Sirius stood in the kitchen singing along to a tune on the muggle radio that rested on the nearby shelf. As he sung he made some creative changes to the lyrics.

And here's to you, Ms. McGonagall.

Jesus loves you more than you will know.

God bless you, please Ms. McGonagall.

Heaven holds a place for those who pray.

Hey, hey, hey

He ended the verse with a spin on his toes before returning to spreading jam on his toast.

"Anyone would think Sirius had a crush on the teacher."

Sirius whirled around to face Remus Lupin who was grinning at him from the doorway.

"I do not!" Sirius protested though there was no real point denying it if Remus had heard him singing.

"Of course not," Remus scoffed, "That's why you're singing about her."

Sirius glared at him and took a large bite from his toast so he wouldn't have to speak.

"Honestly Sirius I never would have thought you would fall for Minerva McGonagall," Remus said sitting at the kitchen table, "She's stern and serious and you're…"

"A marauder?" Sirius said helpfully through a mouthful of toast, butter and jam.

"Exactly."

Sirius shrugged his shoulders as he leant against the kitchen bench and stared at the floor. "I can't get her out of my head Moony," he said softly, "It's killing me."

Remus looked at him incredulously with his mouth open slightly. "You've completely fallen for her," he said in astonishment.

Sirius nodded glumly and opened his mouth to speak when there was the sound of frenzied knocking at the door. Sirius and Remus looked at each other in alarm before Sirius bolted from the kitchen and hastened the answer the door. He opened it quickly and a tabby cat with spectacle markings sprinted inside and hurtled toward the living room.

"That's Minerva," Sirius said dashing after the feline who had disappeared around the corner and out of sight.

Sirius skidded into the living room to find Minerva breathing heavily in the centre of the room. She was wet from the rain which was lashing the windows and her skin was covered in a thin film of water. She reached up and began to wring out her hair with the composure that defined her.

"Minerva," Sirius said coming to an abrupt halt in front of her, "Why are you here and not at the school?"

She snarled and Sirius took a step backwards as her eyes flashed alarmingly. She raised an elegant hand and rubbed the bridge of her nose before she gripped her glasses and hurled them with considerable force at the wall where they shattered into small pieces. He had seen Minerva angry on several occasions but never like this. Gone was the unflappable Professor McGonagall to be replaced with a woman who looked about with pure fury bursting from her emerald eyes. It was in all honestly quite an erotic sight to behold.

"That woman," she hissed angrily through clenched teeth, "If I didn't get out of there I was going to kill her and the last thing anyone needs is me being sent to Azkaban."

She broke off her tirade and fell heavily onto the couch and crossed her legs. Water dripped from her hair and down her back soaking her already damp robes. Sirius quickly cast a drying charm and she gave him a grateful smile as she stretched out on the sofa arching her back in a manner reminiscent of her animagus form.

"Minerva why are you here of all places?" Remus asked sitting opposite her and summoning a bottle of firewhiskey from the shelf amd pouring three glasses.

"Well it was here or I'd have to keep Severus company in the dungeons," she said with a small grin as she took the proffered whiskey from Remus and sipped it gratefully.

Sirius laughed loudly, "I can understand why you came here."

Minerva raised her dark eyebrows and gave him a piercing look which made Sirius feel as if he were being X-rayed. "Indeed," she said finally tucking her legs beneath herself, "And how is the dancing going Remus?"

Remus flushed and swirled the amber liquid in the crystal glass absent-mindedly. "It's not," he said finally.

"Why not?" Minerva asked downing the remaining whiskey and placing the tumbler on the coffee table.

"I have no dancing partner," Remus said to his feet.

Minerva's mouth twitched before she gave a wide yawn which she quickly covered with one hand. "I would help you Remus but I am too tired at the moment."

"Do you want to stay tonight?" Sirius asked.

Minerva gave a sleepy nod. "I'll just curl up here," she said wriggling into the sofa and closing her eyes.

"No you won't," Sirius said firmly striding forward and pulling her to her feet, "You will be sleeping in a normal bed."

"Sirius," Minerva said curtly, "I assure you I am perfectly alright."

Sirius wasn't listening as he steered her upstairs to one of the spare bedrooms. "Get in there; transfigure yourself some pyjamas and get a good nights sleep," he said pushing her inside the darkened room.

Minerva turned at the entrance and gave him a small smile. "Thank you Sirius," she said softly, "I just needed to get out."

Sirius shook his head and placed a silencing finger on her lips. "It's quite alright Minerva. Now get some rest."

She nodded tiredly and walked into the darkened room closing the door gently behind her. Sirius stood for several moments outside her door before coming to his senses and walking back downstairs.

"She's exhausted," Remus said the instant Sirius re-emerged into the living room, "And she's lost an awful amount of weight."

Sirius nodded as he sat down and poured himself a generous shot of whiskey; he too had noticed that Minerva's already slim frame had almost wasted away. "She's running herself ragged."

"And Dolores Umbridge will be doing everything in her power to ensure that," Remus said angrily.

Sirius sighed deeply as he sipped the bitter tasting liquid; he was well aware of what Dolores Umbridge was capable of. "At least she realised that and came here."

Remus gave him a sly glance. "Don't get any ideas."

Sirius glared at him and rose to his feet and stalked back into the kitchen leaving Remus alone in the living room. He flicked the kettle on to give himself something to do and sat at the table tracing the carvings in the heavy oak. Minerva looked so different from when he had held her in his arms in this same kitchen. Then she had been healthy and vibrant but now her cheeks were sunken and she looked, for the first time he had known her, fragile. He ran a hand through his hair irritably as a stray lock fell into his eyes.

"Are you making tea?"

Sirius glanced up to find Minerva standing at the door smiling tiredly.

"You should be in bed," Sirius said in a reproving tone.

"I can't sleep," Minerva said walking into the kitchen and sitting across the table from him. She stifled a yawn behind her hand and Sirius gave a small smile.

"If I make you tea will you go to bed?"

She nodded tiredly and Sirius dutifully waved his wand and conjured a steaming cup in front of her.

"Thank you," she said reaching for the cup and holding it close to her before drawing it to her lips.

Sirius brushed her thanks away and they fell silent until Minerva had drained the cup.

"Well I'll go up now," she said rising to her feet.

She swayed slightly and Sirius was at her side in an instant supporting her.

"I'm fine," she said batting his hand away irritably.

Sirius didn't release his grip and she relented and leant heavily against him as he all-but-carried her up the stairs.

"Thank you," she said as once again they stood at the entry to the spare bedroom.

"Not at all," Sirius said feeling absurdly gallant as she yawned widely.

"Night."

Minerva walked inside and closed the door behind her. Sirius made to walk down the corridor when he heard a crash from inside her room. He had a hurried mental debate with himself as to the morals of entering her room unasked before he threw open the door and scanned the room. Minerva lay in a heap in the centre close to the bed in a dead faint. Sirius lifted her gently onto the bed and took the hairpins from her hair and removed her outermost cloak.

"Minerva," he said softly, "You have to look after yourself."

The woman in question groaned in her sleep and rolled onto her side. Sirius brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and conjured a chair to sit on. It would do not harm to sit with her and make sure she was alright.

Author's note:- Hmmm...I dunno about this one. Opinions are definitely needed for this chapter. Cheers. Minniequill