Chapter Thirty-Six: Monday, Bloody Monday

"C'mon mates, its time to roll out," called Larry Mullen, drummer for the Feedback. Sirius smiled beatifically, what right did McGonagall have to tell him that he couldn't be a traveling musician?

"Larry, I can't find any clothes," complained Evans. Sirius was suddenly struck with a rather vivid memory of when they had bewitched all of Snape's school uniforms into frilly pink dress robes.

"That's because you never do any damn laundry," retorted the drummer.

"James, can I see your key-tar again?" asked Evans, jumping about into a pair of trousers.

"What are we doing today that is so important?" queried Sirius, looking pointedly at Paul.

"We are doing a demo tape for CBS," replied Paul rather nonchalantly.

"Whoa – I've never played a single song," lamented Sirius.

"Nah, you're a natural."

"What songs are we demo-ing?"

A man clad in all black, looking particularly knowledgeable, strolled up.

"We've got to leave, loves," suggested Adam, who seemed to know a great deal about music. Paul turned back to Sirius after glancing for a moment at Adam –

"Well, we've got this new one called Monday, Bloody Monday. Something about the work week being too dull. Very apropos right now. And Another Day."

"Mate, you need something German in there," joked Sirius.

"Why's that?"

"Well, German's have the I'm so angry and bloody awesome thing going on…I think we should channel that," explained Sirius, remembering how they had bewitched Trey Connelly their third year to go around pretending to be Kaiser Wilhelm II.

"You may have something there," noted Paul, enigmatically.

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In the meantime, Harold and Sasha Tsukino decided to go Oscar dress shopping in New York. This time, their disguises were much more exciting and high class. Harold had swept up her blonde hair into a long ponytail, donned bright pink sunglasses and a pink blazer a la Legally Blonde. A pair of glittery heels and a bag completed the outfit. Sasha's beautiful black hair was down, tinted sunglasses covering her grey eyes. She looked much more business like in a three piece suit and black boots.

"Aren't we lovely?" quipped Lily, who had just Apparated into New York.

"When will you hear from St. Mungo's?" asked Sasha.

"In a week or so, and then, if I'm lucky, I'll go through seven months of intense training," replied Lily, somewhat defeated.

"Don't worry, darling, if anyone would make it, it'd be you," reassured Harold truthfully.

"What are you going to do after this summer?"

"Well, I'm a lobbyist for the SDC, but there aren't that many cases on the docket right now," answered Harold, referring to her job defending hideous animals.

"And you, Sasha?"

"I hate to say it – but after Sirius' award, the job offers just came pouring in. I think I'll do some ambassadorial work with Department of International Magical Cooperation. I don't really like Crouch, though."

Lily made a face. She approved of the Potters' house elves, but that way that man treated his servants was disgusting.

"Dolce and Gabbana!" shrieked Sasha, and ran off.

"I prefer Oscar de la Renta myself," joked Harold, admitting that she had never shopped for a dress that was quite so expensive before.

Lily smiled. She was shopping.

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"Hullo, boys," greeted Mr. Heyden of CBS records enthusiastically.

"It's a pleasure to see you again Mr. Heyden. This is James Potter, he's replacing Dik," explained Paul, who seemed genuinely glad to see Jackie Heyden.

"You look very familiar. Have you demo-d for me before?" asked Mr. Heyden, surveying Sirius carefully. Sirius almost blanched – he had barely changed his appearance – just donned a set of artsy spectacles and a bright green tie to wear with a black shirt and trousers. He flipped back some of his slightly long hair –

"I don't believe so, sir. I just started playing."

Dave, who had taken a great liking to "James", threw an arm around Sirius' shoulders and bragged –

"James made his own instrument. It's bloody amazing."

"Well, aren't you sharp, Evans," teased Adam.

"That's because he's the Edge," added Sirius, laughing.

"Hey – I kind of like that," mused Dave, staring at Sirius.

"Like what?" asked Sirius, confused.

"That nickname. I think I'm going to use it. Dave Evan…the Edge," answered Dave, smiling.

"Well, that is wonderful, boys. Now, I need some background on you all before you demo – don't worry, we're not the police," quipped Mr. Heyden. Sirius looked around nervously again – where had he gone to school? He did a complicated non-verbal spell to summon information to his mind.

"Well, er – we all, except James, went to school at Dublin Mount Temple School. In Dublin, of course," replied Paul Hewson.

"And one day Larry was bit bored with his drum set, so here we are," added Adam.

"How about you, James?"

"Well, I was in a …pub…lic…library in London, and I saw the notice on the bulletin board to come audition. And they were very receptive."

Larry almost started choking with laughter.

"Any schooling, James?"

"Er…I went to Eton College. I just graduated," lied Sirius.

"Eton? That's quite impressive, James."

"Thank you, sir. Those beaks (1) were not as fond of me as I was of them, I'm afraid. I had a bloody hard time making Sixth Form Selects (2)," continued Sirius, affecting a slightly more high-brow accent.

"That's wonderful; I'm an Old Etonian myself. No university, James?"

"'Fraid not, even though Eton blue (3) was always number one for me. A few too many Rips (4), if you know what I mean," laughed Sirius, surprised at how believable he sounded.

Mr. Heyden simply beamed at Sirius in a fatherly fashion, and they began recording their demo tape.

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A week later, the Feedback was doing another gig in Dublin. Sirius was looking over the song lyrics in the van. He looked on thoughtfully.

"Hello Dublin! Are you ready for…the Feedback?"

cheers from the crowd

"I'm Paul Hewson – and we give you, the Edge, Adam Clayton, James Potter, and Larry Mullen!"

further cheering

"Wake up
The dawn of another dull day
Take up
Your dreams and on your way
Oh oh ooh

-

Daylight
Mother stands in the hall
Last night
Head against the wall
Oh oh ooh

-

When night turns to day
And the children come out to play
Another day

-

Stop, shake out
They came my way
Oh oh ooh...

