hogwarts gone wild

FIC:

- Increments of One by anon. [Charlie/Harry, NC-17]

Honestly, Charlie really isn't my thing. That being said, this fic really struck a chord with me. I absolutely adored the format. And the trip to Romania. And the almost-but-not-quite relationship that arose from, and the ridiculously awkward conversation that came about when Harry and Charlie were finally forced to face up to it. Possibly because I've been in one of those relationships, and it resulted marriage one of those ridiculously awkward conversations.

- Everything Changes Now, Forever by anon. [Remus/Sirius, NC-17]

Good God, this is hot. Scorching hot. It has Sirius, and fightsex, and a fabulous, fabulous Remus. He's upset and angry and a little bit violent, and he's not about to take Sirius' shit, and I love that. Love. He's also a bit grabby, and a biter, and not afraid to push Sirius up against the wall. And Sirius likes that. He really does. He just doesn't realise it, because he's a stupid, stupid boy.

- Rise From the Ashes by anon. [Cedric/Teddy, NC-17]

Yeah, you read the pairing right. And it's really not the crossgen AU from outer space you're secretly accusing it of being. I can't tell you how or why that's so, because it'll ruin everything, but yeah. This is effing brilliant. It's got wonderful writing, and a lovely, fleshed-out characterisation of Teddy. Hufflepuffs for the win!

- How Ron Weasley Learned to Tolerate Kimchi and Draco Malfoy by anon. [Ron/Draco, NC-17]

This is really, really fun. Draco was great, and I simply loved Ron, and his confusion, and his almost resignation. And how he doesn't really understand what he's doing, or what Draco is doing, and how that's mostly ok, because Draco doesn't really care.

Art:

How Ron Weasley Learned to Tolerate Kimchi and Draco Malfoy by glockgal. [Ron/Draco, WS]

This is an illustration of the fic, and it is wonderful. The background alone made me drool, and never mind the gorgeous use of colour. Or Draco's hair. Or Ron's chops.

HELLO, LIFE? I QUIT YOU.

- I'm one third of the way through a fic that should've been finished two days ago. I'm one third of the way through, and I am stuck like a stuck thing. I cannot move forward, I cannot goad the characters into dialogue anywhere near IC, and I'm terrified to backtrack, because yeah. Should've been finished two days ago.

- My mobile bill this month is astronomical. No, really. While I do not recall using it for anything extraordinary, the amount due suggests that I've been phoning outer space. Frequently, and for extended lengths of time.

- I just stopped by work to check on next week's schedule, only to discover that I've been given a closing shift on Christmas Eve. Considering I am the only person on the shop's payroll with child, I am very close to gnawing on the furniture in a fit of rage. Nineteen year-old pothead underachievers living with their parents on all sides, and they schedule me for a closing shift on Christmas Eve.

WAY TO FUCKING PRIORITISE, YOU UTTER FUCKING FUCKWITS.

Assuming I do not murder my manager in his bed quit between now and then, I guess I am bringing my son and my Christmas tree to work with me on Monday. Because, you know, the conversation where I tell my son he's spending Christmas Eve with a babysitter? It's not going to happen.

NO, REALLY. IT ISN'T.

Have a quick pointer to something awesome:

- Aphelion by carmine_ink. [Peter, Remus/Sirius, PG]

Full disclaimer: this is one of the prompts that caught my eye during my eleventh-hour browse of rs_small_gifts. Aphelion means the point on the orbit of a celestial body that is farthest from the sun, and before I noticed the prompt was taken, I mulled it over in the direction of holiday fluff where Sirius is a force of nature and Remus has been pining for at least one full school term.

Yeah, well. Never mind all that. Go read this, instead.

This is a fic about Peter. It's so very quiet, so very still, and in it, Peter is crafty and capable. He discovers that Remus and Sirius are in a relationship and proceeds to use it against them in the worst way possible. Carefully, he takes the paranoia of war and turns it into discord. He manipulates them until they are uneasy, until they are barely speaking, until they are able to suspect each other of being the spy.

Sharp, achy, and wonderfully done.

Wonderfully.

My smutty_claus gift was posted!

