101. Rest Up

"So it shut down, just like that?" Mora asked as she and Remus tread down the street, wands clutched at their sides against their legs. Their Order patrol of the neighborhood had been blissfully dull; at least in their allocated area of London, the usual mayhem of Death Eaters was absent.

Remus nodded in a slow, tired motion. "The funding dried up," he reported solemnly. "No money, no ACE."

"I thought you had benefactors..." she started.

She had never really known that much about Remus' job, but now it was too late; as of this week, effective immediately, the ACE organization had been dissolved. Mora hadn't even known the company had been dealing with financial issues; granted, she had been very out of the loop for weeks due to her abduction and then hiding upon their return. And most conversation since had never merged into talk of Remus' work. He had always been the most private of the Marauders, but this was very big, very sad news.

"Well, seeing as Death Eaters are in no way supporters of creatures' rights, I suppose it was only a matter of time, really," he reported as they rounded they corner. "Out of our four major benefactors, one fled the country, one was killed in an attack a month ago, and the other two pulled out for reasons unknown."

"Unknown or unsaid?"

Remus allowed a phantom of a smile. "Bullied out, most likely. Friends of goblins, house elves, and werewolves are not exactly thought too highly of by our dear friends the Death Eaters."

"I'm sorry, Remus. Truly, I am," Mora said. "Merlin, I just can't wrap my mind around it. It's just...done. I mean, that wasn't just some mom-and-pop shop in Hogsmeade; that was a legitimate agency, and now..."

"Fear has that kind of effect on people." They passed beneath another street lamp, and as Mora stole a glance at her companion, she began to notice the lines etching at his temples, as well as the bags embedded deep beneath his eyes. "In the meantime, I'll be going full-time for the Order, which means you'll be seeing even more of me."

Mora couldn't help but smile at that, as couldn't Remus. "Ah, yes, the glamorous life of the protectors of goodness and light."

The werewolf snorted. "You make us sound like bloody medieval knights."

"Without the clunky armor."

This time Remus laughed, laughed as Mora hadn't heard him in quite some time. "What would I do without you, Mora?" He said once he had calmed into chuckles.

"Be a bit more attentive during patrols, but be much less entertained," she responded.

"Yes, there's that..." They fell into a comfortable silence for a bit, until Remus asked, "On the topic of employment, any chance you will return to St. Mungo's in the near future?"

Mora groaned. Yes, this had been the hot topic for the past week, ever since Quincy Bones implored Dumbledore to arrange a meeting between him and Mora. Mora had agreed, and had lunch with the most prominent governor on the board of St. Mungos, in which Quincy had done everything but beg for Mora to return to work.

"Should I take that as a no?" Remus reshaped his question.

"Quincy tried to offer me a part-time position, a consulting position, anything at all to get me back."

"You don't sound pleased about that."

She shrugged. "I find it hard to believe that every governor wants me back. I'm sure there scandal of my secret-identity" she cringed, "hasn't entirely gone away...But still, that's not why."

Quincy Bones had also explained, in painstaking detail, that with the evaluation of the war, the hospital truly needed Mora's skill with the overflow of serious cases. This, of course, nearly guilted Mora to accept.

"I can't go back to a place so full of innocents; injured, sick, looking for help - when I am such a target. I don't bloody care about the bargain, of the promise not to come after me; I'd have to be an idiot to believe him."

Their pace came to a slow as they approached the corner. "That's the first time you've mentioned him," Remus said softly.

Mora passed her wand from one hand to the next. She could feel Remus' eyes upon her, but she kept her gaze forward, looking only on to the expanse of street. "Haven't had a reason to," she said. "No contact, no menacing, no attempts to Avada Kedavra me in the middle of the street."

"Nor has he made himself known to anyone else," the werewolf added as they ducked beneath beside the over-hang of the corner building. "Not a single sighting, by the Ministry or even by the Order, since the Meadows sisters' deaths, since the night that..."

