Title: Kiss.

Author: AspergianStoryteller.

Genre: Supernatural/General.

Summary: When a dementor tried to Kiss Harry Potter, it got more than it bargained for. And Harry did not walk away unaffected. Don't own Harry Potter. Or the National Geographic. Great magazine.

Chapter 16: Diagnosis.

After an exploration, the suggestion of prank ideas and potions research possibilities and the agreement to tidy up, it was decided that the Chamber of Secrets would be their main Dark Arts practise classroom.

'Harry, Professor, welcome back.'

Harry put the National Geographic magazine (page 88 ¾: The Riddle Of The Sphinx. Pages like this were usually only visible to members of the magical community) back down on the Healer's desk. 'Hi Healer Nathaniel.'

Professor McGonagall nodded back in greeting.

'How's your week been?'

'Alright. Nothing new has really happened.' Well, except for hunting down an unwarded area to practise Dark Arts, but Harry wasn't going to tell them that of course.

'Um, how's your week been?'

'Nicely, thank you. Now, are you ready to hear your results?'

Harry nodded nervously.

'Alright. Now your overall physical and mental health are acceptable, although I am a bit concerned about your growth patterns before you came to Hogwarts and during the Summer, but we'll discuss that later.'

...

'As for magical matters, well, it gets more complicated there.'

That didn't really surprise any of them.

'Where to start? In chronological order, that's in time, your magic was affected at the age of fifteen months. When you were attacked by You-Know-Who.'

You could here a pin drop in the office. One fell off Nathaniel's desk and landed with a soft, tiny thump on the carpet.

'You were touched by powerful Dark magic that night Harry.' That must be why the hula hoop thing that scanned him started beeping so loudly. 'What saved you is still much a mystery but I believe that blood magic was probably involved.'

'Blood magic?'

'The name speaks for itself. Very powerful, and sometimes controversial stuff. Anyway, much of the Dark magic was repelled, but some of did get into your body. Concentrations of it were found in your scar, linking to your brain; some of it goes deeper than that, I'd like to get a Fidelimense in here for a look. Meaning an expert on magic dealing with the soul. And some of the Dark magic steeped into your magic and body. You were ill frequently as a toddler yes? That was the cause. Your body and magic are accustomed to it now.'

Oh.

'Carrying on, your blood test results are interesting. You were bitten by a basilisk at age twelve?'

Harry nodded.

'We were duly horrified and amazed about that. No need to worry, you're in no danger of it now, but if you wouldn't mind discussing the possibility of further blood tests for anti-venom research later? Just think on it. I won't pressure you into anything. More blood tests may be needed anyway for other other medical purposes. As for the effects of severe dementor exposure, this is what was found so far: For the usual cases, psychological therapy, plenty of chocolate and anti-depressants would be prescribed.'

That sounded serious. Harry hoped that Sirius had gotten some kind of treatment for his twelve year long exposure.

'You however, were Kissed and survived. Having your soul in such close contact with a dementor has had consequences. The reason for your "space outs" is because your soul was pulled loose.'

Harry and Minerva went pale.

'Oh it's still there and intact,' Healer Natheniel continued, 'just looser than before. During a space out, your soul is touched by the outer world more directly, and can drift looser. This has actually happened to other people for different reasons. They call it the "sixth sense" and "out of body experience", usually undertaken during sleep. Studied in the Sixth Year Divination curriculum.'

So this wasn't so unheard of? What a relief.

'That's the good news. Close contact with the dementor has left you with small residues of its magic.'

Wait? What!

'What!'

'We could just wait for it to disperse naturally as you are not a dementor, or for your body to reject or absorb it like it did with the human Dark magic, but that would be dangerous because it would have a negative impact on your mental health. That's why you will be coming back here at least once a week for patronous treatment. Healers will take it in turns to flush the dementor magic out.'

Oh dear god. That's why the patroni hurt me last week, that's why everyone on my dorm had nightmares: I'm contaminated with dementor magic!

