Head Boy
“Ok kids, first stop is Madam Malkin’s for your new school robes!” Mrs. Weasley cheered ushering the kids towards the door seemingly not having noticed half of what had happened. “And then a special treat for our Head boy!” She gushed.
“Yeah and we wanna see the new broom in Quality Quidditch Supplies everyone’s been talking about it they’re calling it the Fire bolt!” Fred started, excitedly.
“Yeah Ginny wants to check it out too, don’t Ginny!” George insisted.
“Well yeah but-“ Ginny started getting cut off before she could finish.
“See that’s three for Quality Quidditch Supplies!” They cheered.
“Well I for one, vote robes. If you’re telling me you’d rather walk around another year in hand me downs then a nice new set of robes so be it but I would like to have at least one set of clothes that actually fits me!” Percy huffed.
“But mum, I wanted to go find Harry! Dad said earlier he’s staying at the Leaky Cauldron!” Ron pleaded, missing his best friend.
“Why would Harry Potter be staying at the Leaky Cauldron?” Lirum asked only to be ignored.
“We’re here to shop for your school supplies-“
“Oh come now, Molly! We let them split off every year!” Mr. Weasley said cheerfully.
“Every year there's not a murder on the loose Arthur!” Mrs. Weasley argued sternly.
“Black’s not going to be found strolling down the street on Diagon Alley Molly.” He argued exhausted like they’d had this fight many times already.
“Trying to get rid of a few children Arthur?” Molly insinuated. Lirum unsure of what to do in this situation, looked to Percy who looked just as tired as his father.
“Molly!-Children, why don’t you all head out we’ll all meet back at the Leaky Cauldron for dinner.” He said attempting to keep a chipper tone despite mrs. Weasleys death glare.
The kids didn’t seem to notice though they all turned to go towards their prospective locations. Lirum followed Percy out of the door before they felt themself being pulled back again.
“Come on Lirum you’re going to come check out the new Broom with us right?” Fred asked brightly.
“I was actually planning to go get some new school robes as well, I’ve grown a bit lankier than I already was and even you’d bully me if I went around in robes to short for me.” Lirum joked, following Percy.
“What, do you think I’ll go around dramatically pointing at your ankles like it’s the renaissance?” He asked pointedly.
“That’s what you did to me!” Percy snapped, stopping to face them.
“We wouldn’t dream of it!” The twins chimed together.
“That’s our friend you know!” George teased.
“And I’m your brother!” Percy argued slowly, starting to mach his hair.
“Barely!” They teased together “We love Lirum,” Fred started, “And you act like a prat!” George finished attempting to pull Lirum I’m the wrong direction.
“They are my friend too, and they get to decide where they want to go; not you!” Percy snapped, pulling Lirum back away from them.
“I will not have another year of being jerked around by all of you! If you do not let me go right now I will go back home, Alone!” Lirum said, ripping themself away from the boys.
“I’m sorry, please let’s get going, we've only got one day left to shop.” Percy said, anxiously.
“Who said they were going with you?” Fred snapped.
“I did! I am not a fan of quidditch so I have no reason to go gawk at the newest racing brook and if I had I would have done it over the past three weeks while I was waiting for you!” Lirum argued, already tired of their little game.
“But we haven’t seen each other all summer!” George pestered.
“Yea and I missed you too, but if you would stop arguing and cooperate we can get robes and then go to the joke shop and all be happy but you haven’t even considered letting me talk.” Lirum said furiously. While all three boys stood there turned red.
“You’ve grown a temper over the summer.” George joked, a wide grin spreading across his face.
“I have not! I’ve learned to put my foot down when it comes to the three of you.” Lirum huffed.
“Alright Thumper.” George teased.
“That’s it, let’s go! They can go do whatever they want that’s not harassing me.” Lirum said, grabbing Percy and pulling him towards Madam Mulkin’s.
Once they were inside Lirum stopped and took a breath to calm themselves. Mrs. Weasley had followed them in but stopped as soon as she entered the store to talk to the shopkeeper.
“Oh where do you keep you Hogwarts uniform robes? My son’s made Head Boy this year- oh, second child of mine to make Head Boy you know-“ Mrs. Weasley gushed at the shopkeep.
“Oh I already know where we’re going.” Lirum chimed politely only to be ignored as Mrs. Weasley continued bragging. They shrugged it off before leading Percy to the uniform section.
“I’m sorry about them.” Percy said awkwardly while looking at a nice set of Hogwarts robes.
“You don’t have to apologise for them Perce, I know how they are by now.” Lirum insisted, knowing they put Percy though hell.
“I’m worried at this rate they’ll chase you off.” Percy said halfhearted as he looked for robes long enough for him.
“I’ve been dealing with them for years. You have nothing to worry about Percy, even if I decided not to associate with the twins anymore you’re not getting rid of me that easily.” Lirum teased, though they both knew there was more truth to their words then either would admit. “You know if you can get them tailored right? If their not quite long enough-I just meant that you seem to be having trouble finding your size.”
“Getting them tailored would cost more.” Percy said frustrated.
“I can cover-“ Lirum started getting cut off by a nasty look from Percy.
“You will not!” He Said sternly.