"I suppose even the most vile of terrorists take holiday once in a while," she said quickly. "What time is Molly supposed to due to -"

"No need to wait, my dears, we're here," Molly Weasly soothed as she came around the corner; mto Mora's surprise, at her side was Hagrid, practically tripping on himself as to not outstride Molly.

"'Ere we are!" Hagrid announced, clapping Remus on the back jovially. "'Ere to relieve you lot. We've go' the watch for the rest o' the evenin'..."

"Both of you?" Mora protested. "I'm slated for a double-shift today; it's just supposed to be Remus who checks out at eleven..."

"Not just Remus, deary, you too," Molly said, "You've already patrolled double every night this week; Merlin knows you deserve the rest!"

"But the roster -"

"No need to worry about the roster, we've squared that all away! This weekend you are free and clear."

"But what about -"

"Miss Mora, we'll have no more arguments!" Molly decreed, derailing the blonde's protests. "You are working yourself to the bone; admirable, but not practical, dear."

"Molly, really -"

"Now you are going home this instant, even if Remus, Hagrid, and I have drag you all the way."

"This is absurd! I'm not about to -"

"And once you get there, you are going straight to bed; no if's, and's, or but's!"

Finally boiling over, Mora roared, "I am a grown woman! If I had needed more sleep, I wouldn't have signed myself up for these patrols! But I have, because I am perfectly capable of managing my own schedule, and I do not need to stand here and be ordered to -"

"I woul'ent try to figh' if I were ye," Hagrid advised, a hint of laughter in his voice. "Molly gets 'er way! She's bee' raisin' a mess of rascals for years; ain't no way yer going to compete with the likes o' them."

Mora turned to Remus, fire glowing in her bag-adorned eyes. "You knew about this ambush the whole time, didn't you?"

Hagrid shook with a wave of chuckles. "Was 'is idea in the firs' place, yes it was!"

"You?!" she bellowed at the werewolf in question. "You've been on my patrols for the past week, and once did I seem over-tired to you? Did I seem off my game? No!"

"Well, we've been very lucky these past few days," Remus rationalized, calm as ever, as to his usual fashion. "Things have been very quiet, at least where we've been. You may not have collapsed out here, but you cannot deny that you are visibly tired, Mora, and clearly you are overworking yourself. Were there to be an attack... you need to make sure you're taking care of yourself."

"And instead of coming to me and telling me this, you thought it was better to arrange an ambush?"

"Of course," Remus said. "This was the only way to make sure you wouldn't punch me in the face and hex me into oblivion for interfering. Strength in numbers."

Groaning, the blonde threw up her hands. "Fine, fine! Hagrid, take my patrol for the night. Doesn't mean I'm about to put my pajamas on and curl up -"

"Remus is taking you home and seeing to it that you get into your bed the instant you get there, young lady," Molly commanded maternally.

"Young lady?"

"We are prepared to call in reinforcements to escort you home, Mora. Or, you can see reasons and make this easier for everyone, and go to bed!"

Mora said nothing, only knotting her arms together with furry shaking throughout her limbs.

"So, what will it be?" Molly concluded.

Silently conceding to defeat, Mora took a step closer to Remus, linking her arm with his own in a jagged, angry motion. "Aparate away," she snapped.

"Good decision, dear," the redhead congratulated with a triumphant smirk.

With that and a flick of his wand, Remus apparated away, pulling Mora with him. In an instant, they materialized before Twelve Grimmauld Place. As soon as she could, Mora wrenched her arm away from him. "Traitor," she growled.

Remus sighed gently as they climbed up the stoop. "I'm sorry, truly, I am. But there was no other way to help you than this. It's not as if we're locking you away in your room or anything, we just need you to get a full night's sleep... every night..."

"I already do that, thank you," Mora snapped as she threw the front door open.

"Three hours in no way constitutes rest."

"Well, fine, you win!" She scrambled inside the house, being sure to leave Remus standing on the steps. "I'm here. No need to tuck me in like an infant."

"Molly -"

"Is a fine mother, but she certainly is not my mother. I'm a big girl, Remus. I refuse to be tucked in. Not unless you fancy losing your head."

