For the rest of dinner Y/N had sat quietly, brooding as he ate. The atmosphere around him seemingly growing darker, heavier, a sense of foreboding and dread falling on the Gryffindors near him, all except Hermione.

As soon as they had finished dinner Hermione had dragged Y/N out by the hand, towards a courtyard not far from McGonagall's office.

As he exited the Great Hall, and the room seemed to grow lighter, a frightened Neville turned to Lavender and asked:

"Was that Y/N? Making it so dark and heavy in here?"

Lavender nodded sadly and replied:

"Yeah, it happens a lot when he's upset or angry."

More whispers were made around the hall, echoing like a buzz, all wondering about Y/N and his true nature.

—~—

Hermione released Y/N's hand with a smile as they reached the courtyard that was illuminated by the reddening hues of the early evening Scottish sun.

She took a seat and smiled at her boyfriend, knowing he needed to vent as he paced back and forth.

"A therapist? A fucking therapist? What do they think I am some kind of a fucking pussy? This is fucking ridiculous!"

Y/N raged as he paced back and forth. A couple of fifth year Slytherins had began to walk through the courtyard before they caught a glimpse of Y/N, pacing and swearing, and bolted in the opposite direction.

Hermione giggled at their response and at her boyfriend, she couldn't understand how anyone could be afraid of him. He was a big teddy bear after all:

"Come on babe. You know it's only because they are worried about you" she said with a smile.

"Worried about me because they think I'm weak. I've done time. I've killed. I've beaten Voldemort and they think-"

Y/N's rant was silenced by a kiss that momentarily caught him by surprise before he melted into it.

Hermione released and spoke to her boyfriend as she gently cupped his cheek:

"Exactly. You're not going to be fourteen for a fortnight and yet you've done all that. Don't you think maybe it's a bit much? That maybe... just maybe... people put too much on you? It scares me baby. Not because I think you're a monster. Not because I'm scared of you. But because I'm scared for you. That you're pushed too hard. Hurt too much. I just want what you want. You want me to be safe and happy right?"

Y/N nodded and Hermione smiled.

"Well that's what I want for you baby. It works both ways. I've cried so many times thinking about all the ways you've been hurt, been let down. I just want you to be happy. That's what McGonagall and Dumbledore want for you as well love."

Y/N's anger seemed to dissipate just at Hermione's words, at her loving tone. She cupped Y/N's cheek and stroked with her thumb as she spoke, before another voice spoke from the edge of the courtyard:

"I couldn't have put it better myself, Ms. Granger."

Professor McGonagall stood looking at the young couple, a smile on her face accompanied by sad eyes. She continued:

"We care about you, Y/N. That's all. We're not questioning your strength or your toughness. Merlin knows you're tougher than any of us to survive what you have. But for so much to be put on your shoulders. It can't hurt just to talk, can it?"

Hermione rubbed Y/N's arm as he grunted "I s'pose." Hermione hugged him as McGonagall mouthed a 'thank you' to the girl. Hermione smiled back at her Head of House.

"I've just dropped Ms. Bradbury in my office if you would like to go there now. She is quite a... colourful character. I've no doubt you two will get along... swimmingly" McGonagall stated wearing a smile she looked to be forcing somewhat.

Y/N sighed before being led by the hand by Hermione. They knocked on the office door to see a woman, dressed in muggle clothes and dancing like a maniac with headphones on.

Y/N caught sight of her and turned to leave immediately. Hermione held on tight and said forcefully: "oh no mister, you stay!"

The woman turned and smiled at the two teenagers as Hermione closed the door behind them.

"Hi guys. You must be Y/N and Hermione right? My names Charlie, Charlie Bradbury."

She smiled widely at the pair and it was returned by Hermione as Y/N looked at her skeptically and replied:

"You look pretty out there for a shrink"

Hermione's eyes widened in shock as she whisper-shouted: "Babe! Be nice."

"Being nice was never part of the deal" Y/N replied calmly.

