Trunk
Lirum made their way to their cold and empty dorm happy to know they wouldn’t be spending another holiday shivering every morning. As the lack of heating in the ravenclaw dorms was criminal. Lirum hastily threw their clothes and presents for each of the boys into their trunk for safe keeping. Double checking it was all there Lirum came back down the stairs stuffed and heavy leather trunk in hand. They found Percy looking through the shelves rubbing his hands together and blowing on them.
“Blimey, is it always this cold in here? The fire doesn’t seem to help much at all.” Percy said, shoving his red hands into his pockets.
“The fire can’t get too high, the books might catch, they’re all old and dry.” Lirum explained the reason they’d been told when they complained. “So to answer your questions, yes. It’s always this cold. It’s far worse in the dorms given this is the closest fireplace.”
The look on Percy’s face was priceless as he scoffed. A Childlike disbelief and horror flashed. The way a child might being told big kids eat their veggies or grown ups don’t eat candy. The least dignified face they’d caught on him.
“So what, you all just deal with the cold? Merlin’s beard! There's a bloody blizzard outside!” He gestured to the windows. For the first time truly acting his age. No pompous air, or practiced movements. Percy, it seemed, truly despised the cold, much to Lirum’s delight.
“Unfortunately, you’d be correct. I mean most of us have good practice with warming charms now at least. I bet you’re happy to be a gryffindor now. With your plush and warm common room.” Lirum teased walking towards the exit. “No freezing granite floors, or fireplaces that aren’t quite hot enough to warm the room for the sake of the books.”
“You do still have a better variety of books.” He said with a shrug, then paused. “With all these books did you really need to sneak out and go to the library?”
“Percy,” they sighed, unsure how to explain. “I wasn’t just looking for something to read. I was looking for specific information. I checked everything in here to see if there was a chance something might be able to help me and I couldn’t find what I was looking for.”
“And what were you looking for?” He asked, stopping them to make eye contact.
“Answers?” Lirum shrugged.
“I need more than that, Lirum please.” Percy begged.
“I’ve seen the serpent of Slytherin something else no one else really has, or lived to tell about it at least. I thought I might be able to figure out what it really was so it could actually be taken care of instead of spending the rest of the year hiding.” Lirum answered as they turned back to lead the way down the tower to the castle.
“That was reckless and irresponsible. The professors-“ Percy started as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
“Haven’t seen the Serpent, or if they have, are actively lying to students to keep us from panicking.” Lirum finished for him, trunk swinging at their side.
“It’s their jobs to keep students calm in times of crisis.” The prefect corrected.
“Oh yeah? So, when we found the writing on the wall and the professors all left the students without guidance, or found the Hufflepuff boy and Nearly Headless Nick in the hallway and just ushered them back to class, who was keeping students calm ey?” Lirum asked, looking back at him. “I was the one who told you we needed to get students back to their common room, and I was the only one who seemed to care if Harry was actually innocent; the professors only wanted to sweep this under the rug. Just like they did last year with Professor Quirrell and the stone.”
“That’s not fair.” Percy started.
“And why isn’t it fair? Because the Professors are trying? I’m trying! I’m trying to not let anyone get killed while watching the Professors ignore what’s going on or blame it on the wrong person so the problem goes away!” Lirum said angrily, dropping their trunk. “Oh Rowena, why does this thing have to be so heavy!”
“Here let me.” Percy said as he reached a hand down for the trunk.
“No.” They said, as they snatched the trunk back.
“Please, let me help you.” He said putting a hand on the trunk’s handle.
“You really have a hard time taking no for an answer don’t you.” Percy pulled his hand back like he’d been burnt, and Lirum felt awful. “Look I know you want to help, but never in my four years of being here have I been treated like I’m so helpless. I am not helpless. Please just let me take care of myself.”
“I know you’re not helpless.” Percy said quietly.
“Then why are you treating me like I am?” Lirum
“Because this is all I can do!” Percy snapped. “I’m sorry.”
“What was it you said this morning? Apologizing when you don’t mean it, is a good way to hurt the both of us. It seems I’m not the only one who needs to keep that in mind” Lirum scoffed, lifting their trunk and storming toward the Gryffindor common room.
“Lirum, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. This isn’t your fault. There's just so much-“
“Percy! Lirum!” Fred yelled out running down the hall toward them. “Are you joining us back in the common room? Everyone else has already up, and went home!”
“Fred! No running in the halls!” Percy snapped, the mood entirely shifted from moments before ridged prefect Percy was back. As Fred finally made it to them he threw an arm over Lirum’s shoulders.
“Come on darling, everyone’s waiting! We’re all gonna play exploding snap since there's no one to complain about the noise!” He said pulling them along beside him.
“Fred, we were in the middle of a conversation!” Lirum said, trunk scuffing the ground as they were dragged down the hall.
“Fred! What did I just say! Let go of them!” Percy said with a huff starting down the hall after them.
