Groaning, Sirius came around slowly, pain exploding over his body, causing spots to dance behind his closed lids. He crawled back in within himself, his mind trying to drift off again to the dark place without pain, but there was too much noise.

A strange rushing noise was filling his ears, which made it impossible to focus on any one particular sound. To find out where he was, he'd have to use his eyes.

One eye cracked open, revealing darkness. Sirius panicked. His other eye flew open, revealing the bright orange of a haloed light. He immediately closed his eyes. Shapes had been seen moving away from him in that light.

They brought back a rush of memories. Images coalescing behind his lids, made him want to cry out. He knew he wasn't where he had been knocked over. He couldn't feel the road beneath his body. He was also naked, a light breeze chilling him, causing his hair to dry to his sweat covered forehead.

He waited, shivering slightly, his eyes now wide open. Shock was coursing through his body. He drew his knees up slowly into his chest, pain lancing through him, his eyes wild and un-seeing.

He didn't know how long he stayed lying there before a small voice in his brain told him he needed to get up, move away from the place before his whole body gave up entirely and he faded without return.

Uncurling his knees from his chest, he stretched his legs, so as to make it easier to get to his feet. Pain lanced up from a dull ache in his lower stomach and abdominal region. He sucked air in through his clamped teeth, moving slowly.

When he was eventually on his feet, he glanced around the dark alleyway, searching for any sign of his clothes.

A ripped bit of cloth caught his attention. He staggered over to it, every movement a searing pain in his body, causing stars to wink before his eyes. He had to pause quite a lot, stumbling a few steps at a time, not wanting to over do it and black out.

All that remained of his shirt was a thin piece of material. Sighing, he lowered himself to the floor, regaining the little strength he had lost moving to the cloth. He held a hand up, a tremor running through his arm. He took a few deep breaths and then made his mind up.

Willing it to happen with the last dregs of concentration, he took on the form of his animagi form. His head hanging, he sniffed to find out where he was.

A smell hit his senses which brought a flood of memories back. Sweat, blood and other unsavoury scents were upon the air. His body shivering, he took a few steps away, a slow whine escaping his throat, eerily echoing around the dark alleyway he was in.

He moved slowly up towards the glow of streetlights. The pain lessened considerably in the form of a dog, he was able to move the speed up to a slow trot.

Following the road along, he soon gained his senses and deciphered whereabouts he was. The equivalent of a dog sigh left his body in relief, as he turned a corner and saw the same shop where he had been admiring the outfit not long ago.

He hung his head again, following the well lit areas of the town passing more shops with the show lights on advertising their wares. Christmas lights hung upon the street lights, fake snow decorating the windows of shops and some of the houses scattered throughout the town.

Turning, he raised his head to see his own house looming up. Decorated up in its own decorations for Christmas, it looked to him like a safe haven and was a more than welcome sight.

On reaching the steps to the door, he clambered up them, before turning back into a man, after a quick glance around the square. He glanced up at the windows, noticing a glow in Regulus' room, as he leant heavily against the door.

Raising a fist, he pounded on the dark oak wood, not stopping until he heard Regulus' voice echoing down the stairs, sounding annoyed and slightly breathless. The lock clicked and the door swung open, spilling the weakened Sirius in through it and onto the floor. After feeling carpet under his still naked form, he pulled his knees into himself again, his eyes screwing shut.

Regulus stood in shocked surprise, the door still held loosely in his hand. A whimper from his older brother spurred him to action.

Slamming the door closed, he yelled at the top of his lungs for James to come downstairs.

The pounding of feet on the stairs announced James' arrival. A sharp intake of breath showed that he had seen Sirius. He was by his friend's side in a matter of seconds.

"Sirius, mate? What's happened? Where does it hurt?"

James had to lean in to hear Sirius' answer, not noticing Regulus' retreating feet into the living room.

"Everywhere…it hurts everywhere…"

James glanced up as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Regulus was holding a blanket out, worry etching his face.

