#pauraques

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Common Pauraque

Photo: Andy Morffew

"After sunset, in the brushy woods of southern Texas, a hoarse wheezing whistle is heard from here and there in the undergrowth. As dusk settles in, a silhouetted bird flutters and glides silently through the clearings. This is the Pauraque, a common tropical nightjar. If disturbed by day at its resting place in dense thickets, it flutters away on a zigzag course, showing white flashes in the wings and tail."

- Audubon Field Guide

[diesoonandsuffer]

society if i had the time or capabilities to write a fic where ro laren comes back to starfleet from wherever she was (i’m not there in tng yet) and slowly learns about the story of sito jaxa and pieces it together and just. gets insanely angry. as is her right.

[randomfoggytiger]

X-Files Collector's Edition: Diana Fowl(ey) Play-- Part IV: S6-S7

These are Diana Fowley's crazy adventures through the remainder of S6, her rapey actions of S7, and a little post-death effects on the remaining living.

Loose chronological order below~

@fashionbooksboozefeminism's Hunter's Moon

""Since Christmas, you’d found it increasingly hard to get Mulder’s attention, but your suggestion you’d uncovered some new information had secured you a weekend lunch date. You sensed early on that Fox’s heart wasn’t quite in it but you strung out the work talk as long as you could, sprinkled in references to articles you’d read in the hope you’d have chance to share what you’d learned. Once he began to look impatient you requested a chaperone home and you knew New England manners would guarantee you an escort.""

Post The Ghosts That Stole Christmas Diana and Mulder see a pretty sweater as he walks her home. He coldly shuts down any romantic overtures, buying it for Scully.

pauraque's (DW) Blood Orange

""She dug her long, already-sticky thumbnail into the waxy, dimpled surface, and felt the damp white interior of the peel bunching up and getting jammed into the tender borderline of the nail bed. She pulled, and felt the strangely satisfying almost-pain of that tug against her fingernail.""

Krycek morbidly watches Diana splice open an orange.

Shoshana's Rivalry

""Diana," was all Scully said, angry at the presumptuousness of this woman.

"I'm really sorry to disturb you. I know you're probably curious where I've been, Dana."

"Actually, I haven't given it much thought, Diana. We knew you were still alive, and that was sufficient knowledge for me at the time.""

Post Arcadia Scully extends her claws when Diana drops in, amusing Mulder (and herself.) They discuss nicknames over lunch.

CultureisDarkB 's When Two Women Collide

""Special Agent Diana Fowley. I’ve heard quite a bit about you and your abilities to apply behavioural models to criminal cases.”

“I’ve heard of your unique background as well.” Mulder placed his hands on his hips and stared back at the wall. “So, where do we begin?”

 “We start with a brain scan and psych evaluation.” Diana glanced at her watch. "It’s too late to head to the lab. I think we’ve done all we could do tonight.” She looked up at Mulder and smiled. “Want to go to dinner?”

Mulder fidgeted, biting at his bottom lip, combing his hair with his hand. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

“What if I am?” she flirted back.""

An epic sweep of Mulder's relationship with Diana in the past, building up to the present and navigating his relationship with Scully through these rough waters. It culminates in Milagro. HIGHLY recommend.  

@xfmaweezy/XFMaweezy/kishamaweezy's

Ninety Seconds

""Diana!” Fox quietly greeted her as he opened the door wider and stepped aside, motioning for her to enter. “Everything okay?”

Fox looked as though he had been preparing for bed, an observation that confused Diana. It was still early by Fox Mulder standards. Her Fox had slept very little, dropping off wherever he was; usually on the  couch in front of the television. 

This Fox had showered and brushed his teeth. The scent of soap and toothpaste wafted toward Diana on the warm night air that was blowing in through the open windows. This Fox wore loose shorts and a clean T-shirt; his feet bare and his hair damp."" 

Pre-One Son Scully-- high on drugs and clad in pretty pajamas-- shocks a more sympathetic Diana during her impromptu late-night meeting at Mulder's.

Ninety Minutes (Ao3)

""By some cruel twist of fate, Diana had found herself on yet another task force working closely with Fox and his tiny partner, who was still wearing a cast on her broken left wrist. But it wasn’t the case that had her all out of sorts, it was her visit to Fox’s apartment after the apprehension of the convicts—a visit she’d convinced herself was only about the X-Files—that set her mind and her heart adrift. She hadn’t been able to function properly since, a dangerous state of mind to be in given her line of work. But she couldn’t get the image of a half naked Dana Scully out of her mind, nor the syrupy sweet affection Fox lavished upon her as she clung to him, unaware of Diana’s presence."" 

Diana is sinking at a work function; but leaves early when Mulder sings a love ballad to Scully.

MulderScullyShipper's After the Fact

""Hello?”

“Fox, I… oh, it’s you. Is Fox there?”

Scully rolled her eyes at the familiar voice and glanced at Mulder as he came back into view, holding the beer bottles in his grip. “Agent Fowley.” Mulder stopped in his tracks and watched her as she spoke on the phone. “No, he’s a little busy right now.""

Post Milagro Scully and Mulder navigate the aftermath as a united team, clearing up Diana's lies and ignoring her whenever she tries to barge into their lives.

@admiralty-xfd’s (Ao3) the whole truth

""Scully...” he was moaning, and every time the name escaped his lips it pained her. “I need Scully.”

“Fox, it’s me, it’s Diana,” she said. She bent down and touched his shoulder.

“Scully…”

She didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t Scully, she couldn’t be Scully. But she could tell he was in pain and she wanted to help him.

“We should get you to see a doctor,” she suggested. She realized as the words came out how stupid they sounded, considering the only thing he’d asked for since she’d arrived had been, in fact, a doctor. But she couldn’t bring herself to call the woman she knew he was in love with.""

Biogenesis Diana is in love with Mulder, empathizing with his pain and out of depth in this strange, twisted mytharc development.

JourneyToX's Dirty, Dirty

""He is miserable, and sick. But that's good. His weakness makes it easier.

