What comes next
After detention that night Lirum tried not to think of what happened nor their significant lack of Weasleys running around. They had exams coming up and quickly. Their first exam was barely days away and yet Penelope insisted they follow her to the library at five o’clock in the afternoon on the dot. Admited the library was probably a good place for them to be given the fact they needed to study. Lirum however saw this as an insult as of penny though they would waste their day and go sneaking around at night again although again honesty it’s not like they had the best track record this year getting caught out of bed both times they had snuck out.
Following Penelope, they arrived once more at the large wooden doors to the library upon them opening they saw something they hadn’t for weeks. Percy sitting in his usual spot with piles of textbooks to either side. The center of the table was cleared for exchanging parchment and notes. Lirum turned around to find Penelope had gone only seemingly there to ensure Lirum attended their revision session. They walked quietly toward the table not expecting that he wouldn’t greet them.
“Mx. Ollivander it’s good that you’ve joined me again today.” Percy’s use of their last name was unsettling. He spoke in a cheerful tone but one that felt fake, gesturing to their seat.
“I’m sorry I was under the impression I wasn’t meant to be seeing you anymore.” Lirum said, taking their seat across the table.
“Well sometimes things change and that’s ok we accept it and keep going. Now please have a seat Mx. Ollivander.” He said pushing his glasses up unnecessarily.
“We’re not doing this.” Lirum said stern.
“I beg your pardon?” Percy said, confused crossing his arms.
“I want your forgiveness, I really do. But this, starting over every time we get into an argument, thinking you’re going to try to push what happened under the rug, you should know I won’t allow it. You can’t just ignore how you feel to keep up appearances.” Lirum said sternly. “I won’t let you do this again, I don't care if you hate me. You’re allowed to, if that’s how you feel. but you're not going to pretend all your problems away so you can fulfill some stupid duty, you never had an obligation to keep to begin with.”
“I don’t hate you; I never did. Now open your book and stop trying to get out of your studies.” Percy said, grabbing a book off the stack and setting it in-front of them.
“Percy, I am happy that you’re talking to me again and genuinely grateful you’ll help me study for my exams, I know I need the help, but I will not let you get away with this. I warned you before, didn't I.”
Percy gave a defeated sigh before taking his glasses off and pulling something out of his bag.
“Charlie wrote me back.” Percy said slapping the letter down on the table. “In the morning after I caught you we were missing one hundred and fifty house points because you were telling the truth. They did sneak out and that Longbottom boy kept saying Harry had a dragon.” Percy said, exhausted, rubbing his hands over his face and through his hair.
“So, you owled him asking if he took in the dragon?” Lirum asked.
“George did,” Percy replied, shoving the letter back into his bag. “I’m sorry for not believing you. I just didn’t believe they would go behind my back…or at least not Charlie.”
“I’m sorry. I knew what they were doing was dangerous, but you were already so worried. I didn’t want to pile more on. They're just kids. I thought if I confronted them myself, they might straighten themselves out.” Lirum explained not expecting forgiveness, only understanding. Instead, the words seemed to anger Percy again.
“It is my job to make sure they behave properly, not yours. I could have handled it. I should have. Then you wouldn’t have been in trouble.”
“They’re just kids, you needed to study for your O.W.L.S. , one night wasn’t going to kill me.” Lirum joker trying to lighten the mood except the jokes only seemed to anger Percy more.
“I think you forgot you’re also a child, Lirum, and you should have been studying for your exams. And that one night, especially alone, in a tower, with two people who were willing to break the law to illegally acquire a dragon, without anyone’s knowledge of where you went, or why, could’ve very well ended in your own death. And as much as you believe you were saving the first years, what could you have done if things turned dangerous.” Percy snapped, crossing his arms slowly growing red.
“I am fourteen. A teen not just a child. you might be two years ahead in school, Percy but you're only a year older than me!” Lirum argued mildly annoyed that was the point he chose to argue for.
“And your refusal to understand the fact that fourteen is still a child is proof you're not mature enough to handle something like that.” Percy argued not backing down at all.
“Did I die? No! I gave them a stern talking to about their reckless actions and sent them to bed just as you would have. I think you forget theirs more years between eleven and fourteen then fourteen and fifteen Percy. You only see me as a child because I’m in the same year as your brothers despite the fact that their April birthdays make them some of the youngest members of our year.” Lirum defended.
“It’s my job as a school prefect to handle things like this. The point is you could have gotten yourself killed. You did exactly what they did. You where reckless, and irresponsible, and put yourself in harm's way. You refused to let the grownups handle it. And now you're acting like a child again by arguing.” Percy said pushing the book back in front of the Lirum flipping it open.