A smile crept over his face, much to Mora's rage. "Alright... just know, if you try to go rogue and patrol somewhere out there tonight, the rest of the Order knows that they are to stun you and bring you back here. Just a tip; make it simpler for everyone and stay put."

The blonde's mouth hung open. "Stun me?! They're supposed to be out there fighting the bad guys, not babysitting-"

"And they won't have to if you take care of yourself and stay put. Now, goodnight." And with that, Remus appareated away, leaving Mora to gawk at the empty doorway. Enraged, she slammed the door and stomped into the kitchen.

Without a moment's hesitation, she brewed up a steaming pot of coffee.

Off the night's patrol roster again, Mora resigned herself to the kitchen, staring at the coffee pot dully.

She listened to the slow churn of the grinds with dread. She restrained herself from trying to charm the pot to quicken it's brew – the last time she attempted that, her coffee came out cold, green, and probably cursed.

More thrummed her hands against the counter. Her eyelids drooped once, twice.

"Enough," she growled. She smacked the side of the coffee pot. "Will you hurry it up already?"

But the pot would not oblige, merely gurgling out a slightly larger drip of coffee at the same, funereal pace.

Footsteps shuffled behind her, and instantly Mora jumped to block the coffee pot – to no avail.

"Oh no, none of that," James snapped as he plundered into the kitchen.

The blond snarled. "It's decaf."

James snorted, crossing his arms before him with warning.

"What is the problem here, Potter?"

"You could use a decent rest, for once. No caffeine," the auror ordered.

Fire leapt in Mora's sunken, lined eyes. "Is everyone in on this little intervention?"

"'Fraid so." With a flick of his wand, the few drips of coffee evaporated, leaving only the smell to linger.

"HEY!"

"Bed. Now."

"Not tired," Mora growled.

"I will get Lily to drag you."

"You wouldn't dare."

The redhead stalked into the kitchen.

"THIS IS ABSURD!"

"Less shouting, more snoring!" James called from the hallway.

Bullied into pajamas by the Potter matriarch, Mora sat in her bed, the covers unwittingly pulled her to her chin. Lily stood at the foot triumphantly.

"You need to sleep, Mora. You aren't invincible."

The blonde looked away. Yes, she was perfectly aware of that.

That was precisely why she had been staying awake. For every time she drifted to sleep, even for a moment, she was haunted.

It had started weeks and weeks ago – when they had met with the Minster. It would come and go. Some nights went by perfectly undisturbed. And others, the visions would overtake her. They were hazy at first, but in the past weeks, they were crystal-clear from the first beats.

They felt like a dimension outside of dreaming – unreal, but with a breadth of self-awareness that made her wholly uncomfortable. Each sight, touch and taste was a world unto itself.

While it was happening, she could not stop it. Worse, she did not want to. Until she awakened. Then she cursed herself, cursed the dreams, hated them, hated herself.

Some things changed from dream to dream, but one thing remained ever constant – Tom Riddle.

Lily's eyes widened with disappointment. "I didn't want to do this…" She pulled her wand out from her sweater.

Mora leapt to her feet. "Lily, don't you dare."

"Stupefy."

The healer lunged away, the spell disappearing into the headboard.

"Mora! You need-"

"Don't tell me what I need! I'm an adult, dammit!"

"Well, you sure as bloody hell aren't acting like one."

Mora retrieved her wand from her dresser, without any attempted resistance from the mother. "You don't understand," Mora snapped under her breath. "None of you understand."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Lily patted besides her, waiting for Mora to join her. "Then explain it to me."

"I can't." Something trailed down Mora's face. She brought a hand to her cheek. "Bloody hell," she cursed herself.

"Is it something you can talk to Siri-"

"NO!"

"Okay then."

The healer turned away.

"What can I do?"

Mora knotted her fingers in her hair. "Tried everything I can think of. Every formula of dreamless sleeping drafts, every trick we use in the hospital, nothing works."

"So, it's nightmares, then."

It was the one thing Mora never believed she would think of, let alone dream of at night.

"You could say that."

"What would you say, then," Lily prompted.

Mora pushed a rocky exhale through clenched teeth. "A betrayal."