'Calm down Mr. Potter, you'll be fine.'

'Yes Harry, we will sort this out. I promise.'

'Shouldn't I be in quarantine or something? Am I dangerous?'

'No Harry,' Healer Nathaniel shook his head. 'I think not. But the sooner we start the treatment the better. I'm surprised you weren't brought here sooner.' He looked at Minerva then.

'... We've been very busy at Hogwarts, but you're right. We should have done this near the end of last term.' She sounded guilty. Harry sensed this and told her 'It's okay Professor. I know you've been very busy, and no one really knew what had happened to me.'

'Thank you Mr. Potter but he is right: we should have brought you for a visit much sooner than this.'

Harry didn't know what to say to that.

'Shall I continue?' asked the Healer?

'Yeah.'

'We'll expel the dementor magic with patroni, which will hurt less each time. You will eat chocolate during the therapy, (so you had better brush your teeth well afterwards) and there are is medication I've had made for you.'

'Medication?' Harry said. 'Just how sick am I?'

Healer Nathaniel handed him two jam sized glass jars with labels on them. This one here is for anti-depression. If you feel like a dementor is nearby, that's its magic affecting you so you can swallow two of these.'

'Capsules?'

'Yeah. We do keep tabs on muggle medicine and managed to fit little doses of potions into these capsules. Neat huh?' he grinned. 'These other ones,' he pointed to the other jar, 'are for astral travel sickness. You see, when people have an out of body experience, even though it's usually when they're asleep, they can still get travel sickness or need to shake off the affects of stimulants sometimes used for getting loose. These capsules are for settling your head and stomach. There's ginger, and mild calming potion in there because your soul is more in touch with the outside and that can be rather overwhelming. You swallow one after a space out if it makes you feel off.'

'Okay.' Harry placed the jars carefully in his school bag.

'Next up, psychological therapy. Your mental health is fairly normal, but if you'd like to talk to a professional therapist about anything?'

'Um, I don't really think I need to,'

'Well the option's open any time. Okay, another way to manage your space outs is meditation and physical activity. As little as ten minutes to clear your thoughts or doing something peaceful everyday does wonders for your mind. Right before bed is a good time especially. Physically, your quiditch practise would be adequate.'

'But that's been cancelled this year because of the Triwizard Tournament.'

'Taking a walk works as well. Or some other sport. A person should exercise more anyway. We're all getting too lazy.'

Harry thought that just navigating Hogwarts castle between classes was getting a work out in itself. But he didn't mind being a bit more athletic. Maybe it would make him grow more.

'Since your spaces outs are currently not easy to control and are not predictable, I recommend that you wear this.' Healer Nathaniel gave a Harry what looked like a Medical Alert bracelet. It had the crossed bone/wand symbol of the hospital on it.

'The chain extends to become a necklace if you prefer.'

'Do I really need this?' Harry asked with a frown. 'The spaces outs haven't actually hurt me or anything, and, wearing this makes it seem like there's something really wrong with me. 'People will ask questions.'

'You don't have to, but I think you should,' said the Healer. 'Until you have real control over your condition, this would be safer. Just in case something dangerous does happen. It also acts as your contact to us here.' He pointed to the little charms dangling from the chain. 'This M charm, if you tug it three times and say "Mungo's" will alert our Medi-Aert Office and they will send a Healer to you. Each bracelet has a unique signature so the Office will know who needs help and what their condition is. The P charm is an emergency portkey that will bring you to the Patient Portkey/Apparation Room. You activate it by tugging three times and saying "Port Me." If you want, the bracelet will go unnoticed unless you need it.'

'I think you should take it, Mr. Potter,' said Minerva. 'It is far better to be safe than sorry.'

Harry pulled on the chain experimentally and it lengthened. He pulled it longer until it could slip over his head and fit comfortably under his t-shirt. (Since he couldn't wear his school uniform all the time, Harry had accumulated a collection of second hand muggle and wizard clothing from Dudley, his housemates, and a second handshop in the muggle world. The sneakers Hermione had just grown out of fit him nicely and thankfully were not girly.)

