A/N, This will be a buffy xover, honest, just bare with me and i'll get there.
I own nothing, nothing at all,
Sirius couldn't sleep
Sirius couldn't sleep. Ever since he'd escaped Azkaban, he'd had this, niggling, feeling. Like there was something he'd forgotten. However, he'd been far more concerned with catching the traitor, Pettigrew, and exposing his lies, and hadn't thought twice about uncovering his lost memory. Much more anxious to prove his innocence and regain his freedom. But at least now he'd proven himself to Harry, Remus and Dumbledore, he felt relieved that those closest to him, those he considered family now new the truth. The feeling returned, more intense than ever. He knew, just knew, there was something wrong. Something he'd forgotten, something important. He could no longer ignore this incessant feeling. He sat late at night, not sleeping, racking his brains trying to think, trying to remember.
A face came into his mind, a very beautiful woman, with long curly blonde hair, and a sweet laugh echoed through his mind. He shook his head. He desperately needed to sleep. He shook his head once more, trying to clear all feeling of the forgotten memory from his mind.
'It'll come to me, given enough time' he thought to himself, after all, he had been in Azkaban for twelve years. That place was enough to completely scramble your head. He lay back down on his uncomfortable makeshift bed, and fell into a fitful sleep.
Sirius dreamed of the face he had seen. A woman and a small blonde child were happily playing on the floor, laughter emanating from them. He looked on in puzzlement until the woman looked up at him and smiled serenely. Man that smile was beautiful, it warmed his heart unexpectedly. She looked like the happiest person alive.
"Siri, come join us" Her familiar voice was full of warmth and love. His heart swelled with happiness at being included in the happy little scene. He felt himself drawn into the little group, sitting cross-legged on the floor opposite the woman, the golden haired child between them. He stared at her in bewilderment. As she saw him looking at the a strange concerned look appeared upon her face
"Siri? She asked reaching out a hand to touch his arm. He shook his head, hoping desperately that something would come to him. As she touched his arm it felt like fire racing through his veins, and his memory shocked into action.
"Joyce?" He asked.
Sirius sat bolt upright in his bed, awoken with a shock.
"Joyce?" He asked out loud. Now he remembered. The niggling feeling left abruptly, leaving him only with guilt. Guilt at forgetting them in the first place. How, How could he have forgotten his wife and daughter?
Why had no-one mentioned them to his since his escape? Ok yes, he'd only had very limited contact with anyone from the wizarding world since he'd escaped, for obvious reasons. But Remus knew them, and Dumbledore. And he'd looked at the daily prophet almost everyday; surely there would have been some mention of their reaction. And Remus or Dumbledore should have at least mentioned them.
He started to worry. Why? Had something happened to them? Why hadn't he remembered them straight away? So many questions spinning round and round in his head left him gasping for breath.
A thought occurred to him, settling his mind, quieting the turmoil temporarily. He had to speak to Dumbledore. NOW!
In a quiet office, near the centre of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, all was quiet and still, until suddenly, shattering the peace, a tall, thin man suddenly burst out from the fireplace, choking on soot, leaving a cloud behind him as he stumbled into the room. Only one person in the whole school could hear the alarm announcing his presence in the office. Albus Dumbledore rose from his bed, and wearily threw on his robes. He was not alarmed, as the alarm only alerted him to the presence. If it were any one other than a small handful of people, the alarm would be sounding throughout the staff corridor, and chaos would now reign supreme.
He slowly entered his office and sat behind his desk, rubbing sleep from his tired eyes.
"Ahh, Mr Black" He yawned, "To what do I owe the pleasure at this time of the morning?" Sirius looked humbled.
"Sir, I'm truly sorry to wake you, but something very important is troubling me. Very important, and it could not wait until morning." He was apologetic, wringing his hands in his lap. The man was very troubled, Dumbledore noted, curious as to his problem.
"Quite alright, Mr Black, Quite alright. Now, what is it that's troubling you?" Dumbledore's voice was gentle, probing.
"Please, sir, call me Sirius." Dumbledore nodded and waited for him to continue. "Its, it's just that…" He sighed and restarted. "Well, Sir, It started after I escaped from Azkaban, this feeling, like I'd forgotten something big. I didn't really take much notice until recently, but then it just got stronger. And, well, tonight I had such a strange dream. A woman and a child. My Wife and my Daughter. I remembered them tonight, in my dream. I had forgotten them! I need to know why no-one has mentioned them. Has something happened to them? And why didn't I remember them straight away?" Sirius looked confused and upset. He seemed desperate for answers, but Dumbledore could only regret that he had none to give.
"Wife, Sirius? I'm sorry, but I must admit that I don't remember you having been married either." Dumbledore was confused, but the beginnings of a suspicion formed in his mind.
"You don't?" Sirius asked, more troubled than ever. "Joyce, my wife, you don't remember her?
"I'm afraid not" Came the reply "Now this is puzzling, and I can imagine more than a little worrying for you Sirius. The only thing that I can think of is that someone has placed a memory spell on us all for some reason. A spell to make us forget your wife, but why? Why would anyone want us to forget your wife?"
"And daughter" Sirius interrupted.
"Daughter, you say, hmm, yes. Well, let's see. I will do a revealing spell, and then I can find the spell and reverse it." Dumbledore muttered, trying to reason it all out in his head.