- In Need by anon. [Sirius/Ginny, implied Harry/Ginny, NC-17]

This has a lovely psychological element to it, and I quite like the premise -- that Ginny, who feels ignored and abandoned by the others, is driven toward Sirius, who also feels ignored and abandoned by the others. Bonus points for putting the attic of 12 GP to good use.

MOAR FIC

- By Candlelight by such_heights. [Remus/Sirius, PG]

This is just sweet and fragile and perfect.

- Between Friends by anon. [Harry/Ron/Seamus, NC-17]

This is delightful. Humorous banter, good characterisations, and a pleasant looks at Seamus, who I am quickly falling in love with.

- What Makes All the Difference. [Seamus/Padma, NC-17]

I see you lot, eyeing me sideways. Don't let the pairing scare you. The characterisations of Seamus and Padma were wonderful, and the romance worked for me, but this fic is awesomecakes on a whole other level. This is the story about the leftover characters that I've been wanting since the release of DH. It details the situation at Hogwarts, and what the characters had to deal with, and gives believable motivations for their actions. Bonus points for Neville and Ginny, both of whom are made of win.

ART

- Big Damn Emotional Journey by seviet. [Harry/Ginny, PG]

This is a series of Harry/Ginny pics, and each one is effing gorgeous.

- The Kiss by maria_abagnale. [Ron/Hermione, PG]

This is beautiful, and the level of detail is amazing.

I've been writing all evening, and it's just about fried my brain. Thusly; a meme, stolen from penknife:

Pick a fictional character from a fandom I know and I'll answer the following questions to the best of my abilities.

1) What is your opinion of this character? If you like, explain why you like him/her. Likewise if you dislike the character.

2) Is he/she important to the general plot?

3) Can you relate to this character at all? Do they grip you emotionally?

4) How much do you like the fandom that this character comes from?

5) Do you ship this character with any other character? Or, are you particularly intrigued by their relationship with any other character(s)? (romance-wise or platonic)

6) Is there anything about the character you would change?

7) If you were in the fandom with this character or knew this character in real life, how do you see yourself interacting with him/her? (Would you get along well? Fall in love with? Dislike? Friendly rivalry? etc etc)

8) Does this character make the cut as one of your all time favorites (if you like) or least favorites?

9) Would you hype up this character (if you like) or warn about (if you dislike) to someone whose new to the fandom?

10) Is this character popular with the fanbase?

*codes recs post to avoid writing*

FIC:

- What Has Been Lost by anon</b>. [Sirius/Ron, Sirius/Regulus, NC-17]

Sirius/Ron is one of my favourite oddpairs, and we all know how I feel about Sirius/Regulus, so of course, I jumped on this the moment it was posted. And it's flawless, people. Fucking flawless. Sirius is absolutely spot on -- as an unrepentant, disaffected, and rebellious teenager, and again as a unrepentant, disaffected, and rebellious adult whose prison sentence left him with a strange disconnect from reality. The Sirius/Ron bits are fabulous, and the dynamic between Sirius and Regulus made be shiver. They were almost... enemies under truce, only not really, and they attacked each other with haughtiness and sarcasm rather than vitriol and violence.

- Coming Clean by anon. [James Jr/Teddy, NC-17]

My indifference toward the Epilogue Generation continues to be worn away, as I have no defence against something this hot. Nghn. HOT. I'll take filthy banter and the possibility of getting caught for $1,000, Alex! This is also just wonderfully, wonderfully written. Teddy is enough like Remus to be recognisable while maintaining his own personality, and James Jr is a bit like Harry, a bit like James Sr, and adorable all around.

- A sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss by anon. [Lucius/Sirius, NC-17]

I quite liked this. It provided a plausible set up for getting Sirius and Lucius in the same room, and the banter between Sirius and Lucius is delightful. Bonus points for wallsex, well-written smut, and a nice dose of voyeuristic James.

