A birthday, and three quick recs

[blamebrampton]

Happy Birthday, bottle_of_smoke! You've had such an incredible year, I don't think I can wish for anything more fervently than I did for you to have a head cold (we know why that was good!), but I do hope that everyone surpasses themselves in the gifts, cake and enjoyable fuss stakes on your behalf. You're a gem!

And, fanfic recs!

I am dipping in and out of hd_erised like a weak-willed swimmer at a cold beach. It's revoltingly hot or humid here most days, so in theory I have loads of reading time. In actuality, I have a disastrous house and garden after two months of Mr B 'doing' the housework and we still have boxes to unpack, so I am forcing myself to do things and then need brief comas to recover, so I've not made it through half as much as I ought. But I come bearing some real treats!

Firstly, my gift art! I don't know why more people don't request art, because you are likely to be on such a winning bet if you do. And I won hugely! It's a multi-page work called Fiji and it's utterly fabulous. The faces! The eyes! The hands! The story is simple: Hermione goes on holidays, so Harry is free to skive off, taking his grumpy assistant Draco with him. But the emotion that comes through the simple marks on paper is astonishing and beautiful, as is all this artist's work.

And now, fics! I think that Tea and No Sympathy was the first I managed to catch, and it was such a good start! It's long, 70K, but written in such an engaging style that it never feels as though you are labouring. Basically, Draco spells himself into a Groundhog Day style loop and becomes convinced that he needs Potter to get him out of it. I loved the fact that the author held out for a non-easy end on this one, it really paid off dramatically. A sterling blend of humour and drama, and with the most splendid little owl OC. No, trust me, Pip the Owl is totally a fully fledged (pun intended) character!

Similarly assured in its writing was House Style for Gryffindors. It's a fifth the length of Tea and No Sympathy, so if you're pushed for time, start here. Draco works on a wizarding version of the Tatler, along with half his schoolmates, including Hermione Granger. When editor Pansy hires Harry Potter for sports and general buffness, Draco takes refuge first in prossecco, then in refuge, and finally in denial. None of these work. It's the best kind of silliness, loaded with light, sparklng wit, but with a few moments that make you pause and say 'Oh …'

And I do have more, but my left hand is still meh, so I'll come back later. Have a marvellous New Year, you lot!

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

There are quite a lot of good ones in the last two weeks of the fest (I'm starting near the end and working my way back). And there were several others that were so nearly there! I sometimes wish I could just edit fanfic full time because, just like at my work, I so often say. 'the core of this is really good, we just have to work on the structure.' Alas, it's hard to do for fests with loomy deadlines and everyone busy on their own stuff. Anyway, more recs soon!