"I'm going to get in touch with our older brother…get him into the living room. Keep him warm. I'll get him something to drink as well…"

He paused, his eyes straying to where his brother lay shivering on the floor, a pathetic bundle which needed looking after. Pushing the blanket to James' hands, he spun on his heels, moving to the fire place in the kitchen.

His gaze swept around the room, searching for a small pot, which he found haphazardly balanced on the dresser, about to fall off at the slightest nudge. Diving across the room, his fingers clutched at the small pot, flipping the lid off, before turning to face the fire.

Digging his fingers into the green powder within the pot, he took a small amount and through it into the flames of the fire. It glittered as it fell, before exploding into bright green flames.

Biting his lip, Regulus moved forward quickly, acting now before his pride got in the way of what he knew he had to do.

Stepping into the fireplace, he braced himself and said, loudly and clearly,

"Black residence, Scotland, North Moors."

He shut his eyes tight, feeling the whirling begin, his body cramped into the tiny space. Cracking an eye open, he saw fireplaces whirling past. Flashes of rooms and people flashed by, until he felt himself slowing down considerably. Opening his eyes fully, he put his hands out, palms down as he toppled out the fire place, still not having quite fully mastered the art of staying standing when leaving them.

He emerged in a room lavishly decorated up for Christmas. A huge tree stood in the corner, towering at a huge height of 6ft or more. Baubles of an assortment of colours covered it with lots of tinsel wrapped around its branches right to the top where it had a huge intricately cut porcelain doll as an angel. Chocolates and biscuits in all sorts of Christmassy shapes were hung from the branches.

Glancing around the room, Regulus saw a dining table which looked as though it could seat around ten to fifteen people was set in the centre of the room, surrounded by dark wooded chairs fitted with plush and comfy looking cushions.

Paper chains hung from the corners of the ceiling and fairy lights twinkled from around the windows. Real live fairies also fluttered around the room, coming to rest occasionally on the backs of chairs, their light tinkling laughter causing the hairs on the back of Regulus' neck to stand on end slightly.

As Regulus stood in silence, a burst of raucous laughter and someone raising their voice in a loud song reached his ears. It broke through the reverie of the Christmas tree and the decorated room. Spinning quickly, he ran through the room, making his way to the sound of the voices, pushing through the door on the opposite side of the room.

He came out into a big corridor decorated with dark wood panelling. Old looking doors led off into more rooms and a large sweeping staircase could be seen in the shadows from one end of the corridor. Glancing down the other way, he saw a slither of light from under one of the doors.

Pounding up the corridor, his hand wrenched the handle down, tumbling into the room, his eyes flying wildly around the room.

Three men were sat in big, comfy looking armchairs, a woman draped across each of them. Regulus, not having the time to feel guilty or embarrassed ground out, stiffly,

"Orion, its Sirius. Something's happened. He's pretty beat up. I…um…need your…"

His voice tailed off. He glanced up beseechingly towards his brother, not wanting to say the words.

Orion pushed the woman off of him, instantly looking worried. He ran a hand through his shoulder length, slightly curly black hair. His chocolate brown gaze was trained on Regulus.

"Where is he?" He turned back to his guests, looking apologetically at them all before continuing. "I'm really sorry about this. Use the house as though it's your own O.K? Just don't make too much of a mess, please?"

Without waiting for a reply, he swept up to his brother, catching his arm in his stronger grip, propelling him out the door, shooting him a harassed look before snapping,

"I thought you didn't need me? You'd got Sirius…why bother with me?"

Regulus had been expecting this. He whipped around, glaring down his nose at his slightly shorter, yet stockier and much more muscular brother.

"He needs you. I know how much he looks up to you."

He stared his brother down, Orion eventually looking away at the ferocity of his brother's gaze. Sighing, he shook his head.

Regulus' gaze narrowed.

