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.