Charlie laughed at their interaction.

"You two are adorable you know that. How long have you been together?"

"Coming up three months, but we've been in love three years" Y/N said proudly. Hermione nodded and kissed him on the lips.

"Wow. Impressive for kids your age" Charlie smiled.

"Who are you calling a kid?" Y/N snapped angrily.

"Babe!" Hermione scolded in shock again.

"No, it's good for Y/N to be honest in his responses, Hermione. Does that bother you Y/N? Being called a kid" Charlie asked with intrigue. Y/N narrowed his eyes.

"I see what you're doing" he replied coldly.

"I figured you would" Charlie smiled. "Lets take a seat."

They sat at McGonagall's desk as a magic quill started taking notes.

"I use this so I can fully concentrate on you but to make sure I don't miss any details later. Is that ok with you, Y/N?"

"Yeah, fine" he sighed.

"So why are you here, Y/N?" Charlie asked.

"So I don't have to cover up my Phoenix or Grim Reaper tattoos" Y/N replied emotionless, feeling the glare from Hermione as he did.

"Ooh sick tats dude". Charlie exclaimed. "Can I see the rest?"

A tiny smile flickered on Y/N's lips, for the briefest of microseconds, before he buried it. Charlie though saw it and internally smiled as Y/N held down his robe collar, showing the rest of the bird on his neck.

"He's got one on his calf too." Hermione smiled with a blush.

"What's that of?" Charlie asked with a tone of genuine curiosity.

"Hermione" Y/N smirked.

"Really?" Charlie asked shocked.

"Yeah, got it before I went to Azkaban, so I could see her face every night".

"You went to Azkaban?!?" Charlie roared with significant and genuine concern. The tiny progress made with Y/N disappeared in a moment as his walls tightened:

"Bullshit you didn't know! It was all over the Daily Prophet" Y/N roared. He wasn't going waste his time with a bullshit artist. Charlie though looked at Y/N with genuine concern and surprise:

"Dude I've spent the last year backpacking around Asia. I only got back Monday and started consulting yesterday. Why the hell did you get sent to Azkaban?"

Y/N looked at Charlie for a moment, unsure whether he should just sit in silence for the rest of the hour, when the slender fingers linked with his own squeezed. Y/N looked into the chocolate eyes they were attached to and sighed:

"I got in an argument with a Ministry prick."

"That's it? You were sent to Azkaban for that?" Charlie asked confused.

"More or less" Y/N replied.

"You walked in the room and punched him in the head!" Hermione said exasperated.

"He said that word babe. Besides, you know the real reason for it. Fuck that racist blood prejudiced piece of shit."

"Racist? But you're not Muggleborn Y/N?"

"Do you have to be Muggleborn to find that term offensive?" Y/N asked with a sense of frustration.

"No not at all. Just not a lot of pure bloods who do in my experience." Charlie smiled.

"Well you're looking at one. Hermione is Muggleborn and is the brightest witch of our year by a long way. My sister in law is as well and is a potions prodigy."

"Penny Haywood- uh L/N?" Charlie asked with a smile.

"Yeah, you know her?"

"I do, we work at Mungoes together. She's a sweetheart. Hot too!"

"Uh... right?" Y/N answered confused. Charlie attempted to get the conversation back on track:

"So you punched an employee and were sent to Azkaban. Just for that?"

"I had priors. Minister tried to send me there last year for beating the shit out of three blood prejudiced pig Slytherins who insulted 'Mione, but as a noble I opted for a whipping instead."

"Oh geeze. Ok where to start with that one." Charlie said chucking.

"Not too late to back out Char" Y/N replied stone faced.

"Char, nice, my partner calls me that!"

"What's his name?" Hermione asked. Charlie chuckled:

"Her name is Millie. I like girls."

Neither of the teenagers responded or reacted other than Hermione's smile. Charlie was genuinely surprised as she asked:

"Doesn't that shock you?"

"Not really. Love is love. Who you love ain't none of my business" Y/N remarked nonchalantly.

