RRs:
Anon: you made my day!…for about ten minutes…kidding! This is one annoying thing about not being able to talk to other people on here is that misunderstandings are common because you don't 'hear' how the other person is talking so you don't know for sure when their joking and when their not. Sorry about the really late update. I hope you enjoy!
Tessa. Live. Laugh. Love.: one of the reasons I love AUs, trying to find all of the little similarities. Thanks for reviewing!
AznRyoOhki: Ah! You don't have to apologize either! Your review wasn't harsh at all. It just made me realize what a poor author I was for not going back into the books and reading. Sorry I don't have any music to recommend this chapter. If it helps, I was listening to the Blood Diamond soundtrack as I wrote. Maybe the Fugue whose composer I can't recall.
I'm sorry, I had to make the james/remus thing a little abusive or else remus would never get on with life. If you think about it, james was doing him a favor by ripping his claws out. You might see a little Remus/regulus going on, but trust me. it won't get farther than this. I really hope you didn't steal my nonexistent out line… But don't worry, we'll be seeing James probably in the chapter after the one after this, or maybe the one after that one. If you get it… We might even meet Harry…-
Yourmomismyheart: Don't worry about the composer/chapter thing. I just did that after I posted the 3rd chapter. You aren't completely unobservant.
Schwanendreher: Thank you sooo much for reviewing two chapters. It makes my muse dance. Unfortunately a dancing muse does not feel to much like sitting on the floor and typing up another chapter. Oh, well. Emu (my muse's name) finally got shot with a tranquilizer and I got this done.
Chapter 4Remus woke up with the intense desire to throw up. He knew it was only because he had to face Sirius today. That and his brother. Remus groaned as he got out of bed. He was slightly disoriented and had to lean against the walls so he could get to the bathroom.
Remus steadied himself against the sink and stared at his reflection. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was worse than James'. He smiled bitterly at that little thought. He splashed ice cold water on his face trying to wake himself up. He then went onto his normal morning routine. By the time he was done it was 8 o'clock and he had to get the Steriae.
He grabbed his viola, quartet music, and his piano music. He had to get to the Steriae early so Regulus could watch him practice.
When he got there he saw Regulus pacing behind the building in a suit and coat. His hair was tied back again.
"What's with the getup? Are you trying to get mugged?"
He jumped a bit then turned to Remus and smiled sheepishly. "I didn't have any street clothes. And my father wanted me to look 'presentable'."
Remus shrugged and got out his key to the back door.
Regulus had never been backstage in a performance hall. The phrase 'bowels of the beast' came to his mind. That was the way Sirius had described it to him.
Remus turned on the lights that lit the stage and led Regulus out to the stage. Remus set his things down in the very back of the stage, against a plain black backdrop. He walked off stage on the other side and uncovered the Steriae piano.
It was an unequaled chestnut Mason & Hamlin. The rich wood finish absorbed light into every grain, and the piano seemed to glow from within. Remus would give almost anything to own this instrument.
He called Regulus over to help him roll on stage. Once the piano was set Remus got his music for the Fugue in G-Minor. Granted the piece was written for organ, Remus felt like a challenge today. He set the music down and ran the length of the keys in a G-minor scale. When he felt he was properly warmed up, Remus began to play.
Regulus was entranced as Remus' hands jumped across the keys. When two notes had to be played simultaneously, his fingers went from one right to the other and the pitches came from the piano at the same time.
The repeated melody rose up from the instrument and soared into the auditorium. The people in the back of the balcony would have heard the same rolling notes as those in the front row.
Remus played the Fugue over and over trying to get every note exactly right. The timing was most difficult. More than once he stood up and walked away from the piano so he could pace the stage, never looking at his instrument. The first time he did this he asked Regulus if he knew any piano pieces. Regulus shrugged and said he knew a few simple songs. Remus asked him to play and he did.
Anyone within earshot of the Hall would hear the Fugue intermittent with Mary had a Little Lamb and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Remus didn't realize how much time had passed until he heard the back stage door slam. When he whipped around to alert Regulus, he saw the boy running up the aisle to get to the very back. Remus kept his eye on him until Regulus was completely covered in the darkness.
