Songbird

Chapter 5

Summer Days

Harry sighed and gazed at his reflection in the mirror, it was Tuesday and his first shift this week, he had arrived a full hour before he was due on stage to start getting ready. Grabbing the dark green eye shadow he ran the brush over the surface and brought it up to his eyes.

Instead of the high neckline dresses that was his accustomed attire, tonight, he wore an emerald shaded dress with spaghetti straps and silver embroidery, the dress accented his eyes beautifully. A shimmering translucent shawl was draped around his shoulders and a black chocker covered his throat. As he was preparing for the night his thoughts went back to yesterday evening and his ‘talk’ with the Potions Master Severus Snape.

“So,” Harry began when he finished the rich beef stew and mashed potatoes, who knew Snape could cook. “What are we supposed to do?”

“We are not going to do anything Mr. Potter, you are to learn Occlumency.” Snape drawled.

“That was what I – “ he stopped when the Hogwarts Professor glared, “Never mind.” He mumbled.

“Now that we are in agreement, Mr. Potter, we can discuss your training schedule.” Without waiting for a reply he continued, “You will have Occlumency every evening after supper on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays there will be lessons on Defense and Dueling in the afternoons and finally Tuesday and Thursday afternoons you will have potions instructions. I doubt you will amount to anything but I will make sure you know how several important potions by heart even if it kills you.”

He paused and said, “I expect you to do exercise and keep yourself healthy, and so you will go jogging every morning after for two hours. You are free on Saturday and Sundays, I have better things to do that to carter to your every whim.”

“If that is all Mr. Potter, you may go to your chambers, we start tomorrow.”

Snape paused, fully expecting Harry to follow his orders and return to his room for the night. When Harry didn’t move he snapped, “Well, what have you got to say?”

Harry hesitated, “What about the bar?” he asked, trying to keep his voice polite. There was no discussionabout the training, Snape had merely ordered expecting Harry to obey. Well,Harry thought grimly,if he thinks I’m going to let him walk all over me just like that, he’s wrong.

Out loud he said, “I still have a contract to work with the Meadow for the rest of the summer.”

Snape grunted, as if he did not care, he probably didn’t, Harry’s mind told him. Turning his attention back on the older man he caught the reply, “You will tell them you are no longer to work there.”

“I can’t do that Professor,” Harry said, his voice frustrated, “I told you, I have a contract.”

Snape glared his gaze unreadable; then looking for the world like he had just swallowed a sour lemon, he snapped, “Fine, we will have Occlumency lessons every evening that you don’t have to perform and one evening on the weekend.”

Harry was surprised, he fully expected Snape to rant and rave at him, demanding that he will do as he was ordered. But why look a gift horse in its mouth? So Harry bid the Professor good night, I hope you choke in your sleep, and ambled off to bed, mindful of the glare aimed at his back.

He liked singing in the bar, Harry thought as he clambered onto his bed. There was a certain sense of calmness when he began to sing and let the music rush through him. He never gave it much thought, music had been very much part of his life as he was growing up with the Dursleys, being locked up in the small cramped cupboard under the stairs. Dudley would often be sitting in on the couch in the living room watching television and music videos. His little ‘bedroom’ was dark and there was no little shutter he could look through (since it only opened from the outside), and so only the music entered the shadowed shelter of his cupboard.

Music was as much a constant companion as the chores and garden in the Dursley’s household. Harry was glad for the chance he had been given by the manager of the Meadow to make his own music.

That morning, he had woke up at dawn, he could almost hear Aunt Petunia screaming in his mind’s ears, calling him a lazy good for nothing and to wake up, she had some chores ready for him. Old habits die hard. He made a small breakfast for himself, unsure as to whether his Professor would be awake at this hour. (Any sane person would still be sleeping.) By the time he was finished eating and was washing the dishes, the sun had risen high above the sky and Snape had came down from his rooms.

Placing the dishes back to where he found them he turn to look at the Potions Master, “I’ll be off then.” He said, Snape grunted and prepared himself a cup of strong black coffee; clearly, the man was not a morning person.

