The Moste Potente

I hope that everyone's morning is off to a promising start :-)

Within the next week or so, I don't think I'm going to be updating this journal any longer. I'm not going to get rid of it, because I still follow a few people and communities here, but as of late, I've been averaging one comment per five posts, and this hardly feels like it's worth my time. I would encourage anyone interested to either friend me at my Live Journal (which is still my main journal), or at Dreamwidth where I plan to start crossposting. Hell, both places are cool, too.

I do apologise for the inconvenience, but I'm just not feeling the IJ vibe any longer.

Thanks all!

--P

[Ficses]

A Prelude to Ruin - Lucius/Regulus [NC-17] by stonegrad.

This fic had two comments last I checked, and that really is a fucking travesty. Not a pairing most people give a shit about. Truth be told, even my Lucius-love has given way to younger bodies and darker roots, but this is a gorgeous fic that cannot be ignored. Lush lives, mutual obsessions and dangerous liaisons weave this story together beautifully in a quiet, contemplative way that darkens over family burdens and war.

Speed and Expediency - Snape/Harry, Snape/Regulus, Harry/OMC [NC-17] by Mystery Author.

[Fic is FLOCKED at LJ's snape_potter / UNLOCKED at Insane Journal]

At first glance, I was apprehensive about this fic. It starts off with Harry barrelling down the Autobahn on a Harley Davidson. I hit the backspace after two sentences and thought ‘Meh, not for me.’ But then I noticed perverse_idyll left a lengthy comment, so I dropped her a quick email and relayed my reservations. Not to worry, she told me.

Admittedly, this fic is not going to be for everyone. The premise is a bit out in left field, but it’s wittily entertaining and very tongue-in-cheek. Regulus is alive and well, living in Stuttgart as a Porsche salesman under Wizarding Protection. He returns home to England with Harry at the prospect of reuniting with Snape, and from there things run amok. Some things I particularly enjoyed: Snape openly scorning Harry’s choice of motorcycle, and Regulus’s severe case of slick bastarditis. Fun times, man. Fun times.

[More ♥ @ Snarry-A-Thon]

[ETA: Fics and art under NC-17 are UNLOCKED at snape_potter on Insane Journal]

Nightshade [WS] by Mystery Artist.

My Severus, what long fingers you have. The better to penetrate you with, my boy.

Dream of Love [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Snarry meets Memoirs of a Geisha.

A Necessary Condition [R] by Mystery Author.

Harry and Severus must work together to lift a hex that Minerva's placed on their misbehaving arses. Very clever, this.

( More Reccage )

All right, kiddies, I have a Dreamwidth account. hoarmurath was kind enough to give me a code, so if I'm on anyone's waiting list, please remove me. Journal has my same name. I was seriously going to hurt someone if they'd taken my name :P

themostepotente

Add me. Grant me access. Subscribe me. Love me. Pet me. Stroke me. And call me George.

I'm still figuring out a lot of how this works, but rest assured, I am NOT leaving Live Journal. I also have an open-door policy here, same as Insane Journal.

--P

A couple of new fests have started if you enjoy rarepairs and genfic.

hp_beholder features pairings with whom most consider the 'less-than-appealing' characters. Don't let this put you off, though. There's some great stuff here including the art Interrogating Rookwood - Rufus/Rookwood [WS] and a lovely Snape/Poppy fic called Frozen.

I stumbled upon springtime_gen by accident, but I'm sooo glad I did. I've read more than half of the fics, and there's just about something for everyone here. I especially enjoyed My Father Before Me which features Teddy and Cedric and Beyond the Frame starring Sir Cadogan (whut?). There's also Spring Fever [WS] if you're in need of a MWPP fix. I highly recommend all of these. Honestly, I highly recommend this fest.

If mainstream's more your thang, snape_potter is still running the Snarry-A-Thon. In particular, I enjoyed the dark Rum and Cigarettes and the romantic An Awkward Customer. The posts are flocked, but all you need to do to join is point and click. See? Easy, peasy, one-two-threesy!

hd_worldcup is still running until the end of the month. Do not pass GO and do not collect $200 until you've seen Reciprocal Scars [NWS] by _aurora_sky_. It's pretty awesome!

