Quidditch
After class Cedric walked Lirum to the Hufflepuff common room. They looked up to see the giddy boy practically skipping.
“Do you really believe no one will notice the random Ravenclaw in your common room? Things like this are strictly forbidden.” Lirum whisper-shouted, rushing to stay behind him.
“You can look like anyone and you’re worried people might recognize you? Just take my scarf and cover the house seal of your robes.” He said, tossing his scarf back to the metamorphmagus.
“I-um- I guess I hadn’t thought about that-well my robes are still lined blue!” Lirum argued as the struggled to keep up with the slightly more athletic boy.
“Then borrow some of mine. You act like everyone will think we’re necking on” Lirum could feel themself turning red, ears burning at the comment.
“Oh too popular to snog the not so special Ravenclaw now?” Lirum teased trying to regain composure.
“Why were you looking forward to it? Also, I like the new found confidence ’not so special Ravenclaw’, it suits you better. One might even call you witty.” Cedric turned to face Lirum talking with his hands, gesturing to them while walking backwards before stopping in front of the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room.
“I was not! You’re the one who brought it up to begin with.” The Ravenclaw defended, watching the smirk on Cedric’s face grow before storming into the common room.
“Who’s yelling-What did you do? Their hair almost matches mine!” A heavily confused Tonks sat on a couch surrounded by plants.
The more Lirum looked, it appeared it might not just be the couch. It was very cozy, unlike the rigid Ravenclaw tower covered in sharp lines of bookshelves, tables to study on, and chess boards. The Hufflepuff common room was softly lined with homely furniture surrounded by plants and warm lights. It felt lived in and loved.
“I might have accidentally flirted… again?” A guilty Cedric spoke, rubbing the back of his head.
“It’s nothing personal, he's just dumb and straight.” Tonks said as they laid back on the couch.
“Wait-my hair is pink!?” Lirum shouted when caught their reflection in a mirror while taking in the scenery.
“It’s cute. Now let’s get those robes changed. You’re undercover, don’t want to be recognized. Remember, you’re a Hufflepuff today.” The Hufflepuff boy chimed, starting to pull Lirum towards the stairs they assumed lead to the dorms. Before getting stopped again by Tonks.
“You’re going to bring them to your dorm room alone? Together? You’re still a bit young-” Tonks questioned.
“It’s not like that!-he’s not-I mean i’m not-I mean like we’re not…um.” Lirum panicked not knowing what to say.
“Not what?” Tonks said from her place on the couch.
“Gay-“”an item” Lirum and Cedric said at the same time, head snapping toward each other not knowing what to say.
“Uh…I think Cedric said it better.” Lirum said refusing to make eye contact with anyone but the wood floorboards.
“What’s gay about the two of you?” Tonks mused.
“You just insinuated we’d be snogging at minimum!” Lirum defended
“I wouldn’t necessarily call that gay though either, I mean queer maybe, but you’re not a boy so gay wouldn’t quite fit. Unless you wanted it to. It could even be straight if you went that way.” Despite sharing world changing knowledge, Tonks still laid on the couch, feet hanging over one end, arms over the other, seemingly completely unbothered; leaving Cedric and Lirum both blushing messes. Lirum swore their whole body felt like it was on fire at this point.
“I’ll just give them the robes and wait outside!” Cedric said, running into a room and coming out after a few moments.
“Do you really think those are gonna fit Lirum? You're quite a bit bulkier given the whole sports thing.” Tonks said, still unmoving from the couch.
“Well would you suggest giving them yours? You're too short, they’ll stop mid shin at most! Maybe even show a little knee!” Cedric argued with the senior metamorphmagus.
“It’s fine, I can deal with baggy robes.” Lirum said before going into the room alone to change. Stepping back out they heard giggling. The giggling became full blown laughter as the door clicked behind them.
“People are gonna think you’re a Weasley!” Tonks said laughing so hard they fell off the couch.
“What why?” Lirum looked behind the two Hufflepuffs Cedric doing a much better job of hiding his laughter.
“Red hair and hand me down robes? You must be a weasley!” Cedric mocked “If they were Gryffindor you wouldn’t be able to convince anyone you weren’t one.” He said through fits of laughter.
“My hair is not red?” Lirum said confused
“It is not you! That pompous brat of a cousin I have yelled it at the youngest Weasley boy on sorting night! Oh please make it red!“ Tonks said from their newest spot, doubled over on the floor.
“All of my friends are bullies. Let’s just go.” Lirum said, making their way to the door, ignoring any other Hufflepuffs that might have been in the common rooms
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Cedric gestured to Tonks, now laid out on the floor.
“What?” Lirum said confused
“You never asked them to come to the game.” Cedric said
“You didn’t do that before you suggested we go together or at least when I was changing!” Lirum yelled at Cedric
“Why are we yelling now!” Tonks joined from the floor.
“Lirum wants to know if you’ll come watch the Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor game with them, come cheer me on.” Cedric said, presenting it like it was Lirum’s idea to begin with. Earning a glare from the disguised Ravenclaw.
“You’re going to a sporting event, and on top of that you want to go with people? That doesn’t fit what I’ve heard of you. Did you finally decide to live your life?” Tonks said as they rose from the floor.
“I-I have been living my life!” Lirum defended, making their way out of the door followed by Tonks and Cedric.
“You were living as a ‘Ravenclaw’ before, you’re living as Lirum now”, Tonks said with a shrug.
“I’m starting to regret agreeing to come.” Lirum claimed despite both Hufflepuffs knowing that was a lie.
“Too late, you already promised! I have to go catch up with the rest of the team before the game!” The brunet boy shouted back as ran ahead. Quickly disappearing into the mess of students on their wait to the quidditch pitch.
