Disclaimer : I do own anything Harry Potter.

This story is going to TRY and address issues of Bullying, PTSD and various other things that I will put up in the warnings. I just want everyone to know I AM NOT a doctor of any kind, so there is probably going to be some inaccuracies despite my best efforts otherwise.

The reason why I'm writing this is because after reading the books again, I've noticed that Harry is showing a lot of signs of PTSD and abuse, mainly emotional and perhaps a bit of neglect as well. And then when I was doing the research for the idea that came with the realization, I found a blog about how the Durselys were not as horrible as we want to think (though they did admit that their treatment of him was wrong). Which I will admit made me mad, but after calming down I did more research to see if there was any truth to that and welll…read and see (Also, unfortunately, I lost the website. I'll post it if I can find it again, maybe one of you guys stumbled on it).

This story will also focus on Severus, who we all know has a LOT of issues.

Open Hand

My dearest, Ms. Evergreen,

I'm writing to you because I have a student who I believe is in need of your specialty. He has recently lost someone close to him, however, I believe this to be the breaking point, for as long as he's been under my care, he's always been in constant danger despite my and the staff's best efforts.

If you are willing to take him on, please owl me back, if you are not, can you give me any advice on how to handle this situation or recommend someone else?

Your friend,

Madame Poppy Pomfrey, Matron of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Are you sure about this Poppy?"

Poppy's expression went hard, near cold, "You of all people should not be asking me that question, Albus."

Albus flinched, "I apologize," he then turned his attention to the woman who had remained silent after introductions were made. "Thank you for coming, Ms. Evergreen, and welcome."

"Thank you for having me," Mary smiled.

"Tell me, what exactly is your plan? I admit, you style of Healing is unknown in the Wizarding World."

"I cannot give exact details, and even then, only if my possibly future patient permits me to do so. However, I can tell you that I will start with an observation, and when I am done, I will give Madame Pomfrey my diagnoses, and treatment opinions."

"And how long will the observation take?"

"Two weeks, the first week will be merely watching the patient, the second will be one on one sessions."

Albus looked at Poppy, "Are you sure about this?"

"I believe it's for the best, even if you aren't. Albus, please, don't make me pull rank on you."

Albus doesn't physically react to the threat, but Poppy could see a hint of…something in the man's eyes. Whatever it was had the Headmaster nodding. After some more questions, and Mary telling the Headmaster what she wanted him to do during her stay, Mary and Poppy left the man's office to get ready for the Welcoming Feast.

"Would you really have pulled rank Pomfrey?"

"How many times do I have to tell you, call me Poppy and yes. I would have."

As Matron of the school, Poppy actually had the highest ranking out of all the staff in the school, and could easily out rule the Professors and Headmaster's decisions if she felt the students and even the Staff members themselves were in danger. The only ones who could out rule her was the Broad of Education, and even that is questionable.

Mary doesn't say anything else until they get to Poppy's private chambers, "Do you have anything more to tell me of him, before we get to the Great Hall? Something you may have forgotten in your letters?" she asked.

She doesn't worry about anything being over heard, the Matron's room was practically buzzing with the strongest of wards and privacy spells. Not uncommon, not to mention a mandatory.

"Nothing that I can think of," Poppy said after thinking about it, "however, I am curious. Will two weeks really be enough to get a proper diagnose?"

"From what you have told me in your letters, I have an idea of what the possible diagnose could be, and honestly the two weeks are to confirm or deny it. Not mention to see if it's a different diagnoses altogether."

They talk more, before they head out to join the other staff members. Most of them, Albus included, were already seated. That also included the newest professor, Horace Slughorn.

"Hello, Ms. Evergreen," Sprout greeted the woman as she, and the Matron sat down.

"Hello, Professor Sprout, yes?"

Sprout nodded, "The Headmaster told us that you were here to shadow our Pomfrey for a while, as part of your studies."

"Yes," Mary nodded with a smile, "figured since I was given the opportunity to pick who to learn from, why not the best!"

Under the table, Poppy gave her a quick kick, Mary jumped slightly getting a strange look from the other Professors and an slightly amused one from Albus. She ignored them to look at Poppy who was giving her a look that roughly translated to: "Laying it on a bit thick." Mary merely gave a small playful grin before turning her attention to the other Professors. About five minutes later, another Professor came in, and thanks to Poppy's letters she recognized Severus Snape. Who was another person Poppy expressed concern for. Severus looked at her, his eyes narrowed just slightly before turning his attention to the older students who had started to marched in. Mary looked, and easily found her potential patient, she watched him talk to his friends and how he interacted with them for a bit, being careful as not to get caught. Then the first years came in.

After that, Mary merely watched, and enjoyed herself, she had gone to an American school. Which was very much different from Hogwarts.

After that it was time for announcements, she smiled, and waved when she was introduced as Mary Evergreen, a studying Medi-Witch. This wasn't a lie, because she was studying, and she was a Medi-Witch. Then came the announcement that Severus Snape was to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, which got a somewhat loud protest from her potential patient, and peeked her curiosity a bit. Poppy had said the two didn't get along, but that outburst spoke volumes.

Other than that, it was as expected, what with the Headmaster addressing the sudden return of the Dark Lord. Then with a few words of wisdom, everyone was dismissed.

~.~

The first day of class brought back a lot of memories of her own school days, Muggle college included….though she doubted that the Hogwarts students here were having parties that ended with them not remembering anything the next day, or…..testing herbs for medical purposes.

