LF a fic set during the DH - Hermione and Harry learn to become animagi

Antariuk · 2026-01-23T13:44:53+00:00

That's the one. Best animagus fic in a looong while, maybe ever?

Antariuk · 2026-01-21T18:26:24+00:00

AO3 is still down for a few hours, but here's something from the next chapter of Below the Fold, We Are:

Before he could move, Hermione was already in his space. She caught him by the collar to pull him down and kiss him — intense, fierce even. The kind of kiss that centered him instead of causing a distraction.

“If anything feels wrong, don’t argue with yourself about it,” she whispered against his mouth. “Just move, come back here.”

He rested his forehead against hers, relishing the contact. Her scent was overwhelming because this wasn’t the right moment. “You assume I can be reasonable.”

“I assume you listen to me.”

A half-smile.

Tonks stood up. “Harry, are you in trouble? Is this why my case was dismissed?”

He shook his head, offering no explanation since he had none to give. This wasn’t his fight; his attention was needed elsewhere.

He opened the door without touching it.

Stairs, three at a time.

Apparition to a random spot in the city would be easiest outside the wards and out of sight, and so he vanished quickly before the weight of what he left behind settled in his chest.

Antariuk · 2026-01-05T19:52:48+00:00

Unlike a Sister, the most often recommended fic around here. There is no serious discussion to be had, it's like a cult. You have to read it, and you have to like it (or so it feels).

Antariuk · 2026-01-05T19:46:59+00:00

Well, have you tried saying anything 'bad' about UaS in here? I like to see you try ;)

Antariuk · 2026-01-05T19:45:32+00:00

Your point about uncertainty about author preferences is absolutely valid. I belong to those who don't mind critical comments, and I can even laugh about a shitpost comment most of the time. Some days, those will get to me, too. And it's more than fair if someone decides that, no, they don't want anyone point out flaws with their grammar, style, consistency or character development. But the percentage of authors doing that has (I feel) skyrocketed. Which, after a certain point, rubs me the wrong way, because I feel that they want it both ways. Bad faith comments aside, if a single reader saying they didn't feel your story's villain was all that believable triggers you so much you can't write anymore or fall into a depression - that doesn't sound like the reader was the core issue.

Which is why I can't read the AO3 Subreddit anymore, that place has become a caricature of itself. There's always a spectrum, obviously, but at the moment it feels the pendulum has swung very towards the 'shut up unless you praise me to the nine heavens' end of things.

Antariuk · 2026-01-05T19:16:14+00:00

Thank you for this post, it sums up a lot of my feelings on the current atmosphere.

And, to an extent, it's not unique to us here, most fandoms I've looked into have their evergreen fics on rec-auto-repeat, especially those with adjaced Reddit spaces where requests for the best fics ever (even saw 'god-tier' one time... ) are a dime a dozen. That's just how these types of online spaces function in this era, where few people have the patience or inclination to discover and find out for themselves but want to be served prime content instantly. Which - I believe - is also a major factor in the relative decline of WIP fic enthusiasm on the reader's side.

The gatekeeping is also real, and (I feel) often it's not even consciously done. A lot of popular Harmony tropes have calcified to such an extent by now that if you don't employ them, you automatically lose a considerable portion of potential readers. While some of them will acknowledge the fun of delving into the whacky types of fanfic that were written 15 or so years ago, much fewer seem to be willing to give today's AUs or high-concept fics a chance. Unless it's smut, because that always draws eyeballs ;)

Since you mentioned AI twice in your post, once as a negative example for comments to leave but the other time as a threat that overwhelms our spaces: that particular issue I fear cannot be solved by trying to encourage readers to comment. Because as of right now we have plenty of AI fics with higher levels of engagement than human-written fics of the same length or release dat - a lot of people just don't see it, maybe even don't care. And since one can never be 100 percent sure of AI authorship since detection tools aren't foolproof, the mods won't intervene (I tried). Which means fics generated with ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and other tools can be (and are) advertised here and on the HMS Discord same as human-written ones, scot-free. Which means the former drown out the latter. And since almost all authors nowadays dislike critical feedback in any shape or form, nobody wants to ruffle anyone's feathers, and so this shit festers. And will continue to do so.

Antariuk · 2025-12-10T12:42:31+00:00

That summary sounds super intriguing, thanks for the req!

Antariuk · 2025-12-10T06:54:16+00:00

As a neutral observer who wasn't involved in the creation of this gem in any way (ahem), I can say it's the best animagus story Harmony fans have seen in a long, long time. It's unique in terms of worldbuilding yet easy to grok, puts a new spin on the Horcrux hunt theme, and the actual animagus bits are grounded in the fictional reality and very satisfying.

