Family Session Two: 4th of January 1994
Family Case Notes:
Participants: Harry Potter (13yo male), Severus Snape (legal
guardian), Sirius Black (godfather). Current Difficulties: Harry has built a relationship of trust with
Severus since July of 1991. Guardianship was finalized in February of 1993. Sirius escaped from a prison in July of 1993 and had his name cleared of previous offenses in December 1993. Harry feels betrayed by Sirius both for not taking placement of him as an infant and for spying on him confiding thoughts/feelings/history with pet on school grounds. Severus states that Harry responded violently ('threw a knife') when confronted with Sirius' 'betrayal'. Severus believes that Sirius shares M-D diagnosis with Harry. Due to Severus' closed emotional state- it is highly recommended that Harry build a relationship with Sirius who, according to Severus, is more easily able to share emotions and even told Harry that he loved him after alleged assault. Session Goals: Begin to build on relationship between Harry
and Sirius. Examine past history between Severus and Sirius and see if terms can be agreed upon for Harry's sake. Allow Harry to hear Sirius' feelings during session (*note Severus & Harry reactions). Long Term Goals: Establish emotional connections between
Harry-Sirius and Harry-Severus. Establish open communication between Severus-Sirius regarding Harry mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Misc. Notes: Severus has done a commendable job raising
Harry thus far, even with the indifference to Harry's violent streak. Severus needs to find ways to help Harry make more positive choices without feeling as if he is failing as a guardian. Harry needs to see a positive moral example from Severus and a positive emotional example from Sirius. Ideally, Harry would find both qualities in both men. Realistically, one each is already a stretch of a goal.
"Morning Hannah," Michael Morris said to his secretary as he entered his office at 0750 that morning.
"Doctor Morris! Oh! I'm so glad you're here!" Hannah appeared to be on edge and slightly frantic. "I told them to wait out here but they started arguing and went in your office- they closed the door and I guess they stopped because I can't hear them at all now."
"Who?" Michael asked, though he already suspected the answer.
"Your eight o'clock, the Potter/Snape appointment," Hannah said.
Michael checked the time and saw that he still had seven minutes before he had to enter the office.
"I'll be right back," he said. "I'm just going to... go grab a pen out of my car..."
Hannah gave him a knowing look.
"Your wife won't be happy if you start back up," she warned him.
Michael ignored her and went out the back door to have a quick smoke before the session started. He had already been dreading the session, the fact the clients showed up and began arguing in the lobby was a sure sign that peace wasn't going to be easily obtained today.
He inhaled deeply as he considered the dynamics of the three men inside. Harry, the possible teenage serial killer who is well on his way to a psychopathy diagnosis. Severus, the emotionally stunted, insecure, and jealous guardian. And Sirius, the possible Manic-Depressed godfather who broke out of a prison, and supposedly childhood bully of Severus, if Harry was to be believed. Which, he typically wasn't because Harry is incredibly manipulative and avoids reality and responsibility through fantasy.
Wonderful.
Michael stubbed out the cigarette and drug himself back inside. He opened his office door at exactly 0801 to glares from all three occupants.
"You're late," Severus said shortly from one end of the sofa.
"Cut him some slack Snape, it's one bloody minute," a man with long, dark, curly hair snapped at Severus from the opposite end of the sofa. Michael assumed this was the godfather, Sirius Black.
"Don't talk to him like that," Harry said, pompously seated in Michael's chair, his feet up on his desk. "Not his fault Mikey's late, is it?"
"Apologies gentlemen, I had a call that ran long," he lied. "Hello, Michael Morris, you must be Sirius Black?" Michael offered his hand to Sirius who shook it good-naturedly.
"The one and only," Sirius said with a grin.
Harry scoffed lightly from behind Michael.
"Harry, would you mind moving please? It's easier for me to take notes if I'm beside my desk," Michael said kindly as he turned to face the teen in his chair.
"So where d'ya think I'm going to sit?" Harry asked.
