Sleepover
The last few days of break flew by, Lirum and the Gryffindors frequently visited Hermione in the hospital wing. Percy was horrified to hear the second year had accidentally half turned herself into a cat, and even more so mortified that Lirum and the second years had all known since it happened and hadn’t told him till they visited on Christmas morning. Classes were soon resuming and Lirum had retired to Ravenclaw tower eagerly awaiting the return of their friends. Luna, Neville, and Cedric were all scheduled to be back the last day of break.
Lirum was happy to have them back. Though they loved the Weasleys they could be quite a handful and they missed Luna’s peculiarities, Neville’s humbleness, and Cedric’s positivity. They began to worry about Tonks they hadn’t received a single owl from them since Halloween, perhaps their theory about them being banned from letters after the howler incident had been true. There was a flurry of students nosing around the hospital wing believing that hermione had been attacked not knowing the truth. That made it particularly easy for Lirum to plan this years sleepover.
Lirum and Luna would be sneaking Cedric into Ravenclaw tower. Lirum had made a deal with the twins that they would distract Lockhart by asking him questions about his books they knew he would love to talk about while they snuck the frogspawn soap into his personal chambers, under the conditions they would keep Penelope distracted until Luna gave them the signal. Lirum of course, did not explain to the boys they would be using that time to sneak Cedric into their dorm. After all, it was far easier to get Cedric and Luna in their dorm, both of them into Cedric’s.
The trio watched as Penelope chased the twins down the hallway, taking the opportunity the fourth years dragged the two heavy trunks full of supplies up the stairs and into their dorm. The two shuffled up the stairs as quickly as they could before closing themselves in Lirum’s dorm, and waiting for Luna. As they began to unpack the stereo and CDs Cedric had kept safe from the year before they heard him clear his throat.
“So, when were you going to tell me you had this good of a set up?” He joked gesturing around the mostly empty room.
What do you mean?” Lirum asked, watching him inspect the room.
“You’re all alone in here? No dorm mates at all?” He asked awkwardly.
“They didn’t really know what to do with me.” Lirum shrugged, sorting through the makeup and muggle clothes, casually chucking them on the bed before taking a seat. “I can sort of be either, you know? So they stuck me in the boys dorms at first you know since the girls dorms are enchanted so boys will slide down instead. I mean I can go up there sometimes, it’s just odd. You know since I’m not really that way most of the time?”
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re rooming alone now.” Cedric said, taking a seat beside them.
“Because when we all started hitting puberty they realised that I am that way sometimes.” Lirum explained, picking out a list of songs for the night.
“And how’d they do that exactly?” Cedric asked again. An involuntary shiver ran through Lirum as they held back a gag.
“I was experimenting and had the mortifying experience of finding out what girls deal with every month. Never again, it’s not worth it I don’t care if things feel nicer.” Lirum said gagging occasionally.
“That sounds awful!” Cedric laughed. The door swung open behind them to reveal the scraggly haired blond running in.
“I hope I’m not late. I’ve never been invited to anything like this, it’s like having real friends.” Luna said, shining the same way she had when Lirum had accepted her cork necklace.
“You do have real friends Luna. That’s what we are remember.” Lirum said, pulling Luna's Nargle charm out from under their jumper. “I mean I know you’ve barely met Cedric but-“
“That’s nice. Actually we’ve been holding ‘how to talk to Lirum classes’ together for Fred ever since Halloween.” Luna corrected. Lirum paused for a moment looking towards Cedric who shrugged in response taking a bite of some of the candy he’d snuck in. They’d thought it had been a joke when Fred mentioned it, and certainly hadn’t thought it had been going in since Halloween.
“She was a good friend to you, and he was begging!” Cedric defended. “I’m bad at love but understand you fairly well. While she’s weirdly good with advice and we both know you’ll need someone to fall back on when Percy inevitably breaks your heart.”
“Hey! That’s not funny!” Lirum snapped as they threw a shirt at them. “Both of you go get changed now! It’s muggle girls night! We can gossip after, and no more talk of heartbreak unless it’s real!”
“Hey, I’m just saying-“ he said dodging and catching the shirt. “I’m not gay but I can think of at least five boys in Gryffindor alone I’d snog before Percy. And his brothers are at the top of that list!” He teased before ducking into the closet to change.
“Big words from someone in the actual closet!” Lirum teased.
“Ooo, that was a good one, almost as good as wood would be!” Cedric called out from the closet.
“Oliver wood is a mess of a man who can’t think of anything but quidditch and shagging!” Lirum argued.
“Ooo, that raven has claws!” Cedric joked as he stepped out in full muggle attire.
“It could still work out. Percy is in love with them. He just has to accept that he’s gay.” Luna stated in her odd way of announcing wild theory as fact.
“Luna! You can’t just make assumptions about stuff like that!” Lirum said staring at the first year in horror.
“I mean it’s pretty obvious. You’re just both oblivious. Before it was you he was following wood around, he hated quidditch but made it to every game just to watch his ‘roommate’ get sweaty” Cedric teased, as he picked up one of the makeup palettes and absolutely the wrong brush waving them around. “You know I don’t think you actually taught me how to do this last year. Your turn Luna, go get dressed.” He said, patting the door of the closet.
