All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

The War : July 1978

All our times have come

Here but now they’re gone

Seasons don’t fear the reaper

Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain

(We can be like they are)

Come on baby, (don’t fear the reaper)

Baby take my hand, (don’t fear the reaper)

We’ll be able to fly, (don’t fear the reaper)

Baby I’m your man

 

Sunday 2nd July 1978

“Hurry up, Potter!” Sirius winced as Remus banged against the door of the phone box, rattling the glass. “Other people need to make phone calls, y’know!”

James pointedly turned his back on the impatient boy, clutching the receiver closer to his ear.

“Leave him be, Moony,” Sirius groaned, leaning on the fence to support himself. Even with the dark sunglasses he’d thrown on, the bright summer sunshine was giving him a headache. “And stop all the banging, will you?!”

“Take another painkilling draught,” Remus rolled his eyes, unsympathetic, “You’re just hungover, it’s your own fault for getting so smashed.”

“I was the life and soul, I’ll have you know.” Sirius sniffed, crossing his arms petulantly as Remus finally left poor James alone and came to sit beside him.

Their end of school party the previous night had been everything they’d hoped for—the Potters’ house had been jam packed with all Hogwarts leavers (with the exception of most of the Slytherins), as well as some of their friends from younger years. Christopher and Yaz had both been there, along with the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team and a handful of sixth-years from the Prank-Planning Co-Operative. Quite a few siblings and family members had come, too, as had some members of the Order of the Phoenix. No Dumbledore, of course – it was a professor-free zone – but Fab and Gid popped by, much to the delight of Sirius and James, as well as Frank and Alice. All the girls had cooed over Alice’s engagement ring, and there had been a round of toasts congratulating the couple on their upcoming nuptials.

The festivities had carried on until late into the night, just like their common-room parties, and Sirius had had the time of his life dancing with Mary and challenging Yaz to a drinking contest and telling Fab and Gid all about the marauders’ final prank. Eventually, though, things had started to wind down, and the girls had all said their goodbyes at midnight, having promised their parents that they’d spend the night at Lily’s (even though there was more than enough extra room at the Potters’).

Which was why Sirius now stood, nursing a headache, outside the phone box at the end of the road, watching James chatter eagerly to his girlfriend as though they’d been separated for days instead of a handful of hours.

 “So unfair, him making us race down here – as if I could ever beat James ‘hangover free since ‘73’ Potter.” Remus muttered, frowning darkly at the boy in the phone box. “And it was unsportsmanlike. He knows I have a handicap.”