diapasoun

Title: Berlin
Fandom: Harry Potter/Petshop of Horrors
Author: atdelphi
Characters/pairings: Grandpa D/Dumbledore
Rating: G-ish
Word count: ~3500

As strange is it sounds to have a HP/PSoH crossover, it also works incredibly well; the petshop is certainly one which deals in magical creatures. In addition to the novelty factor, though, this is simply well-written and incredibly fun. It features a younger Dumbledore, trying to acquire a certain phoenix from Grandpa D. It's hard to say exactly what emotional resonances the fic finds; only that it does, and that in some ways it's like observing a dream. Well worth the reading time.

Title: Don't Look Back
Fandom: Harry Potter
Author: pitry
Characters/pairings: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Lucius Malfoy, Harry Potter; background Hr/R
Rating: PG; warnings of off-screen character death
Word count: 4000

"Wow," was what I thought when I finished this fic. This is a gorgeous piece, surreal, bittersweet, and mysterious. It's a tale of loyalty, and love, and the little stories that make up people's lives. It's also got a beautifully ambiguous ending and is set in a dream-library---what more can one ask for.

Title: May the Second
Fandom: Harry Potter
Author: pepperam
Characters/pairing: Harry/Ginny, with mentions of Ron/Hermione, Bill/Fleur and Molly/Arthur, starring the whole Weasley family
Rating: R
Word Count: 8465

The morning after the Battle of Hogwarts, Ginny is trying to deal with her broken family---while wanting nothing more to escape and to find Harry. It's a wonderful fic on numerous levels. The grief of the Weasleys is palpable, and the portrayal of how a person can feel trapped among mourners, can feel weakened by needing to be strong, is incredibly accurate and moving. The fic is also excellent in describing how Ginny and Harry's relationship---though they only dated briefly---has developed, especially while separated in the war; it is deep, but also tentative and unsure.

A pair of Blaise recs for today!

Title: Switzerland
Fandom: Harry Potter
Author: ofankoma
Rating: PG
Character/pairings: Blaise Zabini, Justin Finch-Fletchley
Word count: 9300

Blaise's snark in this fic is so good, but he's much more than the usual snark machine. He's thoughtful (if jaded) and truly, beautifully human and well-rounded. Justin is also quite excellent here; he banters, and is witty and smart (not a stereotypical "Hufflepuff duffer"). The fic also deals well with some of the inevitable results from the war in a plausible and interesting way---and oh my has it got the utter tedium of many political meetings down.pat.wow.

Title: Saturdays Are for Football (The Rest of the Week Is for Everything Else)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Author: pitry
Rating: PG-13
Character/pairings: Blaise Zabini, Dean Thomas
Word count: ~4200

This fic deals with the remaining racial tensions after the Second Wizarding War---and it does it brilliantly. There is healing here, yes, but also hurt and rage. The fragile friendship between Dean and Blaise is well done, and the way that Blaise slowly comprehends what racism during the war really meant for Muggle-borns reads true.

Title: A Gold Coin and a Silver Badge
Fandom: Harry Potter
Author: yaakov
Character/pairing: Anthony Goldstein, with appearances by Terry Boot, Michael Corner, and Anthony's father (OC)
Word count: 5896


This is a wonderful fic for numerous reasons. It provides a deep, detailed look into Anthony's life and the way he juggles his many identities---Jewish, Muggle-born, gay, wizard, and even his identity as a Ravenclaw. The interactions between Anthony and his friends and family, and his thoughts about how fits into his world, are nuanced and subtle and just really lovely. Identity is a difficult topic to really write well, and this fic does it.