He trusts me like no other, and of all his follies, that is his greatest. Good, this will be simple, with his trust.

Women have done this before. Soft flesh and hard hearts, pillow talk and power. I must focus my mind, as well, and think only of him. How often I have thought only of him, dreaming of his handsome face stretched in ecstacy, as ashy breath washed over me and nicotine stained hands pawed me. This time it will be real, and a pleasure.""

Biogenesis Diana thinks she has Mulder wrapped around her fingers, ignoring his weak pleas for Scully. He ends up dampening her moves.

Jori's

Undone

""Fox Mulder is mine now. In his current condition, I can have him. Again. He is confused, doesn't know what is happening to him. And the person he relies on most is over a thousand miles away.""

Biogenesis Diana seduces Mulder; but stops mid-effort when he snaps out of his fog and screams bloody murder for Scully's help.

Invisible Bond

""Hello, Diana. What are you doing here? Come to pick up whatever you didn't take the first time around?" I ask, glaring at her.

I hardly knew her, all those years ago, but I never liked her. Perhaps because I saw her eventually turning into me. If she stayed with Fox long enough, they would dominate her life, too. She seemed the type that would easily follow along with the 'plan,' the type that wouldn't fight them. Just like me. She would know it was wrong, but she'd have no power to pull herself free.""

Amor Fati Diana adds legitimacy to CSM's demands of Tena, reassuring her that Mulder would be in safe hands.

Namarie/namarie24's (MuldersCreek) Splitting at the Seams

""She looked at him coolly. "What are you talking about?"

"Spender. Scully was right. How long have you been working for him?" Mulder realized that he was yelling. He pushed himself to his feet. "How long, Diana?"

"You're confused," she said, her face revealing nothing. Her thoughts, however, revealed shock and some fear. "You need to calm down."

Biogenesis Diana gets her mind read; and ends up stun-gunning Mulder into submission. Scully helps him heal after rescuing him.

Trixie 's (Whisper of X, Alt. page) Lies I Told Myself

""I am a liar.

Those words freeze in my throat; I would never speak them aloud, not in a million years. To admit to what I am, what I have become, would assure my certain downfall.""

Biogenesis Diana sneers at Scully, envies Krycek, and lies to herself about Mulder's loyalties. She subdues him and tucks him into a ward.

KatyBlue's (@lilydalexf's reccs) Taking Flight (Gossamer)

""...My fingers run over the curved glass, the faint crackles of static electricity and dust impeding their progress. I trace Mulder's left leg down to his foot and stop there, watching his face. Feeling almost as if he can see me there and is looking back, a silent plea in his eyes.

Get me out of here, Scully, it says.

I feel something soften inside me at his image. Hidden from the two people behind me. For a moment, I forget where I am, lost in a strange, bemused melancholy. Then I remember, but the words inside my head slip out anyway. "Have you ever played baseball, Agent Fowley?""

Biogenesis Diana venomously tries to prevent Scully from seeing Mulder. Skinner avoids eye contact; but takes up for his agent.

dee_ayy's The Watchman

""People come to see him, if that's what you call it. But not while I'm here--though once it happened. A woman, all haughty with authority. Swinging that long brown hair of hers, flashing that badge to get them to let her in long after visiting hours were over. But there are no visitors on this ward anyway. No one should see a loved one like this.

Yet she came. When she walked in I immediately paged the doctor.""

A nurse orderly understands Mulder, gaining his trust through compassion and pity. He's brushes off Diana on Mulder's behalf.

Nynaeve's Reason Does Not Know

""Seven years ago I did not know her for the actress she is. She spoke to me the words I had longed to hear. She won the trust I was too willing to bestow. A child shattered by events over which he had no control, the son of parents withdrawn, unable after that night to unwrap themselves from the tatters of their lives, she found me an easy target, a man who easily mistook her affectation of love for the emotion itself.""

Amor Fati Mulder sees into Diana's soul, realizing how deeply she believes in her lies.

BoneTree/Todesfuge's (@lilydalexf reccs)

Elegy with the Sound of the Ocean Inside It

""He clenched his hand on his temples, the voice lilting like a song in his head. It was so familiar. Velvet. Soft as a snake.

Diana.

He could hear the Captain coming closer, but it was too late. A few steps and he staggered toward the railing on the ship's starboard side. An instant later, William Scully calling his name, Mulder was flailing in cold air toward the water, right before his world turned to ice.""

Amor Fati Mulder dreams about meeting Will, not wanting Tena's forgiveness, seeing Albert Hosteen again, and trying to escape Diana's suburban dream life.

Agent L's (MuldersCreek) Willing Sacrifice

""Diana..."

His voice, rusty from disuse, is nonetheless loud in the quiet room, the word clearly spoken. I fight an unreasonable jealousy of this woman who betrayed him, who nearly killed him and yet still claims his loyalty, feeling small and selfish to resent him for not calling out for *my* name.

"Please. Don't let him..." His voice sinks to a whisper, a plea, and I realize he is back in the operating room, begging for her help. If she walked into the room at that moment, I would kill her for the anguish she put him through...still puts him through.""

Amor Fati Scully rescues a barely cognizant Mulder, patching him back up. As he slowly recovers, she becomes enraged at Diana's harsh, pitiless actions.

DM's

My Touchstone

""I would be lying if I said I did not feel threatened by Diana. I was, although I knew in my heart that the feeling was irrational. Mulder and I had been together too long, and traveled too far for someone, such as Diana, to come between us. I had faith in Mulder, and that faith is what carried me through and kept me from giving up. And, giving up was one thing I knew I would never, could never do.""

Post Amor Fati Scully struggles more with Diana's death than Mulder.

My Constant

""I was a little bit more than surprised to see Diana Fowley when I walked into the boardroom that morning. I was so preoccupied with getting under Agent Spender's skin that I didn't bother to scan the room to see who all was in attendance, an act that normally keeps me busy during such meetings. I can honestly say that the thought of replacing Scully with Diana, now that she had returned, never entered my mind. Although it has now come to my attention that it indeed did cross my partner's mind. When I realized how she felt, I was floored. Diana was my friend; I still cared for her but would never dream of giving her the space in my heart that belonged to Scully.""

