Disclaimer: Not mine. Too bad.

Never Alone

"Shut the door." Harry called out peering around Ron and seeing that the corridor was empty.

Ron did as Harry said looking around and seeing that the floor was covered in glass. He looked to Harry and saw the sheet, which was turning red. "Blimey, Harry. What did you do?"

"I slipped. Put my hand into the picture." Harry lied, not wanting to reveal his own stupidity.

"Lets see." Ron said sitting on his own bed facing Harry.

Harry slowly unwrapped the sheet, and Ron could see that the knuckles were all badly sliced. "Harry, I got to get my Mum. That looks bad."

"No, Ron. She'll just worry." Harry said quickly. Harry could not bear to see the motherly expression of worry that Molly Weasley would have if she saw his hand.

"I have to get someone, Harry. You'll bleed to death. I don't know any healing charms." Ron said shaking his head.

Harry thought for a moment, and then decided. "Get Lupin." He knew he'd be in for a lecture, but that was better than the pity from Ron's Mum.

Ron returned in just moments with Lupin who looked frazzled. "What is this about, Ron?"

"Harry." Ron said pointing at his friend.

"I had an accident." Harry said holding his hand out still wrapped in the blood-drenched sheet.

Remus immediately sat on the bed facing Harry, and unwrapped the hand. "Accident, huh." He said pulling his wand out and whispering some words. The shards of glass that had been buried in his hand floated up first. "Ron, get me that water basin. Its needs to be cleaned before I do the mending charm." Remus instructed.

Ron did as he was told and watched as the water turned bright red. After it was clean Remus whispered another charm and the cuts mended themselves. "That will be sore for several days. Now, Harry. Do you care to tell me how this happened?"

"It was an accident. I slipped and my hand went into the frame." Harry felt guilty lying to Lupin, but he could not admit that he had done something so childish.

"Harry, we all get angry sometimes." Remus said shaking his head. "It happens."

"I'm not angry." Harry said defensively.

"Ron, do you mind leaving us for a moment?" He said politely, but neither Harry nor Ron doubted that it was a command and not a request.

Ron did as he was asked, and Remus began speaking again. "Harry, I hate to see you like this. Hurting yourself will not bring Sirius back."

Harry swallowed hard. "I did not cut myself on purpose. And you don't have to tell me that Sirius isn't coming back. I know that far too well." The words came out harsh and bitter.

"Why must you turn to anger? I am trying to help you, Harry." Remus said sighing heavily.

"I don't want to discuss this." Was Harry's only reply. "Now, I really am tired. Can I go to bed?"

Remus looked at him for a moment looking as if he was trying to make a decision. He stood abruptly and walked to the door, but before he opened it, he turned back. "You're not the only one who misses him, Harry. With James gone, and Peter turned, I'm the only one left. I figured you of all people would realize that. You're not alone in your grief, Harry. Never alone." Remus turned back to the door and opened it.

"Lupin." Harry's voice stopped him. "Thanks…. For the hand." He said still unable to express his true feelings.

"You're welcome." Remus said tapping the picture frame beside the door and saying "Reparo." The glass seemed to fly back to the picture frame and it looked as good as new, then he was gone.

Ron came back in, but Harry didn't want to talk. He immediately lay on his side facing away from Ron, hugging the hand that still throbbed.

"Harry, when you want to talk… Well I'm here." Ron said knowing that his friend was in more pain than he'd ever admit to.

Harry didn't answer. He couldn't.

The days and nights spent at the Black mansion seemed even more endless to Harry than the ones he had spent at the Dursleys. He was rarely left alone in any room, and it seemed as if they all walked around him on eggshells. At least once a day someone would try to get him to open up to them, but Harry refused to speak of his feelings. He knew deep down that they were all trying to help him, but he resented the effort just the same. He was not some crazy invalid that needed to be monitored all the time; for fear that he might hurt himself. But he could not tell them that. So he kept silent accepting the way things were.

The only thing he was able to say to his friends was that things would be better when they were back at Hogwarts. So on the first day of September the Order escorted the three students to the train station. Ginny had finally convinced her mother that she would not go back to school until she was sure Bill would be okay. Harry only said half-hearted goodbyes though, and boarded the train before anyone else.

But once he entered the Hogwarts Express Harry did start to feel a little better, and he even caught himself smiling at some of the stories that Luna Lovegood was telling Neville Longbottom. When Ron and Hermione had found which car they were in they were both glad to see a smile spread across Harry's face again.

"This is our last year. Can you imagine? Do you think it will be calmer than the rest?" Ron asked eating a Pumpkin Pastie.

"I wouldn't lay odds on it." Harry said. They had never had a calm year at Hogwarts, and Harry did not see how this one could be any different.

"Oh well. Wishful thinking, I guess." Ron said scowling slightly.