The argument
As the days passed the weather got colder. Fall had arrived with a strong chill and near constant rain. Lirum awoke in their bed and looked out over the view of the lake. Though the wind usually whistled by, softly like a lullaby, the night before had been storms slamming against the windows. As the sun rose however it appeared there might be a slight brake in the fall storms perfectly timed for their care of magical creatures class.
Lirum hesitantly rolled out of bed and made their way to the common room. Walking down the stairs they saw their designated troublesome shadow waiting there. Luna sat on one of the blue armchairs feet swaying carelessly.
“Good morning, Lirum.” Luna said, raising from her chair.
“Morning Luna, you ready?” Lirum asked, looking back at the short girl, and made their way towards the spiral staircase of Ravenclaw tower that led down to the rest of the castle.
“Yeah, I just have crummy classes today; potions, transfiguration and flying. At least the views good in flying.” Luna followed behind the mint haired upperclassmen counting the stairs under her breath, until they reached the base of the tower before looking up. “What classes do you take in fourth year?”
“Well today I have double care of Magical creatures with Professor Kettleburn. I share it with Gryffindor as well. Grade four charms with Hufflepuff and Flitwick. Arithmancy with and Professor Vector, that one is a mixed class. On other days though I have Defense against the dark arts with Lockhart, Herbology four with sprout, potions with Snape, history of magic with Bins, and lastly transfiguration with McGonagall.” Lirum listed rushing down the stairs towards the great hall.
“Do we ever get to stop taking potions?” Luna asked as she trudged down the hallway towards the grand staircase. “Or get used to all these stairs?”
Lirum took a deep breath and sighed looking down the five more flights of stairs they had to descend.
“Unfortunately if you do it’s not until after fourth year.” Lirum said starting their daily trek to the great hall. “Come on if you don’t hurry we’ll be late and have to choose between food or being late for class.”
“It seems a bit unfair how far away our dorms are from the great hall, doesn’t it?” The first year asked. “I mean we have to climb so many stares it takes so long to get there.
“Luna please, please do not let anyone here you say that.”
“Why not?” Luna asked confused stoping to look up to the older Ravenclaw.
“Every house and I mean Every house thinks they have the worst walk to the great hall.” Lirum explained turning back to look at their underclassmen. “Our stairs versus the Gryffindor stairs. Did you know the entrance to their common room is on the seventh floor? Trust me I’ve heard, I’ve also been their, but that’s besides the point. The Slytherins will tell you it’s them who has it worse because at least we’re going down stairs and not up them. And Hufflepuff will complain about their endless tunnels to their common room.”
“I didn’t even realize. Wait, I thought we weren’t allowed in other common rooms?” Luna asked.
“We’re allowed to during Christmas but the rest of the year it’s off limits.” Lirum explained continuing back down the stairs, gesturing Luna to follow. “Come on, we'll be late if we keep stopping.”
As the pair walked into the loud into the great hall it was already bustling with life. Students all around talking, studying, enjoying their morning before classes would start. As the Ravenclaws made their way to their normal seats they saw Fred and George sitting on either side of a particularly nervous looking Neville. An irate Percy standing arms crossed between them and the Group of Gryffindors.
“Do you think this is funny? Why must you always find some way of disrupting things? There is an order to how we sit at the table, everyone sits in roughly the same spot every day by moving you’re disrupting the flow of the great hall. Both of you back to your seats now!” Percy snapped pacing back and forth.
“It’s breakfast not a class perfect Percy theirs no assigned seating.” Fred started crossing his arms back at his older brother.
“Yeah, you didn’t get mad at little Neville here when he moved.” George quipped.
“P-please, I’ll move back.” Neville offered hoping to end the conflict.
“What got it into your heads to go mucking everything up today?” Percy asked, still not seeming to notice the pair of Ravenclaws behind him waiting to be able to get to their seats.
“Perce? Do you mind if I get by? I can’t get to my seat.” Percy spun on his heel startled. Turning to face his Ravenclaw friend.
“Lirum!-Oh…uhh-I-my apologies I didn’t see you there.” He said stumbling back making way for Lirum and Luna and gesturing for them to pass.
“Sorry Perce, it’s actually there.” Lirum gestured to the empty seats behind him across from the three Gryffindors.
“Oh I’m in your way-sorry, I-I didn’t realize-“ he said moving forward looking between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables. “Your seat is- That’s why you’re here! No! Back to our table, move back! This instant! Now!” Percy should pointing back to their normal seats at the table where all the Weasleys sat together, now only occupied by The trio and Ginny.
“Percy you’re making a scene!” Penelope hissed in a hushed tone. As she made her way toward the middle of the table she glanced around the group. Seeing Lirum, Luna, and the twins she huffed. “What is it you’ve done now to cause this fuss?”
“We’ve just made it to the hall, we haven’t done anything yet.” Luna said, peeking out from behind Lirum.
“I wasn’t asking you loony!” Penelope snapped. Lirum drew their wand but as if on cue Luna hugged them from behind bawling. Percy, startled from the interaction stepped quickly between them.