Post Amor Fati Mulder had a pleasant relationship with Diana; but is shocked how affected Scully is by her death.

Philiater's Unattainable

""He closed the lid on her designer coffin with its designer contents. All gloss and superficial trappings made plain. It was a sad ending really.""

Post Amor Fati Mulder witnesses Diana's cremation in her wedding dress (AU to me), pondering on her relationship with CSM.

Elanor G.'s In Medias Res

""By contrast, Mulder could barely sense his own mother's thoughts - elusive, faint, not much more than a thin disquiet stream of worry. And the gray man who leaned over him...he must have been part of that consuming dream, because Mulder could sense nothing. His mouth twisted in a bitter grin.

"I got the clearest picture from Diana, probably because she was deliberately trying to open herself up to me. It was...bad." And it had been bad to see the way Diana pictured herself, the many layers of self- justification and self-delusion.

It was worse to see the madness hidden beneath her crisp exterior.""

Requiem Mulder explains how crushing Amor Fati was to him-- telling Scully about how twisted and sick Diana was. Scully wishes she could have heard his thoughts.

 Pattie's Scully, Hands Down

""Granted, Diana was once of interest to me. However, I soon found that her type of beauty was only skin deep, and the other stuff went straight to the bone.

There was no way I was going to ask Gibson what he read, and he was mature enough, even at his age, to leave the subject alone.""

S9 Mulder ruminates on Scully's jealousy towards Diana, intending for Gibson to send it to Scully when he goes on a solo mission.

Mssilverwoods 's Amalgam

""Fox Mulder seems to never get past this tribute to those mawkish Lone Gunmen. He still looks puzzled, as if uncertain of what those who are cremated there might make of it. It's somewhat galling to see their names bathed in the pale morning sun.

Beside him, Scully comments as if she can read his mind. They smile in that bittersweet way, wishing they could ask, seek clarity from the dead, and check they know them well after all the years apart.

As if.""

Post S11 Mulder and Scully visit Diana's gave. Her ghost observes them.

Enjoy!

[audiofanficpod]

Until the morning creeps by pauraque

Read by @msrtheatre0223

Please leave the author a comment if you enjoyed their story 😘

[cassowariess]

Not me changing the notification sound on my phone to the nightjar I used to hear in the evenings growing up. I miss that sound.

[ghaniblue]

Reading list: October

I barely read any fic this month so it's a short list. HP only.

>> september recs <<

🫀 Raising Hell! by @wolfpants (Drarry, E, 21k)

Harry and Draco are sent undercover as a married couple to investigate a dodgy Muggle love cult. Something evil is lurking in Glastonbury… but to get to it, the reluctant partners must be initiated first. And this is, after all, a love cult…

Their sexual chemistry is off the charts in this, and that cult is creepy af.

🪨 Hexes to Lovers by @hoko-onchi-writes (Drarry, E, 4,5k)

Draco and Harry are Unspeakables on a truly pointless mission. Draco insults Harry. Harry likes it.

They are such annoying disasters in this, I love it.

🛶 shake from the oar by spessartine (Regulus, Lestrange brothers, R, 5k)

Cold worlds shake from the oar.

The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes.

-- Crossing the Water by Sylvia Plath

I'm continuing my attempt to hunt down and read all of spessartine's fic. I love her Regulus, and her prose is dreamy. This one has Reggie caught in the middle of Death Eater drama or Black family drama (spoiler: it's both). No fluff anywhere, and some implied sexual violence.

🍬 The Set by pauraque (Regulus/Sirius/Slughorn, E, 4k)

'The whole Black family had been in my House, but Sirius ended up in Gryffindor! Shame — he was a talented boy. I got his brother, Regulus, when he came along, but I'd have liked the set.'

Slughorn as a hedonistic manipulator will always be my favourite characterisation of him. He plays the boys so well.

[consistentsquash]

Omg I love this fic! It’s one of my fav Minmione <3 I really love how Pauraque writes Hermione. The writing is so sensitive especially about that teacher/student history.  It kind of sets that tone immediately about how Hermione isn’t a student anymore with the opening scene

It hasn't been that long, and Hermione hardly feels any different. But now she watches the black-robed children hefting schoolbooks that seem nearly as large as they are, scurrying from class to class with urgency and awe, and she is no longer one of them.

Also this is a stupid question. But how do folks get into poetry? Like I can get into poetry when somebody explains it/uses it in exposition. But how do you get into reading poetry on its own? 

HP Femslash Friday, March 10, 2023

Friday! And time for more HP femslash.

As someone who spent decades as a teacher, I'm very squeamish about teacher/student relationships in fanfic. But when the student no longer is -- and when someone writes a teacher/(former) student pairing as beautifully and skillfully as the always-excellent Pauraque, I'm all over it.

Title: Nine Ways of Looking at a Book

Author: Pauraque

Pairing: Minerva McGonagall/Hermione Granger

Word Count: ~1600

Author's Summary: Hermione has come back to Hogwarts to teach history. She finds herself looking to the future, too.

Why I Love It: I'm a sucker for a) book!fic, b) titles based on poems [I confess that I've written a fic using this particular Stevens poem myself] c) McGonagall, McGonagall, Minerva McGonagall. . . Her-r-r-r-r-MIONE! d) And did I mention that it's beautifully written?

(Disclosure: This fic was my gift in the 2016 Kinky Kristmas fest at the IJ/DW comm Daily Deviant. Thank you again, Pauraque!)

[consistentsquash]

can you share hp wlw one shot recs? 🙏

hiya! definitely check my ao3 rec lists. also some fics for you off the top of my head

Candles Lit Against the Dark by @perverse-idyll. wholesomeness and fluff PI style <3 Grubbly-Plank/McGonagall

Sesquipedalia by @kellychambliss Minmione. Beautiful fic with realized characters. My fav Hermione <3

Adamantine by Woldy. Hooch/Millicent Apocalypse AU!

Leather by @saintsenara. Tonks centric. Self discovery!

