The Last (sniff) Hoggywartyxmas Recs
Jan. 8th, 2024 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kelly_chamblissTomorrow (Snape's birthday, of course), the final ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hoggywartyxmas reveals will be posted, and thus, after 14 glorious years, one of my very favorite HP fests will come to its end.
Of course I hate to see it go, but there are silver linings galore: first and foremost, the archive of marvelous stories and artworks will remain available. I have returned to reread and re-view my various favorites again and again over the years, and I plan a new tradition now: each year, on the traditional opening day of the grand Hoggywarty party, I will sit down with a bit of bubbly and some sort of nibble loaded with cheese, and I will revisit a few of the fest highlights.
Another silver lining is that the friends and community ofhoggywartyxmas -- always expertly shepherded by the clever and efficient therealsnape, and kept going by the Hoggywarty family of writers, artists, and participants -- will also remain. I've made some dear and (I hope) life-long friends through this fest and this fandom, and I plan to keep them even when the fest itself has become a mere memory.
But those are plans for the future. For today, I will indulge in my final rec post. As always, the fest is packed with treasures; there's not a single entry that is unworthy of your time. This year, in addition to the usual excellent stories and artwork, we had fine filk, "book club" discussions, knitting (in a super-clever, well-crafted mystery story) and even recipes (courtesy of Filius Flitwick).
Thus the selections below represent just a few of the gems of the fest. We had fewer entries this year than usual, so I am limiting myself to just four recs. But seriously, you should go check out everything. You won't be sorry.
Title: Hag Tales
Author:Anonymous for now squibstress
Pairings: Minerva McG/Amelia Bones, Minerva McG/Alastor Moody, Minerva McG/Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, with visits from the Sorting Hat, Albus Dumbledore, Andromeda Black (Tonks), and Neville Longbottom.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~9000
Absolutely brilliant. This story has catapulted itself into the upper reaches of my Valhalla of HP Fanfic, firmly established in my list of top five best fanfics ever. Exceptionally well-characterized, beautifully written, packed with insights, and cliche-free -- the sort of writing that would make me envious if I weren't just so lost in admiration.
Wow.
Title: Hunger, or the Midnight Snack
Author:Anonymous for now zaleti
Pairings: Minerva McGonagall/Severus Snape
Rating: R
Word Count: 1625
My favorite het pairing, sharply written, nicely characterized, and hot! What's not to love?
Title: Embers and Soot
Creators:serenaew and the "Embers and Soot" Virtual Choir
Serena calls this filk "an a cappella mashup." I call it beautiful, haunting, and exceptionally clever. I've listened to this piece a dozen times now, and I'm simply enchanted.
Title:: Singing Card from the Staff
Artist:Anonymous for now cabepfir
Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Madam Hooch, Irma Pince, Horace Slughorn, Hagrid, Pomona Sprout, Aurora Sinistra, Sybill Trelawney, Severus Snape
Rating: G
A beautifully-drawn bit of holiday cheer and comfort, with each character sharply and lovingly delineated. And the carol is sung in Latin (as it should be, imo!)
hoggywartyxmas reveals will be posted, and thus, after 14 glorious years, one of my very favorite HP fests will come to its end.Of course I hate to see it go, but there are silver linings galore: first and foremost, the archive of marvelous stories and artworks will remain available. I have returned to reread and re-view my various favorites again and again over the years, and I plan a new tradition now: each year, on the traditional opening day of the grand Hoggywarty party, I will sit down with a bit of bubbly and some sort of nibble loaded with cheese, and I will revisit a few of the fest highlights.
Another silver lining is that the friends and community of
hoggywartyxmas -- always expertly shepherded by the clever and efficient therealsnape, and kept going by the Hoggywarty family of writers, artists, and participants -- will also remain. I've made some dear and (I hope) life-long friends through this fest and this fandom, and I plan to keep them even when the fest itself has become a mere memory.But those are plans for the future. For today, I will indulge in my final rec post. As always, the fest is packed with treasures; there's not a single entry that is unworthy of your time. This year, in addition to the usual excellent stories and artwork, we had fine filk, "book club" discussions, knitting (in a super-clever, well-crafted mystery story) and even recipes (courtesy of Filius Flitwick).
Thus the selections below represent just a few of the gems of the fest. We had fewer entries this year than usual, so I am limiting myself to just four recs. But seriously, you should go check out everything. You won't be sorry.
Title: Hag Tales
Author:
squibstressPairings: Minerva McG/Amelia Bones, Minerva McG/Alastor Moody, Minerva McG/Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, with visits from the Sorting Hat, Albus Dumbledore, Andromeda Black (Tonks), and Neville Longbottom.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~9000
Absolutely brilliant. This story has catapulted itself into the upper reaches of my Valhalla of HP Fanfic, firmly established in my list of top five best fanfics ever. Exceptionally well-characterized, beautifully written, packed with insights, and cliche-free -- the sort of writing that would make me envious if I weren't just so lost in admiration.
Wow.
Title: Hunger, or the Midnight Snack
Author:
zaletiPairings: Minerva McGonagall/Severus Snape
Rating: R
Word Count: 1625
My favorite het pairing, sharply written, nicely characterized, and hot! What's not to love?
Title: Embers and Soot
Creators:
serenaew and the "Embers and Soot" Virtual ChoirSerena calls this filk "an a cappella mashup." I call it beautiful, haunting, and exceptionally clever. I've listened to this piece a dozen times now, and I'm simply enchanted.
Title:: Singing Card from the Staff
Artist:
cabepfirCharacters: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Madam Hooch, Irma Pince, Horace Slughorn, Hagrid, Pomona Sprout, Aurora Sinistra, Sybill Trelawney, Severus Snape
Rating: G
A beautifully-drawn bit of holiday cheer and comfort, with each character sharply and lovingly delineated. And the carol is sung in Latin (as it should be, imo!)