Palmistry
As time passed the snow outside quickly became replaced by pelting rain. Spring was coming quickly. Lirum spent almost all their free time studying with Percy, trying to get ready for their exams. Tonks and Cedric had been busy doing the same without Percy’s help. Lirum also hadn’t seen Fred and George outside of class. Apparently, Oliver Wood had become quite the fanatic insisting they would finally overtake Slytherin in the inter house championship. The pair had less time to harass Lirum given the constant quidditch drills. But on their way to the library to meet Percy they saw a very muddy pair of gingers trudging back to their common rooms.
“Are you alright, you look a tad like a drowned rat over there hun?” Lirum joked, stopping to get their attention.
“Did you just call me hun? Right now? While I’m soaked through to the bone?” Fred said threatening to pull Lirum into a hug that would surely soak them as well.
“Missed the whole drowned rat thing, huh?” George said, pulling his brother back to his side. “What’s got you in such a good mood Thumper?”
“Nothing much, just happy to see my favorite gingers today! So, what happened to the two of you?” Lirum asked, seeing how caked and muddy George in particular was up close.
“Quidditch!” The twins chorused.
“Wood won’t give us a break!” Fred started. Running a hand through his hair trying to shake some of the rain out.
“He’s so sure Snape will tear us apart during the game he is now!”and George finished his sentiment, still dripping on the floor.
“Well, I wish you both luck! I need to get going. I have to meet Percy at the library, and you both need a shower before you get sick.” Lirum said before reaching to ruffle their hair causing the twins to freeze and look at each other for a moment before Lirum ran off.
As they ran, they looked back to see the pair whispering to each other. Giving the twins a small wave and smile before turning the corner. Making their way past students of various houses in the halls until they made it to the large doors to the library. They opened to find Percy at his normal seat diligently moving books around the table. They made their way to the table setting their things next to their normal chair giving a warm smile to Percy.
“You ready Perce, what are we going over today?” Lirum said looking through the stack of books Percy had pulled out for the two to use.
“While I believe we’ve pretty well covered divination exams, we could probably revisit palmistry, or continue on to potions,” Percy started pulling two books from the stack the books that started all of this ‘Unfogging the future’ as well as the third-year edition of ‘magical drafts and potions’.
“You are meant to be my divination tutor, right? shouldn’t we start there?” Lirum teased happily having grown far more comfortable and confident alone with the Gryffindor prefect.
“Can’t argue with that. Give me your hand and let’s review.” He said holding out a hand for Lirum to place theirs into.
They opened their textbook flipping to the sections about palmistry. Before they placed their hand into his not missing the gentle squeeze, or thumb he ran lightly over their palm. The small glances passed between the two making sure every move was allowed.
“Can you tell me the basis of palmistry? what the four types of hands were?” Percy asked Lirum for the answer.
“The four hand types are Fire with long palms and short fingers, water with long fingers and long palms, earth with short fingers and square palms, and lastly air with long fingers and square palms.” Lirum answered letting themself take in the way his hands wrapped around theirs.
“Can you tell my what type of hands you have, and what that means?” He asked cupping Lirum’s hands between rubbing from the center out opening their palm to easier read it.
“I have air type hands I believe. They're supposed to mean clever and rational good at creative skills.” They said, a little unsure.
“You are. On all accounts.” He said almost rushed.
“You have water type hands, long palms and slender graceful fingers you’re supposed to be emotional and sensitive. I’m far from creative perc-“ they started quickly being cut off by Percy.
“For me when you have brothers like mine you have to grow thicker skin, I used to be that sensitive bit as for you. Does every wand look the same? How do you decide on wood, or a core, the length? You don’t give yourself enough credit, and I won’t listen to it.” Percy said putting a little pressure on the center of their palm to spread their fingers.
“Percy shouldn’t I be the one reading your palm?” Lirum asked nervously. Feeling the boy they could no longer deny their crush on playing with their hands.
“It’ll be easier for me to tell you the answers if I can see it better. When at rest your hands have small gaps between your fingers. Do you remember what that means?” He said gently brushing the sides of their hands. Causing Lirum to think of their hair wasn’t turning pink yet it would be soon.
“It means I’m supposed to be open and trusting. Which I’m very much not! And how l are you going to ask me to do something you can’t!” Lirum said, beginning to flush.