[My Art Pick of the Week]

Ahhh...Dessert - Snape, Voldemort and Peter [WS] by Inkvine on Deviant Art.

I love Alice in Wonderland. I love Snape as the March Hare even more. And every time I look at this, I hear Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit.'

[Other Artses]

Severus and Hermione, A Portrait [WS] by foxestacado.

Summer Dusk - Draco [WS] by mayflo.

The Magic Was Always With Him - Harry [WS] by reira_21.

Draco's Easter Bunny - Harry/Draco [NWS] by dampfnudl.

My Sexy Bunny - Harry/Draco [NWS] by isinuyasha.

Heir - Draco [WS] by celestialsoda.

Enjoy all!

--P

Art by chibitoaster

Unfortunately, the fest is flocked at snape_potter, but if you like Snarry even the teeniest bit, it's more than worth it to join the community. *G*

Look At Yourself Now [NWS - warning for CHAN] by Mystery Artist.

Wormwood and Asphodel [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Enjoy all!

--P

hd_worldcup

cruel language [PG-13] by nk_aoede.

et lux in tenebris lucet [PG-13] by mayflo.

[other artses]

our skin full of light - harry/draco [ws] by nk_aoede.

when the knight bus is rockin' - kingsley/stan [nws] by ericahpfa.

a kiss from the devil in disguise - harry/draco [ws] by draykonis.

foreplay - harry/draco [nws] by leochi.

forever - snape/harry [nws] by oldenuf2nb.

portrait - draco [ws] by raitala.

regulus black [ws] by traumtaenzer on deviant art.

blue eyes i can bear - snape and kitten [ws] by camillo1978.

by your side - draco/hermione [ws] by celestialsoda.

albus & gellert [ws] by rosivan.

lucius malefidus - lucius [ws] by alienor77310.

[retro artse]

choked - regulus [nws] by ships_harry.

enjoy all :-)

--p

Gush - Harry/Draco [R - warning for watersports] by calanthe_fics.

So you think you hate watersports? Cal may change your mind yet.

On occasion, I've taken issue with a writer's reasoning for writing kinkfic. More often than not, I am completely turned off by an author's egotism as opposed to the subject matter. Nobody, least of all me, is impressed with 'Oh, look at me, everyone! I wrote ponyplay, CBT, bloodplay, necrophilia etc, aren't I the hardcore bitch?' This never fails to elicit a roll of the eyes from me.

I've always been of a 'I could take it or leave it' mind concerning watersports. I don't go running off in search of it, but if something intriguing happens my way, I'll definitely give it a go.

Gush is a lovely preamble for the novice. It focuses equally on the kink as well as the push-pull relationship, and there's a charismatic sincerity to Cal's writing. She writes what she wants to write and fuckerall if you want to join her or not. Me? I find that completely enviable.

Who's the bigger dickhead here remains to be seen. I honestly wanted to shove that jug of pumpkin juice up both their arses, and by the end of the fic, I was still debating on who had had the upper hand. Just the sort of Harry/Draco dynamic I crave.

Ready for something different? My advice -- don't suppress the urge!

--P

The last hp10k_showcase post will be up some time this week.

hd_worldcup

Curiosity Killed the... [WS] by katerina_black.

Wherever You Are [NWS] by eloriee.

A Scar On My Mind [NWS] by harrysde.

Four Seasons In One Day [WS] by sirra_scribbles

Accidents Will Happen [WS] by chibitoaster.

The First Day Of Spring [NWS] by reira_21.

[other artses]

Snape [WS] by Mrs Severus Snape on Deviant Art.

Master - Snape [WS] by stellamoon.

Taking Advantage - Snape/Harry [WS] by lizardspots.

Tripping Down Memory Lane - Various Pairings [WS] by celestialsoda.

De-tensioning Hours - Harry/Draco [NWS] by dampfnudl.

Lucky Pillows - Snape [WS] by Sempra Severus on Deviant Art.