"At least, I hope not." Mary thought as she moved through the crowd of students, smiling at students who looked her way.

She finally made it to her patient's class, which was Charms, and she sat quietly in the corner after the Professor explained to the students why she was there. When she got the opportunity, she observed her patient, and frowned at how tired he looked as though he had been getting little sleep if any. After Charms, she doesn't follow the boy and his friends to their second class, instead she attended a session with the Ravenclaws, and Slytherin. Her eyes headed up locking onto who she knew to be Draco Malfoy, and he looked very…..nervous.

Filing that away for later, Mary listened to Minerva lecture, after which she had the class read and take notes. Using this opportunity, Mary got up and approached the Professor who had settled down behind her desk.

"Ms. Evergreen," Minerva said in way of greeting.

"Enjoyed the lecture, much more informative then my Professor," Mary said with a small smile, voice low as not to disturb the students.

"You went to an American school, yes? I imagine things are different in terms of education."

Mary nodded, "Pretty much, but I think the real difference is because my Professor didn't very much enjoy teaching….or children."

"Well, teaching is not for everyone," Minerva hummed.

"That is true, you must enjoy it though, seeing as you've been here for so long."

Minerva didn't smile, but her eyes lit up a bit, before she told the woman about her experience as a Professor.

~.~

After lunch, Mary is once again attending a class with her potential patient, and this one was Defense Against the Dark Arts. And it was both enlightening, and horrifying. Professor Snape, though subtle, not doubt very conscious of Mary's presence, was very much bullying her potential patient. And this was obviously a common occurrence if the students' expressions were anything to going by.

Years of training, and experience is most definitely the reason why she kept her cool, and her mouth shut.

Her brother would be so proud.

"Mmm, something to consider," the woman thought.

"So, how did your first day go?" Poppy whispered to her at dinner.

"I think we're off to a good enough start," Mary whispered back.

~.~

Mary looked up from the parchment she was reading when there was knock on the door, she smiled when she saw Harry Potter nervously standing in the doorway.

"Hello Mr. Potter, right on time." She greeted, "Please have a seat wherever you like."

As Harry does so, Mary got up to close the door, once done with that. She turned her attention to the 6th year, who had settled on the couch, "I guess I should start."

She settled down on one of the cushioned chairs, "My name is Mary Evergreen, and I'm really here because Poppy is worried about you."

Harry is obviously confused, and surprised, "I don't understand, Madame Pomfrey is worried about me?"

Mary nodded. "She thinks you may need someone to talk to after what happened last year, and the years before that. She believes that the events are starting to affect you, thus she contacted me."

Harry is thoughtfully silent, then it clicked, "You're a therapist?"

"Yep!" Mary chirped.

Harry stuttered, "But I'm fine!" he finally blurted out.

He looked a little panicky, but mostly confused.

"Like I said, she's worried. If you really think you're fine however, then we don't have to continue on after today."

The teen's shoulders slumped in what was obvious relief.

"However, we still have over fifty minutes left, sooooo, wanna play darts?"

"….What?"

About five minutes later, Mary was losing, and Harry's pockets were heavier with sweets. "No wonder you're the youngest seeker of all time at this school," Mary grumbled as she pulled the darts from the broad.

Harry gave a small smile.

Pouting, Mary settled next to the boy for another game, handing half to the teen. "So," she began as she let loose her first one, "according to the Daily, you had an eventful 5th year."

Harry's behavior, which had been a little loose, had gone stiff, and somber. "Yeah," he said softly.

"Judging from that answer, it must have sucked."

Another dart goes flying.

Losing someone close to you, did more than sucked. It hurt, like your heart had been ripped apart, and nothing in the world could fix it. And you hate everyone who even suggested, or tried otherwise

"That's one way of looking at it," Harry said after a moment.

Mary glanced at the boy's dominate hand, she had caught glimpses of it, but now so close, she could see it a bit more clearly. She's seen that type of scaring enough times to know what had made them, that fact that it was so fresh gave her a further idea of how much 5th year had sucked.

"I had a year like that," she said after a moment, "nothing seem like it was going right, everything so hopeless. I even lost people important to me."

That got a flinch.

"Had nightmares afterwards, which by the way, was only one of a number of things that happened afterwards."

"…..What were the other things?"

Mary turned to look at him, "I think you have a good idea of what those other things are," she said gently, "the question is, what do you want to do about them."

She doesn't say anymore, instead she let loose her third dart, which missed and hit the wall. Not bothered by it, she let loose her fourth, then her fifth. When she got to her sixth and last one, Harry spoke.

"Did things get better?"

Mary hummed, tilting her head thoughtful, "They did in their own way. I mean it was hard, sometimes very hard. But I had help, when I finally realized, and admitted I needed it."

Harry finally looked at her, hesitating for a moment before speaking, "You went to therapy?"

"Not at first," Mary admitted, "but eventual I did."

"And it helped?"

"For me it did, I'm going to be honest, it's not for everyone. But, it's a start."

The woman let her last dart fly, before going to the broad, one by one she plucked the darts off the broad and wall; waiting.

"…I don't think I'm okay Ms. Evergreen."

Everyone is different. You have those who will realize that something isn't right, and that they need help. And you have others, where it takes a while longer to realize this. Sometimes, it'll come out of nowhere. Also, keep this in mind, this story is about healing, understanding, and forgiveness mostly, and what I'm going to focus on in this story. Some things may or may not be skipped or glanced over.

Let Me Know What You Think.