Dancing Through Life
“So, this is the book room! Where we do…uhm…book things!” Sirius introduced, showing the two boys into the large room. Inside a few students were studying and reading, making Remus chuckle. “So, is this what you all do here? Just sit around and study?” he asked. Sirius huffed in embarrassment. “Well…maybe-why?! Is that a bad thing?” Sirius worried. Remus shook his head, smiling at Sirius fondly. “Not necessarily…but…sometimes you’ve got to have fun!” Remus explained. James swung his arm around Sirius’s shoulder, making the smaller boy laugh. “What’s life without a bit of fun?!” he shrugged. “Indeed! And now I see that once again…the responsibility to corrupt my fellow students falls to me. Fortunately, I'm up for the task!” Remus offered.
“Oh goody” Sirius blushed, biting his lip softly. James laughed as he returned to Remus, the two boys clapping their hands together happily. “The trouble with schools is that they’re always trying to teach the wrong lesson!” Remus began, taking Sirius’s arm as he led him to the nearest bench. He sat the smaller boy upon it, James and Remus standing in front of him. “Believe him, he’s been kicked out of enough to know!” James teased, earning a playful shove from his best friend. Sirius giggled, tucking his legs underneath him as he watched the two boys. “Schools want you to become less callow-less shallow but why invite the stress in?!” Remus asked, crossing his arms coolly. Sirius shrugged, listening to him talk intently.
Remus turned to his left, plucking a book from another girl’s hands. “Stop studying strife!” he cheered, tossing the book back over his head. Another boy across the room caught it. “You’ve got to learn to live…the unexamined life!” Remus told the other girl, standing her from her chair and twirling her. The girl squealed happily, calling everyone else's attention. “Actually, back at our old school, we had a little tune we’d sing! You know, to get people in the mood!” Remus smirked, winking at the other student. “Indeed, we did!” James agreed. James jumped onto the bench beside Sirius, making Sirius shout as he dove out of James’s way. “Dancing through life! Skimming the surface-you’ve got to learn to dance where the turf is smooth!” James began to sing, lifting Sirius as well. Sirius giggled as he twirled around James happily.
She giggled sheepishly as she turned back to her friends. Remus went back to Sirius and James, helping Sirius down off the bench. “Life's more painless, for the brainless! Why think too hard? When it's so soothing!” Remus explained, twirling Sirius once more as well. “Dancing through life! No need to tough it! When you can sluff it off as I do!” James laughed, dancing amongst the other students, riling them up excitedly. “Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters-it’s just life! So, keep dancing through!” Remus laughed, pulling Sirius into the center of the room with him.
“You dance, don’t you darling?” Remus asked him. “Of course I do!” Sirius scoffed confidently. Remus then twirled Sirius again, starting to dance proudly with him. James found the old record player tucked into the corner of the room and dropped the first vinyl he recognized onto the machine. A soft musical beat began to fill the library. “Dancing through life! Swaying and sweeping! And always keeping cool!” James rejoined in, taking another girl to dance with him. “Life is fraught-less when you're thoughtless! Those who don't try, never look foolish!” Remus smiled, pulling Sirius close to him. “Dancing through life! Mindless and careless!” Sirius sang as well, flipping his hair happily. “Make sure you're where less trouble is rife!” Remus agreed, dancing with Sirius once more. “Woes are fleeting! Blows are glancing!” James shouted, jumping onto another table.
The other students began cheering along with the two boys, all gathering to dance with them. “When you're dancing through life!” Remus sang happily. The students began shouting and clapping out loud, making James laugh as he leaped from the table. “So! What's the most swankified place in town?!” he asked, smiling at a fellow student. “That would be the Oz Dust ballroom!” the student answered, high-fiving James. “Yes! Sounds perfect! Let’s go on down to the Oz Dust ballroom!” James agreed. Remus nodded at his best mate, wrapping his arm around Sirius’s waist. “Won’t we get into trouble?” Sirius worried. “Relax darling-sometimes rules were made to be broken!” Remus sighed, smirking amusingly at the other boy.
