James should have expected it too, but it blindsides him. The last time he met an older Remus, Sirius wasn't there to be threatened. It was all comforting a man who thought he may have gone mad with grief, but James should have anticipated this.
He's immediately glad he didn't allow Sirius to do this alone.
The face Remus makes when he looks at him burns into his memory, and he's sure there's no hiding his own reaction - hurt, shock, but...also sympathy, as though he already knows why. Even though there's no way he should at seventeen.
"Padfoot, you aren't helping," he points out. This is not the best time to tease Remus, and James doesn't want to see him get hexed across Wonderland.
Everything stills for a moment, with no one making any sudden movements. James doesn't take his eyes off of them, but also does't say anything. The wheels are turning and he's trying to figure out what to do, what to say. Frankly, he hasn't always gotten it right over the years, but he has to try before Remus does something he'll regret.
So, after that agonizing moment passes...James moves toward them, until he's placed himself between Sirius and the end of Remus' wand. If Remus wants to hurt Sirius, he'll have to go through him first, and James has all the confidence in the world that he won't be able to do it. Not after what must have recently happened.
"Remus...Remus, it is us, and we are them," he says, as calmly as he can manage (which...honestly isn't as calm as he'd like). "Please, just-- give us a minute to explain, alright? Hear us out."
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He's immediately glad he didn't allow Sirius to do this alone.
The face Remus makes when he looks at him burns into his memory, and he's sure there's no hiding his own reaction - hurt, shock, but...also sympathy, as though he already knows why. Even though there's no way he should at seventeen.
"Padfoot, you aren't helping," he points out. This is not the best time to tease Remus, and James doesn't want to see him get hexed across Wonderland.
Everything stills for a moment, with no one making any sudden movements. James doesn't take his eyes off of them, but also does't say anything. The wheels are turning and he's trying to figure out what to do, what to say. Frankly, he hasn't always gotten it right over the years, but he has to try before Remus does something he'll regret.
So, after that agonizing moment passes...James moves toward them, until he's placed himself between Sirius and the end of Remus' wand. If Remus wants to hurt Sirius, he'll have to go through him first, and James has all the confidence in the world that he won't be able to do it. Not after what must have recently happened.
"Remus...Remus, it is us, and we are them," he says, as calmly as he can manage (which...honestly isn't as calm as he'd like). "Please, just-- give us a minute to explain, alright? Hear us out."