Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 47: Three Chords and a Verdict
By the time Harry Potter and Adrian Selwyn packed away the guitar, the sun was sinking behind the Forbidden Forest. The afternoon had been surprisingly productive. Adrian could now play three chords without looking at his fingers every five seconds, and Harry had managed to teach him the opening of a song without either of them suffering permanent hearing damage. This was, Harry felt, a considerable achievement.
“Again,” Adrian said.
Harry looked at him.
“Adrian, we’ve been here for nearly four hours.”
“Just once.”
“You said that twenty minutes ago.”
“I nearly had it that time.”
Harry glanced at the electric guitar resting across Adrian’s knees.
“You nearly had something. I’m not entirely certain it was music.”
Adrian grinned.
“Come on. One last time.”
Harry sighed and leaned back against the tree.
“All right. But if you get it wrong, we’re going inside.”
Adrian positioned his fingers on the strings, took a breath, and began to play. The first chord rang out cleanly. Then the second. Then the third. He repeated the sequence, slowly at first, then with increasing confidence. Harry sat up.
“Hang on.”
Adrian kept playing. The notes weren’t perfect, and his timing was still rather uneven, but for the first time since he’d purchased the instrument, the result sounded recognizably like a piece of music. He finished with an enthusiastic strum. Harry stared at him. Adrian grinned.
“Well?”
Harry smiled.
“That was actually good.”
Adrian’s face lit up.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Brilliant!”
He immediately began playing again. Harry groaned.
“I knew I shouldn’t have said that.”
A few minutes later, Adrian finally switched off the amplifier. The sudden silence was almost startling. Harry stretched his legs.
“Much better.”
Adrian laughed as he carefully placed the guitar into its case.
“You know, I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
“You are,” Harry admitted. “Although I wouldn’t book a concert just yet.”
“Give me another week.”
“Give the rest of the school another month to recover.”
Adrian grinned. He unplugged the cables and began gathering his equipment. The small amplifier was heavy enough to be awkward, but he had refused Harry’s suggestion that they use a levitation charm to carry everything back.
“I want to get used to handling it properly,” he’d explained.
Harry suspected Adrian simply enjoyed the novelty of owning Muggle equipment. He couldn’t blame him. There was something satisfying about watching a Slytherin pure-blood learn to play an electric guitar beneath the trees outside Hogwarts. Especially when that same Slytherin had spent most of his life being told that Muggles had nothing worth learning. Harry picked up the amplifier.
“Come on. I’ll carry this.”
Adrian looked relieved.
“Thanks.”
They started walking towards the castle. For a while, they talked about music. Adrian wanted to learn another song, preferably something by Green Day, while Harry suggested he might first master changing chords without stopping to examine his fingers. Adrian accepted this criticism with reasonable grace. Then, as they crossed the lawn, he glanced at Harry.
“Do you think the girls are back yet?”
Harry smiled.
“Probably.”
Adrian nodded thoughtfully.
“I wonder how it went.”
Harry looked at him.
“Draco’s date?”
“Well, yes. And the spying.”
“I’d almost forgotten about that.”
“No, you hadn’t.”
“No,” Harry admitted. “I hadn’t.”
Adrian shook his head.
“I still can’t believe Georgie went along with it.”
Harry raised an eyebrow.
“Really? I can.”
Adrian considered.
“Fair point.”
“Vic’s probably the one who suggested it.”
“Probably.”
“And Hermione’s probably spent the entire afternoon trying to stop them doing something stupid.”
“Do you think she succeeded?”
Harry considered. Then shook his head.
“Not a chance.”
They reached the entrance hall just as several students were heading towards the Great Hall for dinner. Harry shifted the amplifier in his arms.
“Where do you want this?”
“Downstairs. I’ll take it to the common room, then put it away.”
Harry nodded. They had just reached the staircase leading towards the dungeons when a familiar voice called out.
“Potter!”
Harry turned. Severus Snape was approaching from the opposite corridor. Adrian straightened immediately.
