The Boy The Snake and The Stone

Chapter 30: Mind Healer

It was a short week after the Dark Lord gave Harry the task, a week after the mirror, and a week since classes started. Harry was exhausted, it seemed like the nightmare had returned 10-fold, and between reading information for the Dark Lord and classes there was no sleep in sight. This not only made Draco worried, but everyone in his year, as well as Gemma who had taken Harry under her wing at the first of the year. To everyone who saw him saw how close he was to breaking, and were trying their best to help; but Harry the way he was, didn't like to accept the help, not wanting anyone to worry about him. It was at this point they turned to Severus, giving small hints to the professor so that he could step in and help the poor child out. Severus noticed the change in Harry, but was unsure of what he should do since the boy had not approached him. He grew even more alarmed when his snakes started to drop non-subtle hints on what was going on. He had to step in before all progress he had made with the child was wasted on him driving himself into madness with no sleep; he was going to get Harry a mind-healer, and his first appointment was this weekend. He was unsure of what Harry would do to him once he figured out what he had done, Harry did say that he wanted to see one but more on his terms then what was, in the nature of his health; but he would rather have the boy hate him then continue with what was happening.

* * * * Magical Line Break * * * *

It was Saturday that Harry found himself sitting in Severus's quarters, which in itself was not unusual, but what was that Severus called him here. Harry had no idea of why he would be called here, he was doing well in all of his classes, and he had not missed anything, the only thing that was giving him trouble was those nightmares. So why was he called here? His question was answered when the Floo flared green and out stepped a man, he was carrying a note book and bag with him and he smiled at Harry. He was dressed in a muggle clothes, a black button up shirt and black slacks his hair was a dark brown that was slicked back, his eyes a dark blue color.

"Hello, you must be Harry." The man said, "I am Alexander, but you may call me Alec." Alec said, dusting the soot from his clothes, coming to sit in the chair across from Harry, "I was called here today by Severus, he has expressed much concern over your mental health, and asked me to be your Mind Healer. Now if you would be more comfortable with a witch being your Mind Healer, we can work something out, but you have to speak up now." Harry just blinked at the man in surprise, he had no clue what was going on; where was Severus, and why didn't he ask Harry about this? Alec seemed to pick up on this, "So I am guessing that Severus did not tell you that I was coming today, did he?" Alec sighed, "I am sorry about that Harry, if I had known I would have gone slower into introductions, but that man seems to forget to inform people of his plans." He grumbled the last part under his breath. "I am very sorry Harry about this, but Severus was very concerned for your health, I understand if you would want to speak with me about anything, but it would easy his worry about it if you gave it a try. I would also ask that you not be too mad at him, he seems to like you very much, and that is saying something about him."

"Y-You seem to know a lot about him." Harry said biting his lip, not really wanting to talk Alec just yet, he wanted to know more about the man first. He wasn't mad at either Severus or the man, Alec, they were here to help him, but he was a little put off at not choosing when his first session was or who it was with.

Alec chuckled, "I guess you could say that, he was in his 5th year when I entered Hogwarts, and he took me under his wing showing me about and even helped me out a lot with school work. We lost contact for a while after, and then he resurfaced asking me for some help later on, rekindling the friendship we had." Alec smiled at Harry, "I understand that you don't know me that much, but how about this we play a small game to get to know each other I answer one question about me and you another." Harry thought this over, there should be no harm in him asking simple questions as long as he doesn't ask anything too hard I should be able to, Alec seemed to pick up on Harry's struggle, "If there is a question that is too tough you can skip it," Harry was biting his lip once again and nodded.

"Alright Harry I will start," Alec said with a smile, "What is your favorite color?"

Harry gave the man a small smile in thanks of starting easy, "Ummm, b-blue, it's calming." Alec gave Harry a smile of encouragement, "M-my turn... What house where you in at Hogwarts?"