"Why?"

"Because I'm sleeping next to my fiancé while I'm dreaming about another man."

A hand pressed on Mora's shoulder. She jumped, nearly knocking the redhead down in the process. "Sorry," she recanted.

Lily nodded weakly. "Mora….who are dreaming about?"

More fell to the ground, raked with sobs.

The two Gryffindor women lay in Mora's bed, facing each other in the dark.

"We will figure this out, I promise, Mora," Lily vowed. "Whatever this is…whatever spell he's working, we can crack it. You and me."

"Just you and me," Mora clarified, for the thousandth time that evening.

The redhead sighed. "For now, yes. But if we reach a point where just the two of us can't break it…a dream-hold is very old magic, Mora."

That was also Lily's first response after Mora revealed this secret. The concept of a dream-hold.

Something Mora – who had been rather practiced in potions herself – had never heard of. But for Lily, who ate, slept, and breathed academia during her seven years of schooling, this was an obscure footnote in a tome she had come across – now handy at last.

"Just you and me," Mora chanted through the dark.

"This is an ancient weapon," Lily reasoned. "Used to break someone by eating away at their unconscious. We may not be powerful enough to-"

"Don't go insulting your power in front of me, Missus Potter," Mora warned.

Lily smiled warily. "I'm trying to be serious."

"So am I." More steeled towards Lily's emerald eyes. "You seem accepting enough, but -"

"Seem?" the redhead gaffed.

"Sorry, sorry – are. Having trouble wrapping my head around that," Mora back-tracked. "You must be insane."

"A little bit."

Mora lips quivered. "But if anyone else were to hear I was dreaming of Tom Riddle – and in ….that way…"

"It's a dream-hold. It is not you. Someone is putting that nonsense in your head," Lily listed sternly. "And we are going to break it, and then going to beat the living hell out of them."

Mora sighed. To her terror, her eyelids fluttered.

"I know you'll want to curse me for even saying it – but I think it's time you tried to sleep."

The blonde instinctively widened her eyes and far as they dared to stretch.

Lily gripped Mora's hand harder. "I am here. You're safe, and it's not real."

Mora exhaled. "Promise?"

The window flew open in a loud bang. Mora shot upright, sheets clamored around her. She was alone in her bed. She squinted through the dark as the wind rattled through her bedroom.

Click.

The wind dispersed, and the window was shut once more.

"Who's there?" she asked, steeling herself.

Stowing his wand in his cloak pocket, he stepped out from the shadows. "Just me." Tom's robe puddled to the ground.

Mora sighed, leaning back. In no time at all, he drew across the room. But this time, blood red eyes gleamed, swallowing her whole.

Their lips crashed together, again and again. When they parted, Tom Riddle was changed. His hair cropped, his skin glowing alabaster in the darkness. He was Voldemort.

Mora leaned back, taking him in. Her fingers traced his face, from hairline to chin, ear to ear. She slipped her hands down to his collar, pulling him close and crushing him in another kiss.

Mora leapt out of bed, her heart racing, her breath raged. Early morning sunshine drifted inside the room.

Lily hurried out of bed. "You're okay, it wasn't—"

Mora spun around. "Things just got much, much worse."

zszszszszszszszszszsz

"Not that I don't miss our school days, mate, but at least in Gryffindor Tower we didn't share a bed," Sirius sighed, throwing a pillow to James as they made the bed.

James caught it, with a flash of his old Quidditch days. "Seems pretty similar to me….you still snore like a hippogriff."

The Black pouted. "That's rubbish!"

"Yeah, well maybe if you got that taken care of, I could sleep with my wife again."

"Don't go blaming your love-life on my snoring."

James snorted. "Ha-ha. For your information, we've had to get a bit creative under with these new sleeping arrangements, in terms of hours for-"

Sirius through his hands up. "Too much, too much!"

James sauntered into the bathroom, leaving Sirius alone to make the guest bed. He groaned, snapping the sheets a little too tight. From what Lily had told them, these sleeping arrangements were only temporary. They were working to solve whatever was keeping Mora from sleeping peacefully.

