If it was one of my favourite pairings, I'll read it no matter what (if it still seems well written after the first paragraph.)
But I usually stick to reading canon-compliant fics. Keeping in canon is part of the game, for me, and unless the writer has a really good reason for going AU (i.e., like you did in Syltherin Lovers) than I'm not really interested. For example, "I'm going to ignore HBP because I want to pair Harry with Hermione" = FEH, IMO.)
On the other hand, there are no rules in fan fiction. The whole point of it is to write what you want, how you want. I'm not going to judge or condemn a writer that ignores current canon. He or she is free to do what he or she wants.
no subject
But I usually stick to reading canon-compliant fics. Keeping in canon is part of the game, for me, and unless the writer has a really good reason for going AU (i.e., like you did in Syltherin Lovers) than I'm not really interested. For example, "I'm going to ignore HBP because I want to pair Harry with Hermione" = FEH, IMO.)
On the other hand, there are no rules in fan fiction. The whole point of it is to write what you want, how you want. I'm not going to judge or condemn a writer that ignores current canon. He or she is free to do what he or she wants.