“Ok, fine, you’re right. I was reckless and I should have told you. Would you have believed me? Because I told you all the same things in the hallway that I would have before and you definitely didn’t believe me then.” Lirum asked pointedly, pushing the book back towards him, refusing to let him slip over what happened and pretending everything was fine.
“No. I wouldn’t have. Is that what you want to hear? I wouldn’t have gotten mad and stormed off, because I would have wanted to believe my brothers wouldn’t keep something so important from me. Are you happy now? Can we just study?” Percy said, pushing the book back in front of them flipping it open once more.
“Why did you want me to study with you again then? If you don’t want my help because you believe you can do it all alone. You think I’m some dumb reckless kid. Why did you have me come back? You could’ve been free of me. Wash your hands of me right now and never have to worry again. I’m not in your house, Penelope clearly understood, clearly from your point of view your brothers have already corrupted me, why bring me back and insist on studying together?” Lirum asked genuinely.
“Because you tried. You won’t let me get away with this, ignoring my feelings, acting like a prat, stressing myself out, taking on too much responsibility you won’t allow none of it. You saw my brothers causing trouble and tried to stop them. When you got caught, you didn’t try to lie you told me everything, and I didn’t believe you when i should have. You’ve never given me a reason not to, but I was so sure…that if it was important family wouldn’t lie. I guess they did after all …” the silence hung in the air after. Lirum came to the conclusion, Percy needed to go to the lake but today he would kill them if they suggested it today. Maybe after exams?
“Hey perce, we can study now if you still feel like it? I’ve kinda gotten a little spoiled from our weekly routine and after we stopped got a bit stuck.” Lirum joked hoped this set would land better than the last.
“Happily, open your book please. Potions will be your hardest exam; we should start there.” Percy said, picking his glasses back up off the table before taking a breath, fixing his hair and sliding them back up nose.
The smallest smile graced the edges of his lips as he started. Lirum couldn’t tell if it was victory, or peace that brought it on. They were happy to see it after so long. Maybe after such a heavy topic he was just happy to have a distraction, regardless Lirum would gladly be that distraction if it meant earning a smile. Even the small one that pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“Now what are the ingredients for the antidote for common poisons.” He said, flipping toward the middle of his book. Lirum noticed the tiny, neatly written notes that were written in his margins. Lirum never thought he would be the type to write in his books especially given most of them were hand me downs but perhaps it was a way to help his brothers more gently. “Did you hear me?” Percy said looking back, finding Lirum’s eyes snapping them from their thoughts.
“Right, yes, the antidote to common poisons can be made with Bezoar, standard potions ingredient, unicorn horn and mistletoe berries.” Lirum said quickly flipping the book open to the same page he was on.
“Snape will expect more than that for the answer can you tell me the proper brewing method.” Percy said tapping his quill on the edge of book.
“First you would as one Bezoar to the mortar, Crush into a very fine powder. Add four measures of the crushed Bezoar to your cauldron. Then two measures of standard ingredient to your cauldron. Heat to a medium temperature for 5 seconds. Wave your wand. Leave to brew and return in 40 minutes with a pewter cauldron, 34 minutes with a brass cauldron and 30 minutes with a copper cauldron. Mine is brass so if it’s a practical I’ll need 34 minutes. After brewing add one pinch of powdered Unicorn horns to the cauldron. Stir twice, clockwise. Then add two Mistletoe Berries to your cauldron. Stir twice, anti-clockwise. Then wave your wand once more to complete the potion. Right?” Lirum asked, reciting what they remembered from potions.
“Yes, but if it's on the practical, can you describe how the final result should appear?” Percy glanced between the book and Ravenclaw across the table from him.
“It should be teal in color.” Lirum replied, hearing a soft sigh from across the table.
“Good, that will be on your practical if he repeats what he did in our year. You’re quite smart. I should be more worried about my brother’s passing than you.” Percy started relaxing slightly.
“Are you not worried about them passing.” Lirum asked, looking to meet Percy’s eyes.
“It’s not that I’m not worried about them, they simply don’t care if they pass. So trying to make them study won’t help.” Percy answered staying pointed at his book.
“And you accepted that?” Lirum asked thinking that was rather out of character for perfect Percy Weasley.
“Well, they seem to be studying more this year. Now that I’m not around then they ever did when I tried. So, I believe it’s more beneficial for me to ensure you pass.” Percy said clearly a little upset. Lirum decided they had pushed to far and allowed the rest of the study session to pass peacefully. Content enough to have him back in their life.