Time out again. Because I need to think of a good name for an ex- Snatcher and all I keep coming up with is ex-boyfriend names. Which is not to say that it wouldn't fit for some of them ... But, on a happier note --

West of Never Again by furiosity , H/D, NC17, 5000 words
I am so jealous of furiosity 's ability to capture a whole portrait of two lives in these apparently lightly sketched scenes. Her story begins in the first years after the war, with Harry focussing on his career until a chance encounter at a party turns his world upside down. While the premise may be straight out of everybody's life at some point between the ages of 15 and 30, her treatment of it captures perfectly that strange moment of calm when you realise that you are not afraid, that the arms you are in are the right arms -- and then the waves of self-inflicted doubt and horror that can come crashing in upon that moment the minute we listen to our demons. Her Harry and Draco grow up to be epilogue compliant, and yet still achieve a point of grace in their relationship, with an ending that is poignant, beautiful and hopeful. If you've ever seen one of Leonardo's cartoons, where hastily sketched lines and smudges of white chalk create a whole bloody world: this is the textual equivalent.

Implausible, Irrational, Preposterous, Peculiar and Just Plain Luna by thetreacletart was recced by someone on a friend's friends list, and I idiotically forgot to bookmark that rec, because I keep trying and failing to function on about four hours sleep a night, despite knowing it doesn't work, so please feel free to let me know who it was! Now, a listing of Snape/Luna would normally have me looking very askance, although I was reassured by the PG13, but the glowing praise from the original reccer sold me. And that person was right! Luna Lovegood decides that Severus Snape needs rescuing, and since she is now a young woman of immense brightness in every way, she sets about doing it as no one else could or would. Under her guidance he confronts the horrors of his life, and finds forgiveness from outside and inside. It's whimsical, it's fey, it's hilarious in parts and it's a delight, a true fairystory of the Potterverse, that ends, as all good fairystories should with both characters changed and stronger.

Finally, Persistence of Memory, Hermione Granger and her Mum by rose_whispers fills in the missing story of the Granger women. I recognise that this is two non H/D recs in a row, and point those who need their dose of boy on boy action to the first in this list, which is cheerfully delightful. However, for good writing, for clever interpretations of clues from canon and for insight into the characters that are left behind by JKR's tight focus, this is one hell of a good read. Beginning with Monica Wilkins walking in Queensland, it flashes back through the life she had with her daughter when she was Susan Granger, and the ways in which they have both worked to keep each other whole. The two stories run in balanced parallel until a well-wrought ending brings a satisfying close. Because a family can be a love story, too.

OK, that's enough procrastinating ...