Harry Potter/Fanfic Recs/Day in The Lime Light

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Harry Potter Day in The Limelight fanfic, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

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Fics that re-tell canon from another character's POV and focus on that character's experiences.

The Very Secret Diary by Arabella
 * Recommended by Anthiens, User:Shay Guy, Marjojo, User:Salty Wound, boonerunner, User:Mthe R, Belphegor, User:Lord Blumiere
 * Synopsis: It's the exchanges between Tom Riddle's diary and Ginny Weasley...
 * Comments: Tom Riddle/Voldemort's Mind Rape of Ginny. It's really horrific but it's damn fine writing. Oh Gods, it's awful but it's so fricking well written.
 * User:Shay Guy: Seconded big time. This made me want to find my copy of Chamber of Secrets just so I could reread the part where the bastard gets what's coming to him. Substitute all instances of "Virginia" for "Ginevra" and this would be in my personal canon. (LATER EDIT: Reading this essay gave me some extra food for thought on the later chapters.)
 * LULU: Thirded. Tom Riddle is so sick. I read it in one sitting. Poor, poor Ginny.
 * User:Salty Wound: Fourthed. The detail put into Riddle's character is so damn good. It also made me feel really bad for Ginny, a character I used to despise (I'm a Harry/Hermione shipper and proud of it).
 * User:Roo: One of the best characterizations of Tom Riddle ever; he's just charming enough (especially in the early stages of the fic) that you understand why Ginny opens up to him so completely, but knowing who and what he is, it's easy enough to read between the lines and see his absolute contempt for the poor girl he's manipulating and using. This fic is dark and creepy and manages to really convey the evil of Voldemort without falling back on the old "murder and torture" crutch, and apart from a few details like Ginny's full name is perfectly canon compliant. Very, very highly recommended.
 * User:Mthe R: Unreserved sixth, although there's not much that I can say that the tropers above me haven't.
 * Keshia: Seventh, oh boy... while the "Virginia" thing initially annoyed me, I totally got over it by the third chapter. Best characterisation of Voldemort I have ever read. He's was so charming in the first few chapters I almost believed him.
 * RE: "Virginia", let's keep in mind that this fic was written prior to the release of Order of the Phoenix, during the "three year summer" after Goblet of Fire. It wasn't yet known that Ginny's real name was Ginevra. And yeah, I'd like to eighth this recc. The Very Secret Diary is a great example of fanfiction done so well that it improves upon the reader's appreciation of canon. Arabella's Hermione, Queen of Witches fics are also fantastic—much less dark than VSD, but just as well written. She wrote a Queen of Witches fic for each of Books 1-4, with a partial one for Book 5. They're a hilarious take on life as Hermione sees it, and like most Sugarquill fics, heavy on the good ship Ron/Hermione.
 * User:Camsci: I will be the ninth troper to recommend this as it really deserves the praise it gets. I can't add much to what has been said before, I can just repeat - I loved it and read it again and again. I've never seen a better characterization in any Fanfic I've ever read. Go and read it!


 * Tenthed by User:Lord Blumiere. Don't make the silly mistake of reading it late at night that I did—every little sound scared the living crap out of me afterwards!

After the End by Zsenya and Arabella
 * Recommended by cardboardtubeknight and findthefourth
 * Synopsis: An alternateuniverse post-Hogwarts story about the problems posed in the after effects of the war for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and those close to them.
 * Pairing(s): Harry/Ginny Ron/Hermione Bill/Fleur
 * Comments: I'm new to this fandom but from the way people talk about it, this was the end all tell all of Empathic!Ginny stories during the long summer. The most impressive thing is how this story expands on the canon from when it was written and comes up with plausible events to fit with what's already happened. Once I started it, I had a hard time putting it down. Another impressive thing about this is the development of the relationships, this isn't really a fluff and quick pay off story, they make the characters work for it.
 * findthefourth: Seconded. Considering when it was written, the character development fits surprisingly well with the later books. Every character has Canon Sue moments, but it's well-written.
 * Can also be found on the site of the writers, Sugar Quill.

The Girl Nobody Knows: A Soliloquy by Technomad
 * Recommended by Eoppen
 * Synopsis: Hermione's POV on the first five books' events—and she's not nearly as nice as everybody in the fandom thinks she is.
 * Comments: This version of Hermione's nearly sociopathic—or, at least, a close relative of Lord Vetenari and Edmund Blackadder. And it's all canon-compliant up to the end of Book 5.

