𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐏A𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄, jp

The Astronomy Tower.

"Bel," James called, quickly heading towards her.

She had just woken from her nap, and was planning on going for a walk around the castle before dinner, but he had caught her before she'd managed to leave the Gryffindor tower.

"James," she said softly.

"Where're you going?"

"For a walk, why?"

He hesitated, running a hand through his dark hair. "Can I come?" There it was — the small, hopeful note in his voice she'd been missing. He looked at her so earnestly that for a moment she thought her heart might actually thaw.

"You can," she said, slipping her hands into her pockets. Together, they drifted down the winding passageways, their footsteps the only sound. For the first few minutes, silence stretched between them, tangled and awkward. James stole glances at Izzy, seeing how the faint glow of light played across her cheekbones. He wanted to ask about Remus, about this Maisie person, but every time he dared open his mouth, the words stuck, he knew he shouldn't.

Eventually, Izzy rounded a corner into a small, arched alcove where a single stained‑glass window caught the dying sunlight. The glass depicted a soaring Phoenix, wings spread wide against a backdrop of emerald flames. She paused by it, hands still in her pockets, shoulders slumped.

James stood in front of her, giving her a moment before he spoke. "You know," he began softly, "you don't have to avoid me." He indicated the window, though his gaze was on her. "I care about you, Bel, I want to know what's going on with you, even if things aren't fine. I want us to be able to talk to each other. I hate it when we're not speaking."

Izzy's breath caught. She pressed her lips together, searching for words. Finally, she whispered, "I've just been... scared, James. Scared that if I stop studying — if I let anything else in — everything will fall apart. You know I've been under so much stress...I think one more word from Remus would've thrown me off completely, I just needed the time to be away from him, from everything."

He nodded, taking a small step closer. "You're not in this alone. You have friends who want to help. And you have me..." He exhaled, uncertain, "I care about you, a lot, I've been," be swallowed, "I've been worried, Lupin. About what Remus said. About your argument with him, and why you guys argue. You've pushed everyone away, and I don't understand why."

She closed her eyes, the weight of the weeks of silence pressing down on her. "It wasn't personal, James. After Remus... after that argument, I felt so out of control. Studying was the one thing I could control. I just needed control of something, and something to focus on."

James reached out and gently uncovered her hand from her pocket, brushing his thumb across her knuckles. "Exams are over now, Bel. It's been weeks since you argued with Remus, it feels like everyone's been so far apart since that day. It's been awful, there's such a divide. I just want us to get back to normal, even if it's not with everyone else, I think that divide will feel a bit better if I can at least talk to you. When I talk to you it feels real, I don't feel like I have to pretend. It feels worth it when I talk to you."

Izzy met his eyes, the warmth and sincerity in his gaze unraveling some of the tight coil around her heart. She nodded, "I'm sorry I pushed you away. You told me you always feel like you have to be positive, I pushed you away at the worst possible moment for you," she shook her head, "I'm sorry James."

He squeezed her hand. "You don't have to apologise, Bells, it's not your fault."

For a long moment, they stood together in front of the stained‑glass Phoenix, until James offered her a lopsided grin.