Writing on the Wall
As the classes of the day wrapped up Lirum’s anxiety rose. They dreaded each step on the way to the library. What would they say when they meet Percy? The ravenclaw pushed open the door and made their way to their normal table near the back of the first floor of the library. As Lirum approached they noticed they’re favorite Gryffindor was yet to be seen. Taking their seat and pulling out their assignments they readied themself for his arrival.
After a few moments they saw a familiar lanky frame topped with red ringlets forced to lay neatly hurry toward their table. Worry is just as clear on his face as Lirum’s own. As he stopped in front of the table he wrung his hands nervously before dropping them. He let out a deep sigh and looked at lirum before he started.
“Before we start I need to apologize. I haven’t been able to check up on you, after everything that happened in the great hall. I’ve tried to catch you in the corridors a few times but you’re always so busy I can’t just stop you to talk. That would be obscured. I should have found a moment to talk to you though. I shouldn’t have let it go this long. Now I don’t even know what to say” Percy turned around began pacing around in front of the table.
“Perce-“ Lirum started only to go unheard as Percy took off his glasses, passing and cleaning them.
“And I know she apologized, but it wasn’t right for her to say those things to begin with. Especially not because of some silly perceived threat. As if you’d ever be a threat to anyone, unless they did something horrid. That’s not important. It wasn’t fair. Not to you or that first year. She’s barely the same age as Ginny! I can’t believe Penny would-or I guess I do now. I don’t know what I’m even going to do about her. To call you something so foul! Not to mention mocking a child and calling me jealous! Of those imbeciles as if they have any claim over you. Insulting really, as if you would waste your time on them.” Percy said, heaving another deep sigh before he stopped in front of the table.
“Perce, what are you talking about?” Lirum asked, confused by his rant.
“What happened with Penelope of course. I know she already came to you and made amends, but I genuinely feel I needed to apologize for everything as well. I know you’re not the biggest fan of attention, and the idea that the whole student body heard her say those awful things about you because she misunderstood our relationship makes my blood boil.” Percy said, finally taking his seat across the table. Resting his head in his palms, clearly exhausted from thinking too hard about what he’d say when he got here.
“Have you lost the plot? Penelope hasn’t spoken to me since she called me a slag. If you’d even call that talking to me. She would leave the common room before having to so much as acknowledge my existence. ” lirum joked but hearing those words Percy’s head shot back up.
“I beg your pardon? What did you just say?” He asked, looking directly in Lirum’s eyes.
“It’s not that big of a deal, Perce. There's actually something else about that day I need to talk to you about.” The ravenclaw shrugged, worried about the sixth year boy.
“Please, just repeat what you said. I must have misheard you.” Percy said seriously.
“I said Penelope hasn’t spoken to me since the night she called me a slag? She-” Before they could finish their sentence Percy shot out of his chair so quickly it sputtered against the floor.
“She never apologized to you?” Percy said blue eyes, icey and piercing.
“Was she meant to? Look there was a lot more going on that day I think we need to-” Lirum spoke awkwardly, never having seen Percy so mad even when they’d been caught sneaking out.
“She lied to me! If I were a betting man I'd say she never apologized to the first year either. Oh she’s about to get an ear full!” Percy said, turning and rushing towards the door.
“Percy! Wait! It’s not that big of a deal! Please let me explain!” Lirum said, scrambling to follow him.
“Quite in the library!” The librarian hissed as the pair rushed toward the door.
“Sorry Madam Pince.” Lirum called back as they hurried after Percy.
“Do you still have my note on you?” Percy said as he claimed the small set of steps out of the library.
“Yeah what of it?” Lirum replied not quite understanding.
“Then read it again.” He said as he swung open the second set of doors.
“What does me making comments about myself have to do with anything?” Lirum asked, trying to match his speed.
“If you read it you’d remember I won’t accept rubbish comments that insult you. From you or anyone else. So you should understand why this is important!” Percy said quickly and gracefully descending another staircase.
“But she’s your girlfriend.” Lirum insisted on trying to get him to stop for a moment.
“Not if she’s going to act like this.” Lirum didn’t know how to respond to that.
“P-Percy you can’t be hearing yourself! Calm down for a moment, will you!” Percy stopped for just a moment to face Lirum.
“Your attempts to stop me, and calm me down prove that you deserve to be treated far better than you have.” Percy said before pushing open the doors of the great hall and marching his way toward the ravenclaw table where Penelope sat.
“Wait but I need to tell you what really happened with Luna before you do something stupid.” Lirum said to themselves as they watched the Gryffindor prefect approach their own. “Oh Salazar, This is going to go so poorly.”
“Penelope you lied to me! You swore that you went and made things right. After everything you’d said the other morning. After everything you did you had the gall to lie to me. What did you think would happen that I would never find out?” Percy started, his face as red as his hair.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to, Percy. I apologized to the girl. You should watch your tone before you make another scene.” Penelope said through gritted teeth.
