Hooked - James Sirirus Potter.

Chapter 20

James was laughing with his brother when he spotted Charlie Cross, instantly his hackles raised and he turned ensuring his back was facing the other man. Albus noticed though, he noticed everything. “I though you two were friends?” He frowned, “Not good friends, but enough.”

“Things change.” James shrugged, scanning the crowd for Claudia or someone for Al. “How about Heather Holt?”

“She hates me.” Albus smirked, turning to look for the dark head of the woman. “I might have blown up her cauldron as a dare during potions.”

“You’re twenty six, I’m sure its fine now.” James shrugged, taking his wrist and slowly slipping through the crowds.

“No she still hates me.” Albus warned as James “accidentally” bumped into her.

“Oh sorry Heather… how are you anyway?” he asked charming the annoyance from her eyes.

“Good thank you James, yourself?”

“Good too, you remember my brother.”

“Potter.” She sneered as Albus gave James that I told you so look. “Blown anyone up recently?”

“Nope.” Albus shrugged, taking three glasses of champagne from a floating tray. “Heather?”

“I’m pregnant jackass.” She sneered, before turning back to James with a friendly smile. “How old is your daughter now?”

“Just turned four.” James smiled, taking a glass from Al with a wink.

“Mother’s here.” Albus stated despite her having been here for an hour. “We should go and say hello.”

“Congratulations Heather, it was nice seeing you again.” James smiled, kissing her cheek before following Albus through the crowds. “Wow she really does hate you.”

“I told you; you might have broken hearts but I left a longer lasting impression.” He laughed as a female laugh joined them.

For a split second James thought it was Claudia, returned from wherever she’d disappeared too. “Chrissy.” Albus sighed, “What do you want?”

“Why, you make it sound like I’m after something.” She smiled, looking James up and down. “You’re looking well James.”

“Thank you.” He said tightly; “I didn’t know you worked here too.”

“Yes, recently started.” She smiled, stepping closer until she could touch him. “How have you been, I hear you’ve been single for a while now.”

“I think it’s better for my daughter not to dip and dive.” James stated, looking to where her hand was pressed against his chest. Looking over to his brother, he asked for help only for Albus to shake his head.

“There you are!” Claudia said, appearing out of nowhere, his mother a few steps behind her. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Oh, Christina, how awkward.”

“Awkward?” Christina asked, looking her sister up and down. “What are you doing here, with Albus?”

“No!” she laughed, stepping closer flashing her left hand about and James caught sight of a very familiar ring. “I’ve been looking for James for ages, I just got off the phone with Lily, Paige is fast asleep.”

“Good.” He said, hoping he sounded enthusiastic.

“We can spend as long as we need to out; Lily said she’d sleep over.” Claudia stated, reaching up and smoothing out his collar. “Did you want something Chrissy?”

“You’re disgusting; clinging onto a wizard just because you’re a squib… your worse than the death eaters.” Chrissy sneered, stepping back and glaring at her sister whose left hand was resting on his stomach. “I hope you get what you deserve.”

James glanced down at Claudia’s face as she glared; it was an emotion he’d never seen on her face before. Pure hatred dripped from her every feature and her eyes shot arrows at Chrissy’s back. “Well done!” Ginny laughed, stepping closer as Claudia dropped away from James and slipped the ring off her finger.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” She laughed as his mother put her engagement ring back on. “I know where Paige gets it from.”

“Naturally.” Ginny laughed, “When you have six brothers you learn how to get your own way.”

James felt himself jerk out a hand as he saw her eyes drift away. “Six.” He reaffirmed. “Always will be.”

“Always.” She nodded, sniffing suddenly and glancing about the room. “I think I need my brother.”

---

Claudia’s heart ached as she watched Ginny hold back tears and disappear into the crowds. She wanted to ask, but didn’t feel she was able to until Albus put a hand on her shoulder.

“During the final battle; thirty four years ago tonight her brother died… Uncle Fred was everyone’s favourite brother.” Albus grinned; “Uncle George and Mum took it the hardest.”

“I didn’t know.” Claudia whispered, feeling guilty at not thinking about everything that people had lost. “I feel awful for not saying anything.”

“You weren’t to know.” James shrugged, “Did your dad fight?”

“No.” Claudia sighed; “He was too young and in Slytherin.”

Silence fell and people began to settle at the tables that had slowly been appearing in strategic places. Caught between the two Potters, Claudia was ushered towards a table filled with redheads. “Doctor Cross!” Bill Weasley smiled, reaching over to shake her hand. “Lovely to see you again.”

“You to Mr Weasley, please call me Claudia.” She smiled, turning to his wife who was beaming beside him. “Mrs Weasley, lovely to meet you.”

“You too.” She said, stepping forwards and kissing her cheeks. “Such a beautiful French name.”

“Not that she’s biased, Aunt Fleur.” James teased, earning a playful glare from his aunt. “Is anyone else here?”

“Vicki couldn’t get child care, not for all three.” Fleur shrugged, before smiling at Claudia directly. “My grandsons can be a bit if a handful; five years between the oldest and youngest.”

“Bet they’re good as gold for you.” Claudia smiled and she nodded proudly.

“More so than for anyone else, myself included.” Bill added, “Does everyone have a drink?”

“Yes.” James and Al chorused, the former plopping a glass down before Claudia.

“You’re going to get me drunk.” She whispered to him as he grinned, a rather wolfish smile down at her as if that’s exactly what he wanted… but what he said was worse.

“Al still has some éclair’s, we collected more.” He whispered. “You’ll thank him later.”

“Is this how you survived childhood?” She asked, turning to look at him and realising they were closer than she expected.

“It was a happy accident his first bit of magic meant his pockets were Tardis like.”

“Correct use of muggle culture, big tick.”

“Grandpa loved it.”