Chapter 7: -

Sirius was watching the fire intently. The flames were licking the edges of the grate, threatening to spill forth. He found he didn't care; the Prophet's recent publishing had affected him more than he cared to admit. He knew he couldn't protest his innocence and so, still, he was a murderer in the eyes of the wizarding community. He leant back into his chair and sighed heavily. He loathed living in this self-inflicted prison. Indeed, if weren't for Minerva, he felt he's have broken out into cabin fever.

A frenzied knocking interrupted his increasingly morbid ruminations and he rose, grumbling, to the front door. He had scarcely turned the handle when Minerva threw herself, sobbing, into his arms. He hurriedly closed the door behind him and whispered nonsensical words of reassurance into her ear.

He carried her into the living room and placed her down gently on the sofa before sitting next to her. No words were uttered as he pulled her toward him and gently removed the pins from her hair, and allowed his fingers to travel through the tangled locks. Minerva's body shook with a combination of tears and chill, and she pressed herself closely against him.

"Care to tell me what's going on?" Sirius said into her hair as he battled with a particularly stubborn lock.

"He's gone," Minerva said softly over the crackling of the fire.

"Who's gone?" Sirius asked allowing his hand to fall from her hair and clasped her hand tightly.

"Dumbledore."

Sirius fell silent as Minerva turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. He could feel his robes becoming damp from her tears, and traced gentle circles on her back.

"He's gone and Umbridge is Headmistress," she continued, her face buried in his clavicle, "I wanted to go with him but he said 'Hogwarts needs me.'" She gave a derisive snort, "Which is nonsense."

Sirius pulled away from her and spoke sternly. "That's a lie Minerva and you know it." He placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "You're needed Minerva. By your students, colleagues and me. You're needed."

Fresh tears spilled from her eyes and she pressed against him much more. "And what about what I need?" she whispered.

"What do you need?" Sirius asked drawing her closer toward him and rocking her gently back and forth.

"This," Minerva said softly pulling back and resting her forehead against him, "Being held…this," she finished with a small smile.

Sirius grinned slightly as she closed her eyes and allowed him to run his fingers through her hair. His grin widened as she began to purr.

"Minerva, you're purring," he said tucking a loose strand behind her ear.

"Mmm," she agreed leaning into his hand which he had cupped around her cheek. Sirius wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said, biting her bottom lip, "You must think I'm…"

"I think you're a woman who has finally realised she can't do anything," Sirius finished.

A trace of a smile flickered across her face and Sirius pulled her to her feet. "Have you eaten?" he asked, looking up and down her willowy frame.

"Not today," she admitted.

Sirius rolled his eyes, "You have to look after yourself Minerva," he chided gently.

She nodded. "I know but…"

"No buts," Sirius interrupted, "Wait here and I'll bring you some dinner."

Minerva smiled and gave a mock salute. "I'll stay right here," she said with a small grin as she resumed her seat.

Sirius kissed her chastely on the lips before he exited the living room and hurried into the kitchen. With Dumbledore gone, Umbridge would undoubtedly turn her attention to Minerva. It was common knowledge that Minerva was Dumbledore's second-in-command, both at Hogwarts, and within the Order.

"As if she doesn't have enough to cope with," Sirius said angrily summoning two mugs toward him. Minerva was renowned for driving herself to the ground for any cause. 'To the detriment of her own health,' he added mentally as he waved his wand and toasted two pieces of bread which were hovering in the air.

Over the past few months she had lost a drastic amount of weight and her robes hung loosely from her body. Her eyes, normally so bright and alert, were shrouded by charcoal smudges which, against her pale skin, made her look gaunt.

"But still beautiful," he thought with a small smile as he placed the mugs, a pitcher of milk, newly conjured tea within a tartan teapot and toast covered in copious amounts of butter and jam on a tray.

Once all items were precariously balanced Sirius made his way back into the living room. He paused at the threshold; Minerva had fallen asleep curled like a cat in the corner of the sofa. Sirius sighed as he placed the tray on the coffee table and sat next to her. The small amount of movement caused by his weight elicited a groan of protest from Minerva and she opened one eye.

Sirius gestured at the tray. "You should…"

He didn't get a change to finish his sentence as Minerva placed her head on his chest and gave a sigh of contentment.

"…eat something," he finished mentally. He smiled and snaked a hand around her shoulder whilst the other stroked her hair.

He didn't dare move lest he wake her and gradually felt his own eyelids droop. His last thought before giving into somnolence was 'I pity Remus is he wakes her…"

"Wakey Wakey! Rise and shine!..."

Author's note:- Only short so for that I apologise. Please review. Cheers. Minniequill