His Mother's Son by Iulia Linnea
 * Recommended by User:Lagomorph
 * Synopsis: Ron discovers that there are worse things than becoming his mum—and that those things aren't necessarily so terrible when faced as a father.
 * Comments: One of the stories that turned me from indifferent benevolence to actual respect for Ron.

A Hero, by Celebony
 * Recommended by Comartemis, User:Eddie Current
 * Synopsis: It takes a lot of courage to face down a dark lord once, much less four or five times. But it takes a completely different brand of courage to question the way things are, to deal with the idea that your world isn't as perfect as you think it is. Dudley Dursley, meet character development.
 * Comments: A pleasant and insightful one-shot that came completely out of left field at me while browsing through the favorites listings of some of the authors listed on this page. If the idea of Dudley being more than just an overfed whale with a bullying streak makes you uncomfortable, avoid this fic at all costs. But to anyone and everyone who cheered when Dudley made his famous "I don't hate you" line in Deathly Hallows... read it. Read it NOW.
 * Edward adds: Any comment I can think of would ruin a damn fine story. I have never read a Potter Book all the way through only recently remedied that prior remark, and still think this is awesome.
 * Mermaidgirl45: I don't think I've ever read anything so awesome. It adds so much character development, you actually empathize. With Dudley Dursley. It's brilliant.

Mind's Eye, Soul's Reflection by Mysterious Muggle
 * Recommended by: J the Drafter
 * Synopsis: The fifth Harry Potter book from Luna Lovegood's point of view, in third person. Explains what Luna experienced, why she thinks the way she does, and the way she grows as she acquires friends.
 * Comments: This is a wonderful character study on Luna, as well as a wonderful story. It's the only fic I've read that actually explains Luna in a deeply thought-out manner.
 * Comartemis: Far too often I see fanfics that turn Luna's unique personality into a mask covering a much more normal (read: boring) character underneath. This fic, thankfully, is not one of those. Luna is more in-character here than I've ever seen her in any other fanfic; she's wonderfully nutty and totally bonkers, but she's also a person with weaknesses and insecurities, not just a strange girl who happens to be a lot of fun to read. Luna fans everywhere owe it to themselves to read this fic.

Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness by Thanfiction (Link to tropes page)
 * Recommended by User:Rogue 7, User:Across The Stars, User:Yo Adrian, Ms. Byrd, User:Superior, boonerunner, User:Dragnew
 * Synopsis: Follow Neville Longbottom as he rises to the challenge that is the title Commander of Dumbledore's Army, doing his best to keep the school alive and safe from the Carrows while preparing for one last all-or-nothing stand against Lord Voldemort... and maybe finding love along the way.
 * Warnings: Possible Triggers, Chauvinistic in places, Dark Tone, Blood, Gore, Character Death.
 * Keep in mind, there are very serious deviances from the style, tone, and even plot direction that Rowling uses in DH. In particular, Snape is a Complete Monster instead of a Double Agent. The tone and events are so dark that, compared to canon, everything feels off.
 * To put it more bluntly: everyone is OOC as hell, and the author seems to hate the Canon.

In the Words of Ginerva Molly Potter by thejealousone
 * Recommended by johnhoftb
 * Synopsis: A retelling of the 7 books from Ginny's POV.
 * Comments: Not having read this story in awhile, I'm not going to say much, but this is absolutely one of the best stories I've read. The romance is a major part of the story and the author tries to mimic Rowling's writing style while trying to put their own style into it. Also, put Rowling herself as a magical author, which is awesome in itself.
 * Cautiously recommended by FrankRonaldOrion. The main issue is that Ginny starts to slip into Mary Sue-dom as the story goes on. Is there really any reason for The well written parts are the romance parts, although it gets a little cheesy. If you need something really light and fluffy to read, this is a good start.

Elogium Sine Nomine by Rhaella
 * Recommended by User:RBM Ifan, Fenro
 * Synopsis: Oneshot. Regulus Black. To sign the letter is to acknowledge the deed, and even now, he cannot fully bring himself to do so.
 * Comments: A unique and insightful look into the character of Regulus Black. This fic is a short narration of Regulus writing the letter that Harry finds with the fake necklace horcrux, describing his thoughts and state of mind, and I have to say it's one of the better written Harry Potter fanfics out there. A must read for anyone interested in this very minor character.

