Re: Peter/James
James stared at him, as if he must have misheard. It suddenly felt like he'd never met the man sat before him in his life.
"I didn't choose for him to come hunting for my family. And if you didn't want to be part of all of it, Wormtail, you didn't have to! Or am I forgetting when I pinned you down and made you join the Order at wandpoint?"
He'd stopped pacing now, but that energy still beat through every inch of him. James could feel his own heart, pounding way too fast against his ribs, like he'd just pulled out of a dive to escape a bludger. He was breathing too hard, his skin was hot. Peter was still talking, and each word just seemed to mount up and up. More explanation, more defensive words, leaving James aching for his friend to at least show some hint that he wasn't totally resigned to this.
"Innocent... Harry's a year old!" James yelled, and his voice broke as it reverberated around the great hall. He pulled himself back, forcing himself to turn away, casting his gaze upwards to where white fluffy clouds drifted unknowingly across the ceiling. He had to work to get his breathing back under control.
"Look," he finally managed, turning back. 'I'm sorry you were in a shit situation. I am. I don't know the fucking answers. But... Christ. Pete, you're going to get Lily killed. You get me killed. Merlin knows who else. And it's like you don't even..." He trailed off, shaking his head. It was impossible, somehow to equate what was coming out of Peter's mouth with the boy he'd shared a room with for seven years. He felt hurt, shaken.