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nextgendarkfest Rec!
Jul. 19th, 2010 07:33 pmthemostepotenteGood morning all! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend! NGDF reveals go up today, I think, but I really wanted to sneak this one in while it's still anonymous. It's the longest fic [almost 50k!] I've read since H/D Hols, but it's absolutely amazing, and I wanted to share my squee ♥
There are also a handful of fics I have not yet commented on, and I will get to those later today. My apologies to those yet unnamed authors.
A note of caution. This is a dark-fest fic. The warnings are blocked out, but I'm not going to spoil what's behind the grey. That should be the reader's choice and the reader's choice alone.
Irradiance - Albus Severus/Scorpius [R] byMystery Author melusinahp.
You'll forgive me my incoherence, please. I've just been on a four-hour reading bender, and I haven't had my coffee yet this morning. I know the reveals are today, so luckily I'll have squeaked this by. If you have some time this morning, make this your first stop. Granted, this fic is long, but the atmosphere is just amazing.
I know a lot of people shy away from dark-themed fics. Irradiance does have its dark moments, but not unlike storm clouds, the moments pass.
Because of the story's length, the fic is broken up into five parts. Admittedly, the first part is my favourite. Al and Scorpius are sorted and eventually make each other's acquaintances. Sorted into Ravenclaw, Scorpius is a bit of an odd duck, but the two form an easy friendship. I love that Al steps in as Scorpius's protector and Scorpius helps Al with his studies. Their friendship is a natural sort of revelation that develops gradually over time, and it never ever feels forced. Some of their first and second year exchanges are so heart-warming, I was still grinning long after the moments passed. There's one in particular where Scorpius is helping Al with his Transfigurations homework, and Al's inquisitiveness is positively charming. And another scene at the Manor where Al momentarily watches Scorpius's genius at work before Al's whisked away for a heart-to-heart with Draco.
And speaking of Draco, and really all of the characters in this fic, I cannot say enough about all of the wonderful characterisations. There's no abuse. There's no dysfunction. Just two loving families that come together under two sets of circumstances. Everyone is painstakingly crafted and has his or her part to play in the fic no matter how slight or considerable the impact. And I just adored Al's circle of friends, because they complemented one another perfectly, like his father's before him.
What I love most about this fic is that there are two plots moving parallel that eventually intersect. A terrorist group's explosions rock wizarding Britain, and Harry, Al and Scorpius are all caught up in the resulting maelstrom, each in their own ways. And this is where Scorpius really just wins and breaks my heart with his perseverance to the point of obsession to cure the world's ills.
Gosh, I could just ramble on and on about the wonderfulness of this fic. There's so much to behold. Harry Potter action figures made to duel. A book that gauges truth by touch. Baoding Spheres similar to Chinese Meditation Balls. A Professor Smith that rivals Snape in nastiness. And sweet, tender scenes in which Al and Scorpius express their affections believably, like teenaged boys with temperamental bits and no self-control. It's Monday, it's the start of a busy workweek, I know. But make the time if you can. They say that the journey is what matters most, but I was just as amazed with the final destination.
Enjoy all!
--P
There are also a handful of fics I have not yet commented on, and I will get to those later today. My apologies to those yet unnamed authors.
A note of caution. This is a dark-fest fic. The warnings are blocked out, but I'm not going to spoil what's behind the grey. That should be the reader's choice and the reader's choice alone.
Irradiance - Albus Severus/Scorpius [R] by
melusinahp.You'll forgive me my incoherence, please. I've just been on a four-hour reading bender, and I haven't had my coffee yet this morning. I know the reveals are today, so luckily I'll have squeaked this by. If you have some time this morning, make this your first stop. Granted, this fic is long, but the atmosphere is just amazing.
I know a lot of people shy away from dark-themed fics. Irradiance does have its dark moments, but not unlike storm clouds, the moments pass.
Because of the story's length, the fic is broken up into five parts. Admittedly, the first part is my favourite. Al and Scorpius are sorted and eventually make each other's acquaintances. Sorted into Ravenclaw, Scorpius is a bit of an odd duck, but the two form an easy friendship. I love that Al steps in as Scorpius's protector and Scorpius helps Al with his studies. Their friendship is a natural sort of revelation that develops gradually over time, and it never ever feels forced. Some of their first and second year exchanges are so heart-warming, I was still grinning long after the moments passed. There's one in particular where Scorpius is helping Al with his Transfigurations homework, and Al's inquisitiveness is positively charming. And another scene at the Manor where Al momentarily watches Scorpius's genius at work before Al's whisked away for a heart-to-heart with Draco.
And speaking of Draco, and really all of the characters in this fic, I cannot say enough about all of the wonderful characterisations. There's no abuse. There's no dysfunction. Just two loving families that come together under two sets of circumstances. Everyone is painstakingly crafted and has his or her part to play in the fic no matter how slight or considerable the impact. And I just adored Al's circle of friends, because they complemented one another perfectly, like his father's before him.
What I love most about this fic is that there are two plots moving parallel that eventually intersect. A terrorist group's explosions rock wizarding Britain, and Harry, Al and Scorpius are all caught up in the resulting maelstrom, each in their own ways. And this is where Scorpius really just wins and breaks my heart with his perseverance to the point of obsession to cure the world's ills.
Gosh, I could just ramble on and on about the wonderfulness of this fic. There's so much to behold. Harry Potter action figures made to duel. A book that gauges truth by touch. Baoding Spheres similar to Chinese Meditation Balls. A Professor Smith that rivals Snape in nastiness. And sweet, tender scenes in which Al and Scorpius express their affections believably, like teenaged boys with temperamental bits and no self-control. It's Monday, it's the start of a busy workweek, I know. But make the time if you can. They say that the journey is what matters most, but I was just as amazed with the final destination.
Enjoy all!
--P
