Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. Ainsworth is a real city in Nebraska, but I created everything in it.
Notes and Warnings: This is practically an AU, so if those aren't your thing, then don't read. Slashers: There's het. Non-slashers: There's slash. By the way, Charlie – I think he's great as a dragon tamer in leather. But this setting works for him, I think. Don't kill me lol.
Enjoy, read and review as you see fit. Constructive criticism is great.
Bath, England. 2/20/03. Morning.
The sun was rising obediently, ready to start the world's day, but the occupant of the bed was already awake. His eyes were wide open, but that wasn't to say he was doing anything productive. The time spent in bed just soaking up life was vital to his existence, because for a very long time he hadn't even had a bed to speak of. The simple things in life stood out to him so much now that just a few lazy minutes lying in bed was more important than any amount of the money he was bringing in lately.
But the time spent wasn't going to last any longer. A steamy form emerged from the bath, and the steam, along with the sun shining in his direction, made him seem like a golden god. Sirius liked to believe that Remus really was a god. He had certainly been his savior, multiple times. "Morning sunshine."
Remus toweled his hair to a slightly damp level, and smiled down at his lover. "Morning to you too Siri."
Sirius looked a bare Remus up and down sideways before grinning slightly. "I'd love you forever if you threw that towel to the side and came back to bed Rem. I'll make you breakfast." Sirius jutted his bottom lip out in a pout, but Remus was unshakable once he had had his shower in the morning. Maybe he shouldn't have offered to make breakfast, because cooking definitely wasn't one of his better talents. Once he had burned water, but he maintained the fact that it was a very long time ago.
"As much as I would love to crawl back into bed, slap you around a little bit before making hot passionate love to you, leaving you completely breathless…" he let his words linger and hit Sirius below the belt, "we have work to do today. And as I remember it, you have a letter to write to James. Besides, I'd much rather eat dirt than eat something you cooked."
"I can feel the love in the room," the dark haired man groaned as he fell back on the bed.
Remus chuckled and headed over to his dresser drawer. He pulled out a nicer than usual pair of dress robes and boxer shorts which he slipped on before looking back at Sirius. "I meant it out of love Sirius. You do cook worse than an amputated house elf could, and you do have work to do. I'm not one to lie about commitments, like someone I know." The dress robes he donned after were probably his lover's because they hung loosely over his smaller form.
Sirius reluctantly rose from the bed, and shivered from the breeze hitting his bare skin. Remus watched him thoughtfully, and briefly wondered if maybe he should have taken the other man's offer. Sure, work wouldn't get done but at least his growing eagerness would be sated. Overall though, he knew he had tonight, just like every night, to make up for the mornings he didn't give to Sirius. "I'm going to the office love, see you later." Sirius muttered something from the bathroom doorway, and Remus decided not to pursue it.
Sirius ran some water for his shower, and it was quickly steaming hot like he liked it. Luckily Remus hadn't used all the hot water for once. Under the steady spray, he wondered how he had gotten into such a normal routine. For years he had been on the run, not knowing when the next meal, shower or news would come. Now he was a regular human, with a normal job and life. He let the shampoo soak in his hair, the way he always did. The only thing he hadn't discarded from the past was his long hair; it was too precious to him and besides, Remus fancied it.
After drying, dressing and gathering his materials, he flooed into the office. Seamus met him as he arrived, his headphone strapped professionally around his sandy hair and a pile of papers nestled in his arms. "Hello Mr. Black, would you like your tea now, or in ten minutes during your meeting with the associates?"
Sirius looked upon his secretary briefly before replying. "The second sounds good. Board room five right?"
The pile of papers fluttered around, and Finnigan nodded obediently. "Yes Mr. Black, board room five. You will need all of this quarter's information, on request of Mr. Weasley. Perhaps you might also want to discuss the Reiley case with Mr. Manson before the meeting. They will be inquiring on the progress of it, I assume."
Sirius nodded at the young man and a milli-second past before Seamus was off again either muttering to himself or into the phone. He seemed to be a very work-oriented person; he was certainly paid enough to act the part, but he still appreciated a good-looking woman. Finnigan hadn't changed much since school, a skirt-chaser until he died or became blind. And of course then he could still use his hands.
Sirius walked the short distance to his office, and sat in the chair behind his desk. Remus had obviously stolen his more comfortable one, and had left him with the harder. Sometimes he didn't know why he put up with the werewolf, other than the reason that he loved him. He dug through some manila folders on his desk and pulled out the quarterly earnings, which accompanied the accounts the firm handled. He scanned the papers to make sure he had everything he needed, and put it to the side.
