Some Fest Recs

I meant to be all systematic about my fest reading, as befits the OCD/CDO that I am -- you know, start with the very first fic in each fest and read in order until the very last fic -- but, well...I didn't. I just read a few things that "spoke" to me, whether because of pairing or summary.

So here are a few gems from the pick-and-choose approach:

From mini_fest:

Crucio for Christmas (Severus, Minerva, Voldemort; PG)
Snape spends the evening Voldemort and somehow manages to turn his visit into a Christmas gift for Minerva. Chilling, funny (in that 'I'm screaming' way that only madness can be), ironic, and IC.

From Kinky Kristmas at daily_deviant:

Dudley Dursley and the Fucking Thereof (Dudley/Millicent; Hard R)
This story is told in first person by Millicent, and what a wonderful character she is. The Mystery Author (though I have my suspicions) gives us a textbook lesson in "How to Create a Stellar Character Voice and Use It to Wow Your Readers." I laughed, I laughed some more, I loved this.

From hp_holidaygen:

Every Advantage (Minerva, Moody, Albus, Aberforth; PG)
No fluff here -- just a taut, bleak, beautifully-characterized glimpse of some of the realities of war.

Seeds of Change (Luna, Neville, Draco, with cameos by Minerva, the Trio, and Albus; G)
Minerva gives her students an interesting magical assignment. I love the clever premise of this fic and the inventive magic and the way the author's themes feel true to the spirit of canon.

More recs to come now that I'm finally FREE TO READ!