Flying car?
The next morning lirum woke like they did every new school year. By rolling out of bed getting dressed in their Ravenclaw sweater and tie, grabbing their luggage, and eating breakfast with their grandfather. They checked their list reading themself for the trip to Kings crossing.
“I’m ready to go, Grandpa.” They said looking up to the old man.
“Are you sure about that?” He asked.
“Yes I have everything on the list. Am I forgetting something?” Lirum asked, earning a small chuckle from their grandfather. “The list says you can bring a pet.”
“I don’t have a pet?” Lirum said confused.
“I know it’s a bit late-or early for a birthday present.-well I also know you never asked for one, and that you’ve been content with the two of us sharing an owl. You’ve made so many new friends, and you should be able to talk to them freely. Or if something happens and Gertrude is at home with me how will you contact me.” Grandpa said revealing a cage with a small White and Black screech owl. “Well, what do you plan to call him. He needs a name.”
Lirum stood shocked for a moment before turning around to add the owl to their checklist. Trying to think of a name.
“Well it has to start with a G right family tradition, and that.” Lirum said looking at the small owl a stupid smile spread across their face trying not to laugh. “I think Grayson would be quite fitting, don’t you?”
“You’re jokes are worse than mine and I’m ancient.” Their grandfather chuckled. “Let’s get going then.”
Lirum, Grayson, and Their Grandfather traveled to the station. He walked them to the last column between platform nine and ten waiving then off to another year at hogwarts. They brought their luggage through ready to join their friends but looked around not to see their favorite Gaggle of Gingers anywhere. They did however see a familiar Brunette in Hufflepuff robes.
“Ced! Ced! Oh Merlin Cedric!” Lirum cried out.
“Lirum!” He called out turning around. “I’m sorry I never wrote back I was grounded I swear! You can ask my parents their rights here!”
“And here I was starting to think you’d forget how to read and write over the summer!” Lirum joked looking at the man and woman standing behind Cedric. “You must be his parents. You’ve raised a fine young man. Might I ask what got him grounded?”
“Ah it’s Amos dear, he’s told us a lot about you. He speaks quite highly of you. Much better than the other girl he was writing letters to all summer.”
“You have something you wanna tell me ced?” Lirum asked quite cheekily. “Getting grounded over cheeky little owls with a lady friend and not telling your dear old friend.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds.” Cedric protested.
“Bad enough to get you grounded. No owl for the summer after reading what you wrote young man.” Amos said Cedric flushing bright red.
“Have you seen the Weasley’s by any chance?” Lirum asked. checking the time, there was only a few minutes left until it was time to board the train.
“Not yet, but knowing them their probably rushing here right now.” Amos said. “Ah, five minutes left you two better board the train. And you take care of him now.”
“Yes sir.” The fourth years said in unison.
Giving a little wave to his family Cedric followed lirum into the train car and began searching for an empty compartment.
“Oh I see you’ve got a friend. When did this happen? What’s his name?” Cedric asked helping lirum situate their luggage.
“Hum, well maybe you’d know if you hadn’t gotten yourself in trouble sending cheeky love letters? And without telling your best friends? For shame!” Lirum teased.
“It’s really not that bad! You know her!” Cedric said “she’s in your house after all.”
“Is she now what’s her name?”
“It’s Cho, she's a year below us.”
“You were sending cheeky love letters to a thirteen year old! Cedric you’re fifteen that’s disgusting!” Lirum shouted.
“It was just out of context! It wasn’t like that! I swear!” Cedric defended.
“Well you better start giving context then unless you want to be booted from this train car!” Lirum shouted back as the door to the compartment flew open.
“Oh we’ve found you! And having a lovers spat I see. You’ve really messed up now Diggory, we'll steal them away.” The twins said, speaking in turns.
“It’s not like that, I told you that over the summer! I’m not gay!”
“No but you’re a nonce!” Lirum shouted. “And who said that would be gay!”
“Well I mean I believe you did unless I misunderstood your conversation with Tonks last year.”
“So you are gay!” Said Fred from the door. Earning a hard Jab from George.
“Ignore that idiot. we still love you.” George said while Fred doubled over in pain. “Also I regret to inform you he is not a nonce, just another idiot.”
“Oh Helga, did they not know!” Cedric panicked “I’m sorry I swear I thought they knew!-wait regret!?”
“So you’re a nonce and a snitch now. What part of it doesn’t have to be gay. I could be whatever I wanted, did you miss. I have the worst taste in friends.” Lirum said to themself earning an odd look from the boys at the door. “Well, are you coming in or outing me to the whole train?”
Lirum waved them in and to sit the room was loud but awkward for a few seconds as the boys scuttled in throwing their luggage up top in the compartment. Before finally settling down in their seats Fred and George on one side and lirum and Cedric on the other.
“What did you mean by it doesn’t have to be gay?” Fred asked, breaking the silence.
“Do you mean like…” George suggested trailing off before actually suggesting anything. But everyone knew the question.
“If you’re asking me what’s in my pants right now or what could be in my pants I will kick you out of this car without regrets.”
