#wolfstartopten

As I was revamping my rec list page recently, I added some top ten lists from @wolfstarhq and @jencala (here and here). I'm one of those people that loves top ten lists, and I thought it would be fun to not only do one myself, but see what would be on everyone else’s top ten lists! 

So I present to you the Wolfstar Top Ten Challenge! Just create a post with your top ten favorite wolfstar fics! They don’t have to be in order, you can leave comments or just list them, it’s all up to you. :D I only ask that you include all of the authors’ names so they can be celebrated too!

Either @wolfstarwarehouse in the post or tag it with #wolfstartopten and I’ll reblog it! Then I can hopefully create a masterlist with links to everyone’s top ten lists. :) 

I’ll be the first to start and give you my top ten all-time favorite wolfstar fics: 

1. A Cure For Nightmares by @picascribit: A boarding school!au that perfectly mixes angst and romance. Heavier subjects are handled so well and the whole story is wonderfully written, with characters that I love intensely. It’s my all-time favorite; it gives me all the feels every time I read it. 

2. Sex and Dying in High Society by fluorescentgrey/@yeats-infection: A first war story full of music, angst, heartbreak, and gorgeous writing. A masterpiece that I will never get over. 

3. Work With This by @veeagainsttheday: During the first war, Sirius starts to fear for his future and it pushes him to finally ask Remus out on a date. I love this fic so much I can’t even describe it. It warms my heart and fills me with hope.

4. Long Live Living (If Living Can Be This) by excaliburned: A non-magic!au set during their last summer before university while they work at Warwick Castle. One of the best AU’s out there. Funny and adorable and full of oblivious boys being disgustingly cute and in love.

5. Being An Historical Record of Events Surrounding the Unfortunate Truth-Or-Dare Game of February the Twenty-Second, and Consequences Thereof by sodomquake: A veritaserum filled game of truth or dare forces Remus to admit his feelings, and awkwardness and kissing ensues. Now this is where I can trace back my love of truth or dare and potions fics. It’s so cute and I love it just as much every time I reread it.

6. Let Nothing You Dismay by @montpahrnah: During the Christmas season of 1979, Sirius finds himself questioning his sexuality, his feelings, and just how much you can pine for someone before you have to do something about it. Beautiful writing combined with the sweetest story; an incredibly lovely fic.

7. In the Bed by @bigblckdog: The post-prank fic to end all post-prank fics, in my opinion. Incredibly creative and gorgeous use of paintings and emotion. It’s everything I love in one masterful fic.

8. Three Card Monte by @enjambament: An Ocean’s Eleven-inspired heist!AU, and it’s as awesome as you think it would be. It has amazing characterization and a full backstory; it’s dazzling and hugely entertaining.

9. We Build Our Own Unfolding by @imochan: After Hogwarts, Sirius finds his flat constantly filled with Moony. This whole fic is a kind of slow burn towards realization. A little sad, a lot hopeful, and beautifully told.

10. Now by youcantseeus: When the second war is over, Sirius and Remus and Teddy are still alive, but Remus has a hard time coping with life. This is another one I’ve reread too many times to count. It’s that mix of heavy feelings that can make you tear up and gentle, comforting, domestic fluff.

For @wolfstarwarehouse

Highland Fling and Discards by picascribit

Text Talk by merlywhirls

All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89

June, and Other Natural Disasters by montparnasse

We Were Infinite by WolfstarPups90

Three Weeks Outside Time by Thistlerose

Wolfsbane by mysid

On a Windswept Cliff by starfishstar

So, in no particular order:

1. Our Private Universe by busaikko : Watch Remus, Peter said, look for evidence; but what Sirius found was something different. Christmas 1979.

2. Light in August by orestesfasting: Summer, 1977. With the full moon approaching, Sirius heads up to the Lupins’ countryside cottage to make himself useful. Or to make a complete and utter arse out of himself, because really, that’s all he can seem to do around Remus these days.

3. The summer you let your hair grow out by ladymemebeth: an AU story in which sirius decides to go to remus’ house when he runs away, rather than james’. remus finds this situation to be trying in more ways than one. includes gratuitous references to twentieth-century cinema and music.

4. We Build Our Own Unfolding by imochan: A welcome overstayed, a funeral at the farmhouse, a diary, a welcome overstayed (again), and a long walk over the hills.

5. Elucidation Practice by montparnasse: Christmas, 1978. Remus, wrestling with the mighty problems of gift-giving on a budget, contemplates life, love, London in winter, and falling off the edge of the world with Sirius Black.

