Remus

I reach the tree and start climbing. Above me, Sirius stares off towards the lake.

"Hey." I sit down next to him.

He leans into me and groans.

I lean back into him and wait. That's the trick, with Sirius - the waiting. If he wants to talk, he'll talk. As long as you give him enough time to figure out the words. Really that's the trick with most people, I suppose.

I'm shivering a bit - it's May, but it's not a particularly warm day, and I don't have my cloak. I hadn't realized I'd be going outside today until Sirius got upset, and I didn't think to grab one before following him. I'd cast a warming charm, but unfortunately my wand arm is the one Sirius is leaning into. I don't really need to - I'm a little cold, but nothing unbearable, or I'd have noticed before I started climbing. So I'm not sure whether it's worth it to steal my arm back to cast it.

When Sirius starts talking I still haven't decided.

"He promised, Moony." He looks up at me imploringly.

(And in the process frees my arm. But now it's definitely not a good time for me to appear distracted - not if I want him to keep talking, which I do.)

I sigh. "I know."

"Seven years we've been his best friends. Seven years! And then she comes in, and - a year ago, she wouldn't even give him the time of day! And now…"

I wrap my arm around his shoulders, half to comfort him and half for warmth.

"It's just not fair, Moony! He's supposed to be my best friend, and now half the time he doesn't even want me around."

Privately, I suspect a lot of that is a self-reinforcing cycle. He acts like Lily is stealing James away - making it awkward for James to spend time around both of them at once - meaning he gets less of James's time - which only confirms his worries.

He probably needs to hear this at some point, but now seems like the wrong time. Instead, I squeeze his shoulder, and he slumps into me.

We sit in silence. Now Sirius has started shivering too - I take that as my excuse to finally cast those warming charms.

After a while, James drops by.

"Hey, I grabbed you two some breakfast."

He floats the two plates up. It's a little awkward - he has to set one of them down at first to clear a hand for his wand. Then he starts climbing up to join us, settling in on a branch across from and slightly below ours.

"Listen guys." It's clearly directed primarily at Sirius; James is staring intently at him. "It's not fair to you that you found out like that."

He's clearly hoping for some kind of reaction, but Sirius isn't giving him anything - just wolfing down the food, ignoring him. I'm not Sirius, but I'll have to do. I smile at him encouragingly.

"I should have told you. I'm sorry."

"Damn right you should have, Prongs! But you know what else? You shouldn't have planned it in the first place! You promised!" Sirius is shouting now.

Aaand… crap. James is looking at me for support. Yes, clearly James is in the right here, but I can't say that without Sirius feeling betrayed… and probably stomping off in a huff. I think I must look like a deer caught in the headlights.

James sighs. "Pads…" He trails off. Sirius has gone back to his food. "Padfoot, I miss you. I miss how we were last year."

Phew. Crisis averted. I think it's probably ok for me to smile encouragingly again now, so I do.

"Yeah, and what's changed since then? Evans, that's what! She's ruining everything!"

… or not. I hope James's calm runs deeper than I think. Maybe I'd better step in.

"Sirius…" I grab his hand and squeeze, trying to offset my tone.

It doesn't work. He jerks away, looking betrayed.

"Pads, you're always going to be my best mate. Lily's not going to change that. Nothing's going to change that."