- The Prodigal by midnitemaraud_r. [Remus/Sirius, NC-17]

This is an older fic I found courtesy of rs_prophet. It's an AU, which supposes that Sirius came back through the Veil during Christmas of HBP and arrived at the Burrow just as Percy and Scrimgeour were leaving. I know AUs aren't my usual cuppa, but I'm a sucker for a good Bring Back Black, and -- well, it's Lisa, and Lisa has such a gift for AU. Her tight writing and strong characterisations make the break from canon a believable exploration. This is wonderful, and Sirius' initial reunion with Remus may have melted me a little.

- Complete by heather11483. [Harry/Ron/Hermione, NC-17]

inell pointed me to this, and I am quite grateful. It has a smart Hermione POV, and the smut is fantastic -- I do love a wonderfully awkward first-time threesome.

ART

- Hold On by anon. [Remus/Sirius, R]

This is a series of pics, and they are all absolutely stunning. The last one nearly killed me, with the shoved-down trousers and their mouths and Sirius' hand stealing inside Remus' shirt and Remus' fingers lfdkaljdlfkjadflkjaldskjfalksjfd.

*ahem*

I totally know who drew this -- I'd recognise that gorgeous Sirius anywhere. *g*

- Untitled by glockart. [Bill, Fleur, Victoire, G]

This is beautiful. Fleur is beautiful. Bill is beautiful. And baby Victoire makes me want to cuddle things.

Well. LJ's repeated demands for proof of my humanity is starting to make me question my own existence.

I nosed around rs_small_gifts earlier, in hopes of snagging a leftover prompt before tonight's deadline, but nothing doing. Everything that piqued my interest had already been taken, or would require more than the four hours left to me, or run over the 3,000 word cap. Woe and alack. I have this pressing need to write Remus/Sirius holiday fluff, and now I can't pretend a community challenge provoked me into doing it.

I shall drown my sorrows in tea, and possibly shrimp-flavoured pot noodle.

FIC:

- A Glass, Shattered by anon. [Harry/Draco, PG-13]

This is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Non-linear formats don't always work for me, but this really did, and the writing is excellent.

- No Man's Land by ladyblack888. [Remus/Sirius, NC-17]

This is very sharp and bittersweet.

- 9 Ways Draco Malfoy Never Went Insane by furiosity. [Harry/Draco, R]

Oh, my. This is crack. Pure, unmitigated, F-brand crack. I almost pulled something, I was laughing so hard.

- Days that are over by sazzlette. [James/Sirius, PG]

This is an older fic I stashed in my 'to-read' folder and then promptly forgot about. Yeah, well. I suck, because it's awesome.

- you say that I treat you like a book on a shelf by penknife. [Remus/Sirius, PG]

Second verse, same as the first. This is another one I bookmarked for later and never got back, and again, I suck, because this is flawless. Absolutely flawless.

- The Thing About Pirates by penknife. [Jack/Anamaria/Elizabeth, NC-17]

Christ, I haven't read PotC fic in ages. This is humourous and wonderfully done.

ART:

- Lucius and Draco by xbloodsugarx. [Lucius, Draco, G]

This is just beautiful.

- There is a Secret Santa Meme in progress.

- I have recs. They are not coded, or anything, but I have them. You will have them tomorrow.

- I also owe you two days of Christmas crack. I will get on that, as soon as tinypic stops being frigid.

Moar crack:

( in which, santa has a day-job )

My DVD player is on the blink, and the xylochild just cancelled his evening with me to play video games with his father. I anticipate a long night of boredom. Or link-surfing at Wikipedia. Or playing Farm Hustle until my eyes bleed.

I want to write, but I'm far to maddened and spastic to work on anything serious. Thusly:

Give me a pairing and a prompt or subject, and I will write you a snippet of dialogue.

The usual fandoms apply.

I owed a few people drabbles after the one-word meme. This would be them.

All Harry Potter, all 100 words.

For wook77

( lazy ~ remus/sirius )

For opheliet:

( hexed ~ james/sirius )

For thescarletwoman:

( chocolate ~ james/remus )

For foreword:

( quietly ~ remus/sirius (pornish) )

For spikeyboots

( blood ~ regulus/sirius (pornish) )

For djinn7:

( dreams ~ harry/snape (pornish) )

For lilian_cho:

( almost ~ harry/draco )

Crack:

( just an all american family having christmas )

As stolen from musesfool, ten stories I wrote that I love a lot:

I Don't Love You
[Harry Potter] Harry/Draco, NC-17; ~2,900 words; 4 Oct 2004
What Harry has and what Harry wants are two completely different things.