“That sounds like a yes.” Said Cedric from beside them. “You know I wouldn’t mind necking in with Guin if she were still available, and still wanted to of course.”
“You did not just say that. Our puppy went home for one summer and came back as a dog.” Lirum joked with an exasperated sigh.
“Who’s Guin?” The twins asked looking at each other then the pair sat across from them.
“Lirum dressed like a girl for once. We had a sleepover. It was fun.” Cedric nodded again, almost completely oblivious to the way that would sound to the two troublemakers across from them.
“A sleepover? Where?” The twins said in turns.
“Guin came to the Hufflepuff dorms, it was great! A wicked good time!” Cedric said making lirum want to bury themself.
“It’s not what it sounds like.” Lirum said tired already but the twins' eyes were deviously set in on them. “If you start making jokes about it or tell anyone I will throw you out if this c-”
“Car!” They all said at the same time but none of the boys were looking at lirum instead all looked out of the window at a bright teal flying Ford Angela.
“That’s dads car!” The twins said together looking out of the window. Before their heads snapped towards each other and yelled “Ron!”
“You think Ron stole the car!” Cedric and lirum yelled together.
The commotion of other students running to look out of the window. In other cars it could be heard clear as day. Suddenly the door flew open once more. Percy stepped in dressed in his uniform prefect pin perfectly polished. Looking frantically around the car.
“Fred! George! Have you seen Ron and Harry!” Percy snapped.
“I think we all just did mate!” Fred gestured to the car outside the window.
Percy looked like he might faint as he said “Those two will end up dead, before graduation.”
“ I mean this can’t possibly be your fault Percy. Surely your parents have to take the blame for this one?” Lirum said, trying to lighten his mood only to receive a sigh in return.
“If only that were true.” He said taking off his glasses to clean them. “I just want one easy year.” Percy said to himself as he walked away reminding lirum they were never able to bring him to the lake before the end of term last year.
“So about you being a nonce.” Lirum said after the door closed.
“You couldn’t just drop that could you?” Cedric said, earning a death glare from lirum. “Right, right well, we were having a conversation about swimming, yeah?” He started.
“We’ll go on, swimming doesn’t very well explain your noncing, now does it?” lirum said, earning a chuckle from the boys across the way.
“Well she said she didn’t like wearing swimming shorts so I told her she should try it without them.” Cedric said with a shrug.
“I think you left out the part where you were supposed to be going swimming together mate.” George joked laughing with his brother.
Lirum looked back out of the windows still seeing the teal car in the distance.
“Do those boys know how to land that thing?” Lirum thought aloud.
“Nope!” The twins said together.
“How they’re keeping it in the air honestly is a real wonder.” Fred joked.
“Not how they got it up to start with?” George teased in reply.
“You’d think you’d be more worried about your brother and Harry crashing the car.” Lirum said, pulling out a box of every flavor beans.
“Oh come on share with the class.” George begged with a hand outstretched to lirum.
“Me too.” Fred said.
“Me three actually, if you’re not still mad.” Cedric said also putting a hand out.
“You three will be the death of me, do you hear me!” Lirum said as they reopened the box and shook some into all the boys' hands. As the train slowly rolled to a stop.
“Well time to go!” Fred said, standing from his seat.
“Another year at Hogwarts starts now, woo.” Said George unenthusiastically.
“Hey at least we all get to see each other again!” Lirum said, grabbing their trunk and Graysons cage.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…when did you get an owl Lirum? Don’t tell me you let Errol take all those letters himself when you had a fancy owl at home.” Fred said, teasing.
“Yeah we were with you yesterday you definitely weren’t walking around with an owl!” George said blocking the exit from Lirum.
“And if I told you Percy went with me to pick him out, and we dropped him off before meeting you back at Flourish and Blotts?” Lirum said coming up with a good story to mess with them.
“Then your rich enough I don’t feel bad for the galleon I nicked off you last year when you went reaching in my pockets.” George said, laughing and moving out of they’re way.
“So how’d you really get him?” Fred asked following behind Lirum as the group moved off the train and toward the carriages
“He was a gift from my grandfather.” They explained climbing up into the carriage accompanied by their three, fourth year friends.
“An owl as a present, what's the occasion?” Cedric chimes in clambering into the carriage.
“It’s an early birthday present.” Lirum said crossing their arms as the carriage began to move.
“Oh when’s your birthday? We’ll make sure it’s something special.” Fred said with a wink.
“Don’t you remember we spent it together last year?” Lirum questioned, causing Fred to pale.
“We spent your birthday together last year? But I don’t remember ever celebrating?” George asked, leaning back against the seat of the cart.
“Yeah we did. Don’t worry, I never celebrate.” Lirum said with a shrug.
“Don’t celebrate your birthday?” Cedric said with a scoff. “That’s ridiculous when is it. We’ll do something this year.”
“Ah look we’ve made it. Well boys I’ll see you all in class.” Lirum said, rushing off into the crowd before any of the boys could stop them.