#squibstress recs

[consistentsquash]

I read The Steadfast Tin Soldier from your recs and omg. It's an intense, beautiful fic. Love love love.

Also I am a huge fan of PurpleFluffyCat's Albus Dumbledore characterization and The Reluctant Phoenix is one of my fav fics from them.

Hold the Line is amazing. I feel fics which go topical can be really hit or miss. But this one has lots of folklore/magic and Eldritcher's thing for shipping sentient buildings works great here.

Also Kelly Chambliss voyeurism fics are just extra special brilliant dirtybadhotwrong and Right Nor Wrong is so much everything. I really love the Snape descriptions in this one esp the contrast with McGonagall descriptions.

Need to read that dueltastic fic. Adding to tbr.

Thanks to the mods for putting on this wonderful fest!

HP Rec Fest - Day 31

Prompt: A fav among favs @hprecfest

Hold the Line

Characters: Alice Longbottom, Albus Dumbledore, Aurora Sinistra, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape

Pairings: Alastor/Minerva, Minerva/Severus

Creator: eldritcher

Rating: M/R

Word Count: 24,834

Summary: Then Love comes along, plucky and persistent, and proceeds to drink all her scotch.

Why You Should Check It Out:

This was written as the most generous gift for me, and it is glorious.

This story is such a marvelous conception, the way it settles into the corners of canon and shows how Minerva's life unfolds, with the beautiful bittersweetness that Eldritcher manage to instill in all their stories.

Their inventive ideas about magic and how it interacts with characters' souls and lives are absolutely genius.

The idea of love for an ailing Abraxas as motivating Riddle's actions is genius, and so different from most of the conceptions we have of Voldemort. I adore that canon Dumbledore was so very wrong about his inability to understand love being his great handicap. The irony the author has given that stance here is absolutely delicious.

Same goes for Minerva's defining, unrequited love for Alastor.

And the idea of how Hogwarts Castle's magic and the Headmaster's work in symbiosis is absolutely canon in my head now -- so inventive and wonderful.

We Change the Nature of Things

Pairings: Albus Dumbledore/Minerva McGonagall; Albus Dumbledore/Minerva McGonagall/Severus Snape

Creator: dueltastic

Rating: MA/NC-17

Word Count: 8,383

Summary: Albus makes some observations about Minerva and Severus.

Why You Should Check It Out:

This fic is a masterpiece of a musing on the subtle and profound ways three very different people affect one another. It involves a highly unlikely threesome that ends up making the reader nod in agreement.

Right Nor Wrong

Characters: Argus Filch, Dolores Umbridge, Minerva McGonagall, Mrs. Norris, Severus Snape

Pairing: Minerva/Severus

Creator: kellychambliss

Rating: M/R

Warning: voyeurism

Word Count: 11,711

Summary: In Greek mythology, Argus the guardian of Io is sometimes said to have a hundred eyes. In the wizarding world, Argus the caretaker of Hogwarts has only two eyes, but he sees a great deal all the same.

Why You Should Check It Out:

This fic gives us voyeur-Argus Filch, observing (and lusting after) Severus Snape, who is otherwise entangled. It's a story about desires fulfilled and unfulfilled and makes Filch into a three-dimensional character and acute observer rather than a simple figure of fun.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

Characters: Alastor Moody, Albus Dumbledore, Barty Crouch Jr., Minerva McGonagall

Pairings: Alastor/Minerva, Barty Crouch Jr/Minerva

Creator: selmak

Rating: M/R

Warning: Possibly DubCon depending on your definition of informed sexual consent. No rape.

Word Count: 20,000

Summary: Minerva hopes that Alastor will never know exactly what Minerva McGonagall did with Barty while the real Alastor was in the trunk.

Why You Should Check It Out:

This fic puts you firmly and frighteningly inside Alastor Moody's head as he copes with the horrors of being locked in that bloody trunk for months, and what goes on there isn't pretty, but it helps him cope. As does Minerva McGonagall, once she stops castigating herself for a moment of indiscretion that ends up torturing them both. This Minerva and Alastor are recognizably in-character, but they're shown dealing with a very odd situation, and it brings out things we don't often see from either. The way the relationship between them develops is beautifully drawn: painful, tender, funny. Read it if you want to gasp, cry, and laugh, all in the space of a few paragraphs.

