Studying
Lirum sat in muggle study’s reading, listening to the lecture, writing notes preparing for their exams later this week. Time was ticking down until Christmas break, but they had a few more exams which meant extra study time, and more time with Percy who was slowly growing on them. And less time for antics with the twins. As it turns out the boys were telling the truth about being in their muggle study’s class. They could be heard pestering, and calling trying to get Lirum’s attention but the Ravenclaw chose to ignore it. Grades come first even above the needy redheads, as hard as they turned out to be.
“Hey! you know you already get too marks yeah Bunny,” Fred said again trying to steal Lirum’s attention from their notes.
“Not to mention Thumper’s stuffy little library date with prefect I mean Percy later.” George teased nudging his brother who looked very discontent with his brother.
“Exams are in less than a week. You should be studying as well.” Lirum corrected them, not looking up from their notes, and waving off the twins.
“We get decent marks, not top of the class like you, but still good enough.” Fred said quietly, trying to scoot his desk closer. Taking a peak at what Lirum was working on before stealing the parchment from their desk, quickly passing it to George behind him.
“You study all the time inside and out of class you can miss ten minutes! Make up for it after lights out. We only have three classes together after all. We shouldn’t waste it time is galleons after all.” George said peeking from behind Fred. Storing the parchment in his pocket.
“Tough talk from two boys with 10 galleons between them. You pass it between the two of you for every bet. However you are correct about time being precious, and I value my sleep too much to pull an all nighter. I study in class, and after class, and with Percy, so I can climb in my bed and go straight to sleep after supper.” Lirum argued unrelentingly, trying to steal their paper back from George.
“Watch your hands love, we're a bit young and people might start to talk.” George said causing heat to radiate off Lirum in waves.
“Oy! Don’t be thick you git!” The older town said jabbing the younger
“I wouldn’t dream of it Fred. They were the ones reaching for my pocket after all.” Said George taking a step back from Fred who turned back to face Lirum. He had also turned quite red, though they couldn’t tell if it was embarrassment or anger.
“Your hair is as red as your face again.” Fred said, now visibly annoyed.
“Well it’s not like I can really control that now can I! Maybe stop teasing me so much and you won’t have to see it. Now give me my papers and let me focus.” Lirum argued, getting a little frustrated themselves now.
“Come on, class is almost over. You could spare a few minutes for a friendly chat.” Fred persisted looking at Lirum with pleading eyes.
“After all, you set aside time to go to a quidditch match for Cedric.” George hadn’t let that fact go since their conversation at the pitch.
“Fine. Did you have something you actually wanted to talk to me about or are you just begging for attention.” Lirum glared at the boys. It had been weeks of ‘You’d do it for Cedric but not us’ and it was beginning to great Lirum’s last nerve.
“I wanted to confirm the rules of our bet.” Fred spoke, fixing himself to sit straight up.
“You have to beat me in a fair game of wizards chess. If you can do that before the end of Christmas break we’ll officially be friends. Why?” Lirum answered, confused, setting down their quill. They could tell the twins where plotting something but hadn’t the faintest idea as to what it might be.
“You told him he could ask for help right?” George chimed in from behind.
“Within reason, they can’t play for you, that would be cheating, but you can ask for help, if you’re willing to admit you need it that is.” Lirum said smugly, doubting there would be a time he would actually admit it.
“Brilliant! That’s all we needed to know!” The twins chorused and rushed out of the classroom with no explanation.
“Wait! What about my notes! Give me my parchment back George!…Well that’s concerning,” Lirum said to themself packing up their thing’s getting ready to go to the library.
Lirum’s trip to the library was quick. The hallways were quiet as most students were off to their dorms to study. They pushed open the large set of doors to the library, taking a deep breath in the smell of old wood and bound books.
“Now where are you gonna be?” They spoke weaving through the shelves gathering a few books.
After grabbing all the books they had on their list they headed to their normal table. Sorting through their stacks making sure to leave enough room for the pair to exchange notes during their study session. They took out the book they deemed most necessary right now. Lirum hoped to make some progress on their exam studies in the time before Percy would arrive.
They read though occasionally taking notes on things they hadn’t read before, or didn’t remember reading if they had. For some time not noticing a thing outside the book in one hand and the quill in the other. Until they began to hear the clicking of shoes on hardwood. At first they thought it would be Percy showing up early but the steps were light and quick. Percy was heavy footed for such a thin lanky boy he practically stomped around everywhere this was different.
“Excuse me, I need that book” looking up from their studies they saw a young girl with bushy brown hair and Gryffindor robes.
