Story Title: Artists and Scientists
Author Name: birgit
Story Url: Story Link
Content Rating: Parental Guidance
Status: Completed
Length: Novella
Story Summary: There are two kinds of people in the world: Artists and Scientists. Eleven-year-old Mark Evans has known for years that he’s different from almost everyone around him. Except of course that boy from Privet Drive. While Mark is trying to figure out what’s up with Harry Potter this summer, his father Tom struggles with his own past and Mark’s future, but time is short.
Gioia’s Rec:
Ever since JKR’s faux pas in introducing us to Mark Evans, I’ve seen numerous fanfics about this mysterious character. This one is head and shoulders above the rest.
Mark is an extremely well-developed character whose introduction to the wizarding world is a thing of wonder. Unlike Harry, whose sense of awe at magic was marred by his solemn and frightening awareness of what it means to wear that scar, Mark’s innocence is more easily maintained. His joy at Hogwart, his friends and this amazing thing called magic makes you excited, too.
And even as Mark becomes aware of the darker side of magic, the war and his relationship to Harry Potter, Mark’s adventures don’t mirror Harry’s closely enough to feel like he’s a Gary-Stu.
Mark is an extremely well developed OC, and his companion-view to the events of canon make the story extremely interesting and his personal adventures all the more appealing.
Definitely a great read.
Sequels: “A New Home” (Novella) and “Domus Draconis” (novel-length).