A/N: I honestly meant to keep it as a one - shot but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. So here's chapter two. I must say right here and now however, updates will be sporadic and irregular at best. Don't get your hopes up, this'll be a slow burner. Nevertheless, people's interest in the fic really did inspire me to write more too, so for that I thank you.

Prompts and challenges are listed at the bottom.

Chapter Two

Seeking Refuge

As soon as the castle doors closed behind them, Minerva felt paranoia wrap around her lungs and constrict, making it difficult to breathe. Sirius was pressed against her leg as Padfoot, glancing up at her every once in awhile and so she kept her head high and took the most direct route to her quarters.

Abruptly Sirius whined and grabbed her skirt between his teeth. She glanced down, shocked by his tugging and he let go, momentarily looking guilty before jerking his head and slipping through a tapestry. For a split second Minerva rolled her eyes to the heavens and then followed, if only to berate him and order him to follow her to her rooms.

It was dark enough that she had to cast a lumos, causing Padfoot's eyes to momentarily gleam, reflecting the light back. His claws clacked rhythmically against the flagstones as he turned his back on her and went further down the barely lit corridor.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" she snapped. All she got in return was a faint whine. Muttering to herself Minerva cast a silencing spell around them both and followed close behind. As she watched Sirius weave effortlessly through the castle she almost wanted to sigh. She, Remus and Dumbledore had all talked about how no one had known the passageways and secret corridors like Sirius and James had during their school years. They had each put varying levels of protective spells around the likely places they thought he would target, but his attack on the Fat Lady over Halloween and now how he was taking her somewhere Minerva had a feeling no one had been in many years (at least judging by the dust) proved to her that they had all underestimated Sirius Black.

She barely managed to keep her composure when a final door pushed open led directly opposite her classroom. Minerva glanced behind her to see the door fade seamlessly into the wall, making it appear solid. She had lived in the castle for years and had never realised. Padfoot wagged his tail tentatively but he was nervous, visibly edgy so she did not stop to question him but gestured for him to follow her. At this early in the morning even the dawn had not risen to cast a glow through her classroom windows. It normally did not brighten up until just before her first lesson, but now in early January it was just as likely to stay dark until closer to lunch.

She strode confidently past the desks, one still stained pumpkin orange from Gary Wilkes unfortunate accident attempting to transfigure a pair of tangerines to tango. Hopefully the House Elves would have better luck cleaning it over the weekend, she'd given them permission to take the table and use whatever products came to mind if it was that ingrained.

Once they were out of her classroom and into her office, she motioned for Sirius to stay in his Animagus form and began to cast spells. They were familiar ones, ones that she'd first got in the habit of casting daily years ago during the First War. If Dumbledore were to decide to visit her quarters, he wouldn't be surprised by her precautions. It would take a lot for him to get through them, that at least gave her some peace of mind considering what she was currently doing.

Aiding and abetting a fugitive, someone convicted of mass murder.

A slow swish of her wand sealed the last ward and then she lay her hand on the door to her quarters.

"It only allows me in. I actually put in that measure after a certain Mr Potter tried to charm my shampoo to turn my hair purple."

Sirius did not react in any way like she expected, in fact he practically ignored her and stood, hesitating on the threshold to her quarters as she opened the door. Softening her voice, Minerva coaxed in him gently. It seemed to her that the realisation that he was finally safe now, the sight of her warm quarters had sent him into some sort of shock has he followed each of her commands, transforming into human form his eyes unfocused.

"Do you remember the last time you ate Sirius?"

He shook his head.

"Well, I will organise some food for us and talk to the house elves about not entering into my quarters. Whilst I do that, you look like you could do with a bath of some kind and a change of clothes," she said brusquely. Guiding Sirius to her large bathroom, the third door on the left as the corridor wound past the open plan kitchen and lounge, he took a shuddering breath at the sight of the claw - footed large bathtub.

"Thank you Minnie."

She wasn't sure whether to offer him support or order to have him leave the door open. He seemed to weak in that instant, expression unreadable and then he went into the bathroom and firmly closed the door behind himself. Exhaling slowly, Minerva stared at the barrier now between them and then went to her room to freshen up.

It was a Saturday which made the prospect of being awake for almost twenty four hours easier to deal with. She would sleep later in the afternoon and tell her colleagues that she had come down with a flu of some sort. No doubt Poppy would give her a potion and then prescribe rest.

Combing through her hair and then quickly changing into something more comfortable than the robes she had been in, she conjured a piece of parchment and summoned a quill as she walked back into the main pair of her quarters, a wandless spell cast at the kettle to bring it to the boil. Her mind whirring, she jotted in short hand some options for what to do next, her attention drawn to the main bathroom door which was still firmly closed every few seconds.

What was she doing?

