Disclaimer : Heh. I forgot to put this in chapter one… Well, names and places that familiar to you do not belong to me. It belongs to JK Rowling.
Warning : Slash SBRL in later chapter. In this chapter, there will be slash of Riddle/Remus.
Lucius waited for Sirius's arrival at the front gate of JFK airport. Plane from London arrived few minutes ago and soon Sirius will show up from the arrival gate, thought Lucius. As in cue with Lucius's thought, a figure of a tall man with trolley in his hands approached Lucius. A genuine smile plastered on the man's face as he waved his hand, approaching Lucius standing figure.
"There you are, Sirius." called Lucius. He walked casually toward Sirius and his trolley. The platinum hair man extended his hand for a handshake. "Long time no see, cousin."
Sirius grabbed Lucius's extended hand and gave it a shake. "It is nice to see you too, Lucius." said Sirius. "Mother says hi for you and Cissy. How is she?"
"Narcissa? Oh, she is doing fine." Lucius took over the control of Sirius's trolley and pushed it toward the exit. "You can meet with Cissy later after we arrive at my office. We are in a tight schedule." Lucius stopped briefly at the exit gate and a black limo had stop in front of him. Severus Snape came out from the driver seat and opened the luggage compartment, removing Sirius's suitcases from the trolley into the compartment. When he finished, Severus opened the door for his boss and his cousin.
Sirius entered the limo with a bit of fascination. He used to ride a limo back in London, so having another ride of limo outside London didn't surprise him a lot. He knew that Lucius is a success producer in New York, so it wouldn't unusual for Lucius to travel with limousine. Sirius took a seat to the far side near the window while Lucius took the other side as his seat. After those two men felt comfortable, Severus drove the limo to Lucius's recording office.
"So," Lucius said, breaking the silence in the limo. He turned his head slightly to see Sirius. "You agree to join my company, Sirius?" Lucius asked.
Sirius scoffed. His eyes still fastened on the scenery outside the limo, a bit fascinated by his surrounding. "Straight to business, are you? Well…"
"Well?" Lucius frowned. From Sirius's tone, it sounded like he would reject Lucius offer. He couldn't reject that. Sirius already said yes. "Well what? You agreed to work with me. Besides, I'm the best producer in this city! With my iron fist and connections, I'll make you the most famous singer in the world, starting from New York."
Sirius turned his head and looked at Lucius with a sly smile playing on his handsome face. "It's not about that. I agree to work with you. I'm just curious. We barely talk to each other, even by phone, and then suddenly you called me, offering a job. I'm sure there must be something you've been hiding from me. The reason you ask me to join your company."
Lucius knew that eventually he had to tell his cousin about that stupid band called 'The Marauders', Riddle, and his label.
"Do you know a band called 'The Marauders'?" asked Lucius.
"I know. They're quite famous in UK." answered Sirius. "Wait a minute." Sirius eyed Lucius suspiciously. "I read about your rivalry with Tom Riddle. He is the owner of 'Voldemort', the label where 'The Marauders' is, isn't it?"
Lucius groaned. "Even the news about that went through Britain?"
"Lucius, what do you want?"
"Crush them."
"Pardon?"
"I want you to destroy Riddle and his 'Marauders'. I don't care how, I don't care how long, and I just want them to be destroyed. I want them to be kicked out of this business so I can rule the music chart and awards with my singer and bands." Lucius took a deep breathe. He just spilled out his mind to his cousin, making him feel a little bit relax and calm.
Sirius stared at Lucius in a blank expression.
"You're sound so ambitious." muttered Sirius. Slowly, his lips formed a smirk and he said, "Hmm… This could be fun. I'll help you, then."
James Potter, the drummer for 'The Marauders', was sitting on a chair, playing with his drumsticks. He was bored. He supposed to be arranging the instruments for their latest album, but he was stuck in the office, waiting for someone that hadn't show up for three hours. What a waste of time, the bespectacled man thought.
"God… Why am I here?!" James groaned as he threw his sticks into the sky and captured it with a swift move.
"You're here, because Riddle wants to see you."
James spun around his chair and met eye-to-eye with his fiancée, Lily Evans. She wasn't just James's fiancée, but she was also the manager of 'The Marauders'. Actually, her first meeting with James was when Riddle introduced her to the boys as the band's newest manager.