Rackoczi March by eldritcher. McGonagall/Bathilda Bagshot. Poignant and bittersweet. My fav McGonagall <3

Narrow Escape by pauraque. Grey Lady/Petunia. Ghosts!

Better Than Writing Lines by MaxWrite. Irma/Hannah. Hotness.

Postscript by @squibstress. a beautiful story with a brilliant fic structure. McGonagall centric

Nymphadora, Nymphet by @thistlecatfics dark and delicious. Bella centric.

Game Day by Delphi. is it even a hp list without quidditch? also is it even a rec list by me without delphi? my fav quidditch hotness fic <3 McGonagall/Hooch.

[sitp-recs]

Liv!! Idk if your age gap anon got back to you but I’ll take any age gap fics you have 👀

Hi Danni! I haven’t heard back from them but your wish is my command 😌💜 since I already did rec lists for some age gap ships like Dralbus and Scarry, I’ve decided to make this one about the age difference element itself (Daddy kink, loss of virginity, teacher/student dynamic etc etc) if that makes sense? Happy Friday everyone!

Drarry:

Draco at Nineteen by birdsofshore (E, 5k)

It's the middle of the night and Harry Potter is sitting on my bed looking distinctly weird. I've had some fucked-up dreams in my time, but this one... this one is something new.

Not Nineteen Forever by @sorrybutblog (E, 6k)

A rogue charm hits on a mission and suddenly, Draco is nineteen again. Harry is still thirty-five and doing his best to look after his de-aged Auror partner (and forget about his long unrequited crush) until St. Mungo’s can brew the antidote.

The Eighth Tale by lettered (E, 12k)

Draco Malfoy tries to fix the past, but instead mucks it up some more. For Harry, it all becomes quite clear.

Just a Matter of Time by @gracerene (E, 23k)

Draco's in a bit of a rut. He's nearing forty, divorced, and he still can't figure out how to make his Time Turner reconstruction work. He's bored, he can admit it, so he's not nearly as concerned as he should be when his pet project malfunctions and sends him twenty years into the past.

Fast Forward, Two Steps Back by emmagrant01 (E, 36k)

Everyone knows that Draco Malfoy died in the Room of Requirement ten years ago. So when he suddenly reappears at Hogwarts ten years later, still seventeen years old, Professor Harry Potter's life gets very complicated.

Rare pair:

Rise and Shine by tamlane (E, 2.5k) - Hermione/Teddy

It’s too early to fight off Teddy Lupin’s wandering hands. Not that Hermione tries very hard any other time of the day.

Beneath a Foreign Moon by @lqtraintracks (E, 2.7k) - Harry/Teddy

Harry visits Teddy in the middle of the night.

Getting Hard by Snegurochka (E, 3.3k) - Harry/Scorpius

Scorpius always preferred to do it now, now, and then maybe again in twenty minutes, but Harry took forever. Slowly, though, Scorpius is beginning to see the appeal of being patient.

Slip Free of My Grasp by @lqtraintracks (E, 3.4k) - Harry/Sirius

I don't want to be bad for him. I want to do bad things and still be, somehow, inexplicably, good.

Simple As It Is, Complicated As You Need by @lqtraintracks (E, 3.4k) - Harry/Teddy

It's not something they do often, this whole 'Daddy' thing. But to be fair, they don't even have regular sex as often as Teddy would like either. It's not as though they've even admitted they're doing anything.

A Carnival Mirror by secretsalex (E, 3.4k) - Draco/Albus

Albus Severus is nothing like his father. It’s all those differences that Draco can’t stop thinking about.

Mothering Sunday by pauraque (T, 3.6k) - Astoria/Narcissa

Narcissa always wanted a little girl of her own, and Astoria never really had a proper Mum. Together they build something that neither of them ever knew was possible.

Home for the Holidays by @gracerene (E, 4k) - Charlie/James

Charlie was expecting a normal holiday season at home, surrounded by food, laughter, and the warm embrace of family. He didn't count on James taking that last bit quite so literally.

A Bigger Splash by @wolfpants (E, 7k) - Draco/Albus

It's his dad's 45th birthday in rural Sicily, and all Albus wants is to be seen by Draco Malfoy.

The Moral Dilemma of Sharing by carpemermaid (E, 7.7k) - Draco/Harry/Scorpius

After a handful of coincidental run-ins and a half-joking suggestion Draco and Scorpius had formed the habit of cruising together for wizards to pull on the weekends.

To Me You Are the Sea by marguerite_26 (E, 8.5k) - Harry/Scorpius

Scorpius dreaded attending Harry Potter's fiftieth birthday party for more reasons than he cared to admit.

Take Him to the Stars (Cut to the Feeling) by @writcraft (E, 10k) - Harry/Scorpius

Scorpius has a thing for older men. For one older man, in particular.

Unguarded by birdsofshore (E, 15k) - Draco/Albus

Staying with Scorpius for the first time proves to be more eventful than Albus expected, right from the moment when he walks in on Mr Malfoy shaving.

Team Players by @shiftylinguini (E, 15k) - Teddy/James, Oliver/James

Everyone has that one celebrity they’d move heaven and earth to get between their legs, and James Potter is no exception. He just never anticipated that number one on his Freebie List would end up in the same room as him, let alone would make the first move. But lucky for James, Teddy is a team player―well, he probably is, especially with what James is suggesting.

Possibly, Maybe by Curlee_Cue (E, 72k) - Harry/Scorpius

“A hand carefully brushed Scorpius’ hair out of his eyes and turned his head to face his rescuer. And of course, who else would it be, but Harry Potter? Once just an abstract legend, now his very own personal saviour.”

[hpsaffics]

✨ WLW Wed: Minmione ✨

A biweekly HP femslash rec list made by the lovely members of the HP SAFFICS (18+) discord server. See all previous rec lists in the WLW Library.

