Best Harry Potter Fanfiction
The must-read Harry Potter fics on AO3, ranked and reviewed. From beloved classics to hidden gems.
Why Harry Potter Fanfiction Is Worth Reading
The Harry Potter fandom is the beating heart of fanfiction. With nearly half a million works on AO3, it is the single largest literary fandom on the platform. What makes Harry Potter fanfiction extraordinary is its depth: writers have spent decades building on Rowling's wizarding world, creating everything from Marauders-era epics to post-war recovery stories. The magic system, the boarding school setting, and the richly drawn ensemble cast give authors an almost limitless canvas. Whether you want slow-burn romance, political intrigue, or a complete reimagining of canon, Harry Potter fic delivers.
See also: Full Harry Potter fandom guide
Top Harry Potter Fics, Ranked
The highest-rated Harry Potter stories on AO3, ranked by community kudos. These are the fics that readers return to again and again.
All the Young Dudes
by MsKingBean89
LONG fic charting the marauders' time at Hogwarts (and beyond) from Remus' PoV - diversion from canon in that Remus's father died and he was raised in a children's home, and is a bit rough around the edges. Otherwise canon-compliant.1971 - 1995This IS a wolfstar fic, but incredibly slow burn. Litera
Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love
by isthisselfcare
Hermione straddles the Muggle and Magical worlds as a medical researcher and Healer about to make a big discovery. Draco is an Auror assigned to protect her from forces unknown – to both of their displeasure.Features hyper-competent, fiery Hermione and lazy, yet dangerous, Draco. Slow burn.
Evitative
by Vichan
In the summer before his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry is drawn to a room in Grimmauld Place. Like the Gryffindor he is, he enters the room without fear. The room is a library, and Harry is surprised to find that he’s eager to learn.Then he gets the bad news: he’s been accidentally expelled from Hog
Lily's Boy
by SomewheresSword
Before his third year of Hogwarts has even begun, Harry faces three whole weeks of unsupervised time in Diagon Alley. In that time he takes a trip to Gringotts - and that changes everything.Burdened with the knowledge that Dumbledore has been blocking his family magic, and manipulating far more than
Oh God Not Again!
by Sarah1281
So maybe everything didn't work out perfectly for Harry. Still, most of his friends survived, he'd gotten married, and was about to become a father. If only he'd have stayed away from the Veil, he wouldn't have had to go back and do everything AGAIN.
Then Comes a Mist and a Weeping Rain
by Faith Wood (faithwood)
It always rains for Draco Malfoy. Metaphorically. And literally. Ever since he had accidentally Conjured a cloud. A cloud that's ever so cross.
The Standard You Walk Past
by bafflinghaze
On returning to Hogwarts for their Eighth Year, Headmistress McGonagall decided to room Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter together. She may have hoped for a leading example of house unity; the other students fully expected insults and fights. But nothing happened.That was, until Harry sleepwalked into D
you've got the antidote for me
by Kandakicksass
When Harry Potter unintentionally severs their soulbond before it can fully form, Draco Malfoy resigns himself to a slow death and decides not to burden Harry with a soulmate he's made it very clear he doesn't want.He's never been selfless before, but for Harry, he can try.
Running on Air
by eleventy7
Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects.
survival is a talent
by ShanaStoryteller
In the middle of their second year, Draco and Harry discover they're soulmates and do their best to keep it a secret from everyone. Their best isn't perfect. ~“Are you trying to get killed, Potter?” Malfoy drawls, stalking forward. Quick as a serpent himself, he reaches out and grabs the snake just
Away Childish Things
by lettered
Harry gets de-aged. Malfoy has to help him.
hello goodbye ('twas nice to know you)
by tamerofdarkstars
Draco Malfoy thinks he might know whose thoughts are scrawling themselves on his skin, but that's crazy. Impossible, even. It has to be a mistake.-Self-indulgent soulmate AU where the thoughts of your soulmate inscribe themselves on your skin in a shifting magic tattoo
Tea and No Sympathy
by who_la_hoop
It's Potter's fault, of course, that Draco finds himself trapped in the same twenty-four-hour period, repeating itself over and over again. It's been nearly a year since the unpleasant business at Hogwarts, and Draco's getting on with his life quite nicely, thank you, until Harry sodding Potter step
All Our Secrets Laid Bare
by firethesound_HP_archive
Over the six years Draco Malfoy has been an Auror, four of his partners have turned up dead. Harry Potter is assigned as his newest partner to investigate just what is going on.
