Harry Potter recs
A collection of awesome stories for your reading/rereading enjoyment. I was in the mood for HP today. :)
What Dire Offence by miriam_heddy
Snape/Harry, NC-17, 18600 words, first time. Summary: In which Harry learns how to teach and discovers, along the way, that it's not the size of the desk nor the length of the robe that defines the measure of the man. Post-War Harry/Snape.
It was quite different-viewing it all from the teacher's table. They were all so very loud that he suddenly felt a small bit of empathy for Snape, because there were no spells one could safely perform to quiet them down, and though he could mute his own hearing, he certainly couldn't do it all the time or he wouldn't be able to hear their seemingly endless questions, most of which he found himself answering with, "Hang on. We'll get to that later, after we've covered the basics."
The voice in his head that added, "Assuming you dunderheads manage to master them, which I highly doubt" sounded awfully familiar, and it was only with some effort that he kept them from slipping out of his own traitorous mouth. Not that the children would have heard him over the shifting in their seats and the rustling of parchment and the scratching of doodling quills-was that supposed to be him with the owl-wings attached to his head? The upside-down drawing winked at him from the front row and he sighed heavily. How many points was that one worth?
To Keep Calendars in the Absence of Time by r_grayjoy
Snape/Lupin, NC-17, 17350 words, first time. Summary: Severus finds that there can be many reasons to keep track of the days, even in a place where time has no meaning.
There was no question about it, then. This was not the "real" Spinner's End, and Severus was most decidedly deceased. The latter was not terribly surprising, all in all. Although he might have hoped for a better end than messy death via the Dark Lord's pet snake, Severus had never truly expected to survive the war. He was also somehow not surprised that no one had shown up to welcome him to the afterlife. In fact, he had seen no evidence of another person yet at all. The street was still, and no sound disturbed the scene save the chirping of birds and the occasional crick of insects.
Beginning to feel ridiculous standing out on the worn cobblestones and waiting for something to happen, Severus moved towards the last house on the row out of old habit. Turning the knob, he found the front door unlocked. With a push, the door swung inward, scraping the floor near the end of its arc as it had begun to do in recent years. Severus reached into his robes and was relieved to discover that he still had his wand. He didn't know whether magic worked here, or whether he could even be harmed, but the length of wood in his grip was reassuring nonetheless. Wand in hand, Severus stepped through the door.
How to Circumvent a Fidelius Charm by florahart
Albus Severus/Severus Snape, NC-17, 7450 words, first time. Warning(s): I assume there's no need to warn for age difference--this is set seven-plus years post-epilogue. Summary: Albus Severus wants to meet (and, uh, enjoy) a hero he's heard of all his life. Severus wants to remain in hiding. Albus Severus, however, is persistent.
"It would be idiotic of me to write letters to your father," Severus pointed out. "The reason you had to work to find me is that I am a recluse. Do you know the word? It means I live away from people. In hiding. Not wanting to be found. I enjoy my solitude, you see, and don't need irritating teenagers in my home."
"Course I know the word; I'm not an idiot. I make no promises as to whether I'm irritating. Anyway, yes, I see your point, but what I got instead was better. Mystery bills, you know. And, I mean, he could have just been fucking around on Mum, keeping some bird set up somewhere, but it made more sense that he'd not have two enormous secrets. Because honestly, Mum's mind is painfully easy to poke about in--"
"You're a Legilimens?"
"Sure. Dad taught me. Not that hard, once you get the knack. You know that. Anyway, Mum didn't know. She doesn't know that Dad knows where you are, either, exactly--I mean, she has this idea, but I think he doesn't really want her to realize he actually keeps you. So, either he had two secrets, you and a mistress, or the mystery bills were you. Unless you are his mistress. So to speak."
Severus blinked several times. "You're quite cavalier about the notion of your father running around behind your mother's back. And no, I am not his …paramour."
A Matter of Size by swtalmnd
Snape/Harry, NC-17, 5252 words, first time. Warnings: AU, Crack, Chan (16), voyeurism. Summary: Harry has a small boy's fascination for big things.
After that, even the memory of Bill didn't have the same appeal as it had once held, as if some of the shine had been worn off by his own anticipation of a new image to take its place. He still wanked, of course, but not as often or as satisfyingly. So much so that by the time the Order's plans went into effect Harry was a little ball of confused teenage lust and not much else.
That must have been why, instead of the distraction spell he was supposed to cast after killing Voldemort, he Banished everyone's clothing.
