I hope everyone had a fantastic festive season - or at least some moments of fun for those who really weren't looking forward to it this year *hugs* - and I wish you all the very best for the New Year!

I promised you a rec list of one of my favourite stories from each member of my f-list and here it is. For some of you this was really hard to do because you've written an awful lot - I hadn't realised just how <i>much</i> some of you have written and my mind boggles - for some of you this was really hard to do because I like too many of your stories, and for all of you this was really hard because I always find it difficult choosing just one of anything! That said, I hope this list give a happy start to you New Year.

(In alphabetical order by author. Click on title of fic for link. Ratings provided for all, word counts when given. Then a brief summary, why I favourite it, and, in brackets, the mood.)

BY afterthree : Nothing a Good Imperius Wouldn't Solve (R)
A young Severus making choices, temptation, Lily, and fantastically written. (angsty-ish)

BY allie_meril : where we start from (PG13, 1200 words)
The end of the first war, written from multiple viewpoints. Sweet, sad, funny, beautifully written. (sad, but ends with hope/joy)

BY cuban_sombrero : Breaking Down The Paper Walls (PG, 556 words)
In the early days of Remus/Sirius Remus has no words at all. Written from Remus' point of view with some wonderful descriptions. (a nice bit of happy)

BY darth_kittius : Fridays with Luna (G, 1492 words)
A lovely friendship grows between George and Luna after the events of Deathly Hallows. Look out for the fantastic little bits of Percy as well. (Luna takes away the sad)

BY duol2fic : Catalyst (PG, short)
"James knows what love is." (That's the second generation James.) Lovely word-painting. (not a happy fic)

BY featherxquill : The Minister's Wife (NC-17)
Rufus Scrimgeour/Rita Skeeter: "every success has a price". Because featherxquillwrites a fantastic Rita, because she makes me believe in this relationship, because it's a clever story. (and the NC-17 is for the hot).

BY hpuckle : Never Have I Ever (PG13, 2716 words)
The Gryffindor boys have some fun, with a helping of Ron/Harry and a fun Neville moment. Because it's fun *grins*. (fun, you getting this?)

BY inell< : Always a Bridesmaid (adult, long)
Hermione is a bridesmaid at yet another wedding, and flirting with Cedric leads to something more. inell has written so very much yet, but I have a soft spot for this fun, flirty romance with it's great characterisation and hot ending. (fun, romantic)

BY inksplotched : of course (G, short)
Young Teddy and Victoire. Sweet, cute and possibly my most favourite valentine's fic. (cute and funny)

BY kath_ballantyne : who does not write stories. So look at this happy autumn art (Hermione/Ron, G), this hot art (Charlie/Harry, R), and this very hot art (Ron/Kingsley, very NC-17).
I'm sorry, I was supposed to rec just one? Yeah, right. *grins* (happy, hot, and very hot, You got that?)

BY kentish_queen : Almost Perfect (PG, 259 words)
Ginny's wedding day is almost perfect. Because someone had to say it and this is said well. (sweet-sad)

BY leven_kemal : Snarge (PG15, 5400)
Firefly: someone's got to clean up the mess after Crow goes through the jet engine. Read this, if only because the Wash narration is fantastic. (disgusting, funny, thought-provoking)

BY luvscharlie : Stuck (PG, 944 words)
Charlie, Neville and the Weasley twin's newest invention. luvscharlie has written a lot - off the top of my head this is her most recent fic that I love. (bittersweet) Ahem, I'm assuming you've all read the previously recommended We Start and End with Family (NC-17). No? Go read!

BY msmoocow : Dreaming Through the Twilight (R)
This, for me, is THE Ariana Dumbledore fic. (sad, but ends with hope)

BY opheliet : (Lily) (PG, 100 words)
"Lily has taken to visiting graveyards..." Everything that is needed to be said and in such a short space. (twists the heart)

BY risiepookie : None For Me, Thank You (PG, 1592 words)
Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, hidden grief surfacing at the worst time. Risie writes the hard topics with the touch they deserve and need. (angst with hope and friendship)

BY sarahetc : The Legend of the Ceremonial Flying Pineapple (NC-17, 7288 words)
Wash's first night aboard Serenity. Because it has a brilliant Wash narration? Because it has the best frisking-the-pilot scene ever? Because of the wonderfully quirky title? Because of the hot? Because of the Wash? Hey, go read and decide for yourself! (fun, and hot, and wonderfully quirky all round)

BY snegurochka_lee : Five Women Who Hate Fleur Delacour (PG 13, 7300 words)
See the title? Lee writes less gen then anything else, but i'm drawn to her genfic most of all, perhaps because here her talents for characterisation are best displayed. In this case it's specifically the characterisation of woman, for which I could also point to Five Dead Women (R) or Five Stories about Gwenog Jones (PG13), but this especially is THE femgenfic in the Potter fandom for me. (thought-provoking, funny, clever)

BY sugar_fey :Light Surrounding You (PG13)
Firefly: who knew being shot had its advantages... I can't help it: of all the fics she's written this one still owns me. Maybe it's the Wash narration, maybe it's the dodo bar, the moonbrained stunt mutiny or the witty dialogue. I just have to keep rereading it in an effort to figure it out. *grins* (fun, romantic, funny)

BY tartanshell : The Wisdom to Know the Difference (PG13, novella)
Spider-Man/Daredevil/X-Men crossover, but you only need to have seen the films, and the prequel is Office Hours (PG13). Perhaps the best crossover ever, this story revolves around the age-old problem 'to tell or not to tell', featuring friendship, hilarity and real feel-good moments. I love me some guaranteed-to-cheer-me-up fic. :o) (sweet without too much fluff, a little angst in parts maybe, hilarious moments)

BY thesteppyone : All I Need (PG13, 1200 words)
Harry Potter and Molly Weasley not so long after the final battle in Deathly Hallows. For the details and the heart-tugging, because steppy knows just how to do that. (angst, but not all 'bad' I think)

BY velvetmouse : For Want of a... (PG)
Maurader era, James and Sirius stuck to a ceiling. Pranks, Severus has a great part to play without him or his character being mistreated, and just plain fun. (because a happy new year list of stories should end with happy, and fun)