Chapter 61: The Magic Of Music
"I wonder," Regulus began, lowering his wand and turning to Mag. "As you're already here, if you'd like to play some more music together. I really enjoyed it last time."
Mag's face lit with an eager smile as her large green eyes danced. "Oh that would be grand! I'll just go quick and grab my fiddle. I'll be back in just a moment."
"Great," Regulus enthused. Mag apparated away and he hurried upstairs for his guitar. When he returned, he found Kreacher looking rather ill. "Are you alright, Love," he asked, exuberant excitement giving way to a nearly heart stopping concern. If anything were to befall the elf, he knew he couldn't stand it. "You really should become a vampire soon," he muttered half to himself. "Then I will no longer have to worry that you could fall ill or otherwise be taken from me."
Kreacher straightened, giving a weak smile as he shook his head. "Kreacher is sorry. Kreacher did not mean to worry his Dear Master Regulus. He is quite well, he promises."
Regulus frowned doubtfully. "Well you didn't look at all fine a moment ago."
Kreacher shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, glancing away from Regulus and back again before speaking. "The discomfort was not of a physical nature. Kreacher promises." When Regulus's frown of concern did not fade, Kreacher rose up and twined his arms tightly around Regulus's waist. "Kreacher is in good health. He will never leave Master Regulus," the elf murmured. "He promises." Yes, it was he who'd done the leaving, if very inadvertently, Regulus thought as an inner jolt of pain reminded him of just how inferior of character he was compared to the elf who was admittedly far stronger. He dropped the guitar beside Kreacher on the sofa and returned the elf's embrace.
"I'm so sorry, Kreacher," he whispered against the elf's cheek.
Kreacher sighed, patting Regulus's hair. "Kreacher knows. Kreacher..." but the elf was interrupted by the sound of a crack as Mag reappeared, fiddle case in hand. The two hastily drew apart and Regulus seated himself on the sofa beside Kreacher.
"What would you like to play," Regulus asked and Mag shrugged.
"You decide. I really enjoyed your last choice...It helped me to stretch my bardic wings, as it were."
Regulus slid a glance to Kreacher, still concerned over the pained expression the elf had worn when he'd come back down stairs. He was unable to let it drop, knowing he couldn't focus on the music or anything else but Kreacher's well being. "So what was it, if it wasn't physical," he prompted, not caring in the slightest that Mag was present.
It was more important to know that his friend was alright these days than to concern himself with social niceties.
Kreacher ducked his head and squirmed. "It is nothing. Kreacher was just hoping that Master Regulus could choose a different song...the last one was so very sad."
"Something faster perhaps," Mag suggested, seeming to pick up on the important points of the conversation without requiring the details. Regulus gave her a grateful smile, nodding as he considered. Though his mind was unable to come up with a fast song at present, he did recall one that Kreacher may like.
"There is a very pretty song, that you may enjoy," he told the elf. "It used to depress me quite a lot when I was away, actually." Kreacher cringed, and gave a resigned sigh, causing Regulus to chuckle. "Not because it is sad, as you may think, but because it was not. It reminded me of what I would never have, but now that I am back, all that has changed. It's a duet called Friends and Lovers, by Gloria Loring And Carl Anderson."As Regulus suspected, Kreacher's expression brightened at the title. "It is about friends who progress to more, and it speaks of the potential risks to the friendship involved in such a transition, but how it is worth it when the trust and love are there. The point is that they do not have to choose between their friendship and being lovers, because they can have both."
"That sounds nice," Kreacher said carefully. "Hopefully it will not take any sort of dark turn."
Regulus laughed. "It won't. I promise." He gave Mag the chord progressions, then began to play. Before long, her fiddle was picking up the lead. The song was simple enough, so she caught on quickly. As he began to sing, Regulus locked eyes with Kreacher and by the end of the song, Kreacher was smiling tenderly back and wiping at his eyes. "That is indeed a beautiful song," he choked out when the last notes died away.
"There is another song we could play that I think you would like quite a lot, Kreacher," Mag said. "In fact, Severus once told me he'd love to hear you sing it...That it could've been written for you."
