing happens) we have Jealous!Possessive!Sirius and Sexually-Aggressive-But-Emotionally-Reserved!Remus. ::fans self:: But mostly we have two very in love yet very confused young men, slowly figuring things out - and then fate, in the form of Voldemort (you know the story *g*) - gets in the way. I'm not sure I believe the reunion part of the story as much as the earlier (and later) bits - it seems to happen very quickly - but overall, lovely stories. I reread them whenever I've read something that does horrid things to Remus and I need something to make me feel better. (V)

Lupin's Symposium by Sandra
Really, there's no excuse for this, but I found it absolutely hilarious, and it managed to be hot at the same time. Professor Lupin is in heat, and Hermione's looking for some hands-on lessons. As an extra-added bonus, even though both Sirius and Remus are apparently straight, there's subtext thrumming between them. Hermione's a lucky, lucky girl. (The writing is weak in spots, there are some typos, etc. but I found it funny enough to overlook them, especially with my supersekrit Remus/Hermione kink in effect.) (V)

Lust Over Pendle by AJ Hall
What do you mean you haven't read it? Go. Now. Admittedly, I'm not sure I quite buy this Draco, but Neville is fabulous, Hermione kicks ass, and Narcissa and Emily are the best duo (in a non-slashy way) since Batman met Robin. It's long, it's involved, it's hilarious and well-written. (V)

Lustre by Calico and julad
Draco gets a pet and a ring. And more. I'm not a Harry/Draco shipper, not by a long shot, but this story worked for me, with a Draco both brattish and desperate to escape the life his father's laid out for him. And Pomegranate is a wonderful plot device. (V)

Magic Words and Levity by Prufrock
Magic Words is about Remus's bad date from hell with Rita Skeeter. By turns hilarious and touching, I *love* Pru's Remus. And Levity ... god, I love this fic. Remus is drunk, sex is bad and Sirius doesn't know who he is anymore. Sharp, insightful, hilarious and touching in turn, Pru nails the characters. And I'm not saying that just 'cause I betaed. (V)

Making Moony Laugh by Raven
Beautiful sad, post-OotP fic from Fred Weasley´s POV. The twins learn what´s really at stake. (V)

The Making of a Modern Love Triangle by Misty Flores
Another article in the paper has Harry, Hermione and Ron atwitter about their relationship(s). Fun look at the kids and their possible romantic entanglements. I wouldn't be surprised to see something like this canon, actually. (V)

Masked Revels by Sam Vimes
Mythology. Hogwarts. The Green Man. Dude, how can I not love this? Beautiful masks arrive for MWPP (and others), with notes attached asking them to keep it all a secret. Much mythologically inspired smut ensues in celebration of Beltane. (V)

Midnight in the Silence by Mary G
Ron and Harry in the aftermath of the Third Task. Sometimes, you just need to be quiet, and you need a friend who'll let you. Short, sharp, *true* - beautiful snapshot of the strong friendship between Ron and Harry. (V)

Misplaced by Twinkledru J.
You know, I keep reccing this to people when they ask me why I don´t like Snape and what kind of Snapefic I do like, and how I would find him palatable in a relationship with one of the students. And then I realized I´d never actually formally *recommended* the thing. So, forthwith, read this fic. Ginny´s ambitious and Snape knows it´s wrong, but that doesn´t stop them. In fact, they wouldn´t be doing it if it weren´t wrong. Don´t mind the switching POV. It´s easy enough to figure it all out. (V)

Moon Scars and Strewn Stars by llamajoy
Sirius figures out Remus's secret. Tense, spare, poignant and lovely. (V)

The More Is My Unrest by Arabella and Jedi Boadicea
Oh man. This hurts. This hurts a lot. Draco watches Ginny watch Harry. Draco is a petty bastard, so he's in character, but I felt really bad for him anyway. I remember what it was like to be in his position, and in Ginny's, and this story captures that feeling really well. (V)

The Most Important Meal of the Day by lise
Remus, Sirius and Harry share breakfast and conversation one morning at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. (V)

The Most Ridiculous First Name I've Ever Heard by Dazzler
Short, powerful, ungodly creepy. The story takes the premise of lycanthropy as STD to its most logical, and scary, conclusion. (V)

