alisanne

So I totally spaced! I meant to do this before but, alas, here I am at the last minute collating daily_deviant recs.
What follows are the fics I haven't before recced that I always return to when I need a good, delicious, DD read.

( Recs ahoy! )
And that's all I have time for at the moment.
Seriously though, there's something at daily_deviant for everyone, so if these don't do it for you, go trawl through the tags there. I guarantee you'll find something yummy. <3

Do I have a rec for you guys!
It's from severus_fest and it's a tad long, but it's worth every minute you spend on it.
The Beating of This Fragile Heart is a slow build, luscious Snarry in which Harry is gorgeously persistent and determined, Severus is his usual irascible self, and they come to find that they can't live apart. Severus won't let Harry tell anyone about the relationship. Until something tragic happens and Severus ends up letting the cat out of the bag. Their evolving relationship is beautifully handled, as are the reactions of Harry's friends. The ending is lovely and satisfying, and the sex is spectacular! *g*
Go now and read.

I seem to be on a bit of a reccing streak these days. :)
Anyway, the following are from the recently concluded smutty_claus and from severus_fest, which is currently posting.

Fic:

• How The Matchmake Met Her Match by katmarajade, George/Lavender, (NC-17)
  This is the absolutely hilarious story of Lavender the matchmaker and her unwitting client George. Lavender has his number at every turn, until he tries to turn the tables on her and they both end up with more than they bargained for. Lovely, sexy read.
  
  

Art:

• Morning Glory by glitter_pink, Neville/Lavender, (R)
  Beautiful, beautiful art depicting Neville leaning over a very lucky Lavender. This captures a gorgeously intimate moment between them.
  
  
• Master Brewer by Anonymous shadowycat, Severus, (G)
  A lovely study of the master brewer at work. Check out his luscious robes and the intriguing potion he's decanting. Great piece.
  
  
• Hitting the Mark by Anonymous cabepfir, Severus, Eileen, (G)
  This watercolor depicts an intense moment between Severus and his mother, the revelation that he's a Death Eater. Eileen is not pleased, the expression on her face makes that clear, but Severus is defiant. This is beautifully depicted by their tense posture and facial expressions. I love the clear resemblance between them, the color scheme is prefect, and I can just see this scene unfolding. Gorgeous work.
  
  

So now that Secret Snarry Swap is over, I've expanded my reading to include a fest I wasn't that familiar with: hoggywartyxmas. What you see here are things I especially enjoyed from it, hd_erised, and mini_fest this week.
I'm still working my way through hoggywartyxmas, so more recs may be forthcoming. And I've another fest on my radar now that the holiday season is over. *eyes hd_owlpost*
Anyway, as always I urge you to go out, read, and rec. And of course, if you find something you enjoy, make sure to leave some love.

Fics:

• Incongruent by Anonymous agentmoppet, Harry/Draco, [NC-17]
  An Eighth Year fic in which Umbridge is her usual evil self, Harry has to be shown the error of his assumptions, and Draco is and isn't himself. Everyone felt very much like their canon selves, almost scarily so at times and yet people seem to have learned from their mistakes (all except Umbridge, she never learns). A lovely story.
  
  
• The Gift by Anonymous lash_larue, Minerva McGonagall/Sybil Trelawney, (PG)
  A beautifully bittersweet story about the real reason Sybil acts as she does and how Minerva (and all her colleagues) come to see her for her true self and try to help her through her suffering. And the last line is fabulous. *g*
  
  

Art:

• I want to be the first thing you touch in the morning by Anonymous primea, Harry/Draco, [PG-13]
  A gorgeous piece of art featuring the play of light off Draco's naked back and Harry's face. This is worth it for Draco's back alone. :)
  
  
• New Year's Kiss by Anonymous 8c, Pansy/Ginny, [G] (I'd say it's PG to be safe)
  Gorgeously romantic kiss in the snow. The curve of Pansy's arm as she pulls Ginny closer is a thing of beauty. Lovely work.
  
  

Hey, y'all, I come bearing more recs! *g*
Although I admit I am slightly behind in my reading (*eyes hd_erised* 130K? Really?), I am for the most part caught up, which I am considering to be an achievement during Fest Season. :P
These come from snape_potter's Secret Snarry Swap, mini_fest and the aforementioned Erised.
I had hoped to expand my reading to include other fests that I know are running right now, but there's only so much a girl can read in a day. Maybe after the hols? (Yes, I know I say this every year).
Anyway, here's what I enjoyed this week. And, as always, do check out the rest of the offerings and if you spot anything you like while browsing, leave some love. You'll make someone's day. <3

Fic:

• Of Scars and Christmastime by Anonymous avioleta, Severus/Harry, [NC-17]
  It's been years and Harry's scar hasn't bothered him, until now. Of course he goes to Severus for help and things take off from there. This lovely, gentle story features an unsure but very interested Severus, a lovely adult Harry, and some fascinating magical theory. Give it a try.
  
