average human’s Reviews > Veritaserum > Status Update

But Harry was a former street kid. And Michael knew a few ways to convince them himself.

“Harry if you’d rather Severus just come to sessions and inform me of the issues himself, that’s okay,” he said cheerfully. “You don’t have to be here for us to discuss you if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Oh I’ll be here,” Harry immediately said. He gave Severus a sharp smile. “But remember Snape, this was your idea.”

“Severus is only concerned about you,” Michael said gently. “And therapy is a safe place to explore any problems you’re having in your life.”

The timer went off and Harry and Severus both stood immediately. Michael offered them both his hand and was bemused as Harry made an odd remark on his way out the door;

“Suppose I can talk about the basilisk next time then? Since it’s so safe here.”

Michael didn’t hear the exact words Snape responded with, but he recognized the irritated tone of exhaustion that many parents he’s encountered in his work have. He suspected that Severus had quite a bit more to be exhausted by than most though.

Individual Session: 29th of December 1993

Half an hour before Harry Potter was set to arrive in Michael Morris’ therapy office, Michael sat down to review his notes and research on the client.



Harry James Potter, 13yo male.
Current Diagnosis: Manic-Depressive Illness.
Treatment Plan: Therapy and discussion of medication (therapist will recommend foreign resources to SS if situation warrants).
Home Life: HP resides with guardian, SS, during the summers. During the school term HP is a student at an elite boarding school for gifted students. SS states that HP excels in studies with minimal effort, despite HP having no formal education from Primary Year 3 to his first year in boarding school. Prior to residing with SS HP was homeless from 8-11. 1-8yr’s HP resided with maternal relatives who mentally, emotionally, and physically abused him and ultimately kicked him out. HP parents were killed when he was 1yo and HP retains no solid memories. HP was told by relatives his parents had been addicts and abandoned him. According to SS, HP was subjected to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse while homeless. HP has shared minimal memories of this with SS (trust is there). SS states HP has many close friends at school. HP has a pet owl who SS states he is kind and nurturing to.
Current Difficulties: HP displays signs of self-harm and has shown suicidal intent/plans. HP has had (2) reoccurring episodes of depressive episodes since June 1993. HP also displayed manic behavior in summer of 1993. HP struggles with abandonment (godfather?) and betrayals. HP displays deep mistrust of others in regards to honesty and his safety. HP displays anger easily and denies other emotions. HP discusses murder as expected retribution to others; unsure if truth or shock value. HP is manipulative esp. when feeling vulnerable or targeted in conversation.
Current Therapy Plan: Explore possible additional diagnoses. Discuss depth of feelings towards others. Identify thoughts on morality and right/wrong. Discuss trusted relationships.
Future Therapy Goals: Coping mechanisms for depressive states/manic states/suicidal thoughts/ and thoughts of self-harm. Discuss past and how it impacts reality. Establish positive views of self and others.
Misc. Notes: I have no hope that HP will continue therapy without sufficient pushing from SS. HP will likely attempt to manipulate situation to seem as if there is nothing wrong or will refuse to speak altogether.



Michael finished off his cup of coffee, extra strong for what he suspects will be an especially difficult hour, and went out to collect Harry.

“Harry,” he smiled at the young man seated in the waiting room. “Why don’t you come in?”

Harry silently got up and slowly walked toward Michael. He raised a questioning brow when Michael held the door open before edging around him and quickly darting in the office. Michael closed the door and took his seat, gesturing for Harry to do the same. Harry sat on the edge of the couch, vigilantly looking around the room. He seemed much more unsettled than he had his last visit.

Michael made a few quick notes of his behavior.

H appears anxious & uncomfortable- fear of talking or being alone w/ me?

“How are you today?” Michael asked pleasantly.

“Brill,” Harry said tightly.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to talk about today?” Michael asked.

“Nope,” Harry said, intentionally popping the P in a likely effort to be irritating. Michael just smiled.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“Sure,” Harry said as he scooted back in his seat. “My names Harry Potter and I’m incredibly famous.”

“Are you?”

“Course I am,” Harry scoffed. “The Dark Lord tried to kill me and failed. Everyone knows my name, because I defeated him once. Well, three times if you count Quirrell and the ghost, which I do. I’m going to kill him for good one day.”

H has dreams of grandeur.

“Who is the Dark Lord?” Michael asked, playing along with Harry’s attempt to waste his hour session with fantasy stories.

Harry leaned forward, his green eyes were twinkling mischievously behind his silver framed glasses.

“They call him ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’,” he whispered dramatically before laughing. “I call him Timmy though, he hates that.”

“And Timmy tried to kill you when you were a baby?”

“Yep,” Harry says. “Couldn’t do it though, could he? So I’m famous.”

“Tell me something else about yourself,” Michael suggested.

“There’s nothing else to say,” Harry said, his bored face now a stark contrast to the mischievous look before.

“Why don’t you tell me about your friends then?”

“Why?”

“Severus said you have a lot of friends you met at school,” said Michael. “I thought perhaps if there was nothing else to say about yourself then you might like to talk about them.”

“What did Snape say about them?” Harry asked suspiciously.

H values privacy regarding his relationships.

“Unfortunately just like I can’t tell Severus the specifics that you share with me, I won’t share the specifics of what he said either.”

In truth, Severus hadn’t said much in their one session over the summer. He simply said that Harry had many close friends and that he had stayed with a few of them the previous summer. Michael simply hoped that Harry would underestimate his own harmless manipulations to guide the conversation along.

“I dunno what to tell you,” Harry eventually said. “I have a whole bunch of friends, don’t I?”

Michael maintained his polite look of interest to keep Harry at ease during their discussion.

“Who would you say that you’re the closest to?” he asked.

“Susan,” Harry immediately said.

“Not Luna?”

Harry scowled at the reminder of Severus quoting the beginning of his suicide note.

“No, not Luna,” he said tightly. “I said Susan, didn’t I?”

“Alright, Susan then,” Michael said calmly. “Why is she your closest friend?”

“She was my first friend,” Harry shrugged. “She always takes my side and she’s always mad when I don’t take her on missions with me.”

H values loyalty highly in his relationships.

Michael ignored Harry’s baiting phrase of ‘going on missions’ as another attempt to derail the conversation.

“Would you say you love her? As a friend?”

Harry flinched slightly before staring at the wall off to the side of Michael’s head. His jaw was clenched tightly and Michael could see that he was flexing his hands convulsively.

H displays deep discomfort when discussing feelings of love.

“You don’t have to answer any question you don’t want to Harry,” he said softly. “Would you say that you trust Susan?”

“Course,” Harry said, the muscles in his shoulders and torso relaxing slightly at the new question. “She hasn’t given me a reason not to.”

“Do you usually trust people until they’ve given you a reason not to or did Susan somehow earn it, like Severus did?”

“Susan would never tell anyone any of my secrets,” Harry said, looking properly at Michael with his face now reflecting irritation. “So she bloody well earned it, didn’t she?”

“Did Severus earn it as well?”

Harry rolled his shoulders before answering.

“He did,” he said curtly.

“And he lost it?” Michael asked gently.

“Not your business, is it?” Harry said.

Trust is hard earned and easily lost for H.

“Well, besides Susan, and maybe still Severus, who else do you trust?”

“Luna,” Harry said. “Maybe Theo. Sometimes Ron and Blaise. Usually Draco, but he’s a gossip, isn’t he? Mione and Neville a bit.”

“Are those your other friends?” Michael asked as he jotted down their names.

“Suppose so. Mione and Luna aren’t in the gang but Mione’s a genius and Luna’s... well... Luna. So we’re friends.”

“What about other adults?”

Harry blinked at him for a moment before crossing his arms defensively across his chest.

“I don’t spend a lot of time around other adults. Blaise’s mum is a genius, and Susan’s aunt is nice for a cop, but that’s about it.”

H distrusts adults more than children, Michael made a note of it even though it wasn’t very surprising given his past history.

“Do you think there are adults who can gain your trust?” he asked.

Harry shrugged silently, his eyes narrow and suspicious.

“Who trusts you?”

Harry’s suspicious look was gone in an instant as he blinked at Michael in surprise at the question.

“Er- dunno. Maybe Snape?”

“Are you a trustworthy person?”

Harry shifted uncomfortably, “Dunno.”

“Do people confide in you?”

Harry nodded his head after thinking it through for a moment.

“Sometimes about some stuff,” he said vaguely.

“Okay,” Michael smiled again at him hoping to ease his way in to one of his preferred methods of establishing the clients view of their own morality. “What if you told me one instance where you displayed that you are a trustworthy person and one instance where you didn’t?”

“Sure, you first,” Harry smirked.

H uses information as a bartering system.

“Okay,” Michael said easily, used to clients who preferred to ‘trade’ instead of ‘share’. “I believe I display my trustworthiness every day in my career because I never share client information.” He leaned towards Harry and spoke in a conspiratorial tone, “And if you can keep a secret, then I didn’t display trustworthiness when I cheated on a math exam in school.”

Harry rolled his eyes at Michael’s admission.

“‘Kay so I was trustworthy when I told Ron I’d save his sister last year and I did. And I suppose I wasn’t very trustworthy when I killed Lockhart.”

Michael didn’t frown, but he struggled to maintain his patient affect. Severus had told him over the summer of Harry’s self defense against a predator during a sexual assault. Was this the Lockhart Harry referred to?

“Who is Lockhart?” he asked.

“Teacher from school last year,” Harry said with a sharp smile. “Cut his throat open with a sword, didn’t I? Then I buried him under a bunch of boulders.”

H shows no hesitation at admitting to violence or murder- unsure if truth or lies.

“And nobody at your school noticed that a teacher went missing?”

“Course they did, they’re stupid not blind,” Harry scoffed. “Told ‘em the basilisk killed him and since I’m the only one that can open the chamber they couldn’t go check, could they?”

