#favourite fics

[dramioneasks]

Top 10 Most “Kudos-ed” (Completed) Fics on AO3 of 2025:

A Good Prisoner by greenflowerpot - E, 33 chapters, Words: 122,850 - During his brief stint as a prisoner of the Order, Draco Malfoy notices that Hermione doesn't look to be doing too well. He had always assumed that, given her brilliant mind and gentle nature, those on her side would ensure she is taken care of. Evidently not. Must he really do everything himself? - OR: Dark Draco decides he'd rather like to keep the pretty Healer for himself, since it seems no one else can take proper care of her.

A Season For Setting Fires by mightbewriting - E, 32 chapters, Words: 96,380 - Torture smells like spring. Like daffodils and tulips and snowdrops. Like the bouquets brought inside from the manor gardens to lend their life to cold stone walls that house criminals. Easter mixed with madness makes sense in this twisted landscape; Draco’s only chance at survival is to endure it. He knows this. But that doesn’t quell the twitching in his calves, the flexing in his fingers. Granger lifts her hand off the floor and Draco nearly loses his lunch, stomach churning as he watches her extend her arm, reaching through the translucent cord, reaching towards him. He tries to blink it away, blink blink blink, but both she and the cord are stubborn, persistent things. [In which a soulmate bond appears while Hermione is tortured at Malfoy Manor. Canon divergent from that moment onward.]

A Year and A Day by AMLKoko - E, 89 chapters, Words: 299,145 - Hermione had hit rock bottom when Narcissa Malfoy offered her something she couldn't refuse. She was without a job, without prospects, and nearly homeless, so she had to say yes. But Hermione regretted ever opening that door to Narcissa Malfoy because falling in love hurt, especially when she knew her marriage to Draco Malfoy wasn't built to last forever.

Sacramentum by MyDelphi - E, 34 chapters, Words: 320,000 - Five years after the war, Hermione Granger has very little time for something like a relationship. She's far too busy trying to run the Bureau for Endangered Creatures efficiently, dealing with budget cuts and ignorant ministry officials and finding a way to somehow restore her parents' memories, who are still in Australia and none the wiser about the existence of their daughter. When she discovers that the Wizengamot plans to use Draco Malfoy as a scapegoat whilst dealing with elusive Voldemort loyalists, she offers to testify for him. She's not quite sure how it led to her trying on wedding dresses under the watchful eye of Narcissa Malfoy.

This Bitter Earth by ikorous - E, 34 chapters, Words: 426,554 - Control isn't the only thing Draco Malfoy has lost. But he will get it back. He will get everything back.

Against All Odds by quicknotesquim - E, 21 chapters, Words: 185,214 - A bad bet at London's most popular magical casino leads to an indecent proposal. Hermione Granger has a choice: Spend one night with Draco Malfoy, or lose her boyfriend Ron Weasley's childhood home forever. Will she accidentally lose her heart in the process, against all odds?

Dancer Adjusting Her Shoulder Strap by adathoroughgood2018 - E, 48 chapters, Words: 179,021 - ‘Well it doesn’t make any difference whether or not Malfoy wants a torrid love affair because he can’t have one on his own.’ ‘Oh please. Are you trying to insinuate that if he rocked up to you with that face and that body, and said hey Granger let’s do something my Father will never hear about, you would walk away?!’ ‘I am not going to have a torrid love affair with Malfoy!’ ‘We’ll see.’ Ginny said knowingly. --- Seven years after the Battle of Hogwarts and Harry's dropped a bombshell on everyone. Draco Malfoy's been recruited as his Auror Partner and 'he's not as bad as he used to be'. But if he's Harry's problem, why does it constantly seem to fall to Hermione to babysit that bloody ferret? And just how much babysitting is going to be expected of her?

The Script by bekslea (MalfoysMuggleMrs) - E, 9 chapters, Words: 43,141 - “I was afraid back then,” says Draco, “of how much I loved you. I was broken. It wasn't the right time.” “And now is? How old are you?” “Forty -one.” Draco uses an illegal Time-Turner, returning to the night before Hermione and Ron's wedding.

