Author's Note: Mentions and descriptions of self-harm. Please be safe, make good choices, and do what is best for you. You are loved!

Harry woke up the next day due to his alarm clock going off. He opened his eyes and saw a large black dog right in front of his face.

"Ugh, Padfoot!" Harry said, lightly pushing against the dog. Padfoot didn't move, not wanting to get up.

Harry shut off the alarm clock and had a mischievous smile come to his face. Harry leaned towards the black animal whispering, "Your breath is worse than Voldemort's."

Padfoot became Sirius with a pop. Sirius tumbled off the bed and onto the floor before popping up, putting his hands on his hips. Sirius' hair was a mess and his clothes were all wrinkled and twisted. Sirius looked at his godson with an outrageous look on his face. "It is not!" Sirius exclaimed.

Harry chuckled and shook his head, "Nah, it's not. I was just messin' with ya. But, I did get you outta bed." Harry said, smiling.

"Oh, you cheeky pup!" Sirius said, running around the bed to get Harry.

Harry quickly skirted out of his bedroom and went into the hallway where he literally ran into Remus.

"Ha! You won't hurt your husband," Harry said triumphantly.

Sirius smirked, "You obviously haven't been spending enough time with us lately." He stated before trying to climb over Remus to get to Harry.

Harry watched wide-eyed as his godfather kept going after him and Harry hurried towards the bathroom where he shut and locked the door. "Sorry Dadfoot, gotta shower!" He said loudly through the door.

"I'll alohomora my way in!" Sirius exclaimed in a singsong voice.

"No, you won't!" Remus said in the same voice, trying to drag his husband away.

"Moony! He made me get out of bed!" Sirius whined loudly.

"Good! I was about to do that myself." Remus said matter-of-factly.

"But Moony!" Sirius whined, showing Remus his puppy dog face.

Remus just shook his head at his antics, "You have work." He stated.

"Ugh, you take the fun out of everything." Sirius pouted, heading towards his own bathroom.

"I love you!" Remus called after him.

"I love you, too!" Sirius said.

Harry listened from in the bathroom before starting his shower. He laughed at his dads and was so thankful they were in his life. As much as he was dreading going to Remus' office today, he wouldn't trade his uncles/dads/godparents for any other parent at Hogwarts. He shuddered to think about the alternative. Being with the Dursleys? Ugh. If his mental health was bad now he couldn't imagine how bad it would be if he was stuck with them. He pushed the disgusting thought away and showered, quickly getting ready for the day.

Much to Harry's dismay, his classes flew by today. While he showed up to lunch, he didn't eat much and only picked at his food. Remus and Sirius were at the Head table during lunch and both gave him glares, which Harry did his best to ignore. Harry spent time pacing in a courtyard before his appointment, trying to decide if he should skip it or not. Eventually, he decided the consequences would probably be too severe and he begrudgingly made his way to Remus' office. He knocked before hearing a, "Come in." Harry took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Harry!" Remus said, looking up and smiling warmly at the teen. "I'm glad you're here. Let me just finish this sentence and I'll be right there." Remus looked down at the paper and tried to quickly finish what he was writing.

Harry sat down nervously in front of Professor Lupin's desk. He looked around the office, not having been in there for a while. Most of the things have stayed the same, but there were a few new things on the walls. Harry put his attention back on the therapist and studied him.

Remus did look like a therapist. He had his cardigan on (of course he does) and he was writing on a piece of parchment in a folder. A few other folders were on his desk. Harry saw Remus' Hogwarts diploma and his medical school diploma behind his desk. Harry looked at Remus again and saw the therapist looking very therapist-y.

"Alright, thanks for waiting. How are you, Harry?" Remus asked, looking at him.

Harry abruptly stood up. "Nope, nope. Can't do this." He said heading towards the door.

"Whoa, whoa! What's going on?" Remus asked, jumping up and also heading towards the door. Remus got there before Harry did and put his arms out in front of the door. "What is the matter?" Remus asked, searching Harry's face.

Harry groaned, anxious and frustrated "I can't do this. This just- ugh."

"You've done this before, Harry. You've been in my office before and we've talked to each other for, well, over a decade."

"But not like this!" Harry exclaimed, throwing his hands up. He realized he wasn't going to be able to leave and threw himself on the couch in his office.

Remus carefully left the door and headed towards the armchair. "Like what?" He inquired.

"You're making me be here! Before you've never made me be here but you're making me right now. I would come and just ask my uncle a question but right now Professor Lupin is making me sit and talk." Harry said, venom in his voice.

