* * * *

C H E E R F U L

Hard to Explain .

The clinking of glass brought James out of his reverie.

“Jamesypoo, Sweetums, be a dear and fetch me more of the sparkling cider for me?”

He stared at his great-aunt for a long moment before moving to the kitchen. The party was depressingly boring; he almost wished that he could’ve caught Sirius’ illness so he could have missed the party too.

“Why so glum, my boy?” his Uncle Bernard’s rotund belly nudged James’ lithe form aside as he squeezed by. “This is a party, you should be happy and celebrating your cousin’s birthday!”

James merely shrugged and rejoined the adults.