“We'll meet there later tonight! We can dance till it's light! Find the prettiest girl, give 'er a whirl!” James called out, twirling another student happily. The students began cheering and chattering excitedly. “Let’s go then! Tonight, at eight! We’ll meet at the gates and sneak out in the dark!” Remus explained. Many students agreed and began to leave the library excitedly. James laughed as he watched them all rush past. Remus and Sirius turned to face each other. “So…I’ll pick you up at eight then?” Remus asked him. “Oh! I don’t know, I just have so many people lined up to dance with me!” Sirius gushed dramatically, flipping his hair yet again.
Rems simply laughed at him as he pulled the smaller boy closer to him again. “You’re cute” Remus flirted. “Why thank you!” Sirius gasped, placing his hands on Remus’s chest. James could only scoff and roll his eyes as he backed out of the room. Leaving the two lovers together. “Maybe I could save you a dance or two…if you promise to make me look good” Sirius offered. “I’d dream of nothing less…although I don’t think you’d need much help in that regard” Remus agreed. Sirius giggled stupidly, twirling his hair girlishly yet again. “Now that we’ve met each other, Sirius…I think it’s clear we-!” Remus began. “Deserve each other? That we’re perfect for one another? That you're the prettiest man I’ve ever seen?!” Sirius assumed.
Remus laughed, nodding his head fondly. “Yes, all of the above!” he answered. He then twirled Sirius once more before placing a soft kiss on Sirius’s cheek. Making Sirius blush as brightly pink as his school uniform. Remus then walked backward toward the library doors. Waving Sirius goodbye before following behind his best friend. Sirius squealed happily, jumping up and down excessively before running for his dormitory.
That night, 7 pm
Regulus walked beside Narcissa on the way back to their dorm rooms. “It's absurd! These silly, rich boys appear and everyone's off to worship them and some cultish social gathering!” Regulus huffed in annoyance. “Even me! I’m going! Isn't it wonderful? This girl in our class, Alice, was too shy to ask me at first, but once Sirius encouraged her-!” Narcissa explained happily. Regulus stopped abruptly, turning to face Narcissa. “Wait-Sirius-?!” Regulus began. “No! Reggie, don't you dare say another thing about him!” Narcissa snapped in frustration. Regulus sighed in annoyance, rolling his eyes at his sister. “I'm about to have the first happy night of my life all thanks to Sirius!” Narcissa cheered excitedly. “Yes but…I just don’t know if I fully trust him to…” Regulus tried. But his voice trailed off with anything rude to say.
After their chat during lunch, every time they passed in the halls Sirius waved to him. Smiled at him. It was so odd. Seeing his roommate being so nice to him. And for some reason, in return, Regulus was being nice back. He didn’t understand why but his body wouldn’t physically let him be mean.
“Finally, for this one night, I'm about to have a fun night! With this Munchkin girl, Sirius found me! I…I wish there was a way I could repay him! Please, Reggie, you have to understand!” Narcissa gushed. Regulus smiled at her, pressing his hand to her shoulder softly. “I do…you’re going to have so much fun…” Regulus told her sweetly. Narcissa giggled, blowing her brother a kiss before continuing off into her dorm. Regulus took an anxious deep breath in before continuing down the hall. He pushed open his dormitory door, instantly freezing at the sight of people inside it.
Sirius let out a loud gasp, turning around in his vanity chair. “There you are! I’ve been waiting for you to show up-come! Come Come!” Sirius cheered, running over to Regulus. “Oh-okay, where are we going?!” Regulus asked awkwardly, dropping his books at his feet as Sirius took both his hands firmly. Sirius’s friends laughed as Sirius dragged Regulus to his side of the room, now covered by a long white curtain. “I hung this up so we could still both have our privacy while having enough room for ourselves!” Sirius smiled, grabbing the edge of the curtains and ripping them open.
