Harry Potter/Fanfic Recs/Shipping

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Harry Potter Shipping 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.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Eclipse, by Mijan
 * Recommended by Puck
 * Pairings: Harry/Draco
 * Synopsis: Draco swore revenge on Harry for Lucius's imprisonment, and for once, he keeps his promise. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. But when Draco's world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins.

Learning to Breathe, by onoM
 * Recommended by Comartemis
 * Pairings: Harry/Ginny
 * Synopsis: Harry Potter is 16 years old. He's already defeated Voldemort, with the help of his Godfather Sirius Black. Now he is in for the biggest challenge of his life: attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Love Me For the Beauty Within by Silverness (slasher)
 * Recommended by Whatshisface
 * Comments: An interesting fan fic that halfway deconstructs gender-bending, and explores the effect it would have on someone. Broken Link

Harry Potter and the Twist of Time by Grand Poobah
 * Recommended by Clendy82
 * Comments: I have rarely come across a fanfic of such high quality as this. A novel-length alternative version of the seventh year, this story stays extremely true to Original Flavor and canon compliance. I think it compares quite favorably to Rowling's own seventh-year work, though it is tilted much more heavily towards Idealism than The Deathly Hallows. Heartwarming moments abound, and I guarantee you will like the epilogue of this one much more than the official version. The only real complaint is that Harry is somewhat more proactive than usual while Voldemort is somewhat more reactive. But that is a minor complaint at best. Highest possible recommendation.
 * It's been pointed out to me that the version I posted above is somewhat abridged due to the censorship policy of the host site. After a little bit of digging, I've found the original version here. Be warned, there are several passages which can safely be considered NC-17. Very nice writing either way. You're not missing out on anything storywise by going with the edited version; it just depends on your own preferences. Do you take your stories Lighter and Softer? Or just a little bit more risque? Or a bit more risque? Or even something just a bit more than that?

If Only Your Father Knew by Technicolour Grey
 * Recommended by Orochi132
 * Pairings: Lucius/Narcissa
 * Synopsis: An M-Rated Alternate Universe Fic, where Lucius Malfoy is the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, and Narcissa Black is a fifth-year Slytherin whose studies are slipping. After serving detention with him, Narcissa starts to note an attraction to Lucius, and eventually vice versa. The pair struggle to keep their emotions in check, and also to keep them a secret.
 * Status: Complete.
 * Comments: I don't like Lucius, as people who know me will attest to. However, the tension of this relationship is very dramatic, and had me unusually hooked through all the nineteen chapters. The plot was coherent, the characterisation sound, and whilst Technicolour's style leans occasionally towards the purple, it isn't so flowery as to distract from the action of the fic. Overall, If Only is a solid story that has my recommendation.

Paradigm of Uncertainty, The Show That Never Ends, and Hero With A Thousand Faces, by Lori (AU)
 * Recommended by Darktalon
 * Pairings: Harry/Hermione
 * Synopsis: The first is an Alternate Universe Harry/Hermione Continuation fic, written before Order of the Phoenix with enough twists to keep the attention of any fan who doesn't viscerally hate that pairing. The sequel dives headlong into Mind Screw territory, and many like it better for it. The third installment turns a major plot point of the series on its head, is even darker and MindScrewier than its predecessors and sports a Gainax Ending.
 * Comments: Classics of the Harry Potter fandom. There is some mild slash but (unlike the het content) nothing especially explicit. The Yahoo group contains some short stories from the same Alternate Continuity, as well as an authorised prequel duology that's also worth a read.

Harry Potter and the Marriage Contracts by Clell65619 (AU)
 * Recommended by User:Looney Toons
 * Pairings: Harry/Daphne Greengrass
 * Synopsis: It's Harry's seventh year. The war with Voldemort is over—aided by Neville Longbottom, Harry won, but no one knows how, only that the Dark Lord is no more. The cost? The discovery of the manipulating ways of Albus Dumbledore, and Harry's estrangement from him and his tools—the Weasleys, particularly Ginny, and by extension Hermione, who was forced to choose between him and boyfriend Ron. The rewards? Now that he's visibly unattached and the greatest hero of the Wizarding World, every family wants to offer him their daughters, and the marriage contracts begin to descend on him in droves.
 * Comments: A pleasant little romance story set in an alternate universe with a stock Evil!Dumbledore, liberally laced with both comedy and drama. I especially enjoyed the Running Gag of Harry and Neville frustrating Dumbledore by telling increasingly outlandish accounts of how Voldemort was defeated—some of which are the plots of other well-known Potter fanfics. Be warned, though, that the story does include sexual topics, without actually being a Lemon.

Harry Potter and the Autumn Swan by Lord Akiyama (AU)
 * Recommended by Rubber Lotus
 * Pairings: Harry/Cho, Sirius/
 * Synopsis: If Harry had managed to ask Cho to the Yule Ball before Cedric did, how different would things turn out? See for yourself in this rewrite of books number four and up.
 * Comments: A superb fanfic that sticks close to the books while still maintaining a believable Harry/Cho romance. Most notably,.