"You can sit here," Sirius said, indicating the spot between himself and Severus. "I don't bite."
Harry gave him an impassive look.
"Have you gotten a rabies shot?"
Severus snorted at Harry's snide comment.
"Come sit Harry, I will pull another chair from the lobby."
Harry slowly got up at Severus' command and edged away from the desk, keeping over an arms length away from both Michael and Sirius. As soon as Severus pulled a chair from the lobby inside the office Harry snagged it and put it beside Severus' prior spot on the sofa.
"Thanks," he said to Severus who sighed and resumed his seat.
"Well," Michael clapped his hands and surveyed the three men. "I like to start bigger sessions like this off with a little ice breaker. We each go around the room and say one good thing that's happened to us this week and one thing we're hoping to gain from our session today. Okay?"
The looks he received were not optimistic, but he soldiered on.
"So, I'll start. Something good that happened to me this week was I managed to schedule a time out next month to go on a fishing trip with my mates from university. And one thing I hope we gain from this session is cordial conversation. Severus?"
Severus scowled but seemed to put some thought in to his response.
"I heard back from a coworker regarding a project we are working on, we believe we may have finally made a breakthrough. I would also like to gain civilized conversation." Severus gave a pointed look at Sirius who rolled his eyes.
"That's wonderful!" Michael said enthusiastically. "Sirius, how about you?"
Sirius furrowed his brows down for a few moments while he thought.
"I rented a place in a village near Harry's school, which was good. And I guess I'd like to be able to talk to Harry without him hating me," Sirius grinned at Harry who scowled in return.
"That is good news," Michael said before turning towards the scowling teen in the room. "And you, Harry?"
"Something good that happened was when Snape wasn't home I found my knives and put them somewhere he couldn't get them," Harry smirked at Severus' sudden look of irritation. "And all I want out of this session is the book Snape promised me for showin' up and not hurting Black."
Michael was indifferent to Harry revealing Severus had been bribing him to come to therapy. Severus wasn't the first parent to do so, and he certainly wouldn't be the last. And if a book kept Harry from starting a fight in his office, then perhaps he owed Severus some gratitude.
"What book is it?" he asked Harry.
"A History of Grey Arts Through the Canadian Country," Harry said with a satisfied look on his face.
Michael had no idea what 'grey arts' were, but assumed it was a foreign concept given that the book title mentioned Canada.
"Shut up," Severus hissed at Harry. Harry shrugged and slumped down in his seat a little.
"Mikey doesn't care, do ya?" Harry asked.
"Michael," he corrected him gently, wishing he had a second smoke before coming inside. "And you guys can talk about anything in here, there are no limits."
Harry, and Sirius oddly enough, both laughed at this while Severus gave Harry an inscrutable look that Michael thought was a silent plea for him to watch what he says.
SS worried about H over sharing?
"Alright well since Severus and Sirius both would like to gain some semblance of normal conversations during the session, why don't we start there?" Michael suggested. "What do you think is stopping you all from having these conversations before now?"
"Blacks an idiot," Harry snarled with a heated look at Sirius. "And 'til now, Snape hated him."
"I still hate him," Severus said with his own scowl. "I am merely trying to allow you to find some semblance of a relationship with the man."
"I'm not so bad once you get to know me," Sirius grinned at Michael with a self-conscious rub of his neck. "Made some mistakes but I'm human, yeah?"
"You're a filthy stupid dog," Harry muttered.
"Not so filthy anymore," Sirius said.
SB provides opposite of SS- lighthearted attitude.
"Let's start with Severus, shall we?" Michael interrupted. "Severus, can you give me three legitimate reasons why you dislike Sirius?"
"Only three?" Severus raised one of his brows in a look of faux-surprise. "And here I prepared at least two dozen."
"Top three then," Michael said with a forced look of patience. He had counted on Severus to provide a stable and calming role model for Harry during the session. He hadn't realized the man harbored so much ill will towards Sirius.