6. Let nothing you dismay by montparnasse: There are a few things Sirius really didn’t count on for Christmas of 1979. The extreme sexual confusion is one of them; Remus Lupin is approximately seventy-eight of the rest.

7. That the Science of Cartography is Limited by Rave: The whole thing is silly and illogical. There has to be a rhythm. There has to be a sense. Because there are things that make sense about living, and you can’t come to a logical conclusion from an illogical premise, it doesn’t work like that.

8. Advent by coyotesuspect: It’s December of 1976. The Ministry is more concerned about cracking down on werewolves than it is about disappearing Muggleborns, Remus is a lousy prefect but a decent friend, and James has declared that all Christmas gifts must be “creative” this year. Includes strongly worded letters to the editor, Muggle protest tactics, Quidditch games, and a very temperamental Sirius.

9. 73 Aberdeen by mici: There are some things ungoverned by fate. If Sirius Black had gone the path of every Black before him, if he had been in Slytherin, he would have been a very different boy. It would have been a very different war.

I hope I’m not too late for the #wolfstartopten challenge, @wolfstarwarehouse ! Without further ado - my top ten(ish) sirius/remus fics in no particular order.

Work With This by @veeagainsttheday ( also Domestic Creatures and The Active Reader and really everything she's ever written)

This is the story I’ve thought about the most over the years as I’ve gone through my life trying to grow up, be mature, make positive changes in my life, and take that leap of being vulnerable to go after what I want. I love Remus’ characterization of not knowing what he is doing, and figuring it out as he goes along, but also being in touch and thoughtful about what he is feeling. I love impulsive but thoughtful Sirius. And I love the quiet way the fic unfolds. The writing and dialogue is fantastic and sucks you right into the story. Vee is an amazing writer and I can’t get enough of everything she has written.

Beyond The Veil by Atalan 

This story is amazing! It’s a story of Remus (and Harry) bringing Sirius back from beyond the veil against all odds - the magic and mystery that unfolds is engaging and original. The changes in point of view work seamlessly with the story. Remus characterization is spot on, and I love how he interacts with Harry ( I have a soft spot for Remus parenting Harry ). I love that the story continues after Sirius is brought back and the interesting turns it takes. 

The Maddest House by busaikko

This fic fucks me up every time I read it. It’s the story of Sirius raising Harry under a Fidelius charm with Remus as his Secret Keeper after Harry’s parents are killed. The characterization of toddler/kid Harry and Sirius-as-a-parent are both superb. The writing and dialogue is amazing. I love every word of this fic. Seriously, it is incredible. Beware the angst (but it does have a happy ending).

Redeeming Time by minx

This fic is set after ‘The Prank’ in the Marauders 6th year and is told from James’ point of view. It features gorgeous writing and a sensitive, thoughtful portrayal of the Marauders growing up. I love James’ observations of Remus and Sirius’ relationship and the realization of them being together. I love the coming out bits and everything about this one.

Song of Songs by Madmartha

This is part of the Two Households series but it works just as well as a stand alone story (although you should definitely read the rest of the series as well, it's grand!). After Sirius escapes from Azkaban, Peter is caught, and Sirius has a proper trial. I love Madmartha’s writing, the interactions between characters, the dialogue, the space between what is said and what is felt, all extraordinarily excellent.

A Fearsome Business by canis_m ( and everything else they have ever written)

This story is perfect in every way. It's just a perfect little round satisfying story. It has some of the most engaging original characters I’ve ever read, a fantastic little mystery plot, and Remus and Sirius reacquainting with each other after Sirius has been on the run.

 A bright particular star by torch  

This is my warm fuzzy wrap-up-in-a-blanket-with-tea winter time fic. It's sweet and lovely and heartfelt and I love the image of teenage Sirius in Hagrid's sweater that goes down past his knees. It manages to be intimate and caring in a non-sexual way but also have Sirius and Remus explore their feelings and sexuality in a lovely way.

We Build Our Own Unfolding by @imochan

This one is angsty but so perfect. It has great description and sense of place. I also love it for the spaces it leaves, the things not said, and the feeling of not knowing what to say or do that is familiar with people losing someone. Lovely, angsty, heartfelt get-together fic.

Adagio by lupinely

This fic breaks my heart ( and then puts it back together again). I like how it tells Remus’ and Sirius’ story through little glimpses of time. The dialogue is funny and excellent. Very in character, heartbreaking, right-in-the-feels, magnificent writing - everything you could want.