Mo(u)rning Ritual by Cybele
The summary is as follows: For instance, if you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three. The closer it gets to four, the happier I'll feel. By four I'll be all excited and worried; I'll discover what it costs to be happy! ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince ::sniffle:: How can I resist a fic that quotes The Little Prince as a summary? Snape learns how insidious caring can be. (Note: If anyone knows a more permanent, archive-type link, that'd be great. I sent the author an email, but never heard back.) (V)

Naked Quidditch Match by Anya
Absolutely hilarious story of how Fred and George get the Gryffindor Quidditch team stuck playing naked, Harry poses nude, Ginny gets her man, and Voldemort is mocked mercilessly. (Really, really funny, so just overlook the errors.Trust me. It's worth it.)(V)

Night Vision by Keieru
Snape and Lupin have a mission, and some words. I don't know if I believe this basis for the Sirius-Snape hatred, but the story itself works wonderfully. I mean, I felt bad for Snape. That *never* happens. (V)

No by V
No, Remus isn't all right. Oh. My poor werewolf. (V)

No One Ever Said It Would Be This Hard by kel
Aka, Remus Lupin and the Order of the Phoenix. This is exactly that - selected scenes from OotP from Remus's POV. Beautifully realized alternate POV. Sad and clever and funny and hurtful. (V)

And its companion piece, No One Said It Would Be Easy by lise, in which Remus comes back to teach DADA in Harry's sixth year, and Harry learns more than just hexes and counterspells. The lingering grief and pain both Harry and Remus feel in the aftermath of Sirius's death is palpable in this story - I read the whole thing through blurry eyes and with a lump in my throat. (V)

A quote:

"I want you to tell me why. Why." Harry took a breath, fighting the anger in him. He stared at the piece of paper. "Look at it," he told Remus, quieter. "What have I really learned? All those things, and it all boils down to the fact that I'm alive, and other people aren't. That, means something, right." He gulped. "Just, what does it mean?"

The suitcase dropped, banged painfully against Remus's shins. He took the paper, and scanned it carefully.

For a moment, all Remus did was stand there, staring at the parchment, and then he finally murmured, "Some people trust you, some don't. That's just the way it is."

This story breaks my heart with its painful rightness.

Not As a Last Resort by Arabella
Ron and Hermione take shelter in Hagrid's cabin during a blizzard. Deliciously tense and highly evocative of being fifteen and alone with the boy you like. And its sequel Getting the Point: Maybe she'd push him away - maybe she'd stop him - Ron didn't care. He was kissing her. He needed to be kissing her. She was insane, and full of ideas, and out of her mind, and too smart for her own good, and totally mad, and irresistibly pretty, just sitting there, hollering at him Yum. (V)

Old Wizard's Ale by Liz Barr
They really weren't that drunk. James and Sirius are hanging out and things take an ... interesting turn. Even though I am a rabid Sirius/Remus shipper, this is so sweet and perfect, I can't help but love it. Sigh... (V)

Older and Between by Twinkledru J.
Raw, honest, hot and sexy Sirius/Remus reunion fic. Beg her to write more like this. (V)

One Art by Nix
Snape makes a decision after a visit from Lupin. Tight, bitter, sad and right. (V)

Oubliette by Kate Bolin
Sadly plausible futurefic. It just works. (V)

Quarter Moon by MaidenJedi
Lupin, in a bar at the quarter moon, contemplates returning to Hogwarts. (V)

Quiet by Te
Remus is all about control, and he can't even let go enough to deal with his grief. (V)

Reasons by penknife
Peter watches as each of his friends are approached by the Death Eaters, and then he takes the only route that ever seemed open to him. (V)

Reflections by Lady Narcissa
This story gives us what JKR did not (bitch). Harry holds his own memorial service for Sirius. *sniff* (V)

Remembrances of Times Past by Crow
During PoA, McGonagall and Ginny have a talk. It seems Ginny wasn't the first Gryffindor girl Tom Riddle charmed. Lovely, quiet, in character and definitely something I´d have loved to have seen in the books. (V)

Replacement by Kate Bolin
Harry and Hermione need Ron. Even though he's dead. And Ginny doesn't mind. Sad and creepy and believable. (V)