“You apologized to the first year? If I went and asked her right now, would she say you did? Before you said you had made everything right, that you had apologized. However you clearly didn’t apologize to Lirum? So, why do I not believe you?” Percy spoke callously but before either of the two could get another word in a gray and white owl dropped a red envelope on the table.
“What? It’s not even mail day, how did you get in here?” Penelope said as she looked down at the envelope, all eyes in the room on the pair now.
“Well, don’t let me stop you! go ahead, and open it let’s see what you’ve done now! What else have you lied about to receive a howler at the Halloween feast!” Percy snapped as the red envelope began to smoke. As soon as Penelope touched it it sprung to life a familiar voice screaming out of the red envelope.
“Penelope Clearwater! Oh I never thought you would have the audacity to call another student a slag! You must be green with envy of not something else! Calling a single fourth year a slag! While you’ve been running around while you’ve had a boyfriend! As if everyone hasn’t heard from the fifth floor portraits about your exploits! Sneaking out with your so called boyfriend's roommate spending the night together in a broom closet outside Flitwick’s office! So how did Oliver’s wood taste huh? Did you have your fun? Or should we talk about when you dropped your standards to the dungeons for Marcus Flint at last year’s Halloween party in the Hufflepuff dorms as if that was better than if you’d spent the night with the actual troll that was in the dungeons! Should I continue? We both know there's more! The name Teddy Taylor ring a bell? A game of quiet in the library or should I say quickie in the library? Tell me do you and Gabriel Truman still sneaking into the prefect bathrooms for your “nightly rounds” together? You have a longer list than half the school! You asked for your dirty laundry to be aired out when you went trying to shame others. Should I ever hear that you’ve opened that stupid gob of yours again I will personally make a trip to Hogwarts. Do you understand me! Just know you’re lucky you waited until I graduated to pull this stunt!”
The whole room stood still with shock. Everyone like rabbits in headlights. No one had been expecting that sort of information out of a howler. Most faces sat mortified. Seemingly by the revelation they now had a new thing to fear from howlers. Except for one very angry face at the Slytherin table Lirum recalled being Marcus Flint himself from the day at the quidditch pitch. Anger matched only by the shame and fear on Oliver Wood and the Hufflepuff prefect's faces. Remembering last Halloween they quickly pieced together the prefect must be the same Gabriel.
“Oh merlin, what have you done Tonks?” Lirum Said in a State of pure terror.
“Well, anything else you want to confess to me Penelope? Given the faces of those mentioned seem to be saying that was true. ” Percy said, arms crossed looking somewhere between hurt and furious.
“I-I can explain. It’s a Plot! To break us up Percy! That was their friend.” Penelope said, pointing at Lirum frantically.
“I-I honestly had no idea that was going to happen. I am genuinely just as mortified as you right now.” Lirum said still in shock feeling all the eyes in the room on them. “I think I might be sick actually. I’m-I’m gonna go.”
“it’s ok you’re not to blame for this just sit down a moment-“ Percy started as he turned around only to see them dashing out of the great hall. Quickly being followed by several other students escaping the tension only to be met with the three second year students Lirum wanted to see the least. The group of kids, always followed by trouble. Harry Ron and Hermione all facing the wall where words seemed to be painted in blood.
“The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemy’s of the heir beware”
Lirum felt as though they might pass out. Everything had been far too much too quickly. Between Percy’s fury, Tonks’ howler, Penelope’s accusations, and now bloody writing in the wall with the murder standing there. It was all so overwhelming.
“Enemies of the heir, beware! You’ll be next, Mudbloods.” Draco yelled from the crowd of students behind them.
“What’s going on here? What’s going on?” Filch shouted, pushing his way towards the front of the crowd.
Percy quickly followed the path he’d cut through the students to find his way next to Lirum and in front of the writing on the wall. Looking quickly from that and back to Lirum.
“Are you alright? Did you see what happened?” Percy asked, putting himself between Lirum and the scene of the bloody wall, Flich and the trio.
“No, I came out and it was already written there. Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed just as shocked.” The fourth year answered confused by the sudden turn of events.
“Are you alright? You seem shaken, I should take you to the hospital wing.” Percy asked, completely ignoring the yelling behind him.
“I’m fine. We need to get everyone back to their common rooms. Somethings very wrong.” Lirum answered as the teachers stormed down the hall leaving the students to fend for themselves.
“Yeah, yeah you're right.” Percy said, taking a step back before clearing his throat and facing the other students.
“Prefects, please gather your house and lead them back to your common rooms.” Percy ordered as he stepped forward then between Lirum and the other students grabbing their attention from lirum and the scene in front of them. Acting as he did when he played the role of the Gryffindor prefect.