And that was all the information Sirius had on the matter. He had barely seen his own fiancé in nearly a week. He went to work, went on patrol, and whenever he tried to steal away to check on his dearly beloved, there was the redheaded matron of death, Lily Potter.

"Not allowed, she said," he mumbled under his breath. "Bullocks."

If his wife-to-be was ill, he deserved to know. Bloody hell, he needed to be there, by her side! But Lily was having none of it. And not James, Remus, nor Peter were willing to back him up. Everyone fell in line behind Lily.

Enough was enough.

Slipping to his knees, Sirius glared through the door's keyhole, out into the hallway. No warden in sight. Quietly, he slipped on and padded towards his and Mora's bedroom.

As his hand lingered above the door, voices wafted from the other side of the wooden frame. He froze.

"It's getting worse," he could hear his finance's voice crack. She had been crying. His throat tightened.

"Is it still," Lily began tentatively. "A transition?"

Sirius knew he shouldn't. He was being a very bad fiancé. He should not be spying on his future-wife. This was very, very bad. But he didn't move.

"No," Mora answered. Shame flooded her voice. "It starts with him as he is now."

There was a silence.

"Who do you think is casting it?"

His pace ratcheted.

"I think you know."

He could hear Mora hold back another sob. "Is what you research yesterday….you haven't found anything that….that argues with that, have you." It wasn't a question.

"Mora, if we could just go to Albus – Mora please come back!"

The door shot open, and Sirius went down on his bum on the carpet.

Hazel eyes shot down to him, puffy and pink. Her mouth agape. It was the first time they had been face-to-face in nearly a week.

"Fancy seeing you here…" Sirius joked, badly. He winced as she looked down upon him in horror. He got to his feet.

She averted her gaze. "What did you hear?"

He reached for her hand. She recoiled.

"If you had the slightest idea," she started venomously, "you wouldn't dare touch me."

Lily came to the door behind Mora. "That's not true," the redhead protested softly. "He loves you, Mora."

"I do," Sirius chimed in, trying desperately to remedy what he had royally ruined. "Whatever is going on, I'm with you. Really."

Slowly, the blonde looked to Sirius. Firmly, she reached her left hand and slide of her engagement ring. She extended it to Sirius.

"What the bloody hell are you-"

"Be reasonable, Mor-" Lily began over him, clenching Mora's shoulder.

"ENOUGH!" She pushed the ring into Sirius' chest. He clamored to catch it.

She raced down the stairs, out of the house, and into the streets of London.

Sirius stood deftly at the top of the stairs, watching as she went, ring perched in his palm. Finally, he turned to Lily with tears stuck in his eyes. "You're going to tell, right now – what is happening?"

She huffed down the crowded Diagon Alley walkway, pulling her cardigan close to her chest. Rain was sure at any moment, but that didn't keep the dawdlers off the streets this Saturday morning. Gritting her teeth, Mora ducked into a pocket between two buildings to catch her breath.

Mora knew there was only one way to break the dream-hold. Lily had poured over every source, every tome and manuscript she could get her hands on. Together, they had racked over every lead, but there was only one solution.

There's always another way, Lily had tried to back-track after she had revealed this discovery. We can ask Albus – he can find a way.

It was useless, really. The solution was right in front of their eyes. It would simply cost Mora everything she held dear. Her friends, her self-respect, and even Sirius-

Stop. She started her way down the tight alley, twisting and turning into the darkness. She knew the way; everyone witch and wizard did growing up. Good Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw children were told with dread where the place was, and never dared to tread there. It was absolutely forbidden for them. Now, forbidden was exactly what Mora needed.

Her path widened. Knockturn Alley awaited.

"How could she be that stupid?!" Sirius pounced from wall to wall of the hallway, still clad in his pajamas. James had poked his head out of the bathroom, only to slink back inside thanks to his wife's withered glare. Remus meandered to the bottom of the stairs, but he had too cleared out of sight. Obviously they had both heard the commotion between Sirius and Lily, and obviously the day's occupants of Twelve Grimmauld Place had heard the news.

