the Horcrux Thief, james potter

xviii. all-consuming rage

His gaze fell to Peter's arm. He was wearing a jumper, covering his forearm. Could it be? But he'd seen him with a sleeve shirt recently, he was at the lake too—

"Prongs?"

James shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled at his friend who was now sitting down in front of him, looking at him weirdly. "Sorry, mate, zoned out. How was work?"

Peter's smile was nervous and he sipped his butterbeer with a shrug. He'd announced the week past he'd gotten a job working as an apprentice to a retired barrister, called Melrose—James was only now finding it suspicious how he hadn't even heard the barrister's name (not that he knew a lot of barristers).

"It was fine. Boring. I feel like his maid, I haven't learned anything about magical Law only that Melrose takes his tea with a little whiskey." James let out a snort at that and Peter chuckled. "Where are the others?"

"Remus is at the Manor helping Maya with something. And Pads is with Marls—" James grinned, "I think they're finally official."

"About time. That leaves three of us."

James frowned. "Well, not really. Amaya's my—"

"Girlfriend?" Peter looked skeptical and James blushed.

"Well, we haven't labeled it but—"

"You want to label it?" James was starting to dislike his friend's tone. Peter's face looked on the verge of a grimace.

"Yes."

Peter let out a laugh. James just stared at him. This was not how James expected the night to be going, in fact, he thought they would hang out and he would find nothing wrong with his friend. Only at the moment, even if Peter wasn't a traitor like his magic pointed him out to be, he was begging for James to deck him in the face.

When he realized James wasn't joking, Pete stopped laughing and rolled his eyes. "You're actually serious?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I love her, mate."

"Prongs, she's not even your girlfriend," Peter said bitterly, and James was taken aback.

"She might as well be," he answered, the words falling from his lips without hesitation, his hold on his glass tightening. "She could be my wife if she wanted to. I'd do anything for her. So I don't get what your problem is with her."

"It's not a problem. It's just, can't you see?"

"See what?"

"She's turning you against me. Against your friends."

"She's not. She loves Pads and Moony."

Peter's face twisted, getting red. "What about me? Huh? Am I relevant at all?"

"Mate, you don't like her either—"

"Because she deemed me a bad person from the beginning!"

James took a deep breath, looking around the Three Broomsticks, and seeing Rosie look confused their way, a couple of other clients looking at them. James stood up, and Peter frowned at him. He talked quietly, "Outside. Now."

The moment they got outside, at the back of the pub, Peter loudly scoffed. "What? Did I say something wrong, Prongs? That—witch—hates me. And she's turning you all against me."

"That's not true," James said calmly, trying to keep his composure. "Pete, you're my friend but she's—"

"Your next obsession?"

"What?"

Peter scoffed. "She's your new Lily."

"What's that supposed to mean?"