Would you go with me

After the success of those first two Fridays, Remus had been given a monthly gig at the pub. He drew in such an increased crowd that he received a cut of drinks sales for his troubles. Sirius and James had been invited to the first official Friday of the new monthly gigs. Remus had asked around and had a list of traditional ‘campfire’ songs that he had learned for the occasion, as well as some of his favourites, and he seemed uncharacteristically nervous.

They had all met at Remus and Lily’s beforehand. Sirius had asked Reg if he wanted to join but the boy hadn't seemed ready for such sustained and overwhelming social interaction, but he had said he was okay with the six of them coming back to Sirius’ and James’ for after-drinks. They all set off together; Remus, Sirius, James, Lily, Marlene and Dorcas, walking the short-ish fifteen minute walk to the pub shivering a bit in the rapidly cooling October air. The pub was steadily filling as they arrived, but the owner had saved their special table at the front, and Marlene and Dorcas offered to get the first round of drinks as everyone else settled in. Sirius texted Reg making sure he was okay with both Sirius and James being away for the evening- since Reg’s arrival almost a week earlier, Sirius had made sure not to leave him alone, but neither he nor James had felt able to miss Remus’ gig. It was why he had offered to host everyone for drinks after, instead of them all staying and drinking in the pub until it closed, as was their norm.

Remus sat close to Sirius- closer than maybe friends normally would, Sirius thought, but brushed it aside. He was focussing on Reg now. Reg was his priority. Right before he got up to start, Remus leant close into Sirius, so close Sirius could smell the Guinness on his breath and said in a low quiet voice “which is your favourite song?” The question took Sirius aback, and he thought hard back to the two times he had seen Remus sing. “Uh, that one… will you come with me? Will you go with me?” Sirius said, not really remembering the name. “Would you go with me” Remus whispered, the sound sensual. Sirius shivered.

Then abruptly, Remus stood and made his way to the front, sitting and tuning his guitar before addressing the crowd and starting his first song.

“I asked my love to take a walk

To take a walk, just a little ways

Down beside where the waters flow

Down by the banks of the ohio

I held a knife against her breast

As close into my arms she pressed

She cried “oh my love don’t you murder me

I’m not prepared for eternity”

I took her by her lily white hand

And led her down by the water’s strand

I picked her up and pitched her in

And watched her body floating by

I wandered home ‘twixt twelve and one

I cried “my god what have i done?

I’ve killed the only woman i loved

Because she would not be my bride

And only say that you’ll be mine

And in no other’s arms entwine

Down beside where the water’s flow

Down by the banks of the ohio”

It was a haunting, mournful song that Sirius hadn't been expecting. He loved the next song, which was soft and sweet and romantic, and he wished it was Remus singing it to just him, rather than a room full of people.

“Put your arms around me like a circle round the sun

You know I love you mama like your easy rider done

You don’t believe i love you look what a fool i’ve been

You don’t believe im sinking look what a hole i’m in

Cause I’m stealin’, stealin’, pretty mama don't you tell on me,

cause I’m a-stealin back to my same old used to be

Well the woman I love she’s my size and height

she’s a married woman so you know she treats me right

You don’t believe I love you look what a fool I’ve been

You don’t believe I’m sinking look what a hole I’m in

Well come a little closer honey to my breast

And tell me that i’m the one you really love the best

You don’t believe I love you look what a fool I’ve been

You don’t believe I’m sinking look what a hole I’m in

Cause I’m stealin, stealin, pretty mama don't you tell on me

Cause I’m a-stealin back to my same old used to be”

Sirius sighed when it finished, basking in the way the sound of Remus’ voice wrapped around him, holding him, swaying him.

The third song sounded more stereotypically country than the first two, but it spoke to Sirius on a personal level, which he hadn’t expected. He had only ever seen himself reflected in punk and rock music. To see himself in something sung so softly was a new experience for him, and it sat a little bit uncomfortably.

“They said ‘change your clothes’ she said ‘no i won't’

They said ‘comb your hair’ she said ‘some kids don't’

And her parent’s dreams went up in smoke

They said ‘you can’t leave’ she said ‘yes i will’

They said ‘don’t see him’ she said ‘his name is bill’

She’s on a roll and it’s all uphill

She’s a wild one with an angel’s face

She’s a woman’s child in a state of grace”

Remus looked so beautiful when he sang, thought Sirius. He hadn’t seen him since the Monday before, and Sirius was glad to see Remus in his proper clothes. It was corduroy trousers again today, and another thick sweater, deep blue with ribbed cuffs. He looked so comfy and welcoming and warm. “This last song is for a good friend” Remus said, looking straight at Sirius before playing chord’s Sirius recognised.