Death of teacher likely real- H description involving fantasy elements separates his from the action.

“What’s a basilisk?” Michael asked, now hearing the odd term for a second time.

“Giant snake,” Harry said easily. “Can kill you with a single look. I killed it with a sword.”

H has minimal signs of psychosis- fantasy stories more likely to be attempts to avoid discussing reality.

Michael hummed noncommittally at Harry’s story. He wouldn’t refute his claims unless pressed for a response.

“Let’s go back to when you said you saved Ron’s sister, what happened?”

Harry smiled again, seemingly seeing through Michael’s change in topics.

“Ginny was in the Chamber, wasn’t she? She was possessed by the Dark Lord and using the basilisk to attack students. Dumbledore expelled me for it but then Snape helped me get back in the school. The Dark Lord got sick of using Ginny and took her in the Chamber to steal her soul so he could come back to life. So I went down there and Ron thought I wouldn’t save her since I don’t like her, but I did. Killed the basilisk, killed the ghost Dark Lord, and saved her life.”

Michael glanced at the clock and was subconsciously relieved to see that a little over half of Harry’s allotted hour had passed.

“So, you went to save Ron’s sister, proving you are trustworthy, but along the way you killed your teacher?” he asked.

“Yep.”

Truth mixed with lies- does H believe or just creating story to waste time?

“That sounds like a busy day,” Michael said. “How did you feel when you proved to Ron that he could trust you when you said you’d save his sister?”

Harry shrugged, “Fine. Told him he owes me another favor now.”

“Do you enjoy having him owe you favors?”

Harry huffed as he crossed his arms again.

“Course, why wouldn’t I? Got a map off Fred and George for a favor, didn’t I? I was gonna use it to find Black, but now there’s loads more interesting things I can use it for.”

H enjoys holding power over others.

“Why were you going to find your godfather?”

“Cause I was gonna kill him,” Harry said baldly.

“Because you felt as though he abandoned you as a baby?”

“He fuckin’ did abandon me, I didn’t ‘feel’ anything,” Harry said hotly.

“Okay,” Michael said soothingly. “I understand why you would feel that way. Do you think it would help if you told him how you felt instead of just threatening to hurt him?”

“Sure,” Harry laughed, a joyless and cold sound. “‘Hey Sirius, it really hurt my feelings when you left me to go on a murder spree.’” Harry laughed again before rolling his eyes. “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s stupid,” Harry said. “Makes me sound weak.”

H hides vulnerability behind anger/violence.

“Is it weakness to share your feelings with others?” Michael asked.

“Having feelings is a weakness,” Harry said.

“I think having and showing our feelings can be an incredible strength.”

“You’d be dead in a week if you lived on the streets,” Harry said flatly.

“Not like you though, right?” Michael said casually. “You lasted years, because you’re strong and smart, right?”

“Exactly,” Harry said, a satisfied gleam appearing in his eyes.

H shows pride in strength and survival, strong sense of resilience and self-reliance.

Michael checked the time and saw they had ten minutes remaining. He decided to use this time for an activity he uses for all his patients with suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

“Harry our session for today is almost over,” he said. “I’d like you to do something for me if you would, before our time is up.”

Harry quirked one eyebrow in a silent gesture to elaborate.

“Could you tell me five things in your life that make you happy?”

“Snape says none of my memories are ‘truly happy’,” Harry said with a scowl. “So probably not.”

Michael made a quick note of the odd comment supposedly from Harry’s guardian.

“You misunderstand,” he said kindly. “Not five memories of times you were happy, but five things in your life right now that bring you happiness.”

“Oh.” Harry blinked before furrowing his brows down as he thought. “Well, Sevvie makes me happy. Luna and Susan do too, do they count as two things?”

“Let’s count friends as one thing,” Michael said. “So your pet owl and your friends are two things, can you think of three more?”

“Flying, magic, and... and... I dunno. Hot chocolate, maybe?”

Michael felt a stab of disappointment at Harry’s continued inclusion of fantasy elements brought back in to the conversation. He didn’t have high hopes that Harry would take therapy seriously. Most people who are being pushed in to it rarely do after all. But it was still tiring to spend time with a client so willfully dedicated to avoiding reality.

H states pet and friends bring joy. Also ‘flying’ and ‘magic’. Cocoa added as afterthought.

“So what I would like you to do is between now and the next time I see you, any time you feel sad or upset, I’d like you to reach out to your friends or play with your pet, or even get a drink of hot chocolate, okay?”

“But don’t go flying?” Harry asked with a small smirk playing on his lips.

Michael smiled indulgently.

“I think it would be better to focus on your friends,” he said.

Harry got to his feet as the timer went off and gave Michael a look of enormous amusement.

“You’re not so bad,” he said. “I told Snape I could tell you anything I wanted, he said to ‘watch myself before I end up in Azkaban.’”

“I’m glad you approve,” Michael said in response to the nonsensical comment. “And you can of course tell me anything, okay?”

“‘Kay,” Harry said. “See ya.”

After Harry left the office Michael released a breath and took a few minutes to sit back and contemplate the session.

He transferred his quickly jotted notes in to more elaborated ones based on the conversation and observed nonverbal cues.

Michael scribbled a final note on Harry’s chart before deciding to call it an early day and go to the pub for a drink.



Due to his indifference to violence or loss of life- H will likely be a prime candidate for a psychopathy diagnosis at 18.

Individual Session: 2nd of January 1994

“Severus, come on in,” Michael said pleasantly.

The taller, and quite imposing if he was being honest, man stood gracefully and relocated to the sofa in Michael’s office.

Michael had been looking forward to this session with a sense of trepidation. He had no doubts that Severus would ask about Harry’s session and deny himself the opportunity to ease his own burdens through sharing his thoughts and feelings on the recent changes. It didn’t seem to be a coincidence that Severus scheduled Harry’s individual session before his own. Though Michael would prefer to keep confidentiality for Harry, he had no legal obligations to withhold information regarding a minor from their parent or legal guardian if directly requested.

Which, Severus immediately did.

“How did Harry’s session go?”

“I think maybe we should let Harry’s session stay private and instead focus on you today,” Michael said with a polite smile.

“And I think we should discuss Harry’s session, as that is the reason I am here today,” Severus said in a dry tone.

Michael mentally sighed. He wondered if Harry had learned his stubbornness from Severus or if it was a happy coincidence that they found each other.

“I am concerned about Harry’s lax opinion on violence and death,” he said carefully. “I also believe he would benefit from finding additional adults that he could trust.”

“That may be difficult due to the recent situation with his godfather,” Severus grimaced. “I encouraged him to begin trusting others and then it backfired... rather spectacularly.”

S shows good instincts in encouraging H towards healthy relationships.

“Oh?” Michael was interested. “Would you like to tell me what happened?”

“Harry found a stray dog he began confiding in,” Severus said slowly. “Apparently he told the dog quite a bit with the belief that it would be unable to repeat any of his secrets-“

“Secrets or his history and thoughts and feelings?” Michael interrupted.

“I believe to Harry it is all one and the same,” Severus said.

H believes thoughts/feelings/history are all secrets to be guarded, Michael jotted down thoughtfully.

“Sorry for the interruption,” he smiled towards the other man. “Please- go ahead.”

“Harry confided quite a bit to the dog and was unaware that he was being spied on by his godfather. He now feels quite betrayed and I am concerned it will prevent him from confiding in others now.”

“Harry’s godfather, Sirius, was spying on him while he was talking to a dog?” Michael asked.

“Yes.”

Michael stalled with his pen above his notebook. He really wasn’t quite sure how to record this.

H trust in dogs betrayed by godfather spying (?), he eventually wrote with a quizzical frown.

“And he told Harry that he spied on him?”

“Yes.”

“How did Harry react?”

Severus sighed and rubbed a weary hand across his eyes.

“He threw a knife at him.”

Michael blinked at Severus a few times, startled by the matter of fact tone he used.

“And you saw this?”

“Yes.”

“And what did you do to discourage that sort of behavior?”

Severus raised his brows, apparently surprised by the question.

“I- well- I thought it was best they worked it out between themselves.”

S indifferent to H violence.

“What are you writing?” Severus asked, his voice sharp now.

“I wrote that Harry responded to what he believes is a betrayal of trust with violence. Which, as I said before, is incredibly worrisome,” Michael lied. Severus continued watching him suspiciously so Michael set his notebook aside for the moment.

“Who is Lockhart?” he asked.

“Who did Harry say Lockhart is?” Severus asked.

“He said he was a teacher at your school,” Michael said. “He also said that he died.”

“Did he,” Severus murmured. “I would like you to tell me exactly what Harry said about Lockhart.”

Michael shivered as a gust of cold wind seemed to invade his office.

“Of course,” he said easily. “Harry said he killed him with a sword and buried his body underneath a pile of boulders.”

“Stupid brat,” Severus grumbled under his breath. “And did you believe him?”

“I believe he killed him,” Michael said, his tongue feeling much looser than usual. “I don’t think he used a sword nor do I believe there was a basilisk involved.”

“A basilisk,” Severus repeated, his eyes taking on a dark look. “Harry told you there was a basilisk?”

“He did,” Michael said.

“Lockhart was killed by the fires by the arsonist I told you about previously,” Severus said. “Harry had nothing to do with it.”

Michael considered this new information as it paired with what Severus told him over the summer. He knew that a student had been setting fires around their school, injuring students, and Harry was temporarily expelled as the main suspect. Severus had fought for his re-enrollment after another fire was set while Harry was expelled.

“Interesting,” Michael said. “I wonder why Harry would claim credit for his death if he was cleared of being the arsonist.”

“What is your best theory?” Severus asked.

“I believe Harry used the cover of the arsonist to kill him,” Michael said. “I think that Harry is incredibly dangerous and should probably be committed to a psychiatric hospital for the safety of others.”

“Is that so,” Severus hummed. “So you believe a mere child is beyond hope? Evil? Tainted?”

