Open Hand
Harry was nearly twenty minutes late when he came in, and if that didn't tip Mary off, then the way the teenager's face was twisted into anger, and sadness, and how his eyes, which usually always met her own, now looked everywhere but; would have.
Mary stood up from her desk, startling her patient, "Let's go for a walk," she said.
"Erm, okay?"
Smiling, Mary went and opened the door, tilting her head for Harry to go first. Harry does, waiting for Mary to lock her door, before the two headed off, they ended up walking along the shore of the Great Lake with a bright ball floating over head for light. Mary had also put up a protection bubble, "Just in case" she winked at the teenager.
"Rough day?" Mary asked after a while.
"Yeah," Harry sighed.
"Yeah, I've had those too, sucks. Also make me want ice-cream…..and to punch something very, very, hard."
That got a smile, a small one, but Mary called it progress.
"Hermione would only punch me back." Harry said with warily amusment. "And defiantly break something."
"Best not punch her then, or anyone really according to society, however, according to my brother. You can punch someone if they really, really, deserved it."
Harry snorted.
"My brother's advice got me in a lot of trouble."
"I have a feeling it still does."
"And you would be right."
Feeling a little better, Harry told her one of his own pervious trouble making, about how he and Ron flew a magically car to school. Mary already knew about it, they both were aware of that, however, Harry wanted to tell her. Tell, and show her the excitement, and wonder he felt despite the situation, something in him knew that she wouldn't look at him with disapproval, hero-worship, or worse, like something was wrong with him.
"I want a magically car," Mary said after Harry finished his retelling his story, the woman's face flushed with laughter she had done, doing some of the funny parts.
"I'm sure if you ask nicely, Mr. Weasley would probably give you one." Harry laughed, laughter growing when Mary squealed.
They talked more, mostly about where they would go if they actually had a magically car. And they kept talking when they headed back inside, and up to Mary's office door.
"Oh! Looks like our time is up, didn't know we were out that long," the woman said upon checking the time.
"Really?" Harry asked, though he wasn't too surprised, every session he had with Mary always seem to fly by.
"Yep, alright, just wait right there. I need to get something from my office real quick, and then I'll walk you to your dorm."
"You don't have to."
"I know, but I want to."
Harry's ears go a bit red, and he tried to hide how pleased he was. Mary smiled gently, before unlocking the door, and entering her office. When she came out, she handed Harry a couple of Jolly Rangers.
"I love the cherry ones."
Harry opened the cherry one.
They arrive at the portrait, and Mary, after saying good night, turned around to head back when Harry stopped her.
"I had a fight, with my friend, Hermione."
"Did you punch her?"
The Fat Lady looked very much concerned.
"No," Harry snickered, before becoming somber. "I was….not doing so great today, and I was a little snippy. Hermione commented on it, and well, I kind of exploded. We had a fight, and she said things that…well, they were not good."
Thought out his telling, Harry stared at down at the floor, now done. He glanced shyly at the woman. Mary doesn't say anything for a moment, thinking over what she had been told.
"Fighting with your friends sucks, don't let anyone tell you differently. And don't let anyone tell you that it's no big deal, that you'll get over it. And just become friends again. That's a lie, a big fat lair, lair, pants on fire, lie."
Harry snorted.
"And if you need time to get over the fight, to figure out your feelings, then take that time. Let Hermione know you need that time, and if she gets upset then don't feel bad for her feelings."
"That sounds….selfish."
Mary shrugged, "Sometimes, you need to be a little selfish if you want to get better."
Harry is thoughtfully quiet, before he nodded, and said good night to Mary.
"Good night, Harry."
The portrait closed behind the teenager, Mary didn't move, after a moment she looked at the Fat Lady, she raised a meaningful brow, "Am I going have to be mean?"
"That sweet boy has enough on his plate, no need to make it worse with gossip from us portraits."
"That he does," Mary sighed, "that he does."
Harry's next session, he's much better.
"Hermione, and I talked," he said once he was seated, and didn't even wait for Mary to ask, surprising the woman a bit. "I told her how I felt, about what she said, and that I needed time."
"And how did she take it?"
Harry fiddled with his thumbs, "I think she knew she had hurt my feelings, when I walked up to her, she looked sorry, and a little scared." Harry's brows furrowed at that part, like he was confused as to why his friend was afraid. Mary made a mental note of that.