The Revenge of Lord Vodkamort by Liz Barr
*dies laughing*
So Harry's defeated Voldemort, and spends his days drunk and playing with sporks. Go. Read. Laugh. And pester Liz for more of this perfectly hilarious, perfectly characterized universe. (V)

Room for Two by Slug
So sweet. Summer. Remus is up late reading. Sirius shows up and takes him for a ride. Questions are asked and decisions made. Quiet and lovely...(V)

Running Toward, Running Away by Laura Smith
Oh my. This takes the Remus/Sirius/James/(Snape) relationship in twisty new directions (new to me, at any rate) and boy, does it work. Hurtful and plausible and just... guh. (V)

St. Mungo's, 3 AM by Casira
Remus tells Tonks the news about Sirius. Hurtfully accurate portrayal of Remus, nice depth and shading to his thoughts about Tonks, and a wonderful characterization of Tonks herself. (V)

Scenes from Another Life by Helene
Sirius makes a different decision the night of October 31, 1981. He and Remus get to give Harry the family he's always wanted. I was skeptical about this until I read it, and I really like the way Helene weaves canon into this AU. The Sirius/Remus relationship is lovely, and the family life she paints for them will break your heart with its rightness. (V)

Second Coming by lise and kel
And again, Sirius lies low at Lupin's. Quiet but still passionate, this story is fraught with tension and with the knowledge that they are no longer jousting with schoolboy rivals, but fighting for their world. There's sorrow, but also a very real feeling of hope. (V)

My favorite bit: "Then why are we fighting?"

Remus looks up. He has a dead owl in his bed and a house full of ghosts that don't dance. He has a scar above his left eyebrow from the claw of a rat who wants him dead. "Because we're the good guys," he says, "We don't fight the fights we know we can win, we fight the fights that need fighting."

Second of Our Reign WaxJism
Harry's dead, and his friends have retreated to hiding in the Muggle world to live after Voldemort's defeat. Draco is alone, a living ghost in Malfoy Manor. And then he discovers a secret in the basement.

This is dark and plausible. Jagged prose, sharp characterizations, and a Lupin/Black relationship that makes me want to sniffle, because I can so see it ending this way for them and, well, that's not what the story is about really, but it's the part that stuck with me -- He'd been thinking about getting a blanket - somehow, the sun refused to warm him, and there was a low ache somewhere in his back, as if he'd suddenly aged fifty years. Then he'd thought about the look on Sirius's face if he'd had to watch Lupin sit hunched under a blanket like an old man. Sirius still wanted to think they were teenagers.

I felt for everyone here, and they feel for each other - sharp sorrows muted but not erased by the passage of time. The ending raises more questions than it answers, which is not my usual preference, but the story is well done. (V)

Severus and the Crup by Josan
I wrestled over recommending this story, because its premise is so good, and it's really stuck with me, but I'm just not a fan of Snape/Harry as a pairing. It's not a bone-deep squick, but it's not something I like or even understand. Keep that in mind as I continue with this rec, m'kay?

This is a post-war story, and what a strange new world has been thrust upon the wizarding folk of England. Voldemort was defeated, and he took all the magic in England with him when he died. Or so it seems. Harry is dead. Snape is living up in the Highlands, eking out a living making (non-magical) potions. He is adopted by a crup. This is almost two separate stories - the first being about Snape and his pet, and the second being, well, that would spoil it, but it's very, very cool.

My one reservation is that this turns into Snape/Harry, which I dislike. I could believe the attachment on Harry's side, but I never did buy Snape's reciprocity (always my problem with Snape/Harry), even though this fic makes a better case for it than most. I can't say more without spoiling.

Anyhow, I loved the dead-on grace notes of characterization - Lupin working in a second-hand record shop (I may have to steal that), capable of functioning in the Muggle world and happy to live without magic if it means no monthly transformations; Neville coming into his own; Millicent Bulstrode being more than a one-shot fat joke; Viktor Krum flying in to help out even when he's not supposed to.

