July, 1976
On the topmost landing of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, Sirius Black lay sprawled on his bed with his eyes closed listening to his newly purchased vinyl. He and Moony had spent the morning perusing a Muggle record shop when he had happened across the latest edition to his already expansive collection of vinyls. Normally they would spend the remainder of the afternoon wandering the streets of London, smoking and messing around playing pranks, but on this occasion Sirius had hurried back to his parent's home to listen to his new record. Moony had opted to go home as he was not welcome in the Black household for obvious reasons.
He'd heard from reputable sources (James and Marlene) that the band he was listening to was the best new punk rock band to come from the States, so naturally Sirius had to have it. He had had to wait until the summer holidays to buy the album, but it had been worth the wait.
Sirius lay there, letting the music of the Ramones wash over him and carry him far away...
"Hey ho, let's go! hey ho, let's go!
Hey ho, let's go! hey ho, let's go!
They're forming in straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds"
"Could you please turn that down? I can hear it all the way down in the kitchen."
Sirius opened his eyes and saw his brother standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, looking as serious as ever. Sirius turned onto his side and started rolling cigarettes. Ignoring the request he asked, "Do you like it? Just bought it today."
"What is it?" asked Regulus stepping further into the room.
"The Ramones," he replied, offering his brother a roll-up which he declined, then popped it into his own mouth. "They're new, I quite like it so far."
"It just sounds like a rabble to me," muttered Regulus.
"Don't be such a nob, Reg - it's good music," he chastised.
Regulus spluttered in indignation, "I'm not a- a what?"
"A nob, Reg, it means you're a snob," replied Sirius pointedly. "Get your head out of your arse and actually listen to the record. Let the magic of the music flow through you and carry you away."
"What sort of magical properties does it have? I thought it was a Muggle record?" he asked.
Sirius rolled his eyes, "It's not real magic mate, not like ours – it's so much deeper than that. Look, just listen to the lyrics and tell me how it makes you feel."
The vinyl player crackled as it played the next track, the lead singer's bleating voice shouting the lyrics...
"Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat with a baseball bat"
"What do you think?" Sirius implored.
Regulus shrugged, "Not much. He's not a very good singer, is he?"
Sirius smirked at his brother, "Not a good singer, eh? Okay, give me a sec."
He slid off of his bed and began to sort through the large collection of LPs sitting in a neat pile next to the vinyl player – the only thing in the room that wasn't carelessly discarded. He pulled another LP from its sleeve and put it in the vinyl player, placing the thin needle on the records surface with the delicate precision of a Healer. The record spun and crackled for a few moments before an accompaniment of piano, drums, bass and rhythm guitars exploded from the speakers.
Sirius turned to his brother and shouted over the music, "Just humour me – close your eyes and listen for a moment. Tell me what you think."
Regulus sighed and complied with the request, the rock-pop music blaring in his ears. Suddenly a sublime voice began to sing...
YOU ARE READING
Nowhere Boy (Wolfstar)
FanfictionSirius Black never found much happiness at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. That isn't to say that it wasn't centre stage to some of the most important moments in his life. If nothing else, Sirius could always take solace in his music.