"He once tried to kill me when I was sixteen," Severus said in a dry tone. "Which I believe ranks as the top reason."
"Oi! That's not fair! I didn't force you in that tunnel and you were being a nosy-"
"Watch it," Harry said coolly. "I'd hate to cut a paw off."
"That's enough," Michael interrupted Sirius and Harry both. "Let's let Severus finish, okay?"
At Sirius' nod and Harry's shrug, Michael turned back to Severus.
"Go ahead."
"He also spent seven years 'pranking' me to the point of hospitalization multiple times," Severus said with a cold glare towards Sirius. "And he wasted five months prancing around instead of using his remaining brain cell to clear his name, which directly caused harm to Harry."
SS dislikes SB for injuries to both himself and H, Michael wrote before turning to Sirius.
"Okay, Sirius- what do you have to say about Severus' reasons he dislikes you?"
"First off, if Snape hadn't been nosing around my friends then he never would have been in the tunnel that night," Sirius said with a glare towards Severus. "And Moony-"
"Moony?" Harry interrupted, his eyes narrowed. "Who's Moony?"
"Remus," Sirius said.
"And who is Remus?" Michael asked.
"My- er- well- my friend," Sirius said with an uncomfortable glance toward Harry.
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs!" Harry cried suddenly. "Lupin called me stupid! Said it's a pity I didn't inherit my mums brains."
"He what?" Severus asked sharply.
"When did he do that?" Sirius asked.
"On the map I got! And you're Padfoot, ain't ya? You said I'm only half as charming and good looking as my dad," Harry nearly shouted with a fierce look at Sirius.
"Hey let's-"
"You have our map?" Sirius asked, ignoring Michael altogether. "That's brilliant Harry!"
"No it's not," Harry said. "You all fuckin' insulted me, didn't you?"
"Language!" Severus said, only to also be ignored.
"It wasn't personal pup, it's just a charm we used. Insults anyone who tries to see it without knowing the phrase," Sirius said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Shut. Up." Severus hissed at Sirius with a small glance towards Michael.
"Oh," Sirius glanced towards Michael and frowned. "Sorry."
"He doesn't care," Harry said. "Mikey just thinks we're crazy."
Michael would have argued the point, but they did sound rather crazy in that moment. And nobody was listening to him regardless.
"I think we got off track-"
"Pettigrew is Wormtail, isn't he?" Harry asked Sirius. "Called me a midget. My Dad told me to try for a resort."
Sirius laughed, as if this odd conversation was hilarious instead of headache inducing. At least Severus looked as if he were experiencing the same pains that Michael was.
"I think we've gotten off track here gentlemen," Michael said more firmly than he had before. "Sirius was explaining his side to Severus' reasons for disliking him."
"Oh yeah," Sirius grinned easily at Michael's reminder while Harry shrugged, unrepentant.
"So anyway, Snape wouldn't have almost been hurt if he hadn't been so nosy. Maybe I did prank him, but it's not like he didn't do it back just as hard. And I did reach out, to Snape no less, when I realized the dementors were hurting Harry."
SB shows little remorse towards injuring SS in the past.
"The prison guards were hurting Harry?" Michael asked.
"Oh, er..." Sirius glanced at Severus with an apologetic look on his face.
"They were creating an unsettling environment which was triggering Harry's depression," Severus said plainly.
"They suck your soul out," Harry said, his eyes glittering in the way Michael noticed they do when he's saying something to get a purposeful response. "They eat your happy memories and then eventually suck out your soul."
"Harry I swear to God," Severus muttered while Sirius chuckled.
"It's okay Severus, if that's how Harry views them then that's his opinion," Michael said calmly. "But I'd like to go back to Sirius if we could. Sirius, you've gotten a chance to share your side to Severus' complaints. Can you acknowledge the validity in his reasoning?"
Sirius sent a sideways look towards Severus and frowned.
"I can," he said, albeit begrudgingly.