This dates back to my early days in fandom; I think I'd been writing for all of four months. My inexperience shows in places -- particularly in the pacing and punctuation department -- but I'm still very proud of this story. It was my first real foray into angst, and my first attempt at an ambiguous ending. The prose is fairly solid, and this was the first time I'd written the story I'd actually intended to write.

( cut for more things i quite like )

For furiosity, who wanted to see my WIP folder:



( cut for a proper screencap and some improper explanations )

For anjenue, who asked me five questions:

1. What is the most evocative song you can think of and why?

Lover I Don't Have to Love by Bright Eyes. Conor's voice is just gravelly and hot and the keyboard is nghn but also, the lyrics are nearly pornography.

your hand on me
pressing hard against your jeans
your tongue in my mouth
trying to keep the words from coming out
you didn't care to know
who else may have been you before¹

It makes me want to do filthy, filthy things. It also reminds me of my misspent youth.

( cut for more privileged information )

Finally, I have more Christmas crack:

( well, you're always saying i never take you anywhere )


¹paraphrased from memory, because winamp refuses to play nicely

Written in the wee hours of the morning, because sazzlette was bored. Originally posted as commentspam in her journal.

( the cupboard's to blame | james/sirius | pg-13 | 534 words )

Now, I am bored.

I foresee memes in your future. Or rambling crackmeta on the torrid affair I want to believe James carried on with Regulus Black.

- We Three Kings by anon. [MWPP, PG]

Please stand by for Marauders goodness, complete with friendship, boyishness, and uncomfortable conversations about Lycanthropy. I know I'm a soft touch for Remus, but this made me warm and fuzzy. This also has a Peter that doesn't make me gnash my teeth.

- A Certain Night by anon. [Neville, Longbottom family, PG]

This is fabulous. It snapshots several Christmas Eves the Longbottom's shared, and it presents a wonderful look at Neville through the eyes of his parents, his grandmother, and his aunt and uncle. I was particularly drawn to the bits about Augusta, as she's a character who fascinates me in canon.

- Same Time, Next Year by anon. [Harry/Ron/Hermione, NC-17]

Ngnh. I do love a good Triofic, and this is smoking hot. I tend to be wary of first person POV, but this is tightly done, and Ron's voice is spot on. Bonus points for Hermione's blatant voyeurism and for Harry shagging Ron into the mattress.

- Fire Call by anon. [Bill/Tonks, Bill/Tonks/Charlie, NC-17, D/s]

I sort of was avoiding this. I've made my peace with Tonks, but I'm usually not all that interested in Bill and Charlie, and I've never been one for heavy kink. But gmth and midnitemarauder both recced it, and I trust their taste, so I gave it a whirl. And yeah. Superbly written. Also, hot. Holy fucking hell, it's hot.

I also think I know who wrote this. *g*

- Scarlet on the Tiles by mewling. [James/Snape, Sirius/Snape, R]

Right. This is in second person and has a non-con warning. Neither are my usual cuppa, but I'm a helpless sucker for James/Snape. This is just beautifully, perfectly ugly. The intensity had me shivering, and the end was a raw and glorious shot to the gut.

Oh, Sirius.

- Twelfth Day by ponderosa121. [Remus/Snape/Lily, R]

This is far, far too gorgeous for words. Remus' scars and Snape's mouth and the colour of Lily's hair. That's the best I can do, folks. Far too gorgeous for words.

- Welcome Home by ponderosa121. [Remus/Sirius, PG]

This is also too gorgeous for words. I want to fall asleep with Remus' jumper, and the look on Sirius' face makes my heart ache. Christ, but I've missed Ponds' art. I really have. Happily, she's alive and kicking on InsaneJournal.

- Rumours of My Demise by pennswoods. [Snape, PG]

This really struck me hard. I could not stop staring.

