Track 7

"Let’s start with scales," Severus said, turning to his three victims. "You do know what a scale is, don’t you?" Three blank faces stared back at him. He sighed deeply. "For Merlin’s sake…"

"A scale is a series of eight ascending notes, ending on the same note as it began but one octave higher," Remus explained. The boys still looked blank.

Sirius stepped in. "Here, you’re going to have to show them what it I," he suggested, producing a tiny, brightly-colored xylophone from Merlin-knows-where. "Now come here, boys, and pay close attention." And with that, Sirius played the only major scale possible on a child’s toy xylophone, humming along with each note and showing everyone just what Remus meant when he said that Sirius was hopeless when in came to singing. The poor man was completely tone deaf.

"Now that we’ve had that demonstration on how one should not sound…" Severus said once Sirius had finished. Harry whimpered. He knew he sounded far worse than that. "…each of you are going to attempt a scale. Draco, you may start."

Draco took a deep breath before belting out a relatively decent attempt at a scale. Severus simply nodded his approval, then moved on to Dean. Dean’s scale was just as good, if not better than Draco’s. Finally, smirking evilly, Severus turned to Harry. "Go ahead, Potter."

Harry’s eyes widened in horror and a whimper escaped his throat. He couldn’t do this – not in front of Snape, of all people! He’d be utterly humiliated! Swallowing hard, he glared defiantly at the man. "You’re not my mommy! You can’t make me sing!" he declared. The other occupants of the room stared at him as though he’d lost his mind.

Severus was the first to recover, and he advanced on Harry, leaning in so that their noses nearly touched. "I may not be your mother, Potter," he breathed, "but I most certainly can make you sing."

Harry whimpered and stumbled back. Severus smirked. "Now honestly, Potter, you couldn’t possibly be any worse than your godfather," he drawled.

"Hey!"

"Shh, Siri, Severus knows what he’s doing…"

"Like hell he does!"

Neither Harry nor Severus seemed to notice the couple bickering in the background, although Draco and Dean seemed to find them very entertaining. "Or perhaps the great Harry Potter doesn’t sing for free. Is that it? We lowly mortals aren’t worthy of hearing your…"

"Shut up! That’s not true and you know it!" Harry snapped. Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Prove it," he said simply, then stood back with his arms crossed. Harry swallowed hard.

"Fine," he muttered, then took a deep breath. Suddenly a beautiful tenor voice rang out, forming into a perfect scale. Everyone stared at Harry in shock just as the last note broke off. He glared at Severus. "Happy now? I’ve completely humiliated myself – I hope you’re satisfied," he huffed.

Remus was the first to snap out of it this time, annd he hurried over to Harry and folded him into a bone-crushing embrace. "That was amazing, Harry!" he whispered into his godson’s ear. "You have the most incredible voice I’ve ever heard! You could even give Professor Snape a run for his money!"

Soon Harry was surrounded by everyone but Snape, asking him where he learned to sing like that and what the hell gave him the idea that he couldn’t sing. Severus, however, simply went and sat down at Remus’s desk, a dazed expression on his face and a raging hard-on in his pants. He swallowed hard and willed the erection away before standing up once again and clearing his throat.

"I suppose that will have to do," he simply said, not allowing his gaze to fall on Harry.

"Well, I think that’s enough for one night," Remus spoke up, smelling Severus’s arousal. "What do you say, Professor Snape?"

"I have grading to do. I’m leaving," he replied, and left.

"I guess that means we’re done," Dean said. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.