The Wrong Choice (2025 Edition) by BlueZeldana - E, 41 chapters, Words: 152,516 - His trial took place on the day of his 18th birthday. Three witnesses joined the room to testify on his behalf, and Draco knew he was fucked the moment her brown eyes bored into him. His blood burned in his veins, and his skin tingled, the change already starting. Hermione Granger was his mate.

A Shift in Loyalty by Soap1 - E, 36 chapters, Words: 95,574 - In a world where Harry Potter has died and Voldemort has won, the Malfoys have positioned themselves at the top of wizarding society, but when a competing faction in Voldemort's ranks rises, Lucius Malfoy decides it's time to strike a bargain with those he has fought against. And a marriage law that was meant to work against the Malfoys might be what keeps them in power...

[captainblou]

My all-time favourite fics

Just a ramble, really, but these are the fics I think about at least once a week since I've read them.

Slow Show - @mia-ugly

I am soooo original, I know, I know, but Slow Show rewired my brain. I have read it a grand total of ONCE because it gutted me and if I read it again I will obsess over it for WEEKS. Chapter 5, man. It gutted me. It lives under my skin.

For Loving One - @thescholarlystrumpet

I am so normal about this one. Priest Aziraphale is always a favourite, especially when he's kind and soft and repressed. Also love Crowley's vulnerability and his backstory broke me for real... their falling in love feels so real and natural.

My favourite historical human AU.

For his eyes only - @afrenchwriter

THE fic for every James Bond lover. It's perfect, entertaining, hot despite the absence of smut, funny, it reads like a great spy movie.

Angel of Music - @itsscottiesstark

There's one person I always trust with musician AUs and that's Angie. It's her thing. That and hand porn of course but it's not unrelated. A slow burn enemies to lovers, miscomunication, idiots in love, tender smut. It got all of it.

Communicatio in Sacris - @voluptatiscausa

Oh another priest Az- oh wait no it's Crowley this time. This is one of the first fics that made me enjoy smut so I guess if you like my work you can go and thank Vol for the inspiration. This one is so fucking deep. It hits real hard with very little, just a simple premise and god, you end up crying at the ceiling.

In your own time - @ineffabildaddy

I swear I'm normal about priests. I swear. BUT I am not normal about a childhood friends finding each other again trope and I am certainly not normal about this fic. It's so soft and so hot. Their story is heartbreaking and their reunion heals every wrong thing on the planet.

[meforreal7]

I need more Harrymort fics with them getting a truce marriage bc I’ve just had the realisation that I love them a lot they always seem to have the best sub tropes in there I swear. Plus the relationship dynamic is so sweet like they’re both super reserved and keep to themselves bc I mean it’s an arranged marriage it’s not like they’re in love yet and they’re tryna keep the peace but they’re also undeniably attracted to each other which Harry is real obvious about meanwhile Voldemort is just so poised and formal but like is so overwhelmingly polite it’s like kinda hot?? Idek how to explain that lol. Like imagine stoic, polite, gentlemanly, super in control of himself, Voldemort just tryna show affection to his HUSBAND and he’s just like given him a ring or smth or a cute ass snake ahhhhhhhjj don’t even!

[7-percent]

Author self rec Part One

Thanks for the tag, @jbaillier!

The prompt was for an author to list five of their own works that they like best. I will cheat a bit and give two lists: solo stories I wrote on my own and in part two co-authored stories I wrote with others.

With 109 works published it's not easy to pick out any one as being "liked best". I think it's slightly easier if I pick the one story I liked the best from each of five series I've solo written. I have to ignore the other three solo series- Game Theory and Fallen Angel, which cover missing scenes from the Moriarty plots in the broadcast episodes, and Crime Scene Haiku, which covers John's writing during the hiatus when he thinks Sherlock is dead and then years later when John returns with Rosie to live at 221b.

Periodic Tales

Lots of science, lots of case fic! This is Sherlock as chemist, using the periodic table of elements for many different reasons. Each story is centred around one particular element, in two parts. One part focuses on aspects of Sherlock's childhood and events in his life; the other part shows how that experience has influenced his abilities as the world's only consulting detective, demonstrated through a case fic that shows off his deducing skills. The stories are not long (1-5 chapters in length) and are in more or less chronological order in terms of Sherlock's life.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for all plant life and much of animal life, too, yet it is also a chemical involved in many kinds of death. Sherlock has known this since he was a child, yet even so, this case brings him to the brink of death. Set before the broadcast episode Scandal in Belgravia.

