#hprecfest 2024

[themiddleofwonderland]

A little behind, so I'm going to do three days in one post.

Day 10: a fest/event fic for @hprecfest

For this, I have to recommend @rainstormradish and @sleepstxtic's Fight or Flight, a pirate AU for the WFAUFF (i want to say that stands for "What Fanfiction AU (are you) Frot Fest" which was a fest where creators wrote an AU based on results from a quiz). They built such an immersive world in under 4,000 words and it's not just pirates, it's steampunk pirates. Such a blast, I highly recommend.

Day 11: an underrated fic

I'm not sure how to qualify "underrated", but I think this fic deserves even more love, so I'd like to recommend @elskanellis's Designate / your love as fate. It's so sweet and funny, I love Harry's reaction to Draco's declaration in the first chapter, the different formats used, the slow way they fall in love and Harry's confusion over is this love? because of the situation, I love Draco's organization and his mastery of Excel (it fits so well!). I love this whole fic. Go read it before I spoil anything else!

Day 12: a fic from your favorite author

I love @xx-thedarklord-xx. Their fics explore magical theory and AUs so well and each time I start one, I have trouble putting it down until I finish. I'll rec their most recent, Fight Fire with Fiendfyre, because it's such a cool take on soulmates and I love an oblivious Draco. It has some great tropes (hello, powerful Harry and Draco! Soulmates! Morally Grey Harry!) and is such a compelling read.

[annabtg]

@hprecfest Day 11: an underrated fic

This was posted in October 2023 and yet only has 28 kudos so far - which is entirely unfair, because it's a beautifully angsty microfic! So well done 💔

We Could Be Happy by @emmathecasualauthor

“Do you think we’d still be a couple in an alternate universe?” James asks softly. It takes Lily, who is half asleep, a few moments to register the words, and when she does, she sighs, curling in closer to him. “Go to bed,” she says quietly.

[greattemptation]

Day 4 of @hprecfest: Comfort Fic

I always love returning to Safe Words by felix_atticus (SebastianL), Explicit, 28k.

Draco discovers his husband has been keeping a secret from him. At first he's amused. Then he's curious. The problem? Harry's always had a hard time saying no.

This fic is the perfect combo of humor, angst, smut, and truly heart-warming, real-feeling resolution. I also maintain that this fic has one of the funniest lines I've ever read in fic. Somehow, it catches me off-guard almost every time I reread.

This is the perfect well-worn fic for me to return to when I want a comforting drarry afternoon!

[annabtg]

@hprecfest Day 10: a fest/event fic

For this one, I'm going with a fic from this year's @jilytoberfest!

Lady Fate by @jjameslily

“I beg you—go out with James, marry him, and have his beautiful, practically-blind, curly-haired children.”

[annabtg]

@hprecfest Day 16: a podfic

I don't really listen to podfics, but when Cailyn asked me if she could make a podfic out of one of my stories, I went to check out her work. This is a lovely story, and so tenderly narrated!

Clair de Lune by RonsGirlFriday - a Podfic by @cailynwrites original story by @constitutionalweasleymonarchy

How wonderful to be seen.

[annabtg]

@hprecfest Day 9: a WIP

I discovered this WIP during my @jilyawards reading and I am HOOKED!! I love the premise, the execution is brilliant, Lily's characterization resonates so much, and even though it was only updated yesterday I can't wait for the next chapter!!

In Ten Years by @testingforgravity

Where did she see herself in ten years? Not here. Anywhere but here. Lily Evans hates Chicago. She’s here solely for her Ph.D. and does not plan to stay. Lily hates Chicago even more than she hates James Potter, her relentlessly optimistic neighbor who won’t stop asking her out. She wishes to skip ahead ten years, to the future her advisor asks her to imagine. In ten years, Lily expects to be miles away from Chicago, her roommates, and James bloody Potter. So when she wakes up a decade later married to Potter and working as a professor in the Windy City, Lily is convinced she must be living in a nightmare. This life can’t be hers, and if it is, she has to fix her mistakes. But as Lily scrambles to get away from her own future, she must confront the life she’s created for herself. Including all the people she never wanted to know.

[annabtg]

@hprecfest Day 22: a series

I'm not entirely caught up with this series yet but I absolutely adore it!

Slytherin!Sirius Black AU by @arliedraws

Sirius Black was sorted into Slytherin, and since then, his obsession with James Potter has persisted long beyond their time Hogwarts. James Potter, now an Auror, is convinced that Sirius Black is a Death Eater and Voldemort's righthand man. Their schoolboy rivalry is now something else entirely as Black seems determined to possess everything that belongs to James--and even worse, Black is very good at getting what he wants...

[annabtg]

@hprecfest Day 12: A fic from your favorite author

It would be unfair to say I only have one favourite author, but Abi started writing this year and I have loved her writing from the first fic I read by her!

Which, if I recall correctly, was this one:

courage! by @gigglesandfreckles-hp

“That was a key bonding moment for us, Lily Potter.” Lily shrugs. “I’m not keen on repeating any time soon.” Sirius narrows his eyes. “What, are you pregnant or something?” James stiffens beside her, then laughs loudly. It’s forced, which Lily tries not to think about. But before she can reply, she catches Sirius’s gaze and immediately knows he’s seen through her. [or: Lily has some big news, but Sirius is too smart for his own good]