SB acknowledged SS complaints, Michael noted with no small amount of relief.
"Now it's your turn," he said again to Sirius. "Do you have three reasons to dislike Severus?"
"Suppose him being a Death Eater doesn't mean much to you, does it?"
Harry hissed loudly at that, which was rather concerning as it wasn't the first time he's done so, and Severus grimaced and made an odd tick towards his left arm.
"I'm afraid I don't know what a Death Eater is meant to mean," Michael said slowly. "Can you elaborate?"
"It's a gang," Harry said. "And Snape used to be one but he isn't in it anymore because he's in my gang."
H pursues gang affiliations.
"I am not in your gang Harry," Severus said. "I am in no 'gang'."
"What's a gang?" Sirius asked.
Which was a rather curious question, considering the man spent 12 years in a prison.
"That's what you were in, Dumbledore's bloody Order, weren't you?" Harry sneered in Sirius' direction. "The Order and the Death Eaters, a bloody joke."
"How is the Order the same as the Death Eaters?" Sirius looked insulted at Harry's insinuation.
"And your gang of teenage misfits is the precise image of seriousness," Severus scoffed.
"Hang on, I'm sorry, what gangs are we discussing here?" Michael interjected. "Severus was in a gang called the Death Eaters, Sirius was in one led by the Headmaster of your boarding school called the Order, and Harry has one?"
"Yep," Harry said. "Mines the best though. You could join if you were magic."
All three have gang affiliations- school specific or cause of connections?
"There are no books in Azkaban," Severus said quietly to Harry. "Shut up."
"I thought we weren't allowed to talk about magic here?" Sirius jumped in with an accusing look towards Severus.
"We aren't."
Michael definitely could hear Severus grinding his teeth. And, judging by the sheepish look on Sirius' face, he wasn't the only one. Michael appreciated Severus' approach towards practicality for their session. Which, he was dismayed to see, still had 90 minutes remaining.
"We've gotten off track again," Michael said. "Let's back up and try to not interrupt each other, okay? Sirius, you said one of the reasons you dislike Severus is because he was in a gang that I'm assuming your gang didn't get along with?"
Sirius snorted and crossed his legs, "You could say that."
"Alright, and Harry, you said Severus is no longer a part of this gang, right?"
"Nope, he's on my side now," Harry said with a small grin towards Severus.
"Great, so what are two other, currently legitimate, reasons you dislike Severus?" Michael asked Sirius.
Sirius scrunched his brows down in thought for a few long moments before he shrugged lightly.
"Can't think of anything right now."
"You were being a git to him just the other week," Harry said incredulously.
"Well I thought he wasn't keeping a good eye on you when I told him that you were in danger, didn't I?" Sirius defended himself. "I wanted to check on you and he was being territorial."
Harry glanced at Severus, who sighed.
"He means I was restricting his access to you by displaying ownership," Severus explained. "Which I absolutely was not doing, despite his juvenile insults."
"I didn't call you Sniv- uh, a 'juvenile insult' until you rubbed it in my face that you were Harry's guardian and not me," Sirius said. "Which, was you being territorial. I just wanted to check on him."
SB shows good protective instincts towards H despite immaturity.
"Snape doesn't own me," Harry said in a hard voice.
"What do you mean by that Harry?" Michael asked.
Harry rolled his eyes and crossed his arms reflexively. Michael saw his fists clenching and unclenching.
H self-soothes with hand-muscle responses.
"Just what I said, Snape doesn't own me. Nobody does."
H fear of being 'owned'.
"Okay, so nobody owns Harry, Severus hurt Sirius' feelings by bringing up his status as Harry's guardian, and Sirius you can't think of any other reason to dislike Severus?" Michael summarized, once again trying to bring the session back on track.
"He's a prat, but Harry likes him, doesn't he? So he must be human in there somewhere," Sirius shrugged with a grin towards Harry. "Plus he's doing a good favor for Moony and everyone says he's watched over Harry since he came to school. So, I can't think of any 'currently legitimate' reasons to be mad just yet. I probably will soon though."
