Archive of Our Own

“Sirius! I did it! I got the role!”

Sirius paused, his fingers hovering just above the keys. He spun on his seat then leaped to his feet, pupils blowing as a smile graced his lips. Regulus sprinted into the music room, jumping up and down as he extended a piece of parchment to his older brother. Sirius took it with trembling hands and could have burst with pride for his younger sibling. He laughed and pulled Regulus into a hug, giving him a little sway from left to right as Reg clutched his shoulder and cried softly against him.

“I knew you could do it! Was never a doubt in my mind. What part did you get?”

Regulus pulled back and wiped the tears from his obsidian lashes. “I’m one of the ensemble members. But there’s only five of them- not an entire crew like Hamilton or Wicked. I’m so nervous. This could be my big break…” Sirius cupped his face and shook his head, smiling as he felt pesky tears forming in his own eyes. “I really wanted the lead, but this is still a step in the right direction…”

“It’s something to be proud of,” Sirius told him sternly. “You’re going to be fantastic. And I’ll be there every step of the way.”

...

Sirius made sure he dressed in his finest silks for the play’s opening night. The tux costed a quarter of his fortune (not really, but damn near it), and he had made sure to spare no expense. He tried seven different styles for his hair (including a bun, a high ponytail, and a half-up, half-down) but had ultimately decided just to let it roll down his shoulders as it wanted to. He had a bouquet of dark crimson flowers tucked into the crease of his arm as he slid along the front row and took the seat reserved for him. He bitterly glanced at the empty places to his right. Reg went through all the trouble to save a place for Mother and Father… And they won’t come because they think his dreams are stupid. That our dreams are. Well, piss on them. He’s going to do great!

Sirius sat down rather uncomfortably, already annoyed by how tight the seating was. He laid the flowers across his lap then opened the playbill. His eyes scanned the pages, flying idly through the directors, honorable mentions, and other random names. He saw Regulus’ headshot on the third page and smiled when he read his bio.

Regulus A. Black, a native of Hogwarts County, has been studying the arts since he was two years old. He is a triple threat in the theatre world and can act, sing, and dance- having gone to regionals twice with his ballet team and placed first his senior year. He is now attending Hogwarts University studying theatre arts with a minor in theatre history. He is also on the college’s alternative dance team. He credits his success to the unwavering support of his family and his own determination.

Sirius blinked tears out of his eyes as he glanced up at the stage, noting it was set with chairs, desks, and tables like a classroom. He lifted the program to his lips and kissed it softly. “You’ve got this…”

“Got someone you love in the show?” the warm, welcoming voice nearly made Sirius jump out of his skin. He turned his head, eyes wide, and saw that the vacant space to his left had been taken by a handsome young man about his age with unruly black hair and glittering green eyes. He offered a beaming smile and shook his own pamphlet at him. “Me too! My fiancé is Eurydice.”

Sirius smiled, unable to keep from doing so from just the sheer joy he could see on the other man’s face. “Oh, congratulations! My brother is part of the ensemble.”

“Really?” The stranger cracked open his program and flipped through the pages. He chuckled a bit and pointed at Regulus’ headshot. “This guy, right? He looks just like you. Man, that’s so cool. The ensemble for this show is so small, it’s just as hard to get on as one of them as it is to be one of the leads. That’s so exciting! I can’t wait to see him.” He tilted his head toward Sirius then extended his hand. “I’m James.”

“Sirius,” he replied with a smile as he shook James’ hand. “Nice to meet you!”

James seemed ready to open his mouth and say more when there was noise from the stage. A slew of performers were walking out from the back to take their places. Sirius nearly burst into tears when he saw Regulus, wearing a ratty pair of trousers and a tattered shirt, take a seat at one of the desks.

“That’s my Lily,” James whispered, pointing over toward a beautiful redhead that was seated at the nearest desk to the left of the stage. She was wearing all black and it made her pale skin and green eyes shine. Sirius nodded toward him and peeked at his program, raking his gaze over her picture.

Lily Evans has been singing since she was three with a deep love for musicals and all things tragic and wild. She is currently working as a music teacher with the hope of bringing her passion for the arts to a new generation. She credits her endless desire to grow, seek, and explore to her fiancé and best friend.

“Show’s starting,” James told him, giving an excited wiggle as a very old man with a long white beard entered the stage wearing an intense, sky-blue suit. “That’s Albus Dumbledore,” he whispered and Sirius nodded slightly, leaning in closer to hear him better. “He’s played Hermes in this play since it debuted in Ilvermorny.”

“Really?” Sirius shot back as the lights dimmed. “He got a good voice then?”

“Wonderful! Wait until you hear his brother- he plays Hades…” A jazzy, upbeat tune started drifting through the air and Sirius turned toward the stage, smiling immediately when the unmistakable sound of a trombone swelled through the theatre. The old man, Albus, lifted his head and opened his mouth.

