Everyone always says that James knew Sirius and Remus were in love way before they did, but I think it was Regulus who knew. Regulus is observant and knows everything that's going on in Hogwarts. James is oblivious and wouldn't even realize Regulus was in love with him for years. Despite Regulus and Sirius being estranged for years, Regulus always watched him from afar to make sure he was ok. So when Regulus finally asks James if they are dating, he is very confused:
Regulus: so are my brother and Lupin finally together?
James: ...what do you mean?
Regulus: Have you not seen how they look at each either?
James: No?!
Regulus: Sirius looks at him like he hung the stars and Remus looks at Sirius like he is a god AND YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED?!?!
James: No... *looks over at Sirius and Remus cuddling on the sofa in the library* omg you're so fucking right.
Summary: James Potter would like to know why his twin sister keeps spending so much time with his two best friends. Unfortunately for him, nobody is answering his questions. Everyone else, however, seems to know exactly what's going on.
James Potter would like to know why his twin sister keeps spending so much time with his two best friends. Unfortunately for him, nobody is answering his questions.
James Potter knew something was wrong.
Not dangerous wrong.
Not Voldemort-is-back wrong.
Not Sirius-has-decided-to-fight-a-professor wrong.
Just...
Wrong.
Because his twin sister had vanished.
Not physically.
Jasmine still attended classes.
Still ate meals.
Still mocked him mercilessly.
But every time James looked for her—
She was with Sirius.
Or Remus.
Or both.
Always both.
Which was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
James sat down heavily across from Sirius and Remus at breakfast.
"Where's Jasmine?"
Sirius didn't even look up from his toast.
"No idea."
Remus turned a page in his book.
"Haven't seen her."
James narrowed his eyes.
"You were literally with her yesterday."
"No."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You were holding her books."
Sirius looked offended.
"I hold lots of books."
"You can't read."
"I can read enough."
Remus snorted into his tea.
James pointed dramatically.
"See? Guilty."
Neither of them reacted.
Which somehow made it worse.
The next time James saw Jasmine she was sitting under a tree.
With Sirius.
And Remus.
Again.
The three of them were laughing about something.
James approached.
Immediately the conversation stopped.
Silence.
The most suspicious silence James had ever experienced.
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
Three voices.
Perfectly synchronized.
James stared.
"You rehearsed that."
"No."
Again.
Perfect synchronization.
James was going to lose his mind.
Peter thought it was hilarious.
Unfortunately Peter was also useless.
"I don't know what's going on."
"You absolutely do."
Peter looked away.
"Maybe."
"Peter."
"I'm not telling."
"Why?"
Peter started laughing.
Which was not encouraging.
A week later James found them in the library.
Again.
Together.
Jasmine was sitting between Sirius and Remus.
Sirius had an arm draped over the back of her chair.
Remus was helping her with notes.
It looked innocent.
Probably.
Maybe.
James didn't trust it.
"Why are you always together?"
Three heads turned.
Three innocent expressions.
Three liars.
"We're friends."
James stared.
"You've been friends for six years."
"Correct."
"You weren't attached at the hip before."
"We evolved."
"That's not how friendship works."
Sirius shrugged.
"Maybe yours doesn't."
James began collecting evidence.
A chart appeared on his dormitory wall.
Lily Evans called it concerning.
James called it investigative journalism.
The chart included:
Number of times Jasmine disappeared after dinner.
Number of times Sirius disappeared after dinner.
Number of times Remus disappeared after dinner.
A color-coded timeline.
The results were devastating.
"They're hiding something."
Marlene looked at the chart.
"You spent six hours on this."
"Focus."
"No."
The breaking point came in February.
James was walking through a corridor when he heard laughter.
Jasmine's laughter.
He followed it.
Because he was a concerned brother.
And not because he was obsessed.
The door to an unused classroom was slightly open.
James peeked inside.
Sirius was sprawled across a couch.
Remus was sitting beside him.
Jasmine was stretched out with her head in Remus's lap and her feet thrown across Sirius.
The three of them looked entirely comfortable.
Entirely domestic.
Entirely suspicious.
James burst through the door.
"AHA!"
All three jumped.
Jasmine nearly fell off the couch.
"What is wrong with you?" she demanded.
"I KNEW IT."
"Knew what?"
James pointed dramatically.
"This!"
Sirius blinked.
"This?"
"THIS."
Remus looked exhausted already.
"James."
"You spend all your time together."
"Yes."
"You disappear together."
"Sometimes."
"You have secret meetings."
"They aren't secret."
"They are to me."
Jasmine pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Oh my god."
James crossed his arms.
"What are you hiding?"
The three exchanged a glance.
One of those silent conversations that made James want to scream.
"There is definitely something."
Another glance.
Then Sirius started laughing.
Remus immediately buried his face in his hands.
Jasmine looked like she wanted the floor to open.
James pointed.
"SEE?"
Sirius laughed harder.
That evening James cornered Lily.
"I think my sister is dating one of my best friends."
Lily looked up from her homework.
"Only one?"
James froze.
"...What?"
Lily returned to her essay.
Nothing happened for several seconds.
Then James slowly turned.
"Lily."
"Hm?"
"What do you mean only one?"
Lily looked genuinely surprised.
"You didn't know?"
James felt his soul leave his body.
"KNOW WHAT?"
Realization dawned across Lily's face.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Oh no."
"LILY."
She immediately gathered her books.
"Nope."
"LILY EVANS."
"Not my secret."
"LILY!"
She fled.
Actually fled.
James stood in the corridor.
Alone.
Confused.
Terrified.
And suddenly very certain that whatever was happening between Jasmine, Sirius, and Remus was far worse than he had imagined.
Because apparently everyone knew.
Everyone.
Except him.
Which, in James Potter's defense, was incredibly rude.
