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What would Professor Snape make of a counselling room full of fluffy cushions? And could he trust a Muggle with his secrets?

For the first guest episode of Chatty Geek, Hidden Dragon, my wife Bex joins me to bring one of Harry Potter’s most complicated characters into the imaginary counselling room.

We talk about Alan Rickman’s unforgettable performance, the scenes that changed how we saw Snape, and the loneliness of a double life. What might he be carrying after Dumbledore’s death? Could he let his guard down with anyone? And how do we make room for compassion while recognising the harm he has caused?

For our counselling lens, Snape’s story leads us into confidentiality, trust and the difficult question of what happens when someone discloses a killing. We explore the dilemma through fiction, rather than offering instructions for a real case.

There are also Pensieves, questionable memory-wiping possibilities, smouldering looks and a Sidequests detour into Bex’s baking, oil painting and piano playing. The autumn-versus-Christmas scone debate remains unresolved.

Spoilers: the complete Harry Potter story, especially The Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows.
Content note: death, killing, grief, bullying and violence.

This is a fictional character discussion, not a clinical assessment or individual counselling or legal advice.

Who would you bring into the imaginary counselling room? Send a message through the episode’s Fan Mail link and tell us your character pick.

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Chatty Geek, Hidden Dragon is part of Hidden Dragon Holistics.

Find out more about the podcast and Hidden Dragon Holistics at hiddendragonholistics.com

Chatty Geek, Hidden Dragon explores counselling and mental wellbeing through fictional characters and stories. It is not a counselling or crisis-support service.