thank you to everyone who took the time to like/comment/reblog, it meant the world to me!! anything with an asterisk was written by @anaxandria-writes during her MM takeover!
@the-starryknight, where do I even begin? first off, starry co-mods one of my absolute favorite fests, @hdsudsfest. it was such a blast to participate last year and I’m looking forward to doing so again in 2022! I got to beta for starry last year for Siren Call, and it was reallyfun to get to be a part of her writing process. i loved this fic from the moment I read it and knew I needed to read all I could from her!
starry’s such a force for good here. her tuesday tlc zone posts always turn into the sweetest avalanche of love, branching out to so many different corners of the fandom. i love to see it and am so appreciative of her. she also just did a happy hour post collab with @thedrarrylibrarian recc'ing one of my all-time favorites by @softlystarstruck - go give both the postandthe fic a read ASAP if you haven’t done so already! and her collab rec listwith@gryffindorheartsfor@babooshkart’s birthday the other day was so full of love and light.
random superlatives and recs:
hand kink: unlocked:Sleight of Hand // E // 15K // Drarry // you’ll spend this entire fic trying to figure Draco out. he’s too smooth and slippery… isn’t he? @onbeinganangel did an embroidery rec for this one that I highly recommend you check out.
left me feeling wrecked: Surface Texture// E // 5K // Harry/Teddy // the imagery of Draco’s hickey on Harry’s neck and Teddy’s charcoal fingerprints on his body, phew.
starry-eyed over starry’s smut:Any Way You Slice It// E // 6K // Wolfstar // the first-person pov in this, I swear. knowing sirius’ exact thoughts and how remus takes him apart my GOD. I absolutely love a dirty-talking moony who just takes sirius apart at the seams, and this one does it on the motorbike.dead.
“Peppy, he’s been telling me he loves me all this time. The apple blossoms, the tulips, the Austrian roses…”
Midwinter Mysteries by @prinzessineilis // E // 19K // Draco/Neville // pureblood courting rituals !!!! secret admirers, gifts and mystery, Hogwarts professors?! ALL THE YES.
Except, it was an arrangement of camellias, three by three. Three white as a sign that the sender thought he was attractive. Three in pink to show longing. Three in red for ardour. It was a perfectly ordinary, perfectly organised, perfectly traditional courting gift. A declaration of intention in the language of flowers.
A Love Languageby@signifiquint // M // 8K // Wolfstar // ugh I get all sappy when these two get the life and love they deserved, and this fic hit the nail on the head. so sweet, their little family is so perfect.
“Phlox. Ahem.” He paused, a blush spreading over his cheeks, despite Remus being unable to see his face. “ Our souls are united.” Sirius grasped around for Remus’ hand, twisting the bands he found on his ring finger around and around.
More recs (including some art & podfics) below the cut!
@sitp-recs was one of the very first blogs I followed on this funny little site we all call home, and I believe can easily be credited as my gateway drug to… well, whatever the hell this is that I’m doing now.
Liv has been doing this for two years. TWO. YEARS. have you seen the absolutely insaneincredible amount of recs that she’s put out in that time? like, I’m not sure she’s even human tbh. putting together a rec takes time, plus a lot of love and emotional energy. trying to corral your feelings about something and then spit them out in a way that makes other people interested? it’s hard.
Liv, you’re such a gift to this community. I wanted to say thank you - so many of my favorite fics and authors came as a result of one of your recommendations. you’re truly such a gem and we are so lucky to have you. I wanted to gift you recs of some of my favorites so far from 2022 that I hope you’ll enjoy! For those of you who are not Liv, I’ve linked to some relevant lists of hers, if these are fics you enjoy!!
✨Once More With Feeling by @innerlilith // E // 27K // angsty, heavy fuck or die fic that turns so fucking soft and gorgeous. fav tag: origami as a vehicle for sexting.
✨The Only Magic Left Between Usby@lqtraintracks // E // 24K // Icried over this fic, just a bottomless well of emotions. but in the best way. fav tags: Draco Malfoy Has a Small Cock, Harry Loves It
✨Pages of Youby@wolfpants // E // 54K // pen pals, mistaken identity, background Wolfstar, gay bookstore, this fic has it all. fav tag: lots of Blondie references
✨Vis-à-Vis-à-Visby@vukovich // E // 50K // I think my jaw was having open by the time I finished this fic, just a bunch of gibberish falling out. I had to question why I even try to write when vuk is out here doing this kind of masterpiece, but here we are! fav tag: Inappropriate Use of Legilimency
✨The Things We Needby@kbrick // E // 25K // this was such a gorgeous take on love in its many forms, setting boundaries, and non-monogamy. fav tag: Smut with a Side of Angst
✨Keep Me Hereby@academicdisasterfic // E // 7K // Harry/Draco/Teddy // gahhhh I’ve re-read this so many times I can’t even tell you. I LOVE this triad, and this version is especially soft and so, so hot. fav tag: as usual these tags have gotten away from me
May Flowers continues today with Hanahaki Disease!