This post was meant to include recs, but I am woefully behind on everything. The fests are plentiful, the fics are long and glorious, and the triple newsletter edition I just posted took longer to code than anticipated.

Your forgiveness, let me beg it of you in the form of Christmas picspam:

( in which the usual holiday traditions come with instructions )

Today's Christmas crack, before I go to bed:

( evidently, Christmas fell on a full moon )

Recs tomorrow, if this devil of a cold goes away.

Allow me to point you toward some fabulous things I've read and viewed today.

FIC:

- Suppliance of a Minute by anon. [Dumbledore/Grindelwald, NC-17, warnings]

This is the Albus/Gellert fic I've wanted since JKR confirmed Dumbles' gayness I read Deathly Hallows. I loved this Gellert; the author did a wonderful job of fleshing out a character we know so little about. I was also very intrigued by this Albus, and the chance to see him as something other than the confident and manipulating headmaster. The prose is fantastic -- it's dated enough to set the tone without going overboard.

- Naughts and Crosses by anon. [Harry/Ron, NC-17]

This was hilarious, and it also hit my (not so) secret post-war everyone-works-at-the-Ministry kink. Of course, I think I like that setup because it allows for the characters to just wander into each other's offices and snark at each other. The banter between Harry and Ron was just fabulous, and I quite enjoyed the cameos by Seamus, Dean, and Neville -- Seamus in particular.

- The Price We Pay For Wings by anon. [Harry/Draco, R]

In complete contrast to Naughts and Crosses, this will break your heart. I loved the premise, and the fact that war was once again threatening to rear its ugly head. I loved the Harry/Draco, and I loved the insights into Hermione, Ginny, Albus Severus, and Scorpius' post-epilogue life. I also loved the way the author handled the backstory, in that she wove it into the narrative, rather than dumping it out in unwieldy chunks.

- A Black Register by anon. [Remus, Andromeda, PG]

God, this one aches. This is the fic dealing with the aftermath of the Potters' death that I've always wanted to write. Remus' devastation is so perfectly heart-wrenching, and Andromeda was a perfect addition. Remus/Sirius shipper that I am, I tend to think of Sirius' arrest in terms of Remus and only Remus, but of course Andromeda would've been effected by it. Of course.

- This Widening Bed (This Bed Has Seen it All Remix) by shaggydogstail. [Remus/Sirius, PG-13]

This is an older fic, and I'm grateful to rs_prophet for bringing it to my attention, because it's effing flawless. I love fics like this, where a character's relationships are presented in vignettes that focus on an item they all shared -- whether that's an object, or a place, or a season, or a specific emotion. This has wonderful peeks into Sirius' friendships with James, Lily, and Peter. The section about Harry will melt your heart, and the Remus/Sirius is wonderful and warm.

ART:

- These Ninteen Years by anon. [Harry/Draco, R]

Quite frankly, this is one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a long time. It's a series of pictures depicting the nineteen years preceding the epilogue, and they are just gorgeous. The Harry/Draco killed me dead. So did the baby. And the coffee cups.

- You Can't Escape by anon. [Remus/Snape, WS]

I quite liked this. Remus is absolutely breathtaking.

- Nineteen Years Later by seviet. [Potter and Weasley families, G]

This is a snapshot of the epilogue, and it's absolutely perfect.

--

Also, there's a Snap Cups meme, and once again, I caved and tossed my name in.

Well, my gift was posted on merry_smutmas, and it's a fucking winner.

- Shadowmancers by anon. [James/Sirius, NC-17]

I've read it three times, and I'm still bloody incoherent. No, really. I'm completely speechless. It's got solid characterisations, a clever premise, and the porn is smoking hot. Hot. Positively scorching, and chock full of desperation, neediness, and the sort of mindless rutting that makes me shiver. Also, there is Regulus, and banter, and a revenge plan that backfires, and shadows. Good Lord, the shadows. I've been reduced to squee and flail.

I am dying to know who wrote this for me. I also want to know which one of you lot told her all my secrets.

*dead*

While I have you here, behold today's Christmas crack:

( this is what happens when a good santa goes bad )

*still dead*