Juli 27th, 1995 - case 810442 "Severus Snape", counsellor: A. Whitaker

We have made some progress in this case. Severus seems willing to remember bits and pieces of his childhood and has even given me some information about his father, though very reluctantly.

It seems difficult for him to accept that he was kicked out at an early age, possibly fifteen or sixteen. There is more than hatred in his voice when he talks about his parents. Curiously neither fear nor any concrete criticism. Just utter loathing. His sister appears to suffer or have suffered from an incurable illness. (There is still no evidence for her being alive.) At this point, however, it is impossible to find out further details, because Severus has covered everything related to her in a veil of imagination.

I believe that every time he talks about 'magic' and magic-related things he is actually trying to drive out unpleasant memories. These are memories concerning his sister, but also the rest of his family and the secondary school he went to. A rather conservative boarding school, apparently. Being admitted to Hogwarts, as he calls it, must have been the key to another life. Something he once again describes using terms like 'wizard' and 'magic'. There is a good chance, however, that he will dispose of these fantasies without me interfering and eventually comes out with the truth about what happened.

There is, however, one aspect that troubles me a lot. When reaching a state of liberation we had not achieved before Severus told me about a "vegetarian crocodile" his father seems to have used to get rid of unpleasant visitors. As far as I can judge he is trying to forget a very crucial moment of his past or, more likely, has witnessed a murder. I am not sure, if such a disturbance at such a young age can be overcome via telephone counselling. I am no professional, after all. Perhaps I will have to advise psychological supervision. For now, I will be responsive to his explanations and hope that he opens up at least partly without me pressing on.