A/N: And I'm back…wow, I can't believe it's been two years since my last update…THAT IS SOOOO BAD AND I'M SOOO SORRY, honestly, I could go on and on about how my computer was busted, and my internet didn't work (which actually happened), but that wouldn't even begin to make up for the long wait you had to endure…HOWEVER, I've got GOOD NEWS, I'm almost done the story, I just have one more chapter which I'm almost finished, so I can post it either later tonight or tomorrow Isn't that great!…Anyways, I made this chapter as long as I could without finishing off the story, and I hope you all like it, thanks for sticking with me this whole time, and thanks to all my reviewers, they do really help you know! Oh and I'm not sure if some of the things said are true or not, so just go with

Disclaimer: I don't won Harry Potter characters or anything in any way shape or form.

Sirius couldn't figure out what had woken him as he slowly opened his eyes. Judging by the shadows being cast on his wall, he decided that it was just after 6 a.m. Groaning, he attempted to fall back asleep when a persistent tapping on the window started up again. Cursing silently he turned over and looked at the window, and there was a tawny brown owl hovering there. Sirius jumped out of bed and went over to it, took the letter and set it loose again outside. Recognizing the writing as Remus' he quickly tore the letter open and began to read.

Sirius,

You won't believe what's happened, James…I mean his house…. uh…his family. Ah forget it. Here's a copy of the Daily Prophet. Page 3…. READ IT SIRUIS!

Remus

Sirius grabbed the attached daily prophet, turned to page 3 and nearly passed out on the floor. The page showed James' house, or what was left of it. The house was in ruins. Smoke rose from the smouldering ashes, and there, in the background was James. He didn't move, even though he was supposed to. Sirius, having known James for years, knew he had hidden himself in the back of his mind, ignoring all the pain he felt. Sirius sighed. It would take everything he and Remus had to bring him back to the reality, and it wouldn't be an easy task. That was when another thought occurred to him, where was James? He quickly scanned the paper, but all that he could find was that a respected wizard family had taken James in. That could be anyone! Sighing again, he scribbled a note to Remus saying he was on his way over then grabbed his suitcase and ran downstairs.

"I'm going out!" Sirius yelled into the kitchen as he made his way to the fireplace. Immediately his parents emerged, and ran after him. "Where're you going!" demanded his mother.

"Out!" Sirius yelled over his shoulder knowing that if he told them who's house he was going to it would just start another yelling match. He threw Floo Powder into the fireplace he had just reached.

"Sirius Black, you tell us where you're going right now or…"

But Sirius never heard the last part because he had already stepped into the fireplace and disappeared in a flash of emerald flames. He spun around and around until he finally fell out at his destination, flat on his face.

"I'm going to have to teach how to exit a fireplace properly one day!" a voice he recognized as Remus' laughed. Remus bent down and helped Sirius up.

Sirius just groaned as he was dusted off and helped into a room.

"You can open your eyes now," Remus laughed again as he noticed Sirius' eyes still tightly shut.

Slowly easing his eyes open, Sirius looked at Remus and said, "When can we get our disapperating license again?"

"Just one more year Sirius." Remus laughed again, sat back down and picked up his book.

"What'cha reading Remus?" Sirius asked, trying his hardest to avoid the real reason he had come.

"Our new charms book," Remus replied, "Did you know that a silencing charm has to be recast every 48 hours?"

"Yeah…real interesting." Sirius said sarcastically. "So you done all your shopping then?"

"Just have to get some new robes for school, then I'm all done, want to come?"

"Yeah, sure!" Sirius answered.

They went to Diagon Alley and ended up spending the whole day together, without once mentioning James. However as the day came to an end, the real reason for why they had met came up.

"So," Sirius started. "What're we going to do about James?"

"I don't think there's anything we can do Sirius?" "I've read and reread the story in the paper, but there's no clues as to what happened to him. Only that he's now living with a respected wizard family."

"But we don't know where hi is, and it's not like him to not write, especially if he moved. You know he wouldn't leave us in the dark like this!"

"Maybe he got so caught up on moving in he hasn't had a chance?" Remus speculated.

"C'mon Remus," Sirius yelled, standing up and beginning to pace, "You know James isn't as careless as that!" He began to calm himself down, and looked up, "I'm sorry. It's just that I have a bad feeling that he's…not ok."

"Really?" Remus asked standing up with a frown on his face. Sirius and James were closer than brothers, and it was common knowledge that when one had a strong feeling, the other felt it as well. "What're you feeling?"

"I don't know. It's like feelings of fear, dread and despair. Maybe it's just my own anxiety!"

Remus sighed, "Well Sirius, if you're convinced James needs help, then we will find him!"

They looked at each other and smiled.

James looked up as the door opened and light shone in. He quickly hid his eyes because the light made them burn. "Have I really been in the dark that long?" james thought. Recognizing the footsteps on the stairs as Mr. Black's, James desperately tried to drag his broken body somewhere to hide. However, his body refused to do what he requested and he cried out as his back burned with pain. Suddenly out of nowhere, a foot connected with his stomach and forcing him onto his back. James let out a gasp as both his back and abdonmen.