"Harry, I already told you that I'm still going to be your Uncle Moony. We've talked about that."

"Yeah, but not really. Like, why is this a good deal for you and me?" Harry asked.

"Well," Remus began "It's good for you because you are able to talk to someone who loves you and isn't going to act like a traditional therapist, which I'm guessing you don't want."

Harry vehemently shook his head.

"That's what I thought. It's good for me because I can hold you're accountable more than other patients. There aren't boundaries I can't cross. For example, I can keep your wand with me and have you live with me. I can't do that for anyone else."

Harry thought about it. "So you're basically acting like my dad who is a therapist?"

"Yup," Remus confirmed.

"So you're literally just doing what you've done my whole life?"

Remus nodded, confirming what Harry said.

Harry groaned at his anxiety at this meeting. "But this place. Sitting here it just feels..." Harry trailed off.

"Stuffy?" Remus asked, trying to supply a word.

"Yeah. It doesn't feel like I'm talking to you. I feel like I'm talking to some healer." Harry said, rolling his eyes.

"I am a healer," Remus said dryly.

"Yeah, but I mean an obnoxious one. You're only semi-obnoxious." Harry joked.

Remus rolled his eyes but smiled at him. "I have an idea."

Harry perked up. "What?" He asked.

"Come with me," Remus said, standing up.

Remus stood up and Harry followed him. Remus walked over to the fireplace and threw the floor powder in. "Get in," Remus said.

Harry quickly did as he was told and Remus went in with him.

"Bluewater: Black Cottage!" Remus announced and they flooed away.

Harry stumbled out of the fireplace, but Remus caught him.

"Whoa," Harry said, looking around. "Uncle Moony I haven't been here in forever!" Harry said in awe.

"I thought you might loosen up a little if we started somewhere else," Remus explained.

Harry ran to the window, seeing the beach. "Uncle Moony! Can we go?!" He asked excitedly.

Remus smiled and said, "Sure, your swim trunks are in your room."

Harry rushed to his room and quickly changed. He was jumping in the hallway waiting for his uncle. "Uncle Moony! C'mon!" He pleaded.

Remus came out wearing his own swim trunks.

Harry didn't even wait for his uncle to say anything before speeding out of the cottage and onto the beach. Remus followed him into the water.

Both played in the water and they splashed and soaked each other. They swam and jumped in the waves.

After about 25 minutes, Remus and Harry went to the shore. Remus conjured some towels and Harry flopped down.

Remus carefully sat down and allowed there to be silence for a few minutes before starting to speak. "How was that?"

"Brilliant, Uncle Moony!" Harry said, sitting up and wiping the wet fringe out of his face.

"I thought you'd enjoy it," Remus said, smiling.

"Can we do this every time?"

"No, then it wouldn't be special. Besides, I can't always take up as much time as we will today. And the weather won't always be this nice here. I wanted you to relax a little. I know therapy is not always easy."

Harry groaned. "We still have to talk?"

"Yes, Harry," Remus said dryly, rolling his eyes.

Harry huffed and turned to face Remus. "Okay, so?" He asked expectedly.

Remus held back a chuckle. "Okay, so how was your day so far?"

Harry seemed surprised at the opening question and how mellow it was. He expected Remus to dive right in there. "It's been alright. I really didn't want to come so it went by fast."

"I noticed you didn't eat any lunch," Remus commented.

Harry looked away, "Yeah. I was really nervous."

Remus nodded. "I understand that. How about in a few minutes we go inside and get a snack?"

Harry nodded, feeling hungry.

"Are you tired from last night?" Remus asked, catching Harry's attention again.

"What was last nig- OH. Yeah." Harry said.

"Cub, what happened?"

"I had the nightmare and I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want to meet with you today and I didn't want you to, I dunno, analyze me or something." Harry shrugged.

"Harry, my boy, you're overthinking this. We're meeting so I can make sure you're doing okay and check in. I'm not writing a report on you or anything. My uncle/dad brain and my healer/professor's brain are the same. I'm the same person." Remus said gently.

"My boy," Harry said softly.

Remus didn't say anything. He was confused but kept his face neutral.

"That is what was in my nightmare."

"Who said it?" Remus probed gently.

"It was the Triwizard tournament. Mr. Diggory was so proud of Cedric and bragged about his boy before he went in. And then when he came back he kept saying it over C-Ced," Harry took a shaky breath, "over his body."

Remus was quiet, his heart breaking for Harry.

"I hear it a lot in my nightmares," Harry admitted.

Remus nodded, "You had to go through something so traumatic and horrific. I am so sorry you had to witness so many things, including that."

