Hello all! I'm sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I've got my stupid AS exams coming up so I've been busy worrying about them, especially my Philosophy exam!

Disclaimer: Blinks Ok fine. Idontownem.

Thoughts

Scene/time changes

Flashbacks

Oh and as anyone seen Forrest?

Remus watched the last of his students go and sighed. It had been a long week since Snape had brought Sirius back. James had refused to leave Sirius' bedside despite Madam Pomfrey's constant bugging. Remus and Peter had a hard enough time getting him to eat let alone get him out of the hospital wing; if they couldn't budge him then Madam Pomfrey had no chance.

Remus packed his papers into his briefcase and headed off to the hospital wing, stopping at the kitchens on the way. He entered the hospital wing as Madam Pomfrey had finished giving Sirius a check over. She tutted at James, saying that he should really get some proper rest. "He isn't going to disappear over night, Mr Potter!" she said in exasperation. "For heavens sake, go and rest for a while or I'll end up treating you as well."

James merely glared at her and folded his arms. Remus shook his head and smiled sympathetically at Madam Pomfrey as she walked past him to her office. "Any change, Prongs?"

He sighed and ran his fingers through his messy black hair. "Not so much as a twitch." he looked worriedly at his best his best friend. "He seems to be all right according to what Pomfrey said this morning"

Remus regarded his friends in concern. "I brought you some food, Prongs."

James smiled slightly. "Thanks Moony."

They sat in silence, Remus marking some fifth year essays and James eating his tea. Remus checked his watch and stretched. "Well I'd best be going to the Hall. Are you sure you won't come Prongs?"

James shook his head. "He'll be confused when he comes round. Might be a good idea to have me here for him."

Remus nodded and picked up his briefcase before bidding James goodnight. James sighed and watched him go. "Just us three again Trix my lad." Trix mewed and jumped onto James' lap. James stroked him, his thoughts on his unconscious friend before him. Wake up Padfoot, I miss you.

The hospital wing fell silent once more. As the night crept in, James fell asleep. Remus came by to check up on them, he smiled and shook his head when he saw that James had fallen asleep in his chair again. Remus levitated him onto a bed opposite Sirius and conjured up some blankets. Trix stretched and wound himself around Remus' ankles before jumping up onto James' bed, curing up at his feet. Remus smiled and left the peaceful.

The peacefulness was broken at around five in the morning when Sirius awoke with a jolt. He sat up suddenly, groaned and fell back against the pillows, blinking away the black spots that obscured his vision. He took a deep breath and sat up slowly, taking in his surroundings. Why am I in the hospital wing? He turned and saw James asleep in the bed opposite with Trix snoozing near his stomach. His smile slipped from his face as he remembered the events that happened a week previously. He groaned I need to go for a walk. He got out of his bed and shivered as the cold stone floor penetrated his bare feet. He hopped from foot to foot while he looked for his clothes. He spotted them folded up on a chair neatly. Quickly but silently, he walked across the flagstone floor and pulled on his socks, shoes and, after a moment of consideration, his jacket. He tiptoed out of the room to avoid waking James, who looked like he needed some rest, and to avoid Madam Pomfrey. Sirius winced at the memory of his various visits to the hospital wing, he certainly didn't want any of them repeated.

Sirius stopped dead in his tracks. Wait! Did I just remember something? He tried to recall it but all he got was a blurred collection of images, although he could make some of them out. Sirius frowned in thought. Hmmm. Maybe the hospital wing triggered it. Perhaps if I wander around I might remember a bit more. Sirius wandered around the castle, stopping every now and then to talk to a portrait and he had a long conversation with Sir Nick (as Sir Nicholas asked him to call him) about the history of the castle. Sirius stopped at the head of a flight of stairs that led down into a very dark looking dungeon, he was debating whether to go down and have a look when an oddly familiar voice called out his name from behind him. Sirius turned around to see a tall, black haired man hurrying towards him looking concerned.

"Sirius aren't you supposed to be in the Hospital wing? You still look a little pale." the man looked closer at him. "You're shivering. Come on, I'll take you down stairs. You can warm up there."

Sirius frowned. Should I go? He seems to know me, maybe I should. Besides, Remus once told me that no one can hurt me here. Sirius followed him downstairs to a portrait of a young blonde haired woman in a dark green dress and cloak. She looked up from her book as she heard them approach. She smiled. "Password?"

"Casu consulto." smiled the man.