Next, he pulled out Cassandra Reiley's file. The thirty something witch had come to their firm back in August, asking for help in locating a lost uncle. It had quickly involved into an inheritance case, and it had snowballed from there. As of now, the case was bringing in over five hundred dollars a day, and they were still interrogating witnesses on the missing rich uncle. Cassie was successfully acting the pitiful niece, and Sirius was bound to believe her story. Fighting family members on the other side were vicious, but not likely to win.
He dialed 2 on his phone, an invention he had just recently become reacquainted with as he moved up in the firm, and was met with a gruff hello. "Hello Mr. Manson, I'm calling on behalf of the Reiley case?"
The older associate grumbled incoherently for a second. "Yeah, the one with the legs?"
Sirius was not one to really notice a good pair of women's stems. "Sure, yeah, that one Mr. Manson. Anyway, I've been hearing that we will have to speak our progress at this morning's board meeting. Is it couth of us to admit that we are stringing her along for her endless wallet?"
The man chortled unpleasantly, and Sirius made a note never to say anything funny to him again. "I don't think Weasley would find that very funny Black, but it's a nice thought. I'm sure the bill is piling up, if my calculations are correct, but there is no need for them to know any of that. There are still some witnesses to interrogate, right?"
"Yes Mr. Manson. We'll just tell them the basics, and a bit more if they ask. Thanks, that's all I wanted."
"Sure Black, it's always a pleasure."
Sirius hung up the phone, and had a second of silence before there was a knock on the door. He ran his right hand through his hair, and said hesitant come in. Remus' head appeared, and Sirius smiled wearily. "Come to laugh at the piles of parchment on my desk have you?"
Remus shut the door and looked at the parchment in question. He shook his head shortly with a secret smile on his face, and leaned against the door. "Be serious."
Sirius chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "When am I not Sirius you great prat?"
"We aren't getting into this one again. Come on, are you going to let me walk you to the meeting or am I going to have to beg?"
Sirius rose and kissed Remus gently. He raised his lips a bit, and whispered, "Begging is always good for me." He pulled back and stroked Remus' hair sensitively. "How can you still be so perfect after so many years Remmie?"
A blush rose on Remus' cheeks. He didn't like to admit that he was a good-looking man, but then again Sirius was reluctant as well. "I thought I had kicked you of that drug habit," he replied as he hooked arms with Sirius, and opened the door.
"Maybe you kicked me of the drugs, but you've yet to get rid of my addiction to you," Sirius retorted with an evil giggle, and Remus elbowed him and quickly released his arm.
"We've been over this," Remus said sternly as he eyed an intern watching the couple closely, "no pervy comments at work. At home, sure, in bed, certainly, but not at work." Sirius just chuckled at Remus, who was still fuming, and they walked silently to boardroom five.
Seats were taken and slowly filled, until it was ten o'clock up and down, when the leading partner of the firm made his way in. Charles, but usually still Charlie, Weasley, thirty-two, tall, redheaded and handsome, silenced the side conversations as he took his wide strides to the head of the long table. His robes made an overpowering swishing sound as he passed. "Well hello everyone. Having a pleasant morning I hope?"
Everyone nodded obediently in response, and he gave the oval of people a small smile. Today wasn't the best day to hold a productive meeting. "That's good. Can't run a top 100-wizarding business if the employees are under the weather. Yancy," he directed to a younger associate who immediately began squirming. "How is that case with the cat coming?"
"My paralegal is recovering the last of the documents regarding it. Court proceedings begin a week from Thursday. We are sure to win." Escaped magical cat pulls a fire alarm at a muggle company, and all heck breaks loose. Yancy was the only one who didn't see it humorous, and this was only because he was the one getting paid not to break a smile while mentioning it.
"That's great. Lupin?"
"Same as always Mr. Weasley," there was never a day that Remus didn't feel a bit weird talking to a man ten years his junior, someone who shared his dinner table with him, in such a serious manner, never mind that he was the one signing his paychecks. "We are still receiving at least 10 calls a day, steadily getting more serious in situation."
Charlie nodded slowly. There was a pregnant pause, then he turned to Sirius. "The Reiley case?"
Sirius didn't like the way Charlie had directed the statement right at him. Mr. Manson was also in the room, and he could have explained the progress just as well as Sirius could. "Fine as far as I can see Mr. Weasley. We have a few more witnesses to interrogate, then the court proceedings as soon as we are finished with that."
