More Group Therapy

More Group Therapy

Dr. Horatio Kincaid, psychotherapist, friend of Killainka, Order of Merlin First Class, in his dreams perhaps, reached up into the air and pulled another cigarette. This was going to be harder than he thought. He was looking at the folder that he had placed his Hogwarts patients' bio's in and was thinking of his first session with them. He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "A ghost, a prick, an antagonist, and a Werewolf," he mumbled to himself. "And now it seems they've gone through another one as well." Horatio picked up a file and opened it. "Dolores Umbridge," he mumbled. "Seems as though the wench worked for the Ministry as well," scoffed Horatio. "That's probably the root of her problems," Horatio chuckled loudly.

He took a drag of his cigarette and blew out the words "Harry Potter. What's up with that? You'd think they would all be happy that they were in some way connected to the 'boy who lived'," Horatio laughed even louder this time.

*******************

Horatio's DADA group session was a bit more relaxed this time when they filed into his therapy room. All of them except for the toad-like woman who had to be led in by a nurse and placed on the couch. She had a glazed-over expression and sat quietly while the others found their seats. Horatio pulled a cigarette from the air and drew two puffs. "Good afternoon gentlemen, and Miss Umbridge. I believe the rest of you know each other and have had more than one session together all except Miss Umbridge here--"

However, before Horatio could continue, Moody stepped forward and interrupted him. "We're quite familiar with the High Inquisitor, Horatio," the antagonist began, sarcasm in his voice. He clunked forward, and with each step, grew closer to both Horatio and Umbridge. "Miss Umbitch single-handedly attempted to destroy the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry last term." Moody's magical eye was focusing on Umbridge while his brown one looked at Horatio suspiciously. "I'm curious to know why she's been asked to come here. Perhaps she's here to spy for the Ministry," he spat, rounding on the woman. Lupin stepped forward and in between them.

"Now, gentlemen, we're all here to work through our problems, not throw around accusations and make others feel uncomfortable," stated Horatio, extinguishing his cigarette. "It's impossible for her to spy anyway, there are spells to protect, precautions have been taken," stated Horatio, irritated.

"Yes, Alastor," agreed Lupin with a crooked smile. "Besides, I hear our friend here had a little run in with the Centaurs, and well, let's just say she hasn't been the same since," he continued in a low voice. Moody looked at Lupin, then at Umbridge and her glazed-over expression.

Moody grinned. "She's been horsing around has she?" asked Moody with a hearty guffaw. Lupin stifled a chuckle.

"Gentlemen," said Horatio, in a slightly scolding tone. Moody and Lupin both lowered their heads.

"Yes Horatio," they both answered at the same time. Horatio looked at them both and shook his head, pulled another cigarette out of the air and took his first drag.

"Now, where were we?" he said as Lupin and Moody retreated to their original positions. "Oh yes, I seem to recall that in our last session you that you were all still convinced that Harry Potter was the root of your problems."

"Harry Potter," screamed Umbridge, her body shaking madly. She looked around. "Where, where is that little ingrate?" Lupin and Moody both sniggered. Moody leaned forward, cleared his throat, and in a low tone whinnied like a horse. Umbridge nearly went through the ceiling. There was an additional round of snickering.

"All right, all right, that's enough," he said taking the last puff off his cigarette and extinguishing it. Moody lowered his head but his magical eye continued to keep an eye on Umbridge and Horatio. "Like I was saying, Professor Quirrell had enlightened us with his views on the after life and how Mr. Potter had been instrumental in his acquisition of it." The ghost drifted forward cowardly and nodded. Moody grunted. "Something to say Alastor?"

"Y-yes, M-Moody," stuttered Quirrell.

"I still say you can't blame his death on Potter. I mean, you were the git who went and got himself possessed by the Dark Lord, weren't you?" scoffed Moody. Lockhart giggled madly and Moody rounded on him as well. "What are you going on about, Lockhart? You can't remember to go to the bathroom by yourself and if that isn't your just desserts I don't know what is."