How had she gone from following Miss Hermione Granger's cat through the moonlight out of curiosity, to now dithering about whether to check on Sirius in her bathroom. Abruptly she was shaken out of her thoughts when, barely audible over the sounds of running water, Sirius cursed.

"Sirius?"

Minerva was on her feet in an instant, wand drawn - for what purpose she wasn't sure but it made her feel more prepared for what may occur. With one of the Marauders you could never be too sure.

"I'm fine, it's nothing I…"

"May I open the door?"

He didn't say yes, instead it sounded suspiciously like a sob. Bracing herself, she pushed the door open slowly. Sirius was hunched over the sink, the tap running and his arms braced, grip locked so tight that she could see the veins straining.

"I just… I look so fucking…"

In the harsh bathroom light, he did look gaunt, haggard and every other negative description Minerva could think of. It took some time but eventually Sirius had washed what was clearly years of dirt off his skin. He had retreated inwards, unembarrassed by getting naked in front of her. To her credit, she stayed professional and focused on the task at hand. Only once did her eyes stray to the tattoos he now had on his skin, to the scars on his body. She charmed clothes on him to save him some modesty, talking more to herself about potions she would have to acquire when Sirius said her name softly.

"Could you help me shave? I'd do it myself but I can't do the spells and my hands are shaking too hard."

"Of course."

She could understand why he'd want too. The beard that had grown was unkempt and straggly. What she didn't expect was how intimate it felt as she conjured a chair to sit opposite him. Sirius put the shaving foam she provided on his face and then asked her if she felt confident enough to do it with a razor as his skin was sensitive to magic.

"Mr Black, you really do like to make out you're so different than the rest of us," she jested slightly.

"It's true, besides, you know I'm special."

There was a hint of a grin as he spoke and then she motioned for him to be quiet. She expected him to flinch, to tense up as she brought the blade to his throat. It was a vulnerable position to be in; yet Sirius closed his eyes calmly.

She worked slowly and when she was finished, the transformation was surprising even to herself. Sirius looked immediately younger and as he washed the last remnants of soap off his face, he smiled in the mirror.

"Thank you for helping me. The hot water… even just smelling clean and now my face… It's all a bit much, but with you here it's a lot easier."

She merely nodded, banishing all of the mess and chair before motioning for him to follow her.

"I am going to the kitchens to get us some food and ask that no house elves come into my quarters from now on. While I am gone, I want you to just rest. Don't leave Sirius."

He was already shaking his head before she'd even issued her warning.

"I don't intend too. I can't do this on my own. I won't betray you."

"Thank you Sirius," Minerva said sincerely. "I know you want to get Peter, believe me I do too but we have to do this right. He's with one of my students now so I will think of a way to acquire him without putting anyone in danger or giving Mr Pettigrew any chance to escape."

"That bastard," Sirius snarled, "he's hiding amongst children. He's fucking scum."

Minerva had to agree. The thought that he was in her Gryffindor dorms and had been for some time, for she remembered Percy Weasley bringing a rat to school in his first year, made her blood boil. And yet she could see the way Sirius was shaking and did not want to do anything rash for fear that he would just react and then not have any opportunity to plead his innocence.

She left him with a glass of water, sat on the sofa, a well worn blanket wrapped around him charmed with warming spells. The first thing she had to do was get food for them both; they would go from there.

All that changed on the second floor. She rounded a corridor and almost walked straight into Remus who was peering into a suit of armour.

"Minerva," he said looking surprised. "I didn't expect many people to be up this early in the morning. I was just looking for a boggart, I thought I -"

He stopped as she took a step away, forcing herself to smile.

"I slept lightly, I really am not feeling very well."

"Minerva…"

She watched his eyes shift shades to a soft amber and felt her hand twitch, desperate to reach for her wand.

"I can smell him on you."

He took a step towards her and Minerva made a split decision not to lie. She had seen Remus duel and yet she was confident that she could win if it came to that. After all, she had to protect Sirius.

"Remus, I can explain."

His face was tight in its fury. He stared at her for so long, the moment seemed never ending and then he gestured sharply to the empty classroom directly opposite where they were standing.

"Explain quickly, or I swear Minerva, I'm not sure I can control what I might do."

"I do not appreciate threats Mr. Lupin," she said coolly. That made him hesitate and he held the door open for her, which gave Minerva hope that there was still a chance to reason with him. All she had to do was explain, just as Sirius had explained to her. Having him on her side would certainly be helpful, although, a small voice murmured in her mind, if she wasn't sure how to stop Sirius Black from being a renegade and trying to kill Peter, how on earth was she going to stop a werewolf once he realised the truth?

A/N: Entered for Round Four of the 'One Character Competition' by AlwaysPadfoot. Prompts I used were:

- pumpkin orange

- cursed

- moonlight

- paranoia

- 'That bastard'