¡Hufflepuff existe! (Hufflepuff does exist!) by Tastatur. (In Spanish. Slash Fic)
 * Recommended by L-chan
 * Pairings: Justin Finn-Fletchey/, later Justin/Ernie Macmillan
 * Synopsis: Essentially, a retelling of Harry Potter books from the view of muggle-born student Justin Finn-Fletchey after he is sort into Hufflepuff House, showing all what happens in the books from a interestingly different perspective.
 * Comments: Begins almost Gen, but soon goes into the exploration on Justin's sexual identity issues. One of the few fics who show love for what are the most neglected houses and characters in the setting. A good reading if you know Spanish; the author even had a livejournal where she posted more explicit version of the chapters as well as the "making of" behind the writing.

What I Want My Words To Do to You by Ladymage Samiko
 * Recommended by Fenro
 * Pairings: Hermione Granger/Severus Snape
 * Synopsis: The courtship of Hermione Granger and Severus Snape in epistolary form. Post-Hogwarts, not DH-compliant.
 * Comments: Hands down the best Snape/Hermione fic this troper has ever read, and one of the best fics she's ever seen. In any fandom. Ever. Very much in character, very sophisticated writing... in short, sheer genius.

Chronicles by Josephinee
 * Recommended by Still-li, Guessmyname
 * Pairing: Rose Weasley/Scorpius Malfoy
 * Synopsis: Rose Weasley always considered Scorpius Malfoy one of the most annoying people she ever had the misfortune of meeting. This year, however, deep down, she realizes... he's even worse!
 * Comments: Very entertaining and well-written, with an awesome (and hilariously snarky) main character.
 * Guessmyname: Seconding. See also the sequel, Paramnesia, still in progress.

Forever And A Day by summer_jackel
 * Recommended by Joysweeper
 * Pairing: Remus Lupin/James Potter/Sirius Black
 * Synopsis: Several vignette-ish pieces about Remus, the sole remaining non-evil Marauder, remembering his relationship with James and Sirius.
 * Warnings: The author says it. "m/m/m, NC-17-ish, angsty, and involves critters, or at least wizards in non-human shape."
 * Comments: I don't often enjoy NC-17 type fics—though really this is more R -- but I liked this one. It was reflective and sad. Not a PWP; "relationship" in this case is partly but not entirely euphemism. As for "critters", yeah the three of them have sex as animals and as humans, but not human-with-animal.

The Issue of Mine Enemy by Perfesser N
 * Recommended by Mac Phisto
 * Pairing: Harry Potter/Bellatrix Lestrange
 * Synopsis: As Harry trains with Mad-Eye Moody for the inevitable Final Battle, Voldemort uses Bellatrix as a means of by-passing the ancient magic that's protected him all his life.
 * Warning: For Mature Audiences Only. Equal parts smut & romance. Violence.

Harry Potter and the Secret of the Golden Unicorn by Lord Wrackspurt
 * Recommended by Foo Fighter
 * Pairing(s): Harry/Ginny, Harry/Hermione, Harry/Fleur, Harry/Gabrielle, Harry/Luna
 * Synopsis: In an alternate universe, a young wizard named Harry Potter comes of age in a time of civil war between wizarding factions. He learns the final secret of why he is the "chosen one" who can end the war and save his friends, but only by fulfilling his destiny.
 * Warning: Darkfic, Incest, Squick, Violence. Definitely NSFW
 * Comments: One of the last fics to be completed before Restrictedsection.org stopped accepting fics (thankfully the archive is still up) and boy did they go out with a bang. If Harry Potter met the Sin City verse in a back alley you'd get something like this.

We Sort Too Soon by onoM
 * Recommended by Elenor, Fenro
 * Pairing(s): Lily/James, one-sided Lily/Snape
 * Synopsis: An alternate universe in which Severus Snape prefers to be sorted into Griffindor to join Lily rather than head to Slytherin.
 * Comments: Snapes' still a dark bastard, so don't worry that the author will change him into a golden griff. If you don't feel close to tears by the end then you're clearly not human.

Torture, Tears and Terrible Temptations by MsShayXPear
 * Recommended by Mac Phisto
 * Pairing(s): Bellatrix/Draco
 * Synopsis: After failing to kill Dumbledore, Voldemort orders that Draco be punished by his own sadistic aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange. But the condemned soon begins to develop feelings for his taskmaster. First lusftul, then... romantic? As time goes by, Bellatrix will realize her feelings as well. But where will her loyalties ultimately lie?
 * Comments: This is a very well written drama, that is ultimately heartbreaking and tragic. Rated M for depictions of sex, viloence, and language. At 30 chapters, you probably won't be able to make it through in one sitting. But the ending is well worth the wait. As I said with my previous recommendation, I don't just post anything here—this is on my short list for all-time favorite fan fic.

Forced Maturity by pseudonym (AU)
 * Recommended by Shay Guy
 * Pairing: Harry/Ginny
 * Synopsis: In the summer after Harry's first year, the spirits of his parents decide to help him the only way they can: having him dream the next five years of his life, everything from the flying Ford Anglia rescue through the end of Half-Blood Prince. Of course, memories of dreams tend to evaporate after awakening, but what's left is still enough to make things...interesting.

The First Day by little0bird
 * Recommended by Jek Windu 2
 * Pairing: Harry/Ginny
 * Synopsis: Follows the major characters (and a few minor ones) through the first year of the war. Canon-compliant for the most part, except for things that could easily change between the timeframe of the story and the time reference for the post-series canon.
 * Comments: Labels itself a shipping fic, and while the Harry/Ginny romance is handled extremely well, I find that the piece's greatest strength comes from its ability to multitask. The Ron/Hermione parts or the Fred/Katie parts are less numerous than the aforementioned couple, but their characterizations feel just as strong. One thing I like in particular is how Molly is handled. In most shipping fics I've read, she's either a thundering bear or a roaring mouse. This is one of the few who portray as a mother. My only complaint is one that be stretched to cover most post-DH fics: as of this recommendation the story has 52 chapters and there simply isn't a plot beyond "this is what they do now." Definitely worth a read, especially if you like shipping fics that don't exclude other characters.

