Badge
When Percy and Lirum made it back to the Leaky Cauldron night was falling and the bar was bustling with life. Mrs. Weasley followed then Fred, George, and Ginny right after. She came in and dropped the shopping on the table next to her husband who was reading the day's paper. As they made it to the table they saw Ron, Hermione, and Harry sitting together down the table.
“Harry. How nice to see you.” Percy greeted and outstretched his hand far too formally.
“Hello, Percy,” Harry greeted back, holding back an odd smile.
“I hope you’re well!” Percy said, awkwardly shaking hands.
“Very well, thanks.” He nodded.
Lirum knew they weren’t particularly interested in one another. Percy thought Harry was bad influence on his brother and Harry in return thought he was stick in the mud. This interaction however left Lirum on the edge of tears, holding back laughter. Blacks escape seemed to be eating him alive and making him unable to have a normal interaction with Harry. Lirum had a feeling Percy was going to keep their conversations short before, but they could not have predicted this level of awkwardness.
“Harry!” Fred cheered, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing to Harry. “It’s simply splendid to see you old boy-“
“Marvelous!” George said, pushing Fred out of the way and aggressively shaking Harry’s hand “Absolutely spiffing!” He carried on, much to Percy’s annoyance.
“That’s enough, now!” Mrs. Weasley cut in.
“Mum!” Fred said, turning in a grand gesture towards her. Taking her hand and shaking it just as aggressively. “How really corking to see you!”
“I said, That’s enough!” She barked. Before turning to Harry, and changing her tone all together. “Hello, Harry dear! I suppose you’ve heard our exciting news!” She gestured to Percy behind her. “Second head boy in the family” she chimed, swelling with pride.
“And last,” Fred muttered under his breath.
“I don’t doubt that.” She said “I’ve noticed they haven’t made you two prefects!”
“What do we want to be prefects for?” George said looking revolved. “It’d take all the fun out of life.”
“Hey!” Lirum gasped, elbowing him, while Ginny sat there giggling.
“You should set a better example for your sister!” Mrs. Weasley snapped at the twins.
“Ginny’s got other brothers to set her example, Mother.” Percy bragged, picking his bag full of new robes up. “I’m going up stairs to change for dinner.”
“Nothing personal.” George whispered into Lirum’s ear.
“I get it, you didn’t want to have extra time to hang out after lights out.” Lirum teased, nudging George.
“We can still do that,” He suggested, cocking an eyebrow at them with a smirk. He earned a swift elbow from his brother, before Lirum had a chance to. “Ow-That hurt, you know”
“It was meant to.” Fred mumbled, taking his spot at Lirum’s other side.
“It’s ok, I’ll have Percy and Cedric to accompany me on my patrols this year.” Lirum whispered back.
“Oh, that’s not happening.” Fred grumbled, crossing his arms and staring them down.
“What? You’d rather me wander through the halls alone, at night, with a murderer on the loose?” Lirum teased, trying to look as innocent as possible. As they thoroughly enjoyed the dismay on the twins faces.
“There’s no way black will make it anywhere near the school, not with Dumbledore there.” They argued in a hushed tone.
“What are you all whispering about!” Ron asked nosily.
“Nothing really, I’ll just take my things up stairs.” Lirum said, grabbing their trunk and heading toward the stairs.
“Oh yeah, and where are you planning on going? Me and Fred already claimed both beds in our room?” George teased.
“I’ll just sleep with Percy.” Lirum shrugged.
“No you won’t! Ron’s already sharing a room with him!” Fred argued.
“Well if I have to share a bed with someone George’s already made it quite clear neither of you are up to share with me.” They teased, watching Fred turn red.
“That’s unacceptable! You can’t share a bed with him!” Fred argued, as the red creeped onto his ears.
“Oh, what a gentleman, are you going to offer up yours?” Lirum joked. “Will you be sleeping in the floor or cuddling with George?”
“I-No!” He started, as Lirum started walking up the stairs.
“Oh, pity! Percy’s it is then!” Lirum shrugged, making their way up to number twelve and knocking.
“Who’s there?” Percy shouted through the door.
“It’s me,” Lirum said gently. The door swung open to Percy in a jumper and trousers.
“Lirum!” Percy announced, shocked.
“Did you forget you invited me?” They laughed.
“No, I just-“ He froze, turning back towards his bed. “I just finished changing! Please give me one moment! We’ve just got back and I’ve barely unpacked and I’m packing the new things in! Yes, I was reorganising everything that’s why it’s a mess. Half of it is Ron’s anyway!” He said, shoving his trunk full, and randomly throwing things onto the other bed.
“It can’t be any worse than your dorm back at school” Lirum said, slipping through the doorway. “Here let me help you, it'll fit better if you fold it.”
“No! I should have had this all put away before you got up here. I wasn’t expecting you to come up so soon. I-“ he rambled trying to make everything fit.
“Hey, calm down Percy,” Lirum said, helping him fold some of the clothes that were strewn across the bed. “My bedroom’s not perfect either and your living out of a suitcase. I'm not going to judge you.”