"The case has just been terminated."
Everyone paused and looked at Sirius. "What?"
"Exactly what I said Mr. Black. Seems that Ms. Reiley has found alternative representation in America. By the way, the meeting is over." Twenty shocked but not surprised associates stood up and exited the room, but Sirius and reluctantly Remus, stayed planted in their spinning chairs. Charlie had foreseen this, and sat back in his chair as Sirius began his rant.
"What do you MEAN the fucking case is terminated? I just spent four fucking months working with that little whore, and this is what she gives us? What the FUCK is up Charlie?" In the presence of no one important other than the CEO and his lover, plus the fact that he had just lost his month's paycheck allowed him to use casual names and colorful language.
Remus stretched an arm across Sirius to hold him from punching Charlie. Who just swallowed slowly and tried to think of a good way to inform Sirius of what he knew. "Basically, she has to move to the states, and is picking up an attorney there. As an after thought, she remarked that she could probably find better."
"That little bitch…" Sirius growled a good imitation of Padfoot.
"She dropped her payment off this morning."
"Okay, so she's a paying bitch. That's crap Charlie, and you know it. Did she say who she was going to hire in America?" There was no way that any firm was as efficient as Like Magic law firm, Britain or elsewhere.
"I think she said America Muggle and Wizarding Associates. Ring a bell?" Charlie couldn't help the smile playing on his lips now, no matter the situation. Sirius' jaw dropped a bit and he shook his head.
"The little bas—never mind. He better not fuck it up."
Ottery St. Catchpole. The Burrow. 2/20/03.
"I had no clue the entire world would be joining us for dinner, or I would have prepared a bit more," Molly Weasley complained well naturedly to Bill, who was stirring the gravy sullenly. The rest of the family, plus the extensions of his wife, Remus and Sirius, Ginny's current boyfriend Sebastian, Fred and George's whores of the week, and Oliver Wood was congregated in the den playing charades.
"You know you like the company mum. Lately even Ginny is gone all the time, leaving you with no one but the Wizarding Wireless to keep you occupied. I notice that the kitchen is immaculate." He was specifically speaking of the blindingly clean linoleum, but the perfectly arranged pantry was certainly outstanding.
Molly smiled wistfully at the sink, and shrugged to herself. "The burrow hasn't been so clean since you and Charlie were just out of nappies Bill. I have nothing to do anymore. Your father is about ready to strangle me; I clean the living room while he tries to read the paper. I miss the lot of you running around and being horrible. I'd even accept Fred and George and their pranks back for a while."
Bill shut off the gravy, and turned to study his mother. She was still the jovial woman she had always been, but wrinkles were beginning to gather at her eyes and mouth more noticeably now, and her hair had streaks of gray. Having seven children, the oldest at 34 (himself, married with children of his own), would do that to a woman. "I'm sure you would mother. Cynthia and I would visit more, but our jobs, Derrick and June keep us very busy."
The 10 inch, dragon wood, unicorn tail wand swished, and the bowl of salad was lifted to nestle between the ham and peas. Molly turned to face her oldest son, the one that used to have fang earrings and long hair, and looked at him closely. "You are all growing up, have grown up, so fast. Charlie is so successful. Fred and George, as much as I hate to admit it, have matured somewhat, and are making good names for themselves. Percy is happy, and on his way to being the next Minister of Magic. Ginny, well, she's getting there."
Bill waited for the last name. Molly, however, frowned slightly and shook her head. "But that's what kids are supposed to do, of course. Silly me, wanting you all to stay the same, and with me. Will you call everyone in here please?"
"What about Ron mum."
She froze. "There is no reason good enough to leave your family. I thought we had raised him better than that, but obviously your father and I were wrong. Now it's time for dinner, and not the time to discuss unwanted topics." Bill left the room quickly, and Molly sat in her seat and wiped her eyes before she shed tears.
Fred was egging on what seemed to be his date, an expected six-foot tall well-endowed blonde with killer legs, act out what seemed to be a chicken. Remus and Sirius were far from paying attention, chatting intensely with Oliver and Percy about something. Ginny and Sebastian were occupied. "Dinner time."
There was a general rush to the kitchen table, some more than others, and finally only his wife Cynthia was still sitting in the now tranquil living room. "What's wrong Bill?"
He shrugged and sat down next to her. It was unfathomable how well she was able to read him. Since the first day she had begun working alongside him at the London branch of Gringotts, she had known all of his ins and outs. She wasn't the most gorgeous woman in the world, but she was pleasant and very smart. His family loved her, and so did he. "Nothing."
