My Most Precious
First, Sirius took James to get a haircut. The guy complained and resisted like Sirius was trying to take his newborn son. Eventually Sirius managed to wrestle him into the seat and got the barber to cut the stupid hair. He had to make James at least look like a gentleman, after all.
Sirius could get away with long hair, because he was the boss.
After James’s haircut (where he had spent half the time shooting glares at Sirius and the other half trying to befriend the hairdresser), Sirius took James to the tailor.
James protested yet again, talking about how he looked fine in his suit already. Ignoring how cheap it looked, it also smelled awful. That detail was enough to convince James to get a new suit. Sirius even bought him a tie with mooses on it.
James also tried to stop Sirius from paying for his suit, and when Sirius brought up how James had no money, James had promised to do a favor for him.
Getting a little bewildered at James’s relentless good nature, Sirius had sent him to go polish off the carousel horses with Regulus while Sirius went on his outing. (James appeared to have some aversion to the horses, but Sirius had decided that if he was really thankful, he would polish them anyway.)
Besides, Sirius had other business to attend to. Rather, someone to attend to.
His right hand man, his best friend, the smartest guy Sirius knew. (and his boyfriend, but that was irrelevant.)
Remus Lupin.
Sirius’s shoes tapped along the polished concrete floors of the bank building. He wove easily through the crowds of people, ducking around handbags and one guy who looked particularly incensed that he wasn’t getting his money back. Sirius ignored them all, looking for the teller that he knew always worked at the last corner stall.
There.
Remus was talking to a customer.
His hair had gotten a tiny bit longer since the last time Sirius saw him, falling long enough to poke him in the eyes each time he nodded his head. A smattering of freckles covered his face and his eyes crinkled at the corners as he laughed at whatever joke the client told. Sirius loved that laugh so much.
His suit was worn at the edges, a result of him never spending the money he and Sirius earned from their grifts. He always insisted on saving it, to invest in college or something. Perks of being a banker, supposedly he had good interest.
Remus jotted down notes quickly, his hand flying in the chicken scratch that Sirius knew from the letters Remus would send him when they hadn’t seen each other in a while.
Now. Sirius knew that by all technicalities, he shouldn’t be seen talking to Remus shortly before a job. But he just couldn’t resist. Keeping Sirius away from Remus was like plopping the Mona Lisa in front of someone and telling them to shut their eyes. Sirius walked up as the client finally left, leaning against the counter.
Remus didn’t see him at first, looking down at a piece of paper he was writing on. He spoke in a bored monotone. “Welcome to Gringotts Bank what can I do for you to—are you serious?!”
His face lit up as he looked up and recognized Sirius. He dropped his pen in surprise. It rolled off the desk and clattered to the floor, but Remus paid it no mind. He was too busy trying and failing to squash the smile on his face. Sirius loved that smile. He loved Remus.
Sirius grinned at him, tipping his hat.
“Dead serious.”
Sirius watched a war of exasperation, fondness, and excitement break out on Remus’s face before settling on curiosity. (The secret fourth option.) He looked around quickly, then spoke in his customer service voice, quiet enough that nothing would draw suspicion.
“How can I help you today?”
Sirius grinned, speaking in a pleasant voice that wouldn’t make anyone suspect that on the inside he was jumping around like a little kid. Screw being discreet, Sirius wanted to talk to Remus every chance he could get.
“I would like for my most precious to be delivered to 12 Grimmauld Place.”
Remus pursed his lips at Sirius’s heavy handed (and frankly cringe-worthy) code. Nevertheless, Sirius could see a glint of fondness in his eyes. Remus sighed, leaning against the counter and arching an eyebrow at Sirius. “Would this be on business, or personal affairs?” He asked.
Sirius hummed, drumming his fingers along the counter as one of the clients in line shot him a look that made it clear he was to hurry up or get kicked in the shins. “Business. However, I doubt it would ever need to return to the bank. One could say we’re going to have a little fun,” Sirius said lightly.
Remus looked at him again, eyebrow still raised in a silent question.“Some personal affairs, as well,” Sirius amended with a grin.
Remus smiled back at Sirius, putting a finger to his lips as if thinking for a moment. “I’m not sure that it can get to Grimmauld tonight. It might need to wash its hair, get groceries. A few days from now?”
Sirius reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a bar of chocolate wrapped in gold foil and a little red bow. He set it on the table and slid it over to Remus. Remus took it, putting it away into his own jacket like the corrupt banker he was.
“Tonight at 8:00.”