Untitled - Snape/Harry/Draco [NWS] by chibitoaster / littleblackbow.

Also by chibitoaster...

Dueling Club - Harry/Draco [WS].

Late Afternoon - Harry/Ron [WS] by cydienne.

Just Try Me - Ginny [NWS] by thanfiction.

Battlestar Hogwarts (HP/BSG Crossover) - Harry/Ginny and Draco [WS] by ani_bester.

Enjoy all!

--P

Just in before the reveal!

[fic] There's Something About A Malfoy - Harry/Scorpius, Charlie/Draco [NC-17] by Mystery Author.

I almost didn't read this story. I did more than my share of drive-bys before committing to this yesterday. Unfortunately, I had been spoiled by the first commenter who unwittingly shared a bit of telling concrit. You see, this story has a mostly gay universe, and that's really not my cuppa. I could go into a million reasons why, but I didn't want that to be the focus of this post. This is a rec, and as such, it should be just that. Truth be told, I'm sorry I let that person's remark cloud my judgement, because this really is a fantastic story.

This was such a fun and sexy read that I devoured this in one fell swoop. And okay, I guess another reason why I had passed this up initially was the word count. But it's an amazingly fast 27k read. Some stories of this size have slow sections, but I was completely entranced throughout. This is the kind of story I relish; fun, adventurous plot, promising relationships and hot smut. Did I say hot? I meant SCORCHING. There's enough burning here to satisfy a Viking send-off.

The plot did not let me down either. Set in the Forbidden Forest, it involves the unexplained deaths of magical creatures and Harry, Scorpius, Charlie and Draco are quickly set to the task of unravelling the mystery. The cooperation amongst such an unlikely quartet is believable and quite enjoyable. I also liked that Harry wrestled somewhat with the moral dilemma of courting Scorpius, because that's not always present in cross-gen stories involving this pairing. And honestly, I came for the Harry/Scorpius and left all warm and fuzzy over the Charlie/Draco. How's that for a switch? *G*

All in all, a very satisfying read. There are so many wonderful lines in this that I lost count. And I don't think I ever left a story liking Charlie as much as I did here. I know that 27k is long and time intensive, but I promise you won't leave disappointed.

[art] The Dangers of Sex In Broom Cupboards - Bill/Charlie/Tonks [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Hot like burning. And I love the artist's interpretations of the Brothers Weasley.

Enjoy all :-)

--P

The Taste of Magic - Harry/Draco, Harry/OMC [R] by romaine24.

A loss of magical ability through atmospheric degradation forces a lottery amongst the Wizarding populace. When the Goblet of Fire selects one hundred people to stay behind and conserve the energy, a separation of lives is inevitable. Will Harry and Draco find one another after a number of years and life changes? A though provoking yet necessary reminder of environmental circumstance and the consequences therein.

Inconsolable, or How Harry Potter Stopped H8ing and Learned to Love Video Games - Harry/Draco, secondary Harry/Ginny, tertiary Harry/Ron/Hermione [R] by novembersnow.

Harry Potter: The Video Game is all the rage in Wizarding Britain. Everyone's swept up in the video game craze. Everyone except Harry. When the temptation becomes too great to resist, Harry starts playing the game, much to his disgust. Only he's terribly uncoordinated at it and becomes addicted trying to further himself in the game. His addiction lands him in rehab where he encounters Malfoy who's afflicted with satyriasis. Very, very funny. Unlike anything of Snow's I've ever read. I am subtly reminded me of nimori's 'The Pandora Complex.'

Sly Quill - Harry/Draco [NC-17] by alisanne.

A merciless columnist named Sly Quill dominates The Quibbler, and no one is safe from the telling. Both Harry and Draco fall victim to the poison pen and join forces to expose the Quill's true identity. Illegal activity ensues when Luna is mum and favours neither with information. Will the truth set the boys free? Alisanne sets the stage with her usual and delightful fair of light-hearted mystery and scorching sex. Unravel you slowly, indeed!

Pour Faire un Choix (To Make a Choice) - Harry/Draco [R] by oldenuf2nb.