Behind them, was Regulus’s side of the room. And it was completely different from how he left it that morning. “Oh…my oz…” Regulus muttered, stepping through the curtains. Sirius clasped his hands together, standing behind Regulus as he examined his space. He had gotten Regulus a four-poster bed like his, draping long black curtains around the edges. He placed Regulus’s trunks neatly in the corner, by the balcony window that he lined with Regulus’s poetry and novels. Sirius also hung many poppy flowers from the ceiling and bed frame, even placing a pot of them on Regulus’s night table.
“How’d you know poppies were my favorites?” Regulus wondered, stroking the flowers softly. “Oh, I uh…may have asked your sister! So…do you like it?” Sirius asked him. Regulus chuckled, smiling brightly at his room. “Yes! Yes, Sirius, it’s wonderful-thank you!” Regulus replied, turning around to face his roommate again. Sirius squealed, rushing forward and scooping Regulus into his arms, making Regulus freeze. “Oh, I’m so glad! I worked tirelessly on it!” Sirius cheered. He then pulled away from Regulus, taking both his hands once more. “Also…I got you something for tonight!” Sirius whispered excitedly. Regulus narrowed his eyes at Sirius in confusion.
“Tonight? What’s going on tonight?” Regulus wondered. “Wh-The party of course?! I even got you a date!” Sirius huffed, patting Regulus’s cheek before turning away. “Wait-Wait a what-?!” Regulus shouted as Sirius fled through the white curtains. Regulus quickly followed behind him. “It’s true, Black! That new boy-Potter insisted on taking you!” Marlene chuckled. Lily nodded in agreement, applying her lipstick in the mirror. Regulus scoffed in response, shaking his head in disbelief. Sirius on the other hand, pulled a hat box out from his wardrobe, smiling happily as he turned back to Regulus. “This was my granny’s but…I have no use for it…I think it’d look fabulous on you!” Sirius explained, handing the box to Regulus.
Regulus sighed, frowning slightly as he opened the box. Inside was a black hat. With a wide brim and a curved top. It had many intricate details and stitching along it. It was the nicest piece of clothing Regulus had ever been given. “Wow…uh…it’s so…” Regulus stammered. Sirius clasped his hands together nervously, bouncing on his heels. “Wonderful? Pretty? Gracious of your loving roommate?” Sirius assumed for him. Regulus could only laugh as he took the hat completely out of the box, setting the box aside. “It’s perfect…I love it! Thank you” Regulus answered, placing the hat on his head. “Oh yes, I knew it’d look so good on you!” Sirius giggled, clapping excitedly.
“Fashionably fabulous!” Mary agreed, toasting her glass to Regulus. Sirius turned back to his vanity, tossing himself back into the chair. “We’re heading downstairs in about thirty minutes! You think you’ll be ready by then?” Sirius asked Regulus, pulling his lipstick out of the drawer. “Oh uh…it’s really late notice I-I don’t know what I’d wear-!” Regulus began. “Oh, it’s alright dear! Take your time, we’ll tell James to stay back here for you!” Lily offered, strapping her shoes gently. “Oh, that’s-that’s not needed! You guys have fun I…I’ll get there in a bit!” Regulus objected, taking the hat from his head. Sirius turned around to face Regulus yet again, smiling at him. “Promise?” he asked. Regulus huffed in amusement, biting back his growing smile. “Fine…I promise…” Regulus agreed.
After Sirius and his friends had left, Regulus began rummaging through his trunks for what to wear. Everything seemed to be too casual or too hideous. And Regulus hated the way his mind was working because he loved all of his clothes. When he had found his father's old suit vest and dress pants at the bottom of his trunk, he sighed, knowing he’d tossed everything else out the window. He threw the clothes down before grabbing one of his school shirts from the pile on the floor. He quickly got himself dressed, playing around with his hair in Sirius’s vanity mirror. Although not for long, standing and fixing his hair in a bright pink and white mirror almost made him vomit.