He jogged around the block and around the neighboring park before heading back to the house he shared with his ill-tempered Professor. There, he spent the afternoon laboring over potion ingredients and washing more cauldrons then doing anything else. Potions lessons with Snape to teach him one on one was just as bad, if not even worse than it was when he was sitting in a classroom full of other students. Here, Snape watched over his shoulders constantly, distracting Harry from what he was supposed to do. Which often ended up with a wrong ingredient added, a potions blowing up and Snape shouting at him.

He was immensely glad that the lesson had finished for the day when the clock chimed six; he thought he saw an amused glint in Snape’s eyes as he rushed up the stairs to his room. From there, he grabbed a fresh set of clothing and went to the bathroom to shower, washing out the potions stains and grease from his hair. No wonder Snape’s hair looked greasy, all those potions fumes had an effect on the hair.

It had been a long day. Harry sighed; he wondered if he would stay awake long enough to sing for the whole of his shift, the running and the potions making had tired him out.

Finally he finished his preparations, standing up and straitening his dress he walked out the door and to the backstage entrance, giving a small smile to Owen and a nod to Antoinette who was making her way down he stepped up to the raised platform.

Surveying the lounge he caught the dark ebony eyes of Snape, surprised, he frowned slightly at the Potions Master. What is he doing here? When Harry exited the house to start making his way to The Silver Meadow Snape was engrossed in a potions text and didn’t look like he would be moving anytime soon. Maybe he’s just making sure everything is all right, Harry thought, though he doubts it, because if he were, Snape would have followed him when he went out since that was where Harry would most likely be attacked.

Harry put all thoughts of Snape’s actions to the back of his mind and concentrated as music sounded.

___

The first week attempting to work together was a disaster in Harry’s opinion. Snape would shout and growl at him whenever he made even a tiny mistake in whatever he was doing at the moment. Most of the time it was in Potions, but Dueling and Defense was no better. Harry had learned the hard way that the Potions Master was a hard taskmaster, not just with potions but also with everything else, including Harry’s daily running exercise.

Who knew that the pale and think Professor could have so much stamina in him, sometimes Snape would go along with Harry on his morning run. These times, Harry ran twice as much distance as he normally would, Snape would be with him the whole time shouting and taunting about Harry’s lack of fitness. Personally, Harry thought it was Snape that had an unnatural amount of energy. As Harry himself was sure that he was fit with all the Quidditch practice during the school year. Not tip top shape, as Snape seemed to be, but fit enough to endure long sessions in the Quidditch field.

Occlumency became another problem between the two already hostile men, Harry continued to have little to no success with the art and that, was making both Snape and Harry frustrated to no ends. Every night, after the Occlumency lessons Harry would return to his room with a pounding headache, feeling like tiny little dwarves had chiseled away at his brain.

Dueling lessons had been the most ‘fun’ for Harry and the Potions Master, as it meant that they could take their anger out on each other, so long as it wasn’t permanent. Harry sprouted green wobbly looking horns above his ears after one such session; he had gotten back at Snape by turning the Professor’s nose into a beak of a hawk. Neither of them was very happy with each other for the rest of the day. Of course, Harry still could not land a proper spell on Snape; the hawk beak was caused by a bit of accidental magic on Harry’s part. Snape had scolded Harry about his lack of control for an hour.

There was one thing that caught Harry’s attention, though, during his Dueling lessons with Snape, it had occurred on the Friday of that first week. Harry had dodged a stunning spell sent by his Professor; it had been close one, just rushing past his ear, missing Harry by a hair’s breath. As the spell’s reddish glow rushed past him, the dark haired teen swore he could hear the sound of musical notes humming a strange tune.

He had stopped then, wonder what it was and was hit with a disarming hex as his attention was drew away for a moment. Later, when he was taking his shower before dinner, Harry was sure it was just his imagination; the next-door neighbors had been listening to loud music when they were dueling.

He continued to perform in The Meadow three nights a week and Snape continued to watch his performance every night.

That weekend, he stayed in his rooms and took a well-earned rest; taking the time to read the letters from Remus, Ron and Hermione that he didn’t have time to during the week.