Currently: Hermione Granger/Minerva McGonagall Previously: Lunansy (see list)

—

💫 LONG (>10k) 💫

Promises Kept by EmPoweredBeing [T, 73.2k]

When a promise is made, a promise should be kept. Minerva makes Hermione a promise that Hermione intends to hold her to. Hermione makes the same and between the two of them, they gently ease into a friendship that runs deeper than each other knows in a time of war and darkness and distrust.

Trouble Waters by Sela_McGrane [M, 41.8k]

Rose knows a secret. She knows that her mother has romantic feelings toward her Godmother, Minerva McGonagall. Further, she has an inkling that her Godmother's feelings toward her Mum aren't entirely platonic either. What's more, Rose has a feeling that her Mum and Godmother might just be perfect together, and she'll stop at absolutely nothing to push them together.

Waking Dreams by jazwriter [M, 41.5k]

Hermione leaves with Harry and Ron to find Horcruxes, arranges for a way to keep in touch with Minerva, and helps save the wizarding world while falling in love with the (other) most brilliant witch of their age (you know, Minerva).

The Rising Phoenix by jazwriter [E, 38.1k]

The story picks up directly after the final defeat of Voldemort. While helping with Hogwarts repairs, Hermione realizes that her feelings for a certain Headmistress run much deeper than she'd ever imagined.

—

💫 MEDIUM (3-10k) 💫

Sesquipedalia by kelly_chambliss [M, 6.8k]

The story of Hermione Granger's relationship with Minerva McGonagall is polysyllabic.

Just a Minerva in Time by @bluestringpudding [G, 6.5k]

Hermione is going to need to remember how she got there, if she wants to go back.

An Element of Fun by songquake [E, 5.0k]

Revising has never been like this before.

Miss Steal Your Girl by DaringTiger [M, 4.7k]

Ron thought rummaging through Hermione's things was a good idea, but what happens when he tries to hit up the wrong woman?

Lion-Hearted Girl by MinnieQuill (odainath) [G, 4.5k]

The last battle was only the beginning.

A Missed Mark by Zoe_Grimm [T, 4.3k]

Hermione unwittingly swallows a love potion that was meant for Ron, provided by Fred and George who are back in Hogwarts for some "harmless promotion" of their magical products.

—

💫 SHORT (<3k) 💫

Nine Ways of Looking at a Book by pauraque [M, 1.6k]

Hermione has come back to Hogwarts to teach history. She finds herself looking to the future, too.

Magical Reunion by childunderthemoon [E, 1.3k]

Hermione returns to Hogwarts years after she left to return to someone important.

two joint souls by firelordazulas [G, 1.2k]

It is 19th September 1979. You are 44. The mark, the one you'd resigned yourself to never receiving, burns itself onto your wrist. 11 years later you are not surprised to see Hermione Granger stagger into the school, looking around herself in wonder. Her neat but cramped handwriting irritates your skin.

—

🌙 Want more Minmione? 🌙

Minmione: Tag on Tumblr | Tag on AO3

WLW Library: Tumblr | Tag | AO3

[broomsticks]

fic rec list: 15 het Remus rare ships

aka not remadora, not gay remus, but a secret third (fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh) option

okay so i totally played myself here: this started out as a cracky spite reclist, but i should have known better… i may now have fifteen new ships.

seriously, they’re legitimately good. SO many good reads.

the list: remus/hermione, remus/lily, remus/minerva, remus/trelawney, remus/poppy, remus/petunia, remus/narcissa, remus/bellatrix, remus/fleur, remus/pansy, remus/cho, remus/luna, remus/ginny, remus/lavender, remus/andromeda.

bonus: several remus HP poly ships, and several excellent buffy the vampire slayer crossovers: remus/jenny calendar and remus/faith lehane.

---

1. remus/hermione

look. i don’t just have a fic rec for this. i have a rec for a ship manifesto (original link | wayback machine) and rec list (LJ comm het-reccers | wayback machine)

Because of the slim canon interaction and the many obstacles to writing the pairing, it’s often done badly. But I think when it’s done well, it’s done very well; a writer who can keep the two characters true to the Remus and Hermione that we know and still write a convincing relationship between them tends to be a good writer. Consequently, there are some real gems among the fandom. In conclusion, yes, this is difficult to write and indeed to get your head around. But done well, it can be challenging, thought-provoking, fluffy, angsty, dark and hot. Often all at the same time. And in a fandom that ships cephalopods, this can only be a good thing.

first entry on that reclist is a ~10k E-rated fic titled after a shakespeare sonnet, and the rec begins:

This is by far my favorite fic in any fandom or ship. It's a beautiful story that depicts how these two characters slowly weave into each other.

the second entry has implied past wolfstar, and there’s fic by both setissma and musesfool on the list.

2. remus/lily

holy fuck this ship blindsided me with the angst and tragedy!! mwpp era writers, why are you Like This.

The Day After by violet_quill (1k, E). canon compliant, november the first, 1981, adultery. the repeating motif of street trash hurts me.

He doesn't think about how he doesn't like coffins anymore than he likes bars; he doesn't wonder who has the worse fate. He tries not to remember that he will be the only one left to put flowers on the graves. He doesn't think about James either.

bonus shoutouts to:

No Harm, But No Certain Good by victoria_p (musesfool) (1k, M), hogwarts era secret relationship, uhea as fuck

The Bowl Of Lilacs by copperbadge (12k, M), first war to eventual remus raises harry au, more plotty/remus-centric than shippy, but the remus/lily is both on page and significant

3. remus/minerva mcgonagall

two excellent poa fics:

The Ten Month Career of Professor R. J. Lupin by pauraque (3k, T):

He raised his hand to knock, but stopped halfway, caught in the shadow of decision. All during the long, hazy summer he'd thought of this, of what he should say, of how he should act.

god, i love this remus. the reminerva and sevinerva (yes, i did just invent these) love triangle is so beautifully woven!

A Year In The Life by copperbadge (41k, T): what a love affair! loved exploring a faculty romance through the eyes of these two, and the ending was so painfully drawn out! the Rent lyrics!!!

4. remus/sybil trelawney

two more POA with perfectly characterized dramatic trelawney, who Sees and is completely, hilariously wrong with her interpretation -- i adore this trope sm.

