Chapter Three
Amber Liquid
The man sat down and continued playing. The tune was simple and bright spirited, seemingly alive with a trace of sorrow. Harry closed his eyes and thought about Christmas. He remembered about the fireplace at his house, and the smell of cinnamon, pies, and pine. The boy's eyes watered a little, for even though he still celebrated the holiday, everyone was too busy for it to be like his childhood winter again. And while the man's room was bare with no Christmas trees nor decorations, Harry could feel the simple bliss from the notes he played. He hadn't felt this happy from the snowy holiday in a long time.
Harry applauded when the man finished.
"I really liked that one, December by Tchaikovsky... I'll remember that."
"It's really called Christmas Time. Tchaikovsky wrote a series of twelve pieces for the piano, called The Seasons. I play the pieces every month, according to what month it is... like a tribute I suppose."
Harry nodded.
The man continued playing for more or less an hour. The songs gave Harry a rather sad feeling. Severus said the series of pieces were his favorite nocturnes and waltzes from Chopin, Scenes from Childhood by Schumann, and something about Schubert and Debussy. All the long and similiar sounding names confused the boy a little.
"So Mr. Snape, what do you do here?"
"I don't have any type of consistent work... I play at clubs when I can. The tip isn't very good." Severus stood up and walked to the kitchen cabinet. He pulled out a glass flask of amber liquid and walked back. The man slumped and sat down against the leg of the piano.
"So how long have you been here?" Harry's breaths came out in white puffs in the cold air.
"Twenty years." The man took a quick drink from the bottle. The boy walked to the piano and seated himself next to Severus.
"Ah... Say, can I have a little of that? I'm freezing."
"I don't have another glass, but if you don't mind sharing..." Severus wiped his mouth.
"I don't mind."
The man handed him the drink and looked at him. Harry tilted the bottle towards his lips carefully, but still poured too much down his throat. The boy's face immediately turned red.
"My, that is some strong stuff." He shook his head, then handed the drink back to Severus.
"Yes... I bought a caseful of this whiskey twenty years ago. Thinking there would be people to drink it with. But suppose not." Then he took a rather long drink from the bottle.
"Mr. Snape, I would have a drink with you anytime. Really, just give me a ring." Harry seemed to be a little drunk.
"Ah... would you really?"
"Yes! I would come over and listen to you play anytime!"
"Well, I don't know what to say... your thought is appreciated."
"Mr. Snape, you are the first, I say, the first person to have ever made me feel this way." Harry scooted closer to the man.
"You... don't drink a lot, do you?" Severus looked at the boy.
"Nope!" Then Harry gazed back at the man and smiled.