harry potter recs
primary 'ships: Harry/Draco, Harry/Ron/Hermione, Ron/Hermione, Sirius/Remus, just about any femslash

My interests in this fandom are potentially broad, though I'm not really one for teacher/student relationships or incest.  Categorized by relationship.  Note: So much of this fic was written pre-DH that I don't always bother to note it as AU.

gen

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Poet
Author: ladysisyphus
Category: gen, poetry, parody, crack!
Rating: PG
Description: A Half-Blood Prince parody of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land.  "I will show you fear in a cupful of juice."
Comments: Oh my god this is so fucking amazing.  English major CRACK.

Trio

Bed and Board
Author: Resonant
Pairing: Harry/Ron/Hermione
Category: slash, het, threesome, futurefic, AU
Rating: NC-17
Description: Post-Voldemort, the world has turned into a bad dream of frenzied domestication and uber-wholesomeness that has left Harry and his scars (both physical and emotional) far behind.  Only Hermione and Ron offer Harry anything that he can possibly want.
Comments: Having seen the PoA movie, I suddenly wanted threesome fic.  My favorite thing about this one is the setting, because I find it both plausible and chilling.  (And now, having read Deathly Hallows, I also find it somewhat . . . ironic?)

Propinquity
Author: switchknife
Pairing: Harry/Ron/Hermione
Category: slash, het, threesome, PWP
Rating: NC-17
Description: This is just . . . sex.  Between the three of them.  Very well-written smut, hurrah.
Comments: Not much to say, really.  It's hot.

Harry/Draco

Bend Me
Author: Lodestar
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Category: humor (parody), slash, multipart
Rating: PG-13
Description: Draco is trapped in a bad slashfic, and he can't get out, though he tries to thwart the cliches at every turn
Comments: Quite amusing, if a bit on the nose.

Darken Many Virtues
Author: Sara
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Category: slash, PWP
Rating: NC-17
Description: Draco, Harry, and hormones.  That's all it is.
Comments: Oh, this is one of about a million OOC Harry/Draco PWPs.  I can't really bring myself to rec more than one, and I just happen to like the writing here a lot.  It's that whole "guilty pleasure" fanon thing.

Drop Dead Gorgeous
Author: mistful
Pairing: Harry/Draco, Draco/Katie Bell
Category: slash, het, Futurefic, AU, humor, crack!, multipart, WiP
Rating: PG 
Description: Harry and Draco are partners, working for the Auror office.  Also, somebody's ancestry isn't quite human.
Comments: There's a lot of veela!Draco fic: this isn't one of those.  This is rolling-on-the-ground hilarious, and also has the right touch of serious when necessary.  The characterization is a bit haywire, but it'd have to be, wouldn't it?

If I'm Your Villain
Author: wildestranger
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Category: slash, Futurefic, AU
Rating:  NC-17
Description: Harry's stalking Draco again.  It seems like the thing to do.  (Set post-war, but written pre-DH.)
Comments: I always enjoy a vaguely distopian post-war wizarding world.

If You've A Ready Mind
Author: mistful
Pairing: Harry/Draco, Draco/Cho, Draco/Terry Boot
Category: slash, het, AU, multipart
Rating:  PG-13
Description: What if Draco were sorted into Ravenclaw?  (A retelling of the first six Potter books, from his perspective.)
Comments: This story is just bloody brilliant.  A fantastic mix of humor and more serious storytelling.

Invisible To See
Author: FayJay
Pairing: Harry/Draco, Draco/Justin
Category: slash, futurefic, angst, novel-length, AU
Rating: NC-17
Description: Draco's world crashes and burns.  Escaping the Death Eaters to return to Hogwarts makes him hunted by the one and a pariah in the other, and yet he refuses to compromise his character just because he is now theoretically a "good guy" (which few believe, anyway).  And so it goes.
Comments: This story is quite excellent.  The slash is really pretty incidental (although really good); it's mostly Draco-centric, and damn, I've been waiting for a story that takes his IC self and fleshes it out (rather than just making in turn all fluffy bunnies for no reason).