“Once upon a time, there was a railroad line…”

Chills blanketed Sirius’ arms from the gritty soul in his voice.

“Don’t ask where, brother, don’t ask why…”

As the first number got underway, Sirius was absolutely transfixed by the entirety of what was happening on the stage. The energy, the introduction of the characters, the music, the dance. He tilted his head, smiling fondly as Hermes spun them the tale. The Fates are great. The band. Oh, Persephone is beautiful. Holy… that’s Hades? Yeah, you can definitely tell the Dumbledores are related… Sirius looked down at his program and quickly scanned the bio for the actors playing Hermes and Hades. They lost their little sister and have dedicated their lives to the theatre, because it’s what she loved. How sweet… He smiled, eyes misting over when Hermes introduced the ensemble (he swore Regulus waved at him) and the band. Sirius was just about to reach for his water when the tune changed the slightest bit.

“On the road to hell, there was a railroad line. And a poor boy workin’ on a song…”

“La, la-la, la, la, la…”

Sirius felt his breathing hitch as a man entered from the right side of the stage. He was wearing tattered tan pants and a torn white button-down that was sloppily tucked into his trousers and held up by suspenders. He skidded energetically down a set of stage steps and entered the classroom setting, beginning to wipe down a tabletop as Hermes spun his song.

“Give it up for Orpheus!”                         

“Who is that?” Sirius whispered to James and he saw the man shrug.

“Some kid from out of town. Lily’s told me a bit about him. Apparently he has a really, really good voice. His name is…” James flipped through the program. “Ah. Remus Lupin.”

Sirius opened his own pamphlet and stared at the man’s headshot- the first one under the cast. He had a series of scars across his face and arms, but there was a certain warmth in his hazel eyes that made Sirius’ stomach flutter. He glanced over the bio, reading it in his mind as the first song came to an end.

Remus Lupin started singing at sixteen because his mother told him he had a lovely voice.

Huh. That’s it?...

Sirius watched the play in silence, feeling an odd kind of tingle in his chest as Eurydice sang out her woes (wow, Lily has a beautiful voice!). And Orpheus approached her… The next song was their first duet. Orpheus begging Eurydice to come home with him. To marry him. To trust him. As they sang about spring, and fall, and all the things in-between, Sirius heard Regulus’ voice and peeled his eyes away from the leads to watch him. He saw him rise from his seat, move a table, move a chair…

“This is Lily’s favorite song,” James whispered to him and Sirius smiled. He was opening his mouth to ask why when Orpheus climbed up on the desks as they moved for him to walk across.

“La, la-la, la, la, la…” Chills raced up Sirius’ arms, his jaw unhinging when that Remus Lupin started singing the repetitive riff that had first caught his attention. “La, la-la, la, la, la…”

“Have you seen this show before?” James whispered and Sirius shook his head.

“No. I’d never heard of it until Reg told me he got the part.”

“Has he told you about it?”

“Never shuts up about it, yeah.”

James chuckled. “So, I take it you’ve seen the Tiktoks and all of that about the like, really popular song Orpheus sings?...”

Sirius shook his head again. “No, I told him I wanted to go in blind. So I haven’t seen or heard anything besides what Reg practices.”

“Oh, man. You’re in for a treat,” James told him with a smile and a nudge. Sirius glanced back toward the stage as Orpheus sang the tale of Hades and Persephone- again causing his arms to blanket in gooseflesh. “And I can tell Remus has a hell of a voice for it too. I’ve seen this play twice on Broadway and three times off it… dude, you’re gonna love it.”

“Can’t wait,” Sirius whispered back. He noticed someone shifting in the row alongside him and he eyed a tall, pale man with inky black hair and a hooked nose who seemed very invested in Persephone’s performance as she sang her number. James prodded his side and motioned toward the stage. The ensemble was dancing alongside the beautiful middle-aged woman in a bright green dress and Sirius beamed from ear to ear when he saw Regulus clearly having the time of his life as he spun Persephone. “She’s great too.”

“Minerva McGonagall,” James said to him lowly. “She’s another original from Ilvermorny. Her and Aberforth have incredible chemistry. I heard they’re together in real life…”

“Do you two plan to talk the entire time?” called the thin, dark-haired man as he flashed them a warning glare. “And for your information, Minerva isn’t married to anyone. She’s widowed. You can read about that quietly in the program.”

James rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “Sorry, I’m trying to enjoy my time here just as you are. Mind if I talk to my friend then?”

The man grumbled and turned away and Sirius had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at his obvious disdain. He leaned over toward James and poked his arm.

“Who do you think he’s here for?”

“Oh, that’s Severus,” James replied simply as he tossed a piece of popcorn into his mouth then offered Sirius the bucket. “He’s Lily’s best friend. But he hates me and I hate him so it’s all good really. Sev, want some popcorn?”