His own remained intact, of course, because even accidental magic couldn't overcome Harry's deep-seated fear of having people see his inadequacies, but everywhere around him there was naked flesh. Those closest had even been knocked onto their arses and Snape in particular looked quite put out to be in such an ignominious position. Harry's eyes made the inevitable journey from Snape's prominent nose, down past hairy nipples, a concave stomach and jutting hipbones, and straight to Snape's package.
Snape's huge, beautiful package.
By the Book by sarcasticpixie
Albus Severus/Scorpius, PG-13, 12200 words, first time. Warning(s): Teenage erections, rampant faux-Briticisms, casual alcoholism, and an ice sculpture that may not be suitable for children. Summary: Scorpius Malfoy was thirteen when his parents divorced. He’d always known it would happen someday, but he didn’t expect it to be so bloody loud.
Scorpius likes to compare the people in his life to his favorite literary characters, because not only are those characters as real to him as his family and friends are, he can put them away when he wants time to himself. His father is Dickens’ Charles Darnay, of course, with a bit of Bronte’s Heathcliff thrown in for good measure. He loves his grandmother, but she’s Scarlett O’Hara down to the bone. Mother has been and always will be Becky Sharp. Rosie could never be anyone other than Elizabeth Bennet, and her brother, the round and doddering Hugo, is a perfect Mr. Collins.
He’s known Al Potter for going on six years, but somewhat incredibly, he’s never been able to find a suitable character for him.
He finds this deeply distressing.
Also distressing is the way Al has looked ever since they returned from the summer holidays. He’s always been a thin, pale boy, but as he closes the heavy door behind him and comes to sit next to Rose, Scorpius is struck by exactly how translucent he seems. He’s pulled the hood of his crimson Gryffindor sweatshirt over his head, and in the firelight, he looks like nothing so much as an extremely overanxious monk.
An Eye for an Eye by arsenicjade
Snape/Draco/Harry, NC-17, 45309 words, first time S/D/H, established relationship S/D. Summary: Harry owes Draco a Life Debt.
Harry knew he'd hit on the key to something, he just wasn't sure what it was. "Are you ill?"
"Do I look ill, Potter?" Malfoy glared.
Harry glared right back. Malfoy gave in first. "They're not for me."
"Then seeing as how my Life Debt is to you, this is really none of my business, is it?"
"Damn you, Potter." Malfoy's words were barely able to make it past the tensing of his lips. Harry thought there might have been tears at the corner of his eyes, but Malfoy had turned his head slightly as if to hide his face. "Shall I beg? Shall I beg for his life? Because despite the fact that all you have ever known is school-era sweethearts and a couple of short-lived affairs of the heart" he sneered the words at Harry, "some of us know what it means to live and die for another. If you think his life is not in anyway connected with mine, then you're a fool."
"You've always believed that."
"I was hoping, desperately, that you would prove me wrong." Malfoy visibly composed himself and looked at Harry. His features were somehow blank and embittered all at once. "Please," he begged, "if the debt means anything to you, please."
Harry wondered why he'd ever thought hearing Draco Malfoy beg would make him smile. "Take back that thing about my love life."
"For the love of- Your love life is exactly what any healthy British wizard's, aged 29, should be. Now will you help?"
A Choriambic Progression by cimmerians
Snape/Harry, NC-17, 92000 words, first time. Warning: please note that within the confines of this story, while Harry has indeed reached the age of consent, he has not yet reached his majority, and yet he's fooling around. Kids today! Summary: Harry learns a lot over the summer. Smut happens. It's all terribly exciting.
"She cursed you too?"
An eyebrow rose, no less daunting for the dried blood crusted in it. "No, you idiot--she cursed you. You deflected it--directly onto me. Remind me to thank you for that later."
Oh. "So... you're cursed?"
"Yes," Snape hissed peevishly.
Harry looked him over. "What kind of curse?"
Snape looked away from him. "I don't know."
Harry paused, trying to recollect whether he'd ever heard Snape say those words before. No, he didn't think he had. But he had no time to relish such a novel experience, as Snape turned back to him, and spoke as if he grudged the words. "It felt... old. Ancient. And it certainly wasn't pleasant."
No. Harry could believe that much, as he'd endured the initial parts of it. "She said... there was something about not having a merciful death."
Snape glared at him. "Well, we'll have to be on the alert for signs of me dropping dead from your incessant, infernal nattering, then--I believe that would fulfill the requisite conditions quite nicely."