'Okay. Last topic now, going back to your growth patterns.' Healer Nathaniel adopted a gentle and serious tone of voice. 'Harry, can you describe your living conditions at home to me?'

'Um, okay. I live with my aunt, uncle and cousin outside of Hogwarts. They're pretty average.'

'Was money difficult to come by at all?'

'No, they were pretty well off. Not rich, but pretty well. Are you asking whether I can pay for this hospital or not?'

'Not at all. Underage people don't have to pay for check ups at a public hospital, it's ministry funded.'

'Then what about my medicine? I have money in my Gringotts vault.'

'You do not have to pay for yourself just yet Mr. Potter,' said Minerva. 'Your relatives were paid each month before you came to Hogwarts for taking in a wizard. They can easily afford to spend a little on your health. If they won't, Hogwarts has funding to look after its students and staff.'

Healer Nathaniel looked more concerned now. 'Are you worried your family won't look out for you Harry?'

Harry snorted. 'Nothing new.'

'This is what I'm concerned about.'

Now both adults were serious.

'I always said they were the worst kind of muggles,' said Minerva.

'What are you so worried about?' Harry asked. '... Do you, do you think the Dursley's are mistreating me or something?'

'Are they?'

'Um, well, they certainly don't like me.'

'What I mean Harry, is do you think your relatives are neglecting or abusing you?'

'!' Harry was shocked. Neglect? Abuse? Healer Nathaniel suspected that? Abuse was like, hitting your kids right? The only Dursley that had ever really hit him was Dudley, when he could catch him, and rarely now that he was scared of Harry. The worst he'd had from Petunia and Vernon was the odd cuff around his head or manhandling into his cupboard or bedroom. They didn't like to get close to him. Well, there were a few time when it'd been close... And what about the time he'd been locked up with bars on his window? That couldn't be normal discipline. And neglect. Did getting largely ignored, except for being put down and told to do chores, being left at the neighbours during holidays and missing the odd meal count as neglect?

'Um, I wouldn't say that they abused me really, and I never exactly starved...'

"They were starving him Mum!"

'I'm not really sure how bad it's supposed to be to get called abusive.' Harry scratched the back of his head.

'Were you ever afraid for your life or well-being?' Healer Nathaniel asked gently.

'Not really, no.'

'What form of discipline do they use when you or your cousin misbehave?'

'Dudley doesn't get disciplined. He's a spoiled brat. I just get locked in my room or given more chores.'

'Alright... Did your relatives ever, make you uncomfortable Harry?' This bit would be tricky. And awkward. Carefully Nathaniel.

'What do you mean?'

'Did they ever touch you in private places or seem like they would?'

... 'What?' Oh my god. 'No! No, they never did anything like that.'

Children, even adults were often embarrassed or afraid to talk admit to being sexually abused, but Nathaniel felt pretty confident that Harry was being honest here. Also, while the check up scans didn't show everything, they had revealed that at least nothing major like rape, gods forbid, had been inflicted on the boy.

Minerva get out a breath of relief. She hadn't even considered the possibility of sexual abuse and it struck her with fear when the healer mentioned it.

'That's a relief. Okay then, another thing I'm concerned about is your growth patterns Harry.' Nathaniel showed the professor and student a growth pattern chart with Harry's height and weight over the years. 'From birth to fifteen months it's normal.' The red and blue lines were rising at a rate Harry assumed for normal for a baby.

'Then things change. The attack on you, leaving you with a lot of Dark magic residue stunted your growth by ten percent because your body focused a lot of energy on fighting off illness and repairing damage.'

The red line was still rising, but less of an angle than it should.

'But that's not the only factor affecting your growth. It levels out to normal when you start attending Hogwarts, but whenever you were at your relatives house, you didn't grow quite as much as you should have.'

