Care of magical creatures
The next morning as Lirum and Luna made their way down the stairs of Ravenclaw tower they were met with a surprise. Percy Weasley standing at the base of it where the tower let out into the castle hallway.
“Is this what time you normally make it down here?” Percy asked double checking the time on his pocket watch.
“Perce? What…What are you doing here?” Lirum asked as they stepped off the stairs next to him.
“After a rather long conversation with Fred, George and the Longbottom boy last night we agreed it would be best not to leave you walking around alone.” Percy gestured for the pair of Ravenclaws to keep walking.
“I’m not alone, I’m with Luna?” Lirum said, confused motioning to the first year behind them.
“Lunas a first year. She already needs an escort before the danger.” Percy said keeping time beside Lirum.
“Percy nothing even happened, it was just a cat and some writing on the wall! It’s probably a first year prank.”
“Then what happened in the kitchens? What did the two of you see exactly?”
“I don’t know what I saw in the kitchens. It was dark, whatever it was was long, green, and scaly. Percy it couldn’t be real it would’ve had to have been at least forty feet long, and I never even saw it’s head. It could have been a dragon for all I know!” Lirum insisted, making their way toward the great hall.
“A dragon in Hogwarts, that’s preposterous!” Percy scoffed.
“It happened last year! As if it happening again would be that shocking! You seem to think a Fifty foot long snake would make more sense.” Lirum stopped turning to face him.
“There are several verity’s of serpent that get that large. Almost every type of Sea Serpent. Horned serpents are known to be a bit shorter but I’m sure it felt bigger in the moment. On Rowena Ravenclaw's grave it could be a basilisk for all we know.”
“I know I’ve been looking into it l, trying to find anything resembling what I saw! Anything that matches the description is either extinct, endangered or legal! Lirum argued.
“When did this happen? You never explained?” Luna chimed in still not having any of her questions answered.
“The night after Halloween?” Lirum shrugged. “Regardless I was with Neville when it happened, so having an escort will only end up with us both being eaten!”
“Just let me do this! If not for your sake then mine! Ours, I meant ours!” Percy stopped for a moment to take a deep breath. “Fred and George have already agreed to walk you between classes. They’ll be asking Diggory to accompany you to the classes you share that they don’t.”
“That would still leave Arithmancy as none of them chose to take it saying numbers don’t belong in magic! Also History if magic, Potions and
Transfiguration all of which I share with Slytherin this year! So they won’t be their to walk me!” Lirum continued forward open Percy will drop the subject.
“I will be walking you.” Percy said keeping time with them once more Luna dragging behind.
“Perce, you have your own classes to attend to.” Lirum said much softer
“I’ve already checked with the twins your Arithmancy, and Potions are scheduled during my hall duties as a prefect I can walk you there, patrol until the end of class and make it there again in time to walk you to the next.” Percy said, getting a few steps ahead to open the door to the great hall.
“What of transfiguration and history of magic? Or worse the weekends you can’t possibly expect me to sit around in my common room all day.”
“You and I will continue to have our study’s in the library on Sundays, if you’d like we can also start Saturday mornings. The boys all love quidditch and play for their house teams. So, I suppose you’ll be going to the games with them Saturday evenings. What do you do on Sunday before we meet?” Percy theorized.
“Typically I sleep in, but about Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor? They’ll all be on field?” Lirum pointed out as they made their way toward their table blond and ginger in tow.
“You could accompany me in the Gryffindor section.” Percy suggested waiting for both Ravenclaws to be seated.
“I’m not getting out of this am I?” Lirum asked as Percy begin to make his way back toward the end of the table.
“Absolutely not, I would not allow it.” Percy answered back, finding his was to his new seat across the Gryffindor table from Lirum. As Luna leaned in towards Lirum ear.
“Isn’t this a good thing? Don’t we want more time alone with Percy?” Luna whispered, hoping no one would hear.
“Not if it means being treated like I can’t take care of myself.”
“I mean isn’t it nice that they all care about you enough to do this?” Luna asked head cocked as if this should be plain as day.
“Look, you’re right. It’s nice to know that they care, but I don’t need a babysitter. It’s been over a week since the writing on the wall and petrifying the cat prank. Nothings even happened since then.” Lirum shrugged, writing off what happened in the kitchen as left over hysteria.
“Didn’t you and Neville see a snake?” Luna asked again, eyeing Lirum. As they fixed their plate.
“Am I being unreasonable for wanting to be like everyone else, and not worry about it for once in my life? To just let the teachers handle it!” Lirum asked turning to face Luna.
“Yes,” the twins chorused from behind them.
“Alright then! I’ll be on my way to class.” Lirum said, standing from the table abruptly.
“Lirum! Don’t leave without us!” Fred called out scrambling up from the table.
“You haven’t even finished your breakfast!” George called from the table gesturing towards the half eaten contents of their plate.
“No longer hungry!” Lirum called out making their way out of the great hall.
Fred fumbled out behind them followed by a sour George. The twins begrudgingly kept the same brisk pace Lirum had set leaving the great hall. A tense silence falling over the group. As they reached their care of magical creatures, Professor Kettleburn stood in front of the class.