Ex Files

For those readers who are looking for shorter works of mine, here they are! Each of the chapters of the main Ex Files is stand-alone and covers an aspect of the lives of John and Sherlock. Some first person POV, too. Short and to the point. The rest of the series are slightly longer stories (three to five chapters in length) which cover incidents at different points in the lives of Sherlock, John and Mycroft. All titles involve words starting with the letters "ex".

Expedition

Expedition [ek-spi-dish-uhn] Noun. An excursion, journey or voyage made for some specific purpose, as of war or exploration. A nine year old Sherlock goes on a journey, in which much is discovered.

Nothing Made Me

This series is the story of Victor Trevor and Sherlock Holmes. ACD canon compliant, in that Victor and Sherlock meet at university, it is a story of an unlikely friendship that becomes a deep and fulfilling love, and what tore it apart. It's the reason why Sherlock believes love to be a chemical defect, and why he hesitates to do anything about what he feels for John Watson.

The Ex

Thirteen years ago, Sherlock was extricated from his relationship with Victor Trevor. What happens when they meet again? How will John deal with it?

Got My Eye On You

These stories cover just about everything from Greg's POV, from the first day they met when Sherlock was 17 through the pre-John years, John's arrival, their work together, the fall and the reunion, covering events in broadcast series 1-3 (and 4 eventually). If you ever wondered why Greg Lestrade was one of the three people Moriarty targeted, this is your answer.  It is my most popular series by kudos.

Pocketful of Rye

Post TEH, this is Sherlock's first case for the Met after solving the Second Gunpowder Plot, only this time, he's solving it on his own. Without John, will the strains of what happened while he was away pull him apart at the seams? Lestrade looks on, with concern.

Magpies

The Magpies series covers the events of the broadcast series three and four, "translated" into my universe. I wrote a lot of it before the episodes were broadcast , making some of my themes into AU (such as the Holmes parents and the sibling). Darker, more intense and angsty than Game Theory and Fallen Angel, the Magpies stories show the effects of the hiatus on all concerned. When parts 6 to 8 are completed, the series will bring the "other one" saga to a conclusion.

Magpies: One for Sorrow

After the return, after the high profile cases, after the crash and burn, Sherlock has to deal with a different kind of rehabilitation. John is forced to sit it out while others try to heal what is broken. Can reconciliation bring John and Sherlock back together? Sherlock undergoes therapy and struggles to rebuild his relationship with John Watson and Mary, as well as Mycroft. Serious mental health issues are addressed, and some of the traumatic events of the hiatus are revealed. 

I'm going to tag @totallysilvergirl, @calaisreno, @khorazir, @notjustamumj, and @sgam76.

[no-arc]

Favourite fics I read in 2025

(in no particular order)

Drarry:

everything you could ever want by @eleadore | 14k | E

^I went feral over this. Harry is perfect, the concept is perfect, the execution is perfect. it's everything I never knew I wanted—maybe needed. it has something cathartic, something that feels important, like they needed to go there. words really cannot describe how much I loved this fic.

the being alone by @joonkorre | 624 | M

^I hated this when I first read it and then could not stop thinking about it; I still can't name the feelings it made me feel, and can report everyone I recced this to was very upset. well done. love to hate it.

I Ain't Afraid Of No Bed by @xalandrix | 13,4k | E

^made my crack-treated-seriously heart sing. unique, creative, clever, hot. Steve. absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

The Hunger of the Pine by @apricitydays-lazynights | 1,6k | T

^this one made me cry. I've never read anything like it, it's beautiful and stunningly tragic. wish I could read it again for the first time.

Disclosures by @smugrobotics | (unknown wc) | T

^incredibly clever and creative getting-together epistolary with so much attention to detail. way to write a banger characterization without Draco even personally starring in the fic. it's funny, too. and the NDA from chapter 7 deserves an award, I'm never forgetting that one.