-

Boy, salute in a street uniform
Toy, soldier ripped and torn
Oh oh ooh

-

When night turns to day
And the children come out to play
Another day

-

Stop, shout
They came my way
Oh oh ooh"

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"I'm bloody tired, Hewson," complained Larry Mullen.

"That was awesome though, did you hear them cheer?" said Adam.

"Two weeks of touring is fantastic. Where are we going next?" added Sirius, bouncing a rubber ball up and down on the floor.

"Paris…Rome!" shrieked Evans, drunkenly.

"Excuse me, may I speak with James Potter?" asked a pretty girl with a notepad.

"Speaking," said Sirius, and then started laughing hysterically.

"We're heard about how you and Paul are revolutionizing music with the Feedback. Where do you plan on going from here?"

"Oh, the usual. Ultimate fame, drugs, and death," joked Sirius.

"Come now, Mr.…wait…"

The girl's eyes had gotten wide with amusement and triumph.

"You're not James Potter."

"Says who," retorted Sirius, angrily.

"You're on television everywhere. I can't believe no one has noticed yet. You're Rufus Scrimgeour."

Sirius nonverbally Stunned the girl and then turned to his bandmates.

"Let's go."

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"What the hell was that all about, Potter?" demanded Paul Hewson angrily.

"I can explain," answered Sirius, weakly.

"Wow, you're – Rufus Scrimgeour?" asked Larry.

"Mate, your TV show is bloody awesome. That chick is gorgeous," mused Evans.

"I didn't want to be in the spotlight anymore. It was getting too much," continued Sirius.

"So you joined a rock band?" queried Adam, confused.

"I'm going to quit and go back to America. But you guys have to come visit me. You can meet all my friends from H…school. And all the gorgeous chicks I know," laughed Sirius, suddenly surprised that he was going to miss all these guys he'd just met.

"From Eton?" added Adam.

"From Eton," amended Sirius.

"James, you can't quit – you have great ideas – at least let me see what you've done with those lyric sheets you keep borrowing from me," lamented Paul, his eighteen-year-old eyes looked genuinely sad.

"Well, first off – don't be the Feedback. It's not a cool name."

"What then?"

"I was thinking Dragon Lady?"

"Like a Chinese Woman?"

"Like the United States Surveillance Aircrafts from the 60s – the U-2s."

"What else, then?"

Sirius grinned sheepishly.

"I re-wrote Monday, Bloody Monday. Nobody wants that song."

"Hey – I wrote that!" complained Larry.

"Well, Larry, you're the drummer."

"Let's hear it, then," demanded Evans.

"Yes...

-

I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes and make it go away
How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long...

-

'cause tonight...we can be as one
Tonight...

-

Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall

-

Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday (Sunday bloody Sunday...)
(all right lets go!)

-

And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart

-

Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday

-

How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long...

-

'cause tonight...we can be as one
Tonight...
Tonight...

-

Sunday, bloody Sunday (tonight)
Tonight
Sunday, bloody Sunday (tonight)
(come get some!)

-

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Wipe your tears away
I wipe your tears away
(Sunday, bloody Sunday)
I wipe your blood shot eyes
(Sunday, bloody Sunday)

-

Sunday, bloody Sunday (Sunday, bloody Sunday)
Sunday, bloody Sunday (Sunday, bloody Sunday)
(here I come!)

-

And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die

-

The real battle yet begun (Sunday, bloody Sunday)
To claim the victory Jesus won (Sunday, bloody Sunday)
On...

-

Sunday bloody Sunday
Sunday bloody Sunday..."

-

"That was extraordinary," said Adam, staring at Sirius with something akin to awe.

"You religious, mate?" asked Paul, looking pointedly at Sirius.

"Let's just say, I've found the magic, shall we?" replied Sirius rather blasphemously –

"I'll see you all, then?"

Dave Evans looked strangely emotional as Sirius gathered up his things that had been lying in the team caravan for almost three weeks.

"How will we find you, er – Rufus?"

Sirius winced upon hearing the name.

"I'll send you an owl."

Adam's eyes became as wide as saucers.

"A real owl?"

"That way you'll know it's me."

Soon most of the band members bid goodbye to Sirius as he made preparations to "catch a taxi to take to the airport". Paul Hewson was the last to leave.

"So this is it, Bonne Voix (4)," joked Sirius, tears almost coming to his handsome face.

"What's that, Rufus?"

"It's French, for Good Voice. I sure hope you get one sometime soon, mate."

"It reminds me of something my friend used to call me."

Paul turned to leave.

"Paul?"

"Yes?"

"Call me Sirius."

Paul turned once more. He turned back to see his friend one last time before they both disappeared into their respectively famous lives. But Sirius wasn't there. And all of things were gone. Paul smiled. He had a feeling that none of them ever really met James Potter.

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(1) Means "teachers" in Eton Slang

(2) Sixth form Selects is the same thing as Prefects. Unfortunately, Sirius wasn't either.

(3) Eton blue means you played either cricket or rowed at Eton.

(4) Rips imply that the work done is substandard - and is torn as a mark, and must then be submitted for inspection. This seems more accurate, considering Sirius' personality.

(5) French for Good Voice, but more importantly, a predecessor of Paul Hewson's famous alter ego – Bono (Vox)

For anyone who still doesn't understand – the band that Sirius was temporarily part of was U2, the British band that officially formed in the summer of 1978. Both "Another Day" and "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" are actual songs by the band. The US surveillance plane is actually the inspiration for the name – because it was seen by the Soviets and created one major crisis during the Cold War.