Apparently Snape didn't want to talk about it. Harry shrugged. "So... what do we do now?"
What Dire Offence by miriam_heddy
Snape/Harry, NC-17, 18600 words, first time. Summary: In which Harry learns how to teach and discovers, along the way, that it's not the size of the desk nor the length of the robe that defines the measure of the man. Post-War Harry/Snape.
It was quite different-viewing it all from the teacher's table. They were all so very loud that he suddenly felt a small bit of empathy for Snape, because there were no spells one could safely perform to quiet them down, and though he could mute his own hearing, he certainly couldn't do it all the time or he wouldn't be able to hear their seemingly endless questions, most of which he found himself answering with, "Hang on. We'll get to that later, after we've covered the basics."
The voice in his head that added, "Assuming you dunderheads manage to master them, which I highly doubt" sounded awfully familiar, and it was only with some effort that he kept them from slipping out of his own traitorous mouth. Not that the children would have heard him over the shifting in their seats and the rustling of parchment and the scratching of doodling quills-was that supposed to be him with the owl-wings attached to his head? The upside-down drawing winked at him from the front row and he sighed heavily. How many points was that one worth?
To Keep Calendars in the Absence of Time by r_grayjoy
Snape/Lupin, NC-17, 17350 words, first time. Summary: Severus finds that there can be many reasons to keep track of the days, even in a place where time has no meaning.
There was no question about it, then. This was not the "real" Spinner's End, and Severus was most decidedly deceased. The latter was not terribly surprising, all in all. Although he might have hoped for a better end than messy death via the Dark Lord's pet snake, Severus had never truly expected to survive the war. He was also somehow not surprised that no one had shown up to welcome him to the afterlife. In fact, he had seen no evidence of another person yet at all. The street was still, and no sound disturbed the scene save the chirping of birds and the occasional crick of insects.
Beginning to feel ridiculous standing out on the worn cobblestones and waiting for something to happen, Severus moved towards the last house on the row out of old habit. Turning the knob, he found the front door unlocked. With a push, the door swung inward, scraping the floor near the end of its arc as it had begun to do in recent years. Severus reached into his robes and was relieved to discover that he still had his wand. He didn't know whether magic worked here, or whether he could even be harmed, but the length of wood in his grip was reassuring nonetheless. Wand in hand, Severus stepped through the door.
How to Circumvent a Fidelius Charm by florahart
Albus Severus/Severus Snape, NC-17, 7450 words, first time. Warning(s): I assume there's no need to warn for age difference--this is set seven-plus years post-epilogue. Summary: Albus Severus wants to meet (and, uh, enjoy) a hero he's heard of all his life. Severus wants to remain in hiding. Albus Severus, however, is persistent.
"It would be idiotic of me to write letters to your father," Severus pointed out. "The reason you had to work to find me is that I am a recluse. Do you know the word? It means I live away from people. In hiding. Not wanting to be found. I enjoy my solitude, you see, and don't need irritating teenagers in my home."
"Course I know the word; I'm not an idiot. I make no promises as to whether I'm irritating. Anyway, yes, I see your point, but what I got instead was better. Mystery bills, you know. And, I mean, he could have just been fucking around on Mum, keeping some bird set up somewhere, but it made more sense that he'd not have two enormous secrets. Because honestly, Mum's mind is painfully easy to poke about in--"
"You're a Legilimens?"
"Sure. Dad taught me. Not that hard, once you get the knack. You know that. Anyway, Mum didn't know. She doesn't know that Dad knows where you are, either, exactly--I mean, she has this idea, but I think he doesn't really want her to realize he actually keeps you. So, either he had two secrets, you and a mistress, or the mystery bills were you. Unless you are his mistress. So to speak."
Severus blinked several times. "You're quite cavalier about the notion of your father running around behind your mother's back. And no, I am not his …paramour."
A Matter of Size by swtalmnd
Snape/Harry, NC-17, 5252 words, first time. Warnings: AU, Crack, Chan (16), voyeurism. Summary: Harry has a small boy's fascination for big things.
After that, even the memory of Bill didn't have the same appeal as it had once held, as if some of the shine had been worn off by his own anticipation of a new image to take its place. He still wanked, of course, but not as often or as satisfyingly. So much so that by the time the Order's plans went into effect Harry was a little ball of confused teenage lust and not much else.
That must have been why, instead of the distraction spell he was supposed to cast after killing Voldemort, he Banished everyone's clothing.