Cleaning by gm weasley (AU)
 * Recommended by tenoreyequetis
 * Pairing(s): Remus/Tonks
 * Synopsis: Tonks and Lupin's relationship from Kreacher's POV, told while Kreacher is running his daily errands in Grimmauld place.
 * Comments: A short, funny one-shot fic told from an interesting angle that takes place in the background of Order of the Phoenix. It's also one of the only decent Remus/Tonks fics I've ever come across—it's non-fluffy, non-angsty, and non-squicky. Rated PG (with the exception of certain implications).

Hocus Pocus, Adele Polkiss by Ecmm
 * Recommended by User:Looney Toons
 * Pairing: Harry/Titular OC
 * Synopsis: Every year, as Harry goes off to Hogwarts, Piers Polkiss' younger sister is left to wait till the arrival of summer, waiting till she can get a little glimpse of the magic she wants to still believe in.
 * Comments: The story runs concurrent to the books, so there's not much deviation. It calls itself a shipping fic, but I find the OC itself much more interesting than any bother about the romance. Adele is a unique character, equally as bratty as her brother when we first see her, and completely normal. The story is worth checking out for seeing the story from the perspective of someone who has to deal with wanting more than anything else to be part of an adventure, but regardless is the one left behind when the adventure starts.
 * User:Looney Toons: Seconded. This is nice little fic, with an interesting point of view and a character who grows on you as she grows up yet somehow still remains a bit of a brat even at 18. Oh, and it's complete, which is always a plus, with a little extra scene as a bonus.

Care of Magical Creatures by mia madwyn (contains lemons)
 * Recommended by Fenro
 * Pairing(s): SS/HG
 * Synopsis: Seventh Year student Hermione Granger decides to marry the one eligible wizard who did not ask for her-the horrid but powerful Severus Snape.
 * Comments: This is one of the best Marriage Law Challenge fics I have ever read. This story is complete.
 * Eddie adds: With non-canon couples, I have to be saying "yeah, that's how it'd happen." This does that. Brilliantly.

Velvet & Sidekicks by Anguis
 * Recommended by FatRat
 * Pairings: Gregory Goyle/Millicent Bulstrode
 * Synopsis: Because, as much as books and movies tell us otherwise, perfect people don’t live. A tribute to the imperfect.
 * Comments: A really sweet plotless little one-shot focusing on two much overlooked characters.

Harry Potter and the Sword of Gryffindor by Cloneserpents.
 * Recommended by: Willyolio
 * Pairings: Harry/Hermione, Ron/, Lupin/Tonks in the background, and
 * Synopsis: "Spurred on by a perverted ghost, Harry stumbles on a naughty, yet very special book. With the rituals found in this book, Harry gains power and leads his friends in the hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes. EROTIC COMEDY" (Obviously, NSFW)
 * Comments: How to describe. It's part smut, part Harry/Hermione romance, part comedy, and part crack. Gryffindor is a horny ghost and Harry and friends search for Horcruxes... and encounter the most crack-filled, hilarious mini-adventures ever along the way. Highly recommended, more because of the comedy, I swear. Mild Weasley (as in Ron and Ginny only) bashing, at least compared to the author's other works.

Nights of Gethsemane by Starcrossed
 * Recommended by Fenro
 * Pairings: Harry/Snape, Harry/Ginny
 * Warnings: Underage,
 * Synopsis: Harry is a prisoner of the Dark Lord and Snape his prison guard. Completely cut off from the outside world, Harry struggles to hold himself intact as he is forced to rely on Snape for everything. Yet Snape may not be all that he appears...
 * Comments: Clocking in at over 350k words, this one's a doozy. This has got to be the darkest and most horrifying slash fic I've read all the way through. Why? Because it's utterly brilliant. Starcrossed doesn't derail the characters, but she definitely pushes the envelope, sometimes far past what I'd typically stand to read. The entire thing is extremely cerebral though, and her writing style is utterly sublime. Her use of dreams and literary references, which typically comes off as banal and cliche in lesser fics, deserves special note. Unlike a lot of dark fics, such as the oft-noted Dumbledore's Army and the Year of Darkness, you never feel like any of the characters are thrown under the bus for the sake of Wangst. This is not a fic for the faint of heart or anyone looking for an easy, quick, or fun read. Starcrossed really challenges her readers, keeping them guessing. It starts off horrible and gets better, . It is complete, with an epilogue in the works. Be forewarned though,.

Reparations by Sara's Girl
 * Recommended by Lyra Orion
 * Pairings: Harry/Draco slash
 * Warnings: explicit sex, drug use/addiction
 * Comments: Even though it may look short at 10 chapters, the chapters are HUGE. It's not quite an epic, but it's very long and will definitely take more than one night to read. However, it's totally worth it. It's a fic set after the War of Hogwarts and is DH compliant (except for the epilogue), and has a really interesting take on each character. Every OC in the story is absolutely delightful and feel like a part of the original cast. Even with some serious subject matter, there's plenty of brilliant humour and cute moments that relieve some tension. Definitely worth a read.
 * The sequel, Foundations is also worth reading. A rare case of a sequel that is as good (if not better) than the first installment.

