Exams and O.W.L’s
Exams where finally over but Lirum’s anxiety wouldn’t be settled until after they received their results. They sat in their muggle studies class fiddling with an extra roll of parchment unrolling it folding it and then re doing it all again. A simple distraction but anything to calm their nerves would be appreciated.
“You know you’ve passed, right?” Said Fred stealing the parchment from their desk.
“You don’t know that. The results haven’t been released yet.” Lirum said attempting to swipe their notes back from the older Weasley twin who in turn raised it above his head just out of reach.
“With as much time as you’ve spent locked up in the library with boring old Percy, it be a wonder if you’d failed.” George spoke as he grabbed the paper from his brother. Holding it again out of Lirum’s reach.
“First, you know I can be taller right? Don’t make me abuse my power. Second, how do you know these things I haven’t seen you once while studying, I started to think the two of you where cursed. That you’d die if you stepped food in the library.” Lirum said teasing growing slightly taller to reach the paper the twins were passing between them.
“First, you wouldn’t want to ruin the fun. second, we have our ways.” Fred teased mocking Lirum’s voice, as he passed took the parchment once more.
“Yeah, it’s a secret. Wouldn’t be much mystery left if we told you right.” George teased parroting what was becoming their signature line.
“Come on boys at this rate you’ll get us in trouble, again.” Lirum said putting a hand out waiting.utterly over this silly game of money in the middle they were playing with their parchment.
“You act like you weren’t begging for a distraction Bunny.” Fred teased dropping the paper into Lirum’s hands.
“What if I told you we could get you your exam results early, eh Thumper.”
“I really thought we were past the bunny jokes.” Lirum said patience for the twins wearing thin. “And if you tried you would get expelled. if I’ve failed it’s too late to begin with. So don’t even try sneaking around just to get them!”
“What if we already did, and didn’t get caught.” Fred said
“But I guess you wouldn’t want to know anyway. Also thumping around like that’s only making my case, you know.” George shrugged. Before pointing down to Lirum’s feet idly tapping of the floor.
“You…you might have gotten one or two but there's no way you could have found them all!” Lirum yelled on a hushed tone so Professor Burbage wouldn’t hear.
“Oh but we did snuck into the deputy headmistress’s office ourselves. She’s putting the lists together of everyone’s exam results now.” The twins said in chorus.
“You snuck into McGonnagall’s office after lights out! How did you know she wouldn’t be their! what if she had been! You could have been expelled!” Lirum panicked the twins took to many risks. how they hadn’t been expelled yet was the real wonder.
“We had help from some friends Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs!” How many people where in on this scheme? Lirum thought and what kid of names where those?
“They’ve been good friends of ours since first year isn’t that right Fred.” George said nudging his brother.
“Since first year?” Lirum paused to think of who that could be. The twins had lots of friends sure, they were popular even. But 4 friends that have been helping them since first year? Lirum would have heard about it if there where that many, surely. They would have to be upperclassmen. Teaching Fred and George how to sneak around, but in a group that big they would always get caught.
“Well, I think we broke them brother.” George said wrapping an arm around Fred.
“If we have the least I can do is tell you you passed. Os as usual, top of our class. Your grandfather should be proud, really.” Said Fred as he threw his arm over George’s.
“Well thank you but until I get the official results, I can’t very well go around telling people, can I.” Lirum said as they noticed the students around them packing up. Class had ended at some point but they where to busy with the twins to notice. “You should get going don’t want to miss quidditch practice right?”
“Actually, we wanted to know if you’d come to the lake with us. Lee Jordan said he saw a giant squid lurking in the shallows and we wanna go check it out. You could use a brake after all that studying you did.” The twins said alternating sentences.
“Theirs no way theirs a giant squid. you’re messing with me again!” Lirum said throwing their things into their bag.
“My moneys on against it, but Fred wagered ten galleons-“ George started before Fred cut him off.
“I know I saw a tentacle grab a duck off the surface! There is a giant squid down their somewhere!” Lirum couldn’t help but laugh as Fred argued what he’d seen.
“You too are idiots, I swear you only have ten galleons between the two of you and you pass it back and forth over the silliest things.” Lirum joked.
“So, what will it be? You coming with us?” Fred asked.
“You went to the quidditch for Diggory. You have to come with us, it’s only fair.” George said earning an elbow from Lirum.
“I’ll come this time but I’ll remind you I came to Christmas in the Gryffindor dorms. So, you don’t get to use Cedric as your excuse anymore. If you do it again the answer will automatically be no, do you hear me. Lirum snapped at the younger twin.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Promise.” George said crossing his heart.
The twins eagerly lead the way down to the black lake. Finding Lee Jordan on the way as well as none other than Gryffindors troublesome trio. Slowly they found their way to the edge of the lake. Slowly the twins and Lee Jordan began making their way into the shallows trying to find any signs of what was lurking beneath the surface.