"Lily!!" cried James. He jumped out of his chair and gave Lily a bone-crushing hug. "I miss you so much! It's been a long time since we met!" said the unruly haired man, planting wet kisses on Lily's cheeks.
"James, we just met downstairs. Besides, we both got here by your car." Lily said, freeing herself from James.
James whimpered. "But I do miss you, Lily." He gave Lily a peck on the lips. "And you're so mean for leaving me alone in here…" James gave the red haired woman the best pout he could muster.
"Alone? I left you with Remus." Lily laughed. Sometimes, her fiancé acted like a spoiled child. "You can talk with him while I'm not around."
"Right. How can I talk with him while he's not around?" James scoffed.
"What?! Do you mean he went outside?" Lily started to panic. She couldn't lose Remus now. Riddle said that he would be there in five minutes to meet them. "Where is he? I told him to stay in this room with you! I told you to keep an eye on him!" Lily hurriedly walked to the waiting room of Riddle's office. Tom Riddle was a man with a low patience, thus he hates to wait. What would he do when he found out Remus was not there and he had to wait? Lily shuddered at the thought of Riddle firing her. That possibly going to happen if she didn't find Remus before the producer arrived. "Where is he going?"
"The obvious place he will go when he got bored." mumbled James as he following Lily, lazily. His fingers were linking behind his head.
"Where…?" Lily walked to the waiting room and found out a golden brown haired man lying on the green sofa with earphones plucked in his ears. The young man, known as Remus Lupin, was humming and his hands moves in the air, as if he was conducting an orchestra. He didn't realize that James and Lily were there, watching him.
"You said that he left…?" muttered Lily to James with her eyes fixed on Remus. "But why he…"
"His mind and soul aren't here, only his body." replied James casually. "He is ignoring me for three hours, Lily! Three hours! God, I almost killed myself from boredom!"
Lily walked over to where Remus lying. "Remus." She called, but the addressed man did not open his eyes. Instead, his humming became louder. "Remus." Lily called once more a little bit louder, but Remus didn't give her any response. Lily sighed and rubbed her eyes' sockets in exasperation. The red haired girl knew that bring Remus back to the real world from his music world is a hard work, but she had to do it. Riddle would be there in five or less minutes.
Lily took off the earphones, not too gently, from Remus's ears.
"Wha…?" Remus bolted up from his seat. His golden eyes scanned the room, looking for anyone who dared to disturb him while he was listening to the music. Then, he spotted Lily who holding both of his earphones and an irritated James beside her. Remus smiled sheepishly. "Oh, it's you."
"What kind of music that made you ignoring me for three hours?" asked James, annoy. "Don't tell me it was Mozart again."
"No, it was not." Remus took the earphones from Lily and putted in his pocket. "It was Penderecki."
"Panda… rocky?"
"Penderecki! Krzysztof Penderecki!"
James groaned. "Not a Russian name again… Last time was Shostakovich!"
"He's not a Russian, James. He is a Poland." said Remus in a matter-of-factly tone. James's lack of knowledge for classic music sometimes bothered and irritated Remus. All James cared are rock, r&b, jazz, and little bit of blues. Just like Remus who never understood his friend's taste in music, James couldn't enjoy Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Bach like Remus. Bach…
"At least it wasn't Bach…," muttered James.
Remus rolled his eyes. He knew that James hated classic music, but his friend hated Bach the most. Jazz is the only type of music they could enjoy together. "Which Bach?"
James frowned. "What do you mean with 'which Bach'?"
"Well, there are this Johann Christian Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and Johann Sebastian Bach. They are sons and father. Carl was Christian's older brother and both were writing songs in pre-classic era. Their father, Sebastian Bach, wrote preludes and fugues in baroque era. His style in writing songs…"
"Remus, save your speech for later before James tears you into shred." Lily said. "Riddle will be here in a minute, so get ready, guys."
When Remus stood up from his sofa, the door was flung open. Two figures of a man and a woman strode into the room. Riddle, covered in thick black robe, was removing his black leather gloves while his eyes gazed coldly around the room. Bellatrix Black, his secretary, followed behind him. Her black cover agenda held closely against her chest.