The Baby in the Pumpkin Patch & Other Stories by @evesaintyves: Chapter 3: The Seer, the Bell Jar, and the Packet of Crisps (~2k, G)

Black With a Tail by @paulamcg (500, G)

5. remus/poppy pomfrey

Take Care of Yourself by @patriceavril (8k, M), a lost years/pre-POA remus/poppy. so soft and tender, the little peter HC and the briefcase HC :') never gets old!

6. remus/petunia

A Different Fate by lordhellebore (6.5k, T): remus and petunia raise dudley and a disabled harry au, in 65 x 100-word drabbles. fluffy, angsty, a surprisingly wholesome take on this pairing!

7. remus/narcissa

Disparities by @puuvillaa (2.5k, M). first war fic, yummy hatesex, who is using who?

Fallen Stars by @siriusly-sapphic (4k, T): hogwarts-era alternative sorting slytherin remus au is such a good setup for this pairing!

8. remus/bellatrix

lots of intriguing takes on this pairing!

Bellatricked by Ellen Smithee (ellensmithee) (800, E): dark remus lupin, er, snuff.

What the Moon Revealed by Maria_de_Salinas (2k, E): can’t go wrong with a good first war hatesex!

Before the Veil by Donna_Immaculata (4k, E): more snuff fic hahaha. implied wolfstar, established snupin

worth mentioning that this pairing is not ALL snuff fic -- there’s a surprising amount of soft!bellatrix -- but tbh i liked these better.

9. remus/fleur

before marrying bill, fleur wants to make sure she is… Riding The Real Thing by snapealina (2k, E).

there’s also an interesting muggle art camp counselor/camper au (5k, M)!

10. remus/pansy

Pruddy's Inn by littlealex (2k, E): post-canon au, ahhh gorgeous '00s era fic.

Pansy's legs disentangle themselves from around Remus' shoulder and arm, and Remus collapses on top of her, unable to support his own weight. She sighs contentedly and threads her fingers through his hair, her eyes still shut firmly against reality. What good is reality, she muses, if I can just pretend to get what I want?

11. remus/cho

The Heart by bloodsugarlove (7k, T). teacher/student told from teacher pov is always fascinating and the prose in this one is unique and lovely! note: doesn’t warrant the underage warning, no whiff of underage sex anywhere.

It's something of a scandal that Cho is seeker for Ravenclaw; many girls appear threatened by this, though they can't deny that is is rather decent at the position. Boys think it is fascinating, and Chang herself is arrogant in the most charming way. Not that Mr. Lupin really thinks so, mind you; it's a collective opinion, and anyway he has had quite his fill of arrogance. He has had quite his fill of a lot of things. He would really rather think of something else.

12. remus/luna

Stubby Boardman and the Cacao Bean by kestrelsan (2k, G), a remix fic!!! loved the original drabble and it was so cool to see it expanded into this oneshot.

honestly this is a real quality ship! in addition to all the delicious smutty kink fic that’s all over the ship tag, there’s also:

this postwar perfection -- he was learning what was real: like Heliopaths and Snorcacks and love! -- Bearing Fruit by @paulamcg (2k, M),

this creaturehunting mission fic, with multiple pieces of fanart, created for @hpdrizzle fest 2017: The Naturists by hikorichan (9k, T)

and this lovely post-canon get-together -- Anytime by @nanneramma (1k, T) -- the seasonal pacing works so well for this nature-connected pairing!

13. remus/ginny

The Meaning of Restraint by Darsynia (4k, M): caught in a club and i’m not even underage! stellar vibes and dynamic here.

open my heart (let it bleed onto yours) by @lunapwrites (~20k (wip), E) -- a fascinatingly, wonderfully explored postwar marriage law au!

14. remus/lavender

Big Teeth/Little Red by PacificRimbaud (5k, M): oh my god this was utterly delightful. it’s a library meet-cute and a halloween party and the age differences, hahaha. a ton of age gap pairings here -- harry/pansy is the only one that is not, iirc.

While he tugs at the cap, he wonders at the audacity of living one’s life as Sirius Black. What must it be like: to understand the line between being a man who has bad ideas, and being a bad man? To gleefully ride along the edge of it, to toss away all but your own discernment, to simply do what you would like to do so long as no one’s being harmed, to not worry about what your desires say about you, to call your godson’s half-dressed former girlfriend a bad idea to her waggishly smiling face at your kitchen table and to let yourself bask in the fallout, sated like a wolf that's helped itself to a lamb. A— …big bad wolf…

15. remus/andromeda

Shelter at Your Door by starfishstar (13k, T): an andromeda doesn’t elope, marries and later leaves lucius au. the r/a relationship in this au is so well-written, their compatibility is so lovely, and although tonks is never born in this au, the r/t echoes are deliciously haunting!

"So," she said softly, pressing down against him, and Remus, following instinct at last, arched to meet her. "Are we doing this?" "Yes," Remus agreed, a whisper in her ear. "We're doing this." Careful not to sound judgemental about it, Andromeda asked, "Have you done this before?" With Remus and his insistence that everything about himself was dangerous and not to be allowed, it was difficult to know. He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Yeah. Couple of times." "Oh?" she teased, still gentle. "What happened to being too dangerous for anything beyond friendship?" Remus' mouth made a wry twist. "It found itself on a collision course with being nineteen years old and horny, that's what happened to it."

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a bonus: if anyone's taking notes, i couldn’t find fic for:

remus/olympe maxime,

remus/myrtle warren,

remus/the grey lady

remus/parvati or remus/padma patil,

remus/rita skeeter in english,

remus/angelina aside from the remus x gryffindor chaser sandwich,

remus/millicent bulstrode that was not a crossover,

remus/rose weasley or remus/victoire (there's a bunch of remus/lily luna all written by one author)

not to mention literally any creaturefic at all -- remus/basilisk? remus/nagini? remus/mrs norris? remus/hedwig? y’all, i’m disappointed. there was one remus/crookshanks [chapter 21].