“Good evening, Professor.”
Snape’s gaze moved from Adrian to Harry, then settled on the amplifier. His expression darkened.
“Mr Selwyn.”
“Professor.”
“Please tell me that you have not spent the afternoon inflicting that infernal contraption upon the rest of the school.”
Adrian swallowed.
“No, Professor.”
“No?”
“We were practising outside, near the Forbidden Forest.”
Snape looked at Harry.
“And you were assisting him?”
Harry nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
Snape regarded them both. For a moment, Harry expected the usual accusation that he had somehow violated six school rules merely by existing. Instead, Snape said, “How unexpectedly considerate.” Harry blinked.
“Sir?”
“Removing the noise from the castle. An excellent decision.”
Adrian smiled cautiously.
“Thank you, Professor.”
Snape looked at the guitar case.
“Has your playing improved?”
Adrian hesitated.
“I think so, sir.”
Snape’s expression remained serious.
“Then perhaps there is hope for civilization after all.”
Harry pressed his lips together. Adrian looked uncertain whether he’d just been complimented. Snape started to walk away. Then stopped.
“Oh, Mr Potter.”
Harry looked up.
“Yes, sir?”
Snape turned.
“Should you encounter Miss Crabbe this evening, I suggest you ask her whether she enjoyed her afternoon.”
“Her afternoon?”
“Indeed.”
Snape’s eyes moved towards Adrian.
“And you, Mr Selwyn, might wish to ask Miss Goyle the same question.”
Adrian frowned.
“Professor?”
Snape’s expression became almost pleasant.
“An exceptionally eventful day, by all accounts.”
Harry and Adrian exchanged glances. Snape continued.
“Although I understand that certain Muggle establishments are considerably less welcoming to Hogwarts students than others.”
Harry stared. Adrian blinked. Snape inclined his head.
“Good evening, gentlemen.”
And swept away. For several seconds, neither boy spoke. Then Harry slowly turned towards Adrian.
“Did he just say what I think he said?”
Adrian looked troubled.
“I think so.”
Harry considered.
“Certain Muggle establishments...”
Adrian nodded.
“Less welcoming...”
They stared at each other. Then Harry’s eyes widened.
“Oh, no.”
Adrian looked alarmed.
“What?”
Harry began to grin.
“Oh, this is going to be good.”
“Harry.”
“Think about it.”
Adrian frowned.
“The girls went to the shopping centre.”
“Yes.”
“They were spying on Draco.”
“Yes.”
“And Snape somehow knows about it.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Oh.”
Harry nodded.
“Exactly.”
Adrian looked towards the corridor where Snape had disappeared.
“What do you think they did?”
Harry considered. Then grinned.
“Something spectacularly stupid.”
Adrian sighed.
“Georgie...”
“Come on. Let’s find them.”
They continued down towards the Slytherin common room. Harry was still carrying the amplifier, and Adrian had the guitar case slung over one shoulder. As they approached the entrance, Adrian glanced at Harry.
“You know, there’s one thing I don’t understand.”
“What’s that?”
“Why did Snape look so pleased?”
Harry considered.
“That’s the worrying part.”
“I’ve never seen him look like that before.”
“Neither have I.”
They reached the entrance. They continued down towards the Slytherin common room, Harry carrying the amplifier and Adrian with the guitar case slung over his shoulder. As they approached the concealed entrance, Adrian glanced at Harry.
“You know, there’s one thing I don’t understand.”
“What’s that?”
“Why did Snape look so pleased?”
Harry considered.
“That’s the worrying part.”
Adrian nodded.
“I’ve never seen him look like that before.”
“Neither have I.”
They reached the entrance, and Adrian stopped.
“Thanks for helping me today.”
“Any time. Although next time, try not to murder the strings.”
Adrian laughed.
“I’ll do my best.”
Harry handed him the amplifier.
“Here you go.”
Adrian took it with some difficulty, balancing the guitar case against his leg.
“Would you mind waiting a minute? I’ll see if Georgie and Vic are inside.”
