Explain
Percy had kept his word; Lirum had not seen him since that night. It had been weeks since he had caught them out after lights out. No more weekly study sessions, no more extra meeting time in the library, they never got to bring him to the lake. They had never wanted to disappear more, not when the twins teased too far, or others made comments out their family being blood traitors, now knowing how intimately they were hated, by the same person they wanted to be liked by. Their hair had maintained muted woody brown since the moment they were returned to their dormitories that night.
Suddenly they heard the snapping of fingers. They looked up and found George, leaned over their desk at eye level. His displeasure was written all over his face. Lirum looked back down at the parchment in-front of them they had been taking notes, but couldn’t remember actually taking them, or what the lecture had been about. Suddenly they realized the classroom was empty, aside from Lirum themself and the younger Weasley twin in front of them.
“What happened!” George whisper yelled.
“I think I might need you to be more specific.” Lirum replied looking at the boy who grabbed a chair from the desk in-front of them to sit facing lirum.
“Gryffindor tower is a wreck! Fred can’t focus on quidditch. Percy can’t focus on his revision-I swear that man would force you to study through a great flood before! Ron’s little group of first years is completely paranoid that everyone is out to get them! And your hair has been brown longer than I have ever seen before, you’re not acknowledging a single thing in class, you’ve just about become robotic! So, I need you to tell me what happened so I can have it sorted. So that I can go about my life like normal, alright! I will not be having any more of this! Now start talking.” George ranted before leaning back expectantly waiting for his answer.
“You’re not going to believe me! You’re going to yell at me just like Percy!” Lirum snapped trying to pack up their things only to get pushed back into their seat.
“Me and Percy may be brothers, but we couldn’t be more different. Clearly something happened and it involves all the people at this school I care about so you are going to tell me what happened and I can decide what I believe. You’re a terrible lier so that should be easy.” He said crossing his arms waiting for them to start.
“It’s a very long story we’ll be late for class.” Lirum said, trying to stand again.
“And I don’t care! I’ve never cared about being late to class, especially not if it means fixing my brother's stupidity.” He said pulling them back into their desk once more.
“Where should I start…it’s really a lot.” Lirum said, looking gingerly at their friend.
“The beginning. I don’t care how long I need to know what happened. So I can sort this. I don’t like being serious so quickly, please.” George said taking his own parchment out like he was going to take notes for the first time lirum had ever noticed.
“Percy and I where having a study session and, on my way out, I overheard Ron and his friends' conversation. They were talking about the Philosopher's stone and how they thought Dumbledore was hiding it in the castle.…” Lirum started watching George take notes quite dedicatedly. They should have known the only time they would see this was when his family was pulled too tight.
“Those keys Flitwick was charming as well as a bunch of other things they believe someone’s trying to steal it. Which is crazy! So, I thought I needed to step in before they got themselves in over their heads, their just first years after all. But then when I tried to catch them I found out they had a dragon-“
“A dragon!?” George interrupted.
“I told you you wouldn’t believe me! I’m begging you to ask Charlie! When Ron was in the hospital a book fell on the floor and a letter from Charlie fell out! Said he’d help them sneak it out and to safety! He sent two of his friends to the astronomy tower to pick it up! That’s how we all got detention!”
“So the wild lie they told longbottom about a dragon was real…” George started.
“Yes I swear! So, I chased them to the tower to confront them for how stupid they were being. They're going to get themselves killed! Ron was already in hospital once for his hand, let alone what could happen if they really go against whatever Hagrid's monster in the third floor really is! You have to believe me George! Percy and the first years all hate me now for trying to stop them, but I was trying to help! They're going to get hurt!” Lirum finished hoping he would understand.
“It’s ok, I understand alright I don’t think you’re lying. it’s ok now, what happened with Fred?” George asked, pulling lirum up into a hug.
“I don’t know. The last real conversation I had with him was that day in the hall. While the two of you were drenched in mud, after practice. You’ve both been practicing so much I’ve barely seen you.” Lirum said gingerly, hugging him back.
“I reckon Fred’s just being an idiot then. Don’t worry, none of this if your fault. I’ll have it sorted.” George said softly calmly moving his hand to their hair.
