Singletons' Problems: When you are in danger of owning too many cats.

2017 Resolutions: Write a minimum of 300 drabbles this year; Write at least one drabble/one-shot for all the characters listed in 'Harry Potter Characters' on

365 words: Princess

Writing Club: Genre - Humour

Word Count: 771

Clowder

James stoked the ginger cat in his arms gently as he manoevered her into the carry case.

"You are going to have so much fun at home with your new friends," he cooed, closely the cage as she let out a heartbreaking meow. "Don't worry, sweet, when we're home you can come out."

"Mr Potter," the sales lady said, breaking James' enchantment with his new pet. "Here's a card. If you have any questions about taking care of your new cat, don't hesitate to give us a call."

James nodded his head, picking up one of the toys on display at the counter.

"I think I'll take this too," James told her. "My little princess here needs to have a toy to play with when I'm out at work, don't you?"

James poked his finger through the cage door and his cat nibbled on the end of his finger affectionately.

"If that's everything, that will be £105.99," she told him.

James laughed lightly, removing his finger from the cage and reaching into his jacket pocket for his wallet.

"Do you accept visa debit cards, Wilhelmina?" he asked, checking her name tag and holding up his card.

"Yes, Sir, we accept all major credit and debit cards," she replied, picking up the card machine and passing it to James.

James eagerly placed his card into the machine and input his number, smiling as it was accepted.

"Well, Mr Potter," she said as he took out his card, "you're all set to go."

"Thank you," James replied, picking up the cage and walking out of the pet store, eager to introduce his new kitten to the rest of his cats. He just knew his little ginger nut was going to fit in perfectly.

~o~o~o~

"Well, little one, this is home," James said, setting the cage down on the coffee table and opening it. He smiled to himself as Bulbasaur, his first cat, nuzzled up against his leg.

He reached into the cage and scooped up his new kitten, the baby of his ever expanding family.

"Do you want to meet you new friends, little one?" James cooed, stroking her underneath the chin as she purred in agreement.

"Okay so over here, we have Eevee, Ditto, Charmander, Lapras, Arcanine, Vulpix, and Celebi," James said, pointing to the seven cats who were lounging around on the window sill. "And, over there we have, Gengar, Mewtwo, Jigglypuff, Sylveon, Abra, Alakazam, and Rockruff."

The cat by his legs continued to rub against his legs."Oh and this little guy is Bulbasaur."

James moved back to the couch and sat down, wondering where his other cats were. He sighed figuring the lazy kitties were sleeping on his bed as a few of his cats pranced over to him for attention.

"What should we call you then?" he asked the kitten who was curling up on his lap. "You look like a Pikachu. Is that your name? Pikachu?"

The kitten purred on his lap and James too that as a yes.

"Welcome to your new home, Pikachu," James said as the front door to his apartment opened.

"What the devil?" the voice of his roommate, Sirius, exclaimed loudly. "James, why is there a clowder of cats in our apartment?"

"I bought them," James answered. "And aren't they adorable? I have Bulbasaur, Eevee, Charmander—"

"James, I don't want to know the names of your cats," Sirius snapped. "You have a problem. When I left two weeks ago, you had two cats, and now you have a clowder. You don't see anything wrong with that?"

"No," James said, showering his cats with attention and appreciating the love and affection he got in return. "They love and need me, and I need them. There's nothing wrong with that."

Sirius sighed and ran his hand through his hair, realising what the problem was.

"It's because you're single, isn't it?" Sirius asked. "You've been on a slippery slope ever since Lily broke up with you, and now you're trying to replace human affection with cats. Well it's not going to work."

"Of course it's not because I'm single. That's not what I'm doing. I love and need these cats and if you don't like it, you can move out," James snapped, scooping Pikachu into his arms and storming off to his bedroom, closely followed by his clowder.

He carefully sat down on his bed and greeted the rest of his cats, and lay down.

"Don't listen to the mean man," James cooed as they nuzzled up against him. "You are my cats and I love you. And I most certainly do not have a problem."