Finally, Riddle's eyes fell on three figures in front of him. His lips then curved into a warming smile. "There you are." The producer of 'Voldemort' approached James and gave him a handshake and pat on his back. He gave Lily a soft kiss on her right cheek and hugged Remus. "Shall we talk in my office?" Without waiting any response from James, Lily, nor Remus, he ushered them toward a large wooded door. Bellatrix opened the door and let them in before she closed it behind her.
Riddle shrugged off from his robe, throwing the clothing on his desk. He sat himself on his black leather chair, facing the three figures that stood before him. He smiled.
"I'm proud of you. All of you." He said. "Five Grammies! Well done James, Lily, and Remus!"
"Thanks, Mr. Producer." said James, grinning broadly.
Riddle smiled faltered into a snickering grin. "I can't wait to see Lucius. He probably screaming in anger and firing all of his bands right now." A sinister laugh was coming out from his mouth. "Now, I want to discuss about your new album. How is it going?"
"Well…" Lily eyed James on her left who looked nervous. He hadn't finished the instrument when they got there.
Riddle's brows furrowed. He eyed them suspiciously, knowing that something happened. "I don't like this silence. Have you finished the arrangement, James?"
James gave Riddle a weak smile and shook his head.
"James, do you remember the deadline?"
"Of course I remember! It's uh… four months later. Don't worry, Mr. Riddle. I'll finish it in no time!"
"Then why are you standing here in my office?" Riddle asked him, coldly.
"Umm… You called us."
"Indeed, I am. Now, go to the studio and finish your work." Riddle waved his hand, telling them to leave the room. James, Lily, and Remus were on the doorway when Riddle said, "Remus, you stay here. Bella, will you please leave us alone? There's something I want to talk with Remus." Bellatrix, though looked a bit perplex, leaved the room with James and Lily who changed a meaningful glance.
Riddle stood up and walked toward the door, locking it. He spun around his heels, facing Remus.
"So, what's your answer?" He asked with a whisper-like voice.
Remus averted his eyes from Riddle intense gaze, nervous. "I… can't tell you…"
Remus could hear Riddle sighs, though he didn't see. He planted his gaze on the carpeted floor, not daring to look Riddle in his eyes.
"Remus, I already gave you two weeks to think about it. Now, I want your answer."
"I…"
Long and slender fingers sneaked under Remus's chin and titled it. For a mere second, golden orbs met with sapphire orbs before Riddle crashed his lips with Remus's lips. Remus, though the sudden movement surprised him, didn't push Riddle away from him, but he didn't kiss the older man back either. He stood there, stunned.
Received no response from the younger man; Riddle pulled away. "I want you to be mine, Remus. I love you."
"I know, but this isn't right."
"What? You're afraid about the fact that both of us are men?"
"No. You know that I like men too. It just…" Remus took a deep breath before he continued. "You're my boss. It feels not right to have a special relationship with my own boss."
"I told you before that you don't have to worry about that! I don't care about our status in business!"
"But I care! Please, Riddle. I need more then two weeks to think about it."
Remus freed himself from Riddle's embrace and walked toward the door. He was about to turn the handle and walk away, until Riddle called him.
"When will you answer my request?" He asked the golden-brown man.
"I don't know. I'll tell you when I'm ready." Remus gave Riddle a slight smile and leaved the room.
A/N : Long chapter. I know. I hope I didn't make another grammar and spelling mistakes like I did in chapter one. If I did, please tell me! Anyway, thanks for those who had read and review this story; even put it in their story alerts! Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
I would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their lovely reviews :
:] : (nodded) Hmm… okay. I tried to be more critical toward my own writing skill. I did double check my spelling and grammar for this chapter, but if you find any mistake then please tell me. Thanks for your critic and review!
Aloha : Where have you been? Last time we 'talk' was… uh… a day between Christmas and New Year. Yeah. Don't worry. I'll make their love story as rough as I can (evil laugh inserted). Hmm… 'Horcrux', ya. Gue delete aja boleh tak? Hehe.
niky : I'm glad that you like it. I hope you won't disappointed by this chapter. Thanks for your review!
Chapter three : 'The Marauders' and Sirius Black finally met.