Hooked - James Sirirus Potter.

Chapter Nine

Claudia felt awkward as she sat amongst half of James’ relatives. The female half that was; Vicki and her sister Dom were sitting at the vanity plaiting their hair into intricate crowns as Lily lounged over the foot of the bed looking at the pile of shoes on the floor with Roxy and Lucy.

“Are you coping?” Rose asked, stepping into the room just behind her.

“Yeah!” she grinned, hoping she’d miss the blatant lie. “There’s so many of you.”

“It is not often Vicki makes it out anywhere anymore; so when she does we all do.”

“Apart from Molly.” Lily stated, looking up at them. “She’s ready to pop!”

“Yeah I hope I don’t become an aunty when I’m too drunk to spell it.” Lucy grinned, moving her black hair over her shoulder. “I’m worried she’ll pick some weird name for the kid too.”

“Why?” Claudia asked, feeling as though she should carry on the conversation.

“Well we’re half Chinese and she’s married this Japanese bloke; she’s always hated having such an English name when we don’t look it… our Dad’s called Percy; of course we’re called Molly and Lucy!” she stressed throwing her hands in the air. “Dad thinks it’s all P.C. for Molly to call the baby something like Mulan.”

“It does count as racial stereotyping when it comes from you.” Dom stated, pointing at her cousin. “No matter what you say.”

“Anyway…” Lucy sighed, turning around fully and looking at Claudia. “Lily said you’re shagging James.”

“What?!” Claudia shrieked as Lily pinched her cousin.

“I said he wants to shag her.” She corrected, before grabbing a pair of shoes from the floor and raising them up to Lucy. “These go with your outfit.”

“Don’t you work with James?” Roxy asked, ignoring Lily and Lucy as they spoke loudly about the shoes. “So you can’t shag him anyway.”

“Exactly.” Claudia said feeling suddenly helpless and seriously out manoeuvred. “Even if I wanted too – which I don’t, I couldn’t.”

“Yeah.” Dominique said beginning to giggle. “And she couldn’t tell you anyway Rox; Rose is here.”

“I work in HR.” She shrugged, “I’ve had to fire people when they’ve been caught at it at work before.”

“Well, if nothing else tonight is the first time in a while I feel stupid.” Claudia stated, looking around what was once her tidy bedroom. “I need a drink.”

“Are you going to wear jeans?” Vicki asked, following her into the kitchen.

“I was, why?” she frowned, looking down herself… white floaty vest, jeans and heels.

“I saw you had some cute little shorts in your wardrobe, why don’t you wear those? I bet you have amazing legs.”

“Won’t it be a little cold?”

“Bah.” Vicki shrugged; “We witches have our ways; let me get my wand and you’ll be deathly jealous.”

Claudia watched as her long blonde hair floated out behind her as she strode back into the bedroom, passing Rose as she came towards her with an empty glass. Spinning around and trying to twist the cork from the bottle, Claudia looked up trying to stop the tears that pricked at her eyes; she’d always be deathly jealous.

 “Are you alright?” Rose asked, this woman was far too observant. “Did Vicki say something? She’s just so perfect she forgets not everyone’s happy with themselves.”