Out of pureblood duty and familial responsibility, Draco must marry the French Minister's daughter, but Draco's still in love with Harry. Will Draco follow his heart or his head? Lucius complicates matters by gently reminding Draco of his obligation throughout. Lots of lovely hurt/comfort and life questioning amidst a beautiful backdrop of Paris. Oldenuf is multi-talented, both narrating and illustrating this lovely romance. The matching lilies are a nice touch!

Scenes From a Remarkable Marriage by Minerva McGonagall - Severus/Hermione, past Ron/Hermione [PG13] by sassy_cissa.

Fans of romantic Snape/Hermione will absolutely adore this. Severus and Hermione work together in order to strengthen the war effort. Through a series of life altering events, a platonic understanding is forged that later develops into a bittersweet romance. I wish I could say more without spoiling the plot, but what I can tell you is that it's told by Minerva. A natural and believable progression of lives that intersect, diverge and then intersect again.

Enjoy all!

--P

I'll be back tomorrow with another hp10k_showcase post.

[hot pwp]

Breaking the Rules - Harry/Hugo, background Albus Severus/Scorpius [NC-17] by Mystery Author.

If you're looking for twisty plot or wordsmithy prose, you're not going to find it here. What you will find is a hot little smutlet starring a weak-willed Harry and a crafty Hugo. Harry finds himself bored at the annual Weasley-Potter picnic, wandering the carnival with kids in tow. When daughter Lily ditches him for a boy, Harry's left stranded with Hugo. And believe me, the Ferris Wheel is not the only fun that provides a dizzying effect.

I was a little unsure of Hugo's appearance at first. It doesn't really fit my impression. But when the smart-mouthed, lip-ringed, fag-smoking, tight jeans-wearing, fauxhawked Hugo speaks, you'll understand.

[hot snupin]

The Secret Sketchbooks of Hebi no Komori - Snape/Lupin [NC-17] by dingochow.

I found this by accident poking around crack_broom. I generally only read Snape/Lupin during Snupin Santa, and like most pairing-specific shippers, I have my favourite authors. So, you can imagine my girlish glee at discovering a writer whose work I'm not familiar with. Not to mention, someone who crosses two loves of mine.

After Snape's been canned as a chemist, he's left with more time to indulge in his other true passion; drawing. Specifically Japanese styling. When his highly successful manga comes to a close, he's stuck for story ideas - until his assistant Luna suggests his next protagonist be a werewolf. Snape's so taken with the idea that he creates the enigmatic Remus Lupin.

Now, I'm not big on bestiality at all, but Snape's dream with Lupin in wolfskin is mindscramblingly HOT. What happens next is pleasantly surprising.

My only quibble with this story is that I think it could have done with a slightly harder edit. There are a few typos, and I noticed the word 'ass' used, though it's only used once and as a noun in action not spoken form. Still, I found this to be a very engaging read. Hopefully, you will too.

[hot art]

Defiance - Snape/Harry/Draco [NWS] by katerina_black.

Enjoy all!

--P

This Week in Artses

Between the Dunderhead and Snape - Snape/Draco/Harry [NWS] by jin_fenghuang.

[Two pieces by oldenuf2nb]

Bliss - Harry/Draco [NWS].

The New Founders - Luna, Harry, Susan and Draco [WS].

Founding Fathers - Harry/Draco [WS] by __hibiscus.

Queen of Her Domain - Lucius/Narcissa [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Bed Photos - Harry/Draco [WS] by reira_21.

O-R: The Gory, Spoilery Alphabetic Guide to Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - Various Characters [WS] by naadi.

The Real Reason Snape's Portrait Wasn't Hung In The Headmaster's Office - Snape/Lupin [NWS] by ghot.

Snivellus [WS] by Ereya on Deviant Art.

Snape and Hermione South park Style [WS] by SiriuslySnogged.

Those We Love - James Potter [WS] by magrat_me.

Impressing Snape - Snape [WS] by LunaDarkness on Deviant Art.

Rose/Scorpius and Ron/Pany [NWS] by ericahpfa.

[Two pieces by draykonis]

Hugo and James [WS].