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bonus recs:

remus/hermione/ginny/luna, a nice lovely fluffy fun (E-rated) romp

remus/pomona/hagrid: "You see, I was thinking if you fucked this plant in werewolf form, we could get a beautiful crossbreed for dear Ru's birthday next month."

bonus bonus recs:

+1. remus/jenny calendar from buffy the vampire slayer

Weighed Down With Good Intentions by Thistlerose (8k, M):

"And your friends? Come on, Remus. You had to have had some. Outgoing, personable guy like you." Her tone was light, the kiss she pressed against the corner of his mouth playful. "They're dead too," he said, his smile fading. "All of them. There were never many," he added when she looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "Three. Four. One turned out not to be a friend after all." "And he – or she – " "He." "Is he dead too?" "Prison," Remus said. He closed his eyes and saw Sirius's face instead of Jenny's. Rough black hair, storm-colored eyes, lightning smile. Grease under fingernails. How many different kinds of lightning had he discovered that summer?

jfc this is GENIUS. the references to both BTVS and HP, the intertwining of both stories — it’s canon compliant to both, afaik, except for the bit where remus survives the second war to have that very last conversation — and holy shit that very last cameo!!!

+2. remus/faith lehane from btvs/ats

The Intent To Be Lost by voleuse (1.5k, T), post-Chosen, an encounter with a stranger.

"You could meet me again." She raises her eyebrows, leers a little. He rises from the floor, his body casting a lean shadow on the carpet. "Perhaps," he murmurs, idly running his fingers around his wrist. Faith shrugs again, but pauses before she exits. "You should," she hesitates. "You should be careful out there. At night." He's strong, but she's not sure if he's that strong, and he's starting to look a little pale. "It can get rough after dark." "Indeed," Remus says, but he smiles almost politely. "See you," Faith replies, and she tries to shut the door quietly behind her.

impeccable characterization sells a good crossover every damn time.

[hprecfest]

Day 1 Recs from Dreamwidth & Elsewhere

ugly: in defense of pansy parkinson (4880 words) by dirgewithoutmusic Gen || Rec

“Why are you here?” Parvati asked Pansy once. People asked her a lot, when they found her in Flourish and Blotts, or at work on the Prophet. Their eyes raked her, looking for green, for silver, for venom. Sometimes she'd smile back and let them see the danger. "Because I'm not fifteen anymore," said Pansy. "God, do you know what precious Potter Sr. got up to at school, the bully? But boys get to grow up to be men, you see, and us girls just grow up to be bitches."

If You're Willing To Be Thrilled (This Is A Hell Of A Ride) (1269 words) by Mx_Tape Pansy Parkinson/Ginny Weasley || Rec

On her first day, Alice sat her down and said they don't like us.

Familiar (637 words) by mayachain Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Snakes & Harry Potter || Rec

After the war, Harry sometimes goes out of his way to talk to snakes.

Come True (4318 words) by pauraque Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley || Rec

Luna learns that Ginny has been troubled by nightmares, and offers to help her overcome them using lucid dreaming. Of course, Luna also has dreams of her own.

Cat's Meow (754 words) by BleepBloopBotz Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley || Rec

Ron is on the hunt for a happy memory to power his Patronus and finds it in a very unexpected place. Not that he's complaining.

cor aut mors (3040 words) by darkmagicalgirl Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley || Rec

Ginny was born without a bondmark.

And All the Nights to Come (3660 words) by Lomonaaeren Gen || Rec

On the night of Harry’s ninth birthday, everything seems to be breaking apart for him. His despair reaches out into the darkness and summons the one person who stands a chance of comforting him.

Lord Black-Gaunt-Peverell-Potter-Slytherin and the Issues of Inheritance (1742 words) by glitteringforest Gen || Rec

Lord Black-Gaunt-Peverell-Potter-Slytherin, AKA Harry Potter, discovers that more money equals more problems.

Pawn to C3 (4481 words) by Realmer06 Gen || Rec

Teaching Lily chess started as a way to keep her occupied and out of everyone’s hair. It grew into much more than that.

That Boy Is A Monster (958 words) by Tozette Gen || Rec

Harry, during one of his semi-regular tussles with the Dark Lord, is bitten by a vampire. He …does not adjust that well.

I Dream of Plagiarism (~1500 words) by Cat Feral Gen || Rec

You have to wonder what they think of it all!

The Caretaker (3713 words) by bethbethbeth Argus Filch/Severus Snape || Rec

"The world, as Argus Filch saw it, could be divided into two distinct groups: those who existed to cause him trouble and those who didn't."

Bloomin' Marvellous (693 words) by Coconutice22 Harry Potter/Severus Snape

Rose are red, Harry is keen, Severus is lovely,but a little bit mean. In which Harry buys Severus a thank-you gift.

[longingforrotkehlchen]

My lens broke

So yeah, it's broken. That day had to come, I guess.

But it came at the worst possible time. I take a trip for the first time in forever and in the middle of it... Bang!

This picture here is the moment I realized. One moment I was chuckling saying "look at that guy", the next I was having a little meltdown. I kind of felt like when Maradona got suspended at the 1994 World Cup and he said: "they cut off my legs."

I'll keep this picture forever, as a reminder of my ultimate demise (Disclaimer: Overstatement).

It ruined all the photos I couldn't take... But not my memories.

And I'll tell you what: It's so exciting to be in a new place, seeing new friends.

And I won't forget it.

I won't forget the first sweet melody I heard after leaving the airport. The sweet harmonious melody of the melodious blackbird.

I won't forget the cutest of guys, the yellow-throated euphonia. My beloved.

I certainly won't forget the monotonous, incessant song of the thick-billed seed finch, which I nicknamed "end-credit bird" because it sounded like the final notes of a TV show ending (and I nicknamed him because it took me several days to solve the mystery of who was singing all the time). When I found him I was dancing.

I won't forget the grackles, filling in for the crows. I got your back, guys.

I won't forget how starstruck I was when I saw the collared araçari.

