Hi all, sorry that it has been so terribly long. I was working someplace terrible and the stress sapped my creativity. A couple of months ago, I moved cross-country (seriously, it's three time zones away) and started a new job that though wonderful, has been quite a change with a lot more responsibility. This is actually only a short "interlude" that I posted on my yahoo group this spring. Sorry I totally forgot to post it here.

I'm working on getting writing again but the past year did a serious number on my creative energies and I'm only just starting to feel human again. Anyway, I hope this will tide any interested readers over for a little while.

Thank you all for your kind support and interest. I have been greatly encouraged by the many reviews here, emails and even a comment on my livejournal to try to keep writing.

Christmas interlude.

'Daddy! Please help me! Make him stop… Daddy…'

Severus fought uselessly against the magic that held him paralyzed and unable to stop the monster that was Voldemort from continuing to torture Harry.

'Daddy...' Harry's sob faded as his energy drained under the power of Voldemort's continued cruciatus curse. 'Please… help me…Daddy…'

With a cackling laugh, Voldemort released the curse as well as the magic holding Severus immobile and aparated away just as Harry took what Severus knew would be his last breath.

Throwing himself down at Harry's side, Severus gathered him into his arms even as the child's body expelled that final breath, falling limp against his father's chest.

'Nooooo!' Severus' scream died in his throat as he woke, struggling against his sweat-soaked sheets.

Asleep, Severus thought, he still looks so young. He'd stood at the side of Harry's bed, watching him breathe for nearly twenty minutes since waking from his most feared nightmare.

The part of him that wished Harry'd always stay young – a child he could keep here in relative safety at Hogwarts warred especially after this nightmare with the part of him that longed to know the good man he knew Harry would become.

'Damn him…' he muttered with a sigh. Damn Voldemort for existing. Damn him for his connection to Harry in that damn prophesy. Damn him for owning that part of Harry's future, no matter who won in the end. And even though he knew it wasn't his fault, damn Albus for telling him about the prophesy.

Yes, he needed to know. Harry didn't need to know yet, but still, he had to be prepared – taught what he would need to have the best chance of winning. But Severus hated the cloud of fear the knowing put over him whenever he thought of Harry's future.

The boy would never be completely free… He and Voldemort couldn't co-exist. One would kill the other which meant that Harry will either die at Voldemort's hand, or be forced to sacrifice his innocence to kill the bastard… either way, he loses…

'Dad?'

Severus smiled warmly seeing Harry's sleep filled eyes looking up at him. 'Did I have a bad dream?'

'No little one.' Severus brushed his hand gently over Harry's forehead. 'Go back to sleep.'

'Not little…' Harry replied, seemingly on principle, more than half asleep already, his eyes falling closed once more.

Still, Severus couldn't bring himself to leave, needing to keep Harry in his sight to reassure himself that he truly was alright. He knew it wouldn't be the first, or likely the last time he would spent the night watching Harry sleep from the safety of the chair beside his bed.

Nothing was said in the morning about the late night wandering. In fact, Severus doubted that Harry even remembered waking, and he'd left as soon as he'd seen Harry begin to stir that morning. He did his best to shake off the effects of the nightmare with moderate success – at least he was pretty sure that he'd kept his mood from affecting Harry.

After father and son had opened their Christmas morning of gifts and enjoyed their traditional breakfast of Brownie-berry waffles, Severus, who was the "Designated Senior Professor In Charge", left briefly to perform his daily holiday dorm check. When he returned he found Harry pulling on his snow boots, his winter cloak laying across the back of the chair. 'Where are you going?'

'Flying,' Harry answered with a grunt as he worked his boot on. 'Of course,' he added with a grin. 'What else?'

'Are those boots getting too tight?'

'I guess,' Harry answered with a shrug. 'Hey, why don't you come out flying with me?'

'I can't Harry. You know it's my turn to work the holiday. Tomorrow I'll see if Minerva or Albus can take you to Diagon Alley for a new pair of boots.' Severus handed Harry his scarf, hat and gloves from where they'd been left near the door, giving him a look indicating that he expected Harry to wear them outside.

Harry made a face, but accepted all three and threw the scarf around his neck. 'You used to come out flying with me when you worked – besides,' he added, shoving the hat in his cloak pocket. 'Everyone's going to be outside anyway.'

'Harry…' Severus began as he pulled the hat out of his son's pocket, but Harry obviously read what he was going to say and didn't wait for him to continue.

'Whatever…' He angrily snatched the hat from his hands and shoved it on his head. 'Never mind. I should have known you wouldn't want to do anything fun that I want to do.'

Severus was left, stunned, his son's angrily shouted words still ringing in his ears as Harry dashed past him and ran out of the apartment, slamming the door.

'Damn, damn, damn!' Severus swore once he'd figured out what had just happened. 'I am an idiot,' he muttered to himself as he quickly stripped off his work robe and pulled his winter robe and cloak from the wardrobe.

'My twelve year old son just asked me to do something with him,' he accused himself angrily as he buttoned his robe and changed into his outdoor boots. 'And I, like an idiot, make and excuse not to do it – because, at twelve, it's so common for him to what to spent fun time with me… because teenagers are so well known for wanting to be seen with their parents while friends are around…' He finished his change by adding the scarf, hat and gloves that Harry had just given him for Christmas.

'Damn,' he swore again when he went to retrieve his broom and found that Harry'd run out without taking his broom. 'Idiot!' he cursed himself one last time before heading outside.