Sniffling, Kreacher dragged himself to an upright position on the sofa, regarding Mag curiously. "But Kreacher does not sing."
Mag smiled. "I bet he could if he tried. Have a listen and see what you think," she suggested. "When a song truly speaks to you, it is very easy to sing it, to express with it what it wants to say." "I would be surprised if you didn't know this one as well, Regulus," she added, and began to play. It only took a few bars before Regulus was joining in, because in fact he did know the song very well. Though he'd never considered it before, Severus was right. The words could've literally been written for Kreacher. An open letter from the elf directly to The Dark Lord. As Mag sang, Kreacher leaned forward, listening attentively. The song was somber with a building tension and ambiance of power as well as dread. It was called In The Air Tonight. The singer, Phil Collins, was one Regulus played often. In fact he'd already played another of his more depressing songs for Kreacher. As Mag sang, Regulus could feel Kreacher speaking to Voldemort through her words. The power in her voice swept him away to a black lake and a vengeful elf who was eager to watch the Dark Lord drown and never lend him a hand, effectively returning the favor in kind. By the song's conclusion, Kreacher was even swaying a little to the beat, a nearly hypnotized glaze to his round blue eyes.
"Well," Mag asked with a slightly shy smile.
"Kreacher enjoyed the song," the elf replied a bit hesitantly. "It even spoke of how the Dark Lord may not even know who Kreacher is, yet how Kreacher remembers what he did...Kreacher does, Kreacher remembers his dark secret," the elf said, half to himself, his long slender fingers picking idly at the fabric of his new tunic as he spoke. The far away expression in his eyes caused Regulus a sudden stab of concern that he couldn't quite explain.
"Kreacher? Are you alright," he asked, reaching for one of the elf's hands, taking it into both of his.
"Kreacher is," he replied. Squeezing Regulus's hand reassuringly, he gave his head a little shake as if to clear it. "It is just...just that for a moment there, it was almost as if there was something more for Kreacher to remember. Something that he once knew."
"I could get you a copy of the song if you think that hearing it more could help," Mag offered. "Severus has it."
Kreacher shrugged, still not seeming completely himself.
"That could be nice. Thank you," Regulus replied, figuring that it couldn't hurt. "And now, for a fast song as you originally suggested, because I've finally thought of one that I know how to play!" Smiling at Kreacher he added, "It is another that once made me sad, because it presented me with a reminder of what I could no longer have. It is called Call Me and it's by Blondie." Though the name of the artist would mean nothing to Kreacher, it somehow felt proper to share it anyway. He gave Mag the chord progressions and began to play a fast solid rhythm, leaving the lead to her fiddle as always. As Regulus sang of being rolled in designer sheets and never being able to get enough, he locked eyes with Kreacher, whose glance heated pleasantly as a flush crept into his cheeks. "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any way." As he sang, he knew that were Mag not present, the two would be literally acting out the words to the song right there on Doge's floor, so intense was the heat that practically crackled between them. Regulus could feel himself channeling the raw sexuality of the song, and from his flustered reaction, apparently Kreacher could feel it as well. Mag's high soprano chimed in on the choruses and once again, Regulus marveled at how wonderful they sounded together. "Alright now it's your turn to pick a song," Regulus prompted Mag once the final notes of Call Me had faded from the room.
Mag thought for a moment then said, "Well, there is the second song I ever played for Severus...It sort of reflected how I felt about him and us at the time. It's called Desperado, by a Muggle group calling themselves The Eagles.
"Muggles are strange," Kreacher muttered, and Regulus nodded.
"Indeed. And I know that one as it happens." They played and Regulus vocally harmonized with Mag on what he felt were poignant key phrases. The song spoke of a man chasing the wrong goals and not allowing himself to be loved, a thing that was hurting him. Mag was quite astute, as it did indeed sound like Severus. "How did Severus respond to that," Regulus asked, when the song had concluded. As he spoke, he couldn't keep his lips from twitching in amusement.
Mag smiled. "Oh he was quite uncomfortable," she said in a satisfied tone. Kreacher looked sympathetic, but remained silent on the matter.
"So...You said this was the second song you sang for him," Regulus said. "What was the first?"
Mag chuckled. "Bedlam Boys."