Six Years, Six Applicants by Sarah1281
 * Recommended by User:Tobu, User:Unclouded TJ, Fenro
 * Synopsis: Chronicling Dumbledore's never-ending and sometimes desperate attempts to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts postion with anyone but Snape and Snape's persistent attempts to land the job anyway.
 * Comments: This yearly ritual is a good way to flesh out two indomitable personalities. Excellent humour, then becomes something more emotional as the books darken.

Hermione, Queen of Witches, Book One by Arabella
 * Recommended by User:Mthe R
 * Synopsis: The secret diary of Hermione Granger, Year One. This story was written prior to the release of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
 * Comments: This (and its three sequels) are a retelling of the first four books, as told by Hermione to her enchanted diary. A retelling of the fifth book was started and abandoned, but the first four are fantastic, and remain some of my favorite Harry Potter fanfiction, some five years after I first read them. Hermione's voice is spot on, and the diary's "brain," Gwen, is a great character in her own right.
 * This troper would also like to second this recommendation. Not only is the change of style refreshing but the story is very well written. The only real problem I see is the use of American language that continues to crop up (candy, Sorcerer's stone, soccer, colour, etc.) which breaks the mood slightly, but the rest is fab.

Thin Skin by Alicat
 * Recommended by User:Khym Chanur
 * Synopsis: Marietta didn't want to betray her friends to Umbridge. Why did she? What is it like being Cho's best friend? Will the word SNEAK ever be erased?
 * Comments: An interesting look at why Marietta snitched to Umbridge. Also covers her Hogwarts life from her first year to the end of her sixth year.

Phoenix Tears or, Hermione Granger and the DH by grangerous
 * Recommended by Fenro
 * Synopsis: Sequel to Phoenix Song or, Hermione Granger and the HBP.(Read this first.) By the time of Dumbledore's death, Hermione and Snape had worked together for a whole year. Now, however, they both have very different and very difficult tasks ahead of them.
 * Pairing(s):SS/HG
 * Tags: Canon-complient, HBP & DH spoilers (except for the epilouge)

No Heroes Here by Bil
 * Recommended by Sanitys Papercut
 * "Synopsis": They all waited for Harry to save them. But Neville knew Harry wasn't a hero, Harry was just a boy. WARNING: not HBP-complient.

Harsh Reality by Duochan-the-mpregfan
 * Recommended by RoamingShadow
 * Synopsis: Marge Dursely has only heard bad things about Harry Potter, she has not had the chance to meet him face to face. The Durselys are going on hoilday and Marge will have to look after a four year old Harry Potter, will she see what lies beneath the lies?
 * Pairing(s): None, it's a Family/Hurt/Comfort fic focusing on a much nicer Aunt Marge and Harry.
 * Comments: Still in progress and will make your heart melt. This fic makes Marge a nicer, more caring character than she is in canon. Each chapter is a day Harry spent in her home while the Durselys are on holiday.

Lovers in a Dangerous Time by xXfireXflyXx
 * Recommended by BlitheCynic
 * Synopsis: At twenty-nine years of age, Bellatrix Black is chain-smoking, promiscuous, chronically bored, and still living with her parents until her introduction to the Dark Lord transforms her life into an exhilarating whirlwind of passion, murder, and unrequited love.
 * Comments: As canon as it can be, as Bella's back story/relationship with Voldemort is barely explored in the books. Excellent characterization and intriguing backstory. The time-line is a little bit off, but everything else makes up for it and most of the errors can be fixed mentally.

A Feast In Azkaban by Nyx_Fixx
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Synopsis: How did Sirius Black Spend twelve years in Azkaban and come out relatively sane, when others in his situation went mad or died of despair in a matter of weeks?
 * Comments: A powerful angsty work. The author's written many excellent stories.
 * Tags: Slash

The Lions of Gryffindor by lyras
 * Recommended by User:Khitty Hawk, User:Immi
 * Synopsis: (from the author:) Neville's seventh year at Hogwarts presents many challenges, but he is his parents' son.
 * Pairing(s): None
 * Warnings: A bit of torture and some swearing.
 * Comments: This was recommended to me for people who thought "Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness" reveled in its grittiness at the expense of canon. This fic is shorter, lighter, and echoes canon well.

Stallions, by Harmonic Friction
 * Recommended by: Sator
 * Synopsis: Tom Riddle is nine, almost ten. He's not made of cold, hard metal. Contrary to popular belief, he likes being touched.
 * Pairing(s): TMR/OMC
 * Warnings: It has little Orphan Tom being a teasing little boy to one of the staff at Wool's Orphanage.