The other man’s spiteful expression only deepened and Sirius found himself plucking pieces of the stale concession just to shove them in his mouth to keep from laughing. James chuckled and motioned toward the stage.

“This is my favorite of Lily’s performances. It’s called ‘All I’ve Ever Known’.”

Sirius nodded, casually munching on the popcorn as Eurydice sang her heart out about her isolation. Orpheus tried to hold her and she kept resisting him. Sirius watched, his hand almost to his mouth with another few kernels of popcorn, when Remus started singing again.

“I don't know how or why, or who I am that I should get to hold you. But when I saw you all alone against the sky, it's like I'd known you all along. I knew you before we met. And I don’t even know you yet. All I know is you're someone I have always known…”

His heart was absolutely pounding and he couldn’t figure out why. The popcorn stayed suspended in his hand, never quite reaching his mouth as the lights dimmed down into an intimate shade of blue. Lily and Remus, silent as stone, danced together on the stage. Laid together, held one another, clasped hands, sang, and kissed. Sirius could have wept from how deeply the song touched him as he leaned over and prodded James’ arm again.

“Serious question.”

“I bet you always have serious questions. You get it? Because your name is Sirius…”

Sirius couldn’t help it. He let out a barking laugh and clapped his hand over his mouth, spilling popcorn kernels all over the bouquet on his lap. James started snickering so loudly he sounded like a horse and ended up burying his face in his hands to keep the noise from escalating. Sirius heard Severus mutter under his breath as they both tried to pull themselves together. It took a solid five minutes and the majority of ‘Way Down Hadestown’ for them to stifle their laughter. Sirius wiped the corner of his eyes as James leaned in toward him again.

“You were saying?”

“Well, I was going to ask you how you don’t get jealous? Watching her dance with another man like that…” Sirius shook his head a bit. “That scene with them was so intimate. Doesn’t it bother you?”

James shrugged. “No. It did a little at first. But now, I know it’s just a job. This is what she loves and she’s good at it. I mean… I can’t compete with Orpheus. But I know she loves me.”

“Good answer,” Sirius replied as he turned back toward the stage and did, in fact, take a sip of his water. He was determined to focus and be vigilant for the next part of the play. He and James watched in silence as Eurydice left to find food and Orpheus continued to work on his song. The instant that Remus began singing again, Sirius found his arms blanketed in chills once more. His voice is so beautiful… Sirius swallowed hard, his eyes tracing the movement as Remus walked across the stage- dangerously close to the edge of it all. The ensemble reappeared and Sirius blinked, stunned to see them all in leather overalls with dirt upon their faces.

“This is a good one for your brother,” James whispered and Sirius nodded, watching with wide eyes as the music changed and the platform in the middle of the stage opened, bringing Persephone and Hades up with it.

“Low- keep your head, keep your head low. Oh, you gotta keep your head low. If you wanna keep your head- uh. Oh, you gotta keep your head low. Keep your head, keep your head low. Oh, you gotta keep your head low. If you wanna keep your head, uh. Oh, you gotta keep your head…”

“Holy shit,” Sirius whispered and James nodded, a wide grin spreading on his face as the Workers rotated in a steady motion around the rise, singing and chanting as they stomped to the beat. “God, he’s doing so good…”

“Must be proud of him,” James almost purred and Sirius nodded. “Aberforth is about to sing. You’re not ready for it.”

“What do you mean?” he returned but soon got his answer.

“Lover, you were gone so long; lover, I was lonesome. So I built a foundry in the ground beneath your feet. Here, I fashioned things of steel. Oil drums and automobiles. Then I kept that furnace fed with the fossils of the dead. Lover, when you feel that fire- think of it as my desire. Think of it as my desire for you!”

“His baritone is crazy!”

“It’s insane,” James agreed. Sirius was reaching for his water bottle when he heard Remus’ angelic voice breaking through the heavy velvet of the rhythmic pounding.

“La-la, la-la. La, la, la, la, la, la-la, la-la…” He crossed the stage, lyre in hand as the chaos of the Workers spun on behind him. Sirius swallowed hard, keeping his gaze glued to the lead as he kept running the melody. “La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la…”

“This part gives me chills,” James whispered and Sirius’ mouth fell open when Eurydice started singing again, crying out to Orpheus as a storm blew across the stage and stripped her of her mortal wares. Sirius could feel the desperation in her voice as the words ‘shelter us!’ rang across the stage. The song dropped off and Sirius glanced over at James, but noticed he was focused on the play so he turned his head back toward the stage again. Chills blanketed Sirius’ arms when Hades started singing to Eurydice about joining him.

