Goodbye for now
“So what brings you to this compartment Mr. Weasley?” Luna asked, swinging her feet.
“Just Percy will do, thank you.” Percy answered a bit stiff, like he was being interviewed. “I wanted to spend what precious little time I have left before summer holiday with my friend.”
“Because you love them?” Luna asked, innocently enough, but still caused everyone else in the train car to choke on air.
“L-Luna, you can’t just ask that!” Neville was blushing furiously.
“You could say that I…” He took a deep breath in. “I care deeply for them.”
Lirum smiled softly, reaching for the note Percy had written them, and told them to keep close, always. The one that told them he cared deeply for them and that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone to speak poorly of them, not even Lirum or himself. What would they do without him? He looked back at them and his eyes followed their hand to the note they held, dearly. The pair looked at each other in a comfortable silence for a moment before Cedric interrupted.
“Lirum Snog, Marry, Kill! Professor Sinistra, Professor, Vector, Professor Sprout?” He asked, nodding toward them before throwing back a handful of every flavor beans.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Percy asked, baffled.
“Easy same order you said it.” Lirum shrugged, before turning to Percy. “He’s bored and wants to play Snog, Marry, Kill. It’s easy, you pick three people and ask the other person of those three people who they’d rather Snog Marry and Kill. You have to do one of them for each of them.”
“That’s highly inappropriate! Especially to be asking about teachers!” Percy argued looking aghast.
“Alright then, Snog Marry Kill Siobhan Templeton, Penelope Clearwater, Gemma Farley” Cedric laughed.
“T-that’s ridiculous!” Percy stammered.
“Why, they’re all girls in your year would you prefer I chose boys?” Cedric joked wiggling his eyebrows at Percy suggestively
“No, I fear that might be worse! How am I meant to choose between my ex and two strangers!” Percy argued.
“Isn’t Gemma a Slytherin prefect? You’ve been in classes together for six years and you’re both prefects. Is that really a stranger?” Lirum asked, confused.
“Fine! Snog Penelope, Marry Siobhan, Kill Gemma.” Percy grumbled to himself. While the others laughed his glare set on Cedric across from him. “You think it’s
So easy, Snog Marry Kill Fred George lirum? They’re all in your class!”
“Oh I think it’s easy because it is. Shag George, Marry Lirum, Kill Fred.” Cedric said confidently.
“Shagging?! Shagging wasn’t an option!” Percy blushed furiously.
“It is now mate!” Cedric said, looking back at Lirum. “Shag, Marry, Kill: Me, Fred, George, Go!”
“Ooo, no offence Cedric Shag Fred, Marry George, Kill you.” Lirum answered.
“There are children present!” Percy hushed.
“Your turn Perce, Shag, Marry, Kill : Oliver Wood, Marcus Flint, Gabriel Truman.” Lirum teased, but it took a minute for Percy to come up with his answer.
“Snog Gabriel, Marry Oliver, Kill Flint.” He answered hesitantly.
“I’ve heard rumor’s Cedric. Snog, Marry, Kill: Cho Chang, Lirum, Tonks.” He asked, sure of himself.
“No offence Lirum. Tonks, Cho, Lirum in that Order.” Cedric sat back in his seat. “Oh but I like the way you think! Lirum Shag, Marry, Kill : Percy, Fred, George!”
“What no!” Percy argued but he went unheard.
“Oh! No hesitation Marry Percy, Shag George, Kill Fred!” Percy grew even redder as if they’d thought that was possible.
“I think that’s enough of this!” Percy said awkwardly. “There are children present.”
“I was enjoying listening.” Luna said casually from her seat whereas Neville looked like a tomato.
Conversation moved swiftly to what everyone would be doing over the summer. Percy is studying as usual, Luna helping her father run the quibbler, Neville spending time with his grandmother, Cedric practicing quidditch and Lirum starting a very special project with their grandfather they would share details on. The train came to a stop in King’s Cross Station as it did every year. Cedric stood firs, followed by Luna and Neville, leaving Lirum and Percy alone in the train car.
“That was certainly more eventful than the prefects car.” Percy said standing and helping Lirum collect Grayson and their trunk.
“Well next year you might have me or Cedric in the prefects car with you so I hope you have something to look forward to.” Lirum teased as they stood beside him alone together.
“I hey, before we go, and since we’re alone I just wanted to say I know you didn’t last year, but if you decide you’d like to visit the burrow- our home I mean, please owl me. Umm, if you wouldn’t mind please owl me often- even if you don’t.” Percy stumbled awkwardly. “Oh but don’t let it interfere with your studies! Your O.W.L.s will be coming this year and I couldn’t never forgive myself if-“
“Of course Percy,” Lirum said, reaching out gently and resting a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay. As I said before I have a rather important project and then helping my grandfather around the shop, but I promise to write. If I finish early I might see if I can visit but I can’t make any promises on that right now.” Lirum said, trying not to give away what they’d be doing. “Oh will we be meeting up for school shopping again? I’ll have something really important for you.”
“Only if you swear to me you won’t go buying me anything as expensive as that quill or all of my school supplies.” He insisted on looking them in the eyes.
“I promise I won’t buy all of your school supplies this year,” Lirum said, reaching to hug him. “I’ll leave something small for your mum.” Lirum joked trying to run away quickly but to their surprise Percy held them in the hug.