"Wow. You're just like him aren't you?" Charlie smiled.

"Who?"

"Jacob. I went to school with him, until he disappeared. Millie and I had a really hard time at Hogwarts. Jacob stood up for us and the bullying pretty much stopped."

Y/N again suppressed a smile before answering:

"He's my legal guardian. Raised me since I was eight."

"What about your parents?" Charlie asked, aware, of course, of the assassination of Y/N's father. Still, she wanted him comfortable enough to disclose such a traumatic event.

"You always this nosy?" Y/N snapped back.

"Yes" Charlie giggled. "It's my job"

Y/N seemed to harden himself before answering:

"Dad was murdered by Death Eaters after Voldemort fell. Working for some arseholes called the Knights of Merlin. Found that out in Azkaban, at least it wasn't a whole waste of my time."

"How did you find that out?"

Y/N smirked.

"I ran into two of the three pricks who killed Dad and tortured me. Traded them information for a new smile."

"A new smile?" Charlie asked confused.

A dark grin grew on Y/N's face.

"Yep from ear..." he ran a finger along his throat and made a fllp sound "...to ear."

Hermione at this point had her head in her hands shaking it. She muttered to herself: "My boyfriend is a man of many skills but first impressions isn't one of them."

Y/N chuckled as Charlie exclaimed:

"Wait. Back up. They tortured you?"

She again had to feign ignorance. Everyone in Britain knew the story:

"Yeah after they murdered Dad in front of me and... my Mother. They turned on me, used the Cruciatis curse. For hours. Made me the man I am now."

"What do you mean Y/N?"

"Poppy explained it once. Said being tortured that bad for that long as a baby fried my nerve endings. It's why I can take a beating that would cripple most men and still keep swinging."

"Ok. So that's a lot to take in." Charlie said in surprise as she digested everything Y/N had just said. Several life changing traumatic events and he had just rattled them off like a shopping list.

"We haven't even scratched the surface doc. You can still bail you know? Won't bother me none" Y/N said in a 'I don't care tone'.

"You've had a lot of that haven't you? People you were supposed to trust abandoning you" Charlie asked innocently. Y/N's eyes narrowed, not enjoying being psychoanalysed. He shot back:

"I've learnt there's only two people in this world I can rely on. Really rely on. They are sitting in this room. And you ain't one of them!"

"So you rely on Hermione a lot then?"

"She's my rock."

"Does it ever worry you? Putting that much pressure on Hermione?"

"What?" Y/N snapped in shock. Not even anger, just shock.

"You heard the question" Charlie replied. Y/N immediately turned to Hermione with a concerned look:

"Hermione, do I put too much pressure on you, baby?"

"No, of course you don't babe."

"Are you sure?"

Hermione smiled and lovingly rubbed Y/N's face. She replied:

"Of course I am love. We lean on each other."

Y/N turned back to his therapist and asked with a growl:

"Why would you ask that?"

Charlie smiled again:

"Just to see your response, and Hermione's. You two have a very strong connection, I can tell."

"Are we done yet?" Y/N snapped. He was growing frustrated. Very frustrated.

"I'm getting the feeling you like to be in control, Y/N?"

"Of course I like to be in control. What a fucking stupid statement."

Y/N's aggression was building in his tone and his body language. Charlie continued smiling:

"Not really. Some people avoid it. Relinquish their control and responsibility to others. What do you think of that?"

Y/N snapped instantly:

"That they are fucking weak!"

"So you associate strength and control? Interesting. What about a lack of control? Weakness or perhaps powerlessness?"

"Obviously" Y/N replied in a drollness that would have even made Severus proud.

"So have you ever felt powerless Y/N? Had the control taken away from you?"

"Of course I have, who hasn't?" Y/N barked.

"But not everyone associates being powerless, or having a lack of control, with weakness, so it would be interested to see where that stems from. Who made you feel powerless Y/N? Was it in Azkaban? Was it when you were tortured as a small child? or somewhere in between? You haven't mentioned your mother yet?"