Just as he was to leave, there was a knock on his door. Regulus stared at the door for a minute, knowing everyone had already left. It might be the Madam, coming to get him to rat about the party. Shit, he’s so screwed if he ratted. Sirius would hate him all over again and they just started liking each other. Regulus took a quick breath as he grabbed the doorknob, pulling it open. On the other side…stood James. “Yes wh-Oh!” Regulus gasped, jumping in fright. “Oh! Sorry…didn’t mean to frighten you!” James laughed, holding his hands up playfully. Regulus looked that tall boy up and down once, nodding softly. “I know you told Sirius you’d show up on your own but…I couldn’t help but feel bad…nobody should enter a party late by themselves!” James explained, leaning against the doorframe coolly.
Regulus huffed, narrowing his eyes at James. “And you think I need you to protect me from whatever mockery the students of Shiz will place on me when I arrive?” Regulus asked coldly. James’s smirk lifted brightly into a smile, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “No…but…I didn’t want to leave without you either way…we’re all going to have fun tonight; you should join us” James offered. He held out his hand to Regulus, whom he stared at for a moment. “One moment” Regulus sighed, shutting the door in James’s face.
He screamed quietly to himself as he smacked his cheek repeatedly, trying to get the blush out of them. He grabbed his coat and Sirius’s hat before returning to the door. “Alright! Firstly, before we go-no I’m not seasick!” Regulus began, swinging open the door. “Neither am I!” James nodded, listening intently. “No, I didn’t eat grass as a child!” Regulus continued, counting on his fingers. “Oh, you didn’t?! I did!” James cheered confidently. “And no, I-wait what?!” Regulus scoffed, slightly stunned by James’s quick comment. “Quite healthy for you actually” James shrugged. Regulus could only groan as he stepped out of his dorm room, shutting and locking the door behind him. “Fine. Shall we go? I have a detour to make before we leave though!” He asked James, stepping up to the taller boy. “Indeed, after you” James nodded, pointing his hand to the right.
Regulus huffed in amusement as he placed his hat onto his head, marching past James. James could only smile happily to himself as he followed.
Oz Dust Ballroom, 9 pm
Remus returned to Sirius’s side, handing him a small cup of punch. “Thank you” Sirius cheered, lifting the small glass to his rosy lips. He took one sip, jumping at the shockingly strong taste. “Oh Oz-What's in the punch?” he asked, examining the bright red liquid. Remus chuckled, swallowing his sip of punch. “Lemons, and melons, and pears!” Remus explained. “Oh my!” Sirius gasped, before taking another long sip. Remus wrapped his arm around Sirius's waist, pulling him closer. Sirius’s bright pink and orange dress flowed around his knees elegantly.
Suddenly, across the floor shuffled in Madam McGonagall. She approached Remus and Sirius intimidatingly, making Sirius spit his punch back into his cup in shock. “Oh! Oh my-Madam McGonagall! What are you doing here?!” Sirius shrieked, handing his cup to Remus. Remus set the cups down behind him awkwardly as he turned to face their headmistress. “I am here to give you something, Mr. Black…” McGonagall answered. Sirius stared at the tall woman in shock. “Something for-for me?” he repeated. McGonagall sighed boredly as she pulled a long object from her coat pocket. In her hand, she held a glass, delicately glittered, training wand.
Sirius let out an excited shriek as he ripped the wand from his teacher’s hands. “Oh Madame, a training wand, for me?! How can I ever express my graditution?!” Sirius gasped, admiring the sleek wand happily. Remus smiled and laughed at his date fondly, watching sweetly as he gushed over his new wand. “Oh, don’t thank me! This was your roommate's idea, not mine!” McGonagall informed, flicking her wrists informatively. Sirius suddenly froze, his gaze softening sadly on Madam McGonagall. “Wh…Regulus requested this?” Sirius mumbled. Remus’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he looked between Sirius, the wand, and the Madam.