“Penny that was wholly uncalled for! Name calling a first year? When all she did was answer the question you asked? I have half a mind to take points from Ravenclaw for that sort of behavior. It is unbefitting of any student, worst of all a school prefect.” Percy snapped attention completely stolen from his previous tirade against the twins.
“Percy you don’t understand they’re up to something. They’re always up to something. It’s even worse now that they have loony Lovegood tailing them like their little duckling.” Penny argued.
“Name one thing Lirum has done this year. It’s almost Halloween and as far as I’m aware mums the word as far as disciplinary action towards them goes. They’ve gotten into trouble what, two times since they started here at hogwarts. Both being last year, mind you, and not a single time since. So what makes you say they’re always up to something.” Percy snapped back, arms crossed. He appeared to get angrier as he heard Luna sob behind him “And as for Luna the girl you insulted she’s a first year! And again to my knowledge has never been in trouble once or even lost house points! So please indulge me by telling me what it is she’s done to earn your distrust!”
“They’re just always at it! Always together, conspiring! They’re making plans, they always are! They’re up to something! They’re trying to embarrass me and make me look like a fool in-front of everyone! They’re doing it right now! They planned this!” Penelope shouted at Percy no longer trying to hide the scene with hushed quips.
“This is absolutely ridiculous! They’ve only just arrived! Since when are you so paranoid! You’ve argued with me again and again to cut the twins slack and stop assuming they’re up to something despite their lengthy, disciplinarian reports! But two Ravenclaws, one who’s never been in trouble even once and the other who had only ever gotten into trouble twice in four years. The same one who is picking up your slack and taking a first year under their wing since you have clearly abandoned them. They are who we should be looking out for?” Percy had started turning red from the anger and embarrassment. Gesturing from his brothers at the Gryffindor table to the Pair of Ravenclaws behind him.
“You know there is such a thing as being two strict! You act like a Pompous Prat running around finding any excuse to berate your brothers.” She said angrily Percy appeared taken aback by her words clearly hurt and angry from her accusations. “Oh and don’t think we don’t all know it’s because you’re jealous! You absolute tosser! You can’t stand your little brothers relationship with that barmy slag-“
“How dare you-“ Percy started. Getting cut off by a very annoyed swish of Professor Snape's robes behind him as he stormed toward the bickering prefects.
“25 points from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor both for an absolutely disgusting display of boorish behavior. The two of you are prefects, act like it. Another 50 from Ravenclaw for your appalling use of language.”
“That’s 75 point from Ravenclaw professor please! Surely you can see the reason! Anything else!” Penny begged, colour draining from her face.
“I’m sure you’re aware how many people are visiting the hospital wing due to the change in weather. Surly you’ll see the chamber pots are clean for madam Pompfrey for the rest of the month Ms. Clearwater.” Snape glared at the Ravenclaw prefect.
“I would take the points then.” Penelope said staring down at the floor.
“Then you’ll have both for arguing like an insolent child.” Snape snapped, turning to Percy. “And for you Weasley, do you believe the Ministry tolerates squabbling children, as useless as your father. You’ll be serving detention tonight as well. I’m sure you’re familiar with pepperup potions. Will be brewing more to keep up with the demand from the hospital wing.“
This earned the attention of almost everyone in the hall. Percy and Penelope flinched at his words. The rumors had already started the second Penelope got involved. The arguing only fed them but when it got so bad professor snape stepped in and began taking points and handing out detentions, it was best to disappear. Lirum turned around to look at the first year girl crying.
“Are you alright? Here let’s go sit down and get you some food Luna. We still have classes and you’ll need something in you before lunch.” They said ushering the girl back towards the end of the table. Before glancing back to the pair of prefects. “I also think it would be best just not to be here.”
Luna led the way towards the end of the table. She went all the way around the other side taking the last seat of the table and plopping down opposite Lirum. Looking up at the fourth year with red puffy eyes.
“Do you think it worked?” Luna asked, cleaning up her face with a sniffle and little giggle.
“What-worked? What worked?” Lirum asked, dumbfounded by the blond girl blowing her nose and fanning away her tears. “What are you on about Luna?”
“He got mad when he realized the twins were trying to get close to you. So when Penelope came over I saw an opportunity to prove he’d pick you.” Luna said, trying to steady her breathing. “So when she insulted me I took my chance to take care of their relationship.”
“What that’s insane! You were balling, you can’t just fake that!” Lirum said, shocked.
“I really don’t care about being called loony but I thought it was a good shot. So, I just thought about mum. I cry a lot when I think about mum. It’s kind of hard to stop actually.” Luna said, fighting off another bout of tears.
“Luna, that's not ok. You can’t just go around trying to break people up, or fake crying on command to get your way.” Lirum looked at their young friend disturbed. ”That's manipulative and wrong, you know that right.”
“But you're my friend and they are not happy together. You two would be happier. Plus the tears weren’t fake, they just didn’t ask why I was crying.” Luna said as if it was plain as day.
“There are so many things wrong with that. I don’t even know where to start.” Lirum said grabbing some fruit to put in their bag. This was going to be a long conversation and they would probably need to eat between classes since they would be missing the rest of breakfast.