Watermelon Must Die - Lorcan and Mallet *G* [WS].

Enjoy all :-)

--P

I've really been enjoying HP10k immensely, so this is how I'm showing my gratitude to all the writers involved. I will comment and highlight every story posted.

hp10k_showcase

A Winter's Tale of Blood and Duty - Harry/Draco [R] by marguerite_26.

An owl finds its way into Harry's hands, and he accepts a plea to help Malfoys. A mystery unfolds surrounding Lucius's anomalous behaviour, and Harry and Draco must work alongside to piece together the puzzle. Lovely characterisations, particularly Draco and his panic attacks. This all comes together sharply in a bittersweet telling. By the end, I was wondering if the peacock was symbolic of the Malfoys themselves?

Glass Half Full - Ron/Pansy [R] by pir8fancier.

I almost didn't read this. I'm very picky when it comes to het, and I have zip zero zilch interest in Ron/Pansy as a ship. But Claire has never disappointed me, and I really had no reason to distrust her skill here either. No surprise I fucking loved this. A harsh yet honest look at alcoholism. This really tugged at my heartstrings, even if they are frayed at the edges. Who needs Motrin and fluids to cure a hangover, when Pir8 gets the message across in under 10k?

The Thread Measurer's Apprentice - Harry/Draco [PG] by sansa1970.

When Harry's dreams turn prophetic, he hermits himself in an act of desperation. Surprisingly, Draco becomes involved, and when Harry can no longer deal with the strain of saving lives, the torch is passed. A meeting with a homeless woman irrevocably changes Draco's life, and he and Harry share a bond unchangeable even by fate. Everything and nothing you'd expect from a beloved storytelling like Sansa.


Founder's Ball - Harry/Draco (and a dash of Luna/Susan on the side) [R] by rickey_a.

One of my favourites so far. When the rebirth of Hogwarts requires a representative from each of the four houses, Harry, Luna and Susan seem likely choices. But what of the unlikely choice for Slytherin? A clever premise and an impressive telling of bonds both magical and sexual that shape history. Fans of Salazar/Godric will love the parallels between Harry and Draco.

Ember - Harry/Draco [R] by alaana_fair.

A perfect marriage of angst and romance. Harry writes an autobiography that chronicles his twenty-three years, candidly speaking with an interviewer about life and love. When Draco disappears, Harry decides it's high time he reveals his once private relationship with Draco Malfoy. A touching look at homophobia and its prejudices, however hopeful.

Retroversion (With or Without You) - Harry/Draco [R] by melusinahp.

This is the heart and soul of a Harry/Draco story. They fight then breakup, fuck then makeup. But they never stop loving one another. Something sinister, however, threatens that familiar routine, and Draco is faced with a hard choice that may change things forever. Oh, and did I mention this story is skillfully told backwards with the ending still intact?

Enjoy all!

--P

The Subtle Art of List Making - Oliver/Percy, Oliver/OMC [NC-17] by Mystery Author.

I've had this bookmarked since it was posted. I'm so glad I made time for this today, because SS, my dearhearts, is how you do rarepair.

Not the type of fic you'd expect me to like, I'm sure. Oliver's a jock. Percy just screams 'nerd alert.' And it's about ten shades lighter than I like my fic atmosphere. But it's got that je ne sais quois that I've come to love with Sirius/James and the odd Dean/Seamus.

Here, the situation's reversed. Instead of Percy being the obvious admirer, he's the oblivious one and Oliver's the frustrated pursuer. His ingenious plan includes a list (and little else, LOL!) with which to charm the pants off the unsuspecting Percy.

Oliver's so made of flail that he comes by charming naturally. He cuts holes in his socks to talk (what else?) socks with Percy. Buys him rule books on Magical and Muggle Law. Silly shit that made me smile from ear to ear.

And Percy is rightly freckled and smells like peaches and casually says 'I'll think about it' after Oliver kisses him.

Then there's Katie, head from the Hufflepuff Head Boy and Oliver's paranoia with Roger Davies and his supposed secret lair.