“I’m head boy for Godric’s sake I should be more put together!” He argued, following Lirum’s lead and folding his clothes frustratedly.
“Don’t go stressing yourself out already, the year hasn’t even started yet, no one’s judging you.” Lirum said. “Or at least you should know I’m not.”
“We should go back down for dinner.” He sighed, closing the latches on his trunk.
On their way down Lirum noticed the innkeeper had pushed three tables together to make enough room for the Weasley family and their guests. They found themself, unsurprisingly sitting between Percy and Fred. The table was lively with celebration throughout all five courses that were served. The final coming out was a large rich chocolate pudding.
“How’re we getting to King’s Cross tomorrow, Dad?” Fred asked, digging in.
“The Ministry’s providing a couple of cars,” Mr. Weasley said, causing all eyes to turn to him.
“Why?” Percy asked curiosity.
“It’s because if you, perce,” George said seriously. “And they’ll be little flags on the hoods, with HB in them-“
“For Humongous Bighead,” Fred finished earning a jab to the ribs from Lirum. While Percy sighed, disgruntled.
“Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?” Percy asked again.
“Well, as We haven’t got one anymore,” he started. “And as I work there, they’re doing me a favour,” Mr. Weasleys voice was casual, but you could tell he was fumbling for words to avoid the truth.
“Good thing, too,” Mrs. Weasley cut in. “Do you realise how much luggage you’ve all got between you? A nice sight you’d be on the Muggle Underground…You all packed up, aren’t you?”
“Ron hasn’t put all his new things in his trunk yet,” Percy started glaring. “He’s dumped them all on my bed.”
“You better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won’t have much time in the morning,” Mrs. Weasley called down the table, making Ron scowl at Percy. Lirum tried not to laugh remembering the state of their room.
Ron was the first to be excused from the dinner table, being sent up stairs to pack. Quickly after Fred and George followed being warned by their mother they’d better be packed tonight. Then finally Lirum and Percy who’d lingered in the bar chatting.
“We should get upstairs, it’s late and we’ve got to be at King’s Cross earlier tomorrow.” Percy said standing from the table. “Hey, have you polished that pin at all since you got it? You’d think you’d take better care of it.”
“Not really, I’ve been a bit preoccupied, and besides the only silver thing I’ve ever polished was the one time I got detention.” Lirum shrugged, they knew being a prefect was important to him, but it had just never meant much to Lirum.
“I can show you! I’ve got my kit upstairs, I was gonna polish mine tonight! We can do it together!” He rambled excitedly, leading them back to number twelve.
“I-where’s it gone?” He said to himself, running toward the nightstand.
“Is everything alright Perce?” Lirum asked, watching as he frantically threw everything on his bed around.
“It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for polishing!” He cried, desperately.
“Ron, you wouldn’t have seen it packing would you? It might have-“
“I haven’t touched it, all right!” Ron roared back.
“That Boy has got anger issues.” Lirum mumbled to themself.
“What’s up?” A voice came from the door. It was Harry peeking in.
“My Head Boy badge is gone!” Percy panicked.
“So is Scabber’s Rat Tonic,” Ron started. “I think I might’ve left it in the bar-“
“You’re not going anywhere till you’ve found my badge!” Percy snapped.
“I’ll get Scabber’s stuff, I’m packed,” Harry said, retreating.
“You’d better start helping look for it!” Percy snapped at Ron.
“Hey, calm down. I’ll help you, Percy, we can find it I’m sure.” Lirum said, helping him look around the room, under and in every dresser until they heard laughter in the hall. “Hey, Percy?”
“Did you find it?” He asked, turning around hopefully.
“Not yet but I think I’ll check back in the bar, you know just Incase.” They said, having the strong feeling the twins laugher outside the door meant they’d done something, and most likely were behind the missing badge.
“I know where I left it! I-” His words seemed to be stuck in his throat before he turned around and went back to looking. “I’m sorry…if you think it will help it’s worth a try I’ll keep looking up here.”
Lirum put a hand on his back for a moment to comfort him before turning to leave the room. As they left they closed the door gently behind them, before marching down the hall in the direction of the twins' laughter.
“We’ve got it, Harry.” They heard around the corner. “We’ve been improving it.”
“Fred!” Lirum snapped, watching him freeze and turn slowly to face them. “What did I tell you about giving your brother a hard time!”
“He’s acting like a git!” Fred defended crossing his arms.
“Give, it, back.” Lirum warned, crossing their arms and standing up to him. The door they were standing in front of swung open revealing Ginny and Hermione.
“Oh,” Ginny said, staring at the standoff in front of her. “Your nose twitches like a rabbit when you’re mad.”
They could feel their ears were on fire. Fred and George were losing it heaving with laughter, when Lirum snatched the badge back from Fred and marched back to number twelve.
“Awww, come back bunny!” Fred teased as they slammed the door shut behind them.
“Lirum?” Percy jumped, spinning around to face them. “You found it? I-How? I’m so sorry, I swear I thought-“
“It’s ok Perce, I’m not mad at you.” Lirum explained trying to calm down.
“You are mad though! I should’ve-“ Percy fretted.
“Fred took it. It’s not you I’