SB willing to put aside past for H.
"Severus, can you recognize that Sirius is willing to put aside his past dislike in favor of moving forward peacefully?"
"Didn't say I didn't dislike him," Sirius muttered quietly enough that Michael could ignore it.
Severus looked towards Harry, who was glowering at Sirius, and rolled his eyes.
"I can," he said drily. "Though since I never attempted to kill-"
"Great," Michael interrupted. "So it's Harry's turn now. Harry, do you have three current reasons to be upset with Severus?"
"If he stays out of my stuff and vows not to tell anyone anything about me again then no," Harry said.
"I suppose I should have left you to be miserable alone with no support then?" Severus said.
"I was fine," Harry said stubbornly. "I didn't need 'support' I needed the dementors to be gone."
"So you acknowledge that you were depressed?" Michael asked gently.
"No," Harry glowered at him. "I was not 'depressed', the dementors literally make you feel crazy, that's their job."
H views depression as insanity.
"You know being depressed doesn't make you 'crazy', right? It's a normal response to chemical imbalances in our brains."
Harry turned to Severus, "Did he just say my brain is imbalanced?!"
Sirius chuckled again which earned him another hate filled look from Harry.
"Just because I said I wouldn't kill you here doesn't mean I won't the second we leave," Harry said.
"We aren't killing anyone," Michael said hastily. "Harry please don't threaten Sirius."
Harry rolled his eyes and slumped down in his chair.
"Severus, can you acknowledge the validity of Harry's complaints?"
Severus' brows rose in incredulity.
"You believe I should regret informing you of Harry's struggles and for finding the note in his dorm?"
"I do not," Michael said calmly. "What I think you should do is acknowledge that even if you weren't wrong, that Harry was hurt by your actions and you can acknowledge his feelings."
Harry, predictably, curled his upper lip at this. Severus turned a thoughtful face towards Harry and spoke very solemnly.
"I apologize that my actions injured the trust you placed in me."
Harry blinked, taken aback by Severus' genuine apology.
"Are you gonna do it again?"
"If I believe your life is in danger then I am afraid I will," Severus said.
"Then you're not really sorry, are you?"
"I do regret that you feel less trusting towards me. Though I wish that you would acknowledge that I was concerned for your safety."
H does not accept apologies without supporting actions.
"I can make you a deal," Severus said in a slow way that made Michael believe he was weighing his words carefully. "If you will agree to inform me the next time you consider ending your life, then I will agree to not invade your privacy like I did before."
Michael and Sirius both watched as Harry silently studied Severus for a few moments.
"Deal," Harry eventually said with a curt nod of his head.
SS very attuned to H thought processes, Michael wrote with a broad smile.
"Excellent! Really guys, this is a great step!" He ignored their matching eye rolls and refocused on Harry. "Now, do you have three currently valid reasons you dislike Sirius?"
"I have a dozen," Harry said with a small grin towards Severus who Michael was surprised to see smile in return.
H seeks approval from SS which seems freely given (affection?).
"Top three then," Michael said lightly.
"One, he let Dumbledore send me to Surrey when he shouldn't have. Two, he tricked me in to thinking he was just a dog. Three, his boyfriend is a prat," Harry said, ticking his reasons off as he went.
"Boyfriend?" Sirius yelped. "Who told you that?"
Harry gave a pointed look at Severus, who turned a bland face to Sirius.
"Was your tasteless preference a secret?"
"Not tasteless," Sirius scowled. "But not your business to be spreading around, is it?"
"Are you ashamed of your sexuality?" Michael asked.
"Probably ashamed of his boyfriend, I would be," Harry smirked.
"Moony made a couple mistakes but he's a good person," Sirius said. "He isn't like us pup, he doesn't get it. But he tries."
"You and I are not the same," Harry said harshly. "You can be 'tragically misunderstood' all by yourself."
