Author Diddy: If you're checking this chapter out because your alert told you I had posted a new chapter, please go back one chapter to read the new chapter 11 - this interlude takes place at the same time as the final bit of that chapter, in a completely different place, but is important to the plot. For those of you who have seen the beginning of this already, I apologize, and hope that it at least makes a bit more sense now - leave me a review and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: Still not mine...drat!

Interlude – Dream Yourself Awake

Cool morning air raising goosebumps across my naked flesh I stare vacantly out at the meandering village of Little Hangleton. He was slipping away from us, away from all of us. Warm fingertips traveling down my spine I sigh and lean back. Arms lift to wrap around me, holding me close. "You worry for him too?" breathed in my ear as a hand slides to my hip.

Nod my head and twist in the loose embrace, ghosting my lips over my companion's. "We are not enough to keep him from falling," I admit. Emotionless black eyes close, his head dropping to rest on my shoulder.

"I know."

Sighing I lift my gaze to stare at the bed, crimson eyes pinning me. Malicious sneer transforming what used to be an attractive face I shift away from my dearest friend's silent body. Bone white wand lifting from the covers, the mouth I once kissed out of love framing the Unforgivable.

Crucio scalding through my veins I clench my teeth, refusing to give the sadistic monster who has replaced our Lord the satisfaction of my screams.

Jerk awake, remembered tremors racing down my spine. Dear Merlin, what a time to have those memories return to my nightmares. Cool touch of a hand on my hip, "Lucius?" Sigh and settle back down in my wife's arms, burying my face against her throat. Why did the memories of that disastrous time have to come back to me? "Can you tell me what it was that woke you?" she asks, voice soft in the darkness.

"Memories," I whisper, "memories of when we began to lose the First War."

Fingers carding through my hair she dips her head to press her lips to my forehead, "It will be better this time."

"Will it? What if everything falls apart and He returns to the way he was during the First War?"

"Bite your tongue husband of mine, we cannot allow that to happen, both of our sons are counting on us." Caress of cool fingertips over my lips, "We have to believe that this time will be different, that we can help guide this war in a better direction; we can do nothing else, we are too closely ensnared in it to escape."

"You will stand by me?"

"Through thick and thin my love."

Lift my chin, our mouths moving together, the lingering ghosts of my past fading in her arms.