My favorite oneshots :

1. Cauterize by Lady Altair : Easily one of the best oneshots in the fandom, and the most popular too. This fic can really hit you hard. A truly beautiful piece of writing.

2. The Wendell that Wasn't by Opalish : A short, humorous piece that would have you chuckling from the beginning to the end. The idea of Snape's ghost haunting the Potter family is hilarious, and the execution here is pure win. Between this, Gossip Queens and The Desk, Opalish is easily the best crack writer in the fandom.

3. Anything but Slytherin by IP82: A dark, disturbing one-shot depicting what could have happened had the first war been bloodier than it was. The atmosphere is tense and really intense right from the beginning to the end. Great story.

Evil be Thou My Good is a classic, but at 40000 words, I'm reluctant to rate it with the other one-shots. Still a great story, and a classic for a reason.

So, the obvious question. Which are your favorite oneshots in the HP fandom?

 

Dark Marauder by BajaB

The Twine Bracelet by CheddarTrek.

Number Games by jbern

Any of the D.A. Missions stories by nonjon.

For less well known stories, I'd mention Respitechristopher's Harry and the Hobgoblins (one of the few good Harry/Luna romances out there) as well as his authorized sequel to Cauterize, Albus Potter and the Misspent Youth.

 

Insurgere by Silver Pard.

And now here's a few from Perspicacity's one-shot collection: The Only One The Dark Lord Feared, Negotiations, Whispers (still waiting on that proper stand-alone continuation of that, Perspicacity), Hermione Interlude and Cold Case. Oh and the The Game Is Afoot one-shot is pretty fantastic as well, it's got one of my favorite takes on Daphne Greengrass.

The worst choice the Sorting Hat ever made by E4mj.

Not Slytherin Enough by fruit17.

Intoxication, but that was apparently removed from FFN. No idea why and I can't recall the name of the author.

Luna's Hobby by nonjon.

Antithesis by Water Mage.

Reach the Open Space by Tinn Tam.

Countdown by Silens Cursor.

Across the Universe by mira mirth.

 

nos tres reges was the author of Intoxication. Pretty sure there's a thread and a way to reach it in the library if you're interested. It's a great way to creep yourself out.

 

Steps Far From Paradise by Lady Salazar, if it's not too long to not count. Probably one of my top 10 favorite stories in the entire fandom, let alone one-shots.

 

Had never read this before, thanks!

 

Either First Place Sinner by Daystar Clarion or The Gunslinger and the Mage by VotN.

 

Just doing a quick search through my list based off wordcount and completetion, some of these are old so your mileage may vary.

HP:

A Mary Sue Alphabet by Irony-chan

Harry Potter Wizarding Barrister by DisobedienceWriter

Out of the Fire and into the Cupboard by Halfaslug

Lost Soul, another by Perspicaity

This next one is not HP related, but still a good one shot. I wasn't even a fan off spiderman when I read it but I stlll remember enjoying it.

Just a Face on a Train by Katheryne

Got more I will post later.

 

Grinning Lizard's Why Is It Orange? might be my favourite

I pulled a ribcage muscle from laughing so hard.

 

Geminio, by Portus. A day (or so) in the life of Alastor Moody. It's incredible.

 

Don't Disrespect the Queen, by Perspicacity.

 

That's the funniest thing I've read all week, I think I busted something laughing.

 

That was pretty interesting, until the ending ruined it.

Spoiler

The idea that a muggle queen, or any muggle government would have some sort of influence over wizards is too laughable for me to accept.

 

The Birth of Evil - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4133028/1/The-Birth-of-Evil
Harry Potter's Life Lessons - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3750393/1/Harry-Potter-s-Life-Lessons

 

Wow. This author got a whole lot better didn't he?

 

First Place Sinner by Daystar Clarion
Screams by cloneserpents [DLP Thread]

For a start.