RUB A DUB

Epilogue

Monday 3rd May 1976

Remus entered the common room in a hurry, not even stopping reading his arithmancy book and sat down on the couch next to Sirius.
"We just spent nearly four hours in the library Moony! Will you ever stop studying?" James sighed.
"Mmh?" Remus muttered still reading.
"I bet he reads in his dreams too." Lily whispered giggling on James' laps.
"So, how are you planing to go to London? I guess your mother won't allow you to leave Hogwarts for a muggle gig."
"Of course she won't. But it's a Hogsmeade weekend, Mary." Sirius winked. "We'll sneak out and take the Knight Bus."
Remus raised his head from his book. "We will?" He looked frightened.
"Unless you have a better idea. But see, while you were wasting your time studying I did some research. Seems like there's no other way for us tu be here on time legally."
"Ugh..." Remus shook his head, reluctant about the idea.

On the 8th around ten o'clock they were at the border of Hogsmeade waiting for the bus.
"I really don't think that was the safest option."
"It's either this or walk." Sirius snapped, tired of Remus complaining.
"We could have taken the muggle transports."
"Oh yeah? Cause you see a muggle train station in Hogsmeade?"
"No..."
"Right."

They arrived in Soho in the early afternoon. They ate in a pub and visited the animated neighbourhood throughout the afternoon. Jazz groups were playing at every corner and people seemed to be coming out of a muggle fashion magazine. Flare jeans, bright coloured shirts and flannels were everywhere, and the two boys blended in in their muggle clothes, leather jacket and denim bottoms on. Sirius was amazed by everything he saw. It was the first time he really went in the muggle world. It made Remus smile to see him so excited over the smallest things, and most of all it helped reduce his anxiety.

They spent all the afternoon wandering in the streets of Soho. Sirius bought so many muggle clothes his backpack – on which he had practised an extension charm - was nearly full. They stopped in a vinyl shop which had absolutely every album they had ever heard of, and Remus had a hard time trying to talk some sense into Sirius who wanted very badly to buy a black electric guitar.
"But you don't understand! She was waiting for me this whole time, Moony!"
"You don't even know how to play guitar Sirius!"
"I'll learn. That's not a problem." He crossed his arms.
"Oh yeah, you'll try. Then you'll realise you actually have to but effort into it to be good."
"Pfff... You're just jealous."
He scoffed. "Oh yeah? Of what? Your stupidity?"
"My attractiveness. You know I'll look sexy playing guitar." He winked.
Remus shook his head pulling Sirius by the arm but couldn't help himself blush thinking about it. "You don't need a guitar to look sexy..." He mumbled.

A couple of hours before the show they decided to take the tube and head towards Wembley, where the venue was located. Once in the underground station they realised they had to pay to get in the tube. Since they had already used most of their muggle money Sirius transformed in his dog form so they'd only have to pay for one ticket. Once there they stopped in a pub and somehow managed to convince the barman they were of age to buy booze. The little old man didn't care much anyway, so they sat and downed a few round of shots, spending all the pounds they had left. Then they walked tipsily to the venue, half an hour before the show.

The Empire Pool was a big cavernous room where thousands of people were clumped together. Before going in a security guard asked them if they had any dangerous items on them and Sirius showed them his wand, which caused the security team to have a good laugh.

There was no support act, instead the film Un Chien Andalou was shown. After it was announced Sirius turned to Remus grinning. "That was destiny. You know what 'chien' means in French?"
"No, what does it mean?" Remus asked still stoned.
"Dog. And what am I? A dog! It was destiny I tell you!" He said excited.
"Ooooh..."

The anticipation was growing with every minute and when the room lit up in white light before going fully black, the noise made by the fans was truly groundbreaking. The show started with the new single Station to Station and Remus could have sworn he'd never heard Sirius scream as loudly as he did at this moment. Bowie and his band appeared on stage dressed in black trousers and white shirts, flamboyant, and Bowie's astonishing voice filled the room.

The setlist was a mix of Bowie's classics and new songs and ended with the boys favourites. They screamed during 'Life on Mars' and they danced during 'Changes' and they were so exhausted they could not think just continue shouting and dancing. The next songs were 'TVC15' and 'Diamond Dogs', then came 'Rebel Rebel'.
It was Sirius' song. It was his and everybody knew it, even the strangers around them right now. He loved that song and Remus loved watching him lose his mind over the stomping beat.
Sirius noticed Remus had stopped singing and was now blatantly staring at him, a sweet little smile on his face. He winked at him teasingly and looked him in the eyes when he sang "Hot tramp, I love you so!". That made Remus laugh and he wondered how he could ever live without this fabulous boy. He was breathtaking.

Bowie wasn't the star, he was. Sirius was his star.

The time Remus returns to reality it's the end of the last song.

Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous
He screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go

The lights go out. He turns to Sirius, take his head in his hands and kisses him fervently, here and now.