"Yeah, everyone is sorry," Harry said, but it wasn't full of malice like usual. He said it rather sadly.

"It's because they care about you," Remus stated.

Harry shrugged, not responding.

"Harry, you saw how Mr. Diggory reacted to Cedric. It was heart-wrenching. No parent wants to see their child die."

Harry didn't respond.

"Harry, your Dadfoot and I would react just like that if something ever happened to you. We want you here and safe." Remus explained.

"I don't want to cause you any pain!" Harry insisted. "There's just so much to deal with and I have so many feelings, and then I also just don't care. UGH! It's too much." Harry explained.

Remus nodded, "Yeah, that's hard to deal with. Luckily, there are people to help and things we can do."

Harry had a small smile. "Did Snape tell you about the assignment he gave me?"

Remus shook his head.

"He is making me give him a list of 15 alternatives to, you know."

Remus gave Harry an expectant look, wanting him to say it.

Harry shrunk under the gaze but gave in. "To you know, hurting myself."

Remus gave Harry a proud smile. "I'm proud of you, Harry. And that sounds like a really good assignment. How many do you have so far?"

Harry thought for a minute, trying to remember what he has on his parchment, "Uh four, I think."

Remus nodded, "That's a good start." He praised.

Harry blushed and turned away, not wanting to tell Remus that he might have four alternatives, but he certainly didn't want to do them.

"Speaking of which, Harry, care to explain to me what you were doing in the kitchen last night?" Remus raised an eyebrow.

"Making hot chocolate!" Harry insisted.

Remus glared at Harry and Harry sighed.

"Okay, fine, you were right. I was trying to find the knives. I didn't know you moved them."

Remus nodded quietly. "Thank you for admitting that. Why didn't you tell us what you were thinking?"

"Because I didn't want to!" Harry yelled. Remus didn't even flinch, but Harry noticed how loud he was. "Sorry. But I didn't want to. I didn't even want to tell you about my nightmare so why would I tell you about that? I mean I know I can but I didn't want to!"

Remus nodded, thinking. "I understand that. I was the same way sometimes. What is something you could do when you don't want to talk to someone about it?"

"I don't know! It's not like I can play quidditch in the middle of the night." Harry said, exasperated.

"You had the hot chocolate. Did that help?" Remus asked.

"Maybe a little, yeah. But I also like to do something with my hands." Harry admitted.

"Hm, have you tried writing? You could write about your feelings or write about something else entirely." Remus suggested.

Harry's first response was to immediately push away and dismiss Remus' suggestion. However, he thought about it and he realized he could write about The Boy and the Dog, what he was thinking about last night as he fell asleep.

"Maybe," Harry said.

"Hey, maybe is better than no," Remus said, smiling.

Harry gave a small nod but was deep in thought.

"C'mon, Cub, let's go inside and get dry. It's getting colder." Remus said, noticing the goosebumps on Harry's skin.

Harry nodded and stood up, picking up his towel. He followed Remus back to the cabin, staying deep in thought.

"Go change and come back here," Remus instructed when they were back inside.

Harry nodded, ditching the towel on their porch. He was about to put dry clothes on until he realized how his body was feeling. "Uncle Moony, can I take a quick shower?" Harry asked, yelling from his room.

"Sure, make it quick!" Remus said.

Harry rushed to the bathroom and turned the water on. He took off his wet clothes and got under the hot water. He savored the feeling for a minute before quickly rinsing off his sandy body. He dried off and got changed, meeting Remus back in the sitting room of the cottage. Remus had brought out a bowl of grapes, which Harry was grateful for.

"Feel better?" Remus asked.

"Loads, thanks, Uncle Moony."

"My pleasure," Remus said, smiling.

"Harry, there's another thing I wanted to talk to you about," Remus said after a minute or two of silence.

"Yeah?" Harry asked, looking at his godmother.

"The full moon is coming up."

"Oh yeah, are you feeling okay?" Harry asked.

Remus smiled at Harry, "I'm fine, thanks to the potion. I appreciate you asking. I wanted to talk to you about it because I wanted to discuss where you were going to stay."

"Oh," Harry said flatly.

"We don't want you on your own yet, just in case," Remus explained.

"I can just go back to Gryffindor Tower," Harry suggested.

"You can, and that's a good idea. However, you got away with harming yourself in the tower before and we don't want that to happen while we're gone. Someone needs to know what to look for."

Harry sat there, not wanting to say anything to that.

"Have you thought about telling any of your friends? Ron or Hermione? Neville?" Remus suggested.

Harry shook his head. "They wouldn't get it. Besides, I don't want everyone to know."

