Silent Music
Chapter 20
Disclaimer: No no No No no no!! These characters are not mine!
A.n- Thank you Tish Tosh, Professor Chris, LupinandHarry & sk8tergirl1404 for your fantastic reviews. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.
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"I-I-I" Harry stuttered wondering what on earth he could say. He winced mentally when he saw the impatient expression on his uncle's face.
"Yes we've established that you went into my study. Now hurry up and tell me why." Snape pressed, his irritation seeping into his tone.
Harry thought fast and decided that he better tell the truth. Anything thing less than that and his uncle would not spare him. Maybe that was a little too dramatic. What he meant was that his uncle would be really furious with him. Harry sighed like a prisoner facing the gallows. Here goes nothing, he thought.
"I went into your study because I saw a violin lying there. I didn't want to touch it but somehow…" Harry paused before taking a deep breath and continuing, "Somehow I felt myself moving towards it involuntarily. Like I gravitated towards it. I'm sorry uncle. I shouldn't have touched it. I hope it didn't get damaged when I fell." Harry bowed his head in shame.
Because of this, he didn't see the stark expression on his uncle face. Why hadn't he thought of this? Snape thought. He should never have left that violin out. He should have known that if Harry saw the violin, he would automatically be attracted towards it. Snape had nearly spilt his tea on himself when he heard the haunting tunes of Harry's violin spilling out of his study. He knew that no one else in the house including Remus would dare to touch his violin. It must be Harry, he had thought then. He had hastened to his study only to see that the music had stopped. Harry had crumpled to the floor and the violin was lying next to him. Snape had no idea why this happened.
He had been nearly out of his mind with worry and although his violin was his prized possession, he hadn't spared it a glance as he ran to check on Harry. He remembered yelling for Remus and both of them had picked him up and brought Harry to his room. When Harry had not woken up after a few minutes, Snape had ordered Remus to call the doctor while he tried jerking Harry awake. There was something about Harry which tugged at his heartstrings, Snape mused but Harry would never find out how much Snape cared for him. There were some things better left unsaid. Like the true circumstances surrounding the death of Harry's parents. And Harry would never know that it had not been an accident. Their murderer was in jail, thank God! And that's where he will remain forever, Snape thought, he had seen to it.
"Uncle?" Harry's timid voice jerked him out of his reverie. He looked down at Harry now, hiding his emotions behind a stern demeanor.
"This has become a habit with you Harry. You continuously make mistakes and then keep asking for forgiveness. This has happened twice before. The first time we ignored our fight. The second time, you apologized. This is the third time and you apologize yet again. I don't know whether to forgive you because it seems you can't mend your ways. This is not what you expected to hear I know." Harry's eyes widened as he realized that his uncle was bang on. He had expected his uncle to forgive him…again. His uncle wasn't particularly known for his forgiving nature. Now what do I do? He thought.
"However, this time regarding your history, I will forgive and forget this incident. However, if you ever touch my violin again without my permission…If you want to use it, just ask me. I'll lend it to you. And perhaps we should talk to Albus about letting you join the violin class, since you enjoy playing it so much."
"No!" Harry burst out, startling his uncle as well as himself with his vehement reply. He remembered with terror the flashes of his parents' accidents which had plagued his mind while he played the violin. If had not already decided he wouldn't play the violin, this incident was powerful enough to convince him. He clutched his hands to his hair as the memories threatened to come flooding back.
For the second time in the space of an hour, Snape felt powerless to help Harry. Lightening struck as he finally realized why Harry would never play the violin again. He had been playing it the day his parents died. How daft could you be? Snape admonished himself. And how utterly insensitive. He should have known.
Snape gently pressed his hand on Harry's shoulder in an awkward move for support. Harry's head snapped up and he stared at his uncle like he's suddenly sprouted horns. His uncle shuffled away in an uncharacteristic manner. "I'll send Remus up with food."