"Alastor!" said Lupin looking at Moody concerned.

"My, we did wake up on the wrong side of the lair this morning," tutted Horatio. Moody's magical eye focused on Horatio and he scowled. Lupin stepped up to his friend and tried to intervene.

"Look, Kincaid, I've decided this is all a lot of bloody nonsense and I'm not coming back," grumbled Moody.

"Call me Horatio!" snarled Kincaid and then he realized that his patients were getting the better of him. He reached up, pulled another cigarette, took a drag, and walked to the window. When he had reached his "happy place," he turned and faced the antagonist. He discovered that the Werewolf was already there and attempting the task.

"Alastor, we've promised Albus that we'll stick this out. He feels--"

"I'm quite aware of how Albus Dumbledore feels Remus," snapped Moody. "I'm also aware that his motives for why we're here are not exactly what we were led to believe, now were they?" Horatio's eyebrow's raised. "I suspected all along that he wanted to make sure that I was fit of mind after my ordeal in the trunk, but you--" Moody stopped and an evil grin spread across his face. Lupin shifted uncomfortably.

"Alastor, as I've said before, we're not here to make accusations or air other's dirty laundry," Horatio said cautiously. Both of Moody's eyes were staring into Lupin's.

"I'm just saying that Remus may have some Sirius issues of his own to work through that's all," Moody continued, his grin widening still. Lupin's hand went to his wand pocket and, reflexively, Moody's hand went to his wand pocket as well. Horatio gasped quietly and raised his hand.

"Now boys, we'll have none of that!" he scolded raising his voice. "I would hate to think that I would have to ask two grown adults to check their wands at the door when they come to my sessions."

"Wands?!" shouted Lockhart coming to his feet and looking around. "They have wands? Are we witches? Do I have a wand?" he asked rummaging through his robes.

Lupin, Moody, and Horatio all looked at Lockhart at the same time and said, "Wizards, you git!!" Lupin drew a deep breath and calmed himself. Horatio looked at Moody and shook his head.

"It seems to me that you've come to this morning's session with quite a bit of anger, Alastor," said Horatio, after a moment's silence.

"Yeah, Moody," said Lockhart, cowering only slightly behind Umbridge now. "Did someone piss in your porridge this morning?" he asked, giggling at his own joke. Moody growled, sending Lockhart and Quirrell both cowering. Umbridge continued to stare blankly into space. Lupin sighed.

"What is it, Remus?" asked Horatio, looking from Moody to Lupin. Lupin stood silent and sullen.

"Go on Lupin, tell him how you miss your boyfriend," taunted Moody. Lupin looked up and glared at Moody.

"Boyfriend?" Lockhart queried with an interested grin on his face.

"Sirius Black," informed Moody knowingly. Lupin remained quiet and his eyes returned to the floor.

"Black? Well, I would have never guessed," said Lockhart looking flabbergasted, yet curiously aroused.

"Doesn't surprise me at all," mumbled Quirrell, his stutter surprisingly absent. "It was there in the subtext all along."

Horatio looked at the ghost. "What?"

Quirrell retreated to his corner, "N-nothing."

"Who is Black anyway?" asked Lockhart after a moment's thought. Moody's magical eye again focused on Lockhart, who was grinning sheepishly. "Never mind."

Horatio was beginning to feel as though he had totally lost control of this session and about to call it quits when something happened that would be the determining factor. As he stepped forward to intervene between Moody and Lockhart, the door to the room burst open and in walked a tall thin, man with greasy, black hair. Horatio's nerves were raw and despite the fact that he had seen just about everything he nearly lost his temper. "Who," he said raising his voice, "are you?"

Before he had a chance to answer though, he noticed that Moody and Lupin had both drawn their wands and had them pointed at the man. Despite the fact that they seemed to recognize him, they did not lower their wands.

"Snape!!" They both shouted at the same time.

"What the hell are you doing here?" continued Moody.

"One way or another, I'm going to be involved in this position!!" he announced.