Chapter 11

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story that honour belongs to J K Rowling and the Warner Brothers. I'm just playing with them.

Harry sat down on the kitchen table, his eyes were heavy and he could easily fall asleep at that moment but he knew he couldn't so he just slumped onto the table as the two marauders sat opposite. Both men looked concerned. After a few moments silence Sirius was the first to speak

"I know this has been a confusing day for you but you are starting to worry me a bit, what happened earlier in Diagon Ally?"

"Nothing" replied Harry bluntly

"Harry, it wasn't nothing, you went really pale and looked horrified, what is it, if you tell me, I can help you?" Harry stared at him still silence "You can tell us anything, we won't be angry or shout, we just want to help you? Please Harry" said Sirius desperately

"It was the Prophet wasn't it?" said Remus suddenly, looking sympathetic as if he knew what happened. Harry nodded.

"What about the Prophet? Remus what do you mean?"

"I'm saying that the article on the front of the Prophet was about Harry, that's enough for anyone to be shocked" Harry nodded in agreement glad that Remus had noticed too

"I'm sorry pup, don't take any notice, I bet it was by that bloody Rita Skeeter. Don't believe anything she writes it is load of bullshit" said Sirius as he went to grab Harrys arm but he drew away quickly. "What's up pup, you can tell me. You haven't been yourself since you have been here, what's up I can help you!"

"I'm fine, could I just go upstairs, I'm really tired"

"Yeah of course pup, we will discuss this more tomorrow, goodnight pup" Harry nodded and picked up his crutches and made his way up the stairs and into the bathroom and picked up his blade before making his way back to his room and locking the door.

Harry took of his jacket and rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and made five cuts deeper than normal and let the blood roll down his arm, all the anger was slowly draining out of him, he soon stated to feel rather dizzy and his vision was blurring. Harry quickly pressed an old t-shirt onto his arm until it stopped bleeding. He then rolled his shirt back down over his arm, threw the bloody t-shirt into the corner of his wardrobe and laid down on his bed. He soon fell into a restless sleep.

…

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Sirius was staring at Remus speechless, he had his head in his hands…

"What have I done wrong Moony, what am I doing wrong? I know he is hiding something, I just don't know what, it must be something simple, is he in pain from his leg, but he'd tell us if he was in pain wouldn't he? I need to go and speak to Dumbledore, he knows what he's like better than I do he has been his headmaster, I've only seen him for a brief amount this summer and when they broke me out last year. I did floo him, he was much better then, it's something that has happened recently but I can't pinpoint it, Dumbledore will know, or Molly, she's been like a mother to him"

"Sirius, whatever you do, don't go to Molly, she will wisp right here and make Harry angry and he might feel worse than he does already, the less number of people who know the better. I don't think you should go to Dumbledore, Harry wouldn't like you to do that but I can't see any other way, unless you can get him to open up which at the moment is proving difficult. Do you want to talk to him alone?"

"That may be an option but I feel like he connects to you more these days, like he is going through something you have been through but I can't think of what it is"

"I agree; he's hiding something more than his physical pain"

"I'm going to floo Dumbledore and see what he thinks, do you mind staying here, just in case Harry decides to come downstairs, I'll try and have a word with him later, see if you can get anything out of him"

"What if he doesn't want me to tell you? I can try convince him but I don't think he will fall for that, he's a smart kid"

"I don't know Remus, if you can sort it out no problem but I'd like to know, I wouldn't know why he wouldn't talk to us though I mean we wouldn't shout or anything"

"I know, we need his trust and I think going to Dumbledore will only make matters worse"

"Then we won't tell him and I know Dumbledore wouldn't say anything"

"I guess Padfoot, go now before Harry comes down, if you are going" Sirius went to the fireplace and took some floo powder. "Good luck Padfoot" and Sirius stepped into the fire before saying

"Headmasters Office Hogwarts!". Sirius then started to spin and disappeared leaving Moony in the kitchen alone.

…

Sirius span around until he landed in Dumbledore's office. The old man was sitting at his desk stroking a wonderfully coloured bird of which he knew as Fawkes his phoenix. Dumbledore turned around

"Of what do I owe the pleasure at this hour?"

"It is about Harry, he is hiding something, something serious but I don't know what it is. He had been withdrawn all summer hat do I do Albus?"

"Calm, Sirius, I of course understand your predicament but panicking won't solve anything. Now come take a seat so we can discuss the issue present" Sirius sat down and looked up at the old man with a twinkle in his blue eyes. "Now, I do believe that Harry has been through an awful lot in the last month, I can understand why he has been withdrawn. However, I too sense that there is something more than what meets the eye"

"But what do I do Albus, I can't get him to speak more than a couple of words every day"

"Sirius, Harry doesn't like to show any kind of weakness, or that he's hurting. He needs to be able to open up to someone, someone he can trust and has gone through some of what he's feeling. Sirius, if Harry is not blaming himself for Cedric's death and the rebirth of the Dark Lord then I do not know Harry at all. Can't you think of anyone who has in the past, held a secret in fear that you will hate him. Someone who has gone through pain like Harry is?"

Something clicked in Sirius' mind "What you are saying is that maybe he would open up to Moony more than I because of his 'fury little problem' but what if he doesn't want him to tell me?"

"Yes Sirius, it is Remus. If Harry doesn't want you to know, perhaps you should respect his view until he is ready to talk or things get out of hand. However, I think Remus is already onto his case, with his werewolf instinct of course"

"That makes sense, I just need to keep on reassuring him that if he needs to talk I'm there for him, I won't push nothing"

"If it gets serious, don't hesitate to contact me" Sirius knew his time was up and headed towards the fireplace before asking

Have you been able to assign a new Defence against the dark arts professor yet"

"Unfortunately no, I have been thinking of inviting Remus back to teach this year otherwise the ministry will assign someone, do you think he would agree? Of course, appropriated arrangements will be put I place once again."

"I do not know, he seemed to enjoy his year back at Hogwarts I will send him along later if you would like?"

"If it is possible I will appreciate it if you let me send him a message myself via owl"

"Alight then" he then stepped into the fireplace and shouted "12 Grimmauld place"

…

Meanwhile back at 12 Grimmauld place…

Rems took out his book he was currently reading and opened it before starting to read. Though it wasn't long before his wolf ears picked up a screaming noise from upstairs. Remus dropped his book and ran upstairs to Harry's room, which he tried to open by force, he couldn't open it.

Harry must have put something in front of it to stop them coming in. He took out his wand and shouted "Bombarda!". The door flung open and Harry was thrashing around again screaming.

"MUM! DAD! DON'T LEAVE ME, I CAN EXPLAIN! PLEASE! COME BACK"

Remus' heart dropped the thought of his best friends death still hurt him. He stood in silence for a moment or two before grabbing Harry by the shoulder and started to shout "Harry, wake up! It's only a dream, No one is going to hurt you" Whilst shaking him awake Remus saw some red, raw skin under Harrys left sleeve and dreaded the worst.

Harry sat bolt upright and grabbed his wand again and aimed it at Remus before realising who it was. "Sorry Remus" Harry then relaxed as Remus sat next to him and brought him into a tight hug. Harry relaxed into him.

Note: Hey everyone, I ope this doesn't jump around too much. This is my favourite chapter so far. I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a review if you have any questions or your opinion. Thanks. TR