Ron told Harry that he and his family had been in the Order Headquarters for the past month or so but was unable to contact Harry because there had been major redecoration in the house that kept everyone busy. It was a good thing too, mate, Ron had written, With the way everyone here’s been walking on eggshells around any news of the war situation. I’m surprised no ones gone and killed themselves, the tension is so thick here. It could drive anyone insane. It seemed like Voldemort’s lack of action had made the Order uneasy, Harry was feeling it too, the Dark Lord had been quiet all summer and it unnerved him. Harry suspected that the evil snake-man was planning something big.

Ron also told Harry about his brother’s joke shop, Fred and George had done well for themselves. They had opened a shop in Diagon Alley a year ago and had received an enthusiastic response from the customers. Many had known of the twin terrors of the Weasley family and their infamous jokes from their days at Hogwarts. Harry was glad that the money from the Tri-Wizard Tournament had been put to good use.

Hermione’s letter detailed the trip to China that she took with her parents in her letter. She told him about the Great Wall and how magnificent it was to see close up. She told Harry that it really was the longest wall she had ever seen, she couldn’t see the end of it, her letter said. The bushy haired girl also complained of the sand storms that Beijing was prone to during the summer, I’ll never be able to get the sand out of my hair at this rate! She protested.

She then proceeded to chatter about all the sites that her parents had taken her to, the Terracotta Warriors, the Silk Road and many temples and shrines around the country. Her letter was long and full of chatty enthusiasm and Harry had to smile, even at times like these he was glad that his friend could enjoy herself. Not to mention she was as safe as she can get, out of the country.

Remus’s letter told Harry that he had no idea that Professor Dumbledore had organized for Harry to stay with Snape during the summer, he also told Harry, repeatedly, that he should try to get along with the Potions Professor. Harry sighed, Remus was forever being the peacemaker, Harry didn’t mind, he loved the easy and forgiving nature of the werewolf.

Remus’s letter was less chatty than Ron’s and Hermione’s, but Harry still enjoyed reading the man’s experiences. Remus was still in Hogwarts, he told Harry about the house elves and particularly Dobby who seemed to have adopted ‘Harry Potter’s Remy’ into the happy ‘family’ that Harry, Ron and Hermione was in. Of course, the over enthusiastic elf adopted everyone that Harry was close to. Sometimes Harry shuddered at what Dobby would do if he caught wind of Harry nowliving with Snape.

He also told Harry about the newest adventure Hagrid, the half giant Groundskeeper of Hogwarts was up to. Apparently Hagrid had taken a young griffin as his charge, considering that griffins, like dragons were restricted creatures Harry grimaced. His experience with Norbert was still strong in his mind. Dumbledore had finally convinced the Groundskeeper to send the little creature off to an enclosed reserve somewhere in Europe. No doubt Harry and his friends would hear all about it when they arrived for the new school year. Harry couldn’t wait.

After finishing the letters Harry sat back on his bed with a sigh. Reading his friends and foster godfather’s mails had always cheered Harry; it was boring during the summer when he stayed only in his rooms at the Dursleys. When he finished his replies, telling them that he was safe and was training in a ‘secluded’ house somewhere he sent the letters off with Hedwig.

It was time for another evening of Occlumency and headaches. With a groan he stood and went down stairs where Snape waited.

___

Two weeks, and still no progress with Occlumency what so ever, it was not for lack of trying either, as Harry was quick to attest. He had tried every trick written in the books on mind arts and yet he still had no luck. Even Snape himself seems to have given up until they could find out the exact reason why Harry could not form a decent mind shield. The Professor now spends the evenings when they should be practicing to occlude his mind doing numerous of other things, including drilling potion knowledge into Harry’s mind and testing him on Defense theory.

Lesson wise, the two weeks with the Potions Master brought nothing of interest except for the fact that Harry seemed to be hearing music whenever spells were cast. He never told Snape through, and just learned to ignore the noise for now, until he could do some research once he was back in Hogwarts He would probably be seen as insane and unstable if anyone found out, so until he can be sure that whatever is going on is normal, or as normal as he could ever be, Harry decided to keep it all quiet.