"Yes sir,"
Dumbledore stood and lifted his wand, all traces of earlier tiredness now long gone, and waved it round his head.
"Conjuration Revealus" a ball of light floated into the room, appearing from Dumbledore's head. The light was blood red, with a pulsing white light in the centre. It seemed as though the red light was struggling to contain the white, to smother it.
"Ahh, memory suppression and alteration, impressive. Very impressive. It takes a lot of work to change so much of so many people's memories at once. Well then," He carefully touched his wand to the bright red ball and spoke again,
"Incantatem Reverse"
Dumbledore stumbled a little as the spell took hold. The red ball dissolved and there was a blinding flash of white light. Dumbledore fell back into his chair as he was hit with the weight of the memories now assaulting him.
"Merlin, Sirius." He whispered, shocked at the amount of memory that had been stolen from him, he could but imagine how Sirius had felt when the truth was discovered.
"Yes sir,"
"And you broke this spell with your mind?" Dumbledore was almost in awe.
"No, not completely sir. I only know I have a wife and daughter, I have no real memories." He looked at his hands, ashamed he could not remember such an important part of his life.
"So, the spell is still in effect?" Dumbledore was almost excited.
"Yes, yes it is."
"Ah-ha!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together delightedly. "We may be able to find out who cast this spell then!"
"Sir?"
"Well, after the revealing spell, a simple spell can determine the caster, and reveal his face."
"Right" Sirius answered. His face betrayed his uncertainty.
"Are you ready?" Came the question. Sirius only nodded in reply, searching out Dumbledore's eyes.
"Conjuration Revealus" Dumbledore's wand was pointed straight between Sirius' eyes, and he felt distinctly uncomfortable, especially with the pulling feeling that came with the rushing ball of red light leaving his head. Dumbledore tilted his head to one side thoughtfully before speaking again.
"Castora unveilsis" The light started morphing into a new shape. Slowly the face of a man took shape, a man similar in height and build to Sirius, but whom he didn't recognize. However, there was a spark of recognition in Dumbledore's eyes. Before Sirius could say anything, Dumbledore ended the enchantment with a quick 'incantatem reverse' and a swish of his wand. Again came the brilliant white flash, and Sirius had to grab hold of the desk to steady himself.
"Oh God" he moaned. "How could I forget?" He put his head deep into his hands and mumbled to himself. Dumbledore reached a hand out to touch Sirius' wrist, he jerked up in shock, that was what had triggered his memory in his dream!
"Now, Sirius, you were under a very powerful memory spell. The fact that you remembered anything at all is testament to your great love and strong will."
Sirius nodded but still looked unsure. His heart felt broken, he was livid with himself for forgetting them, and now desperate to know what had become of them, where they were, so he could see them again.
"Now, Sirius, What does the name Hank Summers mean to you?" Sirius thought for a second.
"He's my cousin, on my mother's side, why?" What was Dumbledore asking about him for. Sirius hadn't seen him for years, even before Azkaban. Suddenly something seemed to click. "No, No I-it can't be him. Couldn't be him. He doesn't have the power."
"It was Sirius." Dumbledore assured him calmly. "You couldn't tell as he was blocked from your memories, but the image formed, was of him."
"Well, Lets find him then, a locator spell?" Sirius looked hopeful. Although he still couldn't figure out why his cousin would do this to him.
"Sirius, you know as well as I do that a locator spell probably won't work, especially if he has the kind of power needed to block these memories, or if he is living as a muggle. Now, we'll have to use muggle means of locating him, and he may well have changed all their names. Hmmm, this could prove to be difficult. Very difficult indeed." Dumbledore was thoughtful.
"I don't care how difficult it is" Sirius snapped, before looking apologetic once more, "I'm sorry, I just, I want to know. Want to see them." He instantly regretted his harsh words. "I mean, I don't care if we have to check every human in the world to find them, as long as we do."
"I understand Sirius, this is hard for you I know, but you will need to be patient. We probably won't find them straightaway. And it may not be that easy when we do find them, after all, it has been twelve years, a lot could have changed."
"I know. That's the hard part."
"Now, Sirius, would you like me to contact and remove the spell from anyone else? Remus for example? They may help with the search." Sirius thought for a short while.
"No, not just yet, thank you. I think I'd rather keep it to myself for now." He decided
"That's perfectly understandable, this is quite traumatic" Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Now, I'll start first thing tomorrow. I'll need to start making visits as soon as I can leave Hogwarts. I suppose you shall be making enquiries as well?" Dumbledore looked at him over the top of his half moon spectacles.
"As much as I can sir, yes. And I'll be in touch regularly."
"Of course Sirius, and the best way for me to contact you?"
"Oh, well, I'll be checking in at Grimmauld place from time to time, but the best way to reach me would probably be by owl sir. Although I won't be out of touch for more than a day sir."
"Ok, very well then Sirius. I shall see you soon."
"Yes, and, Headmaster? … Thank you" with those words he silently turned and flooed away into the night once more. Dumbledore sighed, noticing the dejected turn of the younger mans shoulders. How much more would he, or any of them, have to go through, and how long before he could reunite Sirius with his much loved family? He resolved to locate them as quickly as he could, staring first thing in the morning, a time less than two hours away. Yawning, he slowly headed back to bed, where sleep would elude him for the remainder of the night.