By the time Remus was certain Sirius' brother would not be found out, the other members of the quartet were getting ready. They had out their stands and chairs and opening their cases. Remus noticed Sirius had gotten both of their places set. He walked over to where Remus was placed before the piano.
"Care to join us O' Great Musical Lord of the Piano?"
Remus didn't respond, but as he stared back at Sirius he saw a strange expression come over the cellist's face. His nose twitched and he jerked backwards, startling Remus. Sirius' eyes madly searched the Hall. Remus felt his heart speed up. It would all be worthless now if Regulus was discovered.
"If you two are done bickering now, we would love to start." Andy's chipped voice brought them back into focus. Remus stood up and followed Sirius over to the chairs. On the short walk Remus kept seeing Sirius look out into the empty audience, and then sigh when he turned back. When he came to his place he saw that someone had already taken over his viola and music. He sat and unlatched the case as Sera told them what they would be working on.
When they finally finished Remus was slow to put his viola away. He wanted to make sure that he was the last one to leave. Sirius seemed to be taking as painstakingly long as Remus was. Remus finally gave in the locking his case saying in his mind that he had to put the piano away, so that would take time.
Just as he was standing up Sirius voice came into his ear. "Do you need help with the piano?"
Remus wondered if Sirius had consciously used the word need instead of want. He shook his head, as he answered, "no."
Sirius seemed to have temporarily lost his hearing as he trotted over and helped Remus push the Mason & Hamlin off stage. Remus was really hoping Sirius would leave it at that and go home, but he assisted in the covering of the piano as well. Now, Remus was really, really hoping that would be the end of it, but no. Sirius asked if he wanted to go grab a coffee. After a quick flashback, Remus declined the offer. Remus was now really, really, really, hoping that was it. But, someone must've hated him somewhere. Sirius asked if he wanted an escort home.
Oh, how he wanted to strangle him. After yet another polite no, followed by words kept inside his head, Remus pretended to be concerned by the order of his music as he waited for Sirius to leave. When he didn't, Remus assumed he wanted a sort of send off.
"Goodnight."
Nothing. Sirius was still standing there, staring at him.
Remus' eyes glanced around trying to get a hint of what to do. "Well, uh, have a pleasant evening."
Sirius' eyes bored into him.
After a few minutes of excruciating silence, Sirius spoke.
"I will find it."
Oh, how Remus loved cryptic messages. "Find what?"
The gray eyes grew colder. "Whatever it is that you're hiding from me." He glanced once more out to the Hall and then hoisted his cello on his back and left.
Once the heavy door slammed shut, Remus collapsed and felt Regulus at his side, panting. "Are you okay?"
Remus didn't say anything for a second. He swallowed and forced himself to rise. "Well," he turned to face Regulus. "That was one of the creepiest things I've ever heard."
Regulus gave a strained laugh. "How long do you give him until he finds out?"
Remus shrugged. "You know him better than I do."
A small sigh escaped Regulus' lips. "Sometimes I wish I didn't. At least his playing hasn't deteriorated at all. It's much more powerful and expressive than when he played at home." He leaned against Remus' shoulder and closed his eyes. "Thank you for letting me see him again."
Remus would've shrugged his shoulder, but knew Regulus could take that as rejection. Instead he gave the boy's head an awkward pat. "We better get going. I don't want your father worrying."
He saw Regulus off before heading to his own apartment. His stomach protested the long period of time it went without food. He told himself to suck it up until he got home. By the time he arrived he was almost too exhausted to eat. He remembered he had to play for the guests at the Black Tree Hotel this weekend. It was only three days away and he had nothing prepared.
He groaned as he got off the couch to go make his tiny dinner. As he began to boil the water for his instant noodles his mind swam with the eyes of Sirius.
"I will find it. Whatever it is that you're hiding from me."
Shivers went through his body as Remus had the distinct impression that Sirius was not talking about Regulus.