“Indeed! He came to me insisting I invite you into our sorcery classes tonight or he would drop the seminar!” McGonagall answered. Sirius shook his head in disbelief as he looked back at his wand. “But I don’t…why?” he wondered in confusion. “Beyond me! I may be a sorcerer, but I’m not a mind reader!” McGonagall laughed. Sirius frowned fully at the glass wand in his hands, a sense of pain and guilt filling his stomach. He didn’t deserve this kindness…especially after all he did to Regulus when they met. Even tonight he was making fun of the poor boy. He gave him his granny’s old hat because he thought it’d be funny! His friends pressured him into it as well, all thinking it’d be hilarious to see the hideous thing on the boy’s head. Sirius didn’t know that his one small token of affection by decorating his side of the room was so important to Regulus.
Now he felt horrible.
“Would you like my advice dear?” McGonagall suddenly spoke again. Sirius’s gaze flicked upwards once more. “My personal opinion is you do not have what it takes! I hope you'll prove me wrong... I doubt you will…” McGonagall explained, smirking wickedly at Sirius. Sirius went to object to her, but she simply turned away, leaving the ballroom swiftly. “What a wicked old bitch!” Remus huffed, crossing his arms. Sirius let out another soft gasp as he gripped the wand tightly in his hands. Remus noticed his sudden change in mood and turned Sirius to face him. “Hey, what is it? What’s wrong?” he asked worryingly. “No-Nothing it’s just I…I got what I wanted…” Sirius mustered. Remus laughed in confusion, smirking at Sirius. “Then what's the matter?” he questioned.
Sirius frowned at the wand in his hands, twisting it back and forth between his fingertips. “Nothing…” he answered, smiling sadly at the intricate wand. “Good! Then let’s dance!” Remus cheered, taking the wand from Sirius’s hands. Sirius gasped at the sudden removal of his new prized possession, quickly jumping at Remus to get it back. But Remus simply set the wand aside, before pulling Remus out onto the dance floor with him.
Their fellow students started to cheer and shout as they both took to the dance floor. Remus took Sirius by the hands, twirling him and bouncing him around the floor joyfully. Sirius laughed and cheered as they swirled around each other. Enjoying the cheers and affection from the crowd of students around him.
Suddenly, everything stops. Remus froze as the music died down, and the cheering around him stopped. Sirius turned around as well, in the direction everyone else was facing. On the entrance stairwell, stood two students. James was the first, one step below his date. Above him…was Regulus.
Sirius gasped, placing his hands to his heart in shock. “Oh my god!” Mary laughed, covering his mouth to hide her smile. Once she began to giggle, the entire room filled with menacing laughter. “Is that your roommate…with James-?” Remus muttered. “Yes! Please, don’t stare-!” Sirius begged, grabbing Remus’s arm. “How can I not?” Remus scoffed in shock. James turned to face Regulus fully, extending his hand. Regulus took his hand softly, still unsure about entering the room full of mocking and pestering.
But James guided Regulus into the room confidently, pushing through the laughing crowd as they approached the center of the room. Sirius and Remus backed up awkwardly as Regulus and James entered, the two boys staring at each other. Remus in confusion and James in defensiveness.
“What is he wearing?!”
“It’s almost as hideous as he is!”
“It’s vile! He’s vile!”
Regulus pulled his hand away from James, instead taking the hat off of his head. Sirius frowned, feeling utterly terrible seeing Regulus so upset. Regulus went to place the hat on the ground, but James stopped him. Pressing his hand to Regulus’s shoulder and holding him back. Regulus stared sadly at James, pleading to let his arm go…but James didn't release him. Instead, James takes the hat and places it back on Regulus’s head softly.