Lustre
Author: Julad and Calico
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Category: slash, angst
Rating: R
Description: Draco's father gives him a very special snake for a coming of age present.  Then things go wrong, and he needs Harry's help
Comments: I can sort of see this as plausible, and anyway it's quite well-written.  Good to see someone acknowledge how fucked up Draco must be.

Protective Bonds
Author: Sadie Dragonfire
Pairing: Harry/Draco, Ron/Hermione
Category: slash, futurefic, humor, multipart
Rating: various
Description: Harry casts a spell on Draco that is supposed to prevent the Slytherin from harming him, resulting in very strong magical ties binding the two boys together.
Comments: One of the first Harry Potter fic I ever read . . . oh man, was I sixteen?  I think so.  Anyway, nostalgia.

Quality of Mercy
Author: mistful
Pairing: Harry/Draco, Harry/Ginny
Category: preslash, het, AU, multipart, WiP
Rating:  R
Description: After the events of HBP, Harry promises Narcissa Malfoy that he'll look after her son (whether Draco wants him to or not).
Comments: The release of DH makes this hugely AU, but it's intense and smart and interesting, and fills my hunger for a bigger role for Draco.  It's very dark at times.

Transfigurations
Author: Resonant
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Category: slash, futurefic, multipart, AU
Rating: NC-17
Description: After the war, Harry is returning to Hogwarts to help reopen the school.  He is surprised to find Draco Malfoy there as well.  The two former rivals are thrown together as they are forced to fight the strange threat that the Death Eaters have left behind in Hogwart's very walls.
Comments: I wouldn't call this the most IC fic in the world, but it's very worth the read all the same.  The plot is well-paced and inventive.

The World of the Living
Author: fourth rose
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Category: slash, futurefic, AU
Rating:  R
Description: Luna winds up playing hostess to two rather war-damaged former schoolmates.  Told from her perspective.
Comments: The Harry/Draco in this piece is good, and burnt-out Harry is well written, but the best thing about this story is totally Luna.  She's still distinctly dotty, to be sure, but also mature in her way and deeply compassionate.  Fabulous.

Sirius/Remus

Inhabited By Winter
Author: Yahtzee
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Category: slash, angst
Rating: PG-13
Description: set either just before or during OoTP, this fic is a beautiful piece of bleakness.  Remus isn't supposed to get too close to Sirius, not supposed to get comfortable.  But in all the emptiness that is his life, that's a hard task.
Comments: It makes me so sad, but happy too.  This is probably the best post-Azkaban Sirius/Remus I've read, because it's harsh and authentic, but not overbearing.

The Middle Man
Author: thistlerose
Pairing: Sirius/Remus, Sirius/f, Remus/f
Category: slash, het, PWP
Rating:  NC-17
Description: Sirius becomes fascinated with Remus' girlfriend.
Comments: This story makes me a bit uncomfortable, because the OFC just gets used, but . . . it's very hot, particularly at the end, and Sirius being a selfish ass is very in-character (as is Remus' passivity).

The Only Logical Thing To Do
Author: thistlerose
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Category: slash, humor
Rating:  NC-17
Description: Sirius and Remus work on their Muggle Studies homework over the summer holidays.  Sirius has some interesting (and familiar) theories about Star Trek.
Comments: This is just goofy, but it makes me grin . . . and I'm a sucker for fandom-within-fandom, so y'know.

Out Of The Woods
Author: Canis M.
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Category: slash
Rating: PG
Description: The Marauders have adventures in the woods, and Padfoot keeps Moony warm at night.
Comments: Sweet and sugary.

Seven Things That Didn't Happen On Valentine's Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did
Author: Pru
Pairing: Sirius/Remus, James/Lily
Category: slash, het, humor, angst
Rating:
Description: What the title says.  Following the Marauders through their exploits on each Valentine's Day that they spent at Hogwarts.
Comments: This may be my favorite story in the entire fandom.

The Shoebox Project
Author: ladyjaida and dorkorific
Pairing: Sirius/Remus, James/Lily
Category: preslash, humor, angst, multipart
Rating: probably not higher than PG-13, thus far
Description: Stories from the Marauders' time at Hogwarts.  Relationship-building.  Snape's near-death.  The making of the Marauder's Map.  Occasional letters and even photos.  All this and much, much more. 
Comments: I think this is probably one of the most popular HP fic ever, and there's good reason for that.  It is long and satisfying, and I should really finish readin git at some point.

