James had the advantage (disadvantage?) of seeing his doom emerge from the crowd with the most livid expression he'd seen in at least a month.
Before he could even form the usual excuses from memory, his wand was also soaring through the air for Ginny to catch. For one terrible moment he was afraid she'd snap it in half on the spot.
But then she was storming across the platform with Albus peeking out from behind her with a look that held actual pity as he quietly sneaked up to place Hal's cage back on the trolley.
"James. Sirius. Potter."
James managed a weak smile for an instant. "Look! Aren't you proud? I'm already making friends!" He knew he was digging his own grave, but he couldn't stop the words from spilling out. "And you were afraid I wouldn't get along with the other kids. Of all the ideas...!"
Ginny turned quickly to offer the girl's mother an apology before rounding back on James. She didn't seem to have the words to even begin to rage at the moment. James took advantage of that to look around quickly for his dad.
For his only hope.
Lily-Lu might be helpful, too. He couldn't imagine that his mum would want her to see his murder, so that might buy him a few days of continued living.