"Slytherin, I thought you would have noticed." Harry blushed at Alec's statement, he of course put it together, but had to make sure, Alec just chuckled at Harry's reaction, "What is your favorite thing to eat?"

Harry chewed the bottom of his lip in thought, unsure of how to answer he loved everything he got to try, "I-I would like to say anything sweet, but it really anything." Harry answered keeping away from say that he never got to try anything when he was younger, "What was your favorite game to play when you were little?"

"Hmmm, good question, I was not much into playing games since I was an only child, and loved to read more; but I would say checkers, it was easier to play than chess." Alec said with a chuckle. This game continued for some time them asking simple questions of each other Harry becoming more and more relaxed after each question, there hadn't been one he skipped just yet, but a few where he skirted around the question by answering it vaguely. "Alright Harry I have time for one more question, this one I will not allow you to skip, it's almost a two-part question." Alec said looking at the child before him. Harry took a deep breath, this was the moment he was dreading, there where so many question this person could ask now he had no way out. "It's a simple question Harry nothing to be afraid of, but I have to know." Harry gave curt nod, "Alright when was the last time you had a full night's rest?" Harry let the tension out of his body, he could answer that it was easy, "S-sometime last week, or maybe a little longer than that." Alec just nodded at Harry's answer, "Why haven't you had a full night's rest?" Harry swallowed a lump in his throat, "N-Nightmares, m-memories really." Harry said his voice cracking a little trying to get the words out past the lump, don't ask, just don't ask, Harry's thought screamed.

"Okay Harry, I can tell that you can't talk about it more than that, but can you do something for me?" Harry just shrugged his shoulders at Alec, not wanting to promise something that he might not be able to do, "I want you to write your dreams, memories, down in a journal. This will be your journal you do not have to share with any one, but you can if you want to, also this journal does not strictly have to be a dream journal it can be used anytime you think you should write in it." He pulled a black journal with a lock on it, and another dark blue journal with no lock, "Now as you can see I have another journal, I want you to try to write in this as well, but unlike the black one this one we will look at what you written in to see what is bothering you question you might have, in the next session. Now you do not have write in these at all, but I do encourage you to do so, it will help you in the long run if you do." Alec said his blue eyes meeting his green ones.

Harry took a deep breath before taking the offered journals from Alec, "I-I'll try, b-but I don't know if I-I can." Harry mumbled.

"That is all I can ask Harry that you try, you might find it easy after the first time you do, like a big weight was taken off your shoulders when you do." Alec stood, "I will talk to Severus at a later date about setting up another session, since I think you need to talk to him about, how you felt about this one." Harry stood up as well extending a shaky hand to the man, "T-Thank You A-Alec... I w-will t-try, a-and I w-will speak to him, I d-do want to get better." The older wizard just gave Harry a warm smile, taking Harry's hand into his giant warm one for a second, and then said a quick goodbye before stepping through the Floo once more. Harry fell back into the chair holding the journal close to him, casting a look at the clock; they had been talking for over an hour and a half. Harry just sat there thinking about everything; before he set out to find Sev.

* * * * Magical Line Break has come back * * * *

Harry found Sev in his lab working on potions, never resting his tense shoulders. Harry took a seat at the stool that was put there for when Harry did join him down in his lab. It was several minutes of quietness, which seemed to stretch before Severus turned around to face Harry.

"Harry, I am sorry for doing that to you, I would have let you chose the day yourself, but you we-"

"Sev, I am not mad," Harry interrupted, before he continued, "I-I was just surprised at first and a little mad, but Alec explained to me that your where concerned; I'm still a little peeved at what was done, but there is nothing to change it. I-I am j-just really happy that someone was concerned about me. I-I will try this." Harry mumbled unsure of himself. That was all Severus needed to hear before sweeping up Harry in a hug. He hadn't noticed the tension that was in his body before the day started, but he now felt it leave his body. He was happy to hear that his son was not mad at him; it made the world a much brighter place to live in.