And I really like the consequences of Voldemort's defeat, and how the wizarding community pulls itself together after a few years and begins to rebuild, so I'm ignoring the Snape/Harry aspects. If you like that pairing, you'll probably like this story *even more* than I did, and I liked it a helluva lot. (V)

Shining Girl by Liz Barr
Short but so plausible Buffy/HP crossover - Remus Lupin meets a girl in a bar... (V)

Silent Scream, Now Her Part Is Over, and Paint It Black by Malisita
A little trilogy of Molly/Sirius ficlets (seriously). Um, I mean, not Molly/Sirius, per se, but yeah. It works. They come to a truce, of sorts. So sad. (V)

Skins by Casira
First full moon after The Trick. Sirius tries to make amends and Remus just wants to feel human again. Sad and hot. (V)

Sleep Lines by Rachel
Sweet, sweet Sirius/Remus first kiss. (V)

Slide by Syn
Perfect, spot-on, warm and lovely Ron/Hermione fic. She nails their relationship and Ron's characterization.

A quote:
Why did they fight? Because he enjoyed it, truth be told. When they were arguing, all her attention was on him and no one else. That made him feel special. To see the blaze in her eyes and the color rising in her cheeks, the stiffness of her shoulders and the twist of her lips made him feel powerful somehow. She only looked like that for him and he loved it.

A Small Truce by Marina Frants
Snape saves Black. Neither is thrilled about it. Love the tension between the two, and the Snape voice is snarky and spot-on. I'm also a Sirius-whore. There needs to be more good Sirius fic out there. (V)

Snips and Snails and Puppydog Tails by Thing1
Lily ropes Sirius, James and Peter into throwing Remus a surprise 16th birthday party. Sirius has an interesting present planned. Light-hearted and fun. (V)

Some Things Are Better Left Unknown by A. Giesbrecht
Sirius figures out how to travel through time, and MWPP decide to jump ahead 25 years. Of course, they run into the Trio, who have to decide what they can reveal of the boys' futures. I enjoyed this a lot, especially the James-Harry interaction. I defy you not to get sniffly over that. And the discussion of time travel is hilarious, on a Bill and Ted level. (V)

Something by kaydee falls
Remus considers James and Sirius. Three instances in time, similar conclusions. Nicely done, with vivid imagery and subtlety in handling Remus's grief. (V)

The Spirit of Brotherhood by torch
Snape, Lupin and Black must put aside their differences and work together. And no, they're not building a tower of office furniture. Torch brings them together and keeps them in character as Snape and Black try not to kill each other during the working of a spell, and each man contemplates his own choices, and the others'. (V)

Strange Bedfellows: A Comedy of Assumptions by Mad Maudlin
Absolutely hilarious. Hermione may be on crack, but the story is funny enough that I didn't mind the characterization. Just hilarious. (V)

Strictly Confidential by Moony
Sirius figures out it´s not James he´s in love with. He can´t quite figure out how to tell Remus, though, so he writes him a note. Adorably cute. (V)

Sublimation and The Snitch, by Remus J. Lupin by Sam Vimes
Remus writes a Freudian analysis of Quidditch for his History of Magic term paper. Too funny. (V)

Sugar and Spice and Sweet Revenge by Casira
Remus is baking with Fluff. Sirius wants a taste. And then in the sequel, Sirius goes to the Muggle grocery, searching for a taste sensation to share with Remus. Mmm...Nutella.

Summer Thing by Halrloprillalar
The summer between fifth and sixth year, Hermione loses her virginity. And goes about it in a perfectly in-character, wonderfully hot and sweet way. With Fred and George Weasley. Love this. (V)

Sundress by Rhoddlet
Ginny wants Hermione. Claustrophobic, suffocating in Ginny's thoughts and desire. Crawls right into her skin and reminds you what it feels like to want someone so much. (V)

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This by McKay
Ginny lives inside her head, and the results are freaking hilarious. Watch as she mixes and matches the men of Hogwarts. (V)

The Sweetest Things by Alchemine
Snape has a secret addiction to Muggle candy. Short, sweet and funny. And god, haven't we all been in his shoes? (V)

Swimming by Schuyler
Harry, Ron and Hermione move their relationship to 'the next level' to use a cliché. It starts with them still in school but ends with them older - three snapshots of them together. (V)

That's What Little Boys Are Made Of by Alkari
Oh. ::sniffle:: A great look at Remus's home life as a boy. Touching and sweet without being cloying, boys being boys, and I love this version of his parents. Just lovely. (V)

They Always Say, You Can't Go to Hogwarts Again by loligo
Remus Lupin on teaching, memories, adulthood and childhood. *whimper* (V)

Things to Do When Your Lover Is Dead, Tea for Ghosts and Table for Two by zahra
A triptych on how it all fell apart for Harry and Draco. Guaranteed to hurt, and I say this as someone who doesn't much care for Harry/Draco. These are poignant, well-written and just so... evocative. Zahra hits the little details of living with, and without someone, dead on. (V)

This Side of the Veil by Elwing Alcyone
Kingsley Shacklebolt plays the piano, then he and Remus talk. Lovely short story about grief and coping with it, and the possibilities of moving on.

