The little blue haired boy watched the balloon float upwards, bobbling happily in the wind
xxx
"Lily, no, you can't wear your shoes on your head, they're new."
"MY HAIR!"
"James, I said, let go of Rose's hair!"
"Muuum, Hugo said he liked his trainers better then mine."
"Say thank you to the nice man for the balloon, Al. And no, Vicky, you don't need a pink balloon. Take the blue and say thank you also."
"Thanks you for the bllue balloon-which-would-have-been-much-nicer-if-it-was -pretty-pink."
"Umm, you're welcome, Miss?"
"Remind me why I decided to take all ten of you shopping, again?"
"'cos you love us, Mummy."
"One, two, three, fou-JAMES POTTER stop! five, six, seven, eight, Hold onto your balloon a little tighter, Al it's going to fly away. Nine? There you are, Molly and ten and eleven. Everyone has their balloons? Teddy? TEDDY? Where are you going and where's your balloon? You're not getting another."
"I know, Aunt Ginny."
xxx
up-up-up the little red speck is soaring past rooftops now
touching the clouds
squint into the baby blue sky and the tiniest hint of red is still there
xxx
"So darling, what do you think you're doing with it?"
"Lil and Al and James will share with you and uncle Harry, Hugo and Rose can share and give one to Aunt 'Mione and Ron, Fred and Roxy and Vicky can share with their parents, so can Molly and Luce-"
"So, get to the point?"
"Cut it out, Fred."
"Sheesh, just a joke."
"But my Mummy and Daddy don't have balloons up there, so I can give them mine. Don't worry, I don't need one."
xxx
Red dot swallowed by blue sky. The little boy looks up and hopes that they like their balloon