"I think they'd get it more than you'd think. They also wouldn't tell anyone."

"Yeah, and what if all of Slytherin finds out because Ron blabbed to people?" Harry shot back.

"If Ron tells the whole Slytherin house, I will personally obliviate them," Remus said.

Harry looked at his uncle in shock.

"I am that sure that they won't tell anyone," Remus said confidently. "Unless, of course, it's a life-threatening situation."

"So you think I should tell them?" Harry asked.

"I think that you should do what feels right to you. Who do you think you want to tell?"

"I don't know! That's why we're talking about it!" Harry said, shouting.

Remus didn't reply but gave time for Harry to calm down.

"Sorry," Harry said after a moment of taking breaths. "I didn't mean to yell."

"I know. You're okay. This is a safe space. You can express your emotions when you're with me. It's okay." Remus said gently.

Harry still didn't feel ready for that, but he appreciated what his uncle said. "I just don't know."

Remus allowed Harry to sit in the silence, thinking, for several minutes before speaking. "I think that if you feel comfortable, Neville would be a very good person to tell. You've grown up with him and he is very caring."

Harry nodded. "I'll try," he said honestly.

"That's what we are working for," Remus said.

"Uncle Moony?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Cub?"

"What," Harry took a shaky breath, "What happens if I hurt myself again? What're you going to do to me?" Harry asked fearfully.

"Oh, Cub," Remus said, seeing the fear and unknown in Harry's eyes. "If you hurt yourself again we try again. We love you still and we keep working."

"You're not going to give up?" Harry asked.

"Oh, Merlin, no!" Remus exclaimed, "Harry, I told you I harmed myself when I was younger. I relapsed when I was older. When it came time to quit again I made mistakes. I relapsed. Sirius is still by my side. James and Lily never gave up on me either. Professor McGonagall never gave up on me."

Harry nodded, trying to blink back tears.

"Harry, do you want to hurt yourself right now?" Remus asked gently.

"No! I mean, well, no more than usual. But last night I really wanted to. And it got me thinking, what if I did? What would you do to me?"

"Of course, we don't want you to, but we know it is a process and that isn't a straight line. There are going to be bumps and curves and we are here for you through all of it." Remus assured his son.

"Thank you, Uncle Moony," Harry said, feeling safe.

"How are you feeling right now?" Remus asked, seeing the emotions going all over Harry's face.

"I mean, safe, I think, which is really overwhelming. I rarely ever feel safe. I have over the weekend with you and Dadfoot but rarely ever do I feel that way. When I do it's so overwhelming because it's so rare and so freeing." Harry tried to explain.

Remus' heart broke further if that was possible. "You have been shown a lot of evils." Remus validated.

"If it's not Voldemort, it's a defense professor. Or a slimy Slytherin." Harry added.

"You are always safe with us," Remus confirmed.

"I wish I felt this way more often," Harry admitted.

"We'll work on it, Harry. And someday, you won't have to worry about Voldemort or crazy professors."

"Yeah, have you heard about the History of Magic professor?" Harry asked, joking.

"I know! That man needs some serious help." Remus said mock seriously, playing along.

Harry laughed, then had a worried look on his face. Remus waited a moment, letting Harry talk about it without being prompted.

"Uncle Moony? Are you going to tell Dadfoot about what I said in this meeting?" Harry asked.

"No! Of course, I won't! Harry, whatever is said in this office, or well, any meeting we have, is kept between me and you. I only tell someone if someone is actively threatening or stating that they are going to hurt someone or themselves and they have a plan."

"What about me?"

"Well, if you did that, I have the power to restrain you since you're my son. I'd normally tell Professor Dumbledore and the student's adults. Luckily, Professor Dumbledore trusts me with you. I wouldn't have to tell anyone if you were going to harm yourself. If it was someone else I probably would tell Professor Dumbledore."

"I want to hurt Voldemort," Harry said plainly.

"I think he knows about that one," Remus said, nodding.

Harry smiled and then opened his mouth to speak again. "So you won't tell Dadfoot what I say?"

"No way. Not unless I have your permission." Remus assured.

"Oh, okay, good. Because sometimes I want him to know things and other times I don't."

"Is there anything you want me to tell him? Or tell him if he asks?"

"I mean we both know he will ask about this, Uncle Moony. He respects me and all but he is also rather nosy."

Remus chuckled, "Yes, yes he is. What, if anything, would you like him to know?"

Harry sat there for a minute, staring out the window before turning his attention back to the therapist. "I don't know. I guess it would be good to ask him what he thinks can help me instead of what I would usually do." Harry ended quietly.

