Howler
The next morning Lirum awoke to a sky so cloudy they could barely see the sunrise. They felt disappointed, with no bright sunrise for their first day back. They slumped out of their bed dressing themself for school and slinking down the stares. Arriving in the common room they were greeted by the same scraggly haired blond from the first night. She stood in the middle of the common room swaying slightly looking like she was waiting for something. Then the second her eyes met Lirum she peped right up.
“Good morning Lirum! Heading to breakfast?” She said with her usual happy and soft demeanor.
“Of course! don’t expect me to starve now, do you?” Lirum said with a wave.
“You know, I knew we would be friends the second I saw you.” The girl said, sweating slightly as she walked.
“Oh yeah Luna, and how’d you know that.” Lirum responded with a chuckle.
“Your hair told me, and your eyes of course. But your hair started it!” She said, skipping along trailing behind Lirum like a duckling.
“You know it really seems to like telling everyone but me what’s happening.” Lirum said with a huff. Accepting there was probably some small change in their hair while reading. That Luna had interpreted as a sign.
“You know, the anti Nargel charm looks really nice on you! It’s a good thing you accepted my friendship!” The younger Ravenclaw cheered.
As Lirum made their way to the great hall Luna followed closely behind, humming gently and occasionally asking questions. The girl seemed to be full of questions. However she was eleven and a Ravenclaw so it was to be expected. Even if it was a tad awkward or too much at times she was clearly well intended.
Not so much that they minded the young girl's presence either, her company wasn’t bad, just unexpected. They had only spoken for a shot while at the sorting ceremony, and then again in the common room after all. Then again she did say the necklace meant they were friends now, maybe she took that far more literally than Lirum expected?
“Do you think she’ll be in my class?” Luna started staring off at some students that collected in the halls.
“Who? Ginny?” Lirum asked guiding the first year.
“Is that her name? Your Gryffindor friend?” Spoke Luna as she skipped down the hall.
“Yes, that’s her name and as I said before she’s not really my friend. She’s just a friend of a friend. Well my friends little sister to be exact.” Lirum explained walking into the great hall. “But I suppose if your both first years you’ll have to have some classes over lap. She’s sweet, strong willed by the sound of her, but if she’s anything like her brothers she’ll be wonderful.”
“Is that the ginger? the tall one you like? Is she his little sister” Luna inquired.
“I never said I liked him!” Lirum snapped feeling the flush rise in their cheeks. “But sort of, yes! Ginny is his little sister. She’s also the twins' little sister as well.”
“But your hair turns pink when you think about him? Doesn’t that mean you would like him?” If their hair wasn’t pink before it definitely was after Luna made that comment. “Oh wait, who are the twins?”
“How do you know I’m thinking about him!-pfh-you know what! Huffed Lirum plopping themself into the bench of the Ravenclaw table. “The twins are in my year! Their names are Fred and George, their identical, and their trouble makers so be careful. They’re also Gryffindors so surely when you see the sea of red headed Gryffindors walk through they’ll be hard to miss.”
“I can see your thoughts in your eyes.” Luna said like a fact so calmly Lirum questioned if she actually could. “You think about him a lot.”
“I-I’m gonna pretend like I didn’t hear that. Even if I did like him, he’s not available.” Lirum said a bit melancholy as owls dropped letters from above. “Also he’s not gay.”
“Would that be gay?” Luna asked. The constant stream of questions starting to wear on Lirum.
“It doesn’t matter he’s not single! He has a girlfriend!” They argued ready for the meal to be over.
“Who is she?” Luna asked with a tilt of her head “I’ve only seen him look at you?”
“He’s not looking at me he’s looking at Penelope! His girlfriend!” Lirum snapped in a hushed tone trying not to let anyone else hear.
“No he’s not! I can see! I’ll take care of it!” Luna said again so calm and sure it began to scare Lirum.
“ whoa, wait, hold on you’ll what-“ they stared before being cut off by a shrill shrieking voice.
"- STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO
THINK WHAT YOUR FATHERAND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE -"
It was Mrs. Weasley's voice that cut their conversation short. Screaming a hundred times louder than before, making the plates and spoons rattle on the table. It echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. Everyone rushing to cover their ears. This must be why Percy was so afraid, the reason he took on so much pressure to be perfect. Lirum had never received a howler, they’d noticed a few others had received them before, but had Percy been one of them?
People all around the hall were looking around to see who had received the Howler. Lirum knew immediately it had to be Rom given they’d seen the other Weasleys on the train. Their eyes fell on him, he’d sank low in his chair. The only thing Lirum saw was his crimson forehead, so bright it could be seen from across the room. The howler only continued, pity for the poor boy only growing.
"- LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED -"
Lirum tore their eyes away trying to block it from their mind. They tried to ignore what was happening and eat their breakfast. They also tried very hard to look as though they couldn't hear the voice that was making their eardrums throb, but it was useless. The shriek of public embarrassment was unending.
