Track 6

Harry noticed as Snape got up and left the Great Hall. He did need to talk to the man in private, and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. Steeling himself, he rose from the table and made to follow Snape when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He spun around to find himself face-to-face with Draco Malfoy, who was glaring daggers of pure, undying hatred at him.

"Malfoy," Harry said, "is this important, or can you let go of my arm?"

Draco blinked, then let go of Harry’s arm as he dropped the arch-nemesis routine. "Oh, right. Sorry about that," he apologized. "Anyway, the were…erm, Professor Lupin told me to tell you and Thomas that we’re going to be starting our music lessons right after dinner." A curious look crossed his face. "I don’t know why he sent me, though, when he…Potter, are you listening to me?"

Harry’s eyes had glazed over and h had begun muttering incoherently to himself. Draco could occasionally pick out the word "singing", but that was about all he understood. Quickly glancing around, he noticed that nearly the entire Great Hall was staring at the two of them.

"I swear, I didn’t do it!" Draco announced before anyone could lay the blame on him.

After dinner, Draco and Dean dragged a still-babbling Harry up to Professor Lupin’s classroom for their first music lesson. When they got there, though, the only ones in the room were Snape and a big, black dog. Snape had the dog at wand-point as the dog growled and gnashed his teeth viciously at him. Neither seemed to notice the presence of the three boys until Draco and Dean unceremoniously deposited Harry on the floor, where he sat and continued to babble incoherently. Sirius quickly changed back and knelt beside his godson.

"What the hell happened to him?" Snape asked, torn between concern and amusement.

Draco shrugged. "I’m not really sure. One minute I was telling him about our music lesson, the next he’s like this."

Sirius sighed deeply. "That’s not altogether surprising. He always gets very anxious when he has to sing." He looked at his godson mournfully. "He has no self-esteem when it comes to music, and is convinced that he can’t carry a tune."

"…Can he?" Dean asked, and Sirius gave him a funny look.

"How the hell should I know? Every time Remus or I asked him to sing, he’d get like this."

"Oh, this should be rich," Severus remarked and sat on a desk. Sirius glared at him and was about to say something when Remus walked in.

"Oh, dear," he said upon seeing Harry’s condition. Pulling out some of his handy chocolate that he carried around with him everywhere, he broke off a piece and stuck it into Harry’s mouth. It seemed to work, since Harry immediately stopped babbling in favor of chewing and swallowing. Blinking, he looked around the room.

"Where am I? And why am I on the floor?" he asked, deeply confused.

"You’re in my classroom, Harry," Remus spoke up.

"And you’re on the floor because you’re bloody heavy," Draco added. Harry blinked.

"Oh."

"Harry, do you remember why you’re here?" Sirius asked, looking into his godson’s face. Harry seemed to think about it for a minute before realization seemed to dawn.

"Yeah, Draco said that we had to come here to…" he gulped, "…sing."

"Yes, indeed!" an enthusiastic Lupin confirmed as Sirius stood and helped Harry to his feet. "It’ll be loads of fun, Harry! Won’t it?" he added, shooting looks at the room’s other occupants. Sirius, Dean, and Draco hurriedly agreed, but Severus just snorted. Remus shot him a quick glare before returning his attention to the boys. "So, are we all ready?"

Dean and Draco immediately nodded, but Harry whimpered. "Do I have to?"

"I’m afraid so, love," Remus replied, then smiled at Harry reassuringly. "But don’t worry! It’ll be fun, I promise!"

Harry looked at Remus warily. Severus stood and stretched. "Well, as riveting as all this is, I was on my way to my rooms before your mutt attacked me, Lupin, and so I think I’ll be heading off now."

"Oh, Severus, wait," Remus stopped him. "I’m sorry, but I was actually hoping that you could help us, so I asked Siri to persuade you to join us."

Severus narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What do you mean? Help you how?"

Remus smiled sheepishly. "Well, you see, Severus, ah, we’re going to have to teach the boys to harmonize, and since Sirius can’t carry a tune…"

"Hey!"

"Sorry, love. Anyway, everyone knows you’re the only person who can really sing, so…"

"So you’re trying to butter me up to get you to help you, is that it?" Severus furrowed his brow and glared at the three students. He sighed. "…Fine. But only if I get to be in charge."

"Now just a…"

"Siri, shhh. Okay, Severus, you have a deal," Remus agreed. Severus smirked evilly.

"Oh, this will be fun."

Harry whimpered.