“Of course not,” Michael said, shocked by Severus’ insinuations. “But I do think that Harry confessed to killing two men, not including the one you told me of. If these are true and not just the dark imaginings of a troubled teen, then Harry has actually become Britain’s youngest serial killer.”

“How dare you,” Severus hissed, his face blanching. “Is this what I’m paying you for? To call my ward a killer? I just told you that Harry did not kill that man. He died in an accident. An accident caused by his own folly I might add.”

S denial of H possible homicides.

“Okay,” Michael said placatingly. “Why do you think he told me he killed Lockhart then? Along with a man named Quirrell and a ‘Dark Lord’ he calls Timmy?”

“Jesus Christ,” Severus muttered, now pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation. “Because the child is a moron.”

S frustrated by H sharing information in sessions.

“I know this is difficult Severus,” Michael said gently. “Parents never want to see their children as anything aside from perfect, but even if Harry was just boasting to shock me, surely you can see why it’s a cause for concern?”

“Of course I’m concerned about his behavior, would I be here if I wasn’t?”

“Why are you so frustrated right now?” Michael asked calmly.

“Because Harry is an imbecile with no common sense,” Severus said. “I hoped he would open up about his depression and instead he bragged about murders to you. I believe I have earned this feeling of frustration.”

Michael very carefully wrote down a startling realization he had.

Despite his defense- S does not doubt H killed teacher + Quirrell.

“After the situation you described where his godfather spied on him opening up about himself to the dog, did you really think Harry would speak with me?” Michael asked curiously. Severus was an intelligent man, shrewd with calculating eyes. Surely he knew better.

“I sometimes find myself foolishly naive when it comes to Harry,” Severus admitted bluntly. “I hoped that he would, at a minimum, discuss his thoughts on death with you.”

“You mean his suicidal thoughts?” Michael clarified.

“Yes,” Severus said, his face once again paling at the topic.

“Harry doesn’t trust me,” Michael said kindly. “I think it seems like he trusts you quite a bit. But he thinks having those feelings makes him weak, and he wants you to see him as strong.”

“So what do I do to encourage him to tell me when he feels that way?” Severus asked, his voice laced with desperation. “I have been in a constant state of worry that I will wake up one morning and he will have poisoned himself and be gone.”

S shows incredible care and concern towards H- in private or does H know?

“I don’t think Harry will confide in you when he feels this way,” Michael said as gently as he could. “You are very important to him and your opinion matters more than anyone’s. I doubt he would be here if anyone else aside from you tried to push the issue. I think Harry needs someone else to trust, someone more emotionally open, when he’s feeling vulnerable.”

Severus stared at him for a long moment. Michael gave him time to process what he was saying.

“Your professional opinion is what? That I am not emotional enough for Harry to confide in?”

The fact that Severus sneered on the word ‘emotional’ was really answer enough, but Michael indulged him so there were no misunderstandings.

“Do you praise Harry when he makes accomplishments?”

“I am sure that I have,” Severus replied stiffly.

Which sounded like a no.

“Do you give him appropriate positive physical affection?”

“Harry dislikes being touched by males.”

“And he will continue to do so if he is never taught what appropriate physical affection can be,” Michael said softly.

“What am I supposed to do then? Pet the child’s head and tell him he’s a good boy?” Severus asked throwing his hands up in exasperation at the very idea.

S shows signs of own stunted/repressed emotions.

“Someone should,” Michael said. “Do you share your feelings with Harry so he knows it is acceptable to do so?”

“On occasion.”

Which sounded like another ‘no’.

“Have you told Harry that you love him?”

“I fail to see the relevance of these questions,” Severus said. Michael was sure he could hear the man grinding his teeth.

H emulates closed emotional behavior from S- needs more open adult in life to mimic, he wrote quickly.

“Harry respects you Severus, trusts you, you obviously mean quite a bit to him,” Michael said. “But he needs another adult who is more emotionally open that he can turn to when he needs to. He gets his strength from you, clearly,” Michael smiled in an attempt to soothe Severus who was growing more visibly frustrated at every word he spoke. “But he needs someone to learn vulnerability from.”

Michael watched as Severus became thoughtful.

“The mutt and the wolf,” Severus sighed.

“A dog? Heavens no,” Michael chuckled at Severus’ odd reply. “I meant a human adult.”

“Apologies. I meant Harry’s godfather, Black and his partner Lupin. They’re both practically Huff- they both practically ooze emotions,” Severus said with another grimace.

S suggests godfather as resource for H- despite own jealousy regarding connection.

“The felon that Harry threw a knife at?” Michael asked. “Do you think he would be willing to be an emotional support to Harry? Or an appropriate one?”

“Oh he’s willing,” Severus grumbled irritably. “Harry threw a knife at him, told him he was going to kill him, and all Black said was ‘I love you pup, I care about you, I want to be there for you’.”

Godfather displays positive emotions towards H along with easy forgiveness.

“That’s excellent!” Michael said enthusiastically. “Do you think that you can encourage Harry to reach out and build a relationship with him?”

“Do you truly believe Harry needs it?” Severus asked warily. “Harry’s paternal grandmother was Black’s aunt, he very likely inherited his mental illness from his family. Black has always been prone to brash, idiotic, manic behavior.”

“You think that Black also has Manic-Depressive Illness?”

“It is a distinct possibility. His family is quite known for mental instability.”

“And you don’t think that should be even more reason for him and Harry to have a relationship?” Michael suggested. “For Harry to have someone who understands what he’s going through? Someone who has personally experienced it for themselves?”

Severus unexpectedly sighed and rested his head on the back of the sofa. “I won’t find the answer alone. One of us cannot find results without the other,” he said flatly. “She could have been more specific.”

“What’s that?” Michael asked curiously. “Someone else has already encouraged you to work together with Black?”

“You could say that,” Severus said, sitting back upright and rubbing his temples. “A mad little witch who speaks in riddles.”

Michael hummed, uncomprehending of Severus’ ramblings. Though, if someone else had already encouraged him to work together with Harry’s godfather then surely he knew there were more benefits than drawbacks.

“Do you think that your opinion of Black will impact Harry’s decision to build a relationship for someone who could potentially have a terrifically positive influence on him?” Michael asked after Severus sat in silent contemplation for a long minute.

Severus scowled and crossed his arms, much like Harry did when he was feeling defensive in his session.

“My opinion of Black is irrelevant to Harry’s,” Severus said coolly.

“Okay tell me this- do you think there are benefits to Harry and his godfather having some form of a relationship?”

Severus nodded his head curtly after a moment.

“And whose opinion do you think matters the most to Harry?”

“I get it,” Severus said with a frown. “If I do not play nice with the m- with Black then Harry will not either. Delightful.”

I believe S sees benefit in H/B relationship and will encourage it.

Michael gave him a sympathetic smile before glancing at the time.

“We have about fifteen minutes left and I would like to ask you, of all Harry’s behaviors, which would you say is the most worrisome to you?”

“His suicidal thoughts and actions,” Severus said immediately.

“Not his homicidal thoughts or actions?”

“Harry is a troubled teen,” Severus said curtly. “I would simply like to see him live long enough to outgrow his... more violent behaviors.”

S positive role model for H depression, not for H violence.

“What are you writing now?” Severus asked. “I just said that I want him to live long enough to get help for his other behaviors.”

“Which is what I wrote,” Michael said calmly.

“You believe I am an unfit guardian for Harry,” Severus said with a shrewd look.

“Do you think you’re an unfit guardian for Harry?”

S insecure about guardianship.

“I believe I have done what I thought was best in each situation the chaotic brat has put me in,” Severus said tersely. “I also believe that any other guardian would have either given up on him or had him hospitalized, as you so ‘positively’ suggested.”

“There you go then,” Michael said, struggling to maintain his easy smile in the face of the snarky man. “You have done what you thought was best every time, who could ask for a more devoted guardian?”

Severus stared at him with a guarded expression, as if checking to ensure that Michael was not mocking him. Which, he wasn’t. Severus clearly cared about Harry and was doing his best, but nobody can expect one man to provide for Harry in the many, many, different ways he needs it.

Eventually Severus must have felt satisfied with what he saw because he nodded and relaxed back in to the sofa once more.

“Do you think you could encourage Harry and his godfather to attend a family session before the two of you return to school?”

“Have you lost your mind?” Severus said incredulously. “I have barely managed to convince Harry to come with me. And you expect me to convince him to come along with the man he threw a knife at last week?”

“I don’t expect you to do anything,” Michael said gently. “But I do think that if you could convince Harry that maybe we could start to mend that bridge before he returns to school.”

Severus mumbled something under his breath that sounded like a string of curses.

“Fine,” he said irritably. “I will do my best to get Harry to agree to come along with the mu- along with Black.”

“Wonderful! Then I believe we can end our session here today and I will see you all on the 4th?”

“Wonderful indeed,” Severus sneered. “This is a dream come true.”

Michael kept a pleasant smile on his face all the up until the office door closed behind Severus before collapsing in his chair and burying his face in his hands.

He remembered his mother pushing him towards pediatric medicine when he was declaring a major in his education.

“Think of the sick babies you can help Mike!” she’d said.

But noooo, he wanted to help heal people’s minds.

And now here he was, getting his wish.

He dutifully transcribed his notes from the session before once again closing up the office for the day. He left a note for Hannah, his secretary, to reschedule any appointments on the 4th that follow behind the Snape/Potter appointment. At the rate their sessions are going, he doubted whether he would have the patience or stamina to deal with anyone after that session. He also asked her to double the time for the session. One hour probably wasn’t going to be long enough to break the ice, let alone get any real work done.

He’d probably charge Severus triple rate for the session. God knows he’ll earn it.