"I'm not misunderstood," Sirius said easily. "Except, maybe you don't understand me. But you would if you even bothered to try."
"Why would I bother to try?" Harry asked, tilting his head in curiosity. "You left me behind, you don't mean anything to me."
Michael expected Sirius to react poorly to Harry's harsh statement but he just grinned at him instead.
"You used to call me Paddy, when you were a baby," Sirius said. "Your Dad lost the plot since your first word was 'mama' and your second was 'paddy'. He thought you said daddy until you reached for me."
SB offers connection to parents(!!).
"That's a cute story, Black," Harry said, clearly unmoved by the story. "Suppose that was before you let Dumbledore ruin my life, yeah?"
"Hold on," Michael jumped in before Sirius could respond. "Can you elaborate Harry?"
"Course I can," Harry said with a shrug. "He could have taken me with him, but instead he let Dumbledore send me to Surrey because he didn't care to fight for me."
"And Surrey is where you lived with your mothers sister?" Michael asked, checking his previous notes.
"Yep."
"Why did Dumbledore decide that?" Michael asked. "Did your parents not leave a will?"
"They did," Severus cut in smoothly. "It stated that Black was to be Harry's godfather in case anything happened to them."
"And you didn't take him?"
"I tried!" Sirius said, his voice become a little hysterical. "I went there to get Harry! But Hagrid wouldn't let me. I said I was his godfather but he said Dumbledore ordered him to take Harry to Petunia!"
Michael looked incredulously at the three men.
"And that was okay? That Dumbledore bypassed a legal will and decided custody for an orphaned infant?"
"Thank you!" Harry cried. "That's what I've been saying!"
"There were a lot of conflicts going on at the time," Severus said slowly. "Dumbledore was considered to be a rather trusted figure while most considered Black to have been the person responsible for Harry's parents deaths."
"Sure nobody considered you responsible?" Sirius said snidely.
Severus twitched, very lightly, and his eyes tightened.
"I'm confused," Michael admitted. "How were either of you responsible for the death of Harry's parents?"
"Snape heard a prophecy saying I'm going to kill old Timmy-"
Sirius sputtered and Severus sighed in a long suffering type of way as Harry began explaining.
"So he told Timmy, didn't he? Since he was the leader of his gang at the time. So my parents had to go in hiding and everyone thought Black was the secret keeper, but he wasn't. It was Pettigrew."
"You know about the prophecy?" Sirius gaped at Harry.
"You have violated at least five laws since we have arrived," Severus hissed at Harry. "Would you mind if I explained in a way that keeps us all from being imprisoned?"
"Go ahead," Harry smiled.
"Apologies," Severus said to Michael. "It was a very chaotic time in our community."
Michael thought Severus said they lived in a religious community in Scotland, but he had no idea what kind of religion had so much gang warfare.
"As Harry said, I overheard information regarding his family and passed it to my boss, Riddle. Which led him to target Harry's parents. Once I realized he was targeting Harry's parents I went to Dumbledore and asked him to protect them. They went in to hiding and people believed only Black knew of their location. So when they were murdered by Riddle everyone believed that Black had turned them in. Which was not helped by his foolish actions in attempting to kill Pettigrew-"
"Who faked his death and went to Azkaban couple of weeks ago," Sirius finished with a smug look.
Michael had a sudden realization- whatever community these people lived in, he wanted nothing to do with it.
Gang warfare (?)
"Okay, so... Harry, did you forgive Severus for his part in the death of your parents?"
Harry shrugged, "Suppose so, yeah."
"But you won't forgive Sirius for letting Dumbledore, someone he was also working under, take custody of you as an infant?"
"It's not the same, is it?"
"It's not," Michael agreed. "Some would say Severus' actions were much worse."
That cleared the smirk quickly off Harry's face and he looked carefully blank as he blinked owlishly a few times.