The White Road by Perverse-idyll
 * Reccomended by purpleeyed
 * Pairings: Harry/Snape, Lily/Snape
 * Synopsis: One day, comfortably set up in the afterlife, Lily Evans Potter switches on the telly and gets hooked on the Harry Potter show.
 * Warnings: Explicit Sex and Violence
 * Comments: You'd think, due to the synopsis, that this fic is going to be lighthearted and silly, or maudlin and straightforward—I did, and I almost passed it up, but boy was I wrong. This story isn't simple; it's engaging, thoughtful and heart-wrenching. The writing is vivid and very detailed. It deals with all of the characters in a caring manner, without vilifying anyone. I especially liked the exploration of Snape and Lily's relationship when they were younger, the focus on the things she didn't notice when she was an adolescent, her interactions with Tom, her very visceral reactions to the things she sees and . Out of all of fic I've read, this is definitely one of my very favorites. Even if you don't like the main pairing, it's worth a try.
 * This story is so... so... there are no words. Just read it.
 * This is worth reading, even if Harry/Snape squicks you out (as it does this troper), just for the fascinating characterization of Lily, and this picture of the afterlife.
 * Just read it. Harry/Snape was always THE way to squick me out, but this...is just that good. Wonderful characterization of Lily, meddling Dumbledore and Grindelwald lurking in the shadows...bits and pieces straight to headcanon, I think!
 * Tags: Slash

Igniting the Sea by Bedelia
 * Recommended by Those Dancing Days
 * Pairing(s): Percy/Hermione, Ron/Hermione, Audrey/Percy, Harry/Ginny
 * Synopsis: Ron is abducted after the war. Hermione, Harry, and the Weasleys slowly give up all hope of finding him alive. Love sneaks up on Hermione when she befriends Percy, but what will happen when Ron is returned to them?
 * Warnings: Explicit Sex
 * This is fic is still in progress, and is extremely well written. Although the Percy/Hermione pairing may be off putting at first, their relationship is well developed, and entirely engrossing. It also doesn't hurt that the fic often gives Shout Outs and references to Les Misérables, Shakespeare, and The Princess Bride.

Beyond The Veil by Atalan
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Pairing: Remus/Sirius slash
 * Synopsis: Trapped in a world where he can be neither seen nor heard, Sirius Black struggles to communicate to his friends that he may not be as dead as they think he is and that something dreadful lurks beyond the veil.
 * Comments: This is the classic bring back Black story, and an absolute must read for shippers of Remus/Sirius. It doesn't get much better than this.

Transfigurations by Resonant
 * Recommended by Voodoo Child
 * Pairing: Harry/Draco slash
 * Synopsis: Five years after the end of the War, Harry returns to Hogwarts a changed man.
 * Warnings: Explicit Sex, Violence.
 * Comments: Written before Books 6 and 7, so who's alive and who's dead are kind of different, though the author nails the fact that  are all very obviously doomed from the start. Very, very long (clocking in at 450K), but SO worth it. I don't ship Harry/Draco, but this is how I could see it happening. Honestly, the pairing kind of fades into the background for me, because this is also one of the most fascinating fics I've ever read. The characterization is impeccable - Draco, Hermione, Harry, McGonagall, Lupin, and Penelope especially come of quite well. The American contingent Harry hides out with are an amazing amalgamation of sympathetic magic, herb-craft, and Native American traditions. I love the notion of a magic school at Disney, and Sunday is a lovely original character. The linguistics are excellent as well, the notion of spellcasting having a dialect that purebloods speak differently from others, and the idea of calligromancy. But I have to warn you, it's also one of the most legitimately fucking terrifying stories I've ever read. The curse-mines all over Hogwarts, the conditional clauses (including "hide", "multiply", and "target Headmaster/Minister of Magic/all Hogwarts professors") and sheer horror-movie feel of the piece just build and build, and there are consequences.

The Stolen Glasses Shenanigans by afterthree and thirty2flavors
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Pairing: James/Lily
 * Synopsis: "If I promise never to try and flick ice-cubes down the front of your shirt again, can I have my glasses back?" Assorted MWPP-Era madness, letter-style.
 * Comments: Very funny and charming James/Lily piece. There needs to be more fanfics like this.

Imperius by Jess_Pallas
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Pairing: Remus/Tonks
 * Synopsis: The last words of a dying man force Remus Lupin into a dangerous investigation at the infamous Feral Institute.
 * Comments: A good romance, as well as an excellent action/adventure piece. This is THE big Remus/Tonks story. The author's other stories, such as Oblivious and A_Little_More_Time are also good.

Obsessive Lily Disorder by Procrastinator-starting2moro
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Pairing: James/Lily
 * Synopsis: James worships the ground Lily, er, throws him on? Includes stalking, Polyjuice potion and James attempting many acts of suicide such as drowning his head in toilet bowls because Apple Of His Eye Evans hates his guts. Or does she?
 * Comments: Truly lunatic romance, and highly recommended. The author's also written several other excellent stories.