Check out Sunday’s post for Beltane here! Have a rec you think belongs in this series? Send me a DM! Drarry unless otherwise noted.
When Buds Breakby@andithiel // E // 21K // this is saved to my favorites for a reason. it’s idiots to lovers in the best way, just so much pining and crossed wires. plus, the language of flowers is woven in beautifully.
Lilies. Fucking lilies again. If he didn’t hurt so much he’d scoff at them, because the symbolism is honestly getting a little tiresome.
I Bloom Just for Youby@parkkate // T // 15K // love how the flowers spread in this one. definitely in the softer side, I love how it all comes together in the end.
“Can you sit up?” Malfoy cradles the back of his head while Harry tries to move and groans in pain. Just when he thought this couldn’t get any worse, he catches sight of the ground around him, of the gazillion roses he landed on. This, Harry decides, is the most embarrassing moment in his entire life. He’s literally lying on a bed of roses while Malfoy is holding him. This is fucking bollocks.
be my breath (through the deep, deep water) by @gammarey // M // 13K // 8th year fic, Draco and Harry are partnered to brew veritaserum; it goes about as well as can be expected. beautiful prose, fun approach to Hanahaki.
Black spots covered his vision, and he struggled to breathe as the air escaped his lungs. He could feel the soft red petals scraping his insides as they forced themselves out of his body. When he opened his eyes, finally able to breathe between shivers and tremors, the floor was covered in red. There was a faint pressure on his back.
More recs (including some art & podfics) below the cut!
In the Dead of Nightby@fw00shy // E // 8K // bloody & brilliant, angry & amazing. probably the darkest fic on this list, high-key recommend.
Hermione’s voice had gone dry, as though she’d detached herself from the knowledge, to compartmentalize the pain. “In all cases, it was self-inflicted. But the victims… they always died.”
we break to growby@ladderofyears // T // 7K // Jeddy // this pairing was just begging for a Hanahaki curse, if you ask me. I love what Emma did with the pov in this one and I think you will, too. pining, pining, pining.
Each petal is proof of his failure, his absolute worthlessness. For if Teddy loved him truly, then James knows he could breathe once more.
505by@a-sentimental-man // T // 5K // Wolfstar // self-sabotaging Sirius, a tale that stretches through the years. broke my heart a little before stitching it back together again. loved the detail of Remus understanding the language of flowers and how it helped him figure out what was going on with Sirius. these two.
A dozen pink camellias. Sirius had thought, at least I don’t have to explain that I only cough up flowers when there’s someone I know around, when he had first begun explaining, but knew he couldn’t explain it away now—with a pink camellia that said longing for you as clear as day for Remus, who had always been obsessed with the meanings of flowers.
The first of the petals had been found strewn across the wrinkles in Draco’s mattress on a Tuesday morning, dream-warmed. His scar was bleeding, and his chest was tattooed with flowers – real, blooming flowers.
Like Paper, Like a Flameby@lou-isfake // M // 4K // I love how Hermione puts her foot down in this one and forces these two to talk. gorgeous, gorgeous details and dialogue from the master themself.
“Wizards are so dramatic,” Hermione grumbled from the doorway, startling them both. “Only you would get a life-threatening unrequited love disease over a very much requited love, Harry James.”
Flowers Bloom From Within by @mindhunter // NR (T?) // 3K // it’s so fun to see different authors takes- who is affected, how they do or do not cope. this one was particularly poignant, Harry refusing treatment, not wanting to cut away his unrequited love for Draco.
It’s not a few flower petals, no. He throws up a small mountain of petals, red against orange surrounded by yellows and whites, a few pinks and purples scattered throughout. It’s a proper mess and Harry knows he’s going to have to clean it up, to hide the evidence of his feelings but he can’t will himself to move.
Draco Malfoy is so in love not even the most advanced medical magic the Wizarding World has to offer can do anything about it. Draco Malfoy is so in love his body would shut down and die if that love was taken from him. Draco Malfoy’s love for this mysterious individual is foundational to who he is.