His breath caught in his throat when he realised-

“Would you go with me If we rolled down streets of fire

Would you hold on to me tighter

As the summer sun got higher?

If we roll from town to town and never shut it down

Would you go with me If we were lost in fields of clover

Would we walk even closer Until the trip was over

And would it be okay if I didn't know the way?”

Sirius had forgotten how deep Remus’ voice was when he sang this song, so much so that when he sang ‘way’ it seemed to Sirius that he was feeling it rather than hearing it, the way one felt rather than heard a heavy bassline.

“Would you go with me If we rode the clouds together

Could you not look down forever

If you were lighter than a feather

Oh, and if I set you free, would you go with me?

If i gave you my hand would you take it and make me the happiest man in the world

If i told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you girl

Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea

Help me tie up the ends of a dream

I gotta know, would you go with me?

I love you so, so would you go with me?”

Sirius couldn't believe that Remus had sung that just for him, and dedicated it to him in a way as well. He was so unused to people being nice to him like this, and becoming close with Remus and Lily in the past two weeks had really thrown him for a loop. He was shook from these thoughts when Remus came and sat next to him when his set had finished. “Right then, back to ours?” James addressed the table. Everyone made sounds of agreement and stood, putting coats on and finishing drinks before they left. Sirius texted Reg that they were on their way back, and Reg texted back that he would vacate the living room.

He then dropped to the back of the group, walking beside Remus, and then slowing his steps, hoping Remus would match his pace. He did. “Thanks, for the uh, the song” Sirius said awkwardly. “Hey, you’re welcome” Remus said, nudging Sirius with an elbow. “You’ve had a tough week. It was just something small i thought of to try and lift your spirits”

“It worked. Thank you, Remus” Sirius said, blushing. Remus nudged him again, and Sirius looked up to see Remus’ face smiling beatifically down at him, and he felt warm all over.

The walk home was short, and soon they were all stood outside while James fumbled for his key, and then they were all inside, soaking up the warmth. James ran into his room to get the drinks they had bought for the occasion- stored in James' room as Sirius was scared Regulus might feel inclined to drink them all had he found them. He knew he would have done so if Effie and Monty had left alcohol around for him to find when he was kicked out.

Sirius made a beeline down the corridor to his room to check on his brother, who was watching netflix on bed on his phone. Sirius invited him out to meet everyone but was met with a vague ‘maybe later’. Still, it was better than an outright ‘no’, he decided as he slipped out of his room again. A few hours later, and everyone was situated on sofas chatting and generally getting on. The six of them made a good friendship group, Sirius decided, and he resolved to do more with them in the future. At some point, Lily suggested getting takeaway and now empty containers of chinese food littered the coffee table in their living room, and everyone was sated and tipsy. Regulus had even joined them for food, and everyone had been open and friendly, even in the face of his quiet surliness.

Just as Sirius thought he was about to fall asleep, Lily squealed, typing rapidly on her phone. “Rem! Peter is hosting the halloween party again.” she said, grinning widely. She looked up at everyone else, “and you’re all invited!” she squealed. James whooped. He loved a good costume party. Sirius inwardly gagged at the prospect of a James/Lily couples costume. Everyone discussed costumes for a bit, before fatigue settled over the group.

“Right, it’s getting late, we’ll head off,” said Marlene, helping Dorcas off the sofa. “Yeah, we’ll come with” Lily said, getting up and giving James a kiss goodbye. Sirius walked them all to the door and waved them off, but Remus paused at the gate, before jogging back up the small pathway between the front gate and the front door. Sirius looked at him questioningly when Remus didn't say anything for a few moments.

“Right, so, I appreciate that this might not be a good time for you, and that you have a lot on your plate, so this is a very low pressure offer” Remus started with, smiling briefly at Sirius before continuing; “and I know it's like a month away, but I wondered if you wanted to be my date to the halloween party? You don’t have to decide right now, I know it's late, and I know that your brother is super important right now, so don’t worry if now is the wrong time for this, yeah?” Remus finished, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Thank you, Remus,” Sirius said. “You’re right, Reggie is my priority right now, so as long as you appreciate I may not be able to give you all the attention you deserve, at least not now, then I would love to be your date.”

Remus smiled blindingly in response, and said “that's great. And it’s okay, I’m very low maintenance. And I know you’re super busy now, but a month is a long time to wait for a date, so if at any time between now and halloween you'd like to get drinks with me, I would love to do that too.” He leaned in and kissed Sirius’ cheek chastely. “Text me, yeah?” he said before jogging back to where Lily was probably waiting for him.