66%

Family Session Two: 4th of January 1994

Family Case Notes:
Participants: Harry Potter (13yo male), Severus Snape (legal guardian), Sirius Black (godfather).
Current Difficulties: Harry has built a relationship of trust with Severus since July of 1991. Guardianship was finalized in February of 1993. Sirius escaped from a prison in July of 1993 and had his name cleared of previous offenses in December 1993. Harry feels betrayed by Sirius both for not taking placement of him as an infant and for spying on him confiding thoughts/feelings/history with pet on school grounds. Severus states that Harry responded violently (‘threw a knife’) when confronted with Sirius’ ‘betrayal’. Severus believes that Sirius shares M-D diagnosis with Harry. Due to Severus’ closed emotional state- it is highly recommended that Harry build a relationship with Sirius who, according to Severus, is more easily able to share emotions and even told Harry that he loved him after alleged assault.
Session Goals: Begin to build on relationship between Harry and Sirius. Examine past history between Severus and Sirius and see if terms can be agreed upon for Harry’s sake. Allow Harry to hear Sirius’ feelings during session (*note Severus & Harry reactions).
Long Term Goals: Establish emotional connections between Harry-Sirius and Harry-Severus. Establish open communication between Severus-Sirius regarding Harry mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Misc. Notes: Severus has done a commendable job raising Harry thus far, even with the indifference to Harry’s violent streak. Severus needs to find ways to help Harry make more positive choices without feeling as if he is failing as a guardian. Harry needs to see a positive moral example from Severus and a positive emotional example from Sirius. Ideally, Harry would find both qualities in both men. Realistically, one each is already a stretch of a goal.

“Morning Hannah,” Michael Morris said to his secretary as he entered his office at 0750 that morning.

“Doctor Morris! Oh! I’m so glad you’re here!” Hannah appeared to be on edge and slightly frantic. “I told them to wait out here but they started arguing and went in your office- they closed the door and I guess they stopped because I can’t hear them at all now.”

“Who?” Michael asked, though he already suspected the answer.

“Your eight o’clock, the Potter/Snape appointment,” Hannah said.

Michael checked the time and saw that he still had seven minutes before he had to enter the office.

“I’ll be right back,” he said. “I’m just going to... go grab a pen out of my car...”

Hannah gave him a knowing look.

“Your wife won’t be happy if you start back up,” she warned him.

Michael ignored her and went out the back door to have a quick smoke before the session started. He had already been dreading the session, the fact the clients showed up and began arguing in the lobby was a sure sign that peace wasn’t going to be easily obtained today.

He inhaled deeply as he considered the dynamics of the three men inside. Harry, the possible teenage serial killer who is well on his way to a psychopathy diagnosis. Severus, the emotionally stunted, insecure, and jealous guardian. And Sirius, the possible Manic-Depressed godfather who broke out of a prison, and supposedly childhood bully of Severus, if Harry was to be believed. Which, he typically wasn’t because Harry is incredibly manipulative and avoids reality and responsibility through fantasy.

Wonderful.

Michael stubbed out the cigarette and drug himself back inside. He opened his office door at exactly 0801 to glares from all three occupants.

“You’re late,” Severus said shortly from one end of the sofa.

“Cut him some slack Snape, it’s one bloody minute,” a man with long, dark, curly hair snapped at Severus from the opposite end of the sofa. Michael assumed this was the godfather, Sirius Black.

“Don’t talk to him like that,” Harry said, pompously seated in Michael’s chair, his feet up on his desk. “Not his fault Mikey’s late, is it?”

“Apologies gentlemen, I had a call that ran long,” he lied. “Hello, Michael Morris, you must be Sirius Black?” Michael offered his hand to Sirius who shook it good-naturedly.

“The one and only,” Sirius said with a grin.

Harry scoffed lightly from behind Michael.

“Harry, would you mind moving please? It’s easier for me to take notes if I’m beside my desk,” Michael said kindly as he turned to face the teen in his chair.

“So where d’ya think I’m going to sit?” Harry asked.

“You can sit here,” Sirius said, indicating the spot between himself and Severus. “I don’t bite.”

Harry gave him an impassive look.

“Have you gotten a rabies shot?”

Severus snorted at Harry’s snide comment.

“Come sit Harry, I will pull another chair from the lobby.”

Harry slowly got up at Severus’ command and edged away from the desk, keeping over an arms length away from both Michael and Sirius. As soon as Severus pulled a chair from the lobby inside the office Harry snagged it and put it beside Severus’ prior spot on the sofa.

“Thanks,” he said to Severus who sighed and resumed his seat.

“Well,” Michael clapped his hands and surveyed the three men. “I like to start bigger sessions like this off with a little ice breaker. We each go around the room and say one good thing that’s happened to us this week and one thing we’re hoping to gain from our session today. Okay?”

The looks he received were not optimistic, but he soldiered on.

“So, I’ll start. Something good that happened to me this week was I managed to schedule a time out next month to go on a fishing trip with my mates from university. And one thing I hope we gain from this session is cordial conversation. Severus?”

Severus scowled but seemed to put some thought in to his response.

“I heard back from a coworker regarding a project we are working on, we believe we may have finally made a breakthrough. I would also like to gain civilized conversation.” Severus gave a pointed look at Sirius who rolled his eyes.

“That’s wonderful!” Michael said enthusiastically. “Sirius, how about you?”

Sirius furrowed his brows down for a few moments while he thought.

“I rented a place in a village near Harry’s school, which was good. And I guess I’d like to be able to talk to Harry without him hating me,” Sirius grinned at Harry who scowled in return.

“That is good news,” Michael said before turning towards the scowling teen in the room. “And you, Harry?”

“Something good that happened was when Snape wasn’t home I found my knives and put them somewhere he couldn’t get them,” Harry smirked at Severus’ sudden look of irritation. “And all I want out of this session is the book Snape promised me for showin’ up and not hurting Black.”

Michael was indifferent to Harry revealing Severus had been bribing him to come to therapy. Severus wasn’t the first parent to do so, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last. And if a book kept Harry from starting a fight in his office, then perhaps he owed Severus some gratitude.

“What book is it?” he asked Harry.

“A History of Grey Arts Through the Canadian Country,” Harry said with a satisfied look on his face.

Michael had no idea what ‘grey arts’ were, but assumed it was a foreign concept given that the book title mentioned Canada.

“Shut up,” Severus hissed at Harry. Harry shrugged and slumped down in his seat a little.

“Mikey doesn’t care, do ya?” Harry asked.

“Michael,” he corrected him gently, wishing he had a second smoke before coming inside. “And you guys can talk about anything in here, there are no limits.”

Harry, and Sirius oddly enough, both laughed at this while Severus gave Harry an inscrutable look that Michael thought was a silent plea for him to watch what he says.

SS worried about H over sharing?

“Alright well since Severus and Sirius both would like to gain some semblance of normal conversations during the session, why don’t we start there?” Michael suggested. “What do you think is stopping you all from having these conversations before now?”

“Blacks an idiot,” Harry snarled with a heated look at Sirius. “And ‘til now, Snape hated him.”

“I still hate him,” Severus said with his own scowl. “I am merely trying to allow you to find some semblance of a relationship with the man.”

“I’m not so bad once you get to know me,” Sirius grinned at Michael with a self-conscious rub of his neck. “Made some mistakes but I’m human, yeah?”

“You’re a filthy stupid dog,” Harry muttered.

“Not so filthy anymore,” Sirius said.

SB provides opposite of SS- lighthearted attitude.

“Let’s start with Severus, shall we?” Michael interrupted. “Severus, can you give me three legitimate reasons why you dislike Sirius?”

“Only three?” Severus raised one of his brows in a look of faux-surprise. “And here I prepared at least two dozen.”

“Top three then,” Michael said with a forced look of patience. He had counted on Severus to provide a stable and calming role model for Harry during the session. He hadn’t realized the man harbored so much ill will towards Sirius.

“He once tried to kill me when I was sixteen,” Severus said in a dry tone. “Which I believe ranks as the top reason.”

“Oi! That’s not fair! I didn’t force you in that tunnel and you were being a nosy-“

“Watch it,” Harry said coolly. “I’d hate to cut a paw off.”

“That’s enough,” Michael interrupted Sirius and Harry both. “Let’s let Severus finish, okay?”

At Sirius’ nod and Harry’s shrug, Michael turned back to Severus.

“Go ahead.”

“He also spent seven years ‘pranking’ me to the point of hospitalization multiple times,” Severus said with a cold glare towards Sirius. “And he wasted five months prancing around instead of using his remaining brain cell to clear his name, which directly caused harm to Harry.”

SS dislikes SB for injuries to both himself and H, Michael wrote before turning to Sirius.

“Okay, Sirius- what do you have to say about Severus’ reasons he dislikes you?”

“First off, if Snape hadn’t been nosing around my friends then he never would have been in the tunnel that night,” Sirius said with a glare towards Severus. “And Moony-“

“Moony?” Harry interrupted, his eyes narrowed. “Who’s Moony?”

“Remus,” Sirius said.

“And who is Remus?” Michael asked.

“My- er- well- my friend,” Sirius said with an uncomfortable glance toward Harry.

“Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs!” Harry cried suddenly. “Lupin called me stupid! Said it’s a pity I didn’t inherit my mums brains.”

“He what?” Severus asked sharply.

“When did he do that?” Sirius asked.

“On the map I got! And you’re Padfoot, ain’t ya? You said I’m only half as charming and good looking as my dad,” Harry nearly shouted with a fierce look at Sirius.

“Hey let’s-“

“You have our map?” Sirius asked, ignoring Michael altogether. “That’s brilliant Harry!”

“No it’s not,” Harry said. “You all fuckin’ insulted me, didn’t you?”

“Language!” Severus said, only to also be ignored.

“It wasn’t personal pup, it’s just a charm we used. Insults anyone who tries to see it without knowing the phrase,” Sirius said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“Shut. Up.” Severus hissed at Sirius with a small glance towards Michael.

“Oh,” Sirius glanced towards Michael and frowned. “Sorry.”

