There are a few things in life that make Remus happy. For example: the Oxford comma, revolving doors, and really green grass. The little things bring a smile to the usually placid writer's face. However, traveling in a car with his boss does not make the list.

The sleek black car zips out of city and out toward the countryside. Lush hills and stone walls go on for miles as they pass through. Sirius is sitting to his left, dressed like springtime. His trousers are a soft lavender shade, falling fashionably to his ankles, and a short sleeve, white button down covers his upper half.

Remus shifts his weight awkwardly in the seat next over. His trusty backpack resides by his feet packed with his journal, papers from Sirius, and a light snack. Braxton plays a classical music station softly up front to fill the silence.

Remus peers over at Sirius; his mind rakes for a conversation starter of some sort. He can't find it in himself to mention the weather or bring up something about sports - considering he doesn't pay any attention to them at all. Intimidating is an understatement to describe being in the presence of Sirius Black. His mysteriousness and aloofness only adds to the allure. Remus can't help but wonder what Alfred was like. If perhaps the rumors were true and he was more than just Sirius' assistant.

"Are you going to stare at me for the rest of the drive?" Sirius asks, though his head never turns in Remus' direction.

Remus casts a glance downward with a tinge of embarrassment. "Sorry," he murmurs. "So, where is this photoshoot?"

"Right up here."

Sirius gestures out his window and Remus ducks his head further to catch a glimpse of the estate down the road. His face is in awe as the car drives up the long gravel pathway. The building is stone, stretching out the length of at least five houses, with vines of purple wisteria climbing up the sides. Magnificent archways are covered with roses in every shade of pink, and the windows stand like skyscrapers, reflecting the blue sky.

"Good lord," Remus gapes. "This can't be a-a house!" He turns to Sirius who sits with an amused expression. "Where are we?"

Sirius chuckles, removing his seatbelt when Braxton pulls the car around a fountain with four angels spouting water from their trumpets. "This, Remus, is Potter Manor."

Potter? Remus blinks a moment to make sure he heard correctly. "You mean-"

A nod confirms his conclusion. "James' family's estate."

Remus slides out of the car, taking in the air that feels fresher than normal middle class air. The front lawn extends for acres with neatly trimmed grass so green it looks artificial. The gravel crunches underneath his shoes with every step leading up to the grand staircase.

Sirius takes to the steps naturally - as if he's lived here his entire life. Remus follows behind, much slower, taking in everything at once.

"Any day now Lupin!" Sirius calls.

Remus shakes his head, hurrying up the last few steps to catch up. The inside is just as marvelous as the outside, if not more. Once again, Remus' jaw drops to the sparkling floors. The lavish place, though spacious and grand, has a comforting, family-like atmosphere. He follows Sirius through the maze of doors and rooms like a lost puppy until they reach a sitting room. A team from Black Inc. has already set up, and models stroll in and out of different rooms adorned in dresses and whimsical clothes that almost come across like costumes.

Everyone draws to Sirius like bees to honey as soon as he enters the room. Remus falls to the outskirts, though he doesn't mind at all. He takes a lap around the room slowly, noting the extraordinarily tall ceilings and sparkling chandelier. But what really captures his attention, are the photos on the far wall with deep set, built in shelves. Most are of James, he presumes, considering the messy raven hair and glasses on the young boy. The photos range from baby to what looks like the start of university. Around his teenage years, a second boy joins most of the photos as well. Dark wavy hair and piercing gray eyes stare at the camera in moments forever captured in time.

Suddenly, the first conversation Remus ever had with James on the train comes to mind. The mischievous businessman's voice echoes in his ear: "You'd think the git would worship my feet for letting him live with me but no. I suppose the lobster dinners will suffice..."

Remus spins on his heels, catching Sirius' eye across the room. There's a pained expression, if only for a moment, that is just barely noticeable. Remus hikes his bag up his shoulder, walking toward the large group of people standing around the kitchen island and makes himself busy.

