Insufferable

Lirum sat in potions while listening to Professor Snape's lecture intently. If not for the fact they had his class so early, Penelope would certainly have continued her rant until lunch. At least then Lirum wouldn’t have had to climb up and down flights of stairs all day. On the bright side though, “a divination tutor will be assigned” to Lirum, since that is what started this mess to begin with.

“Mx. Ollivander, what ingredients are required for a Girding Potion?” Professor Snape inquired.

“Dragonfly thorax, flying seahorses, doxy eggs and fairy wings sir.” Lirum replied without even a pause to think of the answer, as the professor continued his walk to the front of the classroom. They couldn’t help but think of every interaction they have had with the stern teacher.

Professor Snape was one of the few teachers who used the prefix Mx. Instead of Ms. or Mr. when referring to Lirum, oddly enough. The only three who did so were Sprout and Trelawney. Their androgynous nature coming from their abilities as a Metamorphmagus, most teachers simply used their own prefix and pronouns, or assigned what they thought fit Lirum better. They had questioned if maybe his use of the word was to prove that he knew the third option as some sort of superiority complex. Or maybe he simply had a higher standard for himself. If so, he certainly chose an off place to draw his line in the sand given his treatment of the students in his classes. As he reached the front of the class he turned back and looked at his students.

“Precisely. I would Expect nothing less. Could you describe it?” He was testing them. They had always done well in his class. Potions was an easy class to grasp. From exact proportions and methods of preparation, everything had a reason. In an odd way, they actually enjoyed listening to the lectures. Unlike other professors, Snape did not teach the book verbatim.

Instead, dropping little pieces of insight on how to properly prepare ingredients and how they change when improperly processed. Information that comes with experience, not from a book. Lirum truthfully found him overly aggressive and condescending. But the information coming from him was invaluable. They figured out quickly in first year and made note to always pay close attention to what he said.

“A Girding Potion is a potion of moderate difficulty, used to prolong endurance. Typically green or red in color with a foul odor.” Lirum straightened in their chair, Having recited everything they could remember about the potion.

“Very well, it seems you may have been paying attention after all Mx. Ollivander. Make sure to keep it that way if you intend to pass this class.” Snape said, before continuing his lecture.

The rest of their classes continued on until it was time for them to meet their new divination tutor. Lirum knew the tutor had been hand picked by the Ravenclaw prefect herself, and had no doubt they would know the course in and out. But they couldn’t help but wonder who other than herself would she pick. Penelope Clearwater had always seemed the proud sort, and Lirum couldn’t imagine her recommending anyone else for the role of tutoring a Ravenclaw. They made their way to the library alone trying to think who they could be meeting, knowing they would be early but out of a mixture of fear of being late, and curiosity, they made their way along.

After arriving and finding a table to study at, they gathered their textbook and class notes from the last few days. Lirum sat waiting and snuck glances at the door often as they attempted to start their divination assignment. They weren’t quite sure when he appeared but across the table stood the Hufflepuff boy from divination. Hand outstretched and smile ready on his face.

“Hey, you must be Lirum Ollivander. The name’s Cedric, Cedric Diggory. I believe we’re table partners for divination right?” The brunette boy said, taking a seat across the table from Lirum.

“Yeah, I am. I guess that means we’re study partners now?” Lirum said awkwardly. “Hope the rash goes well?”

“Sure, Only problem is I don’t think either of us actually understand a word that woman was saying.” Cedric laughed so hard his head hit the table. “How they thought the Hufflepuff tutoring the Ravenclaw made sense is beyond me!”

“Well at least we have one thing right, we’re hopeless.” Lirum laughed watching the boy giggle. “The tea leaves seem to be predicting failure for both of us.”

“I mean what is she on about? If I have a rash tomorrow, I’ll eat my hat!” Cedric said as he sat back up and leaned against the chair.

“Yeah right! Come on, we need to at least try to study.” Lirum opened their copy of ‘Unfogging the Future’ by Cassandra Vablastky, and flipped to the Tessomancy section. “Ok now, let’s start with something simple. What does tea leaves presenting as a clover mean?”

“It means I’ll have a rash apparently.” Cedric cackled again.

“You’re not taking this seriously at all!” Lirum complained looking at their tutor who seemed to need just as much help as they did.

“Well, that is what the professor said after all.” Cedric shrugged, trying to hide his cheeky smile.

“You’re no help at all!” Lirum yelled, slamming the book closed.

“I don’t know why the professors thought I could teach you anything.” Cedric said awkwardly. “I mean you’re the Ravenclaw, the only thing I could really teach you is stop stressing out all the time.”

“Well, just being a Ravenclaw isn’t exactly helping now is it!” Cedric laughed which only angered Lirum more “It’s not funny!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you!” He called out.

“Well it’s a bit late for that now, isn’t it.” Lirum said throwing their things in their bag.

“You don’t have to be perfect at everything, Lirum. People have flaws.” Cedric said, trying to calm the angry Ravenclaw.