Voldemort had put a dream-hold on Mora. He was giving her nightmares of them together…The very thought of it filled Sirius with rushes of fury and dread.

And the only way to break the dream-hold was to enact it in reality.

"She most certainly is not stupid," Lily seethed. "A dream-hold is designed to drive the victim insane. The records of it usually involve the victim destroying themselves in some way – like thinking they can walk through fire, only to burn to death when bringing this to fruition in real life. Or breathe underwater, only to drown to death. And some…"

"Some what?" Sirius snapped.

Lily looked away, clutching the oh-so-helpful book-in-question "Some are more direct in their intent for the victim to kill his or herself."

Sirius howled.

"But that's not what this dream-hold is designed to do, Sirius! Mora is not going to hurt herself like that."

"No? Really?! She thinks she can ring up her parents' murderer for a quick snog and be on her way?"

"Sirius please-"

Sirius blasted a hole in the wall, fraying the truly appalling serpentine wallpaper Mora hadn't managed to decimate yet.

"How could she keep this from me?"

Lily looked at the auror blankly. "She's being cursed. It's mental torture for Merlin's sake! She's not in her right head."

Sirius looked away, unmoved.

"You either need to calm down this instant, or so help me, I will stun you-"

"I think you've done enough damage don't you?" With that, Sirius stormed down the stairs.

"You don't even know where she's going!" Lily called down, hot on his heels.

"I can figure it out."

Just as Sirius reached for the door, it swept open.

"A moment to regroup, Mister Black," said Dumbledore, standing on the doorstep, with Remus behind him.

Sirius glared at his fellow Marauder. "Mooney, what did-"

"Remus fetched me with your best interest at heart," Dumbledore began, "and more importantly, with Mora's. Now, shall we get going?"

The door to the café threw open. She ignored the stares patrons as she swept inside.

"What a delight," a voice drawled as a customer stood, raising his glass in her direction. "Please, join me."

"Not here for tea, Malfoy."

Lucius Malfoy laughed. "No, I suppose not." He tutted. "Though, for a member of the Order of the Phoenix to wander into such an establishment, unaccompanied…one might think you were looking for trouble. We can't be having trouble here, can we."

Outside, thunder cracked loudly.

Mora glowered. "Outside, now."

Malfoy pouted. "Something on your mind?"

A snicker rose from the back of the room. With a quick glance, she noticed Jades McLean.

Mora spun on her heels and marched out of the café. The skies had opened, and Mora was drenched through and through. Malfoy in tow, she led him to the lane she had delivered her to Knockturn Alley. He had produced an umbrella for himself, though did not extend the courtesy to Mora – not that she would have obliged it.

"Something on your mind indeed," the Death Eater said smugly as Mora finally turned to face him.

"Take me to him," she demanded.

The Death Eater's lips twisted into a gleeful smirk. He extended his arm. "Right this way, m'lady."

Slipping her arm into Malfoy's, she snapped, "you repulse me."

Malfoy laughed, and in a crack, they were gone.

They appeared in a stone corridor – no windows, no furniture. Most likely underground, Mora assumed. She dropped Malfoy's arm as quickly as she could, putting a respectable distance between them.

Pulling out his wand, he dried himself of Knockturn Alley's downpour in a single swish. He inclined his head to Mora, offering the same, but she cast her eyes away, sickened by his help. Laughing, he stowed his wand.

"I assume you're armed," he drawled.

Mora cocked an eyebrow. "Possibly."

Malfoy held his hand out expectantly.

"I don't think so."

"Suit yourself…" he raised his own wand, excited to strike her, even with a simple disarming charm.

"That won't be necessary," a voice droned.

Malfoy's face dropped. "Yes, sir." He stalked in the opposite direction, leaving Mora with Malfoy's superior.

The man drew closer. "After all these years….you are truly unchanged."

Mora stepped forward. "Korbin Avery."

Avery dipped his head. Despite his weighty words, he looked unmoved. "I am to escort you now." He turned and started on his way.

