Disclaimer: I don't own anything. The characters belong to JK Rowling and Warner Bros.

Part 3

A/N Yeah, so, it kinda changes to MM/RL and MM/SB, but its still MM/SS

Remus motioned towards Snape. "Snape, I'm going to need to speak to you in the hall."

Snape stood up slowly, glancing back at Minerva and Sirius, who gave Remus a nervous glance.

"Sirius, you stay with her, we'll be right back."

Severus followed Remus out into the hall, staring at him, a look of concern etched across his face. "What is it?" He asked solomely.

"I've seen this before, and it's not good," Remus said in a hushed, concerned voice. "She's just going to get worse...she's been...she's..."

"Oh for Merlin sakes spit it out!" Snape spat impatiently.

"Well, she' sort of been possessed, but not really. She's been touched by something dark, and now it's lingering within her, making her ill. It's like an infection that spreads, which is why she'll get worse.

"She's been acting as though something is after her, trying to hurt her. She seem's terrified. I was awoken by her screaming. When i burst into the room- there was Sirius trying to restrain her--Merlin, I thought he was trying to kill her himself." Severus explained.

Remus head jerked up at Snape's comment, and he slowly regained his composure, nodding. "Yes, hallucinations are common, there is no actual demon possessing her, but the remnants of what it left behind."

"She seems relatively sane at the moment," Snape noted.

"Yes, attacks come and go. I need a potion from you, i believe its called, moon...moon--"

"Moonflower?"

"Thats the one"

"That takes three days to brew! What can we do for her during that time, will, will she be okay?" Snape asked, narrowing his eyes.

After a period of silence he spoke. "Yes, eventually. But during the course of three days she's going completley lose control of what is reality. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor. "It's going to be rough on her, really rough. I hope she can take it, shes not so young you know."

Snape swallowed hard, glancing back into the room at Minerva and Sirius. Minerva was sleeping for the moment, tucked in under the covers; Sirius in the chair beside the bed, watching her intently. Severus couldn't stand the thought of losing Minerva, she meant a lot to him and he cared for her.

He remembered that awful day during his 5th year, when Black and Potter had tormented him, his worst memory. He had wanted to go to her for help, he felt he could talk to her, she would listin. But he never did, something he regretted.

He turned back towards Remus. "I'll get on the potion," was all he said as he darted down the hall, his dark robes billowing behind him, on his way to Hogwarts.

Remus re-entered the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He quietly explained everything to a worried Sirius.

"We're going to have to really take care of her, or she won't make it. Snape is brewing a potion at Hogwarts, but it will take three days."

He reached his arm out and gently stroked Minerva's brow. "Oh Minerva, I'm so sorry this had to happen to you."

We'll take care of you," he whispered.

The night slowly dwindled on, and Minerva slept, without event. Remus and Lupin took turns sleeping once in awhile, but most of the time neither could sleep, each filled with worry.

Lupin was just drifting off to sleep when a choking gasp startled him. He sat up, alarmed.

Minerva was sitting upright, her eyes bulging, her hands at her throat.

"Re-mmus...Reemuuss...I -- can't -- breathe," was all she could gasp.

"Sirius!" Remus's panicked voice echoed throughout the room. Sirius opened his eyes, jumping up, grasping the situation quickly.

Minerva streched out her shaky arms towards Remus, as if asking to be embraced. He took her hands in his and sat behind her.

"Minerva, you can breathe. This isn't real--you've been touched by a dark demon, and it's left you with hallucinations. You're imagining this. I know it seems very real--but it's not--just believe it's not real and you'll be able to breathe."

"Remus, MERLIN, are you sure it's not real? Shes DYING!" Sirius cried, terror etched across his face.

"Yes...it's not real. WE have to believe it's not real--or she'll die," he said the last words solomely.

Minerva now had tears pouring town her face, her eyes were full of terror, as she clutched Remus's hands so tightly she drew blood.

"Shh-shh -- Minerva, lean back against me. Feel my chest rise and fall with every breath I take." He wrapped an arm around her and placed a hand on her chest.

He took in a deep breath and slowly released it. "See, I can feel your chest rise as I breathe, you're breathing with me," he whispered softly in her ear.

Minerva arched her back and neck, gasping...choking...trying to find air. Her fingers were intertwined with Remus's, to tightly that his were turning blue. A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped down onto Remus's own cheek. He could feel emotion building up inside up him. He was ready to burst. He couldn't stand having this poor women who he cared about immensly in pain. His own eyes were overflowing with tears and were begining to spill down his cheeks.

"I know darling, it hurts, just hang on, it will be over soon. Remember, you're breathing with me, I can feel you breathing." He soothed, trying to keep his voice even.

Minerva could feel his chest rise under her, but she couldn't take in any air of her own. Please she thought, Let this be over. Her world was begining to fade to black. This isn't real she thought, I can breath, I'm breathing with Remus.

Suddenly a loud cry erruptted from her throat. "REMUS!" She screamed. "Remus, I'm dying..." Her voice trailed off, and she realized that she was indeed breathing.

Her body went limp against Remus's- she could here her own ragged breaths.

A look of relief flushed across Sirius's face, who had been standing at bay. "Oh Minerva, I thought I was going to loose you," he cried. He crawled onto the bed, and for the first time that night, pulled Minerva into a bone-crushing, protective embrace. He cradled her in his arms and rocked her gently back and fourth. He had been so worried about and overwhelmed. It felt so good just to hold and protect her.

Minerva reached her arm up and touched his face, running her fingers through his ragged hair. "I'll be okay," she whispered hoarsely.

"Don't try to talk, you're too exhausted, just sleep. I'm here, I won't let go of you." He settled back against the headboard and shut his eyes briefly. He too was exhausted.

"That was too hard," Minerva whispered. "There's going to be more, isn't there?"

"I know" Remus said. "But we'll be here with you. Just sleep."

"Remus?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you"