“I could do it but it’s better this way, you trust me right? I believe you trust my brothers and l those two Hufflepuffs as well. You just needed someone to reach out first. You’re a little shy, you prefer personal company over big crowds. Do you remember what tells me that?” He said tracing along the hill of their hand.
“The space between my fingers, my pinky has the most space from the rest when my hand is at rest.” Lirum said, looking away too embarrassed to look at their hands touching anymore.
“your head line is fairly long, which shouldn’t be a surprise you’re a Ravenclaw after all. Your life line is long as well meaning you’ll have a long life-Your heart line is so long, when you fall in love you’ll fall hard and fast. They’ll be lucky whoever they are.” Percy said, tracing the lines in Lirum’s hand.
“Are you sure it wouldn’t be best for me to read yours instead?” That question snapped Percy back to reality looking up to Lirum concerned.
“Are you alright?” He asked, eyes fallen on their hair. Shining a shade of pink, something he hadn’t seen before.
“So, tell me Percy? Did you think I really needed more practice with palmistry, or do you just want to hold my hand?” Lirum joked trying to get their attention off the long show of physical affection.
“Did I do something wrong? Don’t joke about this. You should have told me. I would have stopped the second you said something. I don’t care what it is! if I make you uncomfortable, that's unacceptable, I need you to tell me!” Percy said in a panic.
“It’s ok Perce, if I needed you to stop I would have said something.” Lirum said, trying to calm him.
“You did though. And I ignored it for my own selfish reasons. You asked me to switch. But I was so worried I would-“ he cut himself off taking off his glasses, rubbing his hands over his face. “I’m sorry, you should go back to your dorms. You’ve studied enough for tonight, continuing will only tire you out. I swear to you, this will not happen again.” He said before standing from the table collecting his things.
“Percy, wait! I’m telling you you haven’t done anything wrong.” Lirum stood from the table catching Percy’s arm before he could make his escape.
“You should still get back to your dorms before lights out. And I have to finish my own work before I have to patrol the halls tonight.” Percy said disappearing to put away the books he’d set out on the table.
As they watched him walk away they noticed the table at the far side of the library. It was inhabited by the Bushy haired first year girl from before holding the very same book she’d stolen from Lirum. She was accompanied by Percy’s younger brother Ron and his friend Harry. On their way past they heard them talking to the bushy hair girl they called Hermione.
"I never thought to look in here!" she whispered excitedly. "I got this out of the library weeks ago for a bit of light reading." Checked out more like stole from a student who actually needed it. Lirum thought to themself stopping to pretend to look for a book on the shelf.
"Light?" said Ron, but Hermione told him to be quiet until she'd looked something up, and started flicking frantically through the pages, muttering to herself.
"I knew it! I knew it!" She said seemingly finding what she was looking for.
"Are we allowed to speak yet?" said Ron grumpily. Hermione ignored him.
"Nicolas Flamel," she whispered dramatically, "is the only known maker of the Philosopher’s Stone!" Lirum was trying to keep up with what they were talking about, but had never heard of the Philosopher’s Stone.
"The what?" said Harry and Ron. Lirum was glad they weren’t the only one left out, hoping they would get an explanation.
"Oh, honestly, don't you two read? Look -- read that, there." Hermione said rudely. Lirum had decided that when the first years left, they would grab the book and figure out what those kids were up to.
See?" said Hermione, when Harry and Ron had finished. "The dog must be guarding Flamel's Philosopher's Stone! I bet he asked Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they're friends and he knew someone was after it, that's why he wanted the Stone moved out of Gringotts!" Lirum froze, completely confused as to what kind of conspiracy these first years were up to. What dog? They needed to tell Percy, but they weren’t even sure they could explain what they were hearing.
"A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!" said Harry. "No wonder Snape's after it! Anyone would want it." Snape? What did he have to do with any of this?
"And no wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry," said Ron. "He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?" Well at least that’s fair but the rest is just outlandish.
Lirum waited for Hermione to put the book back on the shelf and leave with her fellow Gryffindor companions.once they where firmly out of the library Lirum sat down and got to work looking for the information on Flamel. They read: The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.
There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
“Not much more information than they have but why are they looking for this? They're just a bunch of first years and what does Snape have to do with this? I can’t ask Percy, he'll think I’m crazy and the twins will think I’m trying to prank them. Neville? He’s a first year student, he’s in Gryffindor and he seems to know them? I guess that’s my only option, huh?” They said to themselves before leaving to try to find the shy brunette boy.