The only way Harry could escape from his cruel "family" when he was a child was music but even that was taken away from him.

Music Sets Me Free

Chapter One

Harry peeked inside the room, being enthralled by the notes floating into the hallway. The six-year-old shyly stepped inside the room and stared at the mahogany box in the center of the room.

The music teacher, Mrs. Hendrixson saw the small Potter boy out of the corner of her eye and smiled softly to herself. On the days she stayed after school to give lessons to other students, she always had the raven-haired visitor. He walked past the music room two, three times in the half an hour periods she stayed after. He always stopped and listened; even one day she found him asleep resting his head against the wall. She had reached out to touch him but Harry's brilliant green eyes had snapped open in alarm and he had shied away from her touch; running down the hallway.

Mrs. Hendrixson came to the end of her song and turned her gaze fully to the curious child. He stood there with a cautious stance but he had a soft smile on his face from the music.

"Hello, Mr. Potter. Another day staying after school?

Harry blushed but his eyes darkened slightly in distaste. Dudley was normally picked up by Uncle Vernon and Harry was forced to take the bus home. Many of his cousin's friends rode the bus and prevented him from getting onto it.

"Well, it seems that my 3:30 student isn't here; she should have been her ten years ago…" She turned friendly blue eyes towards Harry and gestured towards the chair next to her piano bench.

"Would you like to learn how to play the piano?"

Harry's eyes widened and despite himself he scurried to the chair and hopped up eagerly.

"Yes please!"

The teacher smiled. She had noticed that Harry was quite skittish and kept to himself often. He often avoided talking to other students and was quiet. This was the first time that she had seen light come into his bright, green eyes.

Mrs. Hendrixson brushed some of her faded golden hair out of her eyes and pushed her silver glasses up farther on her nose. She glanced down at the boy who was leafing through the elementary piano book with wonder. He placed the book on the music ledge and glanced shyly up to her.

She took both of his hands and placed them on the keys, each finger on the proper key of C Major.

"Now this, Harry, is where your fingers are placed. One your left hand, you start with your 'pinky' finger and count, five, four, three, two, one until you get to your thumb. On the right hand, it's the same, the thumb is one, two, three…"

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, Harry wandered into Mrs. Hendrixson's room and received a lesson. He slipped into a "missed lesson" time or stayed later until 4:30 or even 5 to receive lessons. He flourished and had a natural talent for the art of music.

The piano teacher knew that Harry had some sort of family problems. The boy was extremely skittish and quiet. She had to coax him to open up to her even though he had been taking lessons from her for nearly two months. He looked underfed and his clothes didn't fit his body properly and were nearly in tatters.

The child's obese cousin on the other time was well taken care for and his clothing looked to be of the finest quality and well taken care of. Dudley was a pompous and cruel youth and Mrs. Hendrixson had seen the boy pick on little Harry more than once with his "gang."

Every time a lesson was scheduled, Mrs. Hendrixson set out a plate of snacks for her students. Usually scones and milk or some fruit. With Harry, she made sure to have a bit more substantial fare, small sandwiches and crisps and another side as well. She could only guess by the child's small frame that he wasn't being treated properly at home.

Harry was growing in music and slowly but surely becoming more confident in himself. Constantly Mrs. Hendrixson was amazed at how quickly her young student learned and thrived. Of course, she knew from other teachers that even from a young age that Harry was intelligent despite his slightly withdrawn nature.

As Mrs. Hendrixson rushed down the Arts hallway with a bundle of music supplies she thought of her student. The boy was very sweet…

Mrs. Hendrixson rushed into the room with a box of percussion instruments, her hair flying out of it's orderly updo.

"Sorry I'm late Harry but I had to pick up some extra instruments from inventory for tomorrows concert–-"

Harry was playing a choppy version of Beethoven's Fur Elise. Earlier when she had left the CD player on in the room when she unlocked it for him. He had heard the song maybe four times and he was already able to play the song.

Mrs. Hendrixson eyes widened and she moved, dreamlike, towards the small boy. His short fingers moved over the keys. No doubt his version of the song was choppy and under tempo, but the fact that he had picked up the song was amazing.

"Harry?"

The boy looked up from the keys and abruptly stopped playing.

"H-how did you learn to play that piece?"

The small child looked down nervously.

"Well I just heard it and well, I…"

He trailed off with a shy smile. Mrs. Hendrixson stared at him with disbelief. In all of her years she had amazing students, yes, but for one to pick up a piece so quickly and with that level of difficulty was nearly unheard of.

"W-Well, is there anything else you can play like that, my dear?"

Harry turned shy jade eyes towards his kind teacher and smiled.

He proceeded to play other pieces that he had heard, anything from simple scale patterns to more complex pieces. He could even play Rondo al Turca, a difficult piece by Mozart.

Mrs. Hendrixson stared at Harry in awe, a wide smile spreading across her face. Harry looked so relaxed and at piece as he slowly played through the song. He looked as if he had no cares in the world.

'Amazing, absolutely amazing…'

I must admit the end of that chapter was a little choppy but I promise I'll work on that!

I love to play music and I play flute, piccolo, guitar, and piano. I don't see too many "musical" fanfics out there so I thought I could try my hand at one. Harry's ability to "play by ear" is a reflection of my own ability to do so.

Chapter Two is already done and that should be posted by early next week!

Please review! I'd like any comments!

KOROGI-chan

12/24/07