The portrait opened. Sirius followed him in, hesitating at the doorway. It was pretty cosy for a dungeon. The walls were painted cream with the exception of one, which was painted a deep green. There was a large open fireplace, a kitchen with black granite surfaces, a black leather arm chair and a black leather sofa.

Severus frowned at Sirius who was looking around the room like he'd never seen it before in his life. "Sirius why are you standing there? Sit down before you fall down." He disappeared into the kitchen.

Sirius sat down on the edge of the sofa still gazing around the room. I'm sure I've been here before. He sat back quickly and closed his eyes as the dizziness overcame him. "Rus are you alright?" Sirius opened his eye to see the man looking over him in concern.

"Just a bit dizzy." He smiled reassuringly.

"Well I'm not surprised, you hit your head hard on the way down."

Oh! So that's why he's so familiar! "Thanks by the way."

Severus looked worried. "Rus, you're scaring me now." He's acting really out of character. "You must have hit your head hard, you're looking at me as though you've never seen me before!"

Sirius sighed. "I take it no one told you then?"

Sever leaned forward with a frown on his face. "Told me what?"

"That Voldemort obliviated me five years ago."

Several emotions flickered across Severus' face. Anger, pity, concern, hatred and despair. "So you don't remember me?" He whispered. "You seem to remember Potter." He added bitterly.

Sirius frowned. "I don't really remember him, it's all fuzzy. How did you know about me and James anyway."

"Lupin told me. The group have practically deteriorated since you were found . Potter hasn't left your side since and Pettigrew has suddenly become interested in his work. Only Lupin seems to be coping." He caught Sirius' downcast look. "Well at least you're back. I suppose I'll have to tell you about us."

Sirius smiled thankfully at the change of subject. He hated hearing about his friends' suffering because of him.

Severus folded his legs under him and drank a bit of his tea. "I'll start by saying that we're cousins, on your Father's side. My Mother was your Father's sister. Our friendship is a complicated one. My Mother and your Father got on well enough until we turned seven, they fell out over something and we stopped seeing each other. We did bump into one another a year later but our parents split us up again. You later told me that your Father threatened you with the Cruciatus curse if you ever talked to me again." He took another swig of his tea. "Anyway, we secretly met at Hogwarts on our first weekend and decided to pretend to hate each other but continue to meet up." Severus laughed. "It was your idea to get us into detention so that we'd have some time together."

Sirius frowned. "James and Peter don't seem to like you much. From what they've told me, we really despised each other. It didn't sound like an act to me."

"They don't know the truth, Rus. The less people you knew, the better, you told me."

Sirius smiled. "I sound like a tricky person."

Severus grinned. "To sum you up, you're loyal, sly, funny and caring. You just didn't want to get us killed. Very Gryffindor, but very Slytherin in how it was done."

Sirius placed his long legs on the table in front of him. "I've heard my school days from James, Remus and Peter, would you tell me your side?"

Severus grinned. "With pleasure."

Sirius listened to Severus recounting their school days. He laughed at some of the stories and found that he remembered some of the events that took place. By the time they had stopped talking, the sun had risen. Severus looked at the clock. "It's 8 o' clock! Time flies when you're having fun."

"Being in a dungeon doesn't help either, Sev."

Severus rolled his eyes and chose not to comment. "You'd best be getting back. I have classes to prepare for and I'm sure Potter has noticed your absence."

Sirius nodded and stood up, reluctant to leave. "You'd better come and see me!"

"When Potter's not around. Or you could escape his clutches and come here." Severus added, hopefully.

"Are you sure we can't tell them?"

Severus shook his head. "Not yet."

Sirius nodded and bade him goodbye before leaving. It was cold in the dungeon. Sirius pulled Severus' cloak further around him and set off back to the hospital wing. Said wing was in uproar when Sirius quietly slipped back in. James was having a rather loud argument with Madam Pomfrey.

"He can't have gone far, Mt Potter!" exclaimed Madam Pomfrey in exasperation.

James was pacing. "What if he's lost? What is he's blacked out again? What if Voldemort has him?" James sat back down and buried his head in his hands.

Sirius smiled at the concern of his friend. "Calm down, James, I'm right here. Honestly, you always overreact! Remember when I got knocked off my broom by that bludger in 6th year?"

James stared at Sirius wide eyed before pulling him into a brotherly hug, tears in his eyes. "You remembered!" he pulled back and looked him in the eye. "Do you remember the entire incident?"