The Shoebox Project by ladyjaida and dorkorific
 * Recommended by Lost Lenore
 * Pairing: Lily/James and Remus/Sirius
 * Synopsis: Follows the Marauders during their last two years at Hogwarts and for a couple of years afterwards. Deals with general Hogwarts life, as well as the sexual tension between Lily and James, and between Sirius and Remus.
 * Has its own page.

The Sinews of Thy Heart by Amarielle
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Pairing: Remus/Hermione
 * Synopsis: The war altered nothing at Grimmauld Place. The house stayed the same, but its inhabitants changed. Against every natural law, Remus Lupin found a place where he belonged inside one of the largest hearts he'd ever known: the heart of Hermione Granger.

A Feast in Azkaban by Nyx Fixx
 * Recommended by Goodwrench
 * Pairing: Remus/Sirius slash
 * 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: Powerful and angsty. The author has written several other good HP stories.

Only Enemies by leave this world
 * Recommended by Magyareagle
 * Pairing: Harry/Bellatrix
 * Synopsis:In the aftermath of the Final battle a misplaced spell sends HP and Bellatrix to an alternative world. It holds everything each of them have lost to the war and yet they find themselves inexorably drawn back to each other. HPBella done right.
 * Comments: Perhaps the most realistic Harry/Bellatrix fanfic I have ever come across. Dark, and twisted, this story captures Bellatrix's personality perfectly. I believe that the author's summary sums this up best: Harry/Bella done right.

Cuatro Mexicanos en Hogwarts ¡Desmadre total! (In English it would be: Four Mexicans at Hogwarts ¡Total Chaos!) by Lenore Marcus
 * Recommended by l0v3nist
 * Pairings: Snape/OC, Harry/Ron, Draco/OC Hermione/OC
 * Synopsis: Four Mexicans received their owls with their admittance to Hogwarts at a little late age. They are three girls and a boy: Bárbara A. Mondragon from Cd. Madero Tamaulipas, Regina Bladó Altamira, from the same city and lifelong friend of Bárbara and Azucena Montemayor Garza from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. The Boy is named Bryan Arnulfo Perez Lopez, he is from Tepito and he is a Naco. The story revolves around these mexican students and the attempts of Barbara to win Snape's heart with very crowning moments of heartwarming and hilarity. Bryan (A.K.A. El chuntaro) is a boy who don't get Snape's sarcasms and he really thinks the Slytherin headmaster is his Friend. Hilarity ensued
 * Comments: This Fanfic is only available in Spanish. The story is set in an alternate timeline of Harry Potter PoA. The authors plays with the culture clash between UK and Mexico and the mexican slang, Snape is very in character, and the OC have their issues and flaws, which makes them very human and deep, and a little insane. Gotta love the "Hagrid Effect"! So far they have 8 chapters.
 * Warning: Lemon, explicit dream sex scenes and strong language.

Tied For Last by Speechwriter
 * Recommended by Spooner Wilkins
 * Pairing(s): Hermy/, also some other pairings not quite canon-bound.
 * Synopsis: Hermione is killed by Voldemort during the last battle for Hogwarts, and is now dead. Well, sort of. Turns out that death is a little more complex than she knew... Not your standard shipping fic. Ignores the epilogue and the last 50ish pages of DH. Don't be put off by the pairing, this one is definitely worth the read.
 * Warning: Angst, some foul language, and some rollercoastering of emotions. There's also some descriptions of sex and not to forget actual character death (so yeah... forget about that epilogue-thingie at the train station, that's so not happening this time around)

Mythical Alliance, Jade Green Eyes and Beyond Expectations
 * Recommended by gracieJ96
 * Pairing(s): Harry/, among others.
 * Synopsis:
 * They say there's no such thing as a magical Animagus. They're wrong. Harry Potter, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy join together in an alliance no one, especially Voldemort, is expecting
 * Harry can never go out in public, so invents Jade Jameson, and goes out as her instead.
 * Sixth Year has begun. it should all be perfect, right? Wrong. Changes are coming, and some things are Beyond even Harry's Expectations.
 * Comments: really deep and brilliantly well-written. I hope none of you are too found of Dumbledore, because I will NEVER look at him the same way again.

Words Fail by Nea Marika
 * Recommended by Mazz
 * Pairing: Harry/Tom Riddle
 * Synopsis: During the fight in the Department of Mysteries at the end of Order of the Phoenix, the Time Turners are broken accidentally, sending Harry back in time to the Hogwarts years of Tom Riddle. Notable for averting most failings of the 'Harry travels to Tom Riddle's era and falls in love with him' trend.

Abandon by Batsutousai
 * Recommended by Kathadrion
 * Pairing: Harry/Tom Riddle
 * Synopsis: "Abandoned on the streets of London, 16 year old Harry Potter must find a way to survive. What's the Boy Who Lived to do?"

New Beginnings and Old Tree Houses by The Treacle Tart
 * Recommended by Kathadrion
 * Pairing: Ron/Remus
 * Synopsis: Three small children are the only survivors of a horrible attack on a school. Ron Weasely decides that someone needs to look after them. He also decides that that someone needs the sort of help that only Remus Lupin can provide.

Memento Mori, by coffeecupcakegirl
 * Recommended by quantumspork
 * Pairings: Lucius/Narcissa, several others later in the story
 * Synopsis: Begins with Lucius and Narcissa's time at Hogwarts and how they fall in love, and then branches out into many more viewpoints and storylines. Still in progress, and currently past Deathly Hallows in the timeline. (Compatible with all the books.)
 * Comments: This is a vast, sprawling epic that fills in the background of the Potterverse in ways you never imagined. Every character is given complexity and depth, often much more so than in canon. The Lucius/Narcissa romance is particularly well done, with just the right combination of realism and fantasy. The author's English is a little clunky sometimes as she's not a native speaker, but overall it's beautifully written. YMMV at some of the pairings and backstory choices.

