Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter but I do own a cat named Tango and the first book in a series I'm falling in love with.

Interlude- Time

Albus sighed quietly as he put the memories in a small jar that was sat on his desk. He'd call Hugo in the morning to pick up the batch of memories he'd spent the last six hours sifting through in the penseive, but for right now all he wanted to do was relax. Albus knew that doing all this would be a Herculean effort, not only because it rehashed good times but the bad as well.

Albus stood up and stretched a bit, he was weary of going through the next few years of memories, for Al knew that this was when everything changed.

Walking across his office, Albus took a moment to think about how childish he'd been with his dad; he understood how hard it was protecting the people you loved, especially when they're going out of their way to be difficult. Look at his students for instance, they tend to stray off their given path once they turn seventeen, they believe they can do and handle anything. When in fact they need someone to protect them from how hard the future is and what it brings.

The ticking of the clock from the mantle above the fireplace felt rather ironic for Albus, his time was coming. The moment when he had to make one the most painful decision of his life, he could feel time's stare piercing his back. Once he was finished with the memories he'd have to give up hope, he'd need to start anew.

Albus stared at the miniature sized clock that mirrored the one his Gran used to own, the only difference were the faces on the clock differed from hers. This one was a mintiure. Only showing those who were nearest to Al's heart and even then the bare minimum. It had been a gift from his mum when he got the job at Hogwarts, he cherished above almost all other things. It showed how late the hour was, almost after 2 in the morning, he should be getting to bed, but he couldn't, not yet.

Taking a deep breath, Albus took the clock off the mantle, holding it gingerly, he made his way to the winged=back chair near the warm fire. All the man did was stare at the faces on the clock, wondering where the time had gone. As he watched the smiling faces, he couldn't help but reflect how things had changed since he was a kid. People were different, his family for certain was changed, and death did that to people.

Al let out a small gasp, and the tears came down his face leaving a train of sorrow in their wake. He couldn't believe that this was happening. That he had to choose if she lived or died.

"But what sort of life is she really living?" Albus questioned aloud, "She's wasting away in a hospital bed, all her ideas and plans gone. What is a life if it isn't being lived?"

Albus closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to erase the image of his wife in her hospital bed looking peacefully asleep, completely ignorant to the pain he went through every time he visited.

A knocking on the door interrupted Albus as he was beginnging to put the clock back on the mantel. He put it down, wiped his tears away and quietly uttered for the person to enter, not even registering the late hour and the unlikeliest of a visitor.

Scorpius Malfoy walked in distinctly rumpled, his grey eyes taking in the cluttered office and the sight of his best friend staring into the fire, "Albus, I've been calling for hours, why haven't you picked up your bloody mirror?"

Albus looked up sharply and noticed concerned, that Scorpius was looking a bit run down. "I apologize. What's the matter? Lily, alright?"

Albus felt the immediate relief when Scorpius shook his head and said, "She's fine, she actually sent me here."

Raising an eyebrow, Albus looked to the ticking clock, "At almost 3 in the morning?"

"She made it very clear she wanted me to talk to you. She's worried about you mate." Hesitantly, Scorpius walked forward, "Me too. We were worried when you didn't pick up, and you blocked your Floo. We thought you may have gone to St. Mungo's." And killed your wife.

That last part remained unspoken, but Albus heard it with clarity. Every time he didn't communicate with someone in the family, they would worry he had finally done it, pulled the plug, as the muggles tend to say.

"No," Albus muttered after a minute. "No, I didn't, but I've decided that after I help Hugo with this project of his, I'll decide."

Scorpius' eyes widened briefly, before frowning, "You sure? I know this whole thing with the memories isn't easy for you, Al. Maybe you should wait to decide with a clear head."

"I'll never be able to decide this with a clear head, Scorpius!" Albus snapped loudly. He turned away so he couldn't see his best friend's face, he was under so much pressure, and he didn't need his brother-in-law trying to pacify him. "Please, go. Just go. I'm tired, I spent six hours thinking, I don't need you as my psychologist. I'll call Lily tomorrow."

Albus didn't turn around, he didn't even move, Scorpius waited for a few minutes before leaving. But right before the man shut the door he said very quietly, "I'm your friend, Al. I care for you too much to see you one day regret something like this. Just remember when you think you know your decision, talk to someone first. It doesn't have to be me, or Lily. Talk to a stranger at the pub or a cousin, for Merlin's sake, just talk to someone."

With that he shut the door, Albus listened as the footsteps of his friend echoed away, and he had time to brood over this any other day. For now it was time to sleep.

Author's note: *Looks out from behind curtain* Hello, all. It has been a really long time. A really long time and I'm sorry. You see for Christmas I got a new Laptop which didn't have Word. Seriously, I was so pissed. Then I Angsted for a few weeks over Sherlock (GAH! The tears that streamed down my face). Then I discovered Bones and Merlin, almost dying from the amount of UST between the characters on both shows. Then I got a Tumblr (follow me I'm Brittnodo on there too). Then at some point I had a fangasm learing Benedict Cumberbatch was going to be in Star Trek. THEN I hear our Goddess, J.K. ROWLING has written a NEW book, AHHHHH! Well, then finally today my dad installed Word on my computer and immediately I did this, its short ant totally from the future. I'm like the Doctor!

Tell me what you think! I want to know, do you like hearing about Al's future? Should sometime in the future I write another interlude thing? You tell me via a review.

Thanks,

Brittany