Happy late birthday
Opening the door the shop was full of sleek, new, and professional quills. Things made for authors, reporters and ministry workers. Each of them is made from high quality feathers and sharpened to perfection. High quality comes with a high price though and Percy looked amazed and troubled looking at the quills while lirum grabbed parchment and a few wells of ink.
“Everything in here is so nice.” Percy said a solemn tone to his voice staring at a finely crafted swan feather quill. “We’d never be able to afford something like that.”
“Did you even look to see how much it costed?” Lirum asked slowly, walking behind him.
“It’s a whole Galleon for the quill. It would probably last the rest of my term at Hogwarts, Godric maybe even to my first job. It would be a good investment save me buying quills every year and spending time every day trying to sharpen it enough to write barely having a stub by the end of the year.” He let out a sigh. “But it would cost more than all my other school supplies I’ll get this year combined. Even if I had the money mum would kill me.”
“Hold this.” Lirum said, dropping the parchment and ink into Percy’s arms.
“B-Be careful what if I dropped this-this is far too much for one person for a single year-these things are expensive and if the ink busts and ruins-“ Percy ranted in shock.
“Nope, hush don’t worry about it.” Lirum said, picking the quill up off the shelf. “Follow me.”
“W-what are you doing? That’s so expensive, put it back.” Percy stammered.
chasing after the young Ravenclaw. Carefully as to not break any of the expense and fragile bottles he was forced to carry. As they walked carelessly through the shop straight to the front counter.
“You ready to check out young Ollivander.” The wizard behind the counter asked.
“Yes sir, I'll be taking this and everything in Mr. Weasley here’s arms.” They said laying the quill down gently so it could be wrapped, helping Percy unload what he was holding.
“Lirum that quill is a good investment but are you sure your grandfather will be ok with you spending a whole galleon on it.” Percy panicked, ready to talk his younger friend out of the perches.
“I told you my grandfather gave me extra pocket money, to with as I pleased. He doesn't expect it back. What would be the difference of me spending it on a quill or candy?” Lirum joked. Hoping to settle the very anxious Percy.
“Then at least put some of this ink back or the parchment paper you can always owl him for more, if you run out” Percy said panicked.
“Perce, look at me. We’ll be alright. Ok, I have plenty of money for this and my books. He was expecting me to go out and buy sweets with four or five other kids. I have plenty of money to cover it. This is the busy season for the shop anyway.” Lirum said calmly, trying to sooth him.
“The total in this will be five Galleons and five Sickles.” when the man behind the counter said that Percy turned paler than before.
“Lirum forget what I said, put the quill back it-“ lirum cut him off before he could get another word in.
“Let me put this into maths for you. Percy, how much does a wand cost? Not a second hand wand a new wand what we sell.” Lirum said, crossing their arms and turning to face him.
“Not counting Ginny’s because it was a special case. Typically between seven to ten galleons.” He said. Watching as lirum pulled the money from their bag.
“And you heard my grandfather tell you that 4 galleons was more than enough to cover materials and labor for a wand made of a rarer wood, yes?” Handing the five galleons and sickles each to the owner.
“He also gave us a discount-“Percy insisted as Lirum split the items between two bags placing handing one to ghostly boy before starting again.
“Percy I understand that we live very different lives, but let me give you what I can.” Lirum said, picking up the finely wrapped quill and handing it to Percy.
“W-what.” Percy said, staring down at the matching bags and parcel he had just been handed.
“Happy late birthday perce!” Lirum said, pulling him out of the store before he had a chance to try returning the quill. ”Come on, we don’t have much more time to go to the junk shop, right?”
Percy followed behind them in a slight daze. If not for the parcel and bag in his hand he probably would have thought he was dreaming. In fact he probably did think he was dreaming. Judging by the way he’d pinched himself hard enough to leave a mark on his arm, and then another as they’d entered the junk shop.
Lirum let him enter first, leading them wherever he wanted to go. They weren’t particularly familiar with the shop but knew Percy was. They intended to let Percy spend the rest of his late birthday celebration as he saw fit. He walked right to one of the shelves near the back and picked up a book thumbing through it.