@sitp-recs was one of the very first blogs I followed on this funny little site we all call home, and I believe can easily be credited as my gateway drug to… well, whatever the hell this is that I’m doing now.
Liv has been doing this for two years. TWO. YEARS. have you seen the absolutely insaneincredible amount of recs that she’s put out in that time? like, I’m not sure she’s even human tbh. putting together a rec takes time, plus a lot of love and emotional energy. trying to corral your feelings about something and then spit them out in a way that makes other people interested? it’s hard.
Liv, you’re such a gift to this community. I wanted to say thank you - so many of my favorite fics and authors came as a result of one of your recommendations. you’re truly such a gem and we are so lucky to have you. I wanted to gift you recs of some of my favorites so far from 2022 that I hope you’ll enjoy! For those of you who are not Liv, I’ve linked to some relevant lists of hers, if these are fics you enjoy!!
✨Once More With Feeling by @innerlilith // E // 27K // angsty, heavy fuck or die fic that turns so fucking soft and gorgeous. fav tag: origami as a vehicle for sexting.
✨The Only Magic Left Between Usby@lqtraintracks // E // 24K // Icried over this fic, just a bottomless well of emotions. but in the best way. fav tags: Draco Malfoy Has a Small Cock, Harry Loves It
✨Pages of Youby@wolfpants // E // 54K // pen pals, mistaken identity, background Wolfstar, gay bookstore, this fic has it all. fav tag: lots of Blondie references
✨Vis-à-Vis-à-Visby@vukovich // E // 50K // I think my jaw was having open by the time I finished this fic, just a bunch of gibberish falling out. I had to question why I even try to write when vuk is out here doing this kind of masterpiece, but here we are! fav tag: Inappropriate Use of Legilimency
✨The Things We Needby@kbrick // E // 25K // this was such a gorgeous take on love in its many forms, setting boundaries, and non-monogamy. fav tag: Smut with a Side of Angst
✨Keep Me Hereby@academicdisasterfic // E // 7K // Harry/Draco/Teddy // gahhhh I’ve re-read this so many times I can’t even tell you. I LOVE this triad, and this version is especially soft and so, so hot. fav tag: as usual these tags have gotten away from me
OMG MADDY!!! Be still my heart, this is one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever gotten, from the recs icon herself!!! I love your idea of reccing me your fave new fics, that’s a lovely way to help me put more works on my radar while boosting other authors, and linking some of my reclists was such a nice, generous touch I’m so in love with this selection, I found myself nodding at your brilliant and precise thoughts for all the fics I’ve read and ADORED, and because I know you got amazing taste I’m very excited to check the others, they went straight to my mfl list!
It’s incredibly humbling and rewarding to hear another reccer’s thoughts on my blog, I know you spend the same amount of time and energy on boosting others and you’re able to analyze and appreciate banners and lists in a special way - btw I’m obsessed with my gorgeous greenery banner, it’s sooo pretty and soothing! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together and for your kind and inspiring words, it’s an honour to share this space with you and get to enjoy your phenomenal recs too! Here’s to many more years doing what we love and celebrating these brilliant creators
The recs icon?! Meee? I think not, my dear! You are the queen!! I’m so glad you liked this, your response made me SO happy. I hope you had a great Liv Day - it was such a treat for all of us!
“Peppy, he’s been telling me he loves me all this time. The apple blossoms, the tulips, the Austrian roses…”
Midwinter Mysteries by @prinzessineilis // E // 19K // Draco/Neville // pureblood courting rituals !!!! secret admirers, gifts and mystery, Hogwarts professors?! ALL THE YES.
Except, it was an arrangement of camellias, three by three. Three white as a sign that the sender thought he was attractive. Three in pink to show longing. Three in red for ardour. It was a perfectly ordinary, perfectly organised, perfectly traditional courting gift. A declaration of intention in the language of flowers.
A Love Languageby@signifiquint // M // 8K // Wolfstar // ugh I get all sappy when these two get the life and love they deserved, and this fic hit the nail on the head. so sweet, their little family is so perfect.
“Phlox. Ahem.” He paused, a blush spreading over his cheeks, despite Remus being unable to see his face. “ Our souls are united.” Sirius grasped around for Remus’ hand, twisting the bands he found on his ring finger around and around.
More recs (including some art & podfics) below the cut!
Common Thingsby@ravenslightwrites // E // 7K // Paneville // too sweet. quiet, peaceful, falling together that takes time but is so worth it in the long run.
“They’re easy to grow,” he answered, considering the question. “They thrive when they’re in the right environment, and they’re quite lovely. They also signify a positive life change, and I like to think this cottage offers that for me.”