Haggis From Algernon by Vea and GhostOfBambi
 * Recommended by Valjean
 * Pairing: James Potter/Lily Evans
 * Synopsis: The fic about nothing. Humor, 101,594 Words.
 * Comments: Take one food-retrieving pet cat from the depths of your darkest nightmares, add two characters with more magnetism than a pair of magnets, set it alight with a smoldering, crackling ball of sexual tension, lob the whole thing into the golden Marauders' era, and you get this. I may be going out on a limb here, but I don't feel too uneasy about stating that this may be my favorite fanfic ever written in the entire universe. Set mainly during the Marauders' sixth year, it's part humor, part romance, part cat!love, and all sprinkled over with a light dusting of crack. This is the big, fat, sprawling James/Lily epic romance saga told entirely in the rib-crackingly hilarious day-by-day journal entries of the two lovers-to-be as they slowly fall in love despite (or because) of a conga line of whacky hijinks, hilarious blunders, teen drama, death eater uprisings, and everyday misunderstandings. As told with pitch-perfect comedic timing and Rowlingesque compact chronology, the Marauders are brilliant beyond belief, Lily's OC girlfriends could have stepped out of the original books, and the authors' fantastically alive voices for James and Lily capture the friction, attraction, and frustration of the two central characters in a way that makes them pop out the page without straying far from the books, except with regards to the titular Algernon, to whom I (and James and Lily) owe my deepest thanks.

Goldilocks and the Four Heads of Houses by DailyProphetEditor
 * Recommended by: Rereh2
 * Pairing(s): Severus Snape/ Minerva Mcgonagall (Friendship)
 * Synopsis: The story takes place in Harry's second year. Gilderoy Lockhart (or how the whole staff has taken to call him secretly - Goldilocks) got the wrong idea that Severus Snape fancies him and decides to go for it. He meets the Potions Professor in the Library, in the night of Valentine's Day. Minerva Mcgonagall and Pomona Sprout end up in the Library as well and Pomona makes one (or maybe two) good points and Minerva decides to help. Later on, Filius end up there as well, and seems in shock.
 * Comments: With a HUGE dose of humor, the author manages to make a really good history envolving the beloved Heads of Hogwarts' Houses and the pain that is Lockhart. As the author says, this could be a real missing peace of the second book, and it IS really funny (hillarious really) and not hard to imagine the scene actually happening. A really important thing is that the characters do not look OC, Gilderoy is as pompous as ever, Minerva and Severus show how much Quidditch matters to them; Pomona is trying to "help", like every good Hufflepuff and Filius, always the gentleman, won't spy on anyone... but don't forget that he does have a really nice sense of humor. Really worth checking out!

Folie à Deux by DailyProphetEditor
 * Recommended by: Rereh2
 * Pairing(s): Severus Snape/ Minerva McGonagall
 * Synopsis: The story takes place in Harry's second year and it is a sequel to "Goldlocks and the Four Heads of Houses". After that rather "fateful" night, the Heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin start to act differently towards each other, and all of the sudden the rest of Hogwarts' staff seems to think that Severus and Minerva are the perfect match. But they don't seem to think so. And certanly, neither does Gilderoy "Goldilocks" Lockhart.
 * Comments: As humorous as its prequel, but with a bit of drama and a good amount of romance. Daily Prophet Editor still manages to keep the characters in line and give us a excellent tour into the mind of not only Severus, Minerva and Goldlocks but of many of the other staff members and two other creatures. Also keeping the fic faithful to the facts of the Second Book. A really good fanfic to read.
 * Warning: This fanfic contains an important information of the seventh book.

Pet Project, by Caeria
 * Recommended by: Fenro
 * Synopsis: Hermione overhears something she shouldn't concerning Professor Snape and decides that maybe the House-elves aren't the only ones in need of protection.
 * Comments: While it delves into AU territory as it was originally written prior to the release of both Deathly Hallows and the Half-blood prince,her translation has all of JKR's ideas and emotions etc in there, getting the characters and settings to a "T". Particularly Fred and George. Love them. However,she also has her own subtle style mixed in, with minor differences and layouts such as her switch of scenes that do reminice the film style of doing so. Most noticably the fact that it is written by someone who is not British, and so has tell-tale American lingo and cultural references. I find this exceptionally refreshing and if it were identical to JKR's own work, it would lack the excitement of "playing with her toys" that one gets from reading fanfiction. As for it being a fanfiction of the romantic inclination, I was originally perturbed at the very idea of Severus Snape pairing up with Hermione Granger, but after curiosity got the better of me, decided to read the work. I have come across plenty of poorly written fanfics or just fluff pieces for sake of fluff, it gave me immense pleasure to read something where someone has decided to deliberately lay out a careful plan and treat it how real literature is meant to be treated.
 * Pairing(s): (Slow burn) Severus Snape/Hermione Granger

Want by WinchesterPhantom
 * Recommended by: Fiasco
 * Pairing(s): Scabior/Hermione (onesided)
 * Synopsis: 'Scabior smells sunlight and flowers as he stands in the woods: wanting her, needing her, chasing her.' A missing scene or rather perspective from the DH 1 film - it could be film canon. Scabior catches the scent of Hermione and is captivated and driven to hunt her.
 * Comments: Firstly the writing is beautiful, easy to read and flows very nicely. Secondly is that the writer does not attempt to soften up Scabior - he's a hunter, he's a snatcher, and he's a man who has been in the woods for a little bit too long. As said above this could very easiely fit into the film and appears IC as far as Scabior goes from the film. Short and sweet to put it.