Just a fun romp. Have a go, why dontcha?

--P

and yes, yes there will be a 'big frakin' fic recs' post later tonight. for now, you get artses. so, sit down, shaddap and drool.

[this week in artses]

two scorching pics by nk_aoede

ain't no bitches - sirius/remus [ws]

red - harry/sirius [nws]

two scorching pics by oldenuf2nb

snape/harry [nws]

albus severus/scorpius [pg-13 for kissing]

sirius/remus [nws] by ericahpfa

the final ball of sirius black - sirius and sirius/various [both ws and nws] by various artists.

the site's in russian, but there are some lovely pics of snape/sirius and sirius/james. *purrs*

ice cream - harry/draco [ws] by __hibiscus

snowy day - Harry [ws] by constantine2530 on deviant art.

chocolate frog card - harry [ws] by stellamoon

unhappy mother's day [ws] by tripperfunster

oh god, did i let out a whoop at this one. i'm pretty sure this is snape/harry, but no matter the pairing, it's fuckin' funny as all hell. tripper's brain scares me. but in a good way. *g*

close the circle - snape/harry/draco [nws] by amanitamuscaria.

just a sketch, but i cannot resist the hotness that is a 69 triangulation. knowing snape, it's a perfect equilateral triangle, too :P

by his words, a gryffindor - snape/harry/draco [nws] by zephre

enjoy all!

--p

[this week in ficses]

The Path of Least Resistance - Teddy/Albus Severus. Past unrequited Teddy/James. Appearances by Harry and Luna [R] by snegurochka_lee.

I love major character death.

There, I've said it. And while I'm at it, I'll go on to say that I adore damaged characters, and I crave fucked up situations.

Why, you ask?

It's fucking life, man. And life is not always on our side.

Lee's fic is a heartrending fusion of both hopelessness and hopefulness, illustrating the gritty realism of addiction. Teddy Lupin, five or so years out of Hogwarts, works a dead-end job in a bar. He shows all of the early signs of an addict; depression, alienation, boredom and anger. And when James comes along, he's lost to both the boy and the little gold phial that becomes his bottled sunshine. From there it spirals out of control, and you're gut-punched with the grim reality that is dependence. Unpretty and not the least bit prejudiced.

Enter Albus Severus. Headstrong. Determined. You know the type. Hell-bent on keeping Teddy clean and sober. But Harry has an estranged relationship with Teddy and forbids Albus Severus contact. A compassionate friendship develops between Teddy and Al, but it becomes dysfunctional before it grows healing, and the journey between the points is affecting.

The boys are all exceptionally characterised, but Luna really stands out as Teddy's counselor/healer. Her healing methods are splendidly and sweetly unorthodox. Pay careful attention to her chair. *G*

In short, this was just a brilliant fic. The subject matter's difficult, I know, but Lee always pulls out the stops and she never, ever disappoints.

There's also a wonderful illustration from the lovely raitala to accompany the fic.

Read All About It - Harry/Scorpius [PG] by fbowden.

Normally, I don't care for author insertions, but Flic handles this artfully as the story's interviewer. When the rare opportunity arises to converse with Harry Potter on his relationship with Scorpius, Flic wields her QQQ with style and class. Absolutely adorable. I'm shocked I haven't seen this done before.

To Hell and Back- Harry/Draco [R] by furiosity and incapricious.

[hp/bleach crossover - wip]

It's just the prologue so far, but this looks very promising. If you're a fan of the anime Bleach, I highly recommend checking this out. Rowling and Kubo's worlds are both rich and complex, and I've no doubt the crossover will be seamless.

[retro snack - fic and art]

Fifty-three Stories About Snape and Black [R? NC-17?] by amanuensis1.

Amy rocks on just so many levels. Not only does she write Snape/Black with unparalleled skill, she conquers all 53 prompts. Some of these are downright fucking hilarious, too. Not a huge fan of Snape/Black? Won't matter here. Who doesn't love to laugh their fucking arse off? Bring tissues and a clean change of knickers. Younger than Springtime, indeed!

No Romance [NWS] by nassima.