'I know, I'm skinny,' Harry mumbled. 'I ran from Dudley and his friends a lot. At least it kept me fit.'

'What about food though? You said you never "exactly" starved. What does that mean?'

'It means I wasn't given seconds at meals, and I occasionally missed one when I was being punished or when Dudley nicked it.' Harry focused his gaze on the ceiling. This was a bit embarrassing.

'Did your aunt or uncle replace the missing lunch? Did anyone?'

'No. My cousin was rather blatantly favoured and spoiled. I'm glad I wasn't treated like him. I'd be obscenely fat if I was.'

Minerva felt sad and guilty at his whatever but lonely and slightly bitter tone. Nathaniel noticed it too.

'Harry, if the Dursley's are unfit guardians for you, and everything points out that they are, you don't have to return to them. Other guardians can be found for you.'

Harry snorted. 'Yeah sure. I stay at Hogwarts during the Christmas and Easter holidays and I've asked to stay during the Summer as well but I'm not allowed.'

'It doesn't have to be school. Friends of yours or a foster family can take you in, it's been done before.'

'I don't want to be a bother for my friends,' Harry said. 'I stay with Ron often, but, his family doesn't have much money and they wouldn't accept mine. Hermione doesn't get to see her parents for most of the year so I wouldn't want to intrude.' And it's not like Sirius can take me, even though I'd happily live wild to be with him.

'There are foster families who are happy to take children and teenagers in.'

'And more who'd be happy to take in the Boy-Who-Lived. I'd get adopted by eager fans or death eaters. I wouldn't put it past Malfoy to try something...'

Nathaniel winced. 'Ah yes. Well, you know, some people are simply genuinely grateful about You-Know-Who's defeat or are friends or your parents. But I see your point.' He paused to take a breath. 'What about a teacher? Minerva?'

'I'm sure at least one of us would be able to take Mr. Potter in for the Summer. I will if I am not too busy to provide adequate care.'

Harry stared at her in surprise.

'Close your mouth Mr. Potter. There's no need to be so shocked. Teachers must be responsible for students safety, even outside of school. And I am not un-fond of you.'

'Um, thanks, Professor... I don't want to get my hopes up though, I mean, school's pretty busy this year, and, I was put with the Dursleys because they're my blood relatives. I'm supposed to safe there. It's not like I'm getting beaten half to death or something.' Harry really didn't want to get his hopes up. He'd love to not go back to Private Drive, but Dumbledore insisted that he go back every Summer for the protection. He didn't want to endanger anyone.

'Supposed to be. Blood protection is only worth so much if they are causing you harm.'

'We will sort this out Harry,' Nathaniel insisted. 'I promise you something will be done to make sure you are properly cared for in the holidays.'

'I'm not a kid,' Harry mumbled.

'But you are underage, and it is the responsibility of adults to guide you and provide care while you are growing up.'

'Indeed,' Minerva added. 'I regret that we were not as active as we should have been these past few years.' She knew Albus had been aware of many of Harry's activities at school, and had only stepped in when it got too dangerous. Because You-know-Who kept going after the boy, it was necessary that he develop the skills and experience to defend himself, but there had to be line somewhere. And closer adult supervision!

'...' Harry smiled shyly, touched by their concern, and surprised.

Nathaniel looked at the clock. 'We've been talking a while. Why don't we move on to patronus treatment now and come back to this later?'

XXX xxx XXX

*Quoted from the book.* What do you think? Too fast paced? Does anyone seem ooc so far? Is this scene realistic?

Even in cannon the Dursleys' treatment of Harry is borderline abusive/negligent at times. Social Services would not be happy, even though some children unfortunately slip though the cracks. I want the adults to improve Harry's situation, but I also have plans involving things happening back in Private Drive. Can anyone give me advice on how to balance? Like how the Order members warned the Dursley's about mistreatment?

Am I describing body language enough? Feelings? Thanks for reading!