Release by Antosha (NSFW)
 * Recommended by: Metz77
 * Pairing(s): Harry/Luna, minor Harry/Ginny, implied Ron/Hermione
 * Synopsis: Harry desperately needs to find a release from angst and sorrow. On the top of Stoatshead Hill, he discovers that Luna Lovegood has some very funny ideas about how to help. Post-OotP.
 * Tags: Lemon, Hurt/Comfort

It Happened One Night by SunDevil05
 * Recommended by: MCanter89
 * Pairing(s): Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione
 * Synopsis: Harry and Ginny's first time together leads to teen pregnancy and marriage. Written/begins post-OotP and before HBP.
 * Tags: Romance

Ginny Weasley and the Half-Blood Prince by Reis Macleod
 * Recommended by: Ephyon
 * Pairing(s): Harry/Ginny
 * Synopsis: The Half-Blood Prince seen from Ginny’s point of view. Completely canon-compliant and blending seamlessly with the events of the book. Despite the title, the story actually begins at the end of Order of the Phoenix and continues all the way to the 19 Years After epilogue.
 * Tags: Romance

Hope by jeconais
 * Recommended by User:Looney Toons
 * Pairing:Harry/Gabrielle
 * Summary:A man who is lost in his own country. A girl who needs her mate to survive. A tale of Quidditch and romance, of anger and betrayal, of friendship and enmity. A story of the power of hope.
 * Comment: A very good read. Jeconais take the usual bonding cliche then added his own personal touch, turning this into a very interesting and heartwarming story. I'm honestly surprised that a story as good as this wasn't recommended yet.

Notebooks and Letters by Chem Prof
 * Recommended by Lightning Storm 93
 * Pairing: Harry/Hermione
 * Summary: The "true" version of Books 5, 6, and 7, as told by Hermione to her daughter years later, using her old journals and letters between her and Harry.
 * Comment: The story basically retells the story of books 5, 6 and 7 (though reducing some of it considerably). The relationship between Harry and Hermione develops believably, and the story doesn't fall into as many of Chem Prof's clichés as some of his other stories do. It also deconstructs some of J.K. Rowling's elements from the stories, as well as expanding on some moments. It also becomes very dark later on (it's rated M for a reason). It runs for a total of forty chapters, and is well worth a read. Personally I found it absolutely riveting, though as with many stories.

Post Tenebras, Lux by Loten
 * Recommended by: SMARTALIENQT
 * Pairing(s): Severus Snape/Hermione Granger
 * Synopsis: "After Darkness, Light." A chance meeting ten years after the war may not be just a coincidence, and may prove to have very far-reaching consequences. A story of many things, but primarily of healing.
 * Tags: AU, Future Fic, explicit and smutty sexual content

Eight Ways From Sunday by Clio
 * Recommended by: RoseAndHeather
 * Pairing(s): Harry/Hermione, Ron/Padma, Draco/Ginny, Dean/Seamus
 * Synopsis: A sixth-year post-GoF ensemble comic romance. "It could be standing before you, needing a bit of a push. Or sitting beside you, waiting for you to let go. Perhaps it's sneaking up from behind, hoping you will turn around. But sometimes, love falls from a clear blue sky, and you just have to catch it. How do you decide which is the right path, when you're only sixteen?"
 * Comment(s): A rare Harry/Hermione fic that not only develops the romances believably, but avoids Ron the Death Eater in spectacular fashion. All four pairings make an incredible amount of sense, but the crowning achievement in that department has to be Ron/Padma. What could have been a bad case of Pair the Spares instead becomes just one more incredibly well-written pairing. And Hidden Depths abound for all. Highly recommended by this diehard OBHWF shipper.

A Snake Named Voldemort by estalita11
 * Recommended by: RunicHealer, Mazz
 * Pairing(s): Harry Potter/Lord Voldemort-Tom Riddle
 * Summary: After being turned into a snake and unable to change back, Lord Voldemort is forced to turn to the only other living Parselmouth, Harry Potter. After making a deal, Harry agrees to help the Dark Lord return to his human form. eventual SLASH HP/LVTMR
 * Comment(s): This story deviates from a trend where Harry turns into a snake and Voldemort falling in love with him. This is very humorous, the pacing is moderate and the romance is well written and believable. Each moment between Harry and Voldemort in his snake form is touching and other times deserves a big laugh. Other than the romance, All in all, this is a good read and a good fuel for TMR/HP lovers.
 * Tags: Complete, NonHBP compliant, explicit scenes.

The Unbreakable Vow by Ash Darklighter
 * Recommended by: Milarqui
 * Pairing(s): Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy/Pansy Parkinson
 * Summary: A woman called Jenny Peters is driving towards her home, her son in the back of the car, across a barely used road. Suddenly, coloured streams of light begin to fly across the sky. She calls her husband Gary, believing they might have been found by those they are hiding from. However, it turns out that neither Gary nor Jenny are who they say: their true names are Harry Potter and Ginevra Weasley, and they have been hiding for five years.