His own remained intact, of course, because even accidental magic couldn't overcome Harry's deep-seated fear of having people see his inadequacies, but everywhere around him there was naked flesh. Those closest had even been knocked onto their arses and Snape in particular looked quite put out to be in such an ignominious position. Harry's eyes made the inevitable journey from Snape's prominent nose, down past hairy nipples, a concave stomach and jutting hipbones, and straight to Snape's package.
Snape's huge, beautiful package.
By the Book by sarcasticpixie
Albus Severus/Scorpius, PG-13, 12200 words, first time. Warning(s): Teenage erections, rampant faux-Briticisms, casual alcoholism, and an ice sculpture that may not be suitable for children. Summary: Scorpius Malfoy was thirteen when his parents divorced. He’d always known it would happen someday, but he didn’t expect it to be so bloody loud.
Scorpius likes to compare the people in his life to his favorite literary characters, because not only are those characters as real to him as his family and friends are, he can put them away when he wants time to himself. His father is Dickens’ Charles Darnay, of course, with a bit of Bronte’s Heathcliff thrown in for good measure. He loves his grandmother, but she’s Scarlett O’Hara down to the bone. Mother has been and always will be Becky Sharp. Rosie could never be anyone other than Elizabeth Bennet, and her brother, the round and doddering Hugo, is a perfect Mr. Collins.
He’s known Al Potter for going on six years, but somewhat incredibly, he’s never been able to find a suitable character for him.
He finds this deeply distressing.
Also distressing is the way Al has looked ever since they returned from the summer holidays. He’s always been a thin, pale boy, but as he closes the heavy door behind him and comes to sit next to Rose, Scorpius is struck by exactly how translucent he seems. He’s pulled the hood of his crimson Gryffindor sweatshirt over his head, and in the firelight, he looks like nothing so much as an extremely overanxious monk.
An Eye for an Eye by arsenicjade
Snape/Draco/Harry, NC-17, 45309 words, first time S/D/H, established relationship S/D. Summary: Harry owes Draco a Life Debt.
Harry knew he'd hit on the key to something, he just wasn't sure what it was. "Are you ill?"
"Do I look ill, Potter?" Malfoy glared.
Harry glared right back. Malfoy gave in first. "They're not for me."
"Then seeing as how my Life Debt is to you, this is really none of my business, is it?"
"Damn you, Potter." Malfoy's words were barely able to make it past the tensing of his lips. Harry thought there might have been tears at the corner of his eyes, but Malfoy had turned his head slightly as if to hide his face. "Shall I beg? Shall I beg for his life? Because despite the fact that all you have ever known is school-era sweethearts and a couple of short-lived affairs of the heart" he sneered the words at Harry, "some of us know what it means to live and die for another. If you think his life is not in anyway connected with mine, then you're a fool."
"You've always believed that."
"I was hoping, desperately, that you would prove me wrong." Malfoy visibly composed himself and looked at Harry. His features were somehow blank and embittered all at once. "Please," he begged, "if the debt means anything to you, please."
Harry wondered why he'd ever thought hearing Draco Malfoy beg would make him smile. "Take back that thing about my love life."
"For the love of- Your love life is exactly what any healthy British wizard's, aged 29, should be. Now will you help?"
A Choriambic Progression by cimmerians
Snape/Harry, NC-17, 92000 words, first time. Warning: please note that within the confines of this story, while Harry has indeed reached the age of consent, he has not yet reached his majority, and yet he's fooling around. Kids today! Summary: Harry learns a lot over the summer. Smut happens. It's all terribly exciting.
"She cursed you too?"
An eyebrow rose, no less daunting for the dried blood crusted in it. "No, you idiot--she cursed you. You deflected it--directly onto me. Remind me to thank you for that later."
Oh. "So... you're cursed?"
"Yes," Snape hissed peevishly.
Harry looked him over. "What kind of curse?"
Snape looked away from him. "I don't know."
Harry paused, trying to recollect whether he'd ever heard Snape say those words before. No, he didn't think he had. But he had no time to relish such a novel experience, as Snape turned back to him, and spoke as if he grudged the words. "It felt... old. Ancient. And it certainly wasn't pleasant."
No. Harry could believe that much, as he'd endured the initial parts of it. "She said... there was something about not having a merciful death."
Snape glared at him. "Well, we'll have to be on the alert for signs of me dropping dead from your incessant, infernal nattering, then--I believe that would fulfill the requisite conditions quite nicely."
Apparently Snape didn't want to talk about it. Harry shrugged. "So... what do we do now?"