Advent by coyotesuspect

This one is fantastic! I love SIrius and Remus’ teenage characterizations in this story - their unsure but inevitable dance around each other, their teasing and physicality, and them figuring it out in the end. I also love a good protest in a fic and hope that Lily and the rest of the protesters go on to be proper rabble-rousers for all the good causes!

A Conspiracy of Cartographers by @picascribit (WIP)

This is the perfect novel length Marauders’ at Hogwarts story that I’ve always longed to read. I love the backstory and glimpses of family life you get for each of them. I love the changing relationships between the four of them and how they become friends. I love the different story lines within the story and how they weave together to give more meaning and subtleties to the main story. I love how immersed I can get in this world. I know people are wary of reading WIP, especially ones that haven’t updated in a while, but I didn’t even really mind that it wasn’t finished because I found myself staying within the story for a long time after I read it and continuing the story in my imagination. It’s one of those stories that has profound bits that you think about now and again and it connects with my own life and how I deal with things in a really wonderful way. 

to fill a gap by berhanes (sqvalors): a non-linear lie low at lupin's story in prose that is frequently just eviscerating; i particularly love the interaction between remus and lyall.

bedlam boys by traveller: viscerally poetic writing; a brutal look into what azkaban did to sirius' mind with some tender moments that cut deep.

recto verso by zambla: a passionate and important story that deals with one of the most vital chapters of british history; when i first read this it changed my perceptions of what fic can do.

time is a fine invention by bluepeony: one of the first r/s fics i read and loved; funny, a little sad and very true to life, with possibly my favourite ending to a fic ever.

a fearsome business by canis m.: a sweet but moving story about readjusting to one another, with minor ocs so well drawn that i still often find myself thinking of them.

the woods by fluorescentgrey: dark, powerful and beautiful; astonishing prose that stays with you long after you've finished reading.

amateur cartography by montparnasse: fantastically gothic, beautiful characterisations and an absolutely gutting look into the first war (dorcas in this fic finished me).

the active reader by veeagainst: clever, funny and warm, forever a favourite for a rainy day.

advent by coyotesuspect: a festive fic with hands down my favourite ever mwpp-era characterisations; lily is wonderful in this, too.

Though nobody asked me for this list and absolutely nobody cares what are my favourite top 10 fics but here they are 😅(in no particular order)

The Lines We Cross by REwrite

Muse by remuslives23

Of Leaves and Stars by irrationalmoony and LadyAmina

Matching Wavelengths by alofthatblood

Whatever Words I say by orphan_account

Something Just like this by shadow_prince

(This one isn’t complete yet but i am sure it is going to be beautiful 😍)

Full value of Joy by dogsunderfoot

Subtlety, Thy Name is Sirius Black by rekahneko

Remus Lupin’s guide to successful courting by Children of the Shadows

Stealing Harry by copperbadge

Bonus (i just couldn’t leave this out):

An Infinite Ocean by orphan_account

I haven’t read a lot of Wolfstar recently BUT I have had a list of fics I adore sitting around my computer for a while so I thought I’d share them since this is happening.

As We Race Towards the Sunset by palavapeite

Blood Chronicles by oony

Do Not Disturb by fluorescentgrey

No Expectations by bluepeony

Sex Pistol by ArtificalAorta

Sodom and Gainsborough by pandapens

Stalking Sirius by remuslives23

The Bells by fluorescentgrey

Dating Remus Lupin by Children_of_the_Shadows

Text Talk by merlywhirls

In no particular order;

1.  A Lie Gets Halfway Around the School Before the Truth Has a Chance to Get Its Pants On by MidniteMarauder

2.  Accidentally In Love by LupinsLittleSister

3.  Casting Moonshadows by Moonsign

4.  All Kidding Aside by ms. commas and ampersands

5.  Highland Fling by picascribit

6.  The Door Through the World by Amuly

7.  Seven Things That Didn't Happen On Valentine's Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did by rageprufrock

8.  Beyond the Veil by Atalan

9. Text Talk by merlywhirls

10. The Effigy by Nyx Fixx

I’d also like to include these three bonus fics which wolfstar fans might not normally find, but are highly recced by myself;

1. Against the Moon by Stoplight Delight - No Wolfstar but a great Marauder fic. In a similar vein as Casting Moonshadows, but because of the date it was posted, it is technically a more accurate depiction of what might  have happened in the Marauder’s Era

2. Harry Potter and the Marauders of the Mind by Moonsign - Side ship of Wolfstar (a sequel to Casting Moonshadows) but they’re not the focus. The fic that introduced Drarry to me as a concept that can work. Unfortunately after this fic I searched for more Drarry fics and... I only found one other that works (alas)