“It’s not like I’d be buying the whole-“
“No,” he said plainly not willing to hear another word. “I will not get in the habit of using your money.”
““Let’s just ask if they have anything longer in the back. You’ve never asked for anything besides for me to act right. So, if they don’t I have no problem-“
“I do.” He snapped, crossing his arms and facing them. “I can not go on with you paying my way! You will not always be there!”
“I thought you didn’t want me to leave? Are you planning on ditching me now?” Lirum joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“No- I mean-“ He’d turned red as his hair before he could come up with the words today.
“You think I’m going to leave you? After I just told you I’m not going anywhere?” Lirum teased Percy.
“I graduate this year you’ll be in school for two more years after you won’t be by my side then.” He argued, digging through the stacks of robes for something long enough.
“I’ll only be an owl away. If you need help you know where I’ll be.” Lirum insisted, helping him look through the piles.
“So I can send the rundown family owl who could croak at any second and I have to wait two weeks to send you a reply because I have to wait for my brothers and parents to all be done with it?” Percy said bitterly.
“You said your mum wanted to get you something for being head boy right? You handed your old rat down to Ron maybe you can ask for an owl.” His face lit up Hearing them speak. Like a fog had been lifted and he had hope again.
“You’re still not paying!” He said rushing to find his mother.
“This is why I made the wand without telling you.” Lirum mumbled to themself as Percy ran away forgetting the robes entirely.
Lirum had no problem finding their robes and made their way to the shopkeeper asking if they had any longer Gryffindor robes. The manager walked into one of the store rooms and came out a few moments later with a box in hand pulling a few out and setting the options he had on the counter. As Percy made his way back he looked at them confused.
“What is this? why are you looking-“ He started.
“I asked if they had anything longer, you lanky idiot. Sometimes you just need to ask, they typically only keep standard sizes out.” Lirum explained picking one of the robes up and holding it out to him. “This one looks like it should fit.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why wouldn’t they just have all their options out?” Percy criticised.
“The same reason we don’t have every wand in the store on the sales floor, not enough space. So, we keep some of the less popular options, or far too common ones in the back.” Lirum explained. “Now go try them on before the Magical Menagerie closes!”
After a few moments Percy came out to the dressing room beaming. If Lirum had known a nice new set of robes would make his smile like this, they'd have bought them for Christmas last year instead of the scarf and gloves they’d barely seen him wear. Mrs. Weasley paid for the new robes and brightly escorted them to the Magical Menagerie. The second they stepped foot inside she began her space once more.
“Oh it’s been a minute since we’ve been in here! Happy to get our boy a treat for becoming Head Boy, oh second of our kids to earn the title can you believe I can barely myself.” She raved to the woman behind the counter.
But Lirum and Percy ignored her as they made their way through the small store packed to the brim with magical animals. Lirum couldn’t help but look around. A massive jeweled tortoise stood near the window as they passed they saw black rats skipping on each other's tails, purple toads, snakes some with different numbers of heads, and a basket of puffskeins, as well as several others filled the story; but Percy was on a mission.
He needed an owl. He lead the way ignoring the squeaking, squealing, jabbering, and hissing from the cages they passed as he looked around. He’d found several looking across the verities of owls; everything from barn owls to great gray owls he considered them all until he reached one in particular a silver and black screech owl with the name plaque reading Hermes.
“Isn’t Grayson a screech owl?” Percy asked, looking between Lirum and the owl.
“Yeah he is, why?” Lirum asked, confused.
“He’s quite loyal and will bite if someone it wasn’t meant for went for your letter.” He said, staring at the owl. “He’s fought fred away from our letters on several occasions you know!”
“Are you really picking your owl based off of mine?” Lirum teased stepping closer to him and the owl he was staring at. “Wait, why hasn’t Fred mentioned that?”
“You think he would admit to you that he tried to steal your letters?” Percy asked, giving Lirum a side eyed glance.
“I suppose you’re right.” Lirum chuckled remembering the way Fred acted when Lirum spent time with Percy.
“I mean his name is pretty cool too.” Percy said grinning back at Lirum.
“I will not be blamed if he doesn’t act like Grayson.” Lirum said, nudging Percy. “I’ll hope for Fred’s sake he’s less aggressive.”
Percy reached for the cage and carried him towards the front counter happily. No more waiting for Fred and George to write their letters, and long awaited privacy for when he’d receive them.
“Oh you’ve found a good one!” Mrs. Weasley cheered watching him set it on the counter before pulling out her bag of money. “A special treat just for my Head Boy!”
Lirum didn’t like the way she hadn’t been addressing Percy by name. All she’s said all day was Head Boy, or second Head Boy in the family. Everywhere they went like Percy had been transfigured from a boy to a trophy. She talked about it as if it was her achievement. At first they thought she must just be excited but it had continued all day. Much to Lirum’s annoyances she hadn’t even said my son Percy, or Percy is, or Percy made, just My Head Boy.
“Alright then, we’ve got to go, a busy schedule escorting Head Boy and a Prefect around.” She said as she finished paying, she turned to speak to them. “Why don’t We go grab your things so you can pack your new robes, grab your trunk and we can meet Arthur back at the Leaky Cauldron.”