Harry nodded.
“Sure.”
Adrian gave the password, and the concealed entrance opened. He disappeared into the Slytherin common room, leaving Harry waiting in the corridor. Inside, Adrian spotted Georgina and Victoria sitting beside Draconia on one of the sofas. Draconia was wearing a cream jumper and black skirt, her blonde hair still tied in a high ponytail with a black bow. A small white stuffed cat rested in her lap. She was smiling at her mobile phone. Georgina looked up.
“Adrian!”
Her face brightened, and she hurried towards him. Adrian barely had time to set down the amplifier before she threw her arms around his neck.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said, laughing.
She kissed him. Victoria smiled.
“Where’s Harry?”
“Outside. He helped me carry the amplifier.”
Victoria immediately stood.
“Oh! I’ll go and see him.”
Adrian glanced at Georgina.
“Actually, there’s something we wanted to ask you.”
Georgina’s smile faltered.
“What?”
Adrian lowered his voice.
“We ran into Professor Snape.”
Victoria stopped walking. Georgina froze. Draconia looked up from her phone.
“Snape? What about him?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Oh, nothing important. He was just asking about the guitar.”
Draconia shrugged and returned to her messages. Georgina gave Adrian a meaningful look. He understood.
“Come on,” she said quickly. “Let’s take your things upstairs.”
Victoria was already moving towards the entrance.
“I’ll be back in a minute, Draco.”
Draconia smiled absently.
“Take your time.”
Harry was leaning against the wall when Victoria emerged. The moment she saw him, her face lit up.
“Harry!”
He straightened.
“Hello, gorgeous.”
She crossed the corridor in three long strides and wrapped her arms around him. Harry laughed as she bent slightly to kiss him.
“Missed me?”
“Terribly.”
“Even though you cancelled our afternoon together?”
Victoria winced.
“About that...”
Harry grinned.
“Funny you should mention it.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“We met Snape.”
Victoria’s expression changed instantly.
“Oh.”
“Yes. Oh.”
She looked towards the Slytherin entrance, then back at him.
“What did he say?”
“Something about Muggle establishments being less welcoming to Hogwarts students than others.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“That man is evil.”
Harry began to smile.
“Vic...”
“Yes?”
“What happened?”
“You’re going to laugh.”
Harry’s grin widened.
“Now I’m definitely interested.”
Before Victoria could answer, the entrance opened again. Georgina emerged, followed by Adrian. Adrian looked at Harry.
“I think we’d better find somewhere private.”
Harry glanced at the girls.
“That bad?”
Georgina sighed.
“Worse.”
They found an empty classroom a short distance away. Victoria closed the door. Harry leaned against a desk, arms folded. Adrian stood beside Georgina.
“All right,” Harry said. “What happened?”
Victoria took a deep breath.
“We got thrown out of the shopping centre.”
Silence. Harry stared. Adrian blinked. Then Harry said, very slowly, “You got what?”
“Thrown out.”
Harry looked at Adrian. Adrian looked at Harry. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Harry burst out laughing. Victoria closed her eyes.
“Oh, wonderful.”
Adrian stared at Georgina.
“How?”
Georgina sighed.
“It’s a long story.”
Harry was laughing so hard he had to lean against the desk. Victoria glared at him.
“Harry!”
He tried to speak. Failed. Then managed, “You went to spy on Draco’s date...” Victoria nodded miserably.
“ ... and got thrown out of a shopping centre?”
“Yes!”
Harry doubled over. Adrian covered his mouth. Georgina pointed at him.
“Don’t you start!”
Adrian’s shoulders began to shake. Victoria groaned.
“This is exactly why we didn’t want to tell anyone.”
Harry finally straightened, wiping his eyes.
“Oh, Vic.”
He grinned.
“I love you.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“You’re not helping.”
Harry slipped an arm around her waist.
“I know.”
Then he kissed her cheek.
“But I really, really want to hear this story.”
Victoria sighed. Georgina looked at Adrian.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.