“She doesn’t do it, does she?” he whispered, but James just blinked and tried to hide his smile. Sirius watched the god and the girl banter back and forth and then physically felt his heart drop when the Fates started singing to her about the choice she’d made. He leaned forward in his seat, breathless as the platform at the stage’s center slowly began to sink- taking Lily down with it. “Oh, no way…”

“It’s a tragedy, honey,” James teased to him. “Hermes tells you that in the beginning. Were you expecting a fluffy story from start to finish?” He glanced at him then chuckled. “It’s this next part. What I was telling you about. Lock in, Sirius. If you think you’ve been impressed so far?...” He shook his head. “If Mister Lupin can pull this off, that’s it...”

“Wait for me. I’m coming. Wait- I’m coming with you…”

Sirius turned toward the stage, his pupils blown and eyes wide. Much to his amazement, he realized the lead was now standing so close to the edge that he was able to see every detail about his face. The heavy lines under his eyes, the scars that ran across his skin, the beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks, the determination in his hazel depths, and… Sirius’ heart nearly stopped. Is he looking at me?...

Red flower in his hand, Orpheus shook it and held Sirius’ gaze. “Wait for me. I’m coming too. I’m coming too…” Sirius could barely breathe as the eye contact broke. Albus started singing as Hermes while low lantern light cut through the fog on stage and illuminated Remus’ face in long, dark shadows. Sirius blinked, leaning forward until he was nearly too close to the barrier in front of him. His heart was raging in his chest as the Fates began to hound Orpheus, demanding his purpose, and then…

“La, la-la, la, la, la… La, la-la, la, la, la…” Remus’ voice was higher this time. More urgent. More tired. More longing. Sirius felt tears forming on his lashes as the lead cupped the flower in his hands, closed his eyes, and tilted back his head. “La, la-la, la, la, la…”

“You’re on the lam, you’re on the run! Don’t give your name, you don’t have one…” Hermes voice cut through the angelic song as Orpheus turned on his heels and went running through the fog, circling around through dim lighting and hellfire. “And don't look no one in the eye. That town'll try to suck you dry. They'll suck your brain, they'll suck your breath, they'll pluck the heart right out your chest, they'll truss you up in your Sunday best and stuff your mouth with cotton…”

“Dude,” Sirius whispered and James chuckled at him as he placed a hand on the bend of his elbow.

“Hold on. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Remus burst from the fog, expression focused and eyes determined as he slid to the front of the stage and again, Sirius found his gaze without meaning to. “Wait for me- I’m coming. Wait, I’m coming with you. Wait for me… I’m coming too. I’m coming too…” Orpheus stomped his foot and thrust one fist in the air, the other holding out the red flower that Sirius felt like he could reach out and take. “I’m coming- wait for me! I hear the walls repeating, the falling of my feet and it sounds like drumming! And I am not alone. I hear the rocks and stones echoing my song. I’m coming!...” Remus turned to move away from the end of the stage and just then, something terrible happened. The paper flower slipped from his fingers and dropped into the darkness.

Sirius didn’t mean to. As the music began to swell, he saw the panic on the actor’s face. He pulled one of the roses out of the bouquet and tossed it across the space between them. He watched Remus’ eyes light in surprise as he caught it and began to immediately back up across the stage to where the platform was sinking. He slid into the deposit and was gone as the crowd applauded. Sirius sank back into his seat, his face flushed as the melody shifted into something more somber and the stage reset. He was aware of James’ eyes on him but found that he couldn’t face his new friend. Instead, he just stared ahead and listened to Hades sing ‘Why We Build the Wall’. But all he could think about was the gratitude he saw in Remus Lupin’s beautiful hazel eyes.

Sirius couldn’t focus. He could barely breathe. His chest hurt. His pulse was raging. And damn it all… James keeps looking at me. It was a brief moment. Less than half a heartbeat. But for that small, infinitesimal fractal of time- Remus Lupin had locked eyes with him. While he sang… sang that beautiful song… Sang his heart out… Sirius replayed it in his head. How the paper flower tumbled from Remus’ fingers and how he instinctively tossed him a real rose. The actor caught it like it was an extension of him. And for a fleeting moment… Remus looked him in the eye and a silent ‘thank you’ passed between them. Why did that matter? Why is my stomach in knots over the color of his eyes?... What am I doing?... I’m just here to support my brother and I think I’m losing my mind…

“Hey.”

Sirius blinked out of his thoughts by the feeling of being shaken. He glanced over at James as the lights brightened. The other man was grinning at him. “It’s intermission. We have ten minutes before the next act. Would you like for me to get you a snack? Some fresh water perhaps? Want me to text Lily and see if she can get you Orpheus’ number, or…?”

Sirius nearly jumped out of his skin. “What?!”

James rolled his eyes then stood and stretched until his shoulders popped. “Well, I’m gonna get a beer I think. And some more popcorn. Are you sure I can’t get you anything?” Sirius shook his head and the other man nodded then extended his pamphlet as well as a single lily wrapped in newspaper. “Well, will you watch my stuff for me then?”