In the two weeks since leaving the Dursley’s, Harry still continued to sing at the Meadow three times a week. It was a great way for him to relief stress after the frustrating lessons where Harry attempted to build shields with little to no success while Snape constantly criticize his lack of results, although those seemed to be dwindling after the first week much to Harry’s confusion.

What was more confusing, other than the fact that his normally sour Potions Professor seemed to have become more bearable after the first week. He no longer compared Harry to his father or Sirius for being arrogant, nor did he really express his displeasure for Harry’s continued existence. The Professor only really acts like his old self when Harry does something incredibly stupid or something like failing to complete a potion that he should already know.

Another thing that have caused more than enough confusion on Harry’s part regarding his no-longer-so-dour Potions Professor is Snape’s continued presence during the days when Harry would be performing in the Meadow. More often than not, Harry would find his dark haired professor sitting in his corner, with a drink in hand while Harry sang on the stage, sometimes, he would find the man sitting with Andrews at the bar. His actions not only confused Harry, but frustrated him as well. Wasn’t Snape supposed to hate him? So why would he come to watch Harry perform on the nights when he should be rejoicing the lack of Potters anywhere near his vicinity during those evenings?

Although the Professors actions confused Harry to no end, the green-eyed savour was glad that Snape could come and watch him, especially after what happened after a performance not long into the first week since he left the Dursleys.

Vernon had taken one of his business clients to the Meadow, not knowing that it would be the night his nephew would be working. The client had taken a liking to Esmeralda and Vernon had proceeded to ‘invite’ Harry over to their table, despite his obvious reluctance.

“Mr O’Donnel wants to meet you, you are an employee here aren’t you? So you have to do as I say, I am a customer. I’ll even pay you for your time” Vernon glared. How dare this slip of a girl refuse him? He will have plenty to say to the manager about this later. She was only a singer, an entertainer, and that, in his mind, entitled him to do as he wished to her, after all, he knew these types, and they would do anything for a little money.

“Sir, I must protest, I am finished for the night and have no obligations to entertain guests to the Meadow. Please, if you need something there are several other attendants here to take your order.” Harry said, trying to sound as calm as possible, but in truth, he was scared to death. There had been some others that were like Vernon; they had thought money could buy anything when. Harry had dealt with these types of advances before, so he was not worried about that, he was more concerned about Vernon finding out who he was at the moment to truly appreciate the type of danger he could in. While it is true that it was difficult to tell that he was Harry Potter, there was still enough resemblance that someone who knew him long enough would be able to tell, like Snape had been. His Uncle was definitely one of those as well.

Vernon had turned into a nice shade of purple by them and had proceeded to grab Harry’s arm painfully enough to bruise and drag her over to his client despite his protests.

Harry winced in pain and was about to call for Andrew when a dark shadow appeared in front of Vernon, stopping his progress to his client. Both Harry and Vernon looked up to see Snape staring down in distaste at Vernon.

“I believe the lady requested that you leave her alone.” The dark smooth voice of the man brought a sort of relief in Harry, Snape always seemed to save him from disaster.

Vernon glared and tightened his hold on Harry, making him wince, and Snape’s eyes darkened dangerously in anger. “It’s none of your business what I do with her.” Vernon snarled, hoping to intimidate the tall stranger blocking his path.

“On the contrary, I am her current guardian and I demand that you release her at once” Snape’s glare intensified, if that was possible.

Harry was sure Vernon would have continued fighting Snape if he hadn’t noticed the murder intent in the air, emitted by the Professor. In Snape’s eyes was a look that would normally be used for dunderheads or pieces of unidentified goo stuck under the shoe, and seemed to be saying ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

By this time Andrew had finally found Gower and both made their way towards the source of trouble. “Is there a problem here Mr Dursley?” Gower asked in thinly veiled dislike, which was lost on Harry’s Uncle.

Vernon glared triumphantly at Snape as if to say, I win, and said, “I just requested that this young lady come over to my table, my business client admired her singing and wanted to speak with her that is all.” Then he turned the glare at Harry and continued, “But this disrespectful girl refuses to come, I am a customer here, and I expect to be treated like one! I demand that you fire her for being so rude to me.”

