Some Final KK and SH Recs

[kelly_chambliss]

Alas, almost all the holiday fests have finished posting, and I'd be in fandom despair (or something) if it weren't that hoggywartyxmas and snapecase are still going on.

But there are still plenty of gems to share with you:

From snapelyholidays:

Father to the Man by Anonymous (Snape/Filch; NC-17)
This fic is one of my favorites of the fest season -- a clever, thought-provoking time-travel story that starts with a birthing scene (both metaphorical and literal) and ends with...well, you'll want to see that for yourself. It's beautifully written and plotted (you'll be kept guessing till the end), and the characterizations are excellent: practical, shrewd, gruffly-kind Filch; snappish, impetuous, compelling Snape; and the best child character I've read in many a day.

Nowt to Be Afraid Of (Snape, Eileen gen; PG)
Another cleverly-plotted story, poignant and hopeful, with a believable Eileen and an intriguing take on the "what if?" question.

A Carol Sung Off-Key by Anonymous (Snape/Lupin; NC-17)
A sharply-written and funny retelling of Dickens's A Christmas Carol with a delightfully irritated Snape and excellent versions of lines from the original.

Tensile Strength by Anonymous (Snape/Neville; NC-17)
Ow. This fic is painful and gritty and grim yet also compelling and believable. It offers a post-war world in which yes, Voldemort was defeated, and no, that fact doesn't make life any easier or better for the survivors. Snape is still a bastard, Neville is still oppressed, but in the end, we see the strength of both of them as well as a sliver of hope.

From Kinky Kristmas at daily_deviant:

A Toy at Christmas by Anonymous thegildedmagpie (Draco Malfoy/Barty-Crouch-Jr-as-Moody; NC-17)
This fic is about a spoiled brat and a despicable, twisted, sadistic bully, and I hung on every word. Expertly-told from Moody!Crouch's pov, the story will leave you feeling like you need a good bath. I say these things with great admiration, for this work is a masterful study of character and voice. It makes you really feel the evil, madness, and danger of the character.

And don't forget the wonderful McGonagall/Hooch art, Seeker. I recced this a couple of days ago, but it's worth another look.

I'm deliberately behind on my reading at hoggywartyxmas, because I like to save things to savor later. But stay tuned for some recs (if I can resist just linking to every story).