“Yeah. Actually, I’ll take you up on that water.”

“Sure!” James beamed at him then began to shuffle down the row the opposite way from Severus- who was filing out himself. Sirius groaned and leaned his head back, closing his eyes to try to stifle his nerves. Ask for Orpheus’ number, Jesus…

“Hey!”

This was a new voice. Well, not new. Sirius knew who it belonged to, but that didn’t make him feel any better. He swallowed hard and slowly cracked open one eye and then the other. He rolled his head forward and found Remus Lupin perched on the edge of the stage toward him, a small smile on his face as he took a sip from a water bottle. Sirius’ heart leaped into his throat when he saw the rose tucked under one of the suspender straps.

“Oh, h-hey…”

“Thanks for saving my ass earlier,” the actor said with an accent that Sirius did not hear when he spoke or sang on stage. It caught his interest and made him lean forward. “I kinda have to have that flower. Can’t believe I dropped it! I’m always losing them too. That’s our last one until the prop team resets for the next show…”

“You’re British?” Sirius murmured and Remus chuckled at him with a small shake of his head.

“Scottish. But yeah.”

“I can’t tell at all when you’re singing!”

Remus laughed this time and the sound was so pleasant that it brought color to Sirius’ face instantly. “Well thanks! I’ve worked really hard to lose the accent when I’m acting.”

“That’s a pity,” Sirius replied with a tilt of his head. “I think you should keep it.”

Remus looked taken aback. “Really? You don’t think it would take away from my performance?”

“Not at all! I think it would add some razzle dazzle to it.”

“Ooh, I do love a good razzle dazzle.” Remus was smiling again and it made Sirius’ face too hot. The actor glanced over his shoulder at something then back toward Sirius again. “Can I keep the flower until after the show wraps? Like I said, it’s a super important thing for Orpheus…”

“Of course!” Sirius nearly screamed, all too quickly. He sank back into his seat with an embarrassed groan. “I m-mean, of course. Yeah.”

“Thanks, mate,” Remus replied as he swung his legs back over the edge of the stage and pushed into a standing position. He looked like he was about to turn away, but then he glanced over at Sirius again and the warmth in his eyes nearly melted him alive. “I see you’re sitting in the V.I.P. section. Who are you here for?”

“Regulus Black,” Sirius replied with a wide smile. “He’s one of the Workers. He’s my brother.”

“Oh, yes! He was talking about you. Good kid. A little moody but, nature of the business, hm?” Remus raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. “He says you play the piano.”

Sirius gulped hard. “I do.”

“He says you can sing.”

Sirius felt the color drop from his face. “Not as good as him.”

“Hm. Interesting.” Remus turned to go then and shoved his hands into the pockets of his tattered pants. “Thank you again for the rose. I’ll tell Regulus the rest are for him. Enjoy the second act. It’s wonderful…” He paused by the curtain and glanced at Sirius over his shoulder. “What’s your name? I can’t recall what your brother said it was…”

“Sirius,” he mused, finding his throat was tight and scratchy. “Sirius Black.”

“Nice to meet you.” And then he was gone.

…

Sirius didn’t tell James about his conversation with Remus.

He just took the water bottle from his new friend with a muted ‘thank you’ as the show kicked into its second part. He watched, transfixed, as Persephone danced, Eurydice fell prey to Hadestown, and Orpheus got introduced to the King of Hell himself. He held his breath, capturing one of his knuckles between his teeth as he watched a choreographed fight take place between Orpheus and the Workers. Good thing it’s not a real brawl. Regulus throws a mean right hook… Then it seemed that the hopeful poet would be defeated. Wasted upon the ground with his broken heart on his sleeve, blood on his lip, and a wilting rose in his hand.

“Think that flower you gave him adds to the effect,” James whispered and Sirius snickered then rolled his eyes.

“I’m sure it’s impractical though. It can wilt, lose its petals, all of that…”

“Right, right, right. Smells better than paper though,” James mused as he pointed up to the stage again. “This is a good one for your brother. You’ll have to tell me if his voice shines through so that I can pinpoint it.”

Sirius smiled and turned forward, tilting his head as he took in the scene in front of him. Persephone, dressed in a sparkling black gown, was in the center of the stage as the Workers revolved on the outer ring around her. They were singing back and forth between Hermes and Orpheus. He leaned over and poked James’ arm.

“That tenor voice just now, that’s him.”

“Ooh, lovely,” James replied as he tilted his head. “Speaking of tenor just now, does our lead sound different to you?”

Sirius turned back toward the stage and he heard it immediately. Remus was standing in the middle of the stage as the Workers gathered around him. That rose curled in his fingers. Remus as Orpheus. Orpheus who did sound different this time. Orpheus who… had a Scottish accent.