Tie Me With Velvet by AKA Jay
Mmm... Hermione/Draco from last to first. Believable and sexy and in character Hermione/Draco. Nummy. Plus an intriguing narrative structure that works instead of being irritating. (V)

To Lucasta, Going to the Wars by Twinkledru J.
Sirius and Remus still have things to reconcile. I love me some Sirius/Remus, and Jules handles them remarkably well. A Sword, a Horse, a Shield (The Heartbreak Hotel Remix) by Kest is a worthy companion piece to this story. As you maybe can tell by the subtitle I slapped on this one, it hurted (sic) me. And not in a good way. Sirius and Remus and all the things that keep them apart. Like a photo negative of the original story, which showed how the things that drew them together were stronger. (V)

Transfigurations by Resonant
Yes, yes, everyone else has recced it. There's a *reason* for that, and the reason is it really is that good. Fabulous post-war novel that, with the exception of Draco's characterization, easily feels like it could be part of canon. But I will overlook fanon!Draco in the face of this brilliant Hermione and extremely competent Ron, the weight of sorrow and hope that pervades the whole story, and the plot twists I didn't anticipate and so enjoyed even more. (V)

Trouble by Cori Lannam
James and Remus are fooling around, but Sirius doesn't find it funny. You know, you don't see a lot of James/Remus (and obviously, canonically, they weren't as close as James and Sirius were), but I thought this was really interesting. And I love jealous!possessive!Sirius. (V)

The Trouble With Harry Potter by zahra
Feel the Neville love. Feel it. Zahra writes of the Boy Who Lived and the boy who could have been the Boy Who Lived, and it's touching, funny, poignant and real. I can hear Neville saying and thinking these things, and as Harry fumbles along, he's so very Harry, it's hard not to love him even when he's being an idiot. (V)

Undone, Unpretty and Undercurrents by Jennifer-Oksana
Draco/Hermione trilogy that *rocks* like a rocking thing. Snarky, believable, not saccharine or schmoopy – this is a doomed pairing, destined for other things and people (though who or what those other things and people are, I'm not going to guess), but getting off on sneaking around and defying expectations, especially their own, for just a little while. (V)

Unusual by DeeDeeINFJ
How Ron came to buy "unusual" perfume for Hermione. You know how some stories just make you achy? This is one of those - pitch-perfect characterization and all the uncertainty and pressure of being fifteen and really liking someone. Highly recommended. (V)

Vector and And Still by Prufrock
Vector is the story of Sirius Black realizing, on a shopping trip to Harrods, that he's desperately in love with Remus Lupin, even though he's never so much as looked at another man before in his life. Pru gets right into Sirius's head and takes you deep into his swirling thought processes as he works through this life-changing discovery, with humor and pathos and a sweetness that aches.

A quote:
It was easy to slip into and out of this comfortable name-calling, something that they'd been doing since they were first years, intuitive like sleep or closeness. There were many things like that, Sirius had discovered over the years, with Remus. How Moony always stacked and restacked his pillows three times before he slept, sometimes all at once, sometimes scattered between his shower and his midnight tea and book search. How they leaned into one another's space if there was a shortage of it, preferring to at least feel uncomfortably crushed near someone they weren't uncomfortable with. How Moony and Padfoot fell into step together with moonlight flashing off of their fur and fangs, huffing and playing like puppies when the others weren't there to watch -- intuitive, naturally, easy like breathing in and out.

Note the scarf, as it appears again in And Still, which fic broke me into a million pieces. Much like Sirius is broken, and Remus, too. Sirius is in Albania, fighting the war against Voldemort, as his world comes apart at the seams. Slightly AU, but a brilliant evocation of a man on the edge of a breakdown, in the middle of a war like nothing he's ever seen before.