“I don’t get it at all and you’re not even trying to help me understand! You’re just making jokes and mocking me for trying!” Lirum argued as they stood from the table.

Lirum stormed out of the library refusing to look back and attempting to ignore Cedric calling for them to come back. As they swung the door open to flee the library they heard a voice approach.

“Skipping your study session now, are we Ollivander?” The voice belonged to Percy Weasley who marched down the hallway.

“Unfortunately, it seems the Mentor my prefect picked out doesn’t understand the material he’s meant to teach.” Lirum said through gritted teeth.

“Do you expect me to believe that? That Penelope picked out a tutor without even asking if they understood the subject! Utter rubbish! If you continue to speak I’ll of a school prefect so blatantly-“ Percy bellowed in the hall.

“You only care because she’s your girlfriend! Ask Cedric yourself he doesn’t understand divination and refused to take my time and effort in attempting to understand it seriously! Now if you’ll get out of my way I’m going back to my common room before-“ Lirum shot back, still angry from their study session.

“How dare you speak to me like that! I am a school prefect and as is Penelope, neither of us would ever let personal matters sway our judgment!” Percy snapped.

“After you speak to Cedric I hope you feel like a twat!” Lirum snapped back viciously.

“I will be having a conversation with Mr Diggory to see if he will even consider continuing your tutoring after your behavior today and your disrespect of his time by sneaking out.” Percy continued not thinking for a second.

“Oh Rowena, you pompous prat I did not sneak out!” Lirum shouted as they turned to walk away.

“That’s detention for you Ollivander! Watch your mouth and who you’re talking to.” Percy bellowed as Lirum stormed away.

Lirum marched toward Ravenclaw Tower refusing to give that arrogant arse another second of their time. They flew up the stairs and stopped to catch their breath and calm themself on the landing. The door to the corridor swung open to reveal two troublemakers standing there grins on their faces.

“Oi Lirum just who we wanted to see!” Fred chimed arm thrown lazily over George’s shoulder.

The last thing Lirum wanted was more unwanted attention. The twins were nothing but that.

“What’s wrong little Miss Perfect? Did your study date not go as planned?” George asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“Please just leave me alone, the both of you.” Lirum attempted to dip past them only to be pulled back. Now with a twin at either side squished between them.

“Where do you think your going Mister.” Fred chimed as they felt the arms shift from their shoulders to under their arms hoisting them off the ground.

“You to are truly insufferable do you know that? Please just let me down. I don’t have the patience or energy for you right now.” Lirum snapped, agitated. They felt the boys lower them to the ground but not fully release them, or give them a chance to leave.

“So are you gonna tell us?” The Gryffindor twins asked in tandem; an arm around each others’ shoulder, blocking the space between them.

“Tell you what?” Lirum fumed, and waited; looking for any chance to escape through the wall the twins had formed from their lanky limbs.

“What’s got you so worked up of course!” Fred spoke as he moved to the side, placing an arm against the wall; pushing Lirum back and blocking the door from another escape attempt.

“Not everyday we see steam pouring from your ears!” George joked, and dropped his arm from Fred’s shoulder, nudging and pulling him back to center.

“Even worse, their hair is still brown. A real shame. The green suits them better.” Fred spoke to George, leaning slightly back towards Lirum when he teased.

“I just want to go to bed. Please get out of my way.” Lirum pleaded, exhausted from arguing. Feeling surrounded and cornered by the twins for their interrogation.

“Tell us what’s wrong and you’re free to go dear.” George spoke, motioning to the door.

“Don’t call me dear! And why don’t you ask the arrogant twit of a prefect you call your brother or the idiot he chose the be my tutor!” Lirum shouted as they shoved past the twins. Shock written over both of their faces as they looked up at each other.

“Oh Percy’s gone and done it now, never seen 'em’ that mad!” Was all they heard behind them as they made their way to Ravenclaw tower.

Quickly they arrived at the large doors. The bronze eagle knocker came to life and spoke, “Where do vanished objects go?”

“Into the nothing,” Lirum answered exasperatedly, just wanting to go to bed.

“Incorrect!” hearing that, Lirum’s head snapped up in the direction of the now inanimate eagle.

“What do you mean! Of course it’s right! Let me in! You know I’m a Ravenclaw!” They banged on the door begging for it to open. “Into nothing! Which is to say, everything. See! I know the answer, please…please just open.” They screamed and hit the door as hard as they could hoping someone inside would open the door. “My answer was right. Just because I didn’t say it exactly like you wanted. This is bullshit!” Their head snapped behind them when they heard a normally cheery voice come out stern.

“Mr. Ollivander this sort of behavior is not acceptable, nor that sort of language befitting a student. You should know that if you answer incorrectly you need to wait patiently for another student to come or if you’re in a hurry go enlist the help from another student to answer correctly.” Lirum fully turned around to face Professor Flitwick, their head of house. His strict and disappointed air showed in his demeanor. “Screaming, throwing a tantrum, and using profanity are simply unacceptable behavior and I hope you will accept your detention with more grace.” Petrified by those words, Lirum fell back against the large set of doors behind them.