"I can care about quite a few people at once, you know," James sighed. "I don't get why me getting married or having a kid means giving less of a toss about you lot."
He'd always had a weird feeling of responsibility when it came to the other three - Peter included. Whether they wanted it or if it was required was another matter. Still, the fact that he and Sirius were... well, him and Sirius, and that he had Lily and Harry in his life, didn't change that.
Or perhaps it had, and James just hadn't quite noticed. Perhaps he had been too busy reacting to everything else falling apart to take the time.
He nodded at Peter's next words. It was a good thing, really, because he honestly was no closer to figuring this out than he had been at the start of the conversation. He was less angry at Wormtail, perhaps - the apology had done that much. Now, if he was honest, he mostly felt sad. And hurt; that was still simmering there, although more of a dull ache than the white hot pain it had been before.
"Yeah, maybe." He couldn't keep the note of uncertainty from his voice. There was too much to wrap his head around. He needed to talk it through with Lily or Sirius. Probably both of them.
And wasn't that what Peter had been saying?
Merlin, this was a nightmare.
"I hope you're right," he finally agreed. "I'd like that. One day." James stuffed his hands back in his pockets, half turning to continue down the corridor. "You coming?"