“As I’m sure most of you have figured out by now, for the foreseeable future we will be holding our care of magical creatures lessons inside the castle. While I’m sure some of you will be sad to hear we won’t be holding class in the forest. I’m know the vast majority of you will be celebrating not having to make the trek to and from the castle. That being said, the practical part of your grade will be shifted to more bookwork.” The Professor spoke, warning a wave of groans, and slew of complaints under various students' breaths.
“At least we won’t be worried about the snake chasing you through the forest.” George joked, nudging Lirum.
“Today we will be discussing boomslang. Though not inherently magical they are incredibly venomous. As well their skin is a potent potions ingredient.“ Kettleburn explained as the chalk notated everything he said behind him.
Lirum thought for a second before rising their hand. No better time to ask questions about magical snakes than a lesson about snakes in a class about magical creatures. Fred and George eyed them skeptically as they waited.
“Yes Mr. Ollivander?” Kettleburn asked.
“Professor, would their happen to be a charm or spell of some sort to grow a boomslang to about forty or fifty feet in length?” Lirum asked.
“No. though you can enlarge animals to an extent they can only become so large before they simply can’t survive.” He answered with a confused look.
“In that case are you aware of any native species of snake that could theoretically make it to that size?” Lirum asked again smugly.
“I’m unsure of how this pertains to the lesson, Mr. Ollivander.” Kettleburn answered looking up from the book he was teaching out of.
“As you said the Boomslang is not inherently magical and therefore won’t be appearing on our O.W.L.s. Would it not be more pertinent for us to learn about Magical verity’s of snakes? This is care of Magical creatures after all.” Lirum retorted casually, prepared to take notes.
“Though there may be some truth to that statement-“ before Kettleburn could finish Lee Jordan raised his hand from the other end of the bench.
“I agree with Lirum, wouldn't a lesson on Native Magical Serpents be better? More likely to show up on the tests, and that?” Lee spoke, earning himself a warning glare from George. The rest of the classroom buzzed with agreement.
“All right then class, everyone settle down! I suppose magical serpents could be a more fitting topic of discussion.” The Professor spoke. “There are only four varieties of Magical Native Serpents: the Horse-Head Sea Serpent, the Ram Horned Serpent, the Jewel Horned Serpent, and Basilisk. Ranging from fully aquatic to land dwelling in that order. The Horse-Head Sea Serpent being fully aquatic as all Sea Serpents are averaging typically one hundred feet in length. Though fiercely protective of their waters, they’re rarely dangerous to humans. Making its home in the pacific ocean, just off England’s coast.”
“That was smooth.” Fred whispered under his breath.
“Thank you. I practiced in my head the whole time my hand was up.” Lirum whispered back as they collected their things. “I really owe one to Lee though, didn't I expect him to back me up?”
“The Ram and Jewel Horned Serpents were semi-aquatic Serpents known for living in lakes, rivers and streams. They reached roughly thirty to forty feet in length. Both of which have now been forced into extinction by poachers.” Lirum noted down all of the information he gave looking for anything that stuck out.
“Oh, you two are best friends now that they're bad at me, huh? Remember he’s an idiot will you?” George grumbles before looking dead at Fred. “And for you, remember I know your secret.”
“What secret?” Lirum asked, looking between the ginger boys.
“You wouldn’t dare!” Fred hissed, glaring at his brother.
“Lastly is the basilisk, a very illegal variety of snake. It is both illegal to breed to own a basilisk as they are far too dangerous. Looking into the eyes of a basilisk can end the life of the onlooker. As well, it has a venomous bite, if it didn’t swallow you whole.” Kettleburn finished as class let out.
“I would never.” George said sarcastically, looking his brother in the eyes.
“So I get to know what the secret is?” Lirum asked.
“Would you forgive me if I told you?” George asked with a wicked smile.
“No!” Fred yelped. “George you can’t!”
“You’ll have to ask him yourself, love. I can’t.” George answered, nodding toward his brother as the trio of idiots left the classroom.
“It can’t be that bad. Please tell me. If not I’ll just start guessing what would embarrass you so much you couldn’t tell me.” Lirum begged.
“I don’t think that’s necessary, really.” Fred said, looking for a way out of their predicament.
“George, ignore him! Look at me! If I let the half-blood thing go, will you tell me?” Lirum asked eyeing the younger twin.
“Unfortunately Thumper, the fun of watching him panic while you guess, will be far too worth it.” George said looking from Lirum go Fred.
“I can’t believe you’ve done this.” Fred muttered under his breath leading the group to the charms classroom.
“Do you still sleep with stuffy’s?” Lirum asked turning Fred Pink.
“No! Please don’t do this to me bunny.” Fred wined.
“Come on Freddie? I’m trustworthy, you can tell me everything.” Lirum insisted, wrapping an arm over his shoulders, meeting his eyes with a wide grin.
“You need to go to class.” George Said pushing Lirum from behind through the doorway.
“Well I’ve found my source of entertainment as long as they insist on walking me everywhere.” Lirum said to themselves as they came to sit at their seat in charms.