  
• Dear Uncle Plume by Anonymous eidheann_writes, Harry/Draco, [NC-17]
  This grabbed me from the first fabulously written paragraph and didn't disappoint.
  Draco has attitude and snippiness, which doesn't matter to the supporting cast, who are well written and perfect for him, down to his attitudinal house-elf. Draco's job is also perfect for him, allowing him to be snarky at will. Pansy is great, as are Narcissa and Andromeda. As for Harry...*bites fist* He's damn sexy, and their relationship is steaming hot. The ending was lovely and hopeful. I seriously could have read another 16K of this.
  
  
• I Bet You Look That Good On The Dancefloor by Anonymous birdsofshore, Harry/Draco, [NC-17]
  Sexy, SEXY story featuring Harry and Draco meeting in a club and what ensues. Hm, and when I put it like that it sounds like every other club!fic out there but trust me, it's not. The writing is sharp, the characterizations superb, Draco is a shit and sexy as hell, Harry is angry and passionate and a virgin and it's great. This is nothing like the usual club!fic (and I can say that since I've written several, LOL). Go now.
  
  

Art:

• Just Your Average Saturday by Anonymous dustmouth, Harry/Draco, [PG]
  A comic featuring a relaxed Saturday at home with Harry, Draco, and several others who clearly spend a lot of time at the Malfoy-Potter home. Pansy and Rose steal the show here, and the whole thing is worth viewing just to see the final hilarious panel. Brilliant work.
  
  
• Volatile Elements by Anonymous shiftylinguini, HarryDraco, [PG-13]
  If you like your art to be utterly hilarious and maybe a bit surreal, go check this out immediately. Harry and Draco are alchemists, and this comic outlines what happens with one of their more volatile experiments. After all, when elemental chickens are involved, how can you not investigate? *giggles*
  Seriously, just go look at this comic.
  
  
• Chill in the Air by Anonymous akatnamedeaster, Severus Snape, [G]
  Snape as Jack Frost done superbly, even down to his subtle coloring and icicles hanging off his nose. Just brilliant.
  
  

Fic and Art:

• The Deeper Symbolism Behind Golden Apples by Anonymous oldenuf2nb, Harry/Draco, [R]
  A delightful and exciting tale featuring a deliciously grown up Harry and Draco with nosy friends and an exciting, fast moving plot. The conversations in this are hilarious, as are the cast. Pansy is especially fabulous, and the descriptions are vivid and engaging.
  As for the art, it's Harry just as he's dueling Voldemort, and it's beautifully powerful and moving.
  
  

Enjoy!

So I'm following several fests this Fest Season and I come bearing Assorted Recs. If you get a chance, do check out as many of the fest offerings as you can. I know this is a busy time of year, but spare some love for your fellow creators, yes?

These are from hd_erised, mini_fest, snape_potter's Snarry Swap, and hd_fanart's recently completed 2015 fest. Enjoy!

Fic:

• The Longest Night of the Year by Anonymous sweetsorcery, Severus/Harry [NC-17]
  Lovely post-war getting together story with delicious UST and a fabulous payoff in the end. And you even get matchmaking Malfoys, which works surprisingly well. A truly lovely story.
  
  
• A Convenient Impracticality by Anonymous firethesound, Harry/Draco {NC-17]
  Harry had a real, if non-public, sexual relationship with Draco, but it's off, or is it? In order to throw his friends off (and stop them from setting him up with unsuitable people) he pretends to date Draco, but this time with no sex. *shakes head* Don't try to understand, just go read because it's delightful and hilarious and will make you laugh and shake your head at the clueless boys.
  
  
• The House-elves' Christmas Gift by Anonymous lilyseyes, Severus/Harry [NC-17]
  Who can resist a Groundhog's Day Snarry adaptation? Especially when it's as well written and engaging as this one? Throw in yummy UST and some delicious sex and you get this gem of a story that everyone should check out.
  
  
• Like A Star Across My Sky by Anonymous lumosed_quill and sdkshelly, Harry/Draco [NC-17]
  The premise here is fun. Harry becomes Draco's landlord and Draco is faking being nice to see what Harry's nefarious plot could be for him. Of course, it's Draco and Harry, so nothing is as it seems and there's lots of snarkiness an some delightful arguing. The dialogue is a thing of joy and this is worth reading just for the scenes where Harry tries to teach Draco to ski, and for Millicent, who was superbly written. Go now!
  
  

Art:

• Cats and Dogs by 8c, Harry/Draco and their pets [G]
  Like cats and dogs, Harry and Draco can argue, but making up is fun to do. *g* Just adorable. How can yo go wrong with pets and snuggly H/D after all? Go, look, and say, "awww!".
  
  
• Snowed in by Anonymous shadowycat, Severus/Minerva [G]
  Ia there anything better in winter than being warm inside and watching it snow outside? I don't think so, and I think this picture depicts that beautifully. So serene and peaceful. The warmth of the season radiates here.
  
  
• Salvation by citrus_lime, Harry/Draco [G]
  Wings, tender looks, bare torsos and did I mention wings? Just gorgeous.
  