Ten Little Things by Jess.91
 * Recommended by omegaman
 * Synopsis: Ten little details about various one hundred Harry Potter characters' lives throughout the series and beyond.
 * Pairings: Various, all either canon compliant or at the very least not contradictory of canon.
 * Comments: An absolutely fantastic anthology series about numerous Harry Potter characters, both the main characters, major secondary characters, and minor characters. Each chapter, one hundred all together, focuses on ten little details about the characters. Many are humorous, heartwarming, and tearjerking. Very much in accordance with canon (with the exception of a few details established in interviews with and comments from J.K.Rowling), it absolutely nails the characterization established in the series, exploring and expanding upon it.

Just A Random Tuesday... by Twisted Biscuit
 * Recommended by User:Rose And Heather, User:Immi
 * Synopsis: One very long Tuesday in the life of Minerva McGonagall. With rampant Umbridgeitis, uncooperative Slytherins, Ministry interventions, an absent Dumbledore and a schoolwide shortage of Hot Cocoa, it's a wonder she's as nice as she is.
 * Comments: This Minerva. Oh my Lord, this Minerva. She is perfect. Sarcastic, severely put-upon, and the next-best thing to unflappable, this is the Minerva half of fandom has suspected lurked under the flawless bun and stern Death Glare of everyone's favorite Deputy Headmistress since the moment we met her. This fic will crack your ribs from the laughing, and you will never look at Minerva McGonagall the same way again.

An Interview with Justin Finch-Fletchley by ajarntham
 * Recommended by dynus
 * Synopsis: (author's summery) Ten years after the defeat of Voldemort, Lee Jordan asks what life was like during the Death-Eaters' reign for the Muggleborn son of a prominent Tory family, and what he learned as a member of the commission which investigated how they came to power.
 * Comments: Featuring Lee Jordan as the interviewer and Justin Finch-Fletchley as the interviewee. A very interesting fic that ranges from humorous, to very serious. Mainly it's Jordan talking with Finch-Flectchley about his time during the Second Wizarding War working with the Muggle Government and explores the several concepts such as why the unplotable spell won't do wizards so much good, muggleborn politics, and other things I didn't even think about until I read this fic. Not slash, but there is a passing mention of Justin being gay.

The Professor's Point of View by alittleinsane963
 * Recommended by Chaosjunction
 * Synopsis: What the professor of Hogwarts think about Harry, Ron and Hermione's adventures at school.
 * Comments: One of the funniest Harry Potter fics I've ever read, this insight into the minds of the Hogwart professors really brings them alive. Contains one of the most awesome portrayals of Minerva McGonagall EVER.

Falling Stars by Lucillia
 * Recommended by Auromence
 * Synopsis: Everyone's heard of Dedalus Diggle's display of shooting stars in Kent. What most people don't know is why he did it.
 * Comments: A very short oneshot that still somehow manages to provide depth to an else-wise irrelevant and passing act.

Astoria's Guide to Slytherin Guys by Our Love is Forever
 * Recommended by Dellanotte
 * Status: Complete
 * Pairings: Draco/Astoria
 * "'Boys will be boys. Slytherins will be Slytherins. Combine the two and there will be trouble. On the pitch. In the dorm. On the bed. In everyday life. You were warned. Now, act accordingly.' Astoria imparts some timeless wisdom."
 * Comments: Follows Astoria's third to fifth year, aka Books 5-7, subtly moving from fluff to all the darkness of war at Hogwarts. Easily the most realistic depiction of Astoria Greengrass on the site, alongside an equally endearing spin on our favorite Slytherins (and less favorite) as Anti Heroes working to come out as undamaged as possible. May slightly confuse Alternate Character Interpretation with Draco in Leather Pants, though Values Dissonance easily applies.

Traitor by SadPanda7
 * Recommended by Headspace
 * Status: Complete
 * Synopsis: Peter Pettigrew is a traitor. He betrayed everything he loved. Why? It was a question of strength. Peter wasn't strong enough.
 * Comments: A pretty chilling account of how everything may not be as it seems with Peter Pettigrew and his betrayal. Some scenes read uncomfortably like rape.

Of Recoil and Grace by cupid-painted-blind
 * Recommended by Hugo Person
 * Status: Complete
 * Synopsis: She is a romantic at heart, she thinks. If she could only believe in romance. /The slow damnation of Merope Gaunt./
 * Comments: It's beautiful writing- disturbing, but nonetheless beautiful. An account of Merope Gaunt's life. It's rated M, and there is incest and femmeslash, but it's not really graphic. More than anything, I'd say it was heartbreaking.