Looking up and seeing the tree they met Tonks under they realized how much they changed this year. Lirum couldn’t imagine the person they were on the train to Hogwarts this year wading through the shallows of the black lake with the twins looking for a giant squid. They could imagine that Lirum at the lake at all. Or with the twins for that matter.
Suddenly Lirum felt a shriek leave them before realizing what even happened. Something wet brushed past their leg.
“Are you ok?” Fred said making his way over to a very panicked Lirum.
“I don’t know where it is but I know it touched me! It’s here somewhere!” they said only to be met with a roar of laughter from the rest of the group. “This isn’t funny I know I felt it!”
Taking a step back the felt the unsettling sensation of stepping on something fleshy that gives with too much pressure. The laughter was gone in a moment. Suddenly they disappeared under the water with a tug of their ankle. They were pulled back to the surface before they could even process what had happened. Being brought back to the surface to meet the chest of a victorious Weasley grin.
“Ten galleons George!” Fred said holding Lirum up.
“I could have drowned! And you're worried about your bet!” Lirum said pushing Fred who slipped and brought Lirum with him right back under the water. The two scrambled off of each other in the shallow water.
“Well, now I’m soaked through as well, wonderful. Buy you wouldn’t have drowned Precious . I was right there I wouldn’t let you. Even if I wasn’t you could have just stood up.” Fred said standing up out of the waist deep water and offering Lirum a hand.
“Can you to stop flirting for a second and help us find the squid!” Lee Jordan called from a few yards away.
“As much as i would love to claim that comedic timing as my own, I would love my galleons more! we found the squid!” Fred called back.
George and Lee made their way over to take a closer look at the squid’s tentacles. George even daring to poke it. As Lirum watched an awful idea edged it’s way into their mind. They nudged Fred casting a mischievous glance over to the two boys who had been enamored with the giant squid.
“I knew I loved you the moment I met you. it would be such a shame not to right.” Fred whispered following Lirum’s train of thought.
“I think it would be an awful shame, and they started it really.” They whispered back slowly moving behind George.
Lirum looked back to make sure Fred was ready, meeting his eyes. He gave them a quick smile and nod. Before the pair pushed George and Lee straight into the lake laughing together. Boys screaming as if they’d been attacked by the squid. Quickly they shout out of the lake running back towards the castle. Causing the remaining pair to break out laughing together.
“Lead the way love.” Fred said after regaining his breath. Gesturing back towards the castle.
“I didn’t think they’d quite have thay reaction.” Lirum joked still giggled but making their way towards the castle anyway.
“Well, I definitely think it was worth it.” Fred said following behind them.
“I can’t believe I did that.”
“You’re full of surprises aren’t you.” Fred joked. “But about earlier, your results should be back in tomorrow. so don’t worry too much alright just try to relax till then. And you really did pass by the way.”
“Thank you, Fred. I really appreciate it.” Lirum said turning around to give him a quick hug before running away in the direction of their common room.
The next morning Lirum found the twins has been telling the truth. Exam results were in and Lirum had received all outstanding marks. They couldn’t wait to show them to Percy and tell him his efforts weren’t in vain after all. They couldn’t help to question again on their way though, how the twins where able to get their hands on the results surely sneaking into McGonagall’s office was to dangerous even for them. They pushed the thought out of their mind though when they reached the doors to the library though their study sessions would be over for the year, they had one final to celebrate or start revisions for next year if they had failed.
“Percy! You won’t believe what k got!” Lirum said as they pushed the doors open list in hand.
“Quiet in the library.” Madam Pince snapped.
Lirum to keep their lips locked tightly as they rushed to reach the table. List outstretched for Percy. Scurrying so quickly little curls of splotchy brown and green fell in their face. He let out a little chuckle watching the exited Ravenclaw rushing towards him. Accepting the list and motioning then across the table.
“Based off that alone I assume the results won't need to speak for themselves.” Percy joked unrolling the parchment. “You’ve done well I would expect no less from you, Lirum”
“Wow no pressure huh what’d you get? You had your O.W.L.S this year right?” Lirum asked rocking back in their seat.
“Don’t do that you’ll fall. And he’s I took 12 O.W.L.S. And received top marks on all.” Percy said smugly as he handed over his parchment.
“Percy that’s amazing? O.W.L.S are hard how did you manage so many in a year! I was worried over just regular exams. How did you have time to help me study.” Lirum asked brain running a thousand miles a second from the excitement.
“Well, helping you study actually did help a bit. We hadn’t had to go over detectable poisons or their antidotes since third year I might not have passed a whole section of my potions owls if you hadn’t been here-“ Percy explained when suddenly the door busted open to reveal professor McGonagall.
“Percy Weasley, I’m sorry but it would be best for you to collect your brothers. Your youngest brother Ronald has been sent to the hospital wing. Along with Harry Potter.”