“He doesn’t care,” Harry said. “Mikey just thinks we’re crazy.”

Michael would have argued the point, but they did sound rather crazy in that moment. And nobody was listening to him regardless.

“I think we got off track-“

“Pettigrew is Wormtail, isn’t he?” Harry asked Sirius. “Called me a midget. My Dad told me to try for a resort.”

Sirius laughed, as if this odd conversation was hilarious instead of headache inducing. At least Severus looked as if he were experiencing the same pains that Michael was.

“I think we’ve gotten off track here gentlemen,” Michael said more firmly than he had before. “Sirius was explaining his side to Severus’ reasons for disliking him.”

“Oh yeah,” Sirius grinned easily at Michael’s reminder while Harry shrugged, unrepentant.

“So anyway, Snape wouldn’t have almost been hurt if he hadn’t been so nosy. Maybe I did prank him, but it’s not like he didn’t do it back just as hard. And I did reach out, to Snape no less, when I realized the dementors were hurting Harry.”

SB shows little remorse towards injuring SS in the past.

“The prison guards were hurting Harry?” Michael asked.

“Oh, er...” Sirius glanced at Severus with an apologetic look on his face.

“They were creating an unsettling environment which was triggering Harry’s depression,” Severus said plainly.

“They suck your soul out,” Harry said, his eyes glittering in the way Michael noticed they do when he’s saying something to get a purposeful response. “They eat your happy memories and then eventually suck out your soul.”

“Harry I swear to God,” Severus muttered while Sirius chuckled.

“It’s okay Severus, if that’s how Harry views them then that’s his opinion,” Michael said calmly. “But I’d like to go back to Sirius if we could. Sirius, you’ve gotten a chance to share your side to Severus’ complaints. Can you acknowledge the validity in his reasoning?”

Sirius sent a sideways look towards Severus and frowned.

“I can,” he said, albeit begrudgingly.

SB acknowledged SS complaints, Michael noted with no small amount of relief.

“Now it’s your turn,” he said again to Sirius. “Do you have three reasons to dislike Severus?”

“Suppose him being a Death Eater doesn’t mean much to you, does it?”

Harry hissed loudly at that, which was rather concerning as it wasn’t the first time he’s done so, and Severus grimaced and made an odd tick towards his left arm.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what a Death Eater is meant to mean,” Michael said slowly. “Can you elaborate?”

“It’s a gang,” Harry said. “And Snape used to be one but he isn’t in it anymore because he’s in my gang.”

H pursues gang affiliations.

“I am not in your gang Harry,” Severus said. “I am in no ‘gang’.”

“What’s a gang?” Sirius asked.

Which was a rather curious question, considering the man spent 12 years in a prison.

“That’s what you were in, Dumbledore’s bloody Order, weren’t you?” Harry sneered in Sirius’ direction. “The Order and the Death Eaters, a bloody joke.”

“How is the Order the same as the Death Eaters?” Sirius looked insulted at Harry’s insinuation.

“And your gang of teenage misfits is the precise image of seriousness,” Severus scoffed.

“Hang on, I’m sorry, what gangs are we discussing here?” Michael interjected. “Severus was in a gang called the Death Eaters, Sirius was in one led by the Headmaster of your boarding school called the Order, and Harry has one?”

“Yep,” Harry said. “Mines the best though. You could join if you were magic.”

All three have gang affiliations- school specific or cause of connections?

“There are no books in Azkaban,” Severus said quietly to Harry. “Shut up.”

“I thought we weren’t allowed to talk about magic here?” Sirius jumped in with an accusing look towards Severus.

“We aren’t.”

Michael definitely could hear Severus grinding his teeth. And, judging by the sheepish look on Sirius’ face, he wasn’t the only one. Michael appreciated Severus’ approach towards practicality for their session. Which, he was dismayed to see, still had 90 minutes remaining.

“We’ve gotten off track again,” Michael said. “Let’s back up and try to not interrupt each other, okay? Sirius, you said one of the reasons you dislike Severus is because he was in a gang that I’m assuming your gang didn’t get along with?”

Sirius snorted and crossed his legs, “You could say that.”

“Alright, and Harry, you said Severus is no longer a part of this gang, right?”

“Nope, he’s on my side now,” Harry said with a small grin towards Severus.

“Great, so what are two other, currently legitimate, reasons you dislike Severus?” Michael asked Sirius.

Sirius scrunched his brows down in thought for a few long moments before he shrugged lightly.

“Can’t think of anything right now.”

“You were being a git to him just the other week,” Harry said incredulously.

“Well I thought he wasn’t keeping a good eye on you when I told him that you were in danger, didn’t I?” Sirius defended himself. “I wanted to check on you and he was being territorial.”

Harry glanced at Severus, who sighed.

“He means I was restricting his access to you by displaying ownership,” Severus explained. “Which I absolutely was not doing, despite his juvenile insults.”

“I didn’t call you Sniv- uh, a ‘juvenile insult’ until you rubbed it in my face that you were Harry’s guardian and not me,” Sirius said. “Which, was you being territorial. I just wanted to check on him.”

SB shows good protective instincts towards H despite immaturity.

“Snape doesn’t own me,” Harry said in a hard voice.

“What do you mean by that Harry?” Michael asked.

Harry rolled his eyes and crossed his arms reflexively. Michael saw his fists clenching and unclenching.

H self-soothes with hand-muscle responses.

“Just what I said, Snape doesn’t own me. Nobody does.”

H fear of being ‘owned’.

“Okay, so nobody owns Harry, Severus hurt Sirius’ feelings by bringing up his status as Harry’s guardian, and Sirius you can’t think of any other reason to dislike Severus?” Michael summarized, once again trying to bring the session back on track.

“He’s a prat, but Harry likes him, doesn’t he? So he must be human in there somewhere,” Sirius shrugged with a grin towards Harry. “Plus he’s doing a good favor for Moony and everyone says he’s watched over Harry since he came to school. So, I can’t think of any ‘currently legitimate’ reasons to be mad just yet. I probably will soon though.”

SB willing to put aside past for H.

“Severus, can you recognize that Sirius is willing to put aside his past dislike in favor of moving forward peacefully?”

“Didn’t say I didn’t dislike him,” Sirius muttered quietly enough that Michael could ignore it.

Severus looked towards Harry, who was glowering at Sirius, and rolled his eyes.

“I can,” he said drily. “Though since I never attempted to kill-“

“Great,” Michael interrupted. “So it’s Harry’s turn now. Harry, do you have three current reasons to be upset with Severus?”

“If he stays out of my stuff and vows not to tell anyone anything about me again then no,” Harry said.

“I suppose I should have left you to be miserable alone with no support then?” Severus said.

“I was fine,” Harry said stubbornly. “I didn’t need ‘support’ I needed the dementors to be gone.”

“So you acknowledge that you were depressed?” Michael asked gently.

“No,” Harry glowered at him. “I was not ‘depressed’, the dementors literally make you feel crazy, that’s their job.”

H views depression as insanity.

“You know being depressed doesn’t make you ‘crazy’, right? It’s a normal response to chemical imbalances in our brains.”

Harry turned to Severus, “Did he just say my brain is imbalanced?!”

Sirius chuckled again which earned him another hate filled look from Harry.

“Just because I said I wouldn’t kill you here doesn’t mean I won’t the second we leave,” Harry said.

“We aren’t killing anyone,” Michael said hastily. “Harry please don’t threaten Sirius.”

Harry rolled his eyes and slumped down in his chair.

“Severus, can you acknowledge the validity of Harry’s complaints?”

Severus’ brows rose in incredulity.

“You believe I should regret informing you of Harry’s struggles and for finding the note in his dorm?”

“I do not,” Michael said calmly. “What I think you should do is acknowledge that even if you weren’t wrong, that Harry was hurt by your actions and you can acknowledge his feelings.”

Harry, predictably, curled his upper lip at this. Severus turned a thoughtful face towards Harry and spoke very solemnly.

“I apologize that my actions injured the trust you placed in me.”

Harry blinked, taken aback by Severus’ genuine apology.

“Are you gonna do it again?”

“If I believe your life is in danger then I am afraid I will,” Severus said.

“Then you’re not really sorry, are you?”

“I do regret that you feel less trusting towards me. Though I wish that you would acknowledge that I was concerned for your safety.”

H does not accept apologies without supporting actions.

“I can make you a deal,” Severus said in a slow way that made Michael believe he was weighing his words carefully. “If you will agree to inform me the next time you consider ending your life, then I will agree to not invade your privacy like I did before.”

Michael and Sirius both watched as Harry silently studied Severus for a few moments.

“Deal,” Harry eventually said with a curt nod of his head.

SS very attuned to H thought processes, Michael wrote with a broad smile.

“Excellent! Really guys, this is a great step!” He ignored their matching eye rolls and refocused on Harry. “Now, do you have three currently valid reasons you dislike Sirius?”

“I have a dozen,” Harry said with a small grin towards Severus who Michael was surprised to see smile in return.

H seeks approval from SS which seems freely given (affection?).

“Top three then,” Michael said lightly.

“One, he let Dumbledore send me to Surrey when he shouldn’t have. Two, he tricked me in to thinking he was just a dog. Three, his boyfriend is a prat,” Harry said, ticking his reasons off as he went.

“Boyfriend?” Sirius yelped. “Who told you that?”

Harry gave a pointed look at Severus, who turned a bland face to Sirius.

“Was your tasteless preference a secret?”

“Not tasteless,” Sirius scowled. “But not your business to be spreading around, is it?”

“Are you ashamed of your sexuality?” Michael asked.

“Probably ashamed of his boyfriend, I would be,” Harry smirked.

“Moony made a couple mistakes but he’s a good person,” Sirius said. “He isn’t like us pup, he doesn’t get it. But he tries.”

“You and I are not the same,” Harry said harshly. “You can be ‘tragically misunderstood’ all by yourself.”