"-ABSOLUTELYDISGUSTED - YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."
Silence fell over the room. Every child in the room sat stunned, as though a tidal wave had just passed over them. After a moment a few people laughed and, talk broke out again. It still didn’t feel right to Lirum. What they had done was bad, stupid, dangerous even. But that sort of public humiliation felt wrong. They stood from the table without another word heading to their first class.
“Lirum?” Luna called out to the fourth year as they retreated.
Lirum could hear the first year girl calling behind them. They had been tempted to turn back and explain but it was simpler this way. They where already tired and couldn’t handle more questions. They also needed to get to their first class and sitting there would only make their already gloomy day worse. Defense against the dark arts with Gryffindor would be their first class of the year. They were relieved thinking they would gladly take the excuse to make something go flying, or at least read one of their favorite Lockhart books.
“Lirum, early as always!” Fred cheered appearing out of nowhere, starting Lirum.
“Fred, how many times do I have to ask you not to do that?” Lirum asked, trying to calm themself. “Why are you even here, shouldn't you be in the great hall? You know, having breakfast?”
“Well I saw my friend go, dashing out of there looking upset! what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t check on them?” Fred said cleaning casually against the door frame and prevented Lirum from going into class. “We have Defense against the dark arts together this year. So I reckon I’ll stand here till you tell me what happened.”
“It was nothing I'm just not fond of shouting.” Lirum explained.
“So it was mums howler then eh Bunny . I’ll make sure to give you a head start the next time me and George get one.” Fred said, reaching to Pat their head.
“How frequently does your mum send those things?” Lirum asked, knowing they’d heard them before. They’d never thought to much about who might be getting them or why.
“Typically? At least one for me and George each every year! Two of we’ve been bold!” Fred smirked like he’d received a badge of honor.
“How do you still have any hearing left after that?” Fred laughed in response.
“You learn pretty quickly to plug your ears as soon as you see the red envelopes. Even Perfect Percy, and he’s the good one!” Fred joked, covering his ears and making a face.
“What could Percy even do to get a howler?” Lirum inquired, thinking about the boy who was so concerned with everything being perfect.
“He got one last year you know! When he let Ron get bit and ended up in hospital. Then again with Ron, Harry, and the stone.” Fred explained.
“But it was Ron who snuck out and got himself bit. Why did Percy get a howler?” Lirum asked, confused.
“He’s the oldest!” Fred said like it should explain everything, but instead only raised more questions. Seeing the look on Lirum’s face he continued. “It’s his job!”
“What does him being the oldest have to do with anything? Why is it his job he’s just a prefect? No other parent would be sending letters to one prefect because their kid snuck out and got themselves hurt maybe a teacher but not a prefect!” Lirum argued not understanding the train of thought.
“Not because he’s a prefect! Because he’s the oldest kid still in the house! It’s his job to watch over everyone, you know! Study, follow the rules, go to bed on time, the lot of it.” Fred explained.
“That should be your parents job not Percy’s! He’s still in school he needs to be stuffing for his O.W.Ls and his N.E.W.T.s not parenting your parents' children! That’s not fair! What kid of life is that, spending your childhood raising someone else’s children!” Lirum argued not understanding how he could accept this so easily.
“Look, you just don’t understand because you don’t have any family. This is just the way that things are when you have siblings. The oldest in the house is responsible for taking care of everyone. Simple as that.” Fred stated simply stepping out of their way to let them into class.
“When he graduates next year will you be in charge, Fred?” Lirum asked.
“No, of course not. mum would never trust me to be in charge.” He said with a laugh following them through the doorway.
“But you would be the oldest right? I thought you said the oldest always takes care of everyone.” Looking back over their shoulder they could see Fred pulled into a deep thought. “So tell me again why it’s Percy’s fault?”
“It just is, we don’t question it! The oldest takes care of everyone while the parents work!” Fred said, appearing slightly annoyed.
“Your mum has a job?” Lirum asked, confused.
“Of course not, she has seven kids to take care of!” Fred explained becoming exasperated.
“But I thought it was the oldest sob to take care of the kids? So what does she do exactly?” Lirum asked again slowly growing appalled by the realization Molly had pawned her kids off on one another.
“She does mum stuff like cook, clean, and knit that Christmas jumper you got last year!” Fred said defending his mum.
“Doesn’t she use magic for all that?” Lirum pointed out.
“Well, yeah.” Fred answered.
“Then why isn’t she the one taking care of the family she chose to make.” Lirum said earning a huff from Fred.
“You just don’t understand what it’s like! It’s hard having so many kids. Got spoiled being an only child with all attention on you huh. Don’t understand that some people have to make sacrifices!” Fred snapped “uhg-look let’s just not talk about this anymore alright.”