So Mary's a little blunt in this chapter, so fair warning. Also just a reminder that this story is mostly focusing on addressing problems and healing, I'm aware that Harry's acceptance in the chapter is kind of 50/50. Because honestly, you're not sure how people are going to react.

Open Hand

Harry changed his mind about telling the professors, after thinking it over, decided that something was going to be his business for once. Mary merely agreed to his decision, and didn't bring it up again. Instead, after a session spent talking about the journal that was helping him in Potions, Hermione's distrust with said journal—Jealousy, but Mary didn't say— Snape, and Harry's suspicion about Malfoy.

Mary sent a good hour working on how to approach the subject of the boy's relatives after dismissing her last plan, before going to meet with Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing.

"Erm, excuse me, Ms. Evergreen?"

Mary stopped, and turned around, she smiled upon seeing Neville Longbottom.

"Evening, Neville Longbottom, right?"

Neville nodded.

"What can I do for you?"

Neville shifted on his feet before taking a deep breath, and speaking, "What are you doing to Harry?!" He blurted out.

"Beg your pardon?" Mary blinked.

"He's been weird since he's started spending time in your office." Neville's words were rushed, like he was afraid he'd be cut off.

Mary tilted her head, "Weird? And that's bad?"

"Well, um, no. But—" Here Neville paused, and fiddled with his hands in a nervous gesture, eyes lowering, "The last time an adult had a student in their office for so long, it, it didn't end well. A lot of kids got hurt." He darted his eyes up at her, back down, then back up, locking with her own, "A lot more than people realize."

Mary smiled, it was warm, and sweet, even though inside. She was all but raging, "Well, then I can see why you're worried. I'll be glad to answer any ask questions you have, if you don't mind walking. I have an appointment with Madame Pomfrey."

Neville is….surprised, most of the Professors would have diverted, or dismissed his worry as imagination. Even Professor McGonagall did it sometimes, he didn't think it was mean-spirited, just….a thing.

"S-Sure." Neville stuttered out when he remembered that Mary was waiting for an answer, and hurried over to her side.

He started when a red candy with clear wrapper was held out to him, "Do you like cherry?"

~.~

Name: Harry James Potter

Age: 16

Mr. Potter is doing well in his lessons so far, though he recently has been concerned with Draco Malfoy. A sixth year, the patient has good reason to be cautious, and worried, when seeing something out of the ordinary pertaining to Hogwarts. I will speak to Madame Pomfrey about it.

Mr. Potter has also mentioned that Professor Severus Snape has been more hostile toward him as of late, I can tell it is causing Mr. Potter stress, when asked why he has not reported Professor Snape's behavior, Mr. Potter merely stated that it would have not mattered, because none of the adults would do anything.

I have observed Professor Snape, many times in the classroom, and outside, his behavior is troubling, and Mr. Potter is not the only targeted student of Professor Snape's behavior. I have mentioned, and expressed my concerns to Madame Pomfrey that he should be looked into, and I know she has spoken with the Headmaster. As he is still teaching, and there seems to be no change in behavior, I believe observations and concerns have fallen to deaf ears.

(Underneath the transcript, is a letter addressed to Mary from one Nicholas St. North, there was another letter addressed to Pomfrey from Mary. It stated that a Mr. Neville Longbottom has expressed interest in having therapy sessions with Mary, as well expressed interest in the practice of therapy within the Muggle world

There is a sticky note on the desk, stating that Mary spoke with Malfoy on the way to dinner.)

~.~

"Let's talk about your Aunt, and Uncle."

"Let's not."

Mary hummed, but didn't push, instead she focused on her little tablets of words, across from her, Harry was focusing on his own, with an intense concentration that wasn't there before.

Today was Scrabble, a word board game that was more fun when you could make up your own words so as long as you could give a definition. Harry enjoyed it more then he thought, briefly wondering how it would go if he and his friends played together, before his good mood was gone because of Mary's….suggestion.