“George!” Fred called from the door angrily a folded wad of parchment paper in his hand. “When I saw it on the map I thought, it had to be wrong! Sneaking off to an empty classroom together!”
“Fred don’t, you’ll regret it.” George warned
“You say while you’re still wrapped about them!” Lirum heard Fred say, accompanied by footsteps. They back from George turning to face the door.
“Lirum are you alright- what happened- why are you crying? George what-” only then did they realize why it was that George hugged them so suddenly, or why he changed from serious to soft. they weren’t sure how long they’d been crying but they’d have to guess that was why.
“I was trying to get to the bottom of that before you busted in here, mate. How about next time you have more faith in me.” George snapped. “Now I think we have some things to discuss with our darling brothers. Will you be alright?” George said letting lirum lose.
“I have detention tonight so I’ll have to be.” Lirum sighed.
“Well next time you’re planning on sneaking out tell us beforehand, yeah. I can swear we won’t let you get caught again.” George said, handing lirum their parchment back off of their desk helping them pack.
“You mean like you did the first time when you got us caught by Percy. I’ll have you know I evaded McGonagall and Filch both successfully before your brother caught me. With no help either!” They said throwing the parchment into their bag.
“You didn't come to us, before you snuck out we caught you out the First time and we caught you out the other night as-well, again without telling us.” George joked leaning back against the desk.
“Where you two out after hours as well-no you would have scared me on purpose. How do you always know where I am?” Lirum asked while Fred made his way across the room.
“Wouldn’t be much of a secret now if we told you right.” Fred said, pulling George away, and back towards the door. Off to go have a conversation with their brothers they assumed.
At eleven o’clock they were set to meet filch in the dungeon. As they finished descending the steps, Lirum found the slew of first years. The blood purest Malfoy, the bushy haired no it all Hermione, the oh so annoying Harry Potter, the youngest Weasley boy Ron, and the shy should be Hufflepuff Neville. Lirum had forgotten that so many of them had gotten a detention, too. But no matter how long they thought they couldn’t remember Neville getting detention. Had he snuck out as well? That seemed rather out of character.
"Follow me," said Filch, lighting a lamp and leading them outside. I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" he said, leering at them. "Oh yes... hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me.... It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out... hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, keep 'em well oiled in case they're ever needed.... Right, off we go, and don't think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
They marched off across the dark grounds. Neville kept sniffing. Lirum questioned what their punishment was going to be. It must be something really horrible, or Filch wouldn't be sounding so delighted.
The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Lirum could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Oh please, not again! Every time they came out here it was trouble. Lirum thought to themselves in their approach.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started." Shouted Hagrid
Lirum’s heart sank. They were going to be working with Hagrid, the most irresponsible, reckless, thoughtless staff member they’d met. It couldn't be so bad. He was nice, tried to help the students but was just a bit too dim to be in charge of children. He was jolly and relief shown in the faces of the first years.
Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy -- it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
At this, Neville let out a little moan, and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks.
"The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual. "We can't go in there at night-there's all sorts of things in there-werewolves, I heard." Neville clutched the sleeve of Lirum’s robe and made a choking noise.
“It’ll be ok we’re all going in together alright.” Lirum whispered to the frightened young boy. His grip only tightened more, lirum tried to discern if it was out of fear or trust that they wouldn’t let him be mauled.
"That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. “Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?" Oh, that villainous old bat would get it. Lirum would have to ask the twins what they had in store for Filch before the end of the year.
Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, a large dog at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder.
"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?" Hagrid asked and Lirum took notice. Oddly enough he didn’t ask the boy his pet dragon had bit, and sent to the hospital wing, or reached out to his brother to rescue said pet dragon. if he was alright.
"I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," said Filch coldly, "they're here to be punished, after all."
"That's why yer late, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness
"I'm not going into that forest.” Malfoy did as he turned to Hagrid.
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," said Hagrid fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yehve got ter pay fer it.”
"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd-“
“tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts,” Hagrid growled. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or Yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on"' Hagrid said waving off the first year boy, who never moved just looked angrily at Hagrid.
"Right then," said Hagrid, "now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment." He said turning around and walking in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.