"You're going to leave him? I'm swallowing my pride to get you to him. Either you'll go or you won't, but he'd do it for you. I hope you can live with yourself after leaving him to cope. He really is beat up badly. It looks like he's been…well you'll see."

Without waiting for a reply Regulus strode though the house again, back to the fireplace in the dining room. He turned and looked questioningly at Orion as to the whereabouts of his floo powder.

He rolled his eyes and moved to the fireplace, reaching to a small pot beside it. Reaching in, he cast some within the flames.

"Go."

Regulus stepped into the flames and said the name of Sirius' house, the dizzying feeling causing him to again scrunch his eyes up.

Landing on his face in Sirius' kitchen, he quickly climbed to his feet, brushing his clothes down, waiting impatiently for Orion to arrive. He didn't have to wait long, watching jealously as his brother stepped calmly and easily from the fireplace, glancing around lazily at the general disorder.

"So like Sirius…mess everywhere. Where is he then?"

Regulus lead the way to the living room, pushing the door open, revealing the room full of plush chairs and a comfy looking sofa. The fire was roaring brightly, comfy warmth filling the room, flickering and setting the shadows to dancing across the cream carpet and deep red walls.

James and Sirius were sat on the settee. Regulus was pleased to see that Sirius was at least dressed now and was looking a little less uptight, but he still had the same wild eyed look he had had in his eye when he had first tumbled through the door.

Orion pushed through the door last, banging it against the wall as he did so. He immediately regretted it after seeing his younger brother jump violently and look around the room as though he was about to be set upon.

He closed the door quietly, moving silently up to his brother, a slow smile pulling at his features as he said, reaching a hand out to catch Sirius' arm.

"Hey there bro. What's happened to you?"

Looking a little closer, he saw that the quick movement had done more to his brother than he was letting on. He was extremely pale and was swaying slightly on the spot, looking as though he was about to faint at any moment.

"Sirius?"

Eyes glanced his way, but they didn't show any recognition as to who he was. Frowning, Orion glanced to James.

"Has he said anything?"

James shook his head, also watching his friend.

"All he's done is get dressed, with my help. And then he's wanted to sit on there with me. He doesn't want me to leave him alone. Whenever I got up to go make him a drink, he'd try to get up as well. But I do know he's in pain. Lower abdominal region…or…somewhere like that."

He flushed slightly and moved across to his friend, pulling him back to the sofa. Sirius followed without complaint, settling himself back on the soft cushions, his eyes fixed on the flickering flames of the fire.

Regulus moved further into the room, also staring into the flames, dropping down onto one of the chairs, his eyes flickering to James and then back again.

His eyes roving across all the three brothers, James was struck with just how alike the three of them were. All had tanned, olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes and were all incredibly handsome. He focussed his attention on the youngest of them, biting his lip slightly as emotions flooded through him.

Standing up, he stretched, popping a kink in his back.

"I'll get everyone a drink shall I? What do you want?"

Orion shrugged, his eyes still trained on his brother, looking thoughtful. His hands were playing with the sleeves of the shirt he was wearing.

"Whatever's going."

Regulus sighed heavily and nodded.

"Same."

James left the room, leaving the three brothers alone together. Sirius suddenly pulled his gaze from the fire and stared straight at Orion. The emotion shining through his eyes was enough to make him see that something was seriously wrong.

"Sirius?"

He uncurled from the settee, nodding slightly. He needed to pull himself from the memories and not bear the weight alone. Who better to tell than Orion? His eyes still focussed on Orion's, he whispered, his voice hoarse from earlier screaming and crying.

"They caught me…"

Told you the next chapter would be up soon. This one is slightly more angsty, but there will be some decent smut and fluff in the next few chapters. Orion Black is a made up character and, unfortunately I don't own any of the other characters. Keep reviewing and I'll keep writing. Got a bit of free time at the moment, so will try and get the next few chapters written as soon as possible. Thanks for everyone who has reviewed so far and please do keep doing so. Cheers again. Lauren : )