"Oh?"
She got a nod, "Long story short, she tried to apologize, and I told her I needed time before I could give her…anything."
Mary leaned back against her chair, and waited, she was not disappointed.
"…..Did, did, I do that right thing?"
"I want you to be honest with me right now, okay?"
Despite being confused, Harry nodded.
"Alright, I'm going to ask you a question, and I just want you to give me the first answer that pops into your head, okay? Okay, how do you feel, right as this very moment?"
"…..Okay."
"Are you sure, you don't feel conflicted in anyway?"
"A little relived, like something was lifted up from my shoulders. But, okay."
"Then there is your answer. We, as humans, are incredibly honest with ourselves. However, we tend to ignore, or second-guess them, whether because of social pressure, or what have you. I want you listen to them, they can help you in the healing process, especially when they feel so clear."
They talked a little bit more about Hermione's reaction, before Mary told Harry about her meeting that she was going to have soon with the Headmaster and the rest of the teaching staff.
"They've noticed a change in your behavior," Mary explained, "and have linked it to me, and now what to know what is going on."
"What are you going to tell them?" Harry asked, looking scared, annoyed, and resigned.
"The truth," Mary said, "I'm a therapist, and helping you."
"That's it?"
"Yep, I may have to explain what a therapist is, but anything else is protected under doctor-patient privilege."
Mary studied Harry, then she leaned forward, "Unless you don't want me to."
"I kind of don't," Harry admitted, "but I think you should. Last year taught me that secrets, aren't always the best idea."
"Very well."
Patient's Name: Harry James Potter
Age: 16
Mr. Potter informed me of the results of his talk between him, and his friend Ms. Granger, at the moment, their friendship may not be in danger of ending. Mr. Potter would not tell me what had been said during the fight, when I asked, and I did not push. Mr .Potter has also expression worry of my meeting with the teaching staff.
Legilimency lessons have been put on hold until after the meeting.
~.~
At precisely eight on Friday evening, Mary entered the room, and found the teaching staff of Hogwarts waiting for her, Poppy, and Headmaster included. The old man was sitting at a long table, McGonagall next to him, while the rest were merely mulling about in the corners.
"Good evening Ms. Evergreen," Albus greeted her as she closed the door.
"Good evening," Mary said, "I imagine everyone is here, and ready?"
"Indeed we are," Albus nodded, "everyone please have a seat, so that we may start."
Everyone does, expression one of curiosity, or in Snape's case, suspicion. Something that Mary took note of, "Alright, I'll be blunt," Mary started once everyone was seated, "I am a Medi-Witch, however, one I believe you may not be familiar with. I'm a Therapist."
"Perhaps you should further explain, Mary," Poppy said when there was silence all around.
"Not a problem, basically I help heal the brain, instead of the body. And my current patient is one Harry Potter."
"Mr. Potter is sick?" Minerva spoke up, eyes worried.
"Yes, and I'm here to help him get better."
"Wha' kind o' illness?" this came from Hagrid, who too looked worried, but also a little guilty. "Yeh said 's was mental, did those relative o' his do summat ter 'im."
Severus sighed heavily, which got him looks from Minerva, and Poppy.
Mary noticed, "That is for Harry to tell, not I."
"If you are who you say you are," Severus spoke up, "surely you can tell us whatever illness is plaguing the boy, if there is truly one."
Poppy was just opening her mouth, to speak in Mary's defense, and to astonish the man, however the woman beat her to it.
"I assure you, I am who I say I am Professor. As for Mr. Potter's illness, it is indeed real. However, what it is, I cannot say, not without his permission, considering none of you are his legal guardians, or is there proof that Mr. Potter is a danger to himself, or others around him."
"So it's not contagious?" This question came from Horace.
"No, it is not, and it's not something that can be fixed with chocolate, and a pat on the head. No offensive Poppy."
"None taken," Poppy said before addressing her fellow staff members. "I contacted Ms. Evergreen because, well, I can't heal this."
"But what is it?" squeaked Flitwick, "perhaps we can help?"
"Perhaps, but answer this, do any of you know what a therapist is?"
"…No, we don't."
"Well then," Mary grinned, "good thing we're in a school."
Underneath the table, Poopy kicked her.