“Oh, which one were you looking for?” Lirum asked to give one of the unoccupied books to the young girl.
“The one you’re reading, I need it.” The bushy haired girl pointed to the one in Lirum’s hands presenting a small problem.
“Oh I’m sorry, but are you sure you’re not mistaken this book shouldn’t be relevant until at least third year?” Lirum asked, trying to redirect the seemingly confused first year.
“I’m positive, I’m well read and I intend to finish it today.” The young girl said, crossing her arms impatiently.
“Ok well if you’re just reading it for fun I need it for class. I have exams soon, there should be other copies, feel free to go look for one of them.” Lirum explained earning an annoyed look from the first year. Trying to go back to studying.
“ You have other books, move on and come back to it later. I told you I need it, and besides I’m further into it than you are so just give it to me.” The bushy haired girl demanded.
“How long do you think it would take you? I have a lot of work to get done tonight, and this is just slowing me down.” Lirum said just wanting to wrap this up so they can get back to studying. They’d had far too many interruptions today, and had no intention of pulling an all nighter to catch back up.
“That doesn’t matter! I asked for the book clearly, you weren’t making much progress anyway.” The young girl snapped, taking Lirum aback.
“I was trying to be nice, but I am actively studying! For my class! You look to be a first year student! there's no way you could need THIS book right now! If you need to read it for fun so bad go find another copy. But this one is taken. ” The Ravenclaw argued. Not understanding this strange and frankly rude child’s insistence on needing this particular book.
“I’ve looked! Now if you’ll excuse me I need to get back to my reading” the girl said, snatching the book off the table and storming out with a huff.
“Oh Percy’s definitely gonna hear about this.” Lirum sat stunned as the girl disappeared.
Suddenly it hit them that it was the same girl who left Neville alone in the great hall. The day he was bound with the leg-locking curse. Soon enough Percy arrived looking worse for wear. Tired eyes and slightly disheveled robes are a far cry from his everyday prim and proper appearance. As he reached his side of the table he straightened his robes before sitting down.
“You look angry? I thought we were past angry?” Percy asked, visibly worried and confused.
“And what happened to you Percy. You look like you haven’t slept or maybe you’ve been crying in a broom closet.” Lirum asked, starting to worry about him.
“I asked you first. What happened? Was it the twins?” Percy insisted
“No. I’m not telling you until you explain to me, what had you coming in looking like that.” Lirum insisted to the Gryffindor who buried his face in his hands.
“Fine. I swear these first years are trying to kill me. Every day one of them is getting in trouble with teachers, sneaking out after lights out, going into the restricted section of the library. If it’s not them it’s the twins and their awful pranks. I can’t begin to tell you how many owls I have received from my mother about them already. We’re barely halfway through the year. On top of that I still need to keep up with you and make sure your studies are on track.” Percy ranted clearly far more exhausted than he let on.
“Percy, if you need, we don't have to meet anymore. You’re stretching yourself far too thin, and I’m doing much better in divination.” The Ravenclaw offered, earning a sharp glare from the boy across the table.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I agreed to this. It is my responsibility to make perfectly sure that you make it through to the end of the year with top marks.” Percy snapped, receiving an eye roll in response.
“No, it is my job to take responsibility of my own grades. You have a life to Percy it’s not all about responsibility and duty.” The prefect crossed his arms ready to argue.
“Strong words from someone who wouldn’t take their own advice. Now explain to me what has you in such an argumentative mood.” Lirum sat dumbfounded while enduring Percy’s unrelenting stare.
“A first years came in and took the book I needed to study from.” They answered not wanting to add to his stress given his current state.
“You’re not telling me something. That can’t be all I know you better than that.” He said expectantly.
“Well you see…It was a Gryffindor girl and she um- well she kind of demanded I give the book to her, and when I told her to look for another copy…she sort of stole it while I was actively using it to take notes.” Lirum said hesitantly fearing a bit of an over reaction. Percy took a sharp inhale and straightened up in his chair.
“What did she look like?” Was all he said.
“She had brown bushy-“ before Lirum could really start Percy slammed his hands on the table rising from his seat before storming off.
“This is the last straw with these three. None of them can follow even common courtesy, I swear. If I had done a single thing they have in my first year I would be in so much trouble. I would have received non-stop howlers! But instead at most they get detention!” The tall Gryffindor ranted to himself as he stormed out
“Wait! Percy! We didn’t even get started! Responsibility he said, duty he said, but runs off before helping me as if he couldn’t sort it later pff.” Lirum called to him before slowly turning into grubbing to themself.