Hey! Here is the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy it and I thank everyone for reviewing! There will be one more chapter after this, I know short story. Oh well! I am working on a sequel to my Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix although I said I wouldn't. Well you know, ideas come up when you are bored to death in AP US History! So that will be up in a week or two, when I decide to type it! Please R/R! I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters, that honor belongs to J.K. Rowling!

Three weeks had gone by since the Quidditch incident. Dumbledore and Sirius tried to keep Harry off his broom and follow him everywhere he went but Remus stopped this. He told them to trust Harry and just wait to see what would happen. Harry was very grateful for this but hadn't seen Remus since they talked last time.

He had Quidditch practice Thursday night. He released the Snitch and while the others practiced with the Quaffle and helped Dean out Harry flew around catching it and releasing it again. He caught it 6 times during the practice and left very relaxed.

Half way through practice Harry saw Remus come into the stands. He sat down and watched the practice. When Harry called for practice to be over and everyone had left he flew over to where Remus still sat.

"Good evening," Remus smiled at him.

"Hey," Harry replied back sitting down.

"I was hoping if I got you after Quidditch practice you would be relaxed enough to talk," Remus admitted.

Harry looked out at the Pitch. He watched the sunset for a few minutes. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Um, well I was thinking about Cedric Diggory," Remus told him.

Harry closed his eyes, that was the last thing he had wanted to think about. He opened his eyes and looked at the Pitch, he and Cedric had battled each other here looking for the Snitch. They had come together for minutes to become a team before being swept away. He didn't want to think about it, let alone talk about it. But then Remus had helped him; he had understood when no one else had. He had not pitied him. "Well for you, because you kept your promise."

"Do you still dream about what happened?"

"Only every night," Harry looked away.

"I learned that if you don't think about it, and you don't blame yourself the dreams do go away," said Remus.

"Cedric… he was so young," Harry looked down again. "He was too young to die." He looked back up and Remus saw a tear going down his face.

"And what about you Harry?" Remus asked. "You are 3 years younger than him. You also are too young, too young to experience what happened."

"Voldemort was after me though not Cedric."

"It's a sad fact that the innocent is always the first to die," Remus shook his head.

"It's not right!" another tear came down slowly. "He shouldn't have died! He had no clue what was going on, it's not right!"

Remus looked at Harry; he didn't deserve to go through this. "It's not right but it happened."

"I see his last moments in my dreams, I hear him blaming me!" Harry whispered, "He's right, it's all my fault."

"Harry no it's not your fault. That voice telling you it is, that's not Cedric that's you dreaming, its you thinking," Remus told him. "When the people came out of the wand what did Cedric say to you?"

Harry wiped his eyes and thought for a moment, "He told me to hold on. And then later to bring his body back to his parents."

"He didn't say I hate you Harry, or you should have taken the Cup alone, or its all your fault?" Remus asked.

"No."

"He said two sentences to you, he gave you comfort and a last request to bring his body back," Remus told him. "He didn't blame you for what happened and neither should you." "I didn't blame myself when the summer started but it made sense to me during the summer that it was my fault," said Harry. "And now here everywhere I look is a reminder of Cedric."

"Come on, let's get back to the castle," Remus stood up. "It's getting cold."

**

"Did anyone tell you the Cup was a Portkey?" Cedric asked him.

"Nope," He looked around the graveyard, "Is this supposed to be part of the Task?"

"I dunno. Wants out you reckon?" Cedric said taking out his own wand.

"Someone's coming."

His scar exploded in pain, he fell to the ground holding his head as though to try and keep it together.

"Kill the spare!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Harry jerked away. Even after dreaming about it, so much it still made him sweat. He got up not wanting to go back to sleep. He grabbed a cloak and went down to the common room. He had tried to take Remus's advice and not think of it but it wasn't working too well. He was dreaming of Cedric less but when he did it still made him feel horrible.

Down in the common room he saw someone sitting in a seat by the fire.

