Hogsmeade
It was cold the morning of their hogsmeade trip. Lirum hated the cold with a passion, but as the sun rose is shown a heartbreakingly beautiful orange hue into the sky. One that reminded them today they wouldn’t be braving the cold for classes. They’d spend their day getting a taste of a life they’d never have. A domestic romance going to shops with the handsome ginger.
Lirum had spent a year worrying how he’d take the things they said to him. Now, they no longer had to fear talking to him. Oddly enough, they’d found knowing they had no chance with him rather freeing. It had never matter if they made a fool of themselves in front of Percy. He was just a friend and never cared. That was a lie, the note reminded them of it. He just didn’t care for them the way they had. He can’t be blamed for it. So, they made their way down the stairs. They found him waiting, patiently as always.
“Good morning Lirum! Would you like to go to breakfast first or straight into town?” Percy asked, watching them walk down the steps.
“For your sake, I think it’s best we head straight to hogsmeade. If your brothers catch us before we get there they’ll want to tag along.” Lirum joked watching Percy’s face flicker sour for a moment.
“Then we should head to town.” Percy said.
He spoke as he lead the way out of the castle. Careful to avoid any reckless redheads. Once they were clear of the castle he seemed to have calmed down. After a while he began the chat with Lirum again.
“If we’re planning on getting breakfast in hogsmeade I’ve heard Madam Puddifoots is quite popular. It’s nothing to fancy, but I’ve noticed you seem to be a fan of tea and sweets.” Percy suggested as the hamlet came into view.
“That was just what I had in mind actually. I guess great minds really do think alike.” The ravenclaw laughed, pulling Percy along behind them as they entered the town and then the small shop.
“Good morning, sit wherever you’d like!” A woman called from behind the cabinet.
“You’ll be having earl gray and something sweet, I’ll have it?” Percy asked taking a seat at a table near the windows.
“You would be correct, how’d you know?” Lirum laughed.
“You always smell of it, I assume that’s what your always adding so much sugar to in the mornings.” Percy joked looking up at them over the rim of his glasses.
“Do we know what we’ll be having today?” The woman from before asked, now standing by the table.
“I’ll be having an earl gray with milk please, and some tea cakes if you have any.” Lirum answered. Earring a look of shock from Percy.
“Tea cakes?” Percy asked, face shown with confusion.
“What? their good! You knew I’d order something sweet with it?”
“I’ll have the Victorian London Fog, and a lemon blueberry shortcake please.” Percy ordered before the lady left to make their drinks.
“I really didn’t paint you as the tea cakes type. A chelsea bun, maybe cinnamon swirl, would’ve been my guess, but tea cakes?” Percy continued.
“Oh don’t think your order went unnoticed. A Victorian London fog? More like an Earl gray with lavender, vanilla, and milk. Trying to pretend to be fancy when you want it sweet now are we.” Lirum teased, as the woman made it back, setting their orders on the table.
“What is that?” Percy asked, looking at the treats in front of Lirum.
“Their tea cakes?” Lirum answered, confused.
“No, those are bonbons at best!” Percy argued, staring at their plate.
“What did you think tea cakes were?” Lirum asked.
“Their little buns with dried fruit cinnamon.” Percy claimed.
“Eww, why would I order that, no. Tea cakes are shortbread with marshmallows on top dipped in chocolate!” Lirum argued, showing him the plate.
“Not a lovers quarrel over tea cakes I hope?” The woman asked coming back after the pair started to argue.
“Oh, umm, not lovers i’m afraid but, a quarrel none the less. I believe you’ve brought out the wrong thing; these appear to be bonbons.” Percy’s was swift to correct.
“Yes, my friend seems to think Tea cakes are some weird fruit buns.” Lirum said as the illusion of their status as a happy couple faded away.
“British tea cakes would be, these are Scottish tea cakes. You’d be surprised with how much this happens. Actually, you’re both British aren’t you? Shouldn’t you be surprised since you ordered them?” The woman turned to Lirum confused.
“I grew up here. It was when I was little though. I guess these are the only ones I knew. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back.” Lirum admitted the mood now soured.
“Didn’t you grow up in Diagon Alley?” Percy asked.
“I did. I lived here with my parents until my fifth birthday. I lived with my grandfather in Diagon Alley after that.” Lirum said. “Here try one, I don’t remember much from then, but I know the sweets were good.”
Lirum gave him one of their sweets. An attempt to drive the conversation anywhere but where it was headed. Their breakfast went smoothly after. Soon it was time to actually start their errands.
“Any preference on where we head first, Perce?” Lirum asked, as they left for the tea shop.
“As Long as We can stop by Stitches and Draughts before we leave I should be set. It’s your lead really.” Percy said, gesturing them on.
“I’d like to leave the wand shop last of you don’t mind so I’ll start by picking up the twins' Christmas gifts in Zonko’s” Lirum said, walking towards the direction of the joke shop.
“Won’t it be easier for you to do your shopping in Diagon Alley, when you're home on holiday?” Percy asked following them.
“I won’t be returning home for Holiday, I never do.” Lirum said with a shrug. Looking through the various joke items for things the twins might enjoy.