“I’ve got this you just keep up!” Fred shouted swiftly, stealing Lirum’s trunk and booking it down the hall.
“Fred! Stop give me my things. What is wrong with both of you? I can take care of myself!” Lirum shouted, stopping as Fred kept running.
“Oh come on Bunny, don’t be like that. Let’s go it’ll be fun.” Fred teased, as Percy stormed towards them.
“None of you ever listen to me!” Lirum shouted angrily.
“Bunny- '' Fred started turning back around to face Lirum's trunk still in hand.
“I told you to stop calling me that, I told you I was in the middle of something and I told you to give me my trunk back!” Lirum snapped. “So don’t even try to act like you’ve done nothing wrong!”
“Fred Gideon Weasley! You put that down now! Can’t you see you’ve angered them enough!” Percy bellowed as he got closer.
“Me? What did you do to make them so angry? As far as I’m aware one person doesn’t equal not none of you!” Fred argued back.
“You’re insufferable, all of you! Give me that! One more word from either of you and I’ll be going back to my common room!”
“I-“ the brothers started.
“Alone!” Lirum said, snatching their trunk back from Fred and heading toward the Gryffindor common room.
“Right!” They said together, before following Lirum occasionally throwing glares at one another in silence.
The group entered the common room quietly. Being greeted by the sounds of George, Ron, Harry, and Hermione loudly playing a game of exploding snap. If it weren’t for how cold their common room or even worse dorm would be right now they would have preferred the quiet. Ginny had seemingly already gone to bed. Lirum and Percy were happy enough with that, hoping the extra sleep might help her with whatever had been keeping her pale and exhausted.
“So where am I sleeping? If I’m not mistaken I remember it being a bit of a point of contention last time.” Lirum asked, looking over to Percy.
“Well, if you wouldn’t mind here’s probably best.” He gestured around the room.
“In your common room?” They asked confused.
“Umm…yes?” Percy answered a bit hesitant.
“And you believe that’s safer? Sleeping on a sofa in a room that anyone with the password could get into? Is safer than being in the same dorm room as any of you?” Lirum said skeptically. “As if you couldn’t all come down here?”
“No! You would never be unsafe around any of us! And everyone else has gone home for Christmas! So, it’ll just be us.“ Percy rushed to answer with panic clear on his face.
“You know what, you’re lucky I don’t feel like arguing, and it’s warm, and you have so many sofas and blankets. I’m taking the one by the fire.” Lirum grumbled, picking up a throw blanket that was on the back of the couch. “It’s probably more comfortable than your bed anyway.”
“No, I’m sorry. You should take my bed. I’ll sleep down here. You’re right, it doesn’t make sense to force you to sleep on the sofa.” Percy stumbled through his words, and Lirum sighed in response.
“You know if we do that your brothers will have a fit. Just relax, please Percy.” Lirum said as they laid back against the sofa.
“Are you alright?” Percy asked, taking the seat beside Lirum.
“I’ll be fine.” They answered, wrapping themself comfortably in the blanket.
“So, you’re not fine. I knew it. I knew I shouldn't have brought it up.” Percy said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them rather aggressively.
“I just told you-“ Lirum started.
“You said you’ll be fine, not that you are fine.” Percy cut them off without hesitation.
“Percy it’s-“ they started again trying to explain.
“You know how much I hate lying, so you tired to tell me the truth in a way I wouldn’t notice.”
“Percy just-“ they tried again only to be cut off once more.
“I shouldn’t have said anything this morning. I’ve clearly upset you and-“ That was the final straw for Lirum.
“Percy, good Godric please shut up! Between you and Fred I’ve barely had a moment quite enough to hear my own thoughts. Merlin forbid you lot hear them given the way you’ve all talked over me today.” Lirum snapped at the now shocked Percy.
“I’m sorry I-“
“Percy! I’m not upset at you for bringing up what happened, alright. I’m also not upset with you for making me sleep in the common room. If I wanted it that badly I would go upstairs, pick a room and lock the door. I need quite, at least for a little bit. I also need sleep, as I barely got any last night. You lot, who are normally my favorite rambunctious and rowdy red heads, are currently giving me a migraine. Do you have any paracetamol?” Lirum finished happy to finally get a word in.
“Do I have a what?” Percy asked far too loudly, confusion written on his face.
“You are all so loud. It’s muggle medicine for headaches.-You know what, I’m just gonna lay down. Sleep is the best medicine.” Lirum said as they toppled over laying across the couch. Head making contact with Percy’s lap. He stiffened like a board.
“Lirum?” Percy called timidly after a moment of silence.
“Yes Percy?” They replied mildly annoyed.
“I was still…here? You’re sort of on my lap.” Percy said awkwardly.
“I’m aware of that, Percy. I can feel.” Lirum said, still facing the fire. Head laid in his lap.
“Do…do I stay here? Is this all right?” Percy asked quickly shifting around beneath them.
“Are you going to bring me a pillow? If not then you are the pillow.” Lirum answered, closing their eyes to rest.