“I’m not misunderstood,” Sirius said easily. “Except, maybe you don’t understand me. But you would if you even bothered to try.”

“Why would I bother to try?” Harry asked, tilting his head in curiosity. “You left me behind, you don’t mean anything to me.”

Michael expected Sirius to react poorly to Harry’s harsh statement but he just grinned at him instead.

“You used to call me Paddy, when you were a baby,” Sirius said. “Your Dad lost the plot since your first word was ‘mama’ and your second was ‘paddy’. He thought you said daddy until you reached for me.”

SB offers connection to parents(!!).

“That’s a cute story, Black,” Harry said, clearly unmoved by the story. “Suppose that was before you let Dumbledore ruin my life, yeah?”

“Hold on,” Michael jumped in before Sirius could respond. “Can you elaborate Harry?”

“Course I can,” Harry said with a shrug. “He could have taken me with him, but instead he let Dumbledore send me to Surrey because he didn’t care to fight for me.”

“And Surrey is where you lived with your mothers sister?” Michael asked, checking his previous notes.

“Yep.”

“Why did Dumbledore decide that?” Michael asked. “Did your parents not leave a will?”

“They did,” Severus cut in smoothly. “It stated that Black was to be Harry’s godfather in case anything happened to them.”

“And you didn’t take him?”

“I tried!” Sirius said, his voice become a little hysterical. “I went there to get Harry! But Hagrid wouldn’t let me. I said I was his godfather but he said Dumbledore ordered him to take Harry to Petunia!”

Michael looked incredulously at the three men.

“And that was okay? That Dumbledore bypassed a legal will and decided custody for an orphaned infant?”

“Thank you!” Harry cried. “That’s what I’ve been saying!”

“There were a lot of conflicts going on at the time,” Severus said slowly. “Dumbledore was considered to be a rather trusted figure while most considered Black to have been the person responsible for Harry’s parents deaths.”

“Sure nobody considered you responsible?” Sirius said snidely.

Severus twitched, very lightly, and his eyes tightened.

“I’m confused,” Michael admitted. “How were either of you responsible for the death of Harry’s parents?”

“Snape heard a prophecy saying I’m going to kill old Timmy-“

Sirius sputtered and Severus sighed in a long suffering type of way as Harry began explaining.

“So he told Timmy, didn’t he? Since he was the leader of his gang at the time. So my parents had to go in hiding and everyone thought Black was the secret keeper, but he wasn’t. It was Pettigrew.”

“You know about the prophecy?” Sirius gaped at Harry.

“You have violated at least five laws since we have arrived,” Severus hissed at Harry. “Would you mind if I explained in a way that keeps us all from being imprisoned?”

“Go ahead,” Harry smiled.

“Apologies,” Severus said to Michael. “It was a very chaotic time in our community.”

Michael thought Severus said they lived in a religious community in Scotland, but he had no idea what kind of religion had so much gang warfare.

“As Harry said, I overheard information regarding his family and passed it to my boss, Riddle. Which led him to target Harry’s parents. Once I realized he was targeting Harry’s parents I went to Dumbledore and asked him to protect them. They went in to hiding and people believed only Black knew of their location. So when they were murdered by Riddle everyone believed that Black had turned them in. Which was not helped by his foolish actions in attempting to kill Pettigrew-“

“Who faked his death and went to Azkaban couple of weeks ago,” Sirius finished with a smug look.

Michael had a sudden realization- whatever community these people lived in, he wanted nothing to do with it.

Gang warfare (?)

“Okay, so... Harry, did you forgive Severus for his part in the death of your parents?”

Harry shrugged, “Suppose so, yeah.”

“But you won’t forgive Sirius for letting Dumbledore, someone he was also working under, take custody of you as an infant?”

“It’s not the same, is it?”

“It’s not,” Michael agreed. “Some would say Severus’ actions were much worse.”

That cleared the smirk quickly off Harry’s face and he looked carefully blank as he blinked owlishly a few times.

“He is not incorrect,” Severus said quietly to Harry. “The mutt did you wrong, but I am not blameless in putting you in that situation to begin with.”

Sirius, who looked insulted at being called a mutt, gave Severus a newfound look of appreciation at the rest of his words.

“But you were following orders,” Harry said. “And-“

“And so was I,” Sirius said. “Harry I swear to Merlin that I thought Dumbledore was making the best decision for you. I figured he knew something I didn’t and then I thought if I couldn’t have you, what I really wanted, that at least I’d avenge your parents murder by killing Pettigrew.”

Michael was beginning to wonder if he had somehow gained clients from some odd cult that worshiped magic and Merlin.

SS will need to be moral guide for H- SB not good moral role model.

“Amelia said you laughed when they arrested you,” Harry blurted out of the blue. “Why?”

“Because Pettigrew was a moron!” Sirius said. “Got the worst grades, didn’t he? Only got two NEWTS! And he tricked us! Tricked me! So when they showed up I was just in shock Pup. Mikey would probably call it a nervous breakdown or something. How could Pettigrew have pulled it off?”

Michael assumed protesting the name Harry had christened him with would be fruitless at this point in the session.

“Why didn’t you tell them you didn’t do it?” Harry asked. “Weren’t you and my Dad training with them?”

“They didn’t let me,” Sirius said, his eyes getting dark. “Threw me straight in Azkaban with no trial.”

“Azkaban is slang for prison?” Michael checked. He had put it together with the context when it was mentioned before, but he had never heard of a person being imprisoned without a trial since the early 1930’s in the United Kingdom.

“Sure,” Harry said, distracted as he studied Sirius. “So those cops were your friends and they didn’t even ask you if you did it?”

“Not once.”

“Pft,” Harry scoffed. “I knew magic cops were just as bad as Muggle ones, didn’t I? Told Snape when he had them following me around.”

Sirius grinned slightly at that as Michael noted down the word ‘Muggle’ and Severus groaned.

“You think Tonks would get fired if they knew she spent an afternoon looking for me with you while I was right beside her?” Sirius asked, his eyes sparking mischievously.

“Fuck,” Harry breathed, a small grin on his face now as well. “They’re just as bad and just as stupid as Muggles, ain’t they?”

“Aren’t they,” Severus corrected him, only to be ignored as Sirius’ loud laughter filled the room.

Harry grinned at Sirius before nervously glancing towards Severus.

“Er... can I talk to you? In private?” Harry gave a pointed look towards both Sirius and Michael.

“We can step out for a moment,” Michael offered. “Though I would prefer it if we had conversations out in the open.”

“I’m sure you would,” Harry rolled his eyes. “Not a chance.”

Michael glanced at the clock again and was relieved to see that there were only 45 minutes in the session remaining. He would have been much more disgruntled at being ordered out of his office by a teenager if he didn’t know that in less than an hour he could leave.

Michael and Sirius stepped out in the lobby where Sirius gave him a shifty grin as he stuck his hands deep in his jacket pocket.

“Mind if I go smoke?”

Michael considered for a split second before nodding in defeat.

“Come on, I can show you where I go out back.”

Sirius followed Michael to the back lot where they both lit up.

“Thanks for helping me in there,” Sirius said between inhales. “I didn’t want to be the one to point out that Snape made the worst decision out of the two of us, but I appreciate you doing it.”

“Cheers,” Michael murmured. “Can I ask you a question?”

Sirius chuckled, “Another one you mean? Sure.”

“Severus said Harry threw a knife at you and threatened to kill you, do you think he would have?”

“Absolutely,” Sirius said without hesitation. “The kid was furious. I was lucky he looked exhausted I guess.”

“And you told him you love him afterwards?” Michael asked.

“Course.” Sirius stubbed his cigarette out and gave Michael a curious look. “Harry’s the closest thing I’ll ever have to a son. I even named him my heir the day after he was born. James was like my brother, you know? Harry’s the most important person in my life. When I was in Azkaban all I could think about was how much I regret not disobeying Dumbledore and running off with him. Harry could have killed me on the spot and I would have loved him all the way to the afterlife.”

Michael thought that was an admirable view to take on the situation. Sirius showed a lot of immaturity, especially where Severus was considered, but he clearly loved Harry deeply.

The two didn’t say anymore as they went back in the office. Michael sat and saw that Harry looked contemplative while Severus looked smug.

“Did you clear up your issue?” Michael asked Harry.

“Suppose so,” Harry said.

“Would you like to tell us what it was?”

Harry glanced at Severus, who smirked and nodded his head curtly.

“Wanted to ask Snape if he still hated Black, didnt I? Wasn’t gonna sit here and play nice for another half an hour if Snape hates him.” Harry shrugged.

H shows deep loyalty to SS, likely caused by guardianship and rescue from homeless/abusive situation.

“And I informed Harry that he should pursue his own relationships, regardless of my beliefs. But in this case I believe Black is making a nearly adequate attempt,” Severus said smugly.

SS enjoys knowing H holds him in higher regard than SB (lack of maturity).

“Nearly adequate?” Sirius chuckled. “I guess the Firebolt doesn’t count then?”

“What Firebolt?” Harry asked, instantly appearing alert and nearly excited.

Severus gave him a long look, alongside a subtle glance towards Michael.

“The one you received for Christmas,” he said slowly. “You thought that I had purchased it.”

H experiences memory lapses during depressive episodes, Michael wrote as he interpreted Severus’ look alongside the conversation.

Harry furrowed his brows before smacking himself lightly on the forehead. “Oh, yeah.” He gave Sirius a curious look, his head tilted slightly and his eyes narrow behind his glasses. “Firebolts are expensive, I can pay you back.”

“With our money?” Sirius laughed. “The Goblins said that you already made a few withdrawals from the Black account.”

Harry flushed slightly but Michael interrupted before he could respond.

“Sorry, but what is a firebolt and what Goblins?”

“Son of a bitch,” Severus muttered. “The Minister himself won’t be able to keep us out of prison.”