  
• Boxers by naadi, Harry/Draco [PG]
  Pirates vs Ninjas. Need I say more to get you to look? This hilarious comic is Naadi at her best. And I must say, Ninja!Harry is a sexy beast, and I'm pretty sure Pirate!Draco agrees. *g*
  
  
• The Boy Who Scored by alby_mangroves, Harry/Draco [M]
  What to say? This left me speechless for a while. It's Harry worshiping with Draco in the shower. Just go look, trust me, you'll be unable to speak for a while, too.
  
  
• Flare by Anonymous 8c, Harry/Draco [G]
  This deceptively simple art to me sums up Harry and Draco's relationship perfectly. The challenging stare they're exchanging, the set of their shoulders and the curves of their mouths. Harry's small smile, Draco's haughty stare...Worth a look or ten I'd say. Go see what you think.
  
  


And if you can't find something to like in that lot then there's no hope for you. :P
Do remember to leave the creators some love if you find something you enjoy, yeah? We all feel better when we get feedback. <3

Day 7

In your own space, share your love for a trope, cliché, kink, motif, or theme. (More than one is okay, too.) Tell us about it, tell us why you love it, give us some examples and recs. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

( Kinks, get your kinks here! )

In case you're not aware, the Snarry Road Not Taken Fest is currently posting, and week one has been completed. Before the next batch of nummy Snarry comes along, I thought I'd point you to what I especially enjoyed from the first week.

An Inadvertent Tie (5600, NC-17)

If you want a deliciously hot and sweet read, this is the story for you. Severus is trying to be noble and let Harry experience life, but Harry (smart man that he is) is having none of it. Although they do have a bit of angst to overcome first. Go roll around in the sweet and hot fluff!

Into a Bar (4432, PG)

You could see this as a Severus mentor fic, which is not usually my cuppa, but there's some ogling in it (lol), which made it more my speed. Either way you cut it, it's a lovely story. It's deceptively simple, but layered and beautifully descriptive, and the twist at the end was superbly revealed. If you can, I'd recommend reading it without looking at the warnings. Either way, though, it's fabulously done.

The Nameless Road (40,910, PG-13)

So I know the word count is intimidating, but trust me, this story is worth the time investment. It's a simple but profound premise. What if everyone thought Harry died as a baby and only discovered he might be alive when he came of age? How would Harry, as someone raised entirely Muggle, deal with what's expected of him? The author handles canon beautifully, the events flow by as if thing were meant to be this way, and everyone is recognizably themselves. And of course, the Snarry is luscious. A real joy to read.

As always, if you see something you enjoy, do leave the creator some love. :)

So I have been enjoying the heck out of hd_smoochfest, and thought I'd share some recs. As always, YMMV, and since I tend to read/look at things where I'm familiar with the source material, that has informed my choices of what to read, but I do think most will enjoy what I've linked here. Sadly I didn't participate this year, but this is one of my favorite H/D fests, so reccing is the least I can do!

All the Leaves Like Ashes (Based on 'The Day of the Triffids')
I didn't think anyone would pick this book as the basis for a H/D fic, but this was brilliantly executed. This book, which features walking, homicidal plants, was a staple of my childhood, and blends seamlessly into the WW. Of course Triffids are magical, duh! I like the realistic way the likely human reaction was handled, the characterizations were spot on, and the development of the H/D relationship was deftly done. Plus, it had a bit of a zombie feel to it, and I do love mah zombies. *g*

The Mummy (Based on 'The Mummy' movies).
OMG, I adore these movies and this story takes some of the best parts of the first film and smoothly transitions it into the WW. Draco is...OMG, snarky and at the same time sweet and sexy and competent and utterly brilliant. And Harry is, well, BAMF Auror!Harry.
Just a wonderfully fun and sexy adaptation.

Into Harry's head...And into Draco's Heart (based on 'Inception')
I wasn't sure this could be done. Inception is such a...complicated film, after all. But this story did it beautifully. Slipping from layer to deeper layer of the mind in a totally believable way. And Sirius! OMG, he was so creepy. *shivers* All the characters were well done, really, but the characters that were trying to defend each mind were all very scary. Really well done. And I have to say, I appreciated the non-ambiguous ending. The movie drove me crazy with that. *g*

Life is a Twice Written Scroll (based on 'The Butterfly Effect').
I may or may not have seen this movie (if it was a sci fi thing with horrible monsters, then I have, if not, I haven't) but that doesn't matter, because the story is fabulous. Centered around Draco, it focuses on what would happen if Draco found a way to change one thing in the past, and what the repercussions would be. I was on the edge of my seat (well, I was reading in bed, but still) waiting to see what would happen next. These are my favorite sorts of AUs, the ones where a single change makes all the difference.

And, as always, if you see something you enjoy, do leave the creator some love. :)

Okay so the fabulously talented thusspakekate just wrote a fic that you all need to run and read right now.

A while back I wrote a story at DD called Private Practice, in which Polyjuiced Draco seduces Harry. Well, thusspakekate took it to the next delicious level with her follow up How Much Do You Love me Right Now? in which Harry is still kinda clueless (but VERY HOT) and Pansy does Draco (and herself) a major favor.
The story is the perfect blend of clever Slytherin tactics, hotness and hilarity (Pansy's thoughts are priceless). Trust me, you'll enjoy it.
Go now and leave some love!