Whoops HPSA's alive-- and an idea

[icarus]

I have an idea.

The benefit of the HPSA was not that people picked the greatest Harry Potter stories ever, but that the HPSA collected, democraticly, a large number high-quality recs in various pairings and ratings.

Many of you know that I talked to Natalie of the HPSA about a complimentary contest, the details of which are not needed here as tinderblast pointed out some fundamental flaws in my idea (yeah, she was right).

A Nominations Page
Fool that I am, I'm creating a nominations page on my site.

Here's how it works:
1 - Give me a link, an author's name and email, pairing, rating & summary (and any warnings please).
2 - I'll post it in my LJ.
3 - If someone seconds the nomination, then I'll add the link to my site (with credit to the person who recommended it).

This is open to any pairing, any rating, Gen, Slash, Chan, Mpreg, Squidfic, Femmeslash -- whatever. It is not subject to my tastes, nor am I allowed to nominate or second anything myself. (Ah, democracy!) I only request (unenforceable of course) that people not nominate (or second) their own work.

Now I'm rather busy and an utter fool to do this, so links will be added on my availability of time and personal whim. But I'll try to get them up once a month or so. Without further ado...

The Nominations Are Now Open!

You can nominate anything, but if we need focus (or an idea scratcher) let's see some Fred/George.

Comments

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

Hi Icarus! *waves* I'm new on your LJ, so I hope I got this right. Otherwise I'm just plain stupid. :) I have more recs, but they'll have to wait till tomorrow when I have more time. Anyway, on with the 'nominations'.

If You Are Prepared (http://www.swish-n-flick.netfirms.com/images/coverpages/iyap_cover.htm) by Cybele (cybele_san) SS/HP, NC-17
Well, I doubt there will be many people who don't know this one, but anyway... The story is novel length and picks up a month or so after the end of book four. Harry and Snape have to go into hiding together. That doesn't quite cover it, but it's rather difficult to provide an adequate summary for this one. The relationship that slowly builds between Harry and Snape is not a simple one, and Snape struggles with the idea of having a relationship with a student.
What can I say about this fic? It's my favourite fic ever. The characterisation is absolutely wonderful -- from Snape to minor characters such as Remus and Malfoy. They're all very real and you can't help but love them, even if they're far from perfect. Or perhaps because of that. The story is dark and hilarious at the same time, and left me on the edge of tears and laughing myself silly at the same time more than once. Oh, and it's absolutely heart-wrenching. The only fic ever managing to make me cry. Really cry. This is the kind of story that will haunt you for days after you've read it, that just won't let go, and will tear at your heart every time again. But I don't regret reading it for a moment.

Quill and Ink (www.swish-n-flick.netfirms.com/stories/quill_and_ink.htm) by Cybele SS/HP, NC-17
Someone nominated Something To Write On, and I think the sequel, Quill and Ink, is definitely more than worth the read, too. It's 'just' a PWP, but it's hot and it's original. And god I want to lick Cybele's Snape.

Hell: Frozen Over (http://www.swish-n-flick.netfirms.com/stories/game.htm) by Cybele SS/HP/SB/RL, NC-17
This is the sequel to The Eager Student (http://www.swish-n-flick.netfirms.com/stories/eager_student.htm) and The Road to Hell (http://www.swish-n-flick.netfirms.com/stories/roadtohell.htm), which are definitely worth the read, too, but Hell: Frozen Over has to be one of the most hilarious fics I've ever read. It's Harry's birthday, and he'd like a special present. Which somehow ends up with Snape, Harry, Remus and Sirius playing a rather interesting card game. Yes, it's what you think. Meet manipulative!Harry and manipulative!Remus (a delightful pair, really) and grouchy!Snape and !Sirius. But ah, they're such fun together. And the characterisation is wonderful in this one, too.

Sal Si Puedes I, II, III and IV (http://www.geocities.com/exlibrissnape/author.html#becca) by Becca (aqua_alta) SS/BW for part one, SS/RL for the others, NC-17
Angst. Lots and lots of angst. But the good kind, and very well written, I think. Snape and Remus 'accidentally' end up mated after spending the night together, and Remus finds out what it's like to be mated to someone. He tries to ignore the bond, tries to push Snape away, but the bond turns out to be stronger than he is. The need just seeps from the screen in this one. And then there is, of course, some plot, but it's the relationship between Remus and Snape that remains the most captivating. And all of this leads to an absolutely heart-breaking end. You've been warned.

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

The Longest Time (www.sockiipress.org/~luthien/snapeff/archive/longest.html) by Becca SS/??, NC-17
This is a short story that somehow always manages to make me smile. One night, Snape receives a letter, and he writes back. But who is the mysterious writer? It's hot, it's funny, and you won't be able to decide whether to keep reading the interactions or skipping to the end to see who the writer is.

Sedation in Agony (Closed-doors.cyberbree.com/archive/sedation.html)/Closer to Redemption (Closed-doors.cyberbree.com/archive/redemption.html) by Hazelnut (umbrarumregni) SS/RL, NC-17, non-con
This is a darkfic. This is non-con. Explicit and very violent non-con. If you're easily squicked by this kind of thing, please don't read it.
These two fics take place during PoA, at a time where Remus believes Sirius has indeed betrayed him and their friends. And Remus longs to forget... This was the first non-con fic I'd ever read, and at the time, the characterisation completely blew my mind away. In the meantime, I've read my share of fics with remarkable characterisation, but this remains one of my favourites. Especially, Closer to Redemption, which is told from Snape's POV. Twisting and chilling.