Remus nodded, "I think alternatives would be a great thing to talk to him about, especially when you're angry and don't want to talk to us. So I have your permission to share that?" Remus asked, wanting to confirm.

"Yeah," Harry said as confidently as he could muster.

Remus smiled and ruffled his hair. "Thanks, Cub."

Harry smiled and collapsed on his uncle. "I. Am. Exhausted." Harry stated.

Remus chuckled again, "Yeah, therapy does that."

"What else do we have to talk about?" Harry asked, moaning.

"It's your time, Harry. I might have questions for you, but it's your time to share or ask anything you want."

"Anything?" Harry asked, perking up.

Remus bit back a smile. "Yes, anything."

Harry smirked. "I have so many things I could ask!"

Remus rolled his eyes, "I am here for you." He affirmed.

Harry thought with his Marauder brain for a moment before wiping the smirk off his face and laying back down on his uncle.

"Uncle Moony?" He asked thoughtfully, "Will you tell me about a time my mom or my first dad helped you?"

Remus smiled softly. He was proud of Harry for taking this seriously and touched that he wanted to know more. "Of course, Cub. Let's see," Remus said, thinking. "Oh! Here's a good one!" Remus said. He ran his hand through Harry's hair, talking softly to the traumatized boy.

"One time I was down by the lake during my sixth year. I sat by the Whomping Willow, obviously not caring about my safety. I had stolen one of Peter's potion knives since he left them out. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone found me, but I didn't care." Remus began.

"Moony!" James called.

Remus didn't answer. James' face softened and he kept walking towards the young werewolf.

"Moony, mate," James said, coming by me.

Remus tried to hide the knife by setting it down under his leg, but he couldn't really hide his bloody arm.

"Your father, being the king of transfiguration, conjured bandages for me and antiseptic," Remus said, smiling.

"You're okay, Moony. I'm not mad. You're okay." James said softly, beginning to clean out my wounds.

Remus just turned away, not wanting to watch it.

James gently and tenderly cleaned the wounds, speaking softly to his distressed friend.

When James was done cleaning and bandaging the wounds he gently set Remus' arm down and pulled his robe sleeve over the bandaged arm. "What's going on?"

"I dunno," Remus said, shrugging, still not looking at his friend.

James decided on a different approach. "Did something happen or was it your head?"

"My head," Remus mumbled, holding his arm close to his chest.

"What are you thinking?" James asked, looking out at the lake with Remus.

"Like I'm a burden." Remus reluctantly admitted.

"Anything else?" James asked, knowing his friend.

"The usual. Like I'm a waste of space and everyone would be better off without me. I just wanted to punish myself."

"Gosh, Moony, you don't deserve that!" James said.

Remus shrugged.

"Mate, the world is so much better with you in it. First of all, I would have died at least thirty times over without you. Second of all, I'd probably just be in universal detention without you."

Remus cracked a smile at James' reasoning.

"Remus, I can't imagine my life without you. Also, can you even imagine Lily trying to reign us in without you as her fellow prefect?" James asked.

This caused Remus to really laugh. "She would have already blown you and the common room up."

James laughed, "See, you get it!"

Remus and James were quiet for a moment before James said, "C'mon, some Gryffindor firsties were looking for you. They wanted your help with their homework."

Remus' eyes lit up, "Of course, I'll help them!"

James rolled his eyes good-naturedly at his friend, "C'mon, let's go."

James helped Remus up and they walked back to the tower together; Remus was feeling much less alone than before.

"So my dad would help me?" Harry asked tears in his eyes.

"Oh, absolutely. It's come full circle. Your father has helped me and now I'm helping you." Remus said.

Harry enjoyed laying on Remus as they chatted about various things for another 10 minutes before Remus said, "Cub, we need to head back to Hogwarts. You've already missed basically all of your History of Magic class."

"Is Dadfoot okay with it?" Harry asked.

"Oh yeah, I told him that we were probably going to miss his class this week, you're okay. However, I'm obviously not supposed to just take you off-campus, so we should leave before anyone realizes we're missing." Remus said, sitting Harry up and helping him up.

"You and I both know that Dadfoot probably had the map open since before class started and saw us disappear." Harry pointed out.

"Yeah, but he doesn't count," Remus said.

Harry chuckled and followed his dad back into the fireplace, heading back to Hogwarts.

Alternatives to Harming Yourself:

1. Talk to someone you care about and/or trust

2. Exercise

3. Get outside and get some fresh air

4. Have a warm beverage

5. Write something down

6. Go to therapy/ contact your therapist