“You could obliviate him,” Harry offered. “He’d never remember a thing.”

Michael was being entirely ignored as the three men began arguing over the pros and cons of ‘obliviating’ him. He began to feel panicky. He had no way of knowing what they meant by the odd term, but he didn’t believe any of them were opposed to killing him if they thought they had a good enough reason.

“Will you speak with your godfather cordially and not harm him again if he does not newly deserve it?” Snape asked Harry.

“Guess so,” Harry shrugged.

“And we will create a system where you come to me if you begin to forget the many valid points in you living long enough to take over as Minister?” Snape asked with his dark eyes narrow and severe.

“Yes,” Harry said defensively. “Made a deal, didn’t I?”

“Excellent. You two may step out,” Severus said. “I’ll finish up here and perhaps we can avoid adjoining cells in Azkaban.”

Sirius chuckled while Harry gave Michael a self-satisfied look.

“Knew it didn’t matter what I said, didn’t I? You won’t remember it anyway,” he laughed as he exited the office.

Michael looked pleadingly at Severus.

“Listen- I don’t know what’s going on but my code of ethics prevents me from sharing any pertinent information on your sessions with anyone,” he said quickly.

“I understand,” Severus said calmly. “However with Harry’s fame and Black’s infamy, I can’t take any chances.” He pulled a long dark handled stick out of his pocket. “I want you to know that I truly appreciate all that you have done to help Harry and I, and I regret that Harry placed me in this position. I believe it was intentional on his part, though perhaps I should have seen it coming, the child is incredibly cunning if you had not noticed.”

Michael gave up on decorum and leapt from his chair and backed away quickly.

“Severus, listen-“

“Obliviate,” Severus murmured with the stick pointed at Michael’s head.



“Honey are you okay? You look exhausted,” Michael’s wife Jennifer cooed over him as he ate his dinner.

“Long day,” he said with a yawn. “Sorry love.”

“Oh was it that new family you said you were seeing today?” she asked.

“New family? You must have me mixed up with your other therapist husband,” he teased her. “I haven’t taken on any new families in the last six weeks.”

69%

Harry considered how he’d feel if Sevvie turned out to be an animagus (he wasn’t, Harry checked the second Mavis brought him to Spinners End), and felt bad for his friend. When Owens posted the January Hogsmeade weekend, next weekend, Harry had the perfect idea.

“Ron, when’s your birthday?” Harry eagerly asked during breakfast.

“Er, first of March, why?” Ron responded around a mouthful of sausages.

“You’re going with me to Hogsmeade this weekend,” Harry said firmly. “It’s a surprise.”

“If you’re looking for a handsome red-headed date to Hogsmeade you’re barking up the wrong Weasley.”

Ron nearly choked on his food and Susan started giggling as Harry raised an interested brow at the arrival of one of the Weasley Twins.

“Hiya Harry,” he grinned impishly. “I came to see if you had plans this weekend.”

Harry blushed under the stares of his friends, and the giggles of the three girls, though he wasn’t sure why.

“Just said I did, you apparently heard me, yeah?”

“You wound me Harry,” the older boy cried, dramatically clutching a hand to his chest. “When will you see that our love shines eternally and accept my efforts to woo you?”

Harry glanced at Ron, who was still red faced and sputtering, before turning back to the twin.

“I don’t even know your name,” he said coolly. “Suppose that means I don’t love you either.”

Draco and Blaise let out howls of laughter and Neville started snickering quietly beside them.

“Fred,” the twin said, offering his hand. “Frederick Fabian Weasley, the third,” he said pompously with his nose stuck up in the air. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Harry looked disdainfully down at his proffered hand then at Fred’s face.

“Is that your real name?” Theo asked curiously.

“How dare you sir!” Fred cried. “You Slytherins wound me with your cold-hearted cynicism.”

“It’s not,” Ron said. “It’s just Fred Fabian Weasley, the only one thankfully.”

The rest of the kids laughed, except for Harry who was still watching Fred carefully.

“Fred Weasley is still a distinguished name,” he winked at Harry. “Better than Ronald Bilius Weasley anyway.”

Harry glanced at Ron and saw his ears were turning red again and figured Fred had insulted him in some way.

“Ron’s a great name,” Harry said, icicles practically dropping off his words. “Better than Fred.”

Fred ignored his cold tone and leant against the table where Harry was seated.

“Is that why you’re going to Hogsmeade with him?”

“It’s- we aren’t- bloody hell Fred!” Ron sputtered. “We’re just mates. Mates who hang out together.”

“Wellll, if it’s not a date then...” Fred gave Harry a lopsided grin. “Want to go with me?”

“No!” Harry said, frustrated again. “You and I ain’t friends. Ron is my friend. Draco, Blaise, Neville, and Theo are my friends. Mione, Susan, and Luna are my friends. If I wanted to hang out with someone in Hogsmeade it would be them.”

Fred looked around the students around Harry, his eyes lingering on Susan and Blaise for a peculiar moment before he stood up straight with an easy grin.

“I’ll ask you again next month,” he said cheerily. “Later, Snakes and honorary Snakes.”

Fred sauntered off and Harry saw George quickly running up to join him as he left the hall.

“What the fuck,” he muttered. “Ron your brother is weird as Hell ain’t he?”

“Yep.”

“How come you don’t want to go out with Fred?” Susan asked curiously. “He’s only two years older, he’s funny, and Neville said he’s nice to the younger kids in Gryffindor.”

“He is,” Neville confirmed quietly.

“So?” Harry said curiously. “I’d rather hang out with guys.”

Blaise was studying Harry intently, his golden eyes were narrowed in thought.

“But Harry-“

“Sh,” Blaise interrupted Hermione as he kept watching Harry. “Harry,” he said slowly, “you know Fred was asking you out right? Like a date. Like how Hermione and Theo go out on dates in Hogsmeade.”

“Oh.” Harry blushed hotly as he hadn’t linked together Fred’s insinuations with how Hermione and Theo were a couple.

Stupid.

“Why? He doesn’t even know me.”

“Dates are how people get to know each other,” Hermione said. “Theo and I were friends first so we already knew each other. Usually if someone thinks they like someone else then they invite-“

“Does Fred think he likes me then?” Harry interrupted Hermione. “Didnt I kick his arse in a duel?”

“That’s probably why he likes you,” Draco said with a smirk. “He thought, ‘oh Harry you’re soo powerful.’”

“He’s probably right you know,” Luna said softly. “I imagine you looked amazing when you fought him.”

Harry blushed hotter at Luna’s praise as everyone started snickering.

“Why would I want to go on a date with someone who just likes me because I’m powerful?”

“He probably also thinks you’re cute,” Blaise smirked. “Can’t imagine why of course...”

Harry threw a bit of toast at Blaise, “Fuck off.”

“That’s the real reason,” Ron said as he laughed at Blaise’s look of indignation. “He probably fancies how often you said ‘fuck’. Thinks you’re a rebel.”

“Harry is a rebel,” Susan said. “First student in over twenty five years to be expelled.”

“Am I really?” Harry asked interestedly.

“Yep. Dumbledore’s never expelled a student before,” Susan said. “I checked.”

“Maybe he just likes you for you,” Neville said to Harry as he brought the conversation back to Fred. “You both like Quidditch. Both are sort of trouble makers. And Fred seems to like a bit of danger.”

“And Harry’s very dangerous,” Luna agreed serenely. “That’s very insightful Neville.”

“I wouldn’t want to date someone who just likes me because I’m strong and dangerous,” Harry said after thinking it over for a moment.

“I only want to date someone who thinks I’m dangerous,” Susan grinned. “Helps keep them in check.”

Draco shuddered dramatically, “Everyone knows your dangerous Susan.”

“Good.”

“Fred being a guy doesn’t bother you though?” Theo asked hesitantly after everyone went quiet for a few seconds.

“What is it with Wixen and their weird judgmental bullshit? ‘What’s your blood like? What house are you in? Dark or light? D’ya shag boys or girls?’ It’s madness!” Harry threw his hands up in complete exasperation after his rant.

“I don’t care,” Theo said hastily after a quick nudge in his ribs from Hermione. “But Hermione said Muggles are weird about it and you grew up Muggle, so I was just curious.”

“Muggles don’t care,” Harry laughed sharply. “I saw blokes pick up other blokes off the street for a few hours then go home to their wives later, didn’t I?”

His friends peered curiously at him until Harry hissed and they quickly jumped back.

“You have an odd life Harry Potter,” Luna said softly. Everyone else nodded their head in agreement and then thankfully moved on to discussing something else.

“I do have a brill surprise though,” Harry muttered to Ron. “So go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend.”



Their week of classes seemed to drag on as teachers became more concerned with the upcoming exams. Which weren’t until the end of May. Harry wasn’t sure why they’d be worried mid-January, but Snape gave him a death glare when he pointed that out in class so he kept his opinions to himself over it.

Their first defense class after break they started studying another new creature, a Hinkypunk. Hinkypunks were wispy smoke like creatures that carried lanterns and tried to lure people in to dangerous bogs. Harry thought that if someone was dim enough to follow a smokey creature carrying a lantern, then they probably deserved to die.

“Excellent job Harry,” Lupin said cheerfully after Harry answered an easy question on the weird little creature. Harry raised both his brows at Lupin’s easy going response but decided not to comment on it. Apparently his friends had no such restraint.

“Why’s he being so nice?” Susan asked quietly.

“Lupin’s always nice,” Theo said.

“Doesn’t usually talk to Harry anymore though, does he?” Ron said.

“Probably because he’s with Black, yeah?” Harry whispered. “Black’s my godfather, so he probably told Lupin to get along with me or something.”

His friends nodded and went back to listening to Lupin’s lecture but Harry slumped down in his seat. He remembered vividly the night Lupin found him in the corridor and hoped Lupin’s newfound cheer towards Harry was based on Black and not pity.