Quote:

They brushed their lips like old lovers and embraced like old men -- they didn't cry or make love, but they touched, like telling one another all those secrets they were not allowed through tactile whispers, and hoping it was enough.

When Sirius pressed a chaste kiss to Remus' left temple, what he meant was the Ministry was monitoring werewolf activity, and Remus would be magically followed everywhere he went and have his every move recorded. What Sirius said when he breathed heavily on Remus' shoulder was that so many Aurors were dying every day but the Ministry was keeping the details locked tight. What he was trying to say when he stroked the palm of Remus' hand was there were so many secrets that were killing Sirius to keep.

And when Sirius breathed, he meant, "I love you," to make up for all the times he didn't say it out loud.

*whimper*

This story is as brutal and beautiful and desperate as Vector is warm and loving and sweet. (V)

The Virtue of Decision by penknife
Hermione over the summer fic! Whee! So very Hermione and so very bittersweet: It's hard trying to fit into a world of television and dentistry and conversations with girls in her neighborhood about going to university. Everything she says to her parents feels awkward and false. She's trying to be what they want her to be this summer, happy and carefree, but pretending feels awful. and also: [...] she's responsible, someone who thinks about the consequences of her actions. It's the same reason that she hasn't hugged Harry last the few times that he's badly needed someone to hug him. She's sure it would start out being perfectly innocent, if only because she doesn't find Harry sexy in the least, but she knows lines are easy to cross.

Ron would say he didn't care but he would. He would nurse his resentment of Harry for years while saying nothing. He would act friendly, but it would secretly eat away at him, and someone clever would play on his resentment and trick him into betraying them all to Lord Voldemort, and she's sure he'd be very sorry for as long as he outlived them, all ten minutes or so.

Great Hermione voice, and I´ve been jonesing for Hermione over the summer (any summer!) fic, so this hit the spot nicely. (V)

Visit by Minx
Harry visits Sirius and Remus. He learns about their relationship, which is handled deftly, in a nice, low-key way. I can't really say why I like this one as much as I do. The characterization is on, and I love that Harry and Remus discuss A Wizard of Earthsea. (V)

Waltz for the Moon by Naraku
Remus is working with Snape on a project. Sirius is jealous. Yet another version of The Prank. Tight and tense, considering we already know the outcome. Heartbreaking. (V)

Wane by Pru
The fairytale of Remus Lupin. No big bad wolf here, just an exquisite, delicate rendering of a life that others might see as full of loss and tragedy, but which Remus sees as full of things that are his, that he shares with others and treasures to himself. If you don't adore Mrs. Lupin at the end of this, you have no heart. With such a strong, phenomenal woman to raise him, how could Remus *not* come out ahead of the game, regardless of what life throws at him? (V)

The Way He Kisses Me by Mosylu
"He kisses like he's laughing." This story is short and fluffy and the reason that I will probably never give up on Ron/Hermione. Such an exquisite description of what kissing Ron Weasley must be like. Sweeter than a maple in full sap, however, so beware if you're a sourpuss.

Without Nightmares by Iron Magnolia
The writing is weak in spots, but the way she manages Sirius's return to the world - and to Remus - is quiet and lovely. I especially loved McGonagall's brief cameo. She also addresses some of the things that Sirius would have forgotten or would be missing after twelve years in hell. (V)

Wolfsbane by Pirate Perian
Sirius spends a full moon with a Remus who is under the influence of the Wolfsbane Potion. This is simple and heartbreaking, as Sirius feels his last bit of usefulness being wrenched away from him. Fabulous Sirius characterization. *sniffle* (V)

Written by Hand by Setissma
Oh! Lyrical, exquisite, touching, hot and sad. Just an amazing story. Remus is sent to Romania one summer after leaving Hogwarts, and to keep him company, MWPP work up a spell where whatever they write appears on the walls of his flat. It’s an odd concept, but it *works*. Remus – and the reader -- can see Lily and James’s love for each other; he learns about his friends’ lives, and about Sirius’s feelings for *him*. And then the last bit, set in the future, is just the perfect, bittersweet cap to the story. Highly, highly recommended. (V)

 

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