Sirius most definitely lived here at some point in his life - maybe before he started Black Inc., but not in his young childhood, Remus concludes. Perhaps Sirius got the money to start his business from the Potter's.

"Remus." Sirius motions for Remus to follow him out the backdoor and into the gardens.

One step outside, and Remus audibly gasps. The yard is not like anything Remus has ever seen before. Cherry trees in full bloom are spread across the lot; one has a king sized bed made with silk black sheets standing underneath. Trimmed hedges in shapes of animals are strewn along the paths that weave in and out of one another, with the occasional night stand placed in the middle. An Olympic sized pool filled with crystal clear water stretches out, barely taking up any space in the grass at all. Remus almost swears he can see a full 8 chair dining table, set with silverware and chalices, resting at the bottom of the pool. Farther down, a porcelain clawfoot bathtub rests in between a statue of a frog on a unicycle and a pink bicycle laying on its side.

"This is amazing," Remus says, hurrying down the steps to keep up with Sirius.

"You like it?" Sirius asks, his tone without a hint of sarcasm.

"What's the idea behind it?"

Sirius snaps the folder in his hands shut, meeting Remus eyes. "You, actually."

Air catches in Remus' throat, causing him to choke over his words. "M-me? What do you mean? I-I didn't do anything!"

Sirius takes off down the path towards the frog statue, explaining as he goes. He takes the sunglasses dangling from his shirt and covers his eyes. "That dress you said the model should be in a bathtub. It...inspired me." Remus nods along, unsure how someone as plain as himself could inspire Sirius. "The whole line - all the clothes are avant garde - and the set reflects it. Everything in the home is outside, like living in some fantasy world. See there." Sirius points across to the model Remus had seen before, draped over the bathtub wearing the puffy blue dress. "The dress acts like the water. And here-"

They stop a few feet behind the large bed underneath a cherry tree. The model, a young man with angular features and detailed blue eyeshadow, lays in the bed with a silk white dress on. The material covers the bed and matching silks hang from the branches of the tree.

"The dress is like bedsheets," Remus mumbles, the idea finally dawning on him. "That's...brilliant!"

"I can only take credit for so much," Sirius says. He clasps his hands behind his back, admiring the sights before him for a moment. "I didn't build the set and am not the one taking the photos. My team is the one to be appreciated."

When Sirius is called over to approve of placements and makeup, Remus finishes his job on sight. He shuffles around, completing minuscule tasks that Sirius can't complete himself for the remainder of the day. Most is spent outside, though occasionally he wanders back into the manor.

Remus slips past two racks of clothing, and enters a private room. A study. The walls are a scarlet red, with an ornate cherry wood desk in the middle. The walls have framed photos, but these seem much more personal. The largest photo is of James' parents - his father almost the spitting image of James, and his mother with bright auburn hair, standing in front of the manor with a baby swaddled.

"Mr. and Mrs. Potter were quite the partiers, if you can believe it," Sirius' voice sounds from behind. Remus doesn't turn around, but he feels Sirius' presence beside him. The latter smiles at the photo of James' parents, as if they were his own. "They had James at an older age, very much a surprise to both of them."

"When did they pass?"

"Not too long ago. He was nineteen." Remus takes a step away, suddenly feeling as if he's imposing. "The estate is James' now, though he hardly ever spends time here. Most people don't even know it's his."

"Do you spend any time here?"

Sirius looks at Remus with a calculating look before speaking. "I visit every now and then, but my home is in the city. On the top floor of the Bridges." Remus chooses not to ask anymore questions, both for Sirius and his own job's sake. "Good work today, by the way. We should be done in another two hours." The sound of his shoes click against the floor, echoing in the dome shaped room. "Would you attend to Miss Hadley's wardrobe? It needs to be steamed."

"Right away." Remus takes one last sweep of the room before closing the door behind him.