Gower frowned, “The performers here are under no contract to entertain guests after they have finished their shows for the night,” he said, “If she has refused your request then there is nothing anyone could do about it, Mr Dursley. Now I ask that you please let go of her arm, if you injure her in anyway I will not be responsible should she decide to sue you.”

Vernon would probably have done more butt his client had came over, wanting to see the reason for all this commotion. Growling angrily and shooting a look at Harry as if to say ‘this is all your fault’, like a child throwing a tantrum, he let go and stalked away, not wanting to cause a scene.

While Harry was sure that he could have handled Vernon, and if things really got out of hand, he could call for help from Andrew, he was glad that Professor Snape had decided to step in for him. Although it confused him to no end why someone who obviously seemed hated him, like Snape did, would help him out of a bind. Nonetheless, he was grateful to the Professor.

___

Before he knew it, three weeks have already passed and he was packing and getting ready to leave for the Hogwarts Express on the next day. Snape had told Harry the night before that he would be continuing the extra lessons during Hogwarts under the guise of detention and extra potions classes like the year before. Snape had said that he would find the reason for Harry’s lack of occlumency success once they return to Hogwarts, but suggested that he continue the various exercises to clear his mind and build shields before he slept.

Harry grinned in excitement at the thought of seeing Hermione and Ron again; he had missed his friends. Although this year, Harry’s summer was more tolerable that the previous one, it still does not amount to the previous ones where he could at least spend part of his holiday with his best friend and his family. Snape was not the sort of person where you could discuss about the latest Chuddly Cannon games about. Though Harry hated to admit this, he needed these three weeks with Snape to start getting ready for the fight with Voldemort. He often wondered why Dumbledore didn’t find someone to train him sooner, the moment Vodemort resurrected using Harry’s blood, since the old Headmaster knew the prophecy and knew that it would come down to either Harry or Voldemort in the end.

The green-eyed teen sighed before finishing his packing and going to bed, tomorrow was going to be a long day.

___

He listened with contentment as the soft notes and peaceful music flowed through him, words had no meaning here, only sound did. The soft rhythmic beating of the heart, and the deep flow of air through lungs were the natural music that a human body makes. Added to that was the sweet flow of magic with it’s own unique melody, blending in complete harmony with the rest.

Only this one was wrong. He didn’t know what was wrong, only that it was, instead of the smooth stream of melody a symphony of discord was thrust in. An unnatural tune interrupting the natural flow.

He hated it. He would unravel it.

Harry woke up to the shriek of the alarm clock and slowly sat up. He had a dream last night, that much he was sure about, but the content of the dream kept on escaping his grasp. The more he thought about it, the further it slips from his memories. It had nothing to do with Voldmort, or his scar would be hurting, it was not a nightmare, he remembers those well enough. It had something to do with music, that much he knows. He also had a feeling that it was important. The teen grumbled in annoyance, there was no use thinking about it if he couldn’t remember, and if it were really that important then he would figure it out eventually.

He stretched and grabbed the clothes he had taken out the night before and went to the bathroom to change before Snape called him down, they would be leaving in an hour or so.

At 10, Snape had dropped him off at King’s Cross station an hour before the Hogwarts Express were to leave and had told him to go directly to the platform, ‘no wandering about’. The Professor himself would be apparating back to Hogwarts to get ready for the feast tonight. Harry was left to his own devices so he decided to heed his Professors warnings for once and just wait for Ron and Hermione to arrive.

With nothing to do, Harry decided to find a compartment and wait for his friends to arrive, taking a book on dueling from his trunk he started reading, to pass time. Hermione would be so proud.

___

Severus had just dropped of Potter and apparated back to Hogsmede and was making his way back to the Castle when Remus Lupin stopped him.

“Severus!” The werewolf called out, “I was wondering when you would be back.”

The tall man suppressed a grimace and waited for the other to catch up before continuing his walk to the castle. “Lupin,” he said as a way for greeting when the sandy haired man walked alongside him.

“I heard you spent part of the summer with Harry, how was he?” came the inevitable question.

“Your precious Potter has not been maimed or killed in any way, rest assured Lupin, I haven’t done anything to him.” Severus snarled, “Now if you will excuse me, I have to report to the Headmaster.”

