With Harry now standing with him between Ron and the others, Remus relaxed enough to cast a quick "all right, Pads?" back at his friend under his breath, so low only Pads and maybe James Sirius would even hear.
Then Molly swopped in on the lot of them as he'd feared might happen and Ron was backpedaling, James was still in a fighting mood, and everything had gone from contained to out of control in a matter of a few words. Sighing, Remus began to take back everything he'd been thinking about large families being better than the small one he'd had growing up.
"James," he said quietly, turning his back to Ron and the others. "Don't punish your cousins for your Uncle's words. Why don't you and Pads go in the house for a little while, calm down a bit. Then at least come back out and say good-bye to Dylan and Craig before you run off."
The reference to his friends was deliberate as Remus knew the boys were supposed to go out together after this.