OMFG, CHECK PLEASE!!! Now this...is how you do hate!sex.

Enjoy all :-)

--P

There will be fic recs Wednesday to kick off the start of hp10k_showcase. Should be some great fics there :-)

[artses]

Hugo's Horrible Science - Hugo Weasley [WS] by draykonis.

Wicked - Ginny/Tom [PG-13] by the0quiet0girl.

Harry, Ron and Harry/Ron [WS and NWS] by cork.

A Promise Kept - Snape/Bill [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Hidden in Plain Sight - Snape/Lily [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Pansy [NWS] by isobelhawk.

Wedding Portrait - Snape/Hermione [WS] by Mystery Artist.

[retro artses]

snape/draco

Alea Iacta Est [WS] by lizardspots.

charlie

Tattoo Series [WS] by _odella_.

The Dragon Keeper [WS] by leelastarsky.

Untitled [WS] by thanfiction.

Enjoy all!

--P

[snape/weasleys]

To Ev'ry Wandering Bark, A Star - Snape/Percy [R] by Mystery Author.

I immediately clicked on this because, I love a well-written Snape/Percy fic. Though, upon seeing the word count, I was more than a little disappointed. A PWP, I thought? Meh. I require a bit of backstory when it comes to rarepairs.

However, and this is a huge however, this story required no more than the 1,100 words the author wrote. Snape and Percy really do compliment one another beautifully here, too, both physically and metaphysically.

I must laud the author's ingenious style. It's imaginative and inspired. Two side-by-side first person POVs that work collectively. Admittedly, this style is not going to be to everyone's tastes, but in my opinion, it's definitely worth the time investment. It takes real skill to produce such tight, well-characterised writing.

As the Gentle Rain - Snape/Bill, Snape/OMCs [NC-17] by joanwilder.

I read this about two months ago, and I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to rec this. Now seemed a fitting time.

I had the pleasure of meeting Joan last summer at Terminus, and she's one of the nicest fandomers out there. Her Snarries are sublime, and she plays extraordinarily well at team captain. In, short, I'm very pleased to be reccing this.

I've had many conversations with people on the minutiae of D/s relationships. The idea that a socially demanding individual could shed their dominant persona in the bedroom eludes them. Here, Snape does just that, falling consensually and convincingly under Bill's command. And you know -- Snape dropping to his knees is just a beautiful thing.

The story's well paced. The attraction builds gradually as Snape watches Bill mature from boy to man. Much to Joan's credit, nothing happens between them until Bill's left Hogwarts. Snape furtively leaves Bill with an offer to rendezvous, somewhat convinced that Bill sees him as nothing more than a passing fancy. But when Bill makes good on his promise, the two enter into a mutually beneficial relationship that's both intense and loving.

Another thing that I really enjoyed about this fic was Snape's sexual discovery. His submissive tendencies were not indulgent whims rather they were well-developed and natural progressions expressed through sexual encounters with trusted guides. I highly recommend this to any Snape fan, even those who prefer Snape to top. The subject matter is handled expertly and maturely.

BTW -- I'm looking for Snape/Charlie recs. If you have any, please link me. Just no PWPs, please.

Enjoy all :-)

--P

[Ficses]

Master Green Eyes - Snape/Harry [NC-17] by fbowden.

[warning for off-screen Mpreg]

I'll be perfectly blunt. I don't like Mpreg. Truthfully, until they invent a word stronger than hate, I'll have to be happy with that. The very concept of a man giving birth escapes me. And will continue to escape me long after I've left fandom.

I wanted to hate this fic. No, really, I did. But try as I might, I just couldn't. Master Green Eyes is simply too compelling a story.

You're shocked, I know. Believe me, so am I. I'll be lucky to even recover from this. But sometimes these little surprises creep up on us, and we're loath to ignore their charms.

Flic doesn't waste valuable time explaining ridiculous notions of imaginary wombs and birth canals. Instead, she comes up with a fairly non-descript concept that's plausible within the magical realm. And she handles it in a mature fashion.

