Sirius’ birthdays were always known for the amount of booze and fun, so if anyone got the invitation - they stayed there until they were practically thrown out. Thus, when the clock showed 2 AM, the Gryffindor common room was still full of very drunk, exhausted but nevertheless happy people.
“Guys, I think it’s time to finish the party! Thanks, everyone, for coming, it was nice having you.” Despite having drunk as much as everyone else, James made standing on the table look like a piece of cake. The crowd made an annoyed sound, Sirius included.
“Boo, party pooper!” The boy exclaimed, but Remus quickly hushed him.
“Pads, calm down. Our party’s not over, it’s just them who have to go.” Remus whispered, his hot breath smelling like cheap weed and alcohol against Sirius' ear. Although he would never admit it, Black liked the feeling, so he was quite disappointed when the boy stepped back. Sirius tried to push Remus back but nearly fell instead, which made Remus chuckle.
“What are you laughing at, Lupin?” Sirius attempted to sound menacing but failed, once again. Remus just smiled, and when Sirius looked around the room searching for support, he realised the crowd was long gone, leaving behind a ton of trash. His closest friends were there still.
“If you are going to make me tidy this mess with you on my birthday I’ll bite.” Sirius said in defence. Truth is, he wasn’t very drunk or tired, he just hated cleaning with his whole heart.
Lily laughed. “Oh come on. Maybe we shouldn’t do it if he’s so tired, huh?” She grinned because she was aware Sirius knew nothing about their little plan..
“Define ‘it’, Evans.” She just shrugged, trying to hide her smile with her hand. “Hey! You guys are plotting something behind my back?” Sirius gasped as if he's learned that Bowie died and put his hand on his heart.
“No, Pads. In fact, we have something for you.” James looked at Remus expectingly and the latter picked something up from the shelf.
“Here, Sirius.” Remus handed him a thin square box and Sirius knew right away what it was. The jacket of the vynil showed four people sitting in a helicopter somewhere in the field. “ABBA/ARRIVAL” it read.
“How did you get it? I mean, even Andy doesn’t have one yet.” Sirius looked at all his friends with excitement and gratefulness.
“Don’t look at us,” Mary said. “It’s all Remus.” Sirius turned his expecting gaze at Remus.
“I have my ways.” Remus looked at him warmly. It almost felt like there was no one except for them in the room. Remus cleared his throat. “Now, put it in the record player.”
Sirius looked mysteriously at everyone but obeyed Remus.
“Skip the first song for now,” Marlene said. Sirius wanted to disagree but James was already near the player.
“Padfoot, it’s taking you too long. Go stand near the couch, please.” Sirius felt more and more like they indeed planned something, but he was too astonished to not listen to James.
James grabbed a mop from the corner of the room and everyone else circled him. “What are you-”
“Shh, Black.” Lily hushed and the music began.
Everyone started to nod their heads and swing in the tact of the song.
“Ooooh” Girls began and oh. Sirius got it, they are performing him a song. He beamed, looking at James because it seemed like he was the singer.
“You can dance! You can jive, having the time of your life!” Sirius laughed because frankly, James didn’t have the best vocals. “Ooh, see that boy, watch that scene, digging the dancing queen!” Sirius heard a few chuckles from the performers, who were looking behind him, so of course he turned around. There was Remus, flustered either because of the alcohol he drank or the thing he was about to do.
“Friday night and the lights are low,” James again began and Remys started… dancing? Sirius let out a chuckle of disbelief. He mentioned once that he would like to see Remus dance because he never did at parties. This was becoming more and more interesting.
”Looking out for a place to go,” Remus started to approach Sirius slowly, swaying his shoulders in the tact of music. “where they play the right music. Getting in the swing you come to look for a king.” Everyone pointed their fingers at the boy and he beamed. Truly, Sirius loved attention, but he appreciated it even more when it was coming from his friends. He didn’t need a pricey birthday present - all he wanted was this.
“Nobody could be that guy” Everyone yelled, clearly trying to change the lyrics, but it sounded too messy. Still, Sirius smiled because they all knew how he loved to be compared to the mass. “Night is young and the music’s high.”
“Just like you, Pads.” Remus laughed. When the fuck did he get so close? The last time Sirius looked at him, he was in the corner of the room, but now he was just three steps away.
“I’m not high, thank you very mu-”
“With a bit of rock music, everything is fine” James started to practically scream because he knew Sirius got distracted.
“You’re in the mood for dance?” Only Remus sang, raising his eyebrow in question. Oh, Sirius loved it. He nodded his head and Remus reached out a hand.
“And when you get the chance” James started singing once again, but Sirius was too busy holding Remus’ hand to pay attention to his screaming/singing. “You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah!” Sirius turned his head and there was Peter, playing the fucking tambourine.
“How the hell-” Remus shushed him once again, spinning him around.
“You can dance, you can jive having the time of your life! Ooh, see that boy, watch that scene digging the dancing queen!” Remus was dancing, like legit dancing. He even wasn’t bad.
Everyone started joining them and dancing near the couch. Their faces were lit up and they knew Sirius’ was too. They’ve done a great job, so Sirius made sure he kissed everyone on the cheek when the song was coming to an end.
The song faded away and Peter picked out the vynil from the player. “You’ll listen to the rest of the songs later, I’m too tired.” He announced, placing the vynil back into the box and on the shelf and falling onto the couch.
“Aw, you prepared such a nice performance for each song? So nice of you guys!” Sirius laughed kindly.
“Oh fuck off, Black. You know how hard it was to not die from laughter when Remus did his little dance?” Marlene threw a pillow at the boys.
“Thank you Marls, truly appreciate you.” Remus threw the pillow back at her and everyone laughed.
“Well, for what it’s worth, Moony, I think your dance was brilliant.” Sirius grinned.
“You know what, Sirius? You owe me one for my birthday, too.” Remus took a sip of Sirius’ firewhiskey.
“With or without clothes?” Everyone laughed as Remus spit the whiskey out. “What? I wasn’t kidding!” The room filled with laughter again.
Frankly, Sirius would cherish this moment forever in his head. He recalled it every time he got news about his friends’ deaths, every time dementors tried to suck his soul from him. This exact same moment was the last thought he had. Well, the second last. The last one was Remus.