Imperfect Girl by JustAnotherMadHatter
 * Recommended by: LittleWuve
 * Pairing(s): George/OC, mentioned Fred/Angelina
 * Summary: Melinda Stringer, a muggle girl whose entire family gets murdered by Death Eaters, decides to take part in the war against Voldemort alongside the Weasley twins. To be more specific, Death Eaters believe that her older brother, a wizard loosely involved with the Order, has told his family details about the organisation, which he hasn't, and murder Mel's parents when they can't tell them anything. Mel will then be taken in by the Weasleys, so that she stays in a safe place for the duration of the war.
 * Tags: Except for the addition of some original characters, stays as close to canon as possible. Character Death. Other than that, light romance developing at a slow pace.

Widdershins by "Dido"/Trickofthedark
 * Recommended by: User:Looney Toons
 * Pairing(s): Hermione/Dudley Dursley
 * Summary: In an Alternate Universe, after the death of Sirius, Harry gets smart and begins spending his money to improve his chances of surviving the war with Voldemort and the Death Eaters. One unexpected consequence of his actions is a collaboration between Hermione and his cousin Dudley to analyze reams of data on Death Eater activities—a collaboration which slowly evolves into a romance. A strange and yet fun blend of tender first love leavened with both the tension of the war and outright crackfickery. Written in 2006, before Deathly Hallows, it gleefully ignores any canon that gets in the way of its plot. As a special added bonus, the author is also an artist, and all the chapters come with multiple, often very funny, illustrations. Warning! One of the later chapters is very NC-17.

Going Back: The Director's Cut by dragonflybeach
 * Recommended by: Mandible Bones
 * Pairing(s): Draco/Luna, otherwise canon pairings
 * Summary: "In the middle of the battle, Draco realizes what's worth fighting for, and later, finds friends who will stand with him against a serial killer ex-Death Eater. And just maybe, Luna's not really loony." Complications arise, ensue and are overcome. A few very, very minor changes from canon, and it tends to use the film's version of the final battle as a visual reference, but it's all for the best - the feel of the books is very much there. It's also a continuation fic, but the emphasis is on Draco and Luna's relationship, so it belongs here.

A Courage of Heart by Artemis Rayne
 * Recommended by Rose And Heather
 * Pairings: Neville/Hannah
 * Summary: "Neville Longbottom had always known that he had a different sort of bravery than his fellow Gryffindors, but will it be enough to help him stand up against his most dangerous opponent yet?" Post-DH.
 * Comments: Could also be titled, "In Which Artemis Rayne Makes Sense of Neville/Hannah".

Commentarius by B C Daily
 * Recommended by Harry BC Dresden
 * Pairings: Lily/James
 * Summary: "Lily has always considered herself ordinary. But as she enters her 7th year, things start changing and Lily starts going a bit mad. Suddenly, she's Head Girl, her mates are acting strangely, and there's a new James Potter she can't seem to get rid of."
 * Comments: A wonderful, and at times downright hilarious portrayal of Lily and James' seventh year, told more-or-less from Lily's perspective. Be warned, closing in on 700K words, so quite a commitment, but in this troper's opinion, well worth the time.

Bound With Silver Threads by Snakequeen in Norway
 * Recommended by Magic Kirby
 * Pairings: Lily Luna Potter/Cassiopeia Malfoy (oc)
 * Summary: Lily L. P. years 3-7. Why is she stuck with a Little Malfoy tagalong? What do the coming years hold for them and everyone else? Eventual femslash. Multiple pairings. Lily/OC. Stars Scorpius Malfoy's OC lil sis too. Not T til Chap 29, really 32 & not major
 * Comments: Before you skip over this one just because of the oc give it a chance. Not only do you hardly even notice that the oc's are oc but the story caps out at just over 200k words giving all of the characters plenty of development and they really do develop. As stated in the summary the story isn't even really T rated till Ch. 29 and there is only 51 chapters so expect a lot more to the story than just romance.

Not A Love Story, by guns_and_butter
 * Recommended by Nim Blackhand
 * Pairings: James/Sirius
 * Comments: This author is the one who made me believe in the idea of James/Sirius. It's painful, it's dark, it's angsty, it's not particularly safe for work, and it somehow feels exactly right.

Thirty-Five Owls by Letterblade
 * Recommended by blueboxed
 * Pairing: Albus Dumbledore/Gellert Grindelwald
 * Synopsis: Author's Summary: Go teach your children, eat your candy, preen your bird and bury me. But we were brilliant together, Albus, and not even you can change history—a correspondence between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald.
 * Comments: Absolutely beautifully written. A must read, not just for Grindeldore shippers. One of the best fics this troper has ever read.

Unlike a Sister by Michelle AD
 * Recommended by Hugo Person
 * Pairing: Harry Potter/Hermione Granger, with some Harry/Ginny and Hermione/Ron
 * Synopsis: Author's Summary: Nineteen years ago, Harry told Ron he saw Hermione as his sister. Now, Hermione is in danger and Harry's feelings for her begin to change dramatically, jeopardizing everything he once knew. An epilogue compliant fic.
 * Comments: Very well written, and completely in character as far as I can tell. It's slow building, and the relationship between Harry and Hermione is very well handled. Also canon-complient!