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

Title: Not An Ordinary Nightmare

Author: Jade1982

Summary:

Sirius Black awoke with a start, wiping the recently broken cold sweat from his brow. He couldn't figure out what had woken him, but he knew something had. Not that he got much sleep these days anyways. With the state of things, living in Grimauld Place. At least now more members of the Order were here to keep him company.

Even Severus Snape he growled. Sirius had had to restrain himself this evening when he found out Snape would be spending the night, for which reason he knew nothing of. Just two doors down as well, Sirius thought, shuddering.

A creaking noise suddenly brought Sirius out of this dark thoughts, causing him to remember that he'd been woken up suddenly by something. He sighed. It must be at least 3am, by now mostly all the order should be in bed.

He had been the last one to turn in for the night. Lupin, McGonagall, Tonks, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and of course Snape, had all turned in before him.

Minerva was in the room adjacent to his own. Sirius thought about Minerva for a moment. She had always been so good to him as his teacher, always supportive and kind, with her no-nonsense personality she tried to keep him in line at Hogwarts, most of the time doing a good job. She'd been an influential part of his life, and he had to admit, she was precious to him.

It was probably just Kreacher running around as usual, but Sirius decided whatever "noise" woke him up warranted investigation during these times.

Groaning, he stepped out of bed and stumbled out of his room, staring into the dark hall.

Then he heard it. A very distinct sound- a whimper. A terrified, cold and lonely whimper. Coming from Minerva's room.

Sirius gasped. "Minerva!"

He grasped the doorknob, attempting in vain to turn it. It was jammed. Another whimper sounded from beneath the door, this one louder and more frightened.

"Minerva! Are you all right?"

"Open the door!"

He stood back, aiming his wand at the door. "Aloha Mora!"

The door swung open with ease, banging hard against the wall. Sirius was surprised no one else has woken up.

"Lumos," he said, entering the room.

"Oh Merlin...Minerva, Minerva..." Sirius whispered.

McGonagall was lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling. The covers were in a tangled mess on the floor. She lay there shivering, dressed only in a white slip nightgown, her long hair was loose and tangled about the pillow. Tears streaked her face, falling from terrified green eyes.

He rushed to her side, climbing onto the bed beside her. This was his former teacher, and it was time to help her as she had helped him.

"Minerva?" He called gently. She was just staring at the ceiling, not responding. He touched her cheek, caressing it gently. "Shh, it's okay, it was just a dream."

Minerva stiffened suddenly at his touch, recoiling in terror, her hands gripping the sheets.

"NO! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!" She cried, gasping and choking.

Sirius knew something was terribly wrong; Minerva obviously wasn't afraid of him, and this wasn't an ordinary nightmare.

She arched her back and began to convulse violently. Sirius's heart began to pound rapidly in his chest. "Minerva! Stay with me!" He grabbed both her arms and pinned them tightly to the mattress on her sides to steady her.

"NO", she shrieked, "GET OFF OF ME!" She struggled against him, squirming so that Sirius had to resort to using his knees to pinn her upper legs down.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!

A loud, dark and cold voice echoed through the room. A voice Sirius didn't want to hear. Severus Snape had burst into the room. He was clad in his dark sleeping robes, which Sirius thought looked much like his everday robes.

Severus was frozen in the doorway, a look of shock and anger in his dark eyes, and Sirius had to admit, the situation didn't look good for someone who had just walked in.

"What the hell are you doing to her? Get off of her!" Severus strode over to the bed, grabbing Sirius and tossing him to the side.

He crawled onto the mattress next to Minerva and pulled her into his arms in one swift movement. Sirius, who had expected her to fight off Snape as well, was surprised when she threw her arms around Snape's neck and buried her face in his chest.

"Shh...Minerva...shh...he can't hurt you now, its okay, I'm here. He held her close and stroked her back gently. He rested his lips on top of her head, whispering soothingly to her.

As gentle as he was being with Minerva, he was being viscous with Sirius. He glared at him, a look of pure rage that terrified Sirius.

A/N: Read and review! Let me know what you think  Thanks