Instead, she gets right to the heart of the matter and gives us Aurelius Prince, the unassuming stringy-haired boy who comes to Hogwarts and sorts Gryffindor. Harry is thoroughly convinced the boy is Snape's and sets off on his own to quell his curiosity. Not much of a mystery there, but the bonding that ensues between Harry and Aurelius is genuinely sweet, if not heartwarming at times.

There's also the matter of Harry's relationship with Snape and the ups and downs of being involved with so difficult a man. I can't begrudge Snape his desire for a happy home life (Lord knows Jo shat all over that :P), but there's an undeniable selfishness that inadvertently mucks with Harry's basic human rights.

What can I tell you? I'll never be an advocate for Mpreg, but I really adored Master Green Eyes. It's six chapters totalling thirty thousand words, and honestly?

I would have happily read six more.

In which Snape befriends an old grey donkey, and life is gloomy, as usual - Snape and Eeyore [G] by gm_weasley.

Two gloomier souls never existed! A very inventive crossover. Srsly, the only thing missing is Snape's cock tacked to his groin with a nail. Ouchies!

[Artses]

Displayed to Advantage - Harry [NWS] by lizardspots.

Bloody Tease - Harry/Draco [NWS] by oldenuf2nb.

Opinionated, Still - Snape/Snape [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Relax, Kitten - Fenrir/Draco [NWS] by Mystery Artist.

Pony Bitch [NWS] by froggie.

Original kink art. Pony-play is my bullet proof kink.

Albus Severus/Scorpius [NWS] by draykonis.

Monochrome Reflections - Snape [WS] by theartema.

Enjoy all!

--P

[Ficses]

Steal Me - James/Sirius [NC-17] by snegurochka_lee.

Just a perfect piece of BFF fuckage. The prompt/pairing works PERFECTLY here. Lee makes this look too easy.

Fallen Far From the Tree - Albus Severus/Snape, Snape/Harry [NC-17] by Anon Author.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

When promising potioneer Albus Severus learns of his father's infidelity with Snape, Al uses his Slytherin wiles to try and best the master himself. Things eventually go awry. But for whom?

Sticking With It - Harry/Scorpius [NC-17] by the_con_cept.

This is such a feel good fic. I was smiles from ear to ear. Through no fault of his own (sheah!), Scorpius binds himself with Sellotape and botched spells, and Harry's put in charge of his care for a week. Naughty hijinx ensue. God, TCC's Scorpius is such a wicked minx, I swear. Nngh!

The Four Founders, by Severus Snape, aged four-and-a-half - Snape [G] by drachenmina.

Okay, this? One-hundred words of the most adorable ferociousness ever from probably the least adorable four-year-old ever. Oh, wee Severus, how I love thee. *hearts*

[Retro Snack]

People have been bitching lately about the absence of Snape/Black, so I thought I'd post a favourite of mine a week. And who better to start with than Lee?

Black Chords (the Firework of Madness Remix) - Snape/Black (background James/Sirius and Snape/Lily) [NC-17] by snegurochka_lee.

I think I could count the times on one hand where I've betaed a fic and found absolutely nothing wrong with it. After I'd read this the first time, I just thought 'wow, this is fucking perfect.' I was terribly envious of Lee, too, after I'd read this, because I wanted it to be my creation. I'm greedy that way. *G* It's a short fic; under three-thousand words. But it's still in my top five.

How best to sum up this fic? How about the grudgefuck version of 'If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with.' Only it's twisted and brutal, and if Snape were to ask me to write two feet of parchment on the merits of hate!sex, I'd fucking give him five. There are just some great fucking lines in this. Here, let me show you.

Black is the perfect name for him: dark and dirty and hot like coal. Charred.

He smells like Potter, like Gryffindor success, like toothy grins and arms slung over shoulders and laughter in the midst of detention. He practically bleeds privilege: the school favourite, every girl's dream and every boy's envy. He struts instead of walking, drawls instead of talking, and doesn't think of anyone but himself for longer than five minutes at a time.

The best thing about this fic? Dude, the last line. If this fic consisted of nothing but the last line, I'd still love it. HARD.

Enjoy all!

--P