silver springs
Friday, 10th Setember 1976
Remus was having lunch when he heard Sirius laughing. Not just a small laugh, no, he was cackling for the first time in months. Remus missed that sound, Sirius used to laugh all the time when they were togheter. Remus missed a lot of things. Snogging in empty rooms, arguing over the silliest things, he even missed the smell of Sirius’ hair.
“Guys, I’m going to the library,” Lily said “anyone wanna come?”
“I do,” Remus answered “let’s go.”
They walked in silence to the library and sat at an empty table near the romance section.
“Are you ready to talk about it now, Remus?”
Remus didn’t understand what she was talking about until he looked her in the eyes and immediately knew.
“I guess I am.”
Lily gave him a small smile.
“He is sorry, Remus. I can feel it in my bones. And you two are the kind of love that is not easy to find, so when you do, you gotta hold it with all your strengh,” she paused for a moment “he’s the love of your life, Remus.”
Remus just looked at her for a while. Lily always said that she knew since the beggining that something was different about the way Sirius and him looked at each other, different from the way they looked at other people.
“We’re so different from each other, Lily,” he whispered “it’s like he gets me so well but he’s the opposite from me. He’s a Black for God’s sake, his family kills people like me for fun.”
“He’s not his family, Remus. You should know better than anyone that we shouldn’t judge someone based on how they grew up and where they come from. He loves you for who you are.”
They kept talking for a few hours before James found them and said that the girls were calling Lily to get ready to the show with them.
“Hey mate, feeling excited for the show?”
“Surprisingly, yes. I think it will be fun.”
James opened a wide smile.
“Welcome back, Moony. You’ve been missed.”
***
“Get your lazy ass off of my precious piano right now, Barty!”
Barty just smiled at Regulus.
“You should be greatfull. This is my way of blessing your “precious” piano.”
Sirius and Dorcas laughed while they set up everything for the show. They would open with “Changes” by David Bowie and close with Sirius’ new favorite, “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac.
“So, will you be alright?”
Sirius looked confused.
“Yeah, why the fuck would you ask that?”
Maybe he sounded a bit too defensive, but he really didn’t want to talk about that at the time.
“You know why, Sirius. You’ve been hiding from every single person that looked at you since we came back to school. Are you really ready to sing in front of them?”
Sirius grinned.
“Fake it till you make it, right?”
Dorcas laughed a little and just accepted.
“I guess.”
They finished organizing everything, they would be the last ones to play, so they would have more showtime.
“Guess this is our cue.”
Sirius said, already looking thrilled.
They played every song like it was the last one.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time
Sirius was screaming at top of his lungs, Barty was standing behind of him, back against back with his guitar.
“I think I am a little in love with you right now, Sirius Black. Does Lupin know how to fight?”
Sirius laughed and tried to make an angry face.
“Shut it, brat.”
They continued to sing, having the time of their lives, but everything must come to an end, especially the good things.
***
Remus eyes were making holes into Sirius’ skin. Everything about him was glistening in the stage’s light. They sang most of his favorite songs, it broke his heart to see him singing Bowie without him.
“The show must come to an and, but we have a final song!”
Sirius’ voice echoed through the room, people screaming in excitement.
So I'll begin not to love you
Turn around, see me runnin'
I'll say I loved you years ago
Tell myself you never loved me, no
Don't say that she's pretty
And did you say that she loved you?
Baby, I don't want to know
Oh no
And can you tell me was it worth it?
Baby, I don't want to know
Time cast a spell on you, but you won't forget me
I know I could have loved you
But you would not let me
Time cast a spell on you, but you won't forget me
I know I could've loved you, but you would not let me
I'll follow you down 'til the sound of my voice will haunt you
Give me just a chance
You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you
He trailed off when he saw him.His eyes were closed as he sang and he could see a single tear rolling through his cheeks, it seemed like he was made of stardust, so perfect yet so broken. His friends seemed to notice that too, so as soon as they ended the song, Barty gave him a tight hug while everyone applaused. He grinned to the public and left the stage with his friends, leaving Remus speechless.
“Are you okay, Rem?” Marlene asked, “you seem a little off.”
He gave her a small nod.
“I’m fine, just want some sleep.”
When Sirius came back to his dorm that night, the Gryffindor dorm, Remus knew. He could feel his presence all around.