“Not even with a massive snake trolling the halls?” Percy asked, concerned. Ignoring as they picked up some frog spawn soap and Dungbombs.
“Don’t worry about it Percy, I’ll be fine. I never go home for break.” Lirum insisted, heading to the till with their small pile of gifts.
“I think it would be best to make an exception this year. You have a good relationship with your grandfather. You should just go, please.” Percy insisted while Lirum ignored him and paid the shopkeeper.
“Percy, I won’t be going home. It’s not like I’ll be alone other people stay too, and It’s not as if I’ll go wandering around the school unsupervised.” Lirum said, pulling Percy out if Zonko’s and towards the Gladrags Wizardingwear.
“Why can’t you just go home?” Percy asked, pulling Lirum back to a stop.
“Percy, I don't want to talk about that right now. Please, let’s just enjoy are hogsmeade trip.” Lirum pleaded Hand on the door of the next shop, waiting to go in.
“Fine, if you’re staying I’ll be staying. I’ll write my mother.” Percy said, dripping his hand from their wrist allowing them to enter the next shop.
Lirum entered the store looking around for a good scarf. Feeling the texture of a few of them and putting them back. An awkward silence hung between the teens. Lirum huffed and looked around once more, this time spotting a red and gold scarf with the Gryffindor emblem embroidered on it. Much softer than the others they’d found a perfect sensible gift for a sensible boy.
“I think that’s the wrong house.” Percy joked, watching Lirum pick up the Gryffindor scarf.
“I told you, I’m doing my Christmas shopping. Too bad you’d look better in green. People wouldn’t be able to take their eyes off you, had you been a Slytherin.” Lirum joked while holding up a green scarf next to Percy.
“I would rather die.” Percy said stone faced, before it morphed into something else. “Wait! Is that for me?”
“What, do you not like it?” Lirum asked, lowering the scarves.
“Lirum, you just bought me my quill!” Percy said, taking the scarf out of their hands and setting it back on the counter.
“For your birthday? That was months ago. It’s your Christmas present.” Lirum attempted to pick the scarf back up, only to be stopped by Percy.
“That quill was a whole galleon, and that’s not counting the rest of my school supplies. I haven’t even needed to owl mum for more all year. I simply cannot accept another gift.” Percy said, firmly.
“You are one of my closest friends. Percy, you’re getting a present.” Lirum said, turning back towards the scarfs.
“Lirum, we don’t get multiple presets a year. Especially not expensive ones. We get a present for our birthday and mum makes us a jumper on Christmas. Maybe if we do something amazing, one expensive thing. You’ve already bought me one expensive thing, and I haven’t done anything amazing.” Percy explained trying to pull Lirum away from the winter wear.
“Did you know there's an old practice of handcrafting wands for the people you care for? Picking out the parts that you think would embody them perfectly. Ollivanders doesn’t provide this service as we have a strong belief the wand chooses its master.” Lirum asked planting their feet.
“Are you trying to change the subject so you can trick me into picking a scarf?” Percy asked, staring at the Ravenclaw.
“No, I'm making you a lovely threat.” Lirum replied completely calm.
“Pardon?” Percy asked, eyes Like saucers.
“Typically don’t allow custom order wands. However when it comes to members of the family, we allow them to make their own wands as they learn. Which wood works best, what flexibility is most comfortable, how long a good fit is in their hand, and lastly what core resonates most. That’s how we learn to read wands.” Lirum explained unyieldingly.
“I’m very confused.” Percy admitted not yet following.
“Percy you use a hand me down wand. The core is unicorn hair and it resonates well with your well meaning heart but the wood is all wrong, at the moment you have a larch wood wand. Though they're known for giving courage, they're notoriously tricky to work with. It’s the reason you’ve had to practice your wand work so much, the reason your movements have to be perfect. You’ve had to work harder to accommodate an ill-fitting wand.” Lirum gestured for his wand.
“How did you-“ Percy started but Lirum was not finished.
“You’re wand should have been closer to apple or hornbeam. But if I were to make you a wand it would be unicorn hair. Given your height I would go long between eleven and a half to twelve inches. Between slightly yielding and reasonably supple.” Lirum explained.
“What does any of that matter?” Percy asked, dumbfounded.
“You said your family only buys you one gift they make you the other. It matters because you have two options. Let me buy you a gift or I’ll make you one.” Lirum finished.
“Make me one?-Lirum, no!” Percy interrupted himself.
“I’ll go home for the holidays just like you wanted. I’ll come back with a handmade present I didn’t pay for.” Lirum offered their compromise.
“Lirum! A wand is a life Investment. You don’t just pick up a new wand because it looks nice.” Percy argued, reeling from the situation.
“I know that’s why you need a new one. Your brother broke his hand yours down.” Lirum insisted.
“That’s outrageous!” Percy snapped.
“Then pick out a scarf and a jumper you like, and don’t look at the price tag.” Lirum offered, knowing he wouldn’t.
“A scarf and a jumper? Lirum I was not raised to ship without looking at the price! You know that!” The ginger panicked.
“Clothes or Wand? Your pick. Oh, and do keep in mind, a wand is the only way I’ll be going home for the Holiday.” Lirum said arms crossed, waiting for Percy to decide.