This is the chapter I have dreaded since I began this fanfic...this and the two which are to follow.

He didn't know where he was, it was cold and wet. He could hear the water as he rushed around him. It took a little while to understand he was inside a old boat. He soon understood he was out to sea just by the roughness of the waves. Where out on the sea he didn't know, or did he understand why he was there.

Wasn't he just in his bed? Hadn't he just fallen asleep? He couldn't even remember who he was, only that whatever he was doing was important. Soon he was off of the boat and with a pain throbbing through his hand he turned to see a opening.

He somehow managed to slip back into the boat and kept sailing forward, he could feel his fear. But didn't understand just why. It was a unsettling feeling.

Soon the room was filled with a eerie green glow, coming from a small rock island in the middle of a large gave, with a great stone basin on the top. Something caused his body to shiver, and it wasn't the cold.

Stepping upon the little stone island was simple enough but when faced with the basin it seemed a harder thing to do. He could feel that this was going to seal his fate. It was when he heard another voice to his left that he turned to look, he couldn't make out the figure but someone was with him. Holding out a glass, instantly the connection was made. He was drinking whatever was in the basin.

Pain and agony filled him with just the first swallow, and after the sixth or seventh swallow he started to hear more voices, he couldn't make out what they were saying. But whatever it was, was painful to hear. He could feel tears sting his eyes and the potion he was drinking ate up his pain like wildfire. Nothing could sooth the agony eating away at his insides.

Both heart and body were in too much pain to fight as the last few swallows were forced down his throat. It was too much pain to swallow but without a choice they went down with ease. And once the voice that had been with him before the potion had been taken reached in and then filled the basin back up he turned back to him.

He couldn't make out the form much better than he could before, but he could tell it was short and pale. He reached out, said something inaudible and then crawled forward to the lake, reaching forward into the water. He could feel acceptance rush over him as one of many pale hands reached out from the water and started to pull.

He could hear the voice scream his name, before he shouted to the voice. He heard a pop before the water rushed through his ears.

"NO!" Sirius jerked away in his bed drenched in a cold sweat and panting his lungs out. Hands around his throat he started to cough and shake.

The lights flew on and he felt Remus' warmth wrap around him, he couldn't hear his voice. He could still hear the water fill his ears, he could hear himself thrash around in the water, trying to fight the pale hands that still reached for him. He still shook from head to toe, the cold still eating at his bones. He continued to cough, despite not really having water in his lungs.

"Sirius, shhh it's ok!" Remus cried holding Sirius as tight against him as he could, the boy just couldn't stop. Fear was eating away at Remus' body like acid. He didn't understand, Sirius was never for nightmares and when he had them all it took was someone to hold him and he'd be ok. And here he was, it almost seemed like he was still stuck inside the dream.

Eventually after a long while of rocking and shhing Sirius finally calmed down and came back the normal world. He clung to Remus as if he let go he'd be right back where he was, drowning. Away from everyone he ever loved. Sirius was never really afraid of death, but right now he was the most scared he'd ever been in his life. What had he just seen?

The two boys leaped when there was a loud bang at the window in the living room. Neither boy dared to move both of them starring at one another until Remus got the guts enough to get up and walk out into the living room. But he didn't even a inch out of the bed before he felt Sirius' hand intertwined in his.

Apparently he wasn't leaving without the other man. And quietly the two walked into the living room and with a flick of Remus' wand the lights filled the room. Only when the lights filled the room and the two realized what had made such racket did Sirius let go.

Fear filled Sirius more than it had in the dream as he walked forward, it was his father's owl perching on the window sill. It was three in the morning and if his father ever wrote him, it was never a good thing. And this late at night…dread and fear filled him.

The owl fluttered in, eyes searching the whole room before holding out his leg to Sirius. The large black owl then waited for the boy to read,

Dear Sirius,

It's nearly the end of August, and I know what you have planned. But…I must warn you your brother went missing late last night. Your mother and I thought that maybe it was a mission, but…I'm not so sure. I just woke up from a nightmare, and I just…you know how we Black's are internally linked. I think something's wrong.

I'll keep my eyes on the tree, you know how this works. One week…

I love you son, keep safe.

~Your father

Sirius read the note over and over his heart hammering in his chest, his hands were shaking like he was in the middle of a earthquake. His whole body began to tremble with a terrible force. His body didn't stop when Remus pulled the letter from his hand. "What does he mean a week?"

Sirius looked at the floor, trying to compose himself enough to speak, his body shook with such a force he didn't know if it was from a lack of sugar running in his body or if he really was that scared.

"He…I…" Sirius tried to start realizing he was much like a tire spinning in mud, making a bunch of noise but not really getting anywhere. He stumbled over to the couch and put his head in his hands. Is that what it was, a linked nightmare? Was he…no…Regulus would be ok.

"Sirius? It seems your father had a nightmare too…do you think-"

"No, Reg is fine, probably just on a late mission. Give him time he'll be ok." Remus sat down beside him and rubbed his back, he wouldn't deny Sirius the little bit of comfort a lie gave him right now. Then again who was he to judge maybe he was just on a mission. Remus rested his head on Sirius' shoulder and took a deep breath, "Wanna explain what he means by one week?"

"Get me a piece of parchment, let me answer him back. Then I'll tell you." once his request was met with a shaky hand he dipped his quill in the ink and began to write.

Dad,

I had a nightmare as well, I won't even ask what yours was about. I'm too scared to know if it's the same. But I'm sure he'll be fine, you know Reg. He's always up to some sort of danger. Just keep the light on for him, like I know your already doing. I'll write you if he comes here first. Don't worry I'll be safe, and I love you too.

~Sirius

Sirius wrapped up the piece of parchment and attached it to his father's owls leg and sent the bird away. His eyes were glazed over from unshed tears. He would not cry for a man who was still alive, there was no way Reg was dead. No way, not when they were so close to getting away.

"Sirius?"

"Hold on Rem…I just…need to breathe."

"Anything I can do?"

"Come here, hold me." Sirius' voice was still lined with fear as he spoke, arms wrapped himself quite like a shield before Remus came over and held in him the same embrace. "What my father meant by a week was the tree will know in a week."

"What do you mean?"

"The tree," Sirius chuckled, "the family tree, ya know the one in the drawing room?" REmus nodded, he'd been inside of Grimmauld place once. It was during their first year summer when Walburga wasn't home. And Sirius had showed him the large tree, of course it was hard to remember but he got the idea. "Well, when a Black is born they prick our finger and press a bit of our blood onto the tree, so they know we are…how does one put this inherited Black's. I mean of course it updates if a Black has a child, since their blood before them was on the tree. But it won't follow a child if their blood isn't put on the tree. And yes, stop giving me that look it's blood magic, which yes means it's dark magic." Remus nodded his head as he rubbed Sirius' back. "And…it takes it a week to notice a change, either in life or death. Marriage or whatever the case my be. Which is why when your disinherited your blown off the tree. Not because it's a disgrace but when you get disinherited no one wants to know what your up to or what happens to you. So…the way for the tree to know to forget you is well to…remove you."

"Sounds quite harsh." Remus sighed, "Sooo in a week, we'll know…"

"If it doesn't update in a week and Reg still hasn't shown head or hide my father will keep his eye on the tree till either he shows up…or well…you know." Sirius gulped as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"He'll be fine honey," Remus whispered before nuzzling his neck. "Come on, let's try and get some more sleep. You still have to work tomorrow." Sirius nodded and the two headed back to bed, though Sirius knew very well he wasn't getting anymore sleep that night.