Mora followed in silence. The years had definitely changed Korbin. Shrewd may his mask be, Mora could tell how service had worn him down. His eyes were dull, his physic shrunk in. A shadow in his own skin. She had remembered him as so menacing in their school days; even when she faced him on the battlefield with the Order, he was still formidable. Now, something ran hollow in Korbin Avery.

He stopped before a stone door. He tapped his wand against the side twice. He continued walking, without a second glance at Mora.

The door creaked open. Once Mora stepped inside, it swung shut. She found herself in the same parlor she had many, many weeks ago – when he had first razed their home to rubble and plucked her from the ashes.

Voldemort stood before the fire, his back turned to her.

"You cheated, you know," Mora said flatly.

She could hear him suppress a chuckle. "You'll have to elaborate a bit, Ra."

"If I recall correctly, you promised not to come after me." She pulled out her wand, balancing it between her fingers.

"That is correct." The crimson of his eyes danced in the flames. "I also recall promising that you would return to me.

"That's where you cheated."

"Oh?" she could hear the snigger behind his voice.

"You stacked the deck. A dream-hold. Really? You're giving me the choice between going completely mental or coming back. I call that cheating." She stood beside him at the fire's mantel.

I have nothing to lose, she thought. Everything is already lost.

He turned to her, for the first time noticing she was rain-soaked jeans and sweater.

"What, were you expecting another ball-gown?" she spat.

He drew a long hand through her weeping, icy blond hair. She shivered at his touch.

His lips drew into a smile.

"The dream-hold," she reasoned, fury building in the back of her throat.

"Mhm," he brushed aside, slipping a hand around her waist. He pulled her close. "Do you know why you really returned to me?"

"It was this or go insane," she said, "You cursed me."

He ignored her, winding another hand in her hair. "Because you wanted to."

She pushed him away, her head swimming. "That is the last thing I want, truly." She stalked away.

He watched her, delight playing in his blood-rich eyes. "Oh, don't tell me…you think you still want your Black whelp?"

He grabbed her left hand, naked where Sirus' sapphire ring should be.

"I suppose not," he smiled.

She snatched her hand away. "No, you've gone and ruined that, haven't you?" She dug her hands into her pockets, ashamed by the very sight of them. She turned away from Voldemort, biting back tears.

Sirius was far too good for her – he always had been. Her perfect complement, companion, friend, lover – it far more than she ever deserved. And now the only way to save herself was to betray him. It she was good enough for him, she would have died for him – given up her mind to the torture of the dream-hold, and simply held out. She should have proved herself true to him.

I've already betrayed him, she reminded herself. The dream-hold itself was a knife in Sirius' back. For weeks, she dreamed of another man. However Lily tried to rationalize, nothing could take that pain away – not from Mora, who knew she was losing the one person she knew she needed above all else, and certainly not from Sirius when he found out about it.

"He deserves better than me," she muttered, eyes clenched shut.

"Enough," Voldemort beckoned.

"Give me a chance to grieve my marriage, will you?"

She felt a talon-like grasp on her forearm. "There was no marriage."

"Nope, that one's your fault too." She tried to shake him off. He would not budge. "I will never marry Sirius. He should never even look at me again. Congratulations."

His arms slunk around her waist, pulling her against him.

"Really, that puts you in the mood? Misogyny reigns here, I see," Mora growled. "And I remember you saying you wouldn't touch me unless I touched you first, remember that one?"

Voldemort chuckled and slowly relinquished his hold on her. She turned to face him.

"I think you know how this works, Ra," he teased. "Unless you'd prefer to lose your grip on reality completely."

"You know, that's becoming a more and more attractive option here," she snapped, making him laugh - much to her chagrin.

"Once I do this, no one will trust me, ever again." She paced, putting the loveseat between herself and Voldemort. "I'll be a piranha in the Order. My friends will hate me for what I've done to Sirius."

His smile gleamed in the firelight. "I have made it perfectly clear that there is no need for you to return to those people, or that life."

She placed her hands against the back of the loveseat. "What exactly are you proposing – a spot in your army."

"Better."

"Which is…?"

A folded his hands behind his back. "Marry me."