"Even after all this time the Gryffindor fire is the best fire in the castle." It was Remus.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked.

"Couldn't sleep," he admitted, "I'm guessing you are here for the same thing?" Harry nodded. "Same dream?"

"Yes, it's strange, I'm not having the dream as much," Harry told Remus.

"Maybe because you are thinking of other things?" asked Remus.

"Um maybe," Harry thought. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you believe that everyone has a purpose in life and it's decided by fate?" Harry asked him.

"I don't live by it but I do believe it," Remus answered truthfully.

"I believe it."

"Why?" asked Remus.

"Since I was 1 years old Voldemort has tried to kill me. Four times, I've faced him against all odds and I'm still living. And three times, I've tried to kill myself and I'm still alive. It seems I'm doomed to face Voldemort again and again until I defeat him or he finally kills me."

"Well one thing is good, the good side always wins," Remus smiled.

"But at what cost?"

"I don't know," Remus answered.

"What a life I have," Harry sighed deeply.

"We will be with you until the end," Remus promised.

"But in the very end it will be just me… me and Voldemort."

"Then I'm sure Sirius will be holding your hand until the last possible second. And so… so will I."

"Every time it's been luck…" Harry looked into the fire.

"No there is something very special about you," Remus argued. "You will get through this."

"I wonder what it is like to live a normal life?" Harry wondered.

"I wouldn't know I was friend's with your father and life was never peaceful," Remus laughed. Harry smiled.

"Its late," Remus yawned. "I'll go to bed if you do."

"Sure," Harry got up. "Sleep well Remus."

"Good night Harry."

**

It had been a week since the two met in the common room and Harry had been thinking about what Remus had said to him. He knew he was right, Remus wouldn't lie to him. He was dreaming even less these days, which pleased him. He was studying with Ron and Hermione one night in the common room when Remus came in. He looked around and when he saw them, he walked over.

"Hey Remus," Ron and Hermione greeted him.

Harry nodded at him and smiled.

"Can I talk to Harry?" Remus asked. "Alone?"

"Sure," they got up and left taking the books they were studying.

Remus sat down next to Harry who put his books down knowing he wouldn't be studying for awhile.

"I just talked to Fletch." Remus told him.

"Um." Harry didn't seem to care.

"He asked me to talk to you, look you can't hide from that class or dueling," Remus blurted out.

Harry looked up at Remus, "I'm not hiding from it, I just don't enjoy it."

"Fletch is here to help you," Remus told him. "I know you don't want to duel because of what happened at the Third Task but you have to move on."

"I'm trying," argued Harry.

"But everytime you try and move on," Remus leaned forward. "You think of Cedric and lose your nerve. Now we have talked about getting over the dreams but not about facing your past. Cedric is dead, you have to move on."

"He was my friend, I can't just forget him!"

"Don't forget him, honor him by moving on. Let him be your motivation for living and for fighting. Fight so he does not die in vain!"

"I can't," Harry shook his head. "It should have been me, he shouldn't have been there."

"Remember him but don't fear his death," Remus told him earnestly. "Don't fear the experience, learn from it."

"Easier said than done," Harry looked at him.

"Start slow then," Remus suggested. "Next time Fletch wants you to duel, do it. Remember Cedric, everytime you duel think of him, think you are defending him."

"I failed Cedric."

"No you didn't fail him, there was nothing you could have done. You were up against all odds Harry but the next time the odds will be better, he will be next to you. Don't be afraid of dueling Harry, you can get over all of this."

"I'll try."

"You will do it."

"Because you need me strong?" Harry asked and looked away.

"Because I want you alive and back to your normal self," Remus patted him on the shoulder and got up. "I'll let you go back to your work." He left leaving Harry with a lot to think about.

**

Christmas was coming. Harry of course was going to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. He and Remus were talking a lot but most of the time they talked about Quidditch and school. It had been about a week since their last serious conversation and Harry knew as he walked down the hall and saw Remus coming the other way that he was due for another talk. He didn't mind because they always made him feel better but never better had he told so much to anyone. It was nerve racking that someone knew all his secrets and fears, no one had ever cared before.