She rubbed his thigh and smirked knowingly. "Like hell it's nothing. You don't put on that puppy dog face for nothing."
Her blue eyes were kind, but intense. He could tell her anything when she was looking at him like that. "You never met him, but I have another brother. He left the country after the war, with his best friend, girlfriend and worst enemy. None of us even know why exactly because mum and dad kicked him out of the house before he could even explain." That day was still vivid to Bill, because that was the only time he had seen his parents truly angry. And hurt.
"Ron Weasley?"
"Uh…yeah?"
"I had always just thought he was a cousin or something. No way, he's your brother? Best friends with Harry Potter, fought right along with him until the last showdown? That's crazy Bill. He had to leave because of the overwhelming fame, and surely there are tons of Voldemort's death eaters looking for him. Don't Molly and Arthur understand that?"
Bill rose and pulled Cynthia up along with him. "I'm sure, but they just don't want to face facts. Come on, I made gravy."
**
Everyone felt the tension at the table, some more than others. Liza and Renee, Fred and George's flavors of the week, both wondered what had everyone's panties in a knot. Oliver was focused on next week's game against the Cannons. "So, Charlie, how was your day?"
Charlie immediately looked up from his plate to Arthur. His father, even though he was getting on in years, never ceased to sound genuinely intrigued with his offspring and their lives. Charlie glanced at Remus and Sirius who were focused on their dinner plates. "Our highest-paying client decided to transfer her account to a firm in the states."
Percy snorted unpleasantly, earning him disconcerted glares. "Excuse me. This client is transferring her prize account to a firm in the states? A bunch of war loving hypocrites? Women." This comment earned him cold glares from the women at the table, and hidden smirks from the men.
"Tactful Perce," Charlie replied with a nervous glance at his mother.
Oliver elbowed Percy, who was fuming as only he could. "I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason for her choosing a different firm. Right you guys?"
Sirius bit into a scallop thoughtfully. "Spot on. Mixture of moving to the states, having a bigger name working for her. She has a load of cash to spend to her heart's content. At least I don't have to listen to her whiny voice anymore. Hey Gin, who's this handsome man here?"
Ginny blushed on impulse. Ever since Sirius had cleaned up and been cleared, she had had a schoolgirl crush on him. She knew he was gay and she was 20 years younger than he was, but he was still a very handsome older man. "Sebastian. He plays the drums for my band."
She was starting a predominantly girl band called the Black Cats, in which she was the lead singer. Who knew she could sing with an attitude? They were popular with young punks that hung out at the new Diagon Alley club Hex, and rumors were flying about a record contract. Fred chuckled and looked Sebastian over. "Sure looked like he was doing more than just playing your drums earlier."
The blonde haired young man smiled contritely. "We are dating."
"My little sister making out with a guy she isn't dating wouldn't sit right with me," said George, looking over at his mother and father who were trying very hard not to get into the conversation and put their two cents in. Their daughter was old enough to make her own decisions, even stupid ones.
"Maybe it's none of your business George," Ginny said hotly.
Sebastian looked from his girlfriend to her fuming brother. "Hey now, let's all just be cool."
Bill was amused. "Yeah you all, let's just be cool. Fred, George, who are your lovely companions?" Better for them to be the spotlight now, instead of worrying their twinly heads about their sister's love life.
It seemed that both of the blondes had worked for them in their main shop, until one of them had apparently leaned over enough to get Fred and George excited. Now they work as secretaries in the main office. Fred's was Renee; George's was Liza. Renee smiled at Molly. "This meat and gravy is delicious."
"Thank you dear." Nothing better than a suck up at dinner.
Remus looked over at Oliver. "How's Quidditch going?"
Percy rolled his eyes as Oliver started talking. "Well, we're 5 and 3 right now, but we are sure to beat the Cannons and Ireland later this month. Jenkins doesn't think we'll get to the semi-finals, but I think we have a chance."
Liza shook her fork at Oliver. "Oh my god, you're Oliver Wood! I knew I had seen you from somewhere. I used to date Dale Parks."
Oliver would figure Dale the seeker to go for this sort of girl. "Oh yeah, I remember you," he lied.