Mary doesn't come back to it as they played, and even got Harry to giggle a little when she did a wiggle victory after getting an high score.

Finally, forty-five minutes until the end of the session, and after reminding himself of the promise he made, does Harry give in.

He wanted to get better.

He was, he could feel it, and he wanted to keep getting better.

"…..What do you want to talk about?"

"I've been in your memories, seen all of your early childhood at this point, and well, it's not good."

"Yeah, they're horrible."

"People who abuse children, are said to be."

Harry stared, and Mary kept on talking.

"Sometimes there are reasons, sometimes there are not. Neither are a good enough ex—"

"They never beat me!"

"Harry, you slept in a cupboard until you were eleven."

"Yeah, but they never beat me."

"Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not abuse. Abuse can come in all kinds of forms, and your form is called Neglect and Emotional."

She actually saw signs of psychical abuse, that fact that her patient denied it, had her thinking back to that one part of Harry's memories that she could not access to, not because Harry was preventing her from doing it, but because they were locked up tight, and she refused to force it open.

For now, she'll focus on step one.

"B-But, I wasn't starved!"

"The food they gave you wasn't fit to be even called a meal, and that's if they didn't withhold it for not finishing chores. Harry, they called you a freak any chance they got, no adult should ever call a child that, regardless of reason."

Mary paused, took in her patient's appearance, and slowly stood. "Harry, let's sit in something a little more appropriate, yes?"

Mary pointed to one of the chairs, and after a moment, Harry sat in it. Mary moved the other chair so that she was sitting in front of the boy who was now bent over, and had his hands in his face. It's a long. Long, time before he spoke again.

"D-D-Does that mean they really hated me? They hated me that much?!"

Harry's voice was muffled, but Mary could easily hear the trembling crack of tears.

"What did I do to them?! What could I have possible done that made them hate so much?"

Mary doesn't answer, because in the end, there was never a good answer, and never an excuse.

Name: Harry James Potter

Age: 16

Today's session ended with Mr. Potter sleeping in the Hospital Wing, upon my suggestion, after today's session, I did not believe he was mental ready to go back to his dorm, and friends. I am not sure if today will cause a setback, or things will continue to move forward.

Mr. Potter's abuse from his relatives struck a chord, I believe it's because he thought that, though they didn't like him, they didn't hate him. To know he was hated by people, who were supposed to love and protect him, hurt Mr. Potter more then he thought it would, thus he was not expecting it, or for it to hurt as much as it did.

Next week session is canceled.

(On the desk, next to the transcript, is a letter from Pomfrey stating that Mary had permission to start sessions with Neville Longbottom, there is a little quick note in the corner of the letter stating whether, or not Pomfrey had been honest with granny Longbottom, the note ended with a drawn funny face.

There is a sticky note next to it, making mention that one Hermione Granger had spoken to her. Underneath everything was an envelope addressed to one Nicholas St. North from Mary.)

~.~

Harry woke up feeling way past not okay, and something he didn't know what, he was alone, no patients or Madame Pomfrey. And judging from the sounds outside the door, he could hazard a guess that it was pretty late, and he was missing some classes.

It didn't bother him.

Last night Ms. Evergreen had told him that he had been neglected, and emotional abused, he had been so ready to deny it, but instead; his heart had dropped. His body froze, he couldn't get the words out, because everything inside him was screaming that she was right, even if he refused to call it by their names, the situation with his family was not right.

"Dumbledore knew that, and he still sent me back," Harry furiously wiped at his eyes, brushing away the tears that had started to gather, "he even told me why he did it."

Ms. Evergreen had said what his relatives did was no excuse. Did it apply to the Headmaster as well? Or because the man thought he was doing the right thing counted as an excuse?

The hospital wing doors opened, and Malfoy came strolling in, holding his wrist, upon seeing Potter, he sneered.

"Potter."

