Some of these are actually quite old, but I should warn for Deathly Hallows spoilers below and in the stories themselves. It's been a few months, but you can never be too careful.
HARRY POTTER
untitled by
florahart I just had to link to this. George, Molly, and Percy, the morning after. Heartbreaking.
Chivalry by
rozarka Before the Yule Ball, Viktor goes to ask Professor McGonagall a question.
"As head of Gryffindor, being ze closest to be in ... parents' role for Herm -- Hermy -- Miss Granger ... I haff come to ask your permission--" He took a deep breath, furrowing his brow in concentration.
Little Hearts by
sache8 In the first years after Voldemort’s defeat, Fleur watches the small parade of visitors to Shell Cottage’s backyard. Full of little details of life after the war, and how irritating it might be having a war memorial in the garden.
Twenty-Eight Points by
magnetic_pole Dear God I love Lily. Although they broke up before leaving Hogwarts, James is determined to get just one more chance. With Scrabble.
"You'd just be another friend, enjoying take-away at James' flat," James said. "We do it all the time, you know," he added, improvising madly. "Thursday nights. It's famous, take-away at James', Thursday nights."
What the hell, it sounded stupid, but he was desperate to see her again.
Coda to an Epilogue: Twenty Years Later, Or The Kids Are All Right by
mistfulHilarious and touching story that makes me fully embrace the epilogue that JKR randomly tacked on the end. Harry and Malfoy are forced to work together to find their sons who may or may not be in danger of being eaten by giant albino alligators. Featuring very cunning plans, a surfeit of sandwiches, receding hairlines, and James Potter being a tool.
Part Two Part Three “Yes, about that,” Harry said between his teeth. “Why does Durmstrang have giant alligators in its sewers?”
“I’m sure I don’t know. Why does Hogwarts have giant spiders in its environs? These things happen.” Professor von Bosau was starting to look distinctly miffed. “Mr Potter, I understand that you’re upset-”
“You lost my children in the sewers! The sewers which are crawling with giant alligators!”
Tower of Air by
cluegirlAlbus keeps his own private gallery of burdens, a portrait for every single life paid too quickly, taken before its time. After the battle at the Ministry, he carries Sirius Black.
“Want the spot next to me?" A hope stands bare in the youth's tone -- forgiveness, renewal, reconciliation that might be possible now that neither one possesses a beating heart. "Good view of the Quidditch pitch."
Not to mention that it faces James and Lily's portrait, and the empty spot beside it which Albus is decidedly NOT saving for Remus Lupin.
All Too Sweet To Last by
annakovskySixth year ended abruptly when Hermione blew up Hogwarts, forty-five Death Eaters, and Harry Potter in a blast of blue magical flame that could be seen at a distance of thirty miles. For this she was awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class; a thousand galleons; the grateful adoration of the wizarding public, including an article in the Daily Prophet declaring her "The Girl Who Ended the Second War"; and the honor of identifying Harry's charred body.
Touch the Face of the Stars by
lyrasScenes from Lily’s life as she grows into her life and into this war. All are strong, and the end will make your eyes tear up.
"That was him," he said seriously. "Lily, you're going to have to be bloody careful after this."
All Our Tomorrows by
sandrineRose, growing up at Hogwarts in the years following the war. Life isn’t always like what your parents tell you.
"Admit it, you're only dating me to get back at your father!" She's joking, but there's a grain of genuine worry underneath it that he must have heard because he suddenly grows serious, and when he says, "I would want to be with you even if you were a pureblood Slytherin," it sounds like a solemn vow.
Summer Holidays by
penknifeHermione tries to figure out what comes next. This is quiet but covers so many angles of what is going on and what must be done. And despite all the aches that are left behind, there are surprising flashes of humor that keeps it going. And the ending is so perfectly Hermione, that this is my personal idea of what happened next, even if there is so much other fic to be entertained by.
She closes her eyes, just for a minute, Harry's feet against her knee and Ron's hand resting on her thigh. She could stay just like this for a long time.
Later, she tells herself, and gets up and leaves them sleeping.
Getting Ready by
florahartThe eight Weasleys each have something to bring to the funeral. I started feeling the family vibe at Percy, Ron made me teary, and Molly made me outright cry.
He's hoped it would be him. Or even--and he closes his eyes as he thinks it, because it feels like betrayal, even Molly. He knows it would have hurt all their children, blood or spirit, but burying a parent is the way of the world. Burying a child is not.
Molly’s War by
a_t_rainMolly Weasley, Remus Lupin. While the children are at school, Molly fights fear and prejudice.
A Life in Obscurity by
rosemaryandrueThe life of Ignatus Peverell and his game with death is woven seamlessly by the author into the into the Arthurian legends. I have expect to see mention of Ignatus and his Hallows the next time I go into my Pendragon phase.
A month after he arrived, the fort's steward, who was one of the few who would find his way back again, took the cart to Caerleon to trade. He returned solemnly with the news of Uther Pendragon's death, and Ignotus knew at last where Death had vanished to that day.
He waited eagerly for Merlin's command, but it never came. At last he understood that the boy was meant to grow to manhood here, where even Death could not find him.
A Beneficial Arrangement by vivien529
Taking a sharp left turn at canon, this is the tale of how, at a holiday party, Tom Riddle accidentally got Minerva McGonagall knocked up. Naturally this puts a bit of a kink in his plans. Hilarious.
Minerva’s wand appeared in front of his nose with a violent swish. “You’re going to do the honorable thing by me, you Slytherin bastard. To think you’d abandon your own flesh and blood, just as you’d been abandoned as an infant.”
How dare she compare him to his filthy Muggle father? He glared at her and reached for his own wand.
“Don’t you dare even think about it,” Minerva snarled