"Trying to hide are you boy?" Mr. Black sneered at him. "You know what that tells me? Tells me you have too much energy!"

"No," James whispered quietly as he realized what was going to happen. Once again he tried to get up and scramble for the still pen door. Mr. Black laughed at his pathetic struggles. When James's hand was on the door frame, he rushed past him and slammed the door. James had no time to movie his fingers and immediately felt his bones break. Screaming, he desperately pulled the out, which caused him more pain as the blood rushed to the tips and they began to bruise. Mr. Black grabbed him by the hair and pulled him back down the stairs. Whimpering, James cradled his hands to his body. Smiling, Mr. Black opened the door and left.

As Sirius entered the house, he heard a door slam and a muffled sound. Curious, he quickly removed his cloak and shoes and walked around the corner. He saw his dad coming out of the basement looking pleased with himself.

"What're you doing?" Sirius asked. Looking up startled, Mr. Black said "What're you doing here?"

"Uh…I live here," Sirius said sarcastically.

Mr. Black just walked past him into the kitchen. Turning back to the basement door, Sirius took a few hesitant steps toward it. Whatever his dad was doing down there was making him happy, and when his dad was happy, Sirius knew that something was wrong. Just as he was about to reach then handle,

"Sirius! Come here now!"

"Coming!" he called back and quickly hurried away.

James was still cradling his fingers when he heard Sirius' voice. "Coming!"

He sat up, and again tried to call to his best friend., but all that came out was a soft whisper. Groaning quietly, he rolled over onto his back and began coming up with a way to get out. He came the conclusion that the only way out was the door at the top of the stairs. He pulled his aching body across the floor, and he made his way up the stairs towards the door. Pain erupted in his back and fingers every time he moved, but he ignored the pain and finally reached the door. Not being able to sit up more than a few inches, he stretched his arm up toward the handle and turned it.

"NO!" he screamed, "NO NO NO!" James began to cry as he realized the door was locked. As he let go of the handle, he let himself fall back down the stairs, and lost all hope.

Sirius couldn't wrap his head around what had just happened. His mother had called him into the kitchen, and yet denied ever doing it when he came.

"Why?" Sirius wondered. He was aware of the looks his "family" had been giving him that day. The smug ones that said "I know something you don't". The one thing Sirius did not like was when he didn't know what his family was up to, because that meant trouble. He was interrupted from his thoughts however as a brown owl flew through the window and landed beside him. Taking the note that was attached to his leg, he tore it open and read it's contents.

Sirius,

I've talked to a friend of mine that works at the ministry, and although he didn't know where James is, he did know that he'd been taken somewhere in your vicinity. I'll be over as soon as I can and we'll start looking.

Remus

Sirius read and re-read the letter not believing his eyes. He lived in a secluded part of town, and if James was in it, then it wouldn't take them that long to look. With new hope, Sirius fell back on his bed and fell asleep.

James woke flat on his back and staring at the ceiling. He couldn't remember how he got into this position until he slowly lifted his head and saw the stairs, and realized he had fallen down them. He started to asses his injuries as he lay there. His back was on fire, fingers were throbbing and he was way to thin from lack of nourishment. James was about to try and sit up when the door opened and once again Mr. Black came down the stairs. Because James could actually open his eyes, he figured the sun must've gone down and it was night time. Mr. Black walked menacingly down the stairs and stood above James looking down at him. James stared up at him, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Well James…" Mr. Black sneered, "It's been fun, but now it's time to end this. Sirius is becoming suspicious, and soon people are going to be wondering about your absence…so lets end this long and painfully." And then James saw the smoking goblet that Mr. Black had kept hidden through his whole spiel. Suddenly very afraid, James tried to bolt, but Mr. Black was quicker and grabbed him before he got two inches. He sat on him and began to force the vile liquid down his throat. James was waiting for a chance to spit it out, when Mr. Black covered his nose and mouth, forcing James to swallow. When the liquid was gone, Mr. Black got up and left the room, locking the door behind him. For a few minutes James just lay there, breathing and wondering what he was just forced to ingest. He didn't have to wait long. Very slowly he began to get a burning feeling that ran all throughout his body. His pulse and breathing began to increase as the feeling began to get more and more intense. Pretty soon it felt like he was burning from the inside out. As his heart hammered in his chest and he could barely get enough air, he began screaming.

Sirius awoke with the worst feeling he'd ever had. He felt sick to his stomach and he was sweating. Shaking the last bits of sleep off, he got out of bed and went down to the kitchen to get himself a drink. As he passed the basement he heard a faint sound, like a painful cry. Curious, he looked around for his parents, and not seeing anyone he crept to the door, unlocked it and slipped inside.

There it is…all done the chapter…one more to go and I promise it'll be up soon….hang tight, and after this story is done, I'm going to make a chapter to all my faithful reviewers…

Frodo1512