“Always say it is the last. And no answer will be heard to the question no one asks. So I ask you as a brother, and I ask you as a friend, and I ask you as a lover. And I ask you once again… is it true what they say?...”

“He’s Scottish,” Sirius whispered under his breath, smiling as the scene shifted to Persephone and Hades. He was aware of James looking at him oddly. Sirius cleared his throat. “Clearly, I m-mean. You can hear it…”

“Yeah, but I didn’t hear it before! That’s crazy. I wonder what made him switch up like that…”

“Ya know. Creative license and all,” Sirius muttered. “Actors can just kind of do whatever, I think. I don’t know. I’m not an actor.”

James was laughing. Covering his mouth with his hand so that he wouldn’t make too much noise. “That’s absolutely not how that works…”

“Pardon us. Oh, we’re so sorry. I’m so sorry. May I sit here?” Sirius turned his head and blinked, surprise crossing his face when he saw a thin, lovely woman wearing bell bottoms and a green sweater standing beside him. She had an olive-colored bandana around her head and a man behind her holding her arm who had a strikingly familiar face. The woman gestured toward the seats that were never going to hold his parents and he nodded to them.

“Absolutely! It’ll separate us from Severus and there’s no one sitting there anyway.”

“Who’s Severus?” the woman asked softly as she filled in the spot beside him.

“The man three seats down who is scowling at us,” James told her brightly as he reached over Sirius and extended a hand. “I’m Potter! Oh, James Potter. Sorry. This is Sirius…”

“Black,” he greeted as he shook first the woman’s hand then the man’s. “You’ve missed the first half of the play. Do you need me to catch you up?”

“Only sparingly,” replied the man and Sirius froze when he heard a distinctive Scottish accent. “Our son is Orpheus, so he’s told us all about it.”

“Who is your person up there?” the woman asked softly. “I’m Hope, by the way. This is my husband, Lyall.”

“Nice to meet you both!” Sirius returned with a smile. “My brother is one of the Workers. James’ fiancé is Eurydice…”

“King of shadows, king of shades- Hades was king of the underworld…” They all stopped talking as Orpheus started singing again. Sirius turned toward the stage and felt the breath leave his lungs. Remus was standing at the center, picking on the lyre, but his eyes were locked on his mother. Sirius saw him swallow hard and could see the tears glistening on his lashes from where he was standing. “B-But he fell in love with a beautiful lady, who walked up above in her mother's green field. He fell in love with Persephone, who was gathering flowers in the light of the sun…”

“Oh, Lyall,” Sirius heard Hope whisper in a choked voice. “He sounds so beautiful! And he isn’t hiding his accent this time. I wonder why…”

“And I know how it was because he was like me. A man in love with a woman. Singing la-la-la-la, la-la-la. La-la-la-la, la-la-la…”

“He sounds like he’s trying not to cry,” James murmured to Sirius and he nodded, trying to stay focused. But his gaze was flickering back and forth from the stage to Remus’ parents. He watched the pinnacle of the play as the Workers sang Orpheus’ melody. As the walls of Hades’ hard heart broke down. As he took Persephone in his hands. As Remus struggled to keep his voice steady. As Hope dabbed at the corners of her eyes. Sirius leaned forward, his heart pounding as the rose he’d given Remus was pulled from Hades’ chest and gifted to his wife. Then he watched them dance.

Sirius felt tears roll down his face as Orpheus and Eurydice sang of their love and the journey it would take to get home again. He was immediately greeted by absolute emotional whiplash when the Fates started lamenting to Hades about the choice he had to make- if he would let the lovers go… or if he would make them stay. He was still wiping the droplets from his face when the King of the Underworld made his decision. He glanced over at James, his mouth agape and eyes bloodshot.

“Is he really not going to let them go?!...”

“Never seen the play before?” Hope whispered and Sirius’ face flushed red when he realized how loud he’d been. He shook his head.

“No ma’am. This is my first time.”

“Oh, it’s lovely,” she told him softly. “Tragic and beautiful. As most things are…”

“You missed the condition,” James scolded and Sirius groaned.

“What happened?!”

“Hades is going to let them go,” Hope replied in a very quiet voice. “But on the terms that they walk single file out of hell… Except… Orpheus must walk ahead with Eurydice and the Workers behind. If Orpheus looks back at her, she’s trapped in Hadestown forever.”

“That seems easy enough,” Sirius muttered, rolling his shoulders as he glanced up at the stage again. Hermes was explaining the rules to them now. He leaned over toward James and cleared his throat. “Just don’t look back…”

“Hmm…” James murmured softly. “Watch.”

Lily and Remus were facing each other, holding hands as they sang in such a gentle, perfect tone that it instantly gave Sirius new chills. “Wait for me. I’m coming. Wait, I’m coming with you. Wait for me. I’m coming too. I’m coming too…” Sirius straightened up, his eyes focused as the ensemble stood to meet them.