The two metamophmagi made their way to the rickety wooden stands of the pitch. Climbing into the black and canary yellow section surrounded by students Lirum didn’t know, it was all quite loud.
“Should we take a seat or stand to watch?” Lirum asked the seventh year.
“We should sit, this might take a while. Was there anything you wanted to talk about?” Tonks said as they took their seat and patted the one beside them.
“If we’re talking how will we know what’s going on?” Lirum asked, taking their seat beside Tonks.
“Trust me, you’ll know. How are things going with your gaggle of Weasleys?” The older said pointing to the troublesome twin beaters on the Gryffindor team.
“We had a chat. I think we’re friends now?” Lirum said as they watched the boys fly past fighting with the bludger.
“And the perfect prefect Percy?” Tonks joked, nudging Lirum’s attention back to them.
“Believe it or not, he apologized and he’s been genuinely nice since then”, Lirum responded honestly.
“Oooo, you have a crush?” Tonks ruffled Lirum’s hair, giving them a view of their now red hair. Embarrassed and a little angry, they crossed their arms and moved away slightly.
“W-what? No! He's like, 2 years older than me!” Lirum defended. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re not a girl? You let me call you she and her the whole day at the lake!” Lirum demanded they try to get their attention.
“Because I use both idiot. Do you really think I would just sit there and let you do something wrong the whole time! Never said something once that wouldn’t fit me at all! Come ‘er you're not getting out of this that easy.” Tonks said as she pulled Lirum back to their side.
The crowd started getting louder, stealing Lirum’s attention back to the game. Watching none other than Cedric and the first year Harry diving for the snitch. The whole stand was cheering for Cedric as he took the lead, almost touching it. When suddenly, one of the twins hit the bludger straight towards the pair of seekers, causing Lirum to jump from their seat as Cedric hit the ground and the twins wizzed back past the stands, close enough for Lirum to tell it was Fred gloating about successfully knocking the Hufflepuff seeker down.
“He’ll be alright. It happens.” Tonks said and rose to stand beside them.
“Is this really a safe sport? I mean, how many kids get hurt every game?” Lirum asked nervously before hearing the announcement that Gryffindor had caught the golden snitch, meaning the game was over.
“That was barely 20 minutes! You’re tell me, you all get dressed up in school colors and make your way to the pitch, for less time than a single class?” Lirum was beyond confused; the Ravenclaw team took hours sometimes before the common room would be full again.
“You got lucky! It was a short game. Sometimes it takes hours of them chasing the snitch. Cedric will probably be upset though. Not only did you watch him take a hit, but fall and lose at the game he personally invited you to. We should head over to the outlet for the players and meet him. At the very least, having us wait for him should cushion the blow.” With those words Tonks grabbed Lirum’s wrist and dragged them from the stands to go wait.
“Do you really think he’ll be upset?” Lirum asked nervously. They really had no idea how to help someone in this situation.
“He probably won't cry or show it at all, but it’s gotta sting”, Tonks answered. Lirum had come to realize, Tonks cares about people far more than they let on. Unless someone she cares about is upset, then you get full blown protective mode.
The pair watched as players started to pour from the pitch; sets of red and yellow waking out together. Lirum noticed something, someone else waiting for the players. Curly red hair and freckles gave away his identity well before you could notice the prefect pin.
Percy Weasley stood waiting. Was he supposed to walk the Gryffindors back to their common room? Or maybe he was there to collect his brothers. That’s what Lirum believed until they saw the Gryffindor team captain break off to meet him separately.
“ OH! HE IS GA-” Lirum exclaimed, quickly getting their mouth covered by Tonks who jerked them back. Immediately realizing what they had almost done turned them an even more impossible shade of red.
“Merlin! You need a filter”, Tonks said exasperated.
“Look who came to cheer us on! “ Lirum heard in chorus behind them. They turned to see the twins looking smug as ever.
“ I told you I saw a bunny in the stands! It was them I saw in the Hufflepuff section! 10 galleons!” Fred cheered, happily reaching a hand out to make back what he had lost.
“10 galleons.” George said, handing back his mornings winnings. “You just couldn’t wait to see us come, you thumper! And what’s with this?” George spoke, reaching to mess up their fluffy red hair
“Trying to look like a Weasley now? Your colors are a bit too pink dear. And what’s with the robes? If you needed a disguise, I would have much preferred you take mine.” Fred joined in teasing Lirum.
“It wasn’t on purpose and it’s Cedric’s fault, he asked me to come watch.” Lirum explained while trying to fix their hair.
“Wasn’t on purpose?” George asked, taking his hand back and crossing his arms.
“It turns red the more embarrassed they get.” Tonks said, throwing a wink towards the twins.
“I-It does not! It’s all Cedric’s fault anyway! It would have never done this, nor would I be here without him!” The Ravenclaw, who’s hair had now turned Gryffindor red, defended.
“Cedric? Like the Hufflepuff seeker, Cedric?” Fred asked, crossing his arms.
“Yes, he’s a friend of mine. I didn’t really want to come and really didn’t want to be recognized, but he asked and told me he’d let me borrow his robes so no one would notice. So now I’m here.” Lirum explained and gestured from the robes to the players leaving the pitch.
“Well if you’re waiting up here for him you’re in the wrong spot, love. He took a pretty nasty fall. Went right to the hospital wing.” George said, pointing them back to the castle.
“It’s too late in the day for visitors in the hospital wing, so you might want to just head to bed, dear. You have assignments and early morning chess before class, remember?” Fred urged.
Lirum looked back to Tonks who nodded, he was right. Lirum would remember to ask Cedric how he was doing the next time they saw each other, but first they would go home, finish their assignments, study, and rest like they were originally supposed to.