New story - new update!

FYI - All the stories in my favorites are COMPLETE, even if they aren't marked as such. There is humor, dark Harry, independent Harry, gen, het, slash, creature fic, long fic, one-shots... Now that I think about it, there isn't much similarity in story lines. The stories are relatively unique in the plot lines, however. Some do have some grammar/spelling issues but were interesting enough to make my favorites anyway. For WIPs that I like, you can check out my C2 group.

Pet Peeves (everyone has them)
Teeny-Bopper Fics - If your Harry owns half the world...you might be a teeny-bopper. If your Harry has a dozen different "rare" skills...you might be a teeny-bopper. If your Harry masters ancient esoteric magics or five kinds of martial arts in just three months...you might be a teeny-bopper. I like super!Harry. I've got my own plot-bunny doing its best to breed in the back of my mind. Just...have some kind of semi-reasonable explanation. He gets sucked into a time warp - OK. He has some special time-condensing trunk - OK. He absorbs the knowledge of others - OK. Anything. Under-developed super!Harry is boring.

Paraphrasing/Summarizing the books - Honestly. We are all here reading and/or writing fan-fiction. As in...fan. One would presume that implies we are all, you know, FANS. This then implies that we have all read at least book one. Please, please, please do not tell us about Harry's rotten home life or the fact he didn't know he was a wizard or that Hagrid came to take him shopping or anything else that happens unless you are actually going to DO something with it. Like, I dunno, change his history perhaps. Or elaborate as to why certain things happened. Nothing makes me skim through a story faster than to see some variation of "a black-haired boy was laying ignorant of his heritage in the cupboard his awful relatives imprisoned him in..."

Stories I Don't Read
--Non-magic AUs. I mean, really, what's the point.
--Really horrible, non-redeeming angst.
--Crossovers with anime. I am not an anime fan. I am not familiar in any way with Inuyasha, Naruto, Ranma, Gundam Wing, ad infinitem...
--Crossovers with technology based series. Call me a purist. I like by fantasy and sci fi separate. Except for Culture Shock - I started this story by accident and am finding it hilarious.
--Incest. I just don't care if Harry goes back in time and/or to an alternate dimension. I never want to see him with Lily. Or James for that matter since I read a lot of slash. Just...no. No. No. No. Can you tell this is a major squick for me? And Sirius and Remus are pushing it...

Stories I'm a Sucker For
--Creature fics. Even bad ones. Hey, we all have our fetishes...
--Magical maturity. (scratches head ) I imagine you would guess this since this was the topic of my first story
--Magical bonding
--Independent Harry
--Dark Harry
--Going back in time
--Flip-flop stories. You know the ones, where the bad is good and the good is bad. I really like the whole "not all is as it seems" concept

My Top Ten that AREN'T on ff.net (in no particular order)

Malfoy Flavor or Malfoy Flavor by Vorabiza
HPDM. Severitus. Complete. "Harry’s ready to banish the Golden Boy image and take charge of his life. Unfortunately, or fortunately, for him there are still more surprises in store for him. Somewhat of a sixth year, Severitus and Slytherin!Harry fic."

and its sequel Flavorful Bonding by Vorabiza
HPDM. Severitus. Complete. "A follow-up to “Malfoy Flavor”. Harry and Draco’s bonding/wedding with a mix of Muggle and Pureblood traditions."

Secrets by Vorabiza
HPDM. Complete. The best post-HBP I have ever read. "Beginning with Draco's unexpected arrival at the Dursleys, Harry's summer after sixth year becomes filled with activity and many secrets. As his summer progresses, Harry generates several unexpected allies as he finds himself actively becoming the leader of the Light side."

If You Want To Play In My Game, You’ve Got To Bring Your Own Balls by Cyane Snape
HPDM. One-shot. Humor. "Harry and Draco are paired up to organize a Quidditch tournament against a team of Hogwarts alumni and professors. “I do ask that whatever special rules you decide on, please insure that no one will be seriously injured. This is supposed to be a friendly match.” “I can absolutely guarantee that no one will get killed," said Draco...“Malfoy? This is going to be easier than I thought. What’s the matter? You couldn’t find any REAL players?” For once, Draco said nothing. He smiled. And that should have scared Oliver to death."

The Man in Draco's Bed by Cyane Snape
HPDM. Complete. Humor."Lucius is hysterical…actually he would rather be dead. Draco has arrived at Malfoy Manor just in time for the Christmas Holidays…with his new husband, Harry Potter-Malfoy. The Malfoy Code of Honor™ demands that Lucius protect his new son-in-law and Voldemort is coming for Christmas dinner!"

and its sequel Grandpa's Little Angel by Cyane Snape
HPDM. Complete. Humor. "No one should have to suffer through two meltdowns, but Lucius Malfoy’s luck has run from bad to worse for the last four years."

The Mirror of Maybe by Midnight Blue
HPSS. WIP. An excellent story with a wonderfully snarky Severus. Harry gets caught by magic mirror unwisely left in the Great Hall by the Ministry for the students to play with. He returns from an alternate possibility a different man and does his best to ensure that the possibilities of the real world make a better future.

Harry Potter and the Inconvenient Condition by Mirabella
HPDM. One-shot. Humor. "Harry comes back from vacation with an inconvenient case of vampirism and must learn to cope with blood, Malfoy, and recalcitrant secretaries."

Control Issues by Shivani
HPLV. Complete. Yes, this is the same Shivani here on FFnet, BUT, this story is not here for a very good reason. It is not for the faint-hearted. When the author says "sick, twisted, perverse" she means it. Really. I'm serious here. This is REALLY different than the stories I've mentioned above. And I do love every word of it. She has started a sequel, which you can reach by going to her home page. It is labeled "CI:A" for "Control Issues: Aftermath"

"Sick, twisted, perverse—that would be Severus Snape. And yet, his blindly obedient little soldier boy ran away, and to guess who? Features abused!Harry, creature!Harry, sadistic!Harry."

Breakpoint by Shivani
HPLM. WIP. Harry learned more the night of the Ministry raid than either he or Voldemort expected, and both realize a new, common enemy.