Care of Magical Creatures was a long hour of the students all huddled around a bonfire of salamanders as Hagrid talked about the different ways they were useful.

“They make fire,” Harry muttered to Ron. “What other use could they have?”

“Shh,” Draco said impatiently as he tried to listen to Hagrid without showing he was listening to Hagrid.



Divination was just as boring as always. Trelawney moved their class on to palmistry and spend half of the class one day discussing how Harry’s palm had the shortest life line she had ever seen.

“Maybe I’m already dead,” Harry said seriously to her when she declared it. “I could be a ghost.”

Trelawney gave them the most homework she’d ever assignment at the end of that class.

“Quit antagonizing her,” Blaise grumbled on their way to their next class. “Just pretend to be scared.”

“This-“ Ron gestured to the ridiculously long essay she assigned “-is entirely your fault mate.”

Harry figured it was still worth it.

74%

“I’m here,” Potter called as he entered Severus’ office.

“You are,” Severus agreed as he looked Potter over. His cheeks were flushed from the chill outside but his eyes were bright and sparkling along with a grin on his face that made Severus believe his trip had gone well.

“Got ya somethin’,” Potter said as he dug in his pockets. He pulled out a blue bag with the Honeydukes logo on it and reversed the shrinking charm he had on it before handing it over to Severus. “It’s sugar quills.”

Severus smiled as Harry threw himself in his chair.

“Thank you,” he said genuinely. “How was your day?”

“Good,” Potter said. “Guess what I did?”

“Something illegal no doubt,” Severus scoffed.

“Nooo,” Potter glared at him slightly for his comment. “I bought Ron an owl for his birthday.”

“Did you?” Severus watched as Potter puffed his chest out proudly and repressed the urge to smirk at the Draco-like gesture. “I was unaware it was Mister Weasley’s birthday.”

“It’s not, not til March. But I thought he looked sad, cause of Scabbers being an actual fuckin’ rat instead of just a pet one, so I bought him an owl.”

Severus was so taken aback by Potter’s reasoning that he didn’t even bother to correct his language.

“That was considerate of you,” he said. “I personally had not considered Ronald’s loss when I kidnapped his rat.”

“I did,” Potter preened. “Saw he looked sad and I fixed it, didn’t I?”

Severus was truly impressed with Potter’s decision. It showed no small amount of empathy that he was able to-

“And now I’m probably not his boggart.”

God damnit.

“What were you thinking when you decided to purchase Ronald a new familiar?” Severus asked casually as he shuffled a stack of essays on his desk. “Specifically, if you wouldn’t mind elaborating.”

Severus could practically sense Potter furrowing his brow as he thought it through.

“Well I thought Ron was sad and figured I could fix it, you know? So I did.”

“And you believed that you could also eliminate his current fear by doing this?”

“Yep,” Potter grinned again. “Probably worked, didn’t it?”

“Probably,” Severus agreed. It was impossible to determine if Potter had undertaken the task due to altruistic empathy or because he had seen an opportunity to fulfill a personal goal. Though if the end result was him being kind to a friend, Severus supposed the intent behind the act was unimportant.

“How did you meeting with Black go?” he asked instead.

Potter shuffled uneasily at the question and Severus worried that Black had irritated the child in some way before he realized that Potter looked guilty, not unhappy.

“It was fine...” Potter said hesitantly. “He talks a lot, ya know?”

Severus smiled to himself as he realized why Potter felt guilty. It was for the same reason that he spoke with him before agreeing to meet Black today- he was needlessly concerned that Severus would be unhappy if he were too comfortable with Black.

“I am pleased to hear it went well,” Severus said, attempting to interject as much warmth as possible in his tone. “Was Black cordial to your friends as well?”

“Yeah,” Potter relaxed as he correctly judged that Severus was not displeased with him. “He’s awfully social, ain’t he? Rosmerta said he’s an ‘incorrigible flirt’ too.”

Severus nearly scowled as he remembered the way that the witches in their year used to trip over themselves for Black. Of course, once it was revealed that the man was not interested in women, then a decent portion of males became interested in him instead.

“He is,” Severus agreed lightly. “Did you speak with him about your date offer from the older Mister Weasley?”

“No,” Potter rolled his eyes. “What if he laughed, huh?”

Severus steeled himself as he prepared to do something he never imagined he would: defend Sirius Black.

“Harry, I do not believe that Black would have laughed at you,” he said. “I am entirely confident that he would have been incredibly pleased with an opportunity to discuss the matter with you.”

Potter watched him for a moment before shrugging.

“It’s fine,” he waved his hand negligibly. “I’ll figure it out myself.”

“What specifically is causing you distress?” Severus asked. He hadn’t anticipated discussing dating when he took on Potter as his ward. Which, was rather shortsighted of him as Potter was destined to eventually become a hormonal teenager. More than that, Potter would be a popular target for the affection of others. He was famous, powerful, displayed a confident front to the other students, and, now that he was growing normally, he was a rather handsome child.

Thus, dating was inevitable. And if Potter refused to speak with someone else, then the task fell to Severus as his guardian to guide him through the daunting phase.

“I dunno, I just don’t get what Fred wants, ya know? What d’ya do on a date? Would he want to hold hands like Mione and Theo do? Have sex? Kiss?”

Severus choked on his own salvia at Potter’s casual inclusion of intercourse alongside the more innocent suggestions of holding hands and kissing.

“Not sex,” Severus sputtered out. “Fuck, you’re thirteen Harry.”

Severus himself had not became sexually active until his sixth year. Though, as the Potions Master for a boarding school of co-ed students, Severus was not unaware that students began having sexual contact as young as thirteen, he just preferred his ward did not indulge in them.

Potter gave him a curious look, “So?”

“So, that is too young to be involved in a sexual relationship,” Severus said firmly. “Much, much, too young.”

“You know...” Potter grimaced and looked beyond Severus towards the wall. “You know I’ve- I’ve done that before,” he said in what he clearly thought was a casual tone yet was strained and quivered ever so slightly. “So... so I’m not too young.”

Pitiful.

“Despite how horribly uncomfortable you are about to feel, I need you to listen to me closely, understood?” Severus told Potter firmly. He waited until Potter nodded before he continued.

“Any sexual activity that you partook in up until now has not been consensual, safe, or pleasurable. Those experiences are vastly different from reciprocal intercourse with a partner of equal standing. Do you understand?”

Potter continued staring at the wall and, despite his bright red face, he appeared thoughtful.

“I c-consented to most of them,” Potter admitted quietly. “B-but can we talk about something else?”

Severus wanted to, dear God he wanted to, especially if the topic was causing Potter to revert back to his rarely heard stammer, but Potter needed to understand the differences. And since Severus impulsively obliviated the Mind Healer, he supposed it was now his role to explain it to the pitiful child.

“If you would allow me to say one more thing then we can discuss something else,” he said. “You were a child- a hungry, cold, homeless child. Agreeing to an act in order to acquire food, money, or shelter does not make you an equal nor consenting participant. Does that make sense?”

Potter shrugged after a moment and Severus saw as he slowly measured his breaths before his face resembled something aside from a heavily scarred tomato.

“Black said he’s coming to the game this weekend,” he said in what was perhaps the least subtle subject change in history.

Severus relaxed back in his chair at the new topic.

“Did he? Is he aware he will either be cheering for Slytherin or working against his godson?”

Potter smirked slightly now that Severus allowed the much simpler conversation.

“Told him that, said he had to wear green cause Chang’s a twit, didn’t I?”

Severus hummed at Potter’s insult to Miss Cho Chang, a fourth year Ravenclaw student who was rather a twit of a girl. Not that Severus could agree aloud.

“D’you think you guys are gonna sit together?” Potter asked curiously.

Severus snorted and then immediately regret it as Potter seemed to slump slightly at his obvious disdain.

“Possibly,” he said as he quickly back peddled. “I imagine Black will sit with Lupin in the teachers stand, which is where I typically sit.”

“You could sit with my friends if you wanted sir,” Potter grinned. “‘M sure they’d be less annoying.”

Severus grimaced fully as he considered what would undoubtedly be a much more annoying section to sit in.

“I’ll take my chances with the Mutt,” he said grimly. Potter laughed and stretched his back as he got to his feet.

“I should get to dinner before Susan comes hunting me down.”

Severus pretended to shudder at the threat of Miss Bones which accomplished his goal in making Potter chuckle again.

As Potter was about to exit the office Severus recalled the Mind Healers notes outlining how Severus is unaffectionate with his ward (which was both unfair and untrue in Severus’ opinion).

Potter turned and gave him a curious look as Severus called his name.

“Yeah?”

“You did a kind thing in purchasing Mister Weasley an owl,” Severus said. Which was true, regardless of Potter’s reasoning. “I am proud of you.”

Potter blinked at Severus and twisted his lips in to a pursed position.

“Thaaanks,” he said slowly. “I’ll see ya later.”

Severus let his head strike the back of his chair as he leant back rather roughly. It was entirely tempting to inform Black that he would be required to show Potter affection and handle any relationship question. Then he considered actually requesting Black do a single thing for his ward and changed his mind.

Despite how unbearably uncomfortable, and unnatural, it may be, Severus would handle it himself.

Black would likely mess it up anyway. The man was a moron.

***


Contessa Juliana Zabini,
Greetings Contessa, I trust that France is treating you well? My ward informed me that you enjoyed the holidays in France and I hope that this is true.
I am reaching out to you with a particular problem relating to my ward that I am hoping you may be able to assist me with.
Potter Harry has been diagnosed with a mind illness and could be treated with Muggle medication. However, the United Kingdom does not offer this medication to minors as of yet. France, in their superior medical advances, does.
My hope is that you may be able to acquire this medication for Harry? If you believe this will not be an infringement upon your time please let me know and I can send the precise medication needed. If not I will take him over the summer, however the sooner he is treated the better.
Kindly,
Severus T. Snape

***