Hooked - James Sirirus Potter.

Chapter 21

James wandered around the edge of the room looking partly for Claudia and partly for anything to do. With the speeches and what barely passed for a meal over, everyone had fallen into small parties of their own with most of the older generations reminiscing over lost loved ones or dancing in the middle of the room. As soon as the music had started, Claudia had disappeared leaving James prey to all the women he’d been avoiding all night.

Giving in and heading towards the large window by the back which looked over the muggle houses of parliaments, James sought an escape and found an ally. Encased in black she looked more shadow than human.

“Why are you hiding in the curtains?” he asked, putting his hand on the small of her back as she smiled up at him.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” she asked, ignoring the question completely. “I’ve seen loads of women watching you, hoping to catch your eye for a dance.”

“When are we? Georgian England.” He snorted, looking over his shoulder to where people were watching them from the corner of their eye. “I don’t like the thought of you being alone here.”

“After you forced me to come.”

“After I forced you to come.” He sighed, fighting back a smile as she turned to face him fully. “Why don’t you dance with me?”

“I don’t dance.” She smiled, James watched as her shutters fell down again. “Really, I’m rather enjoying the view.”

“Rather enjoying the view, are you eighty?” he laughed, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her against his side. “We’re at a party, let’s do something we can’t do out of the office window.”

“We can’t jump out of the office window and I rather doubt we can do it here.”

“Someone would just pop us back in.” James shrugged, enjoying having her warmth along his side. “Come on Claudia, what did you do at all those university parties you went too?”

“Hid in my bedroom or left to spend the night in the library.” She shrugged, James started to laugh before he realised she was being serious. “I’m a boring fart James; you go and enjoy yourself.”

“Come on, let’s find Al and the other young people and be young.”

“I’m twenty seven.”

“Younger than me.” he grinned, taking her hand and lifting it to his lips for a kiss before realising what he’d done… not that it was bad, it was just familiar, too familiar.

 “The name of the game is never, have I ever.” One girl smiled, eyeing Albus up as they sat around a table laden with bottles and glasses. “You’re a muggle Dr Cross; you know how to play.”

“Drink if you’ve done something someone else hasn’t.” Claudia shrugged, pulling her glass closer. “I’ll start. Never have I ever used a wand.”

“Boring.” The girl snorted, as everyone at the table bar Claudia took a drink. “But you get the idea… it’s more fun when it’s risqué”

“Why do I feel like I’ve walked into a trap?” James whispered, letting his lips linger by Claudia’s ear.

“Because you have; I have nothing to worry about here.”

“I’ve never had sex with someone while pretending they’re someone else.” A blonde woman at the end smirked, looking at the man next to Albus who bit back a groan as he drank.

“It was one time Lucy.” He sighed, James laughed as he saw Claudia take a drink.

“Nothing to worry about hey.” He laughed, alerting everyone’s attention to her. “Who?”