"He is not incorrect," Severus said quietly to Harry. "The mutt did you wrong, but I am not blameless in putting you in that situation to begin with."
Sirius, who looked insulted at being called a mutt, gave Severus a newfound look of appreciation at the rest of his words.
"But you were following orders," Harry said. "And-"
"And so was I," Sirius said. "Harry I swear to Merlin that I thought Dumbledore was making the best decision for you. I figured he knew something I didn't and then I thought if I couldn't have you, what I really wanted, that at least I'd avenge your parents murder by killing Pettigrew."
Michael was beginning to wonder if he had somehow gained clients from some odd cult that worshiped magic and Merlin.
SS will need to be moral guide for H- SB not good moral role model.
"Amelia said you laughed when they arrested you," Harry blurted out of the blue. "Why?"
"Because Pettigrew was a moron!" Sirius said. "Got the worst grades, didn't he? Only got two NEWTS! And he tricked us! Tricked me! So when they showed up I was just in shock Pup. Mikey would probably call it a nervous breakdown or something. How could Pettigrew have pulled it off?"
Michael assumed protesting the name Harry had christened him with would be fruitless at this point in the session.
"Why didn't you tell them you didn't do it?" Harry asked. "Weren't you and my Dad training with them?"
"They didn't let me," Sirius said, his eyes getting dark. "Threw me straight in Azkaban with no trial."
"Azkaban is slang for prison?" Michael checked. He had put it together with the context when it was mentioned before, but he had never heard of a person being imprisoned without a trial since the early 1930's in the United Kingdom.
"Sure," Harry said, distracted as he studied Sirius. "So those cops were your friends and they didn't even ask you if you did it?"
"Not once."
"Pft," Harry scoffed. "I knew magic cops were just as bad as Muggle ones, didn't I? Told Snape when he had them following me around."
Sirius grinned slightly at that as Michael noted down the word 'Muggle' and Severus groaned.
"You think Tonks would get fired if they knew she spent an afternoon looking for me with you while I was right beside her?" Sirius asked, his eyes sparking mischievously.
"Fuck," Harry breathed, a small grin on his face now as well. "They're just as bad and just as stupid as Muggles, ain't they?"
"Aren't they," Severus corrected him, only to be ignored as Sirius' loud laughter filled the room.
Harry grinned at Sirius before nervously glancing towards Severus.
"Er... can I talk to you? In private?" Harry gave a pointed look towards both Sirius and Michael.
"We can step out for a moment," Michael offered. "Though I would prefer it if we had conversations out in the open."
"I'm sure you would," Harry rolled his eyes. "Not a chance."
Michael glanced at the clock again and was relieved to see that there were only 45 minutes in the session remaining. He would have been much more disgruntled at being ordered out of his office by a teenager if he didn't know that in less than an hour he could leave.
Michael and Sirius stepped out in the lobby where Sirius gave him a shifty grin as he stuck his hands deep in his jacket pocket.
"Mind if I go smoke?"
Michael considered for a split second before nodding in defeat.
"Come on, I can show you where I go out back."
Sirius followed Michael to the back lot where they both lit up.
"Thanks for helping me in there," Sirius said between inhales. "I didn't want to be the one to point out that Snape made the worst decision out of the two of us, but I appreciate you doing it."
"Cheers," Michael murmured. "Can I ask you a question?"
Sirius chuckled, "Another one you mean? Sure."
"Severus said Harry threw a knife at you and threatened to kill you, do you think he would have?"
"Absolutely," Sirius said without hesitation. "The kid was furious. I was lucky he looked exhausted I guess."
"And you told him you love him afterwards?" Michael asked.
"Course." Sirius stubbed his cigarette out and gave Michael a curious look. "Harry's the closest thing I'll ever have to a son. I even named him my heir the day after he was born. James was like my brother, you know? Harry's the most important person in my life. When I was in Azkaban all I could think about was how much I regret not disobeying Dumbledore and running off with him. Harry could have killed me on the spot and I would have loved him all the way to the afterlife."
