CHAPTER 12
After Snape had left Harry's quarters, Harry went over to the dominoes. It was a symbol for the truce between him and Snape. It had been very difficult to establish and one false step would make everything crumble. Harry gently nudged the first domino with his finger, and the spiral became alive with sudden movement and sound. Harry smiled thoughtfully and, with a flick of his wand, sent the pieces flying into their box.
On Monday evening, Snape was in the worst mood possible because the piano-tuner, or rather "tuneress", was running late – by two minutes. Harry had encountered him swearing to himself near the Hogwarts entrance and inquired what the problem was.
Snape had unleashed a sour answer and a curse on all the unreliable piano-tuners in the world.
"I'm sure she'll be due any moment, Severus," Harry said reassuringly.
Snape shot him a black look.
"For someone who doesn't know anything about music, I suppose it is a matter of no importance at all."
"Actually, I wouldn't mind looking at your piano."
"My dear Potter, what is the use of looking at the instrument? What have you got ears for?"
Harry was learning not to let Snape's sarcasm get to him.
"But one also wants to look at the piano, and at the pianist as well."
Snape didn't answer. In another minute, a harried-looking witch rushed up to them.
"I am so very sorry, the last tuning took ages, ancient piano and clogged with dust in spite of the pamphlet on piano care I gave-"
"Fine. Now, instead of wasting more time, let's tune my piano, shall we?" Snape interrupted her rudely.
The witch looked hurt but nodded.
"I am Isabella, by the way," she introduced herself hastily to Harry; but before he could reveal his name, she gasped out:
"Oh my! Harry Potter?" Her eyes lingered on his scar in wonder while Harry flushed in embarrassment.
Snape sneered and whisked away.
"Er, may I come along, Severus? I have never seen a piano-tuning before."
"As long as you don't touch it or go anywhere near it," Snape growled, walking so fast that Isabella and Harry were forced to break into a jog.
The piano was kept in a special room on the third floor; the humid and cold dungeons were definitely not the right place for such a delicate and exquisite instrument; it was made out of polished black wood and bore intricate carvings.
"Muggle-made," Snape remarked expressionlessly.
"What is the difference between Muggle and magical pianos?" Harry wanted to know.
Isabella answered:
"Well, magical pianos tend to be charmed and are more animated than Muggle ones. Most of them come with self-cleaning and self-tuning features, but the charms have to be renewed on a regular basis, and some pianos protest loudly when their keys are being banged too hard or the cover slammed down, or they are bewitched to play their own little repertoire of short pieces like jigs and waltzes, or-"
"Spare us the lesson and go ahead with your work," Snape interrupted her for the second time.
The tuning session took one whole hour, Snape keeping a hawk's eye on the procedure and Harry asking questions from time to time, which Isabella answered enthusiastically.
"So, it's tuned, Mr Snape," she said, trying out the piano.
"Good," Snape said curtly. Isabella hastily stepped aside as Snape sat down on the piano stool and placed his fingers on the keys.
Both Harry and Isabella listened in fascinated silence as the melancholic strains of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata filled the room. The tapering fingers moved swiftly from one key to another for a few minutes before Snape rose.
"Excellent," he remarked abruptly. Harry gasped mentally. Praise from Snape was an all-time rarity. Isabella beamed.
"How much do I owe you?"
Isabella named him the sum while Harry approached the piano curiously.
"I'll transfer your fee to your Gringotts account by the middle of this week," Snape said.
As soon as the piano-tuner had left, Snape rounded on Harry.
"I told you not to go near my piano," he said in a low deadly voice.
Harry reddened a little and stepped back.
"I'm sorry. It is a very beautiful instrument. And…you play very nicely."
"I would like to practise a little, now. Please do me the infinite kindness of leaving."
He turned his back on Harry and resumed his place at the piano.
Harry tiptoed out of the room and went for a stroll outside in the grounds. So Snape was an accomplished piano player. Madleina had also mentioned the harpsichord. Harry wondered if there was a harpsichord in another room. And the other thing was…Snape could play. He could play very beautifully, with emotion and passion subtly hidden in each note. Was the piano an outlet for his feelings and moods? How could such a cynical embittered man coax forth such sweet music? Snape the Potions Master. Snape the piano player.
"Harry, my dear boy. You are looking pensive," a familiar voice said next to him. Dumbledore had joined him.
"Well, a witch, Isabella, came to tune Snape's piano, and Snape played a little afterwards. And…I was impressed. I never knew he was fond of the piano, or of the harpsichord, as Madleina mentioned to me at the karaoke bar."
"Ah yes. Severus is a bit shy about his musical skills. Or perhaps insecure is a better word," Dumbledore remarked, and there seemed a slight sadness in his voice. A small pause followed; it was broken by Harry.
"Er, Albus, I wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead, Harry."
"I would like to have my ear pierced and get a small silver ring or a stud. Nothing conspicuous or flashy, just something small."
"I see," Dumbledore said, smiling.
"Well, I'd like to know if it's okay for me to do this. In case it may seem, uh, provocative or something at Hogwarts."
"My dear boy, female and male teachers can enjoy their ear piercings over here, provided the ornaments don't hang all the way down to their toes or bear slogans or something."
Harry laughed.
"Great, then I'll check out Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley for a piercing studio…The wizarding world has piercing studios?"
"But of course, Harry. Piercings and tattoos are exceedingly popular in the wizarding world as well. I scarcely need point out to you that hygiene and professionalism are musts in both worlds. Hogsmeade has a very excellent little place indeed. Keep an eye out for Skin Deep."
With a wink, Dumbledore withdrew. Harry wondered whether Dumbledore had ever profited from the shop's service before.
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