Title: Illumination
Author: a_shadow_there
Pairing(s): Ginny/Luna
Rating: G
Warnings: fluff
Author's Notes: written for prompt 1 @ Advent Drabbles
Words: 120

Illumination...

...for the first time from my new lair in Monona, WI.

Moved on Sunday after spending the couple of days before loading everything up. My stuff has not yet caught up to us...it is still in transit. Should arrive sometime tomorrow or the day after. It was nice to have that lapse though as there was a little moving about of stuff and organizing already here to do. I think things are mostly under control ;)

All the critters are well...Mr P. is asleep against my leg and Hurricane Callie is being pretzel kitty on the pillows. Maeve has claimed the doormat for now.

I am currently scaling mount laundry...and making good headway ^.^

I do miss my Des Moines peeps already...

Saja saw us off the night before we left...we went and had dinner at the Flying Mango...Jim came home from his Dr. Who Con to say goodbye. Mother person & dad also made a point to stop in before we left.

Getting settled...tonight Sabe and I have agreed to spend our evening enjoying some BSG together and relaxing. :)

Title: Countdown to Christmas Day 25 – Sirius Black, 24 – Draco, 23 – Ron, 22 – Voldemort, 21 – Hermoine, 20 – Dumbledore, 19 – Remus, 18 – Lucius, 17 – Luna, 16 – Neville, 15 – James & Lily Potter, 14 – The Dursley’s, 13 – Crabbe & Goyle, 12 – Tonks, 11 – Fred & George, 10 – Hagrid, 9 – Ginny, 8 – Kreature, 7 – Kingsley, 6 – Filch, 5 – Bellatrix, 4 – Gilderoy Lockhart, 3 – Fleur, 2 – Sibylle Trelawney, Christmas – Snarry, Boxing Day Bonus – Harry, Boxing Day Bonus II – Snape
Artist: accioslash
Rating: G
Characters: Ensemble!
Artist's Website: her LJ where the art is usually open
Why you chose this: We’re woefully short of gen art yet so I’m hoping the mods won’t shoot me over the number of links here! I eagerly awaited each post last year as much for the snarky comments as to see which beloved character accioslash had done a caricature of next! So do the countdown or click on your favorite characters and enjoy.

Title: Tangled Webs
Gaining Access: Unlocked
Author: realmer06
Length/Word Count: 3 chapter fic, approx 15,000 words
Alternate Links to Fic: N/A
Pairing: Lavender/Ron, Hermione/Ron
Rating: T
Author's Website: Realmer06 on ff.net
Author's Summary: Everyone knows Lavender Brown. Or at least, they think they do. A look at Ron and Hermione's relationship through the point of view of one who has better reasons to watch than you might think.

Why everyone should read this: I fell in love with Realmer06's work after reading the first few lines of one of her other pieces. Her dialogue makes me want to dance around and hug someone it's that brilliant and she really makes you think about things in a different way. That was the whole concept behind this fic, as a submission for The Reviews Lounge Fanon vs Canon Challenge in which she was asked to 'look at an aspect of fanon so widely represented in fanfiction that it has become accepted as truth, and turn it on its head.' And my God did she do that!

A large proportion of Ron/Hermione fans dislike Lavender with a passion which may be a little unfair, but I guarantee that if you read this fic you will have a whole other way to look at Ron and Lavender's relationship as well as reading a stellar fic at the same time. Enjoy!

( Excerpt: Everyone fought in the war or joined the DA for different reasons... )

Mods, please can I have a ron/lavender tag? Thanks :)

Title: Rite of Passage
Gaining Access: Join OWL (create a profile at: http://tauri.org/forum//profile.php?mode=register ; then you may login at OWL to read.).
Author: dickgloucester
Length/Word Count: 3184
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: none
Pairing: Hagrid/Ginny
Rating: M
Author's Website: Dickie's profile at OWL
Why everyone should read this: Poor Ginny. When she's a main character, I don't like her very much, usually. Except in this. She's quite wonderful here, and so is Hagrid. And I haven't mentioned the humour and smut; sublime, both.

( Ginny was feeling pleasantly excited )

I hold out hope for more Hagrid/Ginny stories in the future - especially if they are as well-written as this one. Cheers, Dickie!

Hey all!

The inaugural issue of the girlie_edition, a fandom-wide femmeslash newsletter, has just been posted. The first issue features a round-up of the past month's femmeslash fic, art and discussion.