"Busy?" Remus called as they past.

"Just out for a stroll," Harry responded.

Remus doublebacked and came up next to Harry. "Good. Let's go."

Not asking where Harry kept walking with Remus. They didn't say anything until they got to a door, which Harry recognized as Fletcher's office. He had of course been in here when the previous Defense Against the Dark Art teachers had it. They went in and Harry was not surprised to find it very much like Moody's office, all his Dark Art devices were around the room. Fletcher had pictures on his desk of people he didn't know though one of them was of Remus, Sirius, his parents and Fletcher all waving and smiling. He stared at it for a few minutes forgetting why he was here.

"Nice picture isn't it?" Remus asked.

"I like it," Harry turned back to Remus.

They were silent for awhile; Remus seemed to be waiting for him to speak. Harry walked around the room fully aware of Remus's eyes on him the entire time. He stopped to look at all the different things and picked up a few. He had a question to ask Remus but he wasn't sure he wanted to. He gulped a few times and opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He kept going around trying to figure out how to say it. He had a feeling Remus knew what he was doing for he waited patiently still watching Harry.

Finally he turned to face Remus and blurted out, "Was it wrong?"

Remus smiled glad that he had finally said something. "Of course it was wrong," he answered, "but you just didn't wake up and decide to take your life. You thought about it, you had your reasons and that is good. It's been a confusing time for you and you have been through so much. Truthfully I think everyone else would have given up months ago but you are strong and I think all this will make you stronger."

"I just thought I was doing good," Harry shrugged. "I would never want anything to happen to Sirius or you."

"Why don't you let us worry about you and you worry about Quidditch and school,"

Remus suggested. "Let Sirius and I be the parents."

Harry put down the object he had been looking at, "Will he understand? I mean this all new. No one has every worried about me, I guess I'm not used to people caring."

"I think he will understand in time," Remus nodded, "you know you two are good for each other. You don't know what it is like for someone to care for you and Sirius doesn't know what it is like to have responsibility for someone else. In time, I think you two will help each other in more ways than you could think of. It's amazing though you two have been through so much, so many horrible events that I can't even start to fathom how you two can even be sane."

"Will Sirius ever be free?"

"We are working on it Harry," Remus sighed. "He's been looking for Peter a lot though these days he's been moping around in canine form waiting for you to talk to him."

"He'll kill them," Harry groaned.

"That's why I am going to be there when you tell him," Remus laughed. "Sirius 14 years ago wouldn't understand and would automatically kill them but this Sirius might stay around for at least a minute to make sure you are okay. Have you ever thought that Sirius might understand more than he lets on? About the suicide, I think he would understand that. I think he tried it a few times in Azkaban, I've never asked though."

"Does he talk about Azkaban much?" Harry asked.

"No, he dreams of it often though, I've heard him," Remus thought. "That's why he usually sleeps as a dog. I can't imagine the things he dreams about, probably Halloween night but even before that he went through rough times."

"I guess I never thought about it before but Sirius and I do have some things in common, we have both been trapped inside our minds while in hell," Harry said.

Remus nodded, "I think he would understand what you went through though he would still want to kill him."

"He just didn't seem to understand when I was in the hospital wing," said Harry.

"Well, he was a bit shocked you could say," Remus shrugged. "I talked to about a week ago the problem was he saw you were in pain and he can't stand that. He loves you Harry."

"I'm scared to talk to him though," Harry said slowly.

"Then listen and let Sirius do the talking," Remus came over and patted him on the shoulder.

"When?"

"I don't know yet," Remus shrugged again. "He's away right now so maybe when he gets back. Why don't you go back to Gryffindor Tower, I'm sure you have homework to do."

Harry nodded and went to the door, "Thanks Remus." He turned back to his former Professor.

"Anytime." Remus nodded at him.