So You Want To Transfigure Yourself A Rock Band
Author: Dazzler
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Category: slash
Rating: NC-17
Description: Sirius comes back to school with a taste for glam rock, and soon he has the entire crew roped into creating a band.  Remus thought he was interested in Sirius before the guitars and tight pants.
Comments: There was a time when I couldn't seem to turn around without tripping over glam!Marauders fic, all of it seeming both contrived and OOC.  And I wouldn't exactly consider this perfectly in character, but unlike the rest, I quite enjoy it.  (I am a glam fan, after all.)

Stealing Harry
Author: Sam (copperbadge)
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Category: slash, AU, multipart
Rating: R
Description: What if Sirius hadn't been tragically mistaken for the traitor after the Potters' deaths?  That's the premise, to begin with.  Instead, he and Remus move right onto Privet Drive to watch over his godson from afar.  And when they see how badly the Dursleys treat little Harry, well . . .
Comments: Oh god.  This fic is dead cathartic.  A must-read, if a bit sugary at times.

What You Need
Author: Laura Smith
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Category: slash, angst
Rating: NC-17
Description: (Post-Hogwarts, pre-disaster)  Sirius finds out that Remus isn't single, and suddenly there's no one and nothing he wants more.
Comments: I just really like the dynamic here.  I can totally see this happening.  And I love that Sirius is an ass (because he is), but still loveable.  Poor, long-suffering Remus.  Also, very good sex scene.

assorted femslash

Come Shots
Author: Kate Bolin
Pairing: Hermione/various
Category: femslash, short, multipart, PWP
Rating: NC-17
Description: Hermione and lots of lesbian sex, in four vignettes.
Comments: It's very hot.  Also, it's illustrated by glockgal, who rocks.

The Hyacinth Girl
Author: Lillith Morgana
Character: Cho
Category: angst, futurefic, femslash, short
Rating: PG-13
Description: Post-war, Cho goes to China.
Comments: Pretty, sad and brief.

Rates of Change
Author: Celeria
Pairing: Angelina/Alicia/Katie
Category: femslash, threesome, PWP
Rating: NC-17
Description: Angelina and Alicia come and visit Katie on their last night at Hogwarts.
Comments: Yum.  This is just hot.  I've always loved the Gryffindor Chasers--Angelina in particular--and it's good that I finally found fic for them.

Rooms and Voices
Author: Fuschia
Pairing: Hermione/Luna
Category: femslash, angst, futurefic, AU
Rating: R
Description: A grieving post-war Hermione is working in the Ministry.  So is Luna, but rather differently.  Brought together by shared sadness, the most logical and least of all Harry Potter characters find something they can both cling to.
Comments: More sad/sweet postwar femslash.  Just lovely.

Starlust
Author: Lillith Morgana
Pairing: Cho/Ginny
Category: femslash, PWP
Rating: NC-17
Description: So Cho's so pretty, so perfect.  But who does she choose?
Comments: Not my Cho/Ginny--I have yet to see anyone write it quite as I want it--but very hot all the same.  Unfortunately, you will have to be a member of the livejournal community Pornish Pixies to read this fic, I can't find it anywhere else.

Sundress
Author: Rhoddlet
Pairing: Hermione/Ginny
Category: femslash, angst
Rating: PG-13
Description: Ginny is doomed to fall in love with the people her brother brings home.
Comments: I mostly avoid this pairing, although it's the most popular femslash one in the fandom.  However, I like the Ginny voice in this one too much to not rec it.

miscellaneous slash

Afraid of the Dark
Author: Bastet
Pairing: Sirius/Snape
Category: slash, short
Rating: R
Description: Sirius is drunk.  The two of them are trapped together in a dark tunnel.  Maybe he's reading Snape's mind.
Comments: Ah, the infamous "Snack" (Snape/Black)  fic, done by B as a present for our friend Reesie, for the 2001 holidays.  I did a fanart for this as my own present to Reesie, which you can find here.  Good god, that's old art.  Those were good times.