“Show the way so we can see. Show the way the world could be. If you can do it, so can she- if she can do it, so can we. Show the way. Show the way the world could be. Show the way so we believe. We will follow where you lead. We will follow if you show the way…”

“Which one is your brother?” Hope whispered and Sirius pointed to Regulus. She nodded with a soft smile. Sirius turned back to the stage, tears glossing his eyes as Persephone and Hades were pulled apart for the turn of the seasons. Then the Fates were challenging Orpheus and he was pushing through them with the Workers and Eurydice behind him. Oh… and Persephone has the rose…

Lily broke away from the others, following Remus along the spinning track as he forged ahead with a look of determination on his face and his head held high.

“I’m coming- wait for me!” she sang with all her heart and Sirius found his jaw dropped again as he looked at James, who was leaned forward against the barrier in front of them with his arms folded dreamily on top of it and his chin nestled in the valley where they crossed. “I hear the walls repeating- the falling of our feet and it sounds like drumming! And we are not alone. I hear the rocks and stones, echoing our song… I’m coming!”

Then the stage went dark. Sirius glanced over at Hope then back at James as eerie music sliced through the heartbeat like sound. He could just make out Remus walking in the shadows with Lily following loyally behind as they navigated through fog and murk and shade. Journeying, journeying, journeying. Sirius could nearly feel Orpheus’ panic. He can’t hear her. He can’t look for her. He has no clue if she’s still there… Then he saw Remus climbing up the steps. The lights came on and…

He looked back.

Sirius felt like all of the air had been knocked out of his lungs. He watched the platform in the middle of the stage sink in slow motion. Orpheus raced toward it but she was already gone. Remus slid to his knees and the look of absolute anguish on his face caused tears to form in Sirius’ eyes. Nobody was moving. There was pure silence from the audience as Hermes entered back in from the left side of the stage. He told them it was an old song, an old tale, a sad one, a tragedy… and they had to tell it anyway. Sirius leaned back, dropping against his seat with a sound of defeat as the stage began to reset. The chairs, the desks, the ensemble as they were when it began. Eurydice sitting close to the crowd. And Orpheus… on the stairs.

Everyone shot up from their seats as the cast lined up. Both Dumbledores and Minerva were in the middle with Remus on their left and Lily on their right. The ensemble and the Fates were scattered among them, all smiling and teary eyed as they grasped hands and bowed. Sirius clapped and whistled, holding the bouquet in the nook of his left arm as he wiped his eyes and shook his head proudly.

Another song came after that, but Sirius couldn’t remember it. Because the entire time it was sang, Remus Lupin was looking at him again.

…

“It really was so nice to meet you. We have to stay in touch, okay?...” Sirius shook hands with James, who now had Lily on his arm. James nodded, smiling sharply as he waved his cell phone.

“Oh, I have your number now, man. You’re never getting rid of me…”

“Sirius! Hey!” He didn’t even have time to turn before getting bowled into by his brother. Regulus held Sirius tightly for a heartbeat then turned excitedly toward a very pretty woman with umber skin and braided black hair down to her hips. “This is Dorcas. She’s also part of the ensemble… I, uhm, I asked her on a date.”

“Really now?” Sirius smiled brightly and shook Dorcas’ hand. “How very nice to meet you.”

“Likewise!” she beamed. “So, did you like the show?”

“I loved it,” Sirius replied with a chuckle as he waved bye to James and Lily. “Truthfully, it’s one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen and I have seen so many. We saw Wicked on Broadway like… twelve times, I wish I was joking.”

“But have you seen Hamilton?” she teased and Sirius nodded.

“Oh, yes. And Mamma Mia. And The Lion King. And Beauty and the Beast…”

“We saw Les Miserables for my birthday last year,” Regulus chimed in and Dorcas raised an eyebrow at him.

“Wow, so you guys are really into musicals…”

“If you haven’t seen Rent, Beetlejuice, or The Rocky Horror Picture Show- I’m not impressed.” A smooth Scottish accent sent chills down Sirius’ spine as the last member of the cast walked up to them. Sirius had to physically remind himself to breathe when he caught sight of the man in a pair of dark washed blue jeans and a baggy gray sweater that he suddenly had the urge to crawl inside. Remus smiled at someone nearby and Sirius could have melted from the warmth in his eyes as he pulled his mother into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “You shouldn’t have come…”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything, RJ,” Hope replied simply as she squeezed him. “I can’t wait to get back to the hospice center so I can brag about my boy being the lead in Hadestown!”

Sirius felt like he got kicked in the chest. He watched, nearly numb, as Remus kissed her on the forehead. Lyall whispered something to his son and he nodded to him, the three of them talking quietly amongst themselves. Sirius blinked when he felt someone pat his shoulder. He looked over and saw Regulus’ gray eyes staring back at him.

