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]

I believe you mentioned you wanted some Fred/George recs? :) Unfortunately, I don't know many good ones, and the two I do know aren't very smutty... But still.

Let's Get Metaphysical (http://tilly.bacchae.org/metaphysical.htm) by Mathilda (tillytilly) Fred/George, R according to the author, but it's more of a Gen fic.
This is a brief fic in which one of the twins muses on what it's like to be a twin. There's little plot here, but this story has always fascinated me. tillytilly asks some very relevant questions about what it's like to be a twin -- especially the way J.K. Rowling describes them -- and trying to find your individuality. The rather clever last question certainly made me smile. Very original fic, in my opinion.

An Alphabet of Objects (http://esther.brown.rice.edu/sinope/stories/alphabet.html) by Sinope (eponis) Fred/George, PG-13
For every word in the alphabet, eponis lists an object (or sometimes something more abstract like "secrets") and expands on its relation to the twins. Slowly, with every new word, we find out more about the relationship between the twins, and yes, there's actually even a little story to it. But the beauty of this fic consists of its slow pace and often seeminlgy unimportant details, and how amongst those details we find the very foundation of their relationship. Cleverly done and well written.

Control by Capitalflash (at RS.org (restrictedsection.org)) Fred/Percy/George, NC-17, non-con
Very brief Percy-centric fic, written in second person. This story tells of how Fred and George Weasley 'control' Percy. I can't really think of anything to say but that it is rather disturbing. Satisfyingly disturbing. Heed the non-con warning.

Love Bites (http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/story.php?no=8538) by Mathilda and Hazelnut (tillytilly and umbrarumregni) RL/SS, RL/SB, NC-17, all sorts of gruesome warnings (not listed -- non-con a.o.), WIP
If you're squicked by blood, non-con or very twisted people, stay away from this fic. However, if you like that kind of thing, you've just arrived in heaven. I don't really know what to say about it. Remus is in a relationship with Sirius, but Snape has an odd fascination for Remus. Includes a very gruesome description of the 'prank', and very disturbed people. No relationship, no character is simple in this fic. It's harshly written and very, very dark, the kind of dark I personally love to wallow in.

Must. Stop. Rambling. They won't fit in one comment...

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

Lukewarm (http://www.geocities.com/juxian1972/lukewarm.htm)/Mine (http://www.geocities.com/juxian1972/mine.htm)/Out of Darkness (http://www.geocities.com/juxian1972/outofdarkness.htm) by Juxian Tang (juxiantang) RL/SS, an overall NC-17
Ah, what to say. In Lukewarm, Remus finds out his accommodations have certain... advantages. Or disadvantages, as far as he is concerned. His room is next to Snape's and, with his sharp werewolf smell and good sense of hearing, he can pick up on certain... things. A very conflicted Remus Lupin here, and at least at the beginning, a bit harsher than we (think we) know him. And yet, his characterisation is fascinating, the writing designed to draw you into his mind. juxiantang does not describe a beautiful, perfect world, nor beautiful, perfect people, which is exactly what makes me love this fic. Remus still struggles with Sirius's death, and Snape is his usual cold, snarky self -- and yet, through Remus's POV, she manages to perfectly capture Snape's vulnerability, without once making him seem out of character. The writing flows perfectly and never becomes fluffy, and for me, at least, pushes all the right buttons. In Mine, the story switches to Snape's POV. Remus and Snape start an awkward relationship, while Snape still spies for the Order of the Phoenix. Again, a wonderful characterisation of Snape, surprisingly insecure yet cold and sometimes downright mean. But still caring very much about Remus. In Out of Darkness, the POV switches back to Remus. Snape suffers the consequences of some of the events in Mine, and Remus notices he behaves rather oddly. Snape, however, refuses to say what is wrong, and when Remus finally finds out, he's rather taken aback. Juxian has a good feel for detail, and knows just when to introduce a little bit of humour, balancing out the story. Beautiful writing and characterisations, and one of my favourite stories ever.
Quotes:
I hate it. It's so much more than I ever wanted to know about Snape.
And it's distracting. Here, in Hogwarts, I could've felt so comfortable, welcomed and at home - the only place where I feel at home. Why do I have to be aware of Snape's dirty pastime - secrets that should be hidden, never revealed to anyone?
[Lupin's] eyes have this ill, clouded look in them that always makes me want to hit him; and at the same time, hold him, and never let anyone else touch him.

Staffroom Seduction (www.angelfire.com/wizard/dovielr/stories/staffroom/Staffroom00.html) by DovieLR (dovielr) SS/RL, NC-17, BDSM
If you don't like BDSM, this is probably not your kind of story, as it handles things like bloodplay and collaring. I once read someone saying that this is one of the few 'meaningful' BDSM stories out there. I'll have to agree. If the BDSM is extreme (but then, Lupin is a werewolf with remarkable regenerative capabilities), the relationship between Lupin and Snape is layered, meaningful and at times even sweet, but in a credible way. Lupin is his usual gentle (but witty and humorous) self, and tries to convince Snape that he is not a bad nor an ugly person, and Snape slowly yields. The writing is good, and the scenes flow from harsh to light and humorous. The story, told entirely from Snape's POV, takes place during PoA (it perfectly integrates canon information), and we all know how that ends. Staffroom Seduction II is however being written, so there is no need to despair. :)

Um. Or even two...

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

Truth (http://inkstain.slashcity.net/isf/archive/12/truth.html) by thisveryinstant (thisveryinstant) HP/SS, NC-17
This fic has more than once been called 'canon Snarry', and with good reason. Snape and Harry are perfectly in character, anger and righteous indignation driving each of them. When Snape has the class brew a Truth Potion, and makes Harry the test subject, things get a little out of hand. Anger and hatred crackle between them all through the fic, and lead to rather hot smut by the end of the story, leaving both characters rather confused.

Cordelictus (http://www.tittisrealm.com/thinline/main.html) by Fabula Rasa (fabularasa) SS/SB, NC-17
I'm not really into Snape/Black, but fabularasa 's writing is excellent, her stories credible and hot. In this story, Snape and Sirius are already in a relationship together. To prove how serious he is about their relationship, Sirius bonds them together using a Dark spell, with rather unexpected consequences. This story should definitely get a prize for the most Snape-ish declaration of love ever. You have to read it, if only for that, though the entire story is definitely more than worth reading.