Hooked - James Sirirus Potter.

Chapter Twenty Nine... a year or so later

Waving her arm in the air, Claudia smiled as Paige gave her one last grin before darting into the school building and out of the cold. Burrowing her hands back into her pockets, she turned and started the short walk to the ministry lab’s just a five minutes’ walk from the school; it was why she’d decided upon it.

Glancing up at the grey clouds, she took note of the strange colour above her and decided one thing. “It’s going to snow.” She said out loud to no one in particular, though a few people close enough to hear did glance up and grumble too.

Her new boots though good for the cold, weren’t going to pass muster in the snow. They were knee high, laced, brown leather with an acceptable grip on them.  Neither were her gloves thinking about it; she’d given them to Paige on the way to school as she’d left hers in James’ coat pockets over the weekend.

Pushing the door open, she stepped through and relaxed with the heat, a large smile settling over her face as she breezed up the three flights of stairs and dropped her bag by her desk.

“What on earth are you smiling about?” Ken asked, his face contorted into his usual confused frown. “We work on the third floor, the lift is broken and the ministry isn’t sending anyone out ‘til Monday and it looks like snow.”

“I have no idea.” She shrugged, unravelling her scarf and tucking it into the pocket of her coat. “How are you today Ken, there was almost a smile for a second.”

“There’s fresh tea.” He stated, turning his back to her and walking away to wherever he actually worked… he was a wanderer.

The day passed smoothly and before she realised lunch arrived, as did a visitor. “Claudia!” Mel’s voice echoed over the lab, “Your bloke is here.”

Lifting her goggles, she turned to the stair well and saw James’ head emerge with pink cheeks. “Does anything ever work here? Hi Mel.”

“Hi Mr Claudia.” She grinned, waving as he passed.

“What are you doing here?” Claudia smiled, reaching out and pulling him into her little cave by the windows.

“I thought you might like some cheesecake.” He shrugged, pulling it out of a bag and putting it on her desk causing her to moan happily in anticipation. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“You know me too well.” She smiled, looking up as he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “How’s the team?”

“Awful, incompetent… I can’t think of anymore words to describe them.” He sighed shaking his head, “You definitely got the better end of this deal.”

“Yes, but I also got Ken.” She laughed, as James looked around. “He’ll come the second you leave and make some nonsense joke about you.”

“Why is it nonsense?”

“Because I never get it.” She laughed, opening the cheesecake eagerly.

“Before your salad?” he asked, nodding his head to the lunch box.

“The thought of it makes me feel sick.” She admitted, “It’s the cucumber, why I don’t know but I tried to take a bite earlier and I nearly threw up.”

“Are you coming down with something?” he frowned, putting his hand to her head. “You don’t feel warm, or look ill… in fact Claudia, you’re looking extraordinarily do-able.”

“Don’t.” she laughed, biting her lip. “I’ve got to work for the rest of the afternoon and can’t thinking of you like that.”

His hazel eyes sparkled with humour as he pulled over her salad to pick through. “I’ll eat this then, you raid the bag.”