Say It With Flowersby@amysnotdeadyet // E // 7K // Percy/Neville // a big thank you to @danni-the-puff for this rec!! I adore this super rare pair, and this was such a great example! prickly percy quickly and quietly surrendered by sweetheart & secret admirer Neville, delivering his own bouquets. too good!!!
Neville shrugged, pointing to the vase where two tall hyacinth stems held dozens of blue and white blossoms. “Hyacinths are for sincerity,” he explained. “Maybe your admirer knew you wouldn’t believe him. Or her.”
True Love Bloomsby@nv-md// E // 7K // NottPott // this fic holds a permanent spot on my favorites list for so many reasons: tattooed Theo ✅ snippets of a life ✅ tender, hot, sweet, romantic ✅✅✅✅
Harry moved his hands slowly, reverently, over the resplendent garden meticulously tattooed across Theo’s back. He followed his hand with his lips; his mouth traced the brilliant petals that slowly bloomed under his touch, across the strong trunk of the oak tree with the thick green leaves that fluttered with his breath. Harry worshipped Theo, cherishing his soft skin with his tongue and wandering hands.
Russia | Fates Intertwinedby@drarrymadhatterstuff // E // 6K // everyone’s coupled up, leaving our boys a bit lonely. a nighttime visit too the hot springs to jumpstart things? ooooooh yes.
“Thistles, white Roses, and Violets? These symbolise sharing, trust, stability, and being worthy. Now this one,” she said, directing her attention to Malfoy’s, “white Heather, pink Camilla, and Wallflowers, representing good luck, wishes coming true, faithfulness, and longing for someone. You both have very similar sentiments, except for the red Carnations, of course in this one.” She tapped next to Malfoy’s garland with her forefinger and her expression softened. “I hope you find the remedy for your aching heart soon, my boy.”
“I’ve got something for you too,” Harry said with a nervous smile, pulling the flower-laden willow out from his pocket. “I hope you haven’t fallen out of love with floriography yet?”
A Study in Violet by @queeratleast // M // 5K // Hermione/Angelina (unrequited), Hermione/Luna // this fic so perfectly captures the all-consuming feeling of a teen crush and then transitions into what real love feels like, grounded and quiet but no less beautiful. gorgeous femslash!!
From afar, she’s perfect. And even though you know she must have flaws like everyone else, you never get close enough to see them. In your mind, she stays like that forever; ideal and out of reach, like a flower trapped in amber.
Perfect Mouthfulby@izzowrites // E // 4K // Paneville // probably my favorite f/m couple in this fandom, and this was a particular joy. sassy pansy & confident Neville dancing around each other, culminating in :: chef’s kiss:: smut? yes pls. also, based on artworkby@artofcrumbs which …
He didn’t belong in her world, though increasingly, he found himself wanting to make room for her in his. In the beginning, he diligently pulled at the errant thought like he did the weeds in his garden, but he could never seem to get to the root. So Neville tried to see if he could propagate it instead.
Rainbowby @leontina // T // 3K // Jegulus // these two make my heart so happy. there’s an overabundance of flowers as messages in this one, so well done. plus, Regulus appreciating James in a way that Lily clearly didn’t is very satisfying to my Jegulus-shipping heart.
“Me?” Regulus scoffed. “Goodness no! Roses are incredibly cliche, don’t you think? If I wanted to convey a message of love through flowers, I’d sent an althaea—a hibiscus—which means consuming love. Much more romantic and unique than-” Regulus sneered-“red roses.”
Ginny watches as early morning light filters through the growing hawthorn tree outside their bedroom window, casting dancing shadows across Pansy’s soft, bare skin.
Wildflowerby@wolfpants// E // 1310 // Draco/Charlie // eeeeep! wolf packs a punch into this concise fic, gorgeous in the love that these two are finding in each other. I want to let these words take root in my chest. love this pairing so much.
Draco had been lying beside him on his stomach with his eyes closed, his spine a perfect line curving down to the small of his back and the firm, rounded muscles of his buttocks, the crease where they met the top of his thighs mottled pink with fingerprints, handprints, hip-prints. A spray of wildflowers.
Front and center was a flower that had his fingers trembling. Four linear leaves curved upward, with two racemes of purple flowers. “Hyacinth,” Draco whispered. “Means ‘Forgive me; clean slate’.” The ribbon tied to the left, showed that the message applied to the sender and not the receiver—this meant that Potter wasn’t asking for forgiveness but was giving it. A clean slate.
