Brian did not know much about the harp, though he was quite good at playing the blues harmonica. The limitation of that instrument was that each harmonica had only one major key.
This meant that when performers played more complicated pieces, they looked as though they were holding a row of metal wafer biscuits in their mouths, not eating them, just constantly shifting the biscuits around.
And beginners' perpetually puffed-out cheeks could make people think they had two emotionally unstable pufferfish in their mouths-angry one moment, deflated the next.
Professor Quirrell now looked like a nervous pufferfish, while his mood resembled a wafer biscuit, crumbling all over the floor at the slightest impact. He still seemed guilty about missing their appointment, even though Brian did not mind at all.
Brian found something Professor Quirrell might be interested in to chat about and lighten the mood:
"Quirinus, you should go and see Filius's orchestra. There's a talking magical harp there.
"It's usually incredibly lively, but if even one string is out of tune, it sinks into sorrow and starts bawling-and its crying is out of tune too."
"Really..." Professor Quirrell forced out a couple of laughs. "How, how interesting."
He did not look as though he found it interesting at all.
Brian tried a few other subjects, such as the House-elves inventing a new dessert, the snowmen in Hogwarts' front courtyard, and the repeated thefts from Snape's ingredient storeroom. Professor Quirrell showed considerable interest in the last subject.
He asked with concern, "Have they found out wh-who, who did it?"
"Not yet. Snape currently suspects an older student."
Professor Quirrell smiled. "Is there anything, anything I can help with?"
"Not for now." Brian shook his head. "Our Potions professor probably intends to catch the culprit personally, all on his own."
Professor