Michael thought that was an admirable view to take on the situation. Sirius showed a lot of immaturity, especially where Severus was considered, but he clearly loved Harry deeply.
The two didn't say anymore as they went back in the office. Michael sat and saw that Harry looked contemplative while Severus looked smug.
"Did you clear up your issue?" Michael asked Harry.
"Suppose so," Harry said.
"Would you like to tell us what it was?"
Harry glanced at Severus, who smirked and nodded his head curtly.
"Wanted to ask Snape if he still hated Black, didnt I? Wasn't gonna sit here and play nice for another half an hour if Snape hates him." Harry shrugged.
H shows deep loyalty to SS, likely caused by guardianship and rescue from homeless/abusive situation.
"And I informed Harry that he should pursue his own relationships, regardless of my beliefs. But in this case I believe Black is making a nearly adequate attempt," Severus said smugly.
SS enjoys knowing H holds him in higher regard than SB (lack of maturity).
"Nearly adequate?" Sirius chuckled. "I guess the Firebolt doesn't count then?"
"What Firebolt?" Harry asked, instantly appearing alert and nearly excited.
Severus gave him a long look, alongside a subtle glance towards Michael.
"The one you received for Christmas," he said slowly. "You thought that I had purchased it."
H experiences memory lapses during depressive episodes, Michael wrote as he interpreted Severus' look alongside the conversation.
Harry furrowed his brows before smacking himself lightly on the forehead. "Oh, yeah." He gave Sirius a curious look, his head tilted slightly and his eyes narrow behind his glasses. "Firebolts are expensive, I can pay you back."
"With our money?" Sirius laughed. "The Goblins said that you already made a few withdrawals from the Black account."
Harry flushed slightly but Michael interrupted before he could respond.
"Sorry, but what is a firebolt and what Goblins?"
"Son of a bitch," Severus muttered. "The Minister himself won't be able to keep us out of prison."
"You could obliviate him," Harry offered. "He'd never remember a thing."
Michael was being entirely ignored as the three men began arguing over the pros and cons of 'obliviating' him. He began to feel panicky. He had no way of knowing what they meant by the odd term, but he didn't believe any of them were opposed to killing him if they thought they had a good enough reason.
"Will you speak with your godfather cordially and not harm him again if he does not newly deserve it?" Snape asked Harry.
"Guess so," Harry shrugged.
"And we will create a system where you come to me if you begin to forget the many valid points in you living long enough to take over as Minister?" Snape asked with his dark eyes narrow and severe.
"Yes," Harry said defensively. "Made a deal, didn't I?"
"Excellent. You two may step out," Severus said. "I'll finish up here and perhaps we can avoid adjoining cells in Azkaban."
Sirius chuckled while Harry gave Michael a self-satisfied look.
"Knew it didn't matter what I said, didn't I? You won't remember it anyway," he laughed as he exited the office.
Michael looked pleadingly at Severus.
"Listen- I don't know what's going on but my code of ethics prevents me from sharing any pertinent information on your sessions with anyone," he said quickly.
"I understand," Severus said calmly. "However with Harry's fame and Black's infamy, I can't take any chances." He pulled a long dark handled stick out of his pocket. "I want you to know that I truly appreciate all that you have done to help Harry and I, and I regret that Harry placed me in this position. I believe it was intentional on his part, though perhaps I should have seen it coming, the child is incredibly cunning if you had not noticed."
Michael gave up on decorum and leapt from his chair and backed away quickly.
"Severus, listen-"
"Obliviate," Severus murmured with the stick pointed at Michael's head.
"Honey are you okay? You look exhausted," Michael's wife Jennifer cooed over him as he ate his dinner.
"Long day," he said with a yawn. "Sorry love."
"Oh was it that new family you said you were seeing today?" she asked.
"New family? You must have me mixed up with your other therapist husband," he teased her. "I haven't taken on any new families in the last six weeks."