Harry just stared after him. What just happened here? Harry asked himself feeling as if he had stepped into an episode of Twilight Zone especially designed for him. His cell phone vibrated on his bed side table and Harry picked it up. You have 9 messages, it read. All of them were from Ginny. Harry just smiled to himself as he read the first one.
"Harry my love; I have a surprise for you! The family is coming back on Friday, next week. Aaaanndddd you have been invited to come over and spend the weekend. You can come as Ron's friend. Bill won't tell on us. So you can relax and have fun! I've invited Hermione too. She's coming and so are you. Please?"
Harry read the message with mixed emotions. He really wanted to go over to Ron's house and spend the weekend with Hermione and him…and Ginny. But he was scared that his uncle would react negatively. Plus, what if Ginny's family didn't like him? Bill and Ron were alright with him dating Ginny but what about the other brothers? And her mom? And her DAD?
He read her other messages which were along the same lines. The last one was of Hermione begging him to come because she didn't want to be alone there. There were lots of different pleases after her request. Typical Hermione! Harry thought, shaking his head.
Just then, Remus entered the room with a tray. He looked at Harry with concern until Harry reassured him for the zillionth time that he was ok and that no; he wasn't dying of terminal cancer or possessing a tumor in his brain. Even after that, Remus stared at him with beady eyes while Harry ate his food. He clucked his tongues over Harry's assorted bruises and scrapes but the look Harry gave him prevented him from saying anything. Harry had to make sure that he didn't even hiccough because then Remus would surely rush him to the nearest emergency ward. And he had had enough of the hospital and its gloomy corridors. Once Remus satisfied himself that Harry was well fed and perfectly alright he went downstairs. Harry was glad because he was ready to push Remus out of his room.
He felt his eyes droop and a yawn escape him. The nightmare had disturbed his sleep earlier and the circus that had been the Halloween ball left him extremely tired. Just for a little while, he promised himself and curled up on his bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
He slept for several hours waking up to see that dusk had already set in. The sky outside was streaked with purple and blue and Harry felt well rested after a very long time. He went into his balcony and gazed out. The evening breeze gently blew at his hair and made the curtains behind him billow. He looked down from the balcony towards the pool which was shimmering in the dying light. Maybe he could invite his friends over. And maybe he could fly to the moon in a bathtub. The possibility of both things ever happening were the same. Zilch. His uncle would never allow it.
He was turning reluctantly away from the swimming pool when something on the driveway caught his eye. In the dying light and without either his glasses or contact lens he could only make out two dark shapes. One of them was bobbing up and down. Harry rubbed his eyes and looked again. The blobs were still there and the one bobbing was jumping up and down fiercely. Harry got his glasses and put them. He focused on the two blobs –What the heck! It was Hermione and Ron. Three guesses to figure out who was bobbing, Harry muttered ruefully to himself. Hermione was now waving her arms wildly while Ron was trying to stop her. Harry waved back before Hermione broke her arms. Why were the two of them dressed completely in black? Harry frowned, his eyebrows drawing together in a puzzled expression.
They were frantically signaling him to come down now. Harry rolled his eyes to the heavens in the eternal gesture for What Now? He ran down anyway, whizzing past Remus who just stared after him. He was out of breath by the time he reached the driveway, slowing down from a run to a jog and then to a tired walk. Hermione was tapping her foot impatiently while Ron looked grimly resigned.
"What's going on?" Harry asked, expecting something earth-shattering.
"Oh Harry! Thank God you're here! I need your help! Mr. Excited here can fill you in while we head up to your room. You can't come with us in the clothes you're wearing right now!" Hermione said before she dragged him inside the house, Ron following after them.
"Will someone tell me what the heck is going on?" Harry burst out once they had reached his room. Hermione just went on ruffling through his cupboard. Ron just gave her a disgusted look before facing Harry with a look of grim resignation on his face. He took in a deep breath before looking Harry in the eye and saying,
"We're going to break into Hogwarts."