The Reluctant Phoenix

Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Elphias Doge, Horace Slughorn, Minerva McGonagall

Pairings: Albus/Horace, Albus/Minerva, Elphias/Horace

Creator: purplefluffycat

Rating: MA/NC-17

Warnings: Cross-gen - teacher/student (Minerva is 18), infidelity in secondary pairing.*.

Word Count: 23,600

Summary: Albus thought that he was a non-running member of the human race when it came to romantic relationships. If pushed, he would have said that he was the kind of wizard who preferred wizards. -All that, of course, was before Minerva came along.

Why You Should Check It Out:

OK, even if I didn’t have a soft spot for student!Minerva/Albus, I’d still have loved this because of the (I feel like I say this about all the Beholder fics, but it’s twoo, it’s twoo!) wonderful characterizations. Especially Albus, in all his flawed glory–here, as a man who is a genius in many arenas, but a bit thick when it comes to love. Add in fluid sexuality, and I’m a syrupy mess on the floor.

[consistentsquash]

Signal Boost - Recs From Hoggywartyxmas

Hoggywarty Recs by Kelly Chambliss

Hoggywarty Recs by Squibstress @squibstress

2023 Masterlist on LJ. Also don't miss out on the lots of awesome art!

[perverse-idyll]

Fic authors self-rec! ✨ When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers ❤️

Thank you to @yletylyf and @danpuff-ao3 for the invitation and reminding me to think about fic! It’s one in the morning, I had four hours sleep last night, and I’m going to entertain myself by seeing how coherent/interesting I can make this.

Anyone else want to play? @ac1d6urn, @writcraft, @liladiurne, @squibstress, @titconao3 - do you have favorites?

The first two picks are easy:

1. When the Rose and the Fire Are One - My first fanfic! Snape/Harry, my OTP before I knew what the acronym meant, my first experience of fandom, a love letter to the pairing and the Snape-centric LiveJournal community I had serendipitously stumbled upon. Written for the Snarry Games, thus finished on a (several times extended) deadline after pulling an all-nighter. I was talking shop with a writer friend recently about themes, as in “in 20 words or less, tell us the theme of your story,” and we agreed that it grows organically out of the writing and we have no idea what the theme is before we muddle through the first draft, nor do we care. (My friend writes pro fic, but she never condescends when I talk about my fanfic as if the creative process is the same - because it is in many ways, with the exception of professional editing in her case.) Well, I lied, because this fic was consciously and passionately written with the themes of freedom and beauty in mind. In canon, Snape is a character who never gets to experience adulthood free of masters; he signs up to be a pawn not once, but twice. I wanted to give him - for Harry to give him - that freedom, while at the same time presenting the temptation of a third master. The fact that Harry loves him by the end doesn’t make that beholden-ness less true. I was also determined to show that even someone raised in financial and emotional poverty, associated with ugliness, trapped in an ugly life, was capable of beauty under the right circumstances. Yes, I was up my own arse about this fic, but that’s okay because it made it more personal and intense. It was also, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, my first time writing a sex scene, and I jumped in at the deep end with glorious abandon. As one may gather from subsequent fics, I proceeded to make up for lost time and contribute to the mainstream perception that fanfic = smut.

2. The White Road - If there’s one fic I’m known for among Snarry readers, it’s this. Why? Because it’s set in Lily’s POV in the afterlife? Because it positions her as a voyeur, a mother watching the fork in the road of her child’s future, someone with the right to judge Snape? (The voyeurism aspect turned a lot of readers off.) Because it has a cracky premise treated seriously? Because it’s nonlinear? (No. For some, this was a bug, not a feature.) Because, as a recent bookmark proclaims, it’s “such a weird fic”? Mostly it was me wresting a different ending out of the ruins of Snape’s canon demise and the utter bollocks of the epilogue; it was a purgative experience. I think for Snarry readers at the time, in the year after the series ended, it touched a communal nerve. Snape fandom remained in turmoil for quite a while after the Lily reveal and Snape’s redemption by death (a redemption currently much disputed). At this point, 15 years down the line, perceptions of Snape have changed so drastically the fic no longer has that cathartic effect, if that’s what it was. Readers are less inclined to be consoled or sympathetic. But the chutzpah of putting Lily’s voice at the center - of turning her into a Snarry shipper, to be flippant about it - well, I’m still surprised I pulled it off. And this fic, like Rose & Fire above, vibrates with so much of my joy in fandom at the time, love for my OTP, for the stories being written about them, for the exuberant emotional engagement on all sides, that I'll always be able to dip into it and be transported back to that creative ferment and sense of belonging. I think it’s one of my best fics, but my love for it goes deeper than its relative worth as a story. It’s a memento of one of the best periods of my life.

