A/N: What can I say? I was bored.

Actually, this is very short and sweet. But it is, after all, just a preview of the up-coming Family Ties story. Mostly, however, it is to let you know what I am up to and why you may not hear from me with any degree of regularity.

First off, I would ask you keep my sister-in-law's mother in your prayers, who was just diagnosed with a very bad case of cancer.

I also am being kept running like a hamster on a treadmill at work and that is taking up a considerable amount of my time.

And lastly, I am also being hounded by several interested parties to lose weight. Current target: 40 pounds in two months.

We'll see.

Past all of that,

As always,

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: All characters of the Harry Potter series (hereafter known as 'legal property') are the sole ownership of J.K. Rowling (hereafter known as 'owner of said legal property'). No infringement on any copyright of owner of said legal property of the legal property is knowing intended. Published by author (hereafter known as 'other') for entertainment purposes only. No monetary or personal gain was knowingly made by other with the publication of this story, which was based on ideas and characters created by owner of said legal property as they pertain to legal property. No plagiarism of legal property or of any ideas of the owner of said legal property was knowingly intended by other. This statement is fully transferable and is legally held binding for all chapters of the story Family Ties as they are presented under different chapter headings and titles for individual chapters.

CHAPTER ONE: THE RETURN

Dr. Martinson sat behind his large oak desk as he studied the man seated before him, carefully phrasing his report as he delivered it.

He had been on staff at St. Andrews for well over thirty years, and presently the case before him was a first for him.

Not that he relished the challenge due to other variables involved. One of which was currently staring him down from the other side of his desk.

He hated working with Unspeakables. It was practically impossible to lie to them. They never took anything at face value and could read a lie with frightening accuracy. Even when the lie was given for their own good, an Unspeakable would hound you down until he was satisfied he had the truth. And the man currently seated before him was rumored to be the best there was.

"Your brother," Dr. Martinson began, "is suffering from the effects of a memory charm that run very deep, and which clearly indicate that the instigator was an extremely powerful wizard."

"I already know who is responsible for it." A cold, steeled voice answered. "What I want to know is what the lasting effects on my brother are."

Dr. Martinson surreptitiously paged through the chart before him. "What you must understand," Dr. Martinson tried cautiously to explain, "is that the overall effects to your brother's memory are very deep. The effects to his short-term memory are extensive. He has no recollection of dates or recent events. Nothing even remotely related to anything in the time span that this type of memory would cover. His long term memory, however, has proved even more difficult to diagnose."

"How so?"

"As I said," Dr. Martinson replied, "the effects are very deep. More so, I think, than you realize."

Orion gave a long, irritated sigh. He hated working with doctors. It was practically impossible to get a straight answer out of them. And the one in front of him right now seemed an absolute master at handing you page after page of useless information. All of it tied up in one favorite phrase that Orion swore if he heard one more time he was going to have to find his brother a new doctor, since this one was going to be well beyond the realm of practicing any medicine for a long time coming.

Why couldn't doctors just tell you what you wanted to know and be done with it?

Of course, Orion knew the surface effects already. He had known them the moment his brother had looked up at him without a shadow of recognition in his eyes.

All through their years growing up and right into their years at Hogwart's, Orion had felt responsible for looking after his little brother. Always in the background, but ever vigilant, Orion had taken the job of protecting his only sibling very seriously. But for once in all those years, Orion suddenly had found himself faced with an enemy he couldn't protect Sirius from. One he couldn't fight or frighten off with a well placed threat.

One that had already done it's damage.

And this blasted doctor seemed to be on the side of the enemy.

Dr. Martinson didn't miss the growing agitation of the man before him and decided it was best to get to the point and get the man on his way as fast as possible. He had plenty of patients. People he could possibly do something for.

The Black case was not one of them.

Dr. Martinson closed the chart he had been holding in front of himself like a shield and laid it on his desk, folding his arms over it as he fixed his stare on the man before him. "In the long term, Mr. Black, it would be easier and certainly faster for me to tell you what your brother remembers better than what he doesn't. He seems to have retained basic things, such as motor and language skills. However, things seem to go downhill from there on. Your brother doesn't know his name, he has no recollection of family, friends, or events in his past, and he appears to have no working knowledge of magic."

Orion's expression etched itself into a deep frown. "You mean Sirius doesn't remember how to do spells?"

"No." Dr. Martinson replied, steeling himself up for the reaction to his diagnosis, "I mean, your brother doesn't remember he's a wizard."

Q&A

ilovesiriusblack:

No! Poor Sirius! Voldemort is such a but head! This chapter was really well written like the rest of this story and even though its now ended I still want to read more so please dont abandon this story arc!
Looking forward to reading family Ties in January.

Well, as you can see, not only have I not abandoned the story arc, Dear, I'm posting early. But the trade-off is that I won't be posting regularly. Everything seems to come with a price. What can I say?

Skahducky:

Wow, you certainly left us hanging, finishing the story with Sirius having lost all his memory. I hope he gets it back soon.
Anyway, enjoy your break, and I'm looking forward to Family Ties in January!

Please see above, Dear. As stated, I am posting this early, but it could possibly well be January before you see another chapter. Not likely, but possible.

CelticHeiressFiona:

Awesome chapter. Voldemort me off the most in this chapter than in any other yet. Ugly little snake-faced wizards and their stupid hidden agendas. Not that his are a complete secret. Perks of Sirius Black's body: Close to Dumbledore, Close to Potter, Close to Orion Black. But anyway, great chapter!

Well, one does what one excells at, Dear. Voldemort just seems to have a special talent for p(asteriskasteriskasteriskasteriskasterisk)g people off.

Well, I wouldn't say Voldemort's agenda is completely out in the open. Plus, he's completed one agenda, so now he's off to the next. Who's to say what the dark one is up to now?

IceAngel:

Oh wow... wonder what he will want in return for that gift.
Looking forward to seeing more of Becca :)
Cheers!

Now you see! A well thought out question that not many people ask. What is Voldemort going to want in return for his 'gift' to Sirius? And exactly how many people will see it as a gift?

Well, that's a good thing, Dear, because she figures prominently in Family Ties, although not immediately. But she will be showing up.

MasterLupin:

Poor Sirius, he just can't get a break can he, first demonic possession and now amnesia.
Well I will stay around for your next story Family Ties, and Bo's Day out. I take it this is the last chapter or next to last for this one then?
As for book V, JK explained why she killed Sirius and it wasn't for shock value, it actually makes sense why she killed him. Follow this link if you can: http://w.msnbc.

Hey, Lup! Hope studies are going well.

Well, I don't know about the demonic possession angle. Certainly not a friendly take-over, but I'm not sure it was all that bad! And after all, Voldemort was a good houseguest, no? He left a present when he checked out.

Chapter 62 was the last chapter of Family Relations (or Chapter 79 by FFN's count).

Even though I am working on Family Ties and currently erratically posting chapters, this does not mean Bo's Day Out isn't also in the works. And since it is a one-shot, you have a chance of seeing it possibly before the next chapter of this story. (Well, not a really good chance, but a chance.).

OK, Dear. Followed link, then followed that link to several other links, and basically spent the afternoon reading.

Here is what I came up with.

Shock value.

Now, the best I could come up with (past that) was that she felt 1) that Harry needed to suffer, 2) that she did not want him to have a parental figure to lean on and therefore anyone who got even remotely close to the kid had a huge bulls-eye painted on their back, and 3) killing people is good for sales.

Sorry, but that was the best I could get out of a whole afternoon spent reading over web-links.

All reviews are as of 09/16/2007.

And remember:

You say Lawyer like it's a bad thing.