Disclaimer: I'm sick of typing that word. You get it already.

I feel all cried out, Harry wrote in his diary.

Why's that? Harry could have sworn he had seen this handwriting somewhere before.

I talked to Hermione. And cried a lot.

That's good.

No, it's not. I gave in! I wasn't strong enough to deal with my own bloody feelings! Gee, I sound like Ron, Harry wrote in, as an afterthought.

You did, there. However, remember this, Harry. Sometimes, you just need to share you burdens with others. You can only carry so much.

I suppose...

I can just hear that song "Lean on Me" in my head.

Don't you dare write those lyrics in.

Shoot. You read my mind.

Who are you?

You'll know soon, Harry. Soon.

How soon is soon?

(Remus laughed looking at Harry's words.) You sound just like Sirius.

Harry was silent. Just like Sirius echoed in his mind. Instead of closing the book, he just sat staring at it.

Are you still there?

Yes.

Are you okay?

I'm not sure.

It's late, Harry. Get some sleep.

Sure thing. 'Night.

Good night, Harry.

Harry closed the book, gently this time, and placed it carefully on his bedside table. Just like Sirius, he thought to himself, as he drifted off to sleep...

~~~

            Harry awoke the next morning feeling different. He wasn't thinking about his dreams of suicide. Instead, he was thinking of writing in the diary again.

Anyone there?

No answer.

Still asleep, I guess. I think now I'll finally get to write this like an ordinary diary. All I have to say is last night was special. I did not dream of committing suicide so I could join Sirius again. I thought about Hermione and Ron and how they'd miss me like Lupin must miss Sirius, like Lupin must have missed my dad, because they were all best friends. How Lupin would probably miss me. That stopped me in every dream. And I think it'll stop me in real life. Well, I suppose I may talk to you this evening, so good day.

Harry shut the book and put it on his bedside table. Those words he had written had really set him thinking. He got dressed and went down to the Great Hall in a sort of trance. He was the first one there. Not long after, however, Ron came in and slid down next to him. How many times does he lie awake watching me?

            "How are things?"

            "I'm not really sure, Ron."

            "You're not the only one to miss him.

            "I know."

            "Lupin isn't acting like this."

            "He knew him as a friend, not as almost a father."

            "He knew him as almost a brother."

"So then which is closer?"

 "They're about the same, I guess," Ron sighed.

"Lupin is stronger than me, then. I break down too easily."

"No you don't, have you been telling yourself things like that all this time?"

"I don't really know," Harry said.

"How could you not know?"

"You've never been in this position, Ron, but it all passes as a sort of blur, and when things turn up, you can't really remember why you were so down, because the thing that had been bugging isn't exactly gone."

Ron as silent. What could he say to that comment?

"You don't have to say anything at all, Ron. I know you have no idea what it's like." Harry said this almost sadly, as if he wished with all his heart to have Ron understand.

~~~

I'm ready to find out who you are. Harry wrote. Remus sighed. He had picked up the diary in the morning, something told him he should look. There, Harry had written a short paragraph that had helped Lupin learn more than a direct conversation ever would.

That was quite a mini-speech you wrote.

I was just saying what was in my head.

It's very sad.

I dunno...

So you ready to know?

Just tell me, okay?

It's Lupin, Harry. Remus Lupin. Moony.