Sirius nodded, looking confused. "I don't know how, though."

Madam Pomfrey broke up their reunion by dragging Sirius to his bed and giving him a medical check over, despite Sirius' protests. After concluding that he was alright , she made him drink an energy potion and said he was free to go.

James was, quite literally, bouncing with excitement with the news. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Prongs, just how much sugar have you had today?" he joked.

James laughed and slung his arm companionably around his shoulders. "I'm just happy you remembered something!" Sirius straightened the robes he had just changed into and grinned at James' back. "We have to tell Moony!"

Sirius poked James in the back, causing him to jump and hit him on the arm. "Lead the way, Prongs"

James led Sirius through a maze of corridors, chattering excitedly and pointing out various parts of the old castle. Sirius laughed. I don't think I've seen Prongs this excited since Lily said yes when he asked her out! They entered Remus' rooms to find the lycanthrope asleep with his head in one of his defence books. Sirius smiled Typical Moony. James grinned at him and snuck up to Remus as quietly as he could. He had just reached Remus' ear when he said, "Don't even consider it."

James scowled. "Was I that loud?"

Remus grinned and stretched. "I could hear you coming a mile off." James muttered something under his breath about werewolf senses, causing Remus to laugh. He looked up and saw Sirius opposite him, smiling. "Sirius?" Sirius smiled even more. Remus stood up and pulled him into a brotherly hug. He pulled back and held him at arms length. "When did you wake up? Are you sure you should be out of the hospital wing?"

Sirius smiled and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I woke up earlier this morning. Madam Pomfrey knows I'm out, she said I was fine to go. Relax, Moony ."

Remus started. "You just called me Moony!" He looked over at James, who grinned.

"He's remembering, Moony."

Remus smiled. "We have to tell Dumbledore." He frowned as some of his students came in. He looked at his watch and sighed.

James patted Remus' shoulder. "We'll go now and tell you what was said at dinner, ok?" Remus nodded reluctantly. "Ok, come on Padfoot." He left the room with Sirius in tow. Remus sighed and shook his head. He clapped his hands for the class' attention and began his lesson.

Sirius and James talked happily on their way to Dumbledore's office. They stopped before the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office and James said the password. "Malteasers." The gargoyle sprang aside to let them enter.

Dumbledore looked up from his paperwork and smiled, not at all surprised to see them. "Ah. It is good to see you again, Sirius."

"Albus, we come with good news." Said James in excitement.

Dumbledore raised a silver eyebrow in question. "I've started remembering." Answered Sirius with a smile.

Dumbledore nodded. "I had expected them to return but not so soon." He packed away his paperwork and motioned for them to take a seat. "I won't keep you long." They looked at him in question. Dumbledore sighed and polished his half moon glasses with his blue robes before placing them back on the end of his nose. "Glad as I am that your memories are returning, Sirius, I'm afraid I shall have to keep you in the castle." Sirius opened his mouth to argue but Dumbledore held up his hand. "Lord Voldemort is most desperate to get you back and I think it would be in your best interests to stay here."

Sirius took a deep breath and counted to ten to keep his temper. "Ok I'll stay put, but I think I should go through Auror training again. I'm a bit rusty."

"I'm sure Remus, Peter and myself could help out there. We'll have you fighting like you used to in no time!"

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Then it is settled." Sirius and James headed to the door. "James." He turned around to face Dumbledore. "Don't blow anything up." James grinned and followed Sirius out of the office.

Ripple street.

Malfoy scowled and wrapped his black cloak around him. This entire expedition was a waste of time and he was cold. Malfoy's didn't stand on street corners waiting for two muggles to return home. What was so special about Sirius Black anyway? Well it had better be very important to warrant me standing on a street corner at dawn with Bellatrix Lestrange for company. Thought Lucius Malfoy bitterly. He glared at Lestrange when she nudged him and looked to where she was pointing. A smiled crept over his face. A green rover had parked on the kerb of number eighty, the house they had been observing. A man and a woman got out of the car. Malfoy and Lestrange watched as they paid the driver and lugged their luggage up to the house. They waited until the street was deserted once more before drawing out their wands and entering the house.

Two more chapters to go folks! I am having a little trouble with what to put into the epilogue thought. Could you guys send in some ideas? It'd really help! Loz and I (Beta reader) have no idea what to put in it, so any ideas would be very welcome!

I'll get started on the next chapter!

Please review!

Nooka