Then James stepped back, giving Regulus the floor to himself. Regulus stood frozen for a moment…before he began to dance. He swayed his arms back and forth, twisting his legs oddly and contorting his body in weird ways. The laughing and berating only became louder as they watched the hideous dance continue. Remus huffed in amusement as James rejoined his side. “Well, I’ll say this…he doesn’t give a single twig what anyone thinks…” he shrugged. Sirius shook his head softly, fighting back his tears as he watched Regulus dance. Watched the other boy also fight back his tears as he tried to block out the comments and laughter from around him. “Of course, he does…he’s just very good at hiding it…” James corrected.
Once Regulus had finished dancing, his gaze fell on Sirius. The boy boys stared at each other as the crowd began to soften. All the students watched what Sirius was going to do. Sirius knew he couldn’t stand there and watch anymore. It had been weeks of this nonsense, and it was hurting his heart. That feeling of protectiveness and compassion for Regulus came over him once again as he stepped into the center of the dance floor. The students around him hollering and chanting him on as if he were about to start a fight. But Sirius planned on something else.
Instead…he began to dance.
He copied the same moves Regulus had just done. Waving his arms, wiggling his fingers, kicking his feet. The students began to mutter awkwardly yet again, watching Sirius dance like Regulus. Dance with Regulus. Sirius went up to his roommate, holding out his hands sadly. Regulus was quick to grasp them in his, the fastest he had ever shown Sirius’s affection. Sirius smiled sweetly at Regulus, before twirling him. Regulus simply laughed, sniffling back his stray tears as the two began to dance.
“Sirius! Stop!” he heard Mary hiss dramatically. But Sirius ignored her. Ignored the shocked and disgusted glares or the hushed whispers and comments. All Sirius focused on was dancing with his friend. His new friend.
Once the two had stopped dancing, Sirius tossed his arms around Regulus, hugging him tightly. Regulus held him back as well, beginning to cry as Sirius held him. “Shh, it’s alright” Sirius whispered, rubbing Regulus’s back sweetly. The room had fallen dead silent as they watched the two boys' embrace. Hold each other so closely and emotionally. Sirius felt his protectiveness over Regulus subside into peace as he held him, it felt right, much better than making fun of him ever did. Sirius hated how blind he was being, just like everyone else, only looking at Regulus’s skin and not his heart. Regulus was a smart, kind, and deeply emotional boy. And Sirius wanted to take care of him. As if Regulus was his brother.
“HEY!” someone shouted. The two boys separated, turning back to face their respective dates. “Isn’t this supposed to be a party?! What’s with all the tears?!” Remus scoffed, holding out his arms. Regulus and Sirius started laughing as the room broke out into cheers. The blaring music returned, and the dancing commenced. James shook Remus’s shoulders playfully before the two rejoined their dates. “Let’s dance, beautiful!” Remus smiled, taking Sirius’s hand. “After you!” Sirius blushed, following Remus out onto the floor.
Regulus and James couldn’t help but laugh as they watched the lovebirds leap and twirl around the room. The students around Regulus began to disperse from their rude comments and mockery. Instead, looking at him as if he were normal. All because of one person taking a liking to him. They were all falling into line like clones. But Regulus could live with that if it meant no more pestering. “Should we join them?” James asked, slinging his arm around Regulus’s shoulders. Regulus huffed, rolling his eyes in annoyance. “I don’t really ‘dance’ like normal people do!” Regulus remarked. James simply laughed, pulling away from Regulus smoothly. And grabbing his hand to pull him out onto the floor.
James and Regulus joined the crowd of students, right beside their friends. Sirius cheered and laughed as Remus twirled him around, while Regulus and James laughed as they tried not to trip over each other. “DANCING THROUGH LIFE, DOWN AT THE OZDUST!” The students began to sing, remembering Remus’s little tune from earlier. “If only because dust is what we come to!” Remus continued, making Sirius smile stupidly at him. “And the strange thing is, your life could end up changing!” James followed along, twirling Regulus playfully. “Hey-stop that!” Regulus blushed and swatted James teasingly. “WHILE YOU'RE DANCING THROUGH LIFE!” the students chanted happily.