What I will never forget is when I approached the cormorants and gulls (A/N: they were actually terns) to id them and, round a little corner made of bushes, to my massive surprise, a considerable group of adorable ruddy turnstones (and the odd dowitcher) were all crammed together on a tiny portion of sand waiting patiently for the sea to bring yummy things. I was screaming. SCREAMING.

I won't forget the catbirds saying chirp chirp meeeeaaaaoowww.

I also won't forget when a mockingbird landed in front of me and began flashing its wings with every step it took. LIKE LITTLE GUY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPRESS ME BECAUSE YOU'RE TOTALLY SUCCEEDING.

I definitely won't forget when we were walking under the scorching sun and my life companion excitedly called me to come slowly to see a sleepy nighthawk we had inadvertently disturbed. They were just sleeping there on the hot ground. They don't care! A bea-u-ty.

I won't forget my first northern cardinal! Famous handsome guys. I won't forget my second either, fighting against himself on a window.

I won't forget the impressive jabiru, which is so big we initially thought it was some dude among a thousand egrets and whatnot.

I won't forget walking at night basically in the middle of nowhere and hearing the pauraques whistling amid the constant chirp of tropical insects. A soundtrack that will always bring me back to this place, even if I'm not there.

I won't forget the lovable Morelet's seedeaters, the beautiful trogons, the huge ringed kingfishers.

I won't forget the doves, the parrots, the hummingbirds, the vultures, the woodpeckers, the ospreys, the pelicans, and more, but I've raved enough.

The only regret is that when you start to get to know them, to get acquainted, you have to leave, and you'll never truly know them. You can't belong everywhere. You have your place, with your lil' buddies, and sadly the rest are just passengers in your life.

I felt so alive. It was exciting, and I had a lot of fun.

But now my lens is broken, so if you've noticed the slow business recently, there's the reason. And while I think of what step to take next, unfortunately the activity here will be hugely limited.

I'm sorry for that.

[audiofanficpod]

A Pack of Cards by pauraque

Read by @msrtheatre0223

Please leave the author a comment if you enjoyed their story 😘

[ghaniblue]

In lieu of my 2022 favourites I give you a combined list of the recs that have slumbered in my drafts since mumble-mumble months. Mostly Drarry still, but this year I rediscovered the joy of rarepairs.

7x Drarry fics, 1x Drarry podfics, 4x non-Drarry fics

Fic - Drarry

on your heart by @maziktheli (Drarry, T, 10k)

Harry runs a successful Palestinian restaurant. Draco works at a small cultural magazine as a junior photographer. When Draco receives his dream assignment, their paths cross for the first time in a decade.

Service Bell by @shiftylinguini (Drarry, E, 9k)

Draco is: a werewolf, living in a cabin in the woods, minding his own business, and never going to buy plaid because he's not that much of a fucking cliche (yet). He's also counting down the days until he sees Harry again.

Whiskey tango foxtrot by @vukovich (Drarry, E, 59k)

“Potter,” Malfoy said with a slow smile. “You’re a trashy, new money slut.”

“Yeah? Maybe you like it.”

--

The worst thing about being the Golden Boy is the freebies. Free drinks. Easy sex. It’s all too easy.

The worst thing about being a Malfoy is the expectations. Marriage. Kids. It’s all so scripted.

Harry wants his arse kicked. Draco decides to grab life by the balls.

100 beats per minutes by @oknowkiss (Drarry, E, 14k)

When Draco left the Magical World behind at nineteen, he didn't expect the cusp of thirty would find him comfortable and secure, with a stable life and a successful career as a sex columnist. Stable, that is, until he meets the subject of his newest column -- a stranger calling himself James, who has dragged them both to Ibiza on a sex quest of epic proportions -- and everything Draco ever knew turns upside down all over again.

Desert Rose (Sex On The Beach Remix) by nerakrose (Drarry, T, 1,4k)

There are things about Draco that Harry doesn’t understand.

break my heart, set me free by @nv-md (Harry/Draco, Draco/Astoria, T, 4k)

Only Harry—impulsive, daring, and heartsick—can convince both Astoria and Draco to see the reality of their unhappy relationship. Can Astoria’s broken heart give her the courage to leave? Can Harry wait for Draco to admit his feelings for Harry are more than platonic? Can Draco forgive himself for hurting the two people he loves?

Preserving Lemons by @saintgarbanzo with art by @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm (Drarry, E, 17k)

There's probably some immutable magical law that if someone steals your wand to destroy the century's most murderous maniac you then bump into that someone in Italy.

Harry is cooking food he couldn't care less about; Draco is making art he couldn't care more about. A story about kebabs, miniskirts and the way preservation can transform a lemon.

Fic Non-Drarry

Rest Your Head Close to My Heart by pauraque (Harry/Hermione, M, 3,5k)

It's almost time to wean her last child, and Hermione is thinking about what she's losing. Meanwhile, Harry is thinking about what he never had.

Rogue Waves by @lqtraintracks (Ginsy, E, 6,5k)

A story of living with the trauma, fucking who you want, and maybe finding a little solace.

Duty by @thistlecatfics (Regulus/Sirius, M, 2k)

Regulus knew what a duty was.

The Travelling Cabinet series by @the-paper-monkey (Tom/Draco, M, 46k)

Tom Riddle is locking up at Borgin and Burkes for the night when a boy comes tumbling through the filing cabinet. He claims to have come from 1997.

Podfic

Ship of Theseus read by @sweatersinthesummer written by GallaPlacidia (Darry, Teen, 1:46h)

When Harry gets amnesia and forgets he and Draco were ever married, he refuses treatment to remember.

[cailynwrites]

The Lovely Harpy's Bite by pauraque - a podfic

Happy birthday Albus Severus Potter! This fun little story puts a new spin on creature inheritance. Enjoy!

The Lovely Harpy's Bite by pauraque Rating: E Pairing: Albus Severus Potter/Luna Lovegood Length: 18:50 Tags: Wingfic, Teen Crush, Masturbation Summary:

An eminent magizoologist comes to Hogwarts to give a talk to the N.E.W.T level Care of Magical Creatures class. There's something very different about her, and Al can't take his mind off it.

Listen now on AO3