Feel free to join/watch the comm for updates twice weekly.

My last rec of the month. I leave you with minor characters who should nevertheless be celebrated :)

Title: Wild Girls
Author: la_onza
Alternate Links: none found
Pairing: Hestia/Tonks & Hestia/Emmeline but no infidelity
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Hestia thought of her friendship with Tonks as a healed wound, but the prospect of seeing her again forced her to remember.
Warnings: A bit of language
Word count: 1200
Why everyone should read this: I haven't read much fic with Hestia in it so this was a nice take on her character. There's a bubbling, very Tonks-like fun behind this that's shaded with its existence only as a memory for Hestia. Well-written and poignant without being too fussy.

( Excerpt )

Title: So She Turns On Herself
Author: mondayagain
Alternate Links: none found
Pairing: Rita/Sybill
Rating: PG
Summary: An ending to an era of many dinners.
Warnings: character death, mildly AU
Word count: 500+
Why everyone should read this: There's something moody and wonderful about this piece but that's why I love it; moody and wonderful seems to fit Sybill, especially. It's AU (it was written pre-DH) but that doesn't take away from it.

( Excerpt )

My final rec of the month!

Title: Oh, Hi Hermione
Artist:zielona-fabryka
Rating:G
Pairing:implied Ron/Hermione
Artist's Website: on deviantArt
Why you chose this piece: Not only is this Ron adorable, the style is very cool. The colors are very 70s/early 80s browns and oranges and I love it! The artist describes the picture as "Ron finally realizing he's falling for Miss Granger." Go see and give some love :) Ron is too cute for words.

Title: How We Imagined Light
Gaining Access: open
Author: atalanta84 aka horcruxnumber8
Length/Word Count: 5000
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: How We Imagined Light at GE; login required
Pairing: Draco/Hermione
Rating: R
Author's Website: horcruxnumber8's profile at Granger Enchanted
Why everyone should read this: Atalanta takes an established premise (Draco and Hermione run into each other escaping the endless anniversary party) and makes something more of it, with a fresh, pleasing writing voice. Additionally, she strikes a skillful and delicate balance between weightier issues and a "happy" ending. Some of the passage brought tears to my eyes, and I very much look forward to reading more of this new author's work.

( teaser )

Happy Holidays, everybody!

Title: Five Ways Ron and Hermione Never Met
Gaining Access: Open at TQP
Author: marksykins
Length/Word Count:1063
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: none that i know
Pairing:Ron/Hermione
Rating: PG
Author's Website: On TQP
Why everyone should read this:This is a hilarious story about the 5 ways Ron and Hermione didn't meet. This story pokes fun of some of the more 'creative' ways that some people like to write R/Hr stories. You will definitely get a laugh!

( Excerpt )

Title: Study Break
Gaining Access: OPEN
Author: gala_apples
Length/Word Count: 900
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: none
Pairing: Sirus/Remus/James
Rating: NC-17
Author's Website: http://gala-apples.livejournal.com/
Why everyone should read this: A short and sweet fic that again leaves a smile on your face at the end. It goes to show how deep friendships can go even if it is not the best written piece of work.

Title: Have You Heard The One About...
Gaining Access: OPEN
Author: Seeker (no LJ account)
Length/Word Count: 2,200 words
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: none
Pairing: Severus/Remus/Lucius
Rating: NC-17
Author's Website: http://www.castleskeep.net/seeker.htm
Why everyone should read this: I definitely wished I would have recc'ed this story in October for it is hilarious. The dialogue is sharp and witty no doubt infused and dripping (can this be possible?) with snark! A hilarious story that isn't necessarily OOC for any of the characters. A quick read that will leave a smile on your face!

( Excerpt )

Title: by the sea
Artist: buttfacemakani
Crossover Fandom: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Rating: G
Pairing: Voldemort/Bellatrix
Artist's Website: AccioBrain!
Why you chose this piece: It's a great tribute to the film, with Voldemort and Bellatrix replacing Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett; with the link that Helena Bonham Carter provides between these two canons, it was really only a matter of time before someone attempted a crossover.

I think the majority of my reviews, for Only Human and for Bonne Foi, consist of something like this:

"Wow...I thought this would suck, but it's actually really good!"

I'm just going to take it as a compliment.

But, seriously, are my ideas that out there, or do I just suck at writing summaries?

