Short one shots about Severus Snape as Head of Slytherin house
He was good at dealing with mental illness
Ok but just imagine Severus walking round the dungeons and hearing a sniffling and it turns out to be a depressed student crying
trigger warning for self harm, and depression.
Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts, was patrolling the dungeons for students that were breaking curfew, when he heard a sob. It came from a bathroom nearby.
He walked into it, to be met with the site of a Slytherin student crying whilst cradling their arm, in which a few deep cuts had been made, amongst the older scars.
He recognised the student as Miss Hadley, a sixth year who had been hospitalised for a suicide attempt last year.
The other teachers had been convinced that she was Ok, but obviously not.
"Miss Hadley?" He said, making the girl jump, which jerked her arm, leading to her cry out in pain.
"Let's take you down to my office.
Snape cast a disillusionment charm on the girl to save her from prying eyes should they meet anyone on the way to his office.
When he opened the door to his office, he kept walking straight to his quarters. He lay the girl down on his couch before biting his lip. She needs her arm healing, he thought.
"Ok, Miss Hadley, I'm going to need you to calm down so I can heal you. There will be scarring but I can stop it bleeding and dress it so it doesn't get infected."
The girls shoulders were shaking with silent tears but she gradually started to calm down.
When he was sure that she wouldn't bolt out the door when he went near her, he bent down and healed her arm.
When he was done he sat on the couch next to her, slowly rubbing circles into her back.
"Shhh, calm down, you're safe, it's Ok."
Severus gently turned her head to him, so that they made eye contact.
"I'm going to need you to tell me why, Ok Miss Hadley?"
And the girl in front of him told him.
About how she felt completely worthless, and couldn't be bothered to do the simplest of tasks but still had to put on a brave face. She told him how all the teachers assumed that she was fine because she wasn't moping round the school, but she really wasn't. How her older brothers bullied her, and her parents had practically disowned her for being in Slytherin.
The whole time Severus sat there and took it all in.
"Miss Hadler, are you taking anything for depression?"
"Um... No, I didn't think there was a treatment?"
"Not in the wizarding world, but muggles have a special tablet that makes your suicidal thoughts and feelings go away."
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, how do you know all this?"
Severus sighed.
"I was young once too. I was outcasted by Hogwarts for being a Slytherin, I was outcasted from Slytherin for being a half-blood, my father was an abusive, alcoholic bastard, and I lost my only friend at 15. I was full of rage and sadness, and I channelled that the only ways I knew how. Self-harm and hurting others. I joined the death eaters as soon as I left school, and immediately knew I had made a mistake. I was at the lowest point in my life, and almost took my own life. Professor Dumbledore saved my and told me about this medicine. I clung to it like a lifeline, and it was. It helped me rebuild myself. Trust me."
"Ok, thank you Sir, you didn't have to do this."
"Yes I did, I'm your teacher, it's my job."
"But you didn't have to tell me your life history. I appreciate it."
Severus shrugged, he never had been good at accepting thank you'd and praise, and with that Miss Hadley left the room.
He leant back in his chair and summoned a glass. He was going to need some firewhisky.