A/N:

This is set some where after POA and before OOTP. It started as a blueprint for my description of Azkaban, but then I decided to make a conversation out of it. Hope you like it.

Cheers,

H.D.D.

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Disclaimer: I own nothing... Except my brain. For some odd reason, I'd like the legal rights to it.

Plot: 'We all have our demons'... A chilling conversation between Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.

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Remus tapped cautiously on his bedroom door, calling out to the man inside.

"Sirius? Are you all right?"

He heard the shuffling of covers and the creak of the bedspring, followed by low mumbling.

"Sirius?" Remus called again, twisting the knob and softly nudging the door open. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, finding Sirius' huddled figure at the center of the bed, thrashing about. Whipping out his wand, he crossed to the bed and whispered 'lumos.' Holding his wand high, the light cast shadows across Sirius' hollow face. The ex-convict cried out from his nightmare as Remus seized his shoulder, shaking him violently.

"Sirius, wake up," he demanded as the man below jumped under his touch.

Looking up, wide-eyed and gasping for breath, Sirius sat up. "Remus?"

The worn man nodded. "You were having a nightmare."

"You don't have to tell me," Sirius snapped, then gave an apologetic look. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

Remus shook his head. "No, I was awake."

"Working?"

"Yes. I hadn't quite finished my research on the dimiguise." He tossed the stern-looking Sirius a worried glance. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Sirius asked, trying to look sincere.

"Your nightmare."

The animagus shrugged. "It's nothing, really."

"It was about Azkaban, wasn't it?"

Sirius paled, raking a trembling hand through his long, black locks. "Yes," he said, taking in a sharp breath. "Everytime I close my eyes, I'm back in there, and my freedom isn't real. ...The nightmares have never left, never..." His voice faded and he shook his head. "I shouldn't bother you with this. You have enough to worry about on your own."

"I asked remember, so think nothing of it. I've seen the place for myself."

"Not like I have," Sirius said with a shiver. "You couldn't possibly imagine the horrors that place offers, and I don't want you to... It's-It's-"

"Like ice. I know-" Remus comforted.

"No, you don't. You really don't," he whispered, the memories muddling his thoughts. He couldn't see the haunted look in Remus' eye.

"Azkaban... It pulls you in, stripping away all the cheer in your life and whispering with foul breath all the times of despair. You become paralyzed with grief hidden behind its cold walls," Remus said above a whisper, staring at the floor. "Even after you escape, it still keeps a death grip on your soul."

Sirius stared in wonder at the werewolf. A chill ran up his spine, and he found himself unable to shake it away. "How-how can you describe it as if you've-" He stopped mid-sentence, swallowing the rest of his words.

Remus looked up at his friend with a strained smile. "Because we all have our demons, Sirius. Our secrets."

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Confused? Uplifted? Angered (I hope not... O.o)? Review and tell me about it.