Piecemeal by @letteredlettered | 9,2k (wip) | M

^a masterclass of drabbles. lettered is an artist for this, saying so much with one single, carefully placed word, and just as much with the words that aren't on the page. Piecemeal sparked my love for microfics and taught me the potential one hundred words carry.

whatever satisfies the soul (2 part series) by @eleadore | 11k | E

^I don't even know where to begin. the first time read was a bumpy ride, but it's had me in a chokehold ever since. various lines from this fic will pop into my head and I'll keep coming back for rereads.

Homewreckers by @getawayfox | 1,3k | (not rated)

^had me staring in awe at the knife in my chest. a sequence of masterfully crafted (50-word) microfics.

the long game (2 part series) by @yellowfork | 59k | E

^reading chapter 2 of gimme friction after the long build-up was an experience that changed my understanding of smut. I kept pausing to reread entire paragraphs before moving on because I simply wasn't done appreciating them.

rational economic actors by @yellowfork | 8,6k | E

^Draco is an absolute, sheer delight.

Still Life (orphaned) | 3k | M

^I found this again through lucky coincidence. I used to read everything from this author, a few years ago, and this piece is everything I love about their writing in a nutshell.

non-Drarry:

Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board by @emilyrickman (AlihotsyTotsy) | 2k | E

^more Lockhard than canon ever dared to give us, insanely funny and yet so compellingly plausible.

a learning experience by @laeveteinn | 9k | T

^brilliant origin story of why Voldemort spent a decade as a store clerk for Borgin and Burke's before becoming like that. canon, but better.

a one-way ticket to Caithness by @elvira-kamgut | 1k | T

^how Arabella Figg became a member of The Order Of The Phoenix, featuring Stonewall-inspired squib rights movements of the late 1960's. I have respect even just for the concept, and it's such a good read too.

Millicent the Magnificent by @schmem14 | 2k | E

^the title says it all. poor Harry can't form a single thought. I'm still laughing about:

“I’m bi,” Harry blurts. Not sure where he’s going with that one.

[dirty-dirty-muggle]

Snamione Fic Recs

While I'm in a posting lull where I'm writing a lot but nothing is finished, I thought I’d rec some of my recent favourite sshg fics. I don't read as much as I'd like to because I'm usually writing or making art in my free time, but I've found some great ones and I hope if you read them you enjoy them too!

All We Ever Wanted was Everything by Cheam_Creems (Time travel marauders era, Romance/Angst, E, 156k)

Summary: A strange encounter with Draco Malfoy gives Hermione a choice: Stay in a suffocating office job and relationship or jump back into a war. The decision is surprisingly simple.

Why I loved it: I loved everything about this fic. No really. The characters felt flawed and human, with complex relationships, real traumas and troubles, and consequences from their bad decisions. The worldbuilding around the first war was fantastic too, and the ending was *chef's kiss*. I cannot say enough good things about this story.

Temptation’s Cost by our_sunny_selves (Muggle AU, Romance/Angst, E, 55k)

Summary: This is a two-part series made up of Where Boundaries Blur and No Safe Distance. Severus Snape has always prided himself on his control—his discipline, his restraint. But when he attends a dinner party at the Edward Granger's in the summer, Ed's daughter Hermione, who he barely knows, is all sharp wit and knowing smirks and his carefully ordered world begins to unravel. What starts as a dangerous game of glances and lingering touches soon spirals into something far more illicit. She is his best friend’s daughter. She is nineteen. She is forbidden. And yet, he cannot seem to say no.

Why I loved it: I really felt for Hermione in this fic, and all the bad decisions by her and Severus felt believable. I love exploring imperfect people in messy situations and this fits. Also, the smut was smoking hot.

The Love Department by jellybeany (Unspeakables, Romance/Humour, Unrated, 25k)

Summary: Severus Snape is tasked with finding the recipe for love. But he won't be doing it alone…

Why I loved it: I laughed out loud during this one. Wonderful writing, a unique premise, some truly A+ banter, and great characterizations.

Pressing Flowers by turtle_wexler (Accidental marriage, Romance, E, 15k)

Summary: Collecting potions ingredients, Hermione and Severus stumble upon a fairy ring and accidentally marry themselves with ancient magic, which has some rather unfortunate consequences.