“I’m going to head out now. We’re both dying of hunger. I’ll catch up with you later?”

“Yeah,” Sirius returned with a thin smile, noticing how Dorcas was now sporting one of Regulus’ gifted red roses tucked behind her ear. “I’ll see you at the house. I am really, really, really proud of you, Reggie.”

“Thanks.” Regulus’ face burned bright red as he looped Dorcas’ arm with his own and the two were gone. When Sirius turned around again, he found no one in the lobby except for himself and the man who played Orpheus. Remus stared at him and Sirius just stared back, his heart thumping so loudly he could feel the pulse in his throat. Remus took a few steps toward him, his hands tucked neatly inside his pockets.

“I owe you a rose,” he said simply and Sirius blinked in surprise.

“What?”

“A rose,” Remus repeated. “I gave the one I borrowed from you to my mother. She loves them.”

Sirius swallowed hard, finding it impossible to tear his eyes away from the other man. “No need to pay me back. Consider it a gift.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just studied each other in silence. And then, Remus chuckled loosely and glanced toward the side. “So. You wouldn’t want to walk me to my car, would you?”

Sirius almost died. He blinked heavily then nodded, nervously folding and unfurling the program he was clutching in his hands. “I’d love to, actually.”

“Great. I hate walking out by myself. Makes me feel so lonesome somehow…” Remus smiled at him then came to his side. The two walked toward the door and Sirius held it open for him. The other man tilted his head in thanks as they stepped out into the cool autumn air. Sirius matched Remus’ stride, glancing over at him casually as they headed toward the back of the theatre.

“I really did like the show,” he said after a moment and Remus looked at him with those curious hazel eyes. “The part where Hades and Persephone danced was my favorite… But to be honest, I think the ending just makes me so frustrated at Orpheus. Why would he have gone through all that trouble and worked that hard just to lose her? Just to look back?” Sirius shook his head. “They were almost free.”

Remus seemed to think for a moment before responding. “Well, you also have to consider that it wasn’t like… a single day worth of walking. There’s been a lot of speculation that Orpheus journeyed through literal hell for years with Eurydice behind him and he couldn’t hear her or see her.”

“But he made it that far and had faith,” Sirius argued gently. “Isn’t loving someone trusting them to be behind you?”

“Isn’t loving someone being worried enough to look back?” Remus returned as he came to a stop beside an old red Saturn. “Well. This is my chariot.” He smiled again and then pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He extended it to Sirius and opened his palm, revealing the paper flower he lost at the middle of the show. “Keep it.”

“Where did you get that from?” Sirius laughed, tilting his head in awe as he took it from the actor’s fingers. “You said there weren’t anymore.”

“Weren’t you paying attention to the play?” Remus teased as he leaned back against the driver’s side of his Saturn. “I’m Orpheus. I can bring springtime with a song. So… have a flower.”

Sirius, unbelieving that he was indulging what he was, lifted the blossom to his nose and sniffed. “Smells like popcorn.”

“Ah, the scent of Persephone’s return,” Remus chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Thank you for hanging out with me for a second. You’re a… really nice guy.” He cleared his throat. “Will you be back for the other performances?”

Sirius nodded, only once as he tucked the flower behind his ear. “Yeah. I’m my little brother’s biggest fan. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“Cool,” Remus breathed as he slid his hand back into his pocket. “Because… I’d really like to get to know you. Again.”

Sirius tilted his head. “Again?”

Remus smiled shakily at him. “Yes. Again.” Remus took the handle of his Saturn in his hand and pulled it open. “Goodnight, Sirius Black.”

“Goodnight, Remus Lupin,” Sirius returned, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned on his feet and began to head back across the parking lot. His mind raced with their conversation as well as the ‘again’ that was echoing in his ears. Again. To imply that I’ve already met you once. That I know you. That we’re not just strangers that shared a look in a room full of people. That, somehow, someway…

“I knew you before we met,” Remus called to him and it made Sirius freeze in his tracks just as he made it back to the sidewalk. “And I don’t even know you yet… All I know is you're someone I have always known… So…” He heard him take a deep breath. “Wait for me. I’m coming. Wait- I’m coming with you. Wait for me, I’m coming too. I’m coming too…”

Sirius stared at his shadow on the wall. He felt the wind ripple through his hair and calm the racing of his heart. He reached up and brushed his fingertips over the paper flower that was tucked behind his ear. He just stood there in silence for a long time, trying to determine if he imagined the last half of their conversation or simply willed it so. He closed his eyes and tried to listen for the sound of Remus moving, climbing in his car, breathing, singing, something. But he heard nothing. Deciding his mind was playing tricks on him, he gave himself a shake and opened his eyes. He took another step toward the theatre then promptly paused and glanced over his shoulder.

Remus was still leaning against his car, unmoving, with a smug smile on his face. “What do you know about that, Eurydice?... You looked back.”