They felt a bit spoiled watching Percy as he read. He had walked a path clearly familiar to him not needing to ask where anything was straight to the books. When lirum had needed something it was never a question. Just a shot walk down the street to whatever shop sold what they needed. They knew Percy hadn’t lived that. Instead his years had been full of hand me downs and maybes.
What were a few books, a quill, or a little less than half priced wand to a family that had everything, they were all things they could replace easily. Well except the rest of their family. That was the thing Percy had that they hadn’t. No siblings or parents to speak of. They had their grandfather. He was sweet and caring and did what he could for them, always kind, always understanding. They knew they were lucky for that. But what they wouldn’t have done for snowball fights on Christmas and chasing their siblings around the common room. Even being compared to a sibling or two would have given them a standard to work with. An idea of what they needed to be.
But again they didn’t envy the second or third hand me down everything from wands to robes. Or being one of so many your mother forgets your name. They saw what the pressure of needing to be better than your already perfect siblings had done to Percy. So maybe they were better off right where they were.
“Lirum, I know you said it’s for my birthday, but this can’t be ok.” Percy said, pulling off his glasses.
“It is and it will be. If you try to return the quill they’ll give you back the galleon and it will be yours to keep. Yours to buy whatever else you wanted for your birthday.” Lirum said, looking through the books on the wall.
“I wouldn’t be spending it, I would be giving it back.” Percy said fiddling with his glasses.
“I’d love to hear how you plan to make me take the coin back.” Lirum said with a giggle.
“Not just the one coin, all of it. The full Three Galleons and two Sickles and seventy five Knuts. You spent”
“Percy!” Lirum snapped “I’m not taking the money back. I bought you a gift for your birthday, stop thinking about the money.” Lirum said, giving him a gentle knock on the head.
“You spent five Galleons and five Sickles, that's more than every birthday present I’ve received combined.” Percy argued.
“That wasn’t all on you Percy half of it was mine, and the other half was because I wanted to.” Lirum joked lightly hoping he would drop the subject.
“One Galleon for the quill, the rest on Ink and Parchment you split evenly between us-And don’t try to say you bought me cheaper stationery! I watched you pick everything out!” He said before sighing and putting his glasses back on. “If you insist on buying my supplies as my birthday present then return this and buy my normal supplies from here.”
“If I do that you keep the quill.” Lirum said sternly.
“The quill is a fourth of Ginny’s wand! My mother would kill me!” Percy said, waving his book around.
“Then she can kill me instead when I tell her you tried to return it, then tried to convince me to return it.” Lirum refused to listen to another word from Percy.
“If you won’t tell me return everything, will you answer some questions for me?” Percy said shyly.
“Any time. What do you want to know?” Lirum asked.
“What does it mean when your hair turns pink?” He asked. Nose buried in the book despite the fact he had removed his glasses.
“It means I’m a bit embarrassed. It seems my hair flushes for me, I fear.” Lirum joked awkwardly.
“What did they say earlier?” Percy asked.
“What?” Lirum said, distracted by the fact Percy was seemingly still unaware he wasn’t wearing his glasses despite thumbing through his book.
“The twins, they said something earlier and you turned pink. What was it?” Percy clarified.
“I offered them my old set of Lockhart books since I was going to buy new signed copies today.” Lirum said blushing a little too embarrassed to finish explaining to Percy.
“That can’t be it. You expect me to believe that was it both times?” Percy said glancing back at lirum from his book. “You’re even pink now, that can’t be it!”
“They were teasing me about writing and drawing in my margins.” Lirum flushed a little heavier to be admitting it. “Well drawing first, and then my little notes second, … and then my drawings again the last time.”
“Why didn’t you want to tell me that I’ve seen your text books?” Percy said mild confusion evident in his voice. The way he stated it so plainly and matter of fact caused Lirum’s flush to worsen. “I take notes there to you have nothing to worry about. And if they say something, tell me.”
“Percy-“ Lirum started with a small smile.
“A study of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers.” Said Ron, causing both the teens to jump. “That sounds fascinating…”
“Go away!” snapped Percy. Clearly not having seen his younger brother approach them either. ”I’m sorry, at any rate we should get going. We need to meet my mum and dad and Flourish and Blotts.”