"Malfoy." Harry responded tiredly, not really caring, "…..Are you okay?"

Malfoy doesn't say anything, most likely surprised as Harry was that the savior had even asked.

"Do I look okay?" Malfoy finally snapped, though there wasn't as much bite in his tone, "where is Madame Pomfrey?"

Harry shrugged.

Grumbling, Malfoy, after a moment sat down on the bed across from Harry. Grey eyes glanced at Harry, brow furrowing, then, surprising both of them once more, he spoke, "What happened to you?"

"I just….I found out some stuff about my family, is all."

Malfoy obviously wanted to ask what it was that landed the other boy in the Hospital bed, but decided against it, wincing when his wrist gave a painful twinge.

"If you want, I can place a cooling spell on it. It'll help until Madame Pomfrey gets back."

The look Malfoy gave him, was not all the surprising, Harry was sure he would give the same one had Malfoy offered. But honestly, for whatever reason, be it because of last night, or not, he was genuine in his desire to help lessen Malfoy's pain.

"To be honest Potter, I'd trust Granger more then you, and you better not tell anyone I said that."

"Same, but…please let me help."

It was probably the please, either way, Malfoy after a long hesitation, let Harry preform the spell. When Madame Pomfrey finally arrived, Mary in tow, Harry was back in bed, asleep with Malfoy watching with a weird look on his face.

~.~

"And how are we feeling today?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Harry answered, "can we talk about something else?"

"Would you rather talk about your PTSD?"

"…..My what?"

"Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, which basically means that all the shit you went through broke your brain."

"…..Merlin, no."

"Whelp, I tried, off to the kitchen then."

"Why are we going there?"

"Because that's where the ice-cream is."

Patient: Harry Potter

Age: 16

Mr. Potter did not want discuss anything, understandable. We will try again next session.

(Underneath the transcript is another one with Neville's name on it.)

~.~

The rumors that started because one student overheard two professors discussing it, was not a surprise. Nor the looks, and whispers, that was unfortunately for Harry, normal. And honestly, neither was it surprise when Hermione cornered him when he was reading a disguised book Mary gave him about abuse, and told him she figured out what he was seeing Mary for.

"Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, that's why you're seeing Ms. Evergreen."

"When did you figure it out?" Harry asked closing his book, and not adding to her conclusion, Hermione glanced at it, but didn't say anything.

"Remember that argument we had a while back, and then the talk?" Hermione's face goes almost shameful as she answered.

Harry nodded.

"It was only later, that I realized that what you said, sounded a little…scripted almost. Like someone didn't tell you to say that, but it was so good advice that you had to repeat it word for word…..does that sound right?"

"Actually, yeah."

Hermione looked doubtful, so Harry continued, changing the subject. "Ms. Evergreen told me about my PTSD about two sessions ago, and she said and I quote: it basically means that all the shit you went through broke your brain."

Hermione laughed, "And she's right. That's basically what it means, though I already knew about it since last year."

That was both a surprise, and not a surprise, "You did?"

"Well, I didn't exactly know. Remember when you were all snappy, and we called you out on it? Yeah, it didn't hit that something was wrong until after I got home, and I saw this commercial on the telly talking about war veterans, and what happens when they came home. But, I wasn't really convinced until I did the research and found out children could get it too."

Then suddenly, Hermione was hugging him.

"I'm so sorry Harry." She squeezed him tight.

Harry hugged her back, "There's nothing to be sorry about."

"But I—"

"If everyone said sorry for the things they didn't know, there would be a lot of sorry people in the world."

"Ms. Evergreen?"

"Ms. Evergreen." Harry confirmed.

"I talked to her too, and I think she's a nice lady, and I believe she's helping you. Since you've been talking to her, you look happier."

"I think so too."

Harry just kept hugging her, and Hermione kept hugging him back. And Harry found that it felt good, good that someone other than Ms. Evergreen knew of some his struggles.

Next chapter, the real action, Poor Harry.