Eric Flint was the Guest of Honor at the 39th running of the Chambanacon last weekend. His wife Lu couldn't make it, so he asked if I wanted to go as his guest. I drove us down, to make it fair.

Chambanacon is what they call a "relaxacon" which means there isn't much programming, and what there is of it is really loosey goosey. It is really a weekend to relax with friends, meet new friends, and talk about whatever we wanted to talk about. Which, in this crowd is science fiction, space travel, fantasy, politics, authors, religion, high tech, gaming, lather rinse and repeat.

I met some fantastic folks. Bill and Brenda Sutton were Toastmaster and Fan Guest of Honor, respectively, and Brenda and the wonderful Juanita Coulson, an absolutely underrated science fiction and fantasy author and filker, who has been around fandom since way before it was cool, were in charge of a large filking contingent.

Attendance was down at Chambanacon, probably due to the economy, but there was a very strong gaming contingent that filled up all the tables in the con suite, overseen by Mike Wallis and his wife Faith, ably assisted by their scary-smart young daughter. I even played a great game with the Wallis family.

The Wallises are the con-com for a gaming convention in April in East Peoria at the campus of Illinois Central College, called Spring-Offensive, which my daughter Andrea is considering taking the Gaming Club of Waubonsee Community College to as a school activity.

"And a great time was had by all."

Title: A Matter of Trust
Gaining Access: OPEN
Author: kath_ballantyne and wallflowergirl on IJ
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: At daily_deviant on IJ
Pairing:Harry/Ron
Rating: R
Author's Website: Masterlist
Why everyone should read this: I hadn't planned on reccing the same artist twice this month, but (even though I knew) the different IJ name threw me and I can't not rec this piece.

Harry/Ron is not a pairing that sees a lot of kink, which is a shame as so much "kink" involves high levels of trust and love, elements that are often essential to the pairing. This art shows them exploring breathplay in a completely loving manner. The art is gorgeous, the colors perfect, but what's best here is how clear the relationship is exemplified: a hand loose on an arm, a mouth on an ear, the redness of the skin, and the half-clothed moment that adds urgency to the encounter. Gorgeous work!


I've enjoyed reccing Harry/Ron for you this month! It was hard knowing that next month, we will have even more Harry/Ron goodness after the holidays.

This is my last Harry/Draco rec! I had a fantastic time this month and I hope you did too. I see next month is the free rec month, so if you felt I left a great fic off this list, than go ahead and rec your favorites next month!!! And as always, give the authors and artists HUGS!!!!

Title: In The Beginning
Gaining Access: Open
Author: nursedarry
Word Count: 11,355
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Complete and utter finger-down-your-throat AU fluff. There is a minor character's death (but it's the baddie, so no biggie:)
Author's Website: You can find nursedarry's fic list Here

Why everyone should read this:I like a good AU, if you can't tell already, and this one fits the bill like no other. nursedarry carts you off to biblical times, ala Harry/Draco style, and completely commits. This is a fantastic slash version of the Garden of Eden with a HOT HOT HOT awakening scene - much better than Adam and Eve realizing their naked. ;) Draco is just too cute, and Harry, as a lion, is just absolutely darling. Transformations, hot sex, cute animals, and a funny twist ending, this fic is just a bundle of awesomeness. I highly recommend you read this fic and give this awesome, super nice, author MUCH LOVE!

( Excerpt )

Title: Same Old Tricks
Gaining Access: Just click away.
Author: tosca1390
Length/Word Count: 10,826
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: Here at catchmysnitch
Pairing: Harry/Ginny
Rating: R
Author's Website: Easiest access is probably through her journal and here at catchmysnitch.
Why everyone should read this: The theme of Harry and Ginny rebuilding their lives and their relationship during that first year after the war is a favorite of mine, and Tosca writes it so well. Harry and Ginny move toward normal here in fits and starts, slowly sharing their wartime experiences and figuring out how to interact without the constant threat of death over their heads. This story features a beautifully strong Ginny and a Harry who is the perfect mix of maturity, immaturity, guilt, and hope.

( Excerpt )

In the past crack_broom has had a month of open reccing. We do this open reccing twice a year, once in June and once in December.

It's that time again!

