They sat on sofas facing each other; the healers on one side, Sirius and Harry on the other.
Blackhawk gestured at Sirius. "We will discuss your treatment afterwards, Lord Black. I would like to first discuss your ward's."
"Shouldn't there, uh, be scans first?" Harry asked perplexed. He instinctively shifted closer to Sirius.
Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. "I have to admit to the same question."
"All the scans were performed passively during the time you've already spent in this room." Jordan said kindly.
"Saves time," quipped Sirius, a little disturbed that they'd been monitored and assessed without his knowledge.
Blackhawk returned his gaze to Sirius. "It is normally our practice to discuss treatment with the child present if that's OK with you."
Sirius could almost feel Harry bristling at being called a child. "Harry's a young man rather than a child, I think." He looked at his godson. "Are you OK with staying?"
"I'll stay." Harry said immediately.
They both turned back to Blackhawk with expectant looks.
"We'll start with the minor and work our way up to the major." Blackhawk explained. He indicated that Jordan should take over.
Sirius felt Harry tensing under his hand but he didn't remove it. He kept it there, a silent sign that he was there for Harry.
"Mister Potter…" Jordan began.
"Harry, please." Harry interrupted.
She smiled gently. "Harry. You have some malnutrition and physical weakness caused by poor diet. We can easily fix this with potions and a better diet going forward. We also incorporate muggle techniques in our healing hence why I'm a Doctor as well as a Healer. We want to build up your physical fitness so there'll be an exercise programme for you to do. It'll get you in tip top shape for Quidditch. How does that sound so far?"
"OK." Harry said warily and Sirius knew that he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Jordan smiled kindly. "We also believe that it would a good idea for you to see a mind healer and learn some defensive mind magic."
Sirius had to hand it to them; Harry would have protested at the words 'mind healer' but for that last dangling carrot.
"Defensive mind magic?" Harry asked eagerly.
"An art called Occlumency." Jordan said. "It helps to keep your secrets and your mind safe. It would offer another layer of protection against Dementors."
"Brilliant." Harry proclaimed with relief. He shared a glance with Sirius, an acknowledgement that Harry would be learning something they had already discussed.
Sirius squeezed his shoulder a touch as Jordan glanced at Blackhawk.
"There is also something our scans found we need to discuss with you to determine a path forward." Blackhawk said solemnly.
Harry tensed straight back up and Sirius's eyes narrowed on Blackhawk.
"I do not know if you are aware but your father and mother invoked a spell that placed a protective barrier around you." Blackhawk began.
"Yes, that is…I was…attacked in my first year and the Headmaster said my mother's love protected me." Harry said quietly. "Is that what you mean?"
"In part," Blackhawk agreed, "the spell is powered by your father's – your – family magic so he must have called it forth and sent it to your mother somehow."
Sirius's eyes widened. Family magic was used to bind oaths and judge the breaking of them. It was an additional power source but only for the Head of House – it had been the reason why James had been able to ensure he and Lily survived three encounters with Voldemort. How had James convinced the magic to power a spell Lily had cast?
"However," Blackhawk continued, "the spell itself works only if a mother sacrifices her own life for her child and her love for you was the reason she could make that sacrifice."
Sirius watched anxiously as Harry considered Blackhawk's description, Harry's hands twisting anxiously in his lap.
"When the Dementors…I hear them; Dad telling her to take me and run, and Mum begging Voldemort to leave me and kill her instead." Harry said softly. "He told her to stand aside but she wouldn't…"
Sirius's heart just about broke. "Of course she wouldn't," he said gently, "she loved you very much." He pulled him into a half-hug, and was surprised when Harry didn't resist the comfort.
"Your family magic must be very powerful," Jordan offered, "because the magic invoked is incredibly complex. All around you is a magical barrier. The one who tried to kill you would never be able to touch you."
"He couldn't," Harry admitted ruefully, his eyes downcast, "a couple of years ago Voldemort possessed someone who attacked me and I think…I think my protection killed him…the man even though the Headmaster said it was the possession that did it."
"Possession is a tricky business," Blackhawk jumped in before Sirius could, "it is likely that Albus Dumbledore was correct that this host would not have survived no matter that your protection did what it was meant to do and saved you."
"Think of it this way, Harry," Sirius said, ignoring the look of alarm that Jordan wore with Harry's claim that Voldemort had possessed someone, "you're Hogwarts and your folks surrounded you with a Forbidden Forest to protect you. Just because the Forest did its job and kept someone from harming you, it doesn't make it your fault that they came to harm. Understand? It was not your fault."
Harry drew in a deep breath and nodded shakily. Sirius wondered if it was the first time he'd talked about his experience and glanced over at Jordan who nodded in understanding; it would be addressed in Harry's treatment.
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