Now things get tricky. I’m pretty sure the five, arrrgh, five WIPs I’m working on would be eligible for this list, but since at this stage only I can know what makes them favorites, I have to make other choices. And I haven’t written very many fics, you see.

3 & 4. In Infinite Remorse of Soul (Snape/Dumbledore, Snape/Harry-ish) and And Mine the Gall (concluding the Dumbledore arc from the earlier story, and going further with the Snape/Harry-ish mess) - I put these together because they were conceived as a single narrative, but In Infinite Remorse was written for a fest with a word count limit, so I posted the rest of it as a separate fic. Which turned out to be the right choice since the second fic is the darkest thing I’ve ever written. These linked stories were inspired by Dumbledore’s words to Snape in The Prince’s Tale - “You disgust me” - and how he condescends to and sometimes makes a fool of Snape in the books, when the poor bastard is simply trying to abide by Dumbledore’s expectations. Dumbledore is a fascinating character, but his lack of generosity toward Snape - his tendency to treat Snape’s moral worth as disposable when it’s clearly one of the things Snape struggles with throughout his life - caught my attention. It’s a counterweight to all the examples of Dumbledore’s wisdom, his concern for other characters. Even Draco has more charity and protection bestowed on him than Dumbledore ever gives Snape. And I decided to run with that idea because surely what Snape suffers and the loyalty he demonstrates deserves more than a “Poor Severus...” afterthought. What would it have done to his soul to never once be thanked, to have Dumbledore pass over his sacrifices while lavishing time and explanations on Harry? Yes, Voldemort’s defeat depends on Harry going back to fight. But what would Snape’s reaction be to learning that Dumbledore knew of a way for Harry to survive - counted on it, in fact - and lied about it to Snape’s face? From there I decided to chart Snape’s moral collapse and his “fuck it all” desire to go after something (someone) he wants for himself - destroying every moral gain he’d so painfully acquired because in the end the authority figure who was his role model took it so much for granted he even forgot to say “thank you.” And then I went for something twisted and frightening because I think a Snape who no longer believes in anything - who feels nothing he did in his life ever actually redeemed him - would be terribly destructive.

On a less dark note, I enjoyed writing a florid and heavily metaphorical prose for Dumbledore’s POV, mostly to suggest the complex and not always praiseworthy workings of his mind. He’s one of canon’s most intelligent characters, bent up into plot contrivances for the consumption of children, and I didn’t want to rehash his canon schemes because they rely too much on coincidence and authorial fiat. (Plus: word count.) I tried to show how his calculations and his roots in the Victorian era might influence his interior monologues. As for Snape? I just enjoyed letting his worst impulses off the leash. (Some readers haaate And Mine the Gall.) (Where is my evil grin emoji?)

5. Hmm, the last choice should be split between my creepy massage kink/character study Soft Touch, but I’m feeling rather listless about that one at the moment, so No Room for the Weak it is. Another oldie, functionally a gen fic with pre-slash Snarry vibes, it evolved from my interest in Snape’s mum Eileen. Snape fans often assume she’s dead in canon, probably because she’s not referenced past a certain point in his childhood and doesn’t appear in the Spinner’s End chapter. So I wrote this fic about Eileen trying to come to grips with her son’s violent death and all the contradictory rumors clouding his reputation. It was a chance to explore what kind of mother would produce a kid like Severus and to ponder how he seems to lack any instinct for distinguishing right from wrong. His upbringing left him morally deficient - in fact, clueless. I also tried to pull off a bit of a plot twist, just to see if I could string readers along. Also, tip o’ the hat to Joy Division. Best of all, IMO, I nailed the ending. I found exactly the words I wanted, and I’m pretty confident the story earned them. (Same with The White Road. And Mine the Gall … maybe.)

[danpuff-ao3]

This is so fun and cute! Thanks for the tags @mundrakan & @crazybutgood !!

Feel free to decorate my tree and/or create your own!

