Title: Happiness in Azkaban
Author: Myst Shadow
Rating: K
Genre: None Mentioned (Although I would say it is drama, in a way.)
DLP Category: General Fics
Pairing: Harry/Sirius
Words: 2,860
Published: February 21, 2011
Status: Oneshot
Summary: Oneshot "Why, Sirius? Why escape now?" Harry's voice broke. "Why not when I was a kid, and really needed you?" ::Cedric is dead and Harry needs /something/ - a conversation that never happened, but maybe should have::
Link: Click Here

A recent oneshot from Myst Shadow, an author I think is quite talented, focusing about Sirius. In this oneshot Myst tries to answer why Sirius didn't try to escape Azkaban before he saw the photo of the Weasley family with Wormtail. I think Myst managed to answer that question wonderfully, making me rethink my opinion of Azkaban and dementors in general. Suddenly, they are much more frightful.

This oneshot gets 4.5/5 from me, rounded to 5/5.

Also, with this oneshot released, and his profile updated, I hope we can get an update in Forging the Sword.


Checked by Minion, August 19, 2013

 

Amazing one-shot by an excellent writer. Hopefully we'll see an update to FtS soon.

 

Great little one shot, one of the best explanations I've seen for Sirius' prolonged stay in Azkaban.

5/5

 

Loved it. The writing is top notch, as you'd expect, and the insight into Sirius's character, and the resulting explanation, is wonderfully elegant. 5/5

 

This was better than I thought it was going to be. The first section left me a little doubtful about the quality of the angst. The whole

Spoiler

Why wasn't I good enough?

question was a bit cheesy, but it got better through out. Sirius is well characterized and the writing is solid, I'd rate it 4/5.

The reason it doesn't get 5/5 is because it didn't amaze me. I don't think it covers much in the way of new territory. I've never read a fic where it was explicitly stated that he

Spoiler

forgot about Harry

but I assumed the dementors messed with his head one way or another.

 

Honestly, I thought this was kinda meh.

The writing, while decent, wasn't superb, and I wasn't really drawn into Sirius' mindset like others seem to be. For a one-shot, the story didn't grab me, nor did it hold my attention particularly well. As for the ending, I'm sure that I've read a few fics that used the same rational for why Sirius didn't escape earlier, so it wasn't really surprising.

Basically, while there was nothing really wrong with this story, there was also nothing particularly gripping or unique about it either.

3/5

 

Same. Doesn't have the x-factor or brilliance that one-shots like Every Boy Should Have a Dog or Cauterize have.

 

I quite enjoyed it, and I since I haven't read that many Sirius centered fics or explanations regarding that, it made an impression.
I give it a 4/5.

 

Sirius taken far beyond the womanizing jester dog mold the fandom has so wastefully shoved him into. This is the Sirius Black that spat in the eye of darkness, the Sirius Black whose escape cowed the Ministry of Magic and sent the entirety of the United Kingdoms into the homes with locked doors when it heard he walked free. 5/(motherfucking)5.

 

^This, basically. I suppose this /has/ been done before, and I just missed it. The gist of the explanation was very well done, and answered the question of "why?" far better than I thought it even /could/ be 'splained.

As always, Myst's writing was quite good, though I'll agree it's not the author's best. That, for me, happens in "Forging the Sword".

Speaking of which: Myst, if you're reading this, please please /please/ get back to that insanely-engrossing, overflowing-with-potential story. Did I mention it's good??

5/5, as that means Excellent.

 

This fic makes sense.

 

I think Santi and Andro had it right. A good one-shot, but it lacks the spark of brilliance that makes a 5/5. It's well written but it just doesn't grip me. I read it, thought it was interesting, but I'd never go back and re-read it. 3.5/5

 

I loved it. By far the best Sirius I've ever read. While I agree it's not as good as FtS it's still brilliant.

5/5

 

I love when authors write Sirius as something more than James' sidekick. His life is tragic, and this story displays that really well. I say 4/5, the italicized words bugged me and it could've benefitted from some research.

 

4/5 A very interesting look at Sirius.

 

Fantasticly done; a great look at Sirius' character. 4.5/5

 

Easily a 5/5 for me. I've always enjoyed reading Sirius as a character when he isn't portrayed as the comic relief. I also thought it was an interesting take on Azkaban, that Dementors literally suck happy memories out of you.

 

I liked the fic. Though I do agree, it was never really as gripping for me as it seems to have been for the others.

But the ending was awesome. I suddenly smiled an ironic smile as I read it. A 4.25/5 for me. I might read it again on a slow day.

 

I found the story rather touching. Sirius mindset, his decisions, his thought process, everything was engrosing.

Harry's question while somewhat cheesy is rational though. It does amount to questioning why Sirius never tried escaping before, so I thought that bit was all right. As for the way it was phrased, that's probably just artistic styling.

Overall, gripping story-telling, excellent writing and characterisation of Sirius Black merits a 4/5.

 

The title blows dick, but the story is well-done. Also, I would rather have some normal narrative instead of relevant snippets. It works, of course. But it feels sloppy.

Other than that, perfect. Many fanfic authors seem to forget a story, no matter how short, should have an ending, a resolution--even if the resolution fixes nothing.

4/5


EDIT: Post 700th.
...yay?