Blindingly obvious disclaimer: I do not claim to own or have any rights to any of the Harry Potter paraphernalia, all of which belong exclusively to You-Know-Who. :o)

2two

Sirius Black was in a swirling vortex of blinding colour, falling, twisting. He couldn't tell which way was up, his head spinning and his stomach rolling dangerously.

Definitely exactly what he needed at the moment.

He had no idea how long he had been this roiling hell; it could have been five minutes, or a week. The time was just as blurred as the churning colours that surrounded him. He closed his eyes to spare his stomach at least the dizzying view. When he opened them again, feeling himself slowing down, he saw that there was an open path kaleidoscoping in front of him.

The momentary reprieve was obviously far too pleasant, and he plunged headlong into the path, his body hurtling forward against his will.

He realized suddenly that he couldn't feel his limbs; with a panicky feeling, he also found himself unable to smell or hear anything. It also occurred to him that while he had been in momentary darkness just now, he had not actually closed his eyes, because he could not sense his eyelids. It was more like he willed not to see anything, without really thinking about it.

He "looked" down at himself, and thought about fainting.

No body. I have no body. He tried screaming, but of course nothing happened.

Unable to process this new bit of information at the moment, he turned his attention back to the vortex he was passing through. It seemed to end in an advancing black pinpoint in the distance. It came rushing toward him, and then—he was within it.

For a moment all was pitch black, and then a dim grey light started to fill the space around him from no source that he could see.

Sirius fell.

He grunted and opened his eyes—I have eyes!—and realized his body was back, though it was a little uncooperative yet. "Nice of you to join me again," he growled at it hoarsely. Standing up slowly, he looked around and noticed that he was not alone. Several figures were in various postures all around him, sitting, standing, or gesturing to each other.

He glanced at one such pair closely. They seemed to be having an intense conversation without words. They were also translucent. Oh, give me a blooming break. He glanced at himself again, cursing his body's sudden whimsical tendency to appear and disappear without his knowledge, and confirmed his suspicions. He too was silvery and insubstantial. I look like Nearly-Bloody-Headless Nick, he thought darkly.

Who is Nearly Bloody Headless Nick, if I might be so rude as to inquire? A polite voice questioned from inside his head.

Starting violently, he spun around, looking for the source of the voice. An old man with a bald head and a wispy beard smiled and waved at him. Sirius blinked. You? You're talking to me—telepathically? He responded mentally, not really expecting an answer. After all, telepathy is the stuff of science fiction nov—

Benedict Adkins, nice to meet you. Yes, though I didn't mean to intrude on your thoughts. You were just sending them out so vehemently. Sirius gaped. New here, I presume? Sirius nodded. Yes well, it does take a while to become...acclimated. Don't be alarmed.

Sirius sighed heavily and sat down hard on the floor.