chapter title: "good old fashioned lover boy" by queen

January soon rolled in to February and the skies stayed in a constant state of Scottish grey, rain drizzling down on the tiled roofs above the students in their classrooms and leaving the Marauders to eagerly huddle around the fireplaces lit in Gryffindor common room.

It was a Sunday evening, a week into February and this is where the Marauders found themselves, lounging about the sagging armchairs that surrounded a roaring fire and in deep discussion of when they could arrange their next performance.

"I mean there's a quidditch match coming up," Sirius pointed out, "saying we win- that's always a good excuse for celebration and the chance to perform."

Peter hummed, "But we did that last time, we need something different."

"A new sound for a new occasion." Remus agreed.

James suddenly lit up. "There's always Valentine's"

"Fuck no." Remus pulled a face.

"Oh come on, Moons, you don't want to perform to a crowd of swooning girls? I bet they're all after you." He grinned mischievously.

Remus pulled a face, failing to notice the hard expression Sirius wore as he stared down at his lap, picking the black polish from his fingernails.

"Alright, how about we do a performance in the Great Hall instead of the common room." Suggested Peter.

"And get thrown in detention for a month? No thanks." Sirius muttered.

"If we only performed one song, like at meal time or something, then maybe we'd be less likely to get in trouble and everyone would think of it as more like a bit of fun." Remus said, thoughtfully.

"Like a surprise gig?" Sirius asked.

"On Valentine's Day?" James turned to look at Remus.

Remus groaned. "I guess like a surprise performance, but James if you think for one second that I am standing on a table to play to a crowd of swooning students, you are utterly wrong."

"How about just one swooning student." James argued. "Or....potentially swooning."

"Not for the first time in my life I am thanking Merlin that I am not Lily Evans." Sirius said, drily.

James swatted at him. "I'm serious though- shut up, Padfoot,- this would be an excellent chance to show my love to her. We could sing her a love song!"

Remus sighed, running a hand through his soft curls, musing them a little. Lily was going to kill him after Valentine's day. "Alright," he said, "but on the condition that that is the ONLY thing you do for Lily this year on Valentine's day. That means no flocks of doves, no awful gifts, no rose petals falling over her head-"

"Lily petals." James corrected him.

Remus rolled his eyes. 

"But fine, deal." James said, sticking out his hand which Remus shook with a nod, hoping he wouldn't regret this decision. "So what song should we sing?"

***

Remus awoke on the morning of February the 14th to an alarmingly bad smell abusing his heightened senses, and he rolled over to locate the culprit, squinting through his eyelashes. James was standing by his dresser spritzing an appalling smelling aftershave over himself.

"James, for fuck's sake." Remus moaned, sleepily, as James turned to look at him. 

"Oh sorry, Moons, did I wake you up?"

"What ungodly hour is it?" he groaned, closing his eyes again. "And take a fucking shower, Jamie."

James frowned. "Five thirty, and I've had a shower."

"Have another one. And pour the aftershave down the sink whilst you're at it. But not in our sink. A sink far, far away from here."

Two hours later, the rest of the Marauders were awake, dressed and showered. Remus, Peter and Sirius had finalised their practise on shrinking their instruments down to sizes that would fit into their pockets so that they could sneak down to the Great Hall unnoticed and unsuspicious, until Lily arrived. James had thankfully rid himself of the foul smelling aftershave and was now unsuccessfully trying to get his hair to lie flat. 

"How do you get Hogwarts uniform to look punk rock?" Sirius asked, standing in front of the mirror on the back of the bathroom door. It was a Monday morning so the Marauders had classes straight after they performed the stupid song for Lily, and so would not be able ton wear their usual concert clothes. Sirius had taken much more issue with this than the rest of them.

Remus watched Sirius absentmindedly as the shorter boy fiddled with the collar of his white shirt, loosening the tie and undoing a few buttons after neglecting his Gryffindor robes that now lay abandoned on his bed.

"Here." Remus walked over to Sirius to stand in front of him. "Just do it like you usually do for practise sometimes and just-" He reached out to fumble with Sirius collar, removing the tie completely and stuffing it in his back pocket before unbuttoning Sirius' school shirt halfway so that it showed off his porcelain skin beneath. Sirius watched him wordlessly as Remus straightened his collar before stepping back to allow Sirius to look at himself in the mirror.

"Thanks, Moons." He said quietly, giving Remus a small smile. Remus didn't fail to notice the small tinge of colour in Sirius usually pale cheeks, but decided to put it down to the warmth of the room or something similar.

"Alright. Ready guys?" James asked, fidgeting anxiously with the hem of his shirt. 

Sirius nodded. "Let's do this."

"Let's get it over with." Remus agreed, though secretly he had to confess that he was equally as excited as the rest of the Marauders. There was something exciting about sneaking all their equipment into the Great Hall and playing in front of such a large audience.

The four boys made their way down to the Great Hall, Remus, as usual, embarrassed at how obviously suspicious the rest of his friends managed to act in the simplest of situations.

Lily hadn't arrived yet so they took their seats at the centre of the Gryffindor table and Remus got about to positioning the tiny, doll sized instruments on the table, so that when they cast engorgio they would enlarge on the table in the proper spaces so that he, Sirius and Peter could easily arrange themselves. The plan was that once Lily had arrived down for breakfast, the Marauders would enlarge their instruments, jump up on to the Gryffindor house table , and James would introduce themselves and the song before directing all his attention to Lily.