No pressure tagging @sitp-recs , @consistentsquash , @perverse-idyll , @writcraft , @coconutice22 , @givereadersahug , @mrviran , @fleetingdesires , @loneamaryllis , @snapecentric , @thistlecatfics , @sugareey-makes-stuff , @tackytigerfic , @sweet-s0rr0w , @squibstress , @lqtraintracks , @ripeteeth , @greenmegsnoham , @likelightinglass , & anyone else who might want to play along! 🎅

[aflyingcontradiction]

Harry Potter fanfic rec: The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee by Squibstress

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8396876/1/The-Peculiar-Resilience-of-the-Refugee

Author’s summary: After the war, Petunia takes refuge in The Three Broomsticks and finds an unlikely friend in Rosmerta. Nominated for Best Hero/Heroine, Fall/Winter 2012 HP Fanfic Fanpoll Awards.

Content warning: A brief, non-graphic mention of child sexual abuse

Main characters/pairing: Petunia Dursley, Hestia Jones, Rosmerta

Length: 8126 words

Place in canon: Does not contradict anything in the books, but may contradict interview/Pottermore info

My comment: Fanfics focusing on Petunia are relatively rare and this does it so well. The Petunia in this fic has such a beautiful, sad inner life and seeing her friendship with Rosmerta blossom as she finally finds her place in the (wizarding) world makes for a beautiful read.

[fangroyal]

FIC REC: A Perfectly Potent Potion (Severus/Minerva, NC-17)

Title: A Perfectly Potent Potion Author: @squibstress Fandom: Harry Potter Pairing(s): Severus/Minerva (in various forms) Rating: NC-17 Warning(s): Polyjuice Genderbending, Crack!Fic Word Count: 4.9k Summary: Severus makes a little extra Polyjuice. Hijinx ensue.

Funny, smutty, and all around wonderful.

You can find more recs in my tag and on my shelf.

[fanfictalkdotcom]

Women’s History Month Fic Recs P.1

It’s no secret that we have amazing writers on the archive. Many of them have strong female characters that demonstrate exactly why we should dedicate an entire month to celebrating women. Check these out: 

1.  A Woman's Place by Chemical_Pixie 

There are thirty-nine known members of the Order of the Phoenix. Only twelve of them are women.

2. Golden Eagle Soaring by Chemical_Pixie

For as long as she could remember, Marlene wanted to be free.

3. Shoulder to Shoulder by nott theodore

'Women must fight,' she tells her. 'Nobody is going to do it for us.'

Emmeline Vance will fight to the very end.

4. Cards on the Table by VaguelyCreativeName

Poppy Pomfrey's never felt in control of her life. Now it's time to take matters into her own hands, and fight for the things she holds dear.

5. Made Up of Magic by ShadowRose (@legally-gryffindor​)

They’re both amazing, competent girls, who will one day soon become amazing, competent women, and that mantra is their regular reminder of that fact.

6. Actual Magic by Chemical_Pixie

Arabella Figg takes a stand. Emmeline Vance becomes a target. Marlene McKinnon misses the Hogwarts Express.

7. Heart's Desire by Squibstress

Minerva McGonagall wants. She wants a broom and a career, and she wants Amelia Bones. But what happens when she gets everything she ever desired?

8. ministry memorandums (from the mysteries) by esmeraude

An incomplete collection of letters and Ministry memorandums sent to and from the Office of Unspeakable Relations on October 5th, 1998. [or] In which bureaucracy goes very, very wrong.

[consistentsquash]

we have awesome reccers! Some of my favorite reccers and their recs:

billsfangearring’s recs

perverse_idyll’s recs

danpuff’s recs

pinanaponi’s recs

squibstress has a recs website

draquia has a recs website 

ofc no reccer rec is complete w/o namedropping painless_j <3

This is a thought that popped up while I was waxing lyrical in tags, but I didn’t want to lose it so here it is again.

Sometimes it strikes me how incredible fic recs are, and what a wonderful insight they give us into the person recommending the story (or list of stories) whether it’s someone reblogging a creator’s post with tags or commentary, or if it’s a special post they’ve made to rec a fic.

There are people I’ve never met whose recs give me this wonderful way of knowing them; of finding out what makes their heart clench, their eyes tear up, their smile to grow.

Recs are an amazing way of finding new things to read, but they are also a remarkable way of getting to know people in such an intimate way through the stories they hold close ❤️

[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.

[consistentsquash]

This rec list from eldritcher probably got lost on Dreamwidth posts. But I got permission to crosspost so I am gonna copy/signal boost here.

@hprecfest folks ofc don't reblog if you already have it.

