A broad smile and a nod of his head gave consent to claiming the blame as he picked up his beer again. He supposed, especially for Harry, a sudden disappearance was something likely to imply something sinister. Perhaps maybe not so much in the future, if they made a habit of it. At Harry's next comment, James found himself coughing a bit around the beer he was drinking.
Merlin, he'd meant to have interrogated Remus and Sirius on exactly what they'd told Harry before they'd gone off. Setting down his beer, he pressed the back of his knuckles to his lips and cleared his throat. Not that he'd done anything really, really wild- well, not that often anyway. Still, it was hard to wipe the grin from his face, even as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Not entirely sure yet. I doubt the places Sirius and I used to go are still up and running, but I have every confidence in my ability to find a proper sort of party." Glancing over what he suspected might be some sort of reservation in Harry, he added, "Don't worry, it just dancing. Rather tame fare, nothing too crazy. Just a good bit fun." Unable to quell the curiosity any longer, he cocked his head to the side and asked, "Just what sort of stories has your godfather been pouring into your ear?" Of either of them, he had a hunch that Sirius would be more inclined to offer more... extravagant tales.
A smile spread slowly across his face and he nodded, running a hand absently through his hair as well. He, uh... told me a fair bit that Christmas I spent with him. Told me he wanted me to know you better. Didn't feel like it was right that I was so much like you, but like him too and yet I didn't know you. He told me about the way you used to party." he chuckled. "Told me about the girls before Mum... likely not all of them, but enough to get a pretty decent idea of what a terror my ol' Dad was. And he taught me all about his family, and as much as he could about your parents. I think he just wanted me to know everything he could think of to tell me, and the times you lot went out were some of the happiest times he had. I think they were what he clung to when he was staying in Grimmauld Place those months, especially when Remus was gone on Order missions." he bit his lip. He hated remembering his Godfather the way he was through those months.
Far too many memories were flashing in front of his mind's eye. Parties in London, the club scene in France- Merlin, his parent's living room... Sirius trying to extract himself from between two sleeping girls, asking James if he could remember which one was named 'Annette' and which one was named 'Cynthia,' as if James would have any idea... The pair of them, stoned out of their minds, completely entranced by one of those delightful muggle laser shows... And then there was of course that brilliant Gryffindor tent just next to the quidditch pitch-
And when James glanced back to Harry, for the first time in what felt like ages he felt a rise of heat flush his cheeks. He chuckled, low and deep, as much at himself as anything else. Well, probably best for there to be as few unexpected surprises down the road. James wasn't perfect, not by a long shot. The pressure to be, or to be whatever it was it seemed like most people expected him to be could be a bit suffocating. It was better this way, to be seen for what he was instead of what someone might hope he was.
With an encouraging smile he said, "Sirius Black is practically indestructible. Believe me, we've tried. But none of us do well cooped up, or isolated. Social creatures, you know. Dogs and stags alike, they do better when they can stretch their legs a bit."