"And?" Y/N snapped in frustration. Charlie knew she was close to the mark.

"And you've spoken about your father's murder. You've said your brother is your guardian. What about your mother?"

"I don't know and I don't fucking care!"

"You don't care about your own mother? That sounds pretty heartless."

"The fuck would you know?" Y/N snarled.

"Nothing. That's why I need you to tell me. What about your mother?"

"You want to know about my mother? I hope the whore died bloody and screaming!"

Charlie's eyes grew wide.

"That was a pretty strong response!"

"Well what do you expect after she-" Y/N stopped himself suddenly, realising how easily Charlie had got him talking.

"After she what Y/N? After she what?"

Y/N smirked at Charlie:

"You're good aren't you?"

Charlie giggled:

"I like to think so. So what do your mother do?"

Y/N sighed.

"She beat and tortured me. Relentlessly, nearly to death, over and over for five years. Happy?"

"Not at all. I'm so sorry to hear that."

"Why would you be? You don't know me?"

"I can still empathise with you, Y/N. You were a child and were abused in the worst possible way by the one person you were supposed to be able to trust. Is this where your hatred of Pure Bloods comes from?"

"I don't hate Pure Bloods. I am a Pure Blood."

"Certainly sounds like you hate Pure Bloods from everything you've said" Charlie asked in a deliberately innocent and provocative way.

"What I hate, Dr. Smartarse, is people thinking they are better than someone else for what they were born. Whether it's blood status, or their race or species, it doesn't matter."

"So you hate discrimination?"

"Yeah I guess so."

"Well that says a lot about you. It's a very admirable trait. You don't seem to care about whether someone is a Pure Blood, a Muggleborn or even a Centaur!"

"Some of my best friends are Centaurs" Y/N shot back. Charlie smiled.

"That doesn't surprise me in the least. I think we should finish here for this week. I understand how hard this has been for you Y/N, and I look forward to us getting to know each other better.

I think you've really done well today and I like to finish all my sessions with a positive affirmation. You are a good person, Y/N. You protect the weak and don't care about how someone was born, only what they do. But everything you've said points to one fatal flaw in your personality."

"What's that?" Y/N asked with an eye roll.

"You don't like yourself very much" Charlie answered with a genuine tone of sadness.

"Not once when you have discussed these horrible things happening to you did you flinch, or get emotional. That suggests you accept bad things happening to you. That you possibly think you deserve them somehow. That's what we will work on going forward."

"Can't wait" Y/N replied most unenthusiastically. Charlie grew a large smile:

"Until then... Later bitches!"

If Charlie wanted an emotional response- she got one. Y/N shot up on his feet, his eyes darkening, a sconce behind him exploding on the wall:

"What the fuck did you say!?!" He roared in fury.

"Oh, sorry Y/N. It's just something I say to my friends, just a little joke."

Y/N's lip curled:

"Nobody ever calls Hermione that. Ever. You understand me? And I killed four arseholes in Azkaban that wanted to rape me. Make me their bitch. I ain't nobody's fucking bitch!"

Charlie was shocked at his words and actions in defending himself, but she was as professional as it came. Her expression didn't change as she replied:

"I'm sorry if I crossed a line, Y/N. But thank you for letting me know. I'll be sure not to cross it again."

"Better fucking not" Y/N snapped as he got up and stormed out the office. McGonagall was about to knock at the door to see how everything was going. She just hopped out of the way in time, turning stunned and looking into her office at Hermione and Charlie:

"Went well then?" She asked stunned. Charlie smiled:

"Really well, Minerva. I got a very good understanding of Y/N. Thanks for being here Hermione, I know it wasn't easy hearing a lot of that."

Hermione smiled sadly:

"It wasn't, it never is, but I love him. More than anything."

Charlie and Minerva both smiled at the girl.

"I know" Charlie replied. "And I think it's pretty obvious he feels the same way!"