The boys are back in town
James may or may not have been lingering on the platform for a moment before going through, because he had caught a glimpse of a familiar red-head. Over the years, James had tried to gain her attention and affections with little to no luck. Every now and again there was a glimmer of… well, lack of disdain, but after the events that had piled up last year, James was fairly certain that he would be lucky if she ever spoken to him again. Granted, he had been a prat, hexing Snivellius in the first place - that wasn’t the worst of what had transpired that afternoon. Still, Lily had made it clear not to talk to her. So he only looked on from a distance as she and her parents had arrived at the station.
Catching himself, there was a sigh, before heading through the portal where Sirius would be waiting. Their conversations had been steered away from the topic of Lily for a while, and focused on pranks they could accomplish this year. It was a relief and as much of a welcomed distraction for James as he was sure it had been for his best friend as well. Immediately stepping beside Sirius as he had made it through - it had been long enough to know that one needed to get out of the way quickly, or else there was likely a cart and trunk to be rammed into the back of the heels with the next person coming through. So off to the side, James adjusted his glasses, already scanning for the others.
“Should probably move off soon.” James said, a quick glance to Sirius, “She’s here too.” He didn’t have to say who, or why. He’d know. Hell, James probably didn’t have to say anything at all, really, Sirius probably could feel all the weird confusion and emotions that seemed to surge around James in the the wake of her. “Moony is probably already on the train anyway, yeah?”
It wasn’t often that Sirius was, well, serious, but every now and then a situation called for it. Normally, James’ fancy for Evans was fair game, but ever since that run-in with Snivellus during the O.W.L.s last year, Sirius had felt so bad for his friend that he had completely laid off the teasing. So when James said “she,” Sirius just nodded and started to move off. He felt bad for his mate, really. He’d never been rejected the way Evans had done to James, but it had to suck royal hippogriff.
“Probably,” he answered James, not bothering to comment on Lily. “He’s usually ridiculously early.” He barked a short laugh and continued, “And Pete’ll barely make the train, like always.” He didn’t mention that ever other year he’d been even earlier than Remus, as he would get up early to Floo to his Uncle Alphard’s, who always had a portkey waiting to allow Sirius to avoid his parents and brother.
Just as he kept silent about Evans, James would about his family. It was an unspoken thing between them, to be there for each other but not push, something Si was extremely grateful for. Moony was enough of a mother hen for all of them, he thought wryly.
All those depressing thoughts were pushed from his head by the very attractive sight of a sixth year Hufflepuff who’s name he couldn’t remember. He nudged Prongs with his elbow and nodded at the girl, appreciating Muggle fashion very much in that moment.
Even if James was hung up on Evans, he could still look---might even cheer him up a bit!
