James gave an unselfconscious shrug to Remus's slight needling. They were days overdue on this. And carefree as James might have been, it took a lot of work being so unconcerned all the time. For one, it meant getting the actual work out of the way, and this certainly counted as Business. Conveniently, that also meant that at that moment, whatever room they happened to be in was nothing more than a room he and Remus happened to be in, and it was full of nothing more than pieces of meaningless furniture.
A lot of effort, really, this carefree business.
The idea of stitches-- well, he supposed it made a bit of sense, in a place where they had so little magic, but really, the idea was barbaric. A slightly squicked shudder ran down his spine, one he didn't bother hiding. He knew what a bad night for Moony was, and he was glad that it hadn't gone as badly as it could have. James fiercely wanted his magic back. Wanted to be able to transform. It wasn't fair to Remus, not one sodding bit, to have gone and gotten him used to company for the full moons, and there they were, fumbling the snitch. Never mind that it wasn't technically their fault. They were still fumbling the snitch. So they had to find a way to stop failing so spectacularly.
But he listened as Remus went on. He did more than listen-- he observed. The way Remus wasn't looking at him. That little inflection. That... everything.
"Remus..." James's voice was low and a bit laden with caution. "This baggage stuff you've got going on. And this stuff with Sirius. Just how.... related is that?" He waited a moment before adding, "And how much of it... just is?"