Hooked - James Sirirus Potter.

Chapter Twenty Eight

“Rosie, what are you doing here?” Hermione gushed, standing up and throwing her arms around her daughter as she walked into the kitchen. “I wasn’t expecting you tonight.”

“I’ve got some gossip, and I need to share it and who else is better than you?” she grinned, sitting down and resting her chin in her hands. “Hello Hugo.”

“Rosie.” Hugo grinned, walking through the kitchen and patting the top of her head and kissing Hermione on the cheek. “Mother.”

“He’s in a good mood.” Rose stated, watching as he ran up the stairs at the end of the corridor.

“He said he had a dream where you and Scorp didn’t have children so he didn’t have to talk to him again.” Hermione sighed shaking her head.

“He’s a ray of sunshine.” She muttered.

“So who is this gossip regarding?” Hermione sighed, “You know I don’t like gossip, but you’re so excited.”

“It’s about James.”

“What has he done now?” Hermione sighed, “He gives them regular heart attacks… Ginny likes this Claudia though, he’s not messed it up has he?”

“I processed a new contract for her today.” Rose said with a smile, “She’s moving to the Cambridge office on twice as much as she’s on now.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Sixty Three.” Rose Whispered as Hermione’s jaw dropped.

“But Cambridge, how is James going to manage that with Paige as well.” Hermione sighed shaking her head, “He can’t finish work and go straight over, Paige needs to come first.”

“I don’t know how they’re going to manage but he came back smelling of her shampoo and was staring into space.”

“You mean they had sex?” Hermione asked shaking her head, “While they were supposed to be at work?”

“No Claudia’s still off recovering from the hospital stay; she begins work again on Monday.” Rose shrugged, “James went to take the contract to her and came back like it with the contract signed and dated.”

“She sounds a bit easy.”

“She’s incredibly smart.” Rose shrugged, “I recon she could give Grandpa a run for his money on dentistry.”

“Is she a dentist then?” Hermione asked.

“No, but you know what I mean. She seems to know a lot about everything.” She sighed leaning back in the chair. “You are crap at gossip.”

“My best friends were your father and your Uncle Harry… what do you expect?” Hermione laughed, “Speaking of which your Dad might want to gossip, I think it comes with having lots of siblings.”

“I think he loves her.”

“James?”

“Yeah, when we went out a few months ago his face just changed when he saw her. Everything about him lit up and it was infectious.” Rose smiled, “She might need a little help though.”

---

Claudia felt delicious.

Her body was humming in delight as she walked through London towards a taxi. Nothing could make her feel like crap today, even the slight weakness that still took hold on occasion didn’t bother her. Under one arm she was holding a slim envelope with a few documents in secured to the top of a box, in the other she was gripping her overflowing handbag.

“Where to love?” The cabbie asked, with a smile she gave him James’ address and relaxed back into the seat. “Off to feed your man?”

Looking at the box on her lap, the logo of the bakery emblazed on one side she grinned. “Yes, he loves a good cheesecake.”

“Sounds like a keeper.” He laughed amiably.

After a few minutes they pulled up to the corner of James’ street, slipping him a note she glided from the car and started towards the house. Number 13. She wondered what was going to happen now, what life was going to be like… but she knew with James and Paige, it was going to be fun.

Knocking on the front door, panic swept over her. She’d not told James she was coming, what if she got here only to find he wasn’t even in? God she needed to get him a mobile phone for situations like this, if he’s not in then she’d eat all the cheesecake herself.

“Claudie!” Paige shouted, swinging the door wide open. “What are you doing here; Dad didn’t say you were coming!”

“Surprise!” she laughed, hugging her tightly. “I’ve brought some cheesecake!”

“Yes!” she cheered, leading her into the house as she yawped to her Dad.

“I didn’t expect you.” James grinned, appearing through one of the doors and making her heart skip a beat.

Was it possible for him to look more handsome than she remembered? “Hopefully not a bad thing?”

“Never.” He grinned, leaning down and kissing her lips. “Paige said cheesecake?”

“Here.” She laughed, feeling dizzy from the affection and passing the box to him. “It’s a plain one.”

“We can make our own then.” He smiled, wrapping an arm around her and leading her into the kitchen. “I’ve got three helpers today.”

“Oh hello!” Claudia laughed coming into the kitchen and seeing Paige sitting neatly between two boys. “Are they Teddy’s?”

“Jack and Will.” James nodded pointing to the elder and then the younger, “This is my friend Claudia.”

“Why were you kissing her?” Jack asked, wrinkling his nose up. “That’s gross.”

“Because I like to kiss her.” James answered back, “She’s special to Paige and I… and she’s brought cheesecake.”

“Yes!” the two boys cheered, before Jack piped up “Can I put chocolate on it?”

“I think so.” James smiled, putting the box in the middle of the table. “Will, what do you want on yours?”

“Jam.” He grinned as Paige laughed.

“Jam goes on sandwiches!” she stated, “Daddy, can I have jam on mine too?”

“You three can have whatever you want.” He shrugged, waving his wand as the sauces flew from the cupboards. “Just don’t tell Mummy.”

“Can we tell Claudia?” Jack asked, “She’s not a Mummy.”

“You can tell me anything.” She laughed as he nodded; a naughty smile on his face.

“Claudia’s my second Mummy.” Paige stated, “So I can tell her things first, you two second.”

“I think we’ve just been given the nod to carry this on.” James whispered into her ear as they watched the three children massacre their slices of cheesecake, his arm wrapped securely around her waist.

“Me too.” She smiled, leaning against him. “Shall we trial a sleep over?”

“Where?” James smirked, dropping his voice lower.

“Here first I think, get her used to me being here and then maybe the house in Cambridge.” She shrugged, as he nodded his agreement. “Good plan, Mr Potter.”

“Brilliant plan, Dr Cross.”