To cover the awkward silence, Percy sat up slightly. "At the Ministry of Magic today—"
Errol hit the window, gratefully cutting off Percy who was going to babble about something no one cared about. It was about time to retire the old bird, but none of the Weasley's had the heart just yet. "Oh dear," Molly gasped, putting down her napkin and fork and hurrying over to the twitching owl. She gently pulled the letter from his claws, and helped him up. He hooted graciously and flew out the window to his tree.
She handed the letter to Charlie. "For you dear."
Charlie wondered why the addresser hadn't sent the letter along with his owl Aristotle. The sender of the letter quickly solved that puzzle. The dinner was over for him.
Ainsworth, Nebraska. 2/20/03. 10:09.
More than anything, he knew he shouldn't be here. It was Thursday night, a school night and the face Henrietta had made when he went out the door was ingrained in his mind. The fact that Natalie was so eager to go out was the only plus and made Randall feel a little less inadequate. "You look nice tonight."
Natalie smiled, her thin lips stretching over her teeth. She was wearing something she would wear to a club, although he had specifically told her on the phone that he was feeling a bit under the weather and only up for something relaxing. She took a sip of her soda. "Thanks Randy. What's wrong?"
Randall reached across to cover Natalie's hand, with perfectly painted fingernails, with his own. Henrietta didn't believe in painting her fingernails, despite the fact that she had been raised muggle. "A bit of everything, really. School is stressing me out."
Natalie knew it wasn't school that was bothering Randall. When it was said that she knew Henrietta, it wasn't a lie. More specifically, she saw the bushy haired woman every Tuesday when she went grocery shopping, and this week Henrietta had looked especially dowdy. "I see. Anything I can do to help?"
Randall smiled gently at the girl, and shook his head. "Just being here is helping Nat."
Sometimes Natalie really wished that he would love her. They would make cute kids. She was a great interior decorator, and would design the snazziest looking house in Ainsworth. Alas, it was not meant to be, as much as she had tried to convince herself it could work out.
"It's nice to be with you Randy, even here." The fast food restaurant was empty. The bored teen at the counter was counting floor tiles and impatiently waiting for it to be 10:30 so he could close up and go home. Randall's half-eaten hamburger was nice and cold, and the ice in his coke cup was melted.
Randall didn't want to be here. Natalie was a great friend, someone that he could go clubbing, get drunk and make out with and not get the least bit guilty. For some reason. But she was not the kind of girl he could successfully love. He didn't think Henrietta was that woman either. Didn't want to think. "Have I ever told you that you are great?"
She smiled weakly. "Not today."
"Well you are."
She liked to tell herself that the only reason she liked him was because of his red hair. No one else in Ainsworth had red hair, natural red hair anyway, strangely enough. She liked it when he ran his fingers through it recklessly, as he was doing now. "Thanks Randy."
He sipped his drink, grimaced slightly from the flat taste, and met eyes with the teen. "We'd better get outta here. How about we go over to Frosty's and get a cone?"
She rose and briefly calculated her calorie intake of the day, realized she was 100 over, and said screw it. "As long as it's chocolate, and you're buying."
Anything to get out of the house, Randall thought as he linked hands with her. "Of course Nat."
Letter received by Janine Marshall, Mr. Porter's secretary. 2/22/03. 9:15 AM.
Dear James,
No, you aren't seeing things. Your loving godfather is getting off his lazy arse (well, you know what I mean) to write you a most interesting letter. Hell, who am I kidding? Nothing is bloody happening over here with the exception of the ordeal your Americans are going through with Iraq. Good thing I'm not a muggle that has to decide which stupid bastard to vote for as Prime Minister and President, etc. But anyway, enough about that. I hope that you all are doing well. The last thing I want is for you lot to get one of those American diseases and what not. Remus sends his love. Sometimes I don't get him though. I mean, he's always been much more work oriented than me, but does that mean that he can't even skip a board meeting to go make out with me? Yeah, I can see you squirming from here you little hypocrite. But as I think about it, the last thing I'd want to see was you and Drew getting cozy together. Which I still can't fathom anyway, considering who spawned him…Speaking of which, he was in the news the other day, rumors flying about him starting another war and such. I don't think the git has the guts, personally, after what You-Know-Who did to him and all. I know I'd be scarred. Well, I think this letter has rambled and jumped around quite enough. OH before I forget you little bugger, enjoy that Reiley case. I spent four bloody months on the thing and that little…well, she's not an angel by any means…decides to move and transfer. Oh well, write back with any new developments. You know you will want advice from the master.
Love,
Sirius
P.S.- Have Henrietta and Randall cleared up their relationship problems by chance? I swear, the straight ones…