They had eventually decided to go with Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen as it seemed fitting enough to the situation, and James had eagerly agreed with Freddie Mercury's lyrics describing all the romantic gestures he wanted to do for Lily. James Potter was a hopeless romantic.

Remus suddenly looked up as a sharp pain jabbed him in the ribs. 

"Ow!" He muttered angrily at James who was staring at the large double doors, his eyes wide. 

"She's coming, she's coming!" 

Remus looked over and sure enough, Lily was making her way through the entrance joined by Mary and Marlene.

"Okay," Remus said, quickly turning back to the Marauders. "Wait just a second. Wait 'til she sits down then we'll make our move."

James nodded, and the four of them carefully eyed Lily and her friends as they sat themselves down at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"Alright, go!" 

As soon as Remus had said the words, Sirius had leapt up onto the Gryffindor table as Remus cast the engorgio spell, quickly stepping up beside Sirius who was taking his rapidly growing electric guitar from beside a plate of toast lying on top of the table. Remus helped pull Peter up from his seat and they seated themselves behind their instruments as they settled at their full size, just as James sprung up beside them, taking the microphone that he had safely stored in his back pocket.

Almost immediately the Great Hall had grown quiet as people turned to stare, whispering to each other as the Marauders prepared themselves, Remus settling his hands over the keys, ready to play as soon as James gave the signal. He couldn't help but find himself feeling nervous, just like he did at the start of most of their performances, though this time he was consciously aware that their audience was four times the size. Faces from all over the hall had turned to look up at them, and he heard whispers of 'the Marauders and their band... I heard they're actually quite good...oh Merlin this is going to be wicked.'

Remus breathed out, steadying his breath as he waited for James.

"Hello everyone!" James voice soared out through the microphone. "We're the Marauders and this is Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy." Immediately Remus let his hands drift over the keys, playing out the familiar melody that they had spent the last week religiously practising, as James' sweet voice filled the hall.

I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things
We can do the tango just for two
I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings
Be your Valentino just for you 

The Marauders all joined in for the; "Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy, What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?" And Remus couldn't help but let the grin rise on his face as he listened to James. James Potter was something of a wonder. All signs of nervousness he had shown this morning eagerly awaiting Lily's arrival and putting on that ridiculous aftershave had all disappeared. He eased confidence and natural stage presence. He swayed on their substitute stage, and the clumsy James tripping over all the clothing and quidditch supplies that were usually strewn across their dorm floor was gone as he stepped nimbly over the bowls of porridge and mugs of tea that adorned the Gryffindor table

Ooh, ooh, can you feel my love heat?
Come on and sit on my hot-seat of love

They sounded great. Possibly better than they ever had, and Remus grinned as James danced his way along the Gryffindor table along to the music, making his way down to where Lily was sitting, flushing a bright shade of red. 

I'd like for you and I to go romancing

The rest of the Marauders all harmonised to the work 'romancing' as James marched down the table before leaning down towards Lily as he sang the bridge, the Marauders backing him up with their backing vocals. 

When I'm not with you
Think of you always
(I miss those long hot summer nights) I miss you
When I'm not with you
Think of me always
Love you, love you

And soon the  whole hall was dancing along, the few muggles familiar with the song singing along happily.

I learned my passion
In the good old-fashioned
School of lover boys

Remus laughed as James leaned back up from where he was serenading Lily and did a ridiculous twirl, almost stumbling and falling before catching himself and managing to dance along to Sirius' guitar solo in front of Lily, Mary and Marlene before bringing the microphone back to his lips. He leaned down awfully close to where Lily was sitting back, watching him, their faces suddenly close as James sang, teasing slightly as he pulled himself back the last second before he could fall over, before going back to dancing nimbly around plates of bacon and egg. Remus supposed it must be all the quidditch practise that allowed James to somehow be so agile.

Dining at the Ritz we'll meet at nine precisely
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine

Remus looked up from his keys to catch Sirius' eye. He had his hair down and it was flopping everywhere like it did when he jammed along to whatever they were playing, a wild grin was spread across his face as he strummed his guitar and he threw a wink at Remus. For the first time since Christmas Eve, Remus felt as if maybe things could be properly normal between him and Sirius again.

Everything's all right
Just hold on tight

That's because I'm a good old-fashioned lover boy

Peter hit the drums with a final beat as the song ended, and James took a deep bow as the hall erupted into applause, cheers filling the large room and chants of "Mar-au-ders!" echoed throughout the four houses.

Remus grinned as he and Peter stood up, taking their bows alongside Sirius as James made his way back across the table towards his band mates, all taking a joint bow together, James blowing an exaggerated kiss and a wink in Lily's direction before Remus quickly reduced the instruments back to their miniature size. The four of them jumped down from the table to be met with torrents of pats on the back as students crowded around them eagerly. Remus had never felt more like a celebrity in his life.

Through the crowds, Remus caught sight of Lily, still seated with Mary and Marlene, and he was pleasantly surprised when she shot him a small smile as she shook her head, rolling her eyes. Maybe James was somehow starting to grow on her after all.