Misunderstanding

Chapter One

"Remus has been acting weird. Have you noticed Prongs?" Sirius dragged his eyes away from his scarred friend that was sitting across the common room with Lily, who he knew was avoiding him, to look at James. "He's been avoiding me."

James lifted his head from his quidditch magazine and looked at Sirius. He took note of the dark circles beneath grey eyes, the unkept appearance, the fingernail imprints that left crescents in his palms. "Pads," James reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I think you need to talk to Rem-"

"I've tried!" Sirius stood abruptly, eyes flashing with irritation, "He won't speak to me!" Tensing as he felt eyes on him, "I'm going for a walk." Sirius ground out, knowing deep down his temper will get him trouble, before stalking through the portrait hole.

James sighed picking up his reading material from where it fell when he jumped in surprise. "Is he okay?" Glancing up at the quiet, concerned tone to see Remus standing over him. "He's..." James tried before sighing once more, "Moony. Is something going on between you two? I've tried staying out of it but it's not getting better." Moony's face fell as his hands curled into fists by his side, "It's my fault?"

"No! That's not what I said," James tugged Remus down beside him and did his best to comfort his sensitive friend. "Sirius is just frustrated cause he thinks you're avoiding him." The explanation sounded weak even to his own ears but he caught Remus's attention. "I'm not trying to avoid him," Remus said softly as amber eyes fell to his lap. "I just...I thought he didn't want me around anymore."

"Why would you think that?" Shock was filling the raven-haired boy as he ruffled his hair. He thought back to all their interactions and couldn't pinpoint anything amiss. "He flinches away from me all the time, he won't look me in the eye, he scoots away when I'm next to him," Remus mumbled as his scarred hands covered his face. "He probably realizes I'm a mons-"

"Remus John Lupin you better not finish that sentence!" James said fiercely in a whisper, aware that others were around. "You are not a monster! You are our best friend! Padfoot lo-" Realization flooded through his body as he gasped. "He...Remus you need to find Sirius," He said urgently. "You two need to talk."

"Huh?" Amber eyes looked at him in confusion, "Why? Shouldn't I wait for him to calm down and come back?" He said thinking of the fact that Sirius stormed out of the room in an obviously bad mood. "No! No you need to talk," James insisted as he pulled Remus up and pushed him to the door. "Remus you like him right? Like...really like him?"

Remus froze as a flush hit his cheeks, "I...He's my friend. My best friend," He stuttered out as he kept his eyes firmly away from James. "I'm not stupid Rem. I see the way you blush around him, the way your eyes light up when you have his attention, the way you-" Remus cut James off with a moan of embarrassment, "Is it that obvious?"

James chuckled, "To everyone but Siri. But that's why you need to talk. I think he feels the same and now he thinks you're avoiding him." Remus stared blankly at him. "Rem? Go!" James pushed him forward again. "Huh? Uh...right," Remus shook his head before stepping through the portrait. "I'll talk to him."
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End of chapter one!