I've brought a few cherished fics to this lovely fest. 1. A favorite fic under 5k: Blishen's Firewhiskey, written by @givereadersahug Draco/Lucius. A sinister ficlet. 2. A comfort fic: All of Time and Space. Dudley, Ninth Doctor. All of time and space, indeed! 4. A fic with art: Bringing up Babymort, created by @my--witch and grooot, a terrific Snapecase entry. Severus Snape/the marvellous Hermione Granger. 5. A non-AO3 fic: The Wandering Hat, written by whimsickle. A bright ray of sunshine in a bleak life. Severus Snape, as a child. A terrific Snapecase entry. 6. An unreliable narrator fic: The Residue of His Mind, written by @paulamcg. Sirius, in the throes of dissociation. The pairing is Sirius Black/Remus Lupin. 7. A canon-compliant fic: Before I Am Old, written by @maeglinyedi. Tom Riddle, in his youth. This ficlet has had an enduring influence on my works (when I'd scribbled stories in that corner of fandom). 8. A canon-divergence fic: Friday's Child, written by deslea. This piece has had an enduring influence on how I've written Narcissa Malfoy (when I'd scribbled stories in that corner of fandom). 9. A rare pair fic (less than 2000 fics on AO3): New Joys by @paulamcg. Tenderly wistful. Amelia/Molly. 10. A fest fic: Candles Lit Against the Dark, written by @perverse-idyll. The pairing is Minerva McGonagall/Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank. A terrific Snapecase entry. 11. A dark fic: Too Old for Playing, written by @paulamcg. A brooding, unhappy piece. How could it be anything else? This is Severus Snape's Worst Memory. 16. A fic that made you laughed: Jeeves and the Secret Society, written by @perverse-idyll. I did feel sorry for Severus Snape, but Jeeves and Wooster sailed me over to an ocean of laughter. Albus Dumbledore/Severus Snape. 17. A fic that made you cry: Work is Good, written by iulia_linnea. Deeply moving and heartwrenching. The pairing is Tobias/Eileen. 19. Fic with the hottest smut: A Slytherin Gathers His Rosebuds, written by @kellychambliss. A ravishing concoction of Minerva/Severus. 20. A fic rated G: Egg Nog, written by delphipsmith. A terrific Snapecase entry. Severus Snape. 21. A thought-provoking fic: Teardrop in Your Palm, written by @danpuff-ao3. A wretched soul wants something he can't have, and stoops to despairing lows. Scorpius Malfoy (Draco's son)/Harry. 24. A holiday fic: How do you solve a problem like a DADA teacher?, written by gracelessmary. Assorted Hogwarts residents. 25. A fic rated T: The Ice cream Man and the Potions Master, written by @squibstress. I would gladly join the queue at Florean's shop (and not only for the ice-cream). Florean Fortescue and Severus Snape. 26. A fic with an ending you can’t stop thinking about: Sybil Trelawney and the Unexpected Gift, written by @squibstress. Satirical, intimate, clear-eyed, and flayingly insightful. Trelawney. 28. An under-rated fic: Gossip and Mischief by bluedreaming. Assorted Hogwarts residents. 29. A post-canon fic: The Eyes Have It, written by lash_larue. A Hoggywartyxmas present, written for me! I couldn't have foreseen this marvel in my wildest dreams. I am utterly in love with it! Ollivander and Trelawney. 31. A fav amongst favs: Accommodations , written by @kellychambliss. An unforgettable entry from Minerva Fest. Minerva/Severus.

[I'd also wanted to say it's wonderful to have a fest like this. Thank you for running it, and for running it on Dreamwidth as well.]

(source)

[consistentsquash]

I really loved the Hermione/Minerva fic! It was new to me. Fits the seasonal/travel vibes also <3

HP Rec Fest - December 5

@hprecfest

Theme: A non-AO3 fic

Dark Nights

Pairing: Albus/Minerva

Creator: Morgan72uk

Rating: M/R

Word Count: 8,955

Summary:

The first war is over, but the shadows remain. What really happened between McGonagall and Dumbledore during the trials of the Death Eaters?

Why You Should Check It Out:

This story shows us an Albus Dumbledore that we don't often see: a man unsure of not just the correctness, but of the morality of his actions. The story is set during the trials immediately after the first Voldemort war, and we see Albus confronting the ugly pragmatism that emerges in wartime and its aftermath through Minerva's tender, practical, and ultimately unsure eyes as she offers him (and herself) a kind of comfort she's not sure is really right.

The Thing About Travelling

Pairing: Hermione/Minerva

Creator: anonymous

Rating: T/PG-13

Word Count: 7,900

Summary:

Minerva McGonagall goes on a journey.