“Alright, I just put this on like my robes right?” She said holding up the t-shirt, jacket, and jeans Lirum had picked out for her.
“Yeah Luna just like normal.” Lirum said, waiting for her to step inside to turn towards Cedric. “That’s enough teasing out of you, or I’ll make you look cheap!” Lirum threatened earning laughter from everyone. While Cedric struggled picking up just one colour of eye shadow with a brush clearly meant for blush. “Also this is why you're not allowed anywhere near the eye liner.
“I don’t think I’ve ever listened to muggle music, it’s quite nice actually.” Luna lulled, as she stepped back out of the closet in her new wardrobe. While Cedric put down the eyeshadow, finally remembering blush and eyeshadow are different. Moving back and making a place for Luna to sit on the edge of the bed facing towards the fourth years.
“Of course it is, did you think we had bad taste?” Lirum said, tilting Luna’s head back, while she looked at Cedric for help. “You know what, don't answer that. I just need you to just look up and away but just with your eyes don’t move your head.”
“I mean you do like Percy.” Luna shrugged, but followed Lirum’s instructions.
“If you don’t want Lirum to stab you in the eye on purpose I would apologise.” Cedric mumbled under his breath. “Also close your mouth, the power doesn’t taste good. That warning comes from experience.”
“Did you just insinuate that I would stab my friend?” Lirum asked, crossing their arms and facing Cedric.
“You’d stab me for the last chocolate frog!” Cedric argued, jabbing the brush in Lirum’s direction.
“No I wouldn’t! It would have to at least be a sugar quill or fairy floss.” Lirum said, elbowing him.
“Don’t do that, I'll mess up!” He nagged attempting to line Luna’s lips. “You know, you and Tonks never actually taught me how to do any of this. You just put things on me, and then each other.”
“Well I’m sorry to break it to you, but I’m just kind of winging it.” Lirum said, trying to find a different way to part Luna’s messy blond hair.
“Will I be doing yours?” Luna asked, waiting patiently as Lirum and Cedric took a step back to admire their work.
“I think that depends on if you hate what we did.” Cedric nodded before turning her around towards the mirror. “I get why you and Tonks did this now. It was fun being on this side.”
“What you don’t like receiving?” Lirum joked, trying to stifle their laughter.
“Not in front of the child!” Cedric snapped, crossing his arms. “Wow I really walked into that one didn’t I.”
“You did.” Luna said pleasantly.
“See, Luna agrees!” Lirum jokes again, nudging Cedric.
“Luna doesn’t know what she’s agreeing to.” Cedric argued, before turning to Lirum and wiggling his eyebrows giving Lirum the feeling they were going to hate whatever was going to come out of his mouth. “Speaking of receiving goes the progress with your Weasley? Did you enjoy your private time with Percy over Holliday?”
“Don’t say it like that!” Lirum hushed as Luna and Cedric switched seats so they could work on him next.
“Did you finally kiss?” Luna asked, staring expectantly at Lirum, and startling Lirum so bad they almost dropped the makeup they where holding.
“Did I what?!” They blinked unsure of how to answer or if they even should.
“You did, you’re a bad actor.” Luna said calmly and while Cedric nodded along.
“I like her you know, she’s as blunt as Tonks but somehow in a sweet way.” Cedric said, pulling his hair back into a miniature pony on the top of his head. “Now go on tell us about the kiss. Was it everything you’d hoped.”
“It was just awkward! Then we never spoke of it.” Lirum sighed. “For once I’m almost thankful for how emotionally constipated he is that we didn’t have to. He smells so good though.”
“You’ve been smelling people?” Luna asked head cocked to the side full of theory’s.
“No Luna, I don’t typically go around smelling people. We were just very close and it’s hard not to.” Lirum explained awkwardly.
“Don’t listen to them, it's totally normal to smell the people you're attracted to.” Cedric argued.
“Please don’t. Just don’t.” Lirum huffed. “You sound like a dog, and unless in two years time you want to be the one dragging her away from sniffing at her crushes you’ll stop there.”
“Well we don’t want her holding her breath or forgetting to breath like you do!” Cedric joked, leaning back and almost falling off of the bed.
“I do not!” Lirum snapped, pulling him back up. “Now look up and away before you mess up your look and I have to go making you look cheap.”
“Can I try that?” Luna said, pointing at the pencil in Lirum’s hands.
“Come here, I’ll show you how first and then after you can decide if you want to try.” Lirum said waving Luna closer who inched closer watching as Lirum lined Cedric’s eye.
“Oh, so you’d trust the eleven year old but not me?” Cedric said, still looking up and away. “My hands are steady, I’m a seeker!”
“Yeah and you’d also look away mid way through and jab me or sneeze right in my eye.” Lirum said, handing Luna the pencil.
“Fair enough, anything else happen over brake?” Cedric asked while Luna attempted to line his other eye.
“Do you want the real answer or the fun answer?” Lirum said as they picked out what lip would look good for him.
“I would like to hear fun.” Luna said, pulling away from Cedric.
“I cuddled by the fire with a ginger lad, had a confrontation with my enemy, and slept in my crushes bed.” Lirum listed watching the shock grow on his face, a smile teasing at their lips.
“You minx! Tell me everything!” Cedric gasped.