Percy led the way out of the building and down the street, Lirum following close behind. Approaching the book store they could see a larger crowd of older witches about Mrs. Wesley’s age. They were all attempting to get into the store to meet the one and only Gilderoy Lockhart. His signing was for his new autobiography ‘Magical Me’.
“Oh I can’t wait, Percy!” Lirum said, ready to use the remainder of their money to buy the full signed box set of Lockhart's books.
“I can’t believe you enjoy that rubbish.” The twins said joining the group from behind arms full of fireworks and other things from the joke shop.
“At least they’re ready. Know they’ll be a full year ahead in defense against the dark arts.” Percy snapped, clearly irritable, whether it was from Ron’s and eruption for the twins' jokes Lirum couldn’t be sure.
“And you’re OK with them spending their free time reading about the eccentric know it all savant Percy?” George joked leaning in between him and Lirum.
“You sure about that you don’t look too happy.” Fred said, leaning around his other side.
“I’m plenty happy, now drop it.” Snapped Percy going to push up his glasses he only realized now he wasn’t wearing.
“Percy it was nice of you to help your friend with their bags you should have stopped by the wand shop on the way and dropped it off.” Mrs. Weasley said
“Actually we did stop in on the way here, these are mine.” Percy said quietly. Mrs. Weasley scowled and turned red in the face.
“Percy Ignatius Weasley! How did you get the money for that.” She shouted
“I didn’t mum it was a gift-“ he said, getting cut off before he could finish.
“What have I told you about accepting such expensive things! Even as gifts you have no excuse! You should know better! We are no charity case boy! That bag is from Amanuensis Quills! What do you expect I do for your brothers?” She tore through him with her words starting Percy down looking for an answer. He seemed frozen only able to stare at the ground.
“Molly dear, please calm down. You’re making a scene. We can talk about this at home.” Mr. Weasley tried to ease the tension
“I-I tried to refuse-“ Percy said barely above a whisper.
“I don’t want to hear it! You should be ashamed-“ Molly started in on him again.
“Mrs. Weasley I’m sorry it’s my fault. Percy kept refusing-even asked to return it more than once. I was simply trying to pay him back for all the time he spent tutoring me! I wouldn’t have passed this last year without him I’m afraid. My grandfather was quite thankful and gave me some extra money to get him something nice for all his hard work!” Lirum said, trying to think of a better excuse quickly. Stepping between Percy and his mother. “I can even prove it I still have more than enough money for my books! I was going to buy the complete boxed set with them all signed today, if you’d like since you seem to be a fan I was going to give my old set away the twins could just use them for the year and give them to you I have all of them except ‘Magical Me’ of course why don’t I pick up a second copy so we’ll both have a full set, yeah.”
“Oh dear aren’t you just the kindest soul. My boys were right to pick you out. Why don’t we get back in line.” That seemed to have calmed Mrs Weasley’s inner tiger as lirum had expected, completely forgetting about Percy and his new stationery.
“Thank you.” Percy whispered “I’m sorry for costing you even more money.”
“Your time has been worth much more than that Percy.” Lirum whispered back.
“What are we whispering about?” George whispered in Lirum’s other ear causing a fight.
“You are evil, you know that, Little Boy.” Lirum said back to George only reviving a Cheshire grin in return. Picking up the last of their books, Before noticing a commotion not far from them turning to look they saw Mr. Weasley and a blond wizard Lirum could only assume was Mr. Malfoy. Given he was accompanying the annoying now second year Draco Malfoy.
“Get him dad!” Fred cheered a few feet away. Lirum turned having no idea what was happening behind them they caught the end of a wicked, angry smile plastered across Mr. Weasleys face that sang of sweet victory. The almost perfect opposite of Malfoys shocked glare.
The men were pulled apart by hagrid. After he ushered lirum and the Weasley’s away. Telling them how no Malfoy was worth listening to. While Mrs. Weasley ranted about how he made the family look in front of Lockhart. Being corrected by Fred telling her how pleased Lockhart was calling it good publicity. And saying it would make the front cover of the daily profit. Before dropping lirum off at their grandfather's shop with a wave.