Why You Should Check It Out:

This story is full of fabulous characterizations with surprising bits of insight, enough description of foreign (to me) climes and locales without making it feel like a travelogue, and a slow buildup to an ending that you suspect is coming, but can't be quite sure of, and that is totally satisfying either way.

[consistentsquash]

5 Meta recs for Friday!

Happy Friday!!! <3 I read some really good meta on one of my fav author's writing process yesterday. So Meta Recs Friday! :D

My Writing Process by @squibstress

My name is Squibstress, and I am an unrepentant pantser.

This post is super poignant and really funny. It really shows fandom esp writing fic can be a lonely hobby and a social hobby at the same time. Also it's a super insightful look at not just the writing process because it's also about how the author thinks about the readers/reading experience.

I love, love, love the thoughtfulness Squibstress has for making reading more accessible. This is something you really only get in fandom. This extra attention to detail because it's a community and fandom is a garden <3 Personally I use a screen reader a lot and I can really tell the difference between fics which are going the extra mile for accessibiity on that.

Also TIL one of my fav authors is a pantser :D

Snarry-a-thon Recs by @danpuff-ao3

This is an incredible rec lists effort. Danpuff is making rec lists for Snarry-a-thon one of the longest running HP slash fests ever <3 Normally I don't have rec lists for meta posts but I feel this is such a brilliant meta level list. It's an amazing look at HP slash fandom evolution and also Snarry evolution. Insane levels of genres/tropes/characterization coverage! If you want to get a big picture Snarry fandom fic history this is the rec list for you!!

About Laugh and Forget (1) by @saehaerys

I am a big sucker for meta esp for fic meta for my fav fics. Laugh and Forget is a really dirtyhotbadwrong and super intense House of the Dragon/ASOIAF darkfic. PforPheobe's writing gives me serious Master and Margarita vibes because of that combo of darkness/humor/intense emotion. I have a Big Crush on their writing. Like I am not even a het incest reader but they sold me with their super dark emotional stories.

A bit under a year ago, one day in February, I had a horrible idea that Jaehaerys had coveted Saera and in his terrible covetousness he messed it all up, sending her away for cold repentance, and she fled from his face in mischief and utter disillusionment of their bond. It became increasingly unbearable for me to regard this passage of faux history.

I love fics written by authors with 100% commitment and love with their biggest Canon Feelings/Character Feelings inside it. This fic totally has that vibe. Really raw and super emotional.

The Lightning Struck Tower: “It is My Mercy, Not Yours That Matters Now” by @ashesandhackles

I really love the canon analysis meta from AshesandHackles. Honestly I am not a big reader of HP meta because it's a pretty old fandom and I feel like I don't really see a lot of value in meta at this point. But Ashesandhackles is brilliant at analysis and I feel like I just find new things to love about my fav characters and their parallels when I am reading their meta.

Harry recognises the flaw in the ending chapters of Deathly Hallows, and wins the Elder wand with an Expelliarmus too. Interestingly, it’s a spell Harry learnt by observing Snape in Duelling Club with Lockhart.

This one has incredible, incredible analysis of Snape, Harry and their relationships with Dumbledore. This is definitely not a shipping meta but I feel it's like 10x more powerful than a shipping meta because it just uses the canon to show the similarities/difference between the characters.

Re: Metrics by eldritcher

This is a funny and poignant personal post on writing stats/fandom stats.

Participating in fandom while refusing to buy into fandom's current metrics is a difficult position to take, because it's led to edgy questions now and then re: what keeps me in fandom since my metrics are pathetic (not my wording; my cousin deems anything below five-hundred kudos pathetic). 

Artists/authors have a lot of emotional connection with stats for lots of valid reasons. I feel bad when my fav authors are worried about stats but also I totally get it. Eldritcher is pretty idgaf about stats except comments because they love being super chatty and meta on comments. But also it's totally impossible to ignore other stats sometimes. The meta has an interesting point. If you are somebody who cares a lot about your progress, then you got to measure something. But like what's the right thing to measure?

[consistentsquash]

23 dirty/hot/bad/wrong Slash Fics from 23 Years with 23 Pairings! (2001-2023)

This year is pretty rough for me but really excited to make a list I have been planning to make for like years now. Good old fashioned dirty/bad/hot/wrong with a twist. Some of the most complicated fics out there which use sex for exposition and do it really, really brilliantly.