How Free Flying Works:

Anyone who wants to may post one rec sometime this month. Make it your favorite regularly recced pairing fic, art, or vid if you like, or your favorite rare pair... whatever you'd like to share. Just check the community memories first to make sure that it hasn't been recced yet on this community. Use the normal posting format -- and don't forget your tags! If you'll be reccing something that doesn't have a tag, please note this in your post and we'll create a tag for you ASAP.

This month, all posts will be moderated so that we can make sure that: 1) only recs are posted, 2) people are formatting correctly, and 3) everyone only posts once. There are a lot of members, and we don't want everyone's flists to be completely spammed.

You must join the community to post, but membership is open. We will be giving out posting access tomorrow morning.

Let us know if you have any questions, and have fun!

-tarie, painless_j, and itsbeenvery!

P.S.: If you become a member of this community after tomorrow morning, please drop a comment here so we know and can give you access to post your rec.

Title:Sleepless, Dreamless
Pairing: Ginny/Tonks
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 6854
Warnings: Highlight to read;Tonks is five months pregnant when sexual situation takes place.
Summary: Ginny is feeling isolated, alone in the midst of the war, but she is not the only person who is troubled in The Burrow.
Disclaimer: These wonderful characters are not mine.

x-posted

(Sleepless, Dreamless)

Here's a quote from "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle"; which is John Green's contribution to the three-story collection, Let It Snow

"There is always the risk: something is good and good and good and good, and then all at once it gets awkward. All at once, she sees you looking at her, and then she doesn’t want to joke around with you anymore, because she doesn’t want to seem flirty, because she doesn’t want you to think she likes you. It’s such a disaster, whenever, in the course of human relationships, someone begins to chisel away at the wall of separation between friendship and kissing. Breaking down that wall is the kind of story that might have a happy middle - oh, look, we broke down this wall, I’m going to look at you like a girl and you’re going to look at me like a boy and we’re going to play a fun game called Can I Put My Hand There What About There What About There. And sometimes that happy middle looks so great that you can convince yourself that it’s not the middle but will last forever.

That middle is never the end though… And I did not want to have a happy middle… at the expense of an Inevitably Disastrous Forever.

But then again (and here is one of my main complaints about human consciousness): once you think a thought, it is extremely difficult to unthink it. And I had thought the thought."

Yeah. Reading that made me smile.

I had a hard time picking just one piece of art from dirty_darella, so if you liked this piece, please take a look at her other works as well!

Title: Untitled
Artist: dirty_darella
Rating: PG
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Artist's Website: dirty_darella's fan art listing!
Gaining Access: Her art is unlocked! Remember, please check out her other works and give her your love!

Why you chose this piece: As I said in the beginning, I had a lot of difficulty picking just one piece from dirty_darella. She drew for me once a beautiful Veela!Harry that I currently use as my fic list pic, so you can see I love and admire her work greatly.

dirty_darella's pictures are fun, often very very hot, but very sweet and innocent at the same time. This particular picture captures Harry and Draco in a more serene moment, underneath the trees, and I just can't help but sigh every time I see it.

Be prepared, many of dirty_darella's pictures contain porn, so if you aren't into that, mind the warnings. But I'm sure you will all love this work just as much as I do. Give this artist much love!!!

*ps - also check out her fics! They are just as sweet and hot!

Title: Out to Depression
Gaining Access: OPEN
Author: Brumeux, brumeux77
Length/Word Count: ~3000
Alternate Links to Fic/Art:On Quidditch Pitch
Pairing: Harry/Ron
Rating: PG13
Author's Website: At The Quidditch Pitch and brumeux77
Why everyone should read this: This is one of those stories that rings true in so many ways. First, it does a wonderful job dealing with depression and showing how every little thing can become a major struggle, and how hard it is to realize your depression and be unable to take control of it. The characterizations here are spot-on. It so easy to see them both acting as they do, and to see how such a painful situation could develop.

( excerpt )

Title: McGonagall's Robes
Artist: kit466
Rating: G
Character: McGonagall
Artist's Website: Kit's gallery at deviantART
Why you chose this piece: Even though McGonagall looks somewhat younger in this art than she does in my head, this piece epitomizes much about the character for me. The Minerva in my mind is sharp-featured, sharp-tongued, sharp-witted, and Kit466 captures all that sharpness here (along with some sharp robes, too). This is how I see canon McGonagall: standing confidently, her expression wry, amused, aware, and in-charge.

This final art rec concludes my month on the Minerva broom; I hope you've enjoyed the ride.