“That’s not what I meant Severus,” Remus said.

“I care not what you had meant,” Severus spoke the password to Dumbledore’s office and left Remus at the opening.

“Ah, Severus, welcome back.” The Headmaster greeted, “I hope you had an interesting holiday?”

Snape growled, “You know full well what I have been doing during this so called holiday Albus, stop weaving around and tell me what you want.”

Albus smiled, “Then, how has young Harry been doing in his studies?”

“In terms of spell work and Defense the boy is adequate and he is still abysmal in potions.” Said the Potions Master, “He is still unable to perform a decent Occlumency shield, though, loath as I am to say, it does not seem to the boy’s fault. It seems that there is something preventing him from forming a decent shield in his mind.” He paused and looked at the Headmaster, hoping he might be able to tell him something.

“I’m afraid I do not know either my boy,” Dumbledore said, looking as puzzled as Severus himself was.

Snape sighed, “I suspect that it either has something to do with the bond he shares with the Dark Lord or it has something to do with his magic.”

“Either of which we can solve,” said Dumbledore, “I agree with you Severus, Harry has shown some capabilities in Occlumency when he rejected Voldemort from his mind during the Ministry Incident so it cannot be that he has no talent in that area.”

“Shall I look into it, Headmaster?”

Albus smiled, “Yes, you do that Severus, in addition, you will meet young Harry in the evenings to continue his studies from this summer.”

Severus suppressed a groan but said “Of course Headmaster.”

“Good, off you go then my boy, you still have to prepare for the opening feast this evening.” Albus’s eyes twinkled as Severus left his office grumbling under his breath about annoying twinkle eyed old mans and annoying brats who can’t seem to leave him alone.

As he made his way to the sanctuary of his room Severus thought about the past few weeks he had spent with the Boy-Who-Lived-to-Annoy-him. Potter had been a puzzle, more so that he had in the last six years as a student under Severus. Despite the fact that the boy annoyed him and he would love to just ignore the brat, Severus couldn’t help but notice the changes in Potter. He remembered the night of the sorting, when Minerva had called the dreaded name Potter. He never noticed it until in reminiscence, how tiny and underweight the boy was in comparison to his year mates, for nearly six years, Severus had clung to the idea that Harry Potter was as pampered and arrogant as his father had been.

Even when he had seen the boy’s treatment under the dubious care of his so called relatives in his Occlumency lessons in Fifth year. Severus had pushed the knowledge of these memories from his mind and had written them off as some sort of joke from Potter, to get Severus to pity him. After this summer though, when the spy had found Potter singing in a bar in order to earn his keep and after the scene with the boys uncle, Severus had to rethink his opinion of the boy’s home life. It disturbed him that he would so blatantly ignore all the signs that, now, in reflection, were so obvious.

Not for the fist time in these past three weeks, Severus cursed the boy for causing him so much trouble. Thinking about Potter and the summer reminded Severus of Potter dressed as a woman. It never seemed to amaze the Potions Master, whenever he saw Esmeralda on stage, how effeminate Potter actually was. His small stature and slim figure only seemed to make his disguise more believable; with his high cheekbones and delicate nose, Potter could actually pass as a girl even without the dress and makeup, if only he could tame that unruly hair of his. It disturbed Severus, that he could be thinking about Potter in anyway other than an annoying brat, but it had slowly become obvious that Potter had indeed grown up from a brat into a stunning creature with a beautiful voice.

This was another thing that brought Severus pause when trying to figure out Harry Potter, the boy had an exceptional singing voice. He knew James Potter could not hold a note if his life depended on it and Lily could sing, but she never had the talent the boy did. Severus wondered once again since the first week of having Potter with him why he unwaveringly attended every performance the boy had. That was something he did not want to dwell into so he ignored whatever feelings were there and continued his trek down to his rooms in the dungeons.

Of course, stunning creature or not, he was still annoying, and Severus tired to find some consolation from that. With that last thought, he pushed all contemplations of Harry Potter out of his mind, he still had lesson plans to finish.

TBC

Word Count: 5407

Nov 14, 2007

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Illusionary Angel