A/N- Hey, y'all. Sorry it's been so long and that this chapter isn't very long. The next chapter should be up with in a week and will be longer. But here's a chapter! Enjoy!

Dedication : An-Jelly-Ca, my lovely and amazing beta. Go read her stuff. It's good. Really good.

Chapter 2

Sirius gasped as someone touched his back. He arched as they gingerly poked it. Then, as if he were a newborn puppy, they gently brushed his hair away from his face. He curled in to a fetal position as he groaned, his whole body afire.

The person touched his face and abruptly removed their hand as Sirius's vision went haywire. He could see the long tapered fingers as they rubbed healing balm on the many bruises on his face. His eye was going to have a lovely shiner; it was going to be the color of the rainbow with blacks and blues. He also had a colorful bruise that stretched from his cheekbone to his jaw. Sirius groaned once more and shut his eyes; the pain was excruciating.

The hand gently poked his eye, Sirius's eyes to a snapped open. His head felt dizzy, his vision swam. The long, tapered fingers rubbed a damp cloth against his forehead and face. Padfoot's body was sweat soaked. He spasmed again as the fingers inspected the rest of his body. There was blood seeping from a head wound, maybe a broken arm. Numerous bruises covered his body as if he were a quilt to be covered with their blacks and blues. The person pressed slightly too hard on his black eye and Sirius closed his eyes once more.

He lay there, his breath shallow, pulling in one ragged breath after another. Sirius gathered up the strength to crack open an eye lid, and saw the one who was inspecting his bruises was his brother, Regulus. He was lying in his room, the Gryffindor colors and muggle posters showed that.

His brother now poked him harshly on the hand. "What did you do now?"

He gulped and tried to speak. His throat was as dry as sandpaper. Ignoring the question, he croaked out, "Water."

Regulus sat him up slowly, as not to aggravate his injuries further. He slowly poured a glass of water down his throat. "Now, what in the name of Merlin's pants set her off on you this time?"

Sirius winced as he remembered. "Y'know how I don't like flooing. I upchucked on her shoes."

"Her shoes? You were in for it then."

Sirius snorted and winced. Any movement of his face hurt like hell. "She's psycho about those snake skin heels. Rather creepy."

Regulus shook his mournfully, "Sirius, this is no laughing matter! Another one of those and somebody is going to notice!"

Sirius sat up quickly his fevered eyes dark as they pierced Regulus's face. "What, you're only worried about somebody noticing me in this state? What happened about us being brothers till the end, eh, Regulus? Does that even matter to you anymore? Or has that Slytherin, pure blood shit finally gotten to you?'"Sirius let his head flop down on the pillow. "I need a healer. What time is it?"

"I've sent for Harmony, she can heal all this. It's almost five. You have to go the Malfoy's for their party then the Minister's party afterward. Do you remember any of this?"

At the mention of the parties that were awaiting him Sirius swore. "Shit, shit, shit, shitty, shit shit! Do I have to go? Can't you?"

"Psh, remember Mother announcing to the whole station that YOU were going? Be a bit odd if I went instead. Almost a little fishy. It might ruin mother's seemingly immaculate reputation."

Groaning, Sirius shut his eyes, "Fine, fine. Just get Harmony in here, this arm is killing me," He sighed and muttered to himself, "Is the whole summer going to be like this?"

Sirius's rhetorical question made him stop as he walked to the door. Regulus's frozen heart was cracking. He hated seeing his brother like this. His brother: the smart, handsome, funny brother he had always wanted to be like...until he was sorted into Gryffindor. Until he saw what abuse that was rained upon him nearly every day. That's why, being the coward he knew he was on the inside, he had repeated like a mantra when he was being sorted, 'Not Gryffindor, not Gryffindor.' The sorting hat said to him, despite not wanting to be sorted into that house, he fit it perfectly. In the future, he would be brave, very brave and do the right thing, it told him.

He looked at the broken form of his brother and answered him, "No, I'll convince mother to stop it all." Sirius gave his barking laugh thought it shuddered as if he were holding back tears. Like that would happen in a million years, he thought bitterly.

"Just send in Harmony." He repeated.

His brother gave him one last long look and and continued walking slowly to the door. Reaching for the handle, with his back turned to Sirius so he wouldn't see the conflicting emotions on his face, "I'll always be your brother. I'll always be there." He stepped through the threshold of the door, a tear slowly rolled down his cheek. He rubbed it away furiously.

Regulus called for Harmony, the nicer and more sympathetic of their house elves. His brother needed him; he would do anything for him.

Years of Black family members stared at him as he took the stairs two by two, their disapproval evident on their pinched faces. He ignored them all and ran into Kreacher. "Sorry, Kreacher. D'you know where Harmony is? Sirius needs her."

Kreacher bowed low and replied, "Harmony is in the Kitchen, Master. Is there anything Kreacher can do to help Master?"

"No, it's fine Kreacher. Thanks for offering." He kept walking down the stair case.

Kreacher stared after him. Master had thanked Kreacher? Even Mistress had never, ever done such a thing. Kreacher resolved to do anything for Master Regulus. He would give his life for him. Little did Kreacher, or for that matter, Regulus, know that the time for that was swiftly approaching...

A/N- Remember to review! They make my day and are a great inspiration to write more. XD