Why I loved it: I love a good idiots to lovers. This has great banter, one bed, an adorable relationship between Severus and Crookshanks, a slowly building relationship, and the perfect ending.

Cut Clean and Dry Dreams by thefrenchpress (Post-war, Romance/Angst, E, 12k)

Summary: Years after the war, Hermione struggles with bearing the weight of her past choices. With everything seeming increasingly bleak, it's no surprise that her late night visits to the local launderette become the highlight of her week.

Why I loved it: Wonderfully human characters, a complicated parent relationship, a slowly building sweet romance, and some hot smut as a bonus.

Intermundane by Anogete (Post-war, Romance/Angst, E, 112k)

Summary: Hermione reaches out to the mysterious owner of Silverleaf Apothecary for help when she realizes a deadly, magic-stealing pandemic is upon the Wizarding world. Severus Snape disappeared from Wizarding society fourteen years ago after he'd recovered from his injuries. Now Hermione is trying to drag him back into it. He agrees to assist, but only if she quarantines at his home while they work on the project together. As they discover ways to treat the illness, Snape realizes he might not be so solitary, and Hermione gets to know the man behind her former professor.

Why I loved it: A satisfying slow burn, with two imperfect characters connecting over music, a reluctant Snape, and unique sex magic.

[schnarfer]

Thank you so much to @jolapeno for encouraging us all to look back on 2024 and celebrate the good things 🖤 (see the toot-athon masterlist here)

I've been writing fic for a year now and OH BOY what a journey. I am forever grateful for the incredible, talented, funny and kind people I have met in this fandom. As the definition of an emotional sponge, the summer was something of a rollercoaster, but to those of us who held on by our fingernails - we weathered the storm! We live to smut another day! Thank you to all who have shared their stories, gifs and art, commented, reblogged, chatted, thirsted and all the good stuff. I am grateful to you all.

A special shoutout to all the @dieterbravobrainrotclub and the Pedro Scouts who have both managed to keep me sane and completely unhinged? Massive thanks to @sp00kymulderr & @goodwithcheese for all their work keeping these going, but also, excellent group effort there team!

OK, I love a list so here is mine:

🌟 Favourite P boy to write: Dieter fucking Bravo. Apparently I wrote the equivalent of Dieter a month, with 3 series and 5 one shots. Just call me a glutton for punishment. Dieter masterlist

🌟 Favourite smut: The Joel Miller smut in Nicest Things genuinely took my head off. So delicious. That man.

🌟 Favourite series: Eros & Psyche (Dieter Bravo). Not going to lie guys, had a bit of breakdown writing this. I absolutely loved the journey, but it took a lot out of me and I'm very proud of it.

🌟 Favourite writing to resolve young Al emotional trauma: Go Your Own Way (Javier Pena). Yeah, if he read it, he'd know it was about him.

🌟 Favourite fic that came from an ask: Yeah, it's a thing? My little drabble for Endurance (Frankie) that came from an @secretelephanttattoo ask and now I can't imagine the story without it? 🌸

🌟 Most surprising fic: I didn't know I had a Dave story in me (oi oi). I adored writing my Down Bad & Good Luck, Babe double.

🌟 Favourite challenge: I have two! @perotovar Frith (Dieter Bravo) Challenge is - I think - one of the best things I've ever written and I adored Kel's Taylor Swift challenge that resulted in a three-part If Wishes Came True (Dieter). So much fun to write and also the gorgeous gorgeous The Gift fic from @toomanytookas about that couple was beyond wonderful.

🌟 Favourite line: From Eros & Psyche: Your cunt always feels like it was made for him, would it be the same this time? He would die to fuck you right now, if he could call on death to allow him that, to feel the heat of you as you opened up to him; slippery, wet, warm. Death never comes, but you can. He’d make sure of it. Fuck you until you were biting your lips with the pleasure, boneless and blissed and soaked with it.

🌟 Favourite hidden treasure: For @guiltyasdave 1,000 kisses challenge I wrote a little Say Hello, Wave Goodbye Dieter one-shot that I think about it often!

Thank you so much to everyone that has read my fic this year, you can find my masterlist here