AO3 Collection for the list

Rec notes

No blurbs this time because these fics are really dirty/hot/bad/wrong Experiences. You need to read them to get them. Trust me. They are way beyond my blurb writing skills. Also for the older fics it was hard to find exact dates so I just did my best.

These fics are 100% on AO3! Yay!

No repeat pairings, no repeat authors.

Rec lists are subjective based on my reading. YMMV. If a fic is not your thing, just be a good fandom citizen. Don't Like Don't Read.

  2001: Descent by Delphi. Snape/Albus.

2002: Sans Merci by Predatrix. Snape/Lucius.

2003: Nemesis by Juxian Tang. Lucius/Sirius

2004:Cut With Diamonds by pauraque. Ron/Peter

2005: Learning from Orpheus by Amanuensis. Harry/Marauders

2006: In the Lady's Name by rinsbane. Narcissa/Bellatrix

2007: Trappings of Privilege by orphan_account. Snape/Draco

2008 : Better the Instruction by Celandine. Teddy/Remus, Remus/Stubby

2009 : Alive by MaxWrite. Barty Jr./Percy

2010 : Bitter on the Tongue by Woldy. Remus/Snape

2011 : The Placebo Sequence by Snegurochka. Harry/Draco

2012 : King of Beasts by @kellychambliss. Kingsley/Moody

2013 : Comme un Rêve de Pierre by @squibstress. Bill/Stan Shunpike

2014 : Catullus 16 by eldritcher. Harry/Voldemort

2015 : Nowhere to Fall by @gracerene. Albus Severus/James Sirius

2016 : Fallen Angel by PurpleFluffyCat. Gilderoy/Snape

2017 : Hidden, Safe and Sound by @unmistakablyoatmeal. Harry/Sirius

2018 : Soft Touch by @perverse-idyll. Harry/Snape

2019 : Until My Bones Are Tired by @writcraft. Poppy/Molly

2020 : As Soft As Fur by monkiainen. Sirius/Snape, Sirius/Lucius

2021 : Teardrop in Your Palm by @danpuff-ao3. Scorpius/Harry

2022 : Till Tomorrow and Till Death by @thistlecatfics. Regulus/Remus

2023 : Unbreakable Vows by sky_watcher_rose. Narcissa/Druella

[consistentsquash]

Hp Rec Fest 2023 Recs by Squash

AO3 collection for the recs I made during this fest!

The fest mods deserve everything <3

Rec masterlist - links are for my rec blurbs.

31. A fav among favs: Almagest by eldritcher (2018). Harry/Voldemort

30. A precanon fic: The Unspoken and the Unsent by hollycomb (2013). Dumbledore/Elphias Doge

29. A postcanon fic: Candles Lit Against the Dark by perverse_idyll (2023). McGonagall/Grubbly-Plank

28. An underrated fic: A Cliff in July by Miss M. (2013) Millicent/Marietta.

27. A Muggle AU: Commonplace Magic by Acid, Sinick (2010). Snarry

26. A fic with an ending you can't stop thinking about: In Infinite Remorse of the Soul by perverse_idyll (2011). Snarry, Snape/Dumbledore.

25. A fic rated T: On Wednesday by Tryfanstone (2006). Snarry

24. A holiday fic: 10 Snarry Holiday fics.

23. A soulmate fic: Inch by Inch We Crawled Toward Each Other by Chatter (2017). Fleur/Hermione

22. An unfinished fic: The J. Alfred Prufrock Arc by vain (2003). Snarry.

21. A thought provoking fic: Brown Sugar by eldritcher (2018). Voldemort/Tom Riddle (Diary).

20. A G Rated fic: The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife by eldritcher (2021). Snape/Giant Squid.

19. Hottest smut fic: Both Sides Now by Predatrix (2006). Snarry.

18. A fairytale fic: The Lost World (short version) by perverse_idyll (2013), Snarry + Omphale by eldritcher (2015), Harry/Voldemort