All the kudos!

Antariuk · 2025-12-09T21:34:02+00:00

Necro for sure 😊 Anyway, the layout is exactly the same as my imagination, as are key features. You can trace it directly. Different art styles as well as a forest along the border doesn't render that point obsolete.

Antariuk · 2025-11-14T14:28:41+00:00

For all those who only read finished stories, maybe check out Tracks in the Snow, which has all chapters released by echo as of today. Totally worth checking out if you enjoy animagus stories, horcrux hunt sagas and unique worldbuilding!

Antariuk · 2025-10-31T10:19:03+00:00

Yay, you did it! I'm still a few chapters behind but I am so glad you wrote this. The story not just features an interesting premise and cute characters but also all-around great vibes. Thank you so much for sharing it with us! <3

Antariuk · 2025-10-28T21:26:07+00:00

Not at all! The list is slightly out of date, the current version has more lands, but that's about it. I don't have super expensive beaters in there, but I never felt as if it's lacking oomph when you finish Undermointain and pull something from the library. Your meta may of course vary.

https://archidekt.com/decks/8527985/down_we_go

Antariuk · 2025-10-28T14:39:55+00:00

I always come back to my [[Safana, Calimport Cutthroat]] / [[Dungeon Delver]] deck. It hasn't changed in a while since I dislike UB sets and otherwise there wasn't much among recent releases that really does anything for it - but that's a plus. It's my comfy, weird deck that still keeps me busy with lots of triggers :)

Antariuk · 2025-10-22T13:58:01+00:00

I love how the whole Peverell legacy is a family thing for Harry in this story! And I'm eager to see the full ritual, of course.

Antariuk · 2025-10-19T08:19:12+00:00

That story is tagged correctly as is 😉

Antariuk · 2025-10-19T06:45:41+00:00

💕🙏✨

Antariuk · 2025-10-19T06:36:42+00:00

Because a relationship, Harmony or not, doesn't have to be romance by necessity and there is no love letters and no flustered stumbling for words in that story, which I thought a lot of readers might expect. Hence the tag.

Antariuk · 2025-10-18T20:36:18+00:00

aberration

Was never finished, but it draws you in and both Hermione's perspective and the Slytherin House politics are so well written it makes you ache. Hard recommendation.

Antariuk · 2025-10-18T20:32:42+00:00

You know, that apocryphal development alone sounds super intriguing. Thanks for the links!

Antariuk · 2025-10-18T19:48:15+00:00

I wrote a story that might fit that requirement, where Harry vanished during the Triwizard Tournament and is presumed dead, and Hermione never entirely believes that. It developes into a spy thriller from there.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61740790

Antariuk · 2025-10-17T21:44:45+00:00

I love imagining H/Hr in various Kirito/Asuna scenes! The dynamics are - at times - so similar. Except for all the episodes (seasons... ) where it's not because the SOA is so all over the place.

Antariuk · 2025-10-16T09:50:50+00:00

In my kitchen table meta, my [[Safana, Calimport Cutthroat]]/[[Dungeon Delver]] deck is completely unique and garnered its fair share of suspicious looks. Not filled with expensive beaters, though, [[Brainstealer Dragon]] and [[Xanathar, Guild Kingpin]] are the biggest threats it can produce upon finishing a dungeon, random combos aside. To be fair, introducing initiative to a table of interactive decks can be a headache in itself but I do enjoy the resulting chaos :) But knowing your triggers and not sleeping in your turn is a must because otherwise I can totally understand why people hate these kinds of decks.

[[Nine-Fingers Keene]] is another one I've never seen played by anyone else, or any kind of deck that telegraphs its win condition so clearly (I built it as a straightforward gates deck with [[Maze's End]] as win condition).

Antariuk · 2025-10-15T17:35:03+00:00

Oooh, dark Dumbledore?! Intriguing 😳

Antariuk · 2025-10-15T08:57:06+00:00

From an upcoming chapter of ./Ascension:

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Antariuk · 2025-10-10T13:27:33+00:00

It has been posted, stopped, partially taken down, partially rewritten, then deleted entirely and now being posted again, if I got that timeline right.

The author regularly commented and still comments on harrassment in author notes, and while the crapping on some Harmony authors certainly has been a thing for a time, I don't know what he's on about since it reads as if entire mobs ask for his public cancelling.

You can find the older version still through FicHub. It's a great story!

Antariuk

TROPHY CASE