“Thank you for always being there when I need you, even if I wouldn’t admit I needed you.” He said holding them tighter for a moment.
“Perce you should know that I-“ Lirum was cut off by the train whistle, it was time for them to leave.
Percy helped them with their trunk and the pair set off to the platform.when they stepped off they saw Mr. And Mrs Weasley waiting already surrounded by Fred, George, Ginny, and Ron. Percy glanced at them then back at Lirum.
“I fear it’s time for us to part.” He whispered, dropping their trunk on the ground between them. “I-I hope to see you again before next term.”
“All the more reason for me to work hard and finish my project early.” Lirum joked, taking their trunk from Percy.
“Are you going to tell me what your special project is?” He asked, stepping closer ignoring the odd looks from his brothers.
“I would but if I spend too long talking about it, your mum might start to hate me.” Lirum joked, feeling the eyes in them.
“Come on Percy! You’ve had all year!” Ron yelled, earning a swift kick from Ginny. Lirum had to fight back their laughter.
“I guess that’s my cue to leave then.” Percy mumbled, stepping back.
“I’d like to see you for your birthday or at least school shopping so watch out for my letters.” Lirum said, giving him a gentle shove toward his family. Before turning and walking to where their grandfather waited.
“I see you’ve become quite close-“ their grandfather chimed immediately causing them to turn pink.
“Grandpa!” Lirum gasped Not wanting to explain the complexity that was their relationship with the Weasleys.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of Guindelirum. It’s quite normal for children your age.” He shrugged and assured them casually, causing Lirum to grimace.
“I’m going to die of embarrassment if you say another word, please.” They said covering their face out of embarrassment.
“Then should I not tell you he’s looking back at you while he walks away?” He teased pointing over their shoulder.
“Uh- Grandpa you must be mistaken he’s not-“ as they turned they saw Percy simile and give them a final wave goodbye before heading through the wall back to the rest of the world. “I- it’s not what you think!”
“What did you think I wouldn’t notice? Was I not supposed to know? Is your hair pink? I've never seen it do that before?” He asked, squinting looking at their hair.
“It’s not what it looks like we’re just-“ They started before he waved them off.
“I mean, you don’t need to hide it. He seems like a responsible choice, a prefect and very respectful.” He said confused. “Oh, was this meant to be an act of rebellion? You’ve never really done anything rebellious before, but you are the age for it. I can pretend I don’t know!”
“Oh Merlin help me, can we please just go home? I'm going to die of embarrassment.” They said, holding their eyes closed as tightly as they could.
“Oh, that must be what the pink meant. Your blush creeps all the way to your hair!” He said amused before finally leading them out of the train station. “Alright, I’ve had my fun. Let’s get home, I'm sure you’re tired.”
When they made it home to the wand shop Lirum immediately started their summer project; a wand for Percy made just for him.
“Aren’t you going to unpack before getting back to work?” Mr. Ollivander said, standing in the doorway as Lirum dashed to the sore room.
“I’ve got a very short deadline on a very important project I’m afraid.” Lirum answered looking through the organised bins of wood.
“I wasn’t aware of any special orders that had been placed is there something wrong with your wand.” Lirum turned pink once more realising after the misunderstanding at King’s Cross Station telling him the wand was for Percy would make it impossible to argue. “I was just eh- inspired?”
“Inspired by the sunrise, the sunset, or a special ginger?” He teased.
“Grandpa!” Lirum snapped again. “You’re worse than a school boy teasing me!”
“Oh, let an old man have his fun! This is the first time you’ve ever done something like this.” He said sending Grayson and their trunk upstairs with a flick of his wand.
“Are you telling me not to?” Lirum asked nervously.
“Oh no, I’m quite interested to see how this turns out.” He said watching them reaching for the bin full of apple wood. “Apple wood? That’s not very common, why would you go for that.”
“It pairs well with those with high aims and ideals right? It mixes poorly with dark magic and pairs best with unicorn hair for exactly that reason. It belongs with someone pure of heart who still has ambition.”
“Is that the core you plan to go with? Apple is a quite powerful wood; it also goes well with dragon heartstring.” Their grandfather quizzed.
“Apple wood is powerful enough on its own and I think he’ll pair best with unicorn hair.” They answered, testing the flexibility of a few pieces of wood.
“So it is for the boy? What was his name, Percy?” Lirum froze. “Well at least I’ll know he’s brave with a good heart, and ambitions if the wand chooses him. If not, it will still be a good wand.”
“Is this a bad idea? Is it too much?” Lirum asked awkwardly, bending a branch of apple wood.
“It’s rather sweet, and good practice. Plus If it doesn't work out he’ll buy another wand.” Mr. Ollivander chuckled.
“Why would you say that!” Lirum gasped.
“I thought I was supposed to be pretending I didn’t know you liked him!” He defended.
“Well that’s- that’s just rude!” Lirum argued.
“Ok I’ll leave you to work then. Be up for dinner, no skipping meals to work in your ‘friends wand’.”
“That sounds so inappropriate.” Lirum grumbled plopping into the work desk with a reasonably supple branch of apple wood. “We’re in this for the long run now so I hope you’ll be cooperative with me.” Lirum said, talking to the branch in their hands. Pulling out the measuring tape as they began to whittle it to length gently carving it.