17. A fic that made you cry: 10 Snarry fics to make you cry

16. A fic that made you laugh: 10 Snarry fics to make you laugh

15. Most recent bookmark: De Aegypto by squibstress (2023). Minerva/Rolanda

14. A fav series: Pandemic by eldritcher (2021) Harry/Voldemort

13. A fic over 100K words: Catullus 16 by eldritcher (2014) Harry/Voldemort

12. A WIP: Year of the Thestral by perverse_idyll (2022) Snagonagall, McGonagall/Hooch

11. A dark fic: King of Fat by rinsbane (2006) Snarry

10. A fest fic: A Matter of Time by danpuff (2022). Snarry

9. A rarepair fic: Extraordinary Lengths by MaxWrite (2009). Percy/Barty Crouch Jr.

8. A canon divergence fic: When the Rose and the Fire Are One by perverse_idyll (2010). Snarry

7. A canon compliant fic: Storytelling by kellychambliss (2010). Hermione/Minerva McGonagall

6. An unreliable narrator fic: Remember Me to Cheetham Hill by Delphi (2021). Snape/Filch

5. A non AO3 fic: Down the Rabbit Hole by RaeWhit (2008). Snarry

4. Fic + art: PS, I love you by mywitch and groot (2022). Snape/Hermione

3. A podfic: [Podfic of] Bad Girls, Bad Girls, Whatcha Gonna Do by wilfriede (2023). Minerva McGonagall/Rolanda Hooch + [Podfic of] Plenitude by wilfriede (2023). Amelia Bones/Hermione

2. A comfort fic: Epic of the Forgotten by eldritcher (2017). Viktor Krum/Voldemort + Sexing the Pumpkin by ratherbrightred (2007). Snape/Sirius Black

1 . A fav fic under 5000 words: Corresponding with Snape by asnowyowl (2010). Snarry

[consistentsquash]

This was a great read! Loved it!

HP Rec Fest - Day 30

Prompt: An pre-canon fic @hprecfest

13 Years, 5 Months and 1 Week

Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall

Creator: Morgan72uk

Rating: T/PG-13

Word Count: 1,060

Summary: What did McGonagall do during WW2 and before returning to Hogwarts in December 1956?

Why You Should Check It Out:

From 2006, there’s this little gem from morgan72uk on FFN. It’s a surprising take on what Minerva did between graduating from Hogwarts and returning to teach, and it manages to say a great deal about the character, her relationship to the school, to others, and to herself in a mere 1,052 words. Enjoy it over your coffee break.

[squibstress]

Catch and Release

Creator: roozette Rating: M/R Word Count: 5,560

Summary: Harry has a “tell,” when he needs affection. Ron never realized Severus had the same one.

Characters: Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Severus Snape

Pairing(s): Harry/Severus, Hermione/Ron

Why You Should Check It Out: Take a few minutes (and a hankie) and go read Catch and Release at snape_potter, written for this year's Snarry-a-thon. It's really about Ron more than Harry or Snape, and it's a beautiful story of love, friendship and growth that will warm your heart without turning your stomach. Trust me, you'll love it.

Penultimate Acts

Creator: pasi Rating: K+/PG Word Count: 11,442

Summary: Severus Snape, from nearly the end of Dumbledore's life to nearly the end of his own.

Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Amycus Carrow, Filius Flitwick, Ginny Weasley, Lily Luna Potter, Minerva McGonagall, Neville Longbottom, Poppy Pomfrey, Severus Snape

Pairing(s): Lily/Severus

Why You Should Check It Out: Author pasi perfectly captures the Horror of Being Severus in his own words, sometimes sardonic, sometimes unabashedly bitter, and in the words of various denizens of Hogwarts, living and dead. It's full of missing canon moments that put the reader smack dab into Severus' mind. You'll come away from this fic pitying Severus a bit more, and hating Dumbledore a lot more.

An Act of Love

Creator: MMADfan Rating: MA/NC-17 Word Count: 156,023

Summary: Severus Snape is hit by a stray spell, which has unanticipated and undesirable consequences. When he begins to feel some side-effects from the spell, Severus seeks the help of a colleague.

Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Original Character, Poppy Pomfrey, Severus Snape

Pairing(s): Albus/Minerva, Minerva/Severus

Why You Should Check It Out:

This is a particularly well-done and unusual exponent of the "shag-or-die" fic. It's one of the stories in the author's epic "RAMverse" series. MMADfan creates a very detailed and believable (within the Potterverse, anyway) world for these characters, and she uses it to tremendous effect in exploring the relationsips between them. Severus, in this story, is deliberately out-of-character to some degree, but it works to highlight the utter horror of his situation. This story, like MMADfan's other work, contains some very creative and fascinating magic, and it works according to realistic laws of nature and magic—something to make this science nerd squee. She also writes sex in a way that manages to be very fluffy and very hot at the same time. (And the sex magic is quite nice, too.)