Storm in a Teacup
by Faith Wood (faithwood)
For reasons he'd rather not think about, Draco is obsessed with Potter's hair. This cannot end well.
punch-drunk fingerprints
by tamerofdarkstars
In a world where every touch of a soulmate leaves a temporary heat mark on bare skin, Draco Malfoy suddenly finds his life devolving into a massive cliche because the Boy Who Lived Twice has no idea how to respect the personal space bubble.
The Cadence of Part-time Poets
by motswolo
“They’re… chaos,” Remus said firmly. “And chaos is—”“Rock and roll.”He looked at Sirius sharply, and for once, matched his grin. “Yeah.”“Maybe that’s my excuse then,” Sirius said. “I cause a bit of chaos now, and maybe one day, it’ll turn into rock and roll.”After losing his mother at age eleven, Re
Choices
by MesserMoon
People make mistakes, but they also make choices. It’s important to James, that difference. He does his best not to confuse the two.
Full circle
by tetsurashian
(aka 'how to survive endless rebirth with your so-called soulmate')Harry and Tom’s souls are tied together. Which is why they’re in this endless loop of rebirth. At some point, they stopped caring and just started fucking with people.(cracky humor with a hint of seriousness and plot, my specialty)
that’s the art of getting by
by sarewolf
“What do you want me to do?” Remus says, tiredly. All he wants is to curl up on his bed. Smoke a pack of cigarettes. Get drunk. He can’t stop looking at Harry. “Remus...” Dumbledore is gentle. Remus hates when he has that tone. Hates that he knows it will hurt. “There is no one else left.” A bitter
Best Harry Potter Ships to Read
The most popular Harry Potter pairings on AO3, each with thousands of dedicated stories.
Drarry
Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter
Fans love the tension, the redemption arc potential, and the idea that love can bridge even the deepest divides.
65,000 works →
Wolfstar
Remus Lupin/Sirius Black
The tragic backstory, the reunion potential, and their deep bond.
55,000 works →
Romione
Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley
Their banter, complementary personalities, and the way they bring out the best in each other creates a beloved friends-to-lovers dynamic.
45,000 works →
Hinny
Ginny Weasley/Harry Potter
Ginny's strength matching Harry's heroism and their shared understanding of darkness makes for compelling romantic dynamics.
35,000 works →
Jily
James Potter/Lily Evans
The enemies-to-lovers arc combined with the tragic knowledge of their fate creates emotionally powerful storytelling opportunities.
40,000 works →
Popular Tropes in Harry Potter Fanfiction
These are the storytelling patterns that Harry Potter writers and readers love most.
Slow Burn
A romance that develops gradually over time, with tension building across chapters or the entire story.
850,000 works sitewide →
Enemies to Lovers
Characters who start as adversaries and gradually develop romantic feelings for each other.
650,000 works sitewide →
Fix-It
Stories that 'fix' canon events that fans found unsatisfying, usually character deaths or relationship outcomes.
480,000 works sitewide →
Soulmates
Stories featuring soulmate mechanics - marks, strings of fate, first words, etc.
320,000 works sitewide →
Time Travel
Characters travel through time, either to change events, escape danger, or by accident. Romance may span different time periods or involve changing the past.
280,000 works sitewide →
How to Get Started with Harry Potter Fanfiction
Navigation tip
Harry Potter fic is organized by era (Marauders, Hogwarts years, post-war) and by ship. Start by deciding which era interests you most.
Your first read
If you are brand new, start with "All the Young Dudes" for a Marauders epic, or "Oh God Not Again!" for a lighter, humorous time-travel romp through canon.
Reading on mobile
For the best experience reading Harry Potter fics on your phone, download Fanfict Reader. It offers offline reading, custom themes, and a clean interface built specifically for AO3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Harry Potter fanfic?
"All the Young Dudes" by MsKingBean89 is widely considered the best Harry Potter fanfic on AO3, with nearly 300,000 kudos. It is a Marauders-era epic told from Remus Lupin's perspective. Other top contenders include "Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love" and "Evitative."
What are the most popular Harry Potter ships?
The most popular Harry Potter ships on AO3 are Drarry (Draco/Harry), Wolfstar (Sirius/Remus), Romione (Ron/Hermione), and Hinny (Harry/Ginny). Drarry alone has over 65,000 works, making it one of the biggest ships on the entire platform.
How many Harry Potter fanfics are on AO3?
There are over 450,000 Harry Potter fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own, making it one of the platform's largest fandoms.
Where can I read Harry Potter fanfiction?
The best place to read Harry Potter fanfiction is Archive of Our Own (AO3). For the best mobile reading experience, download Fanfict Reader for offline reading, custom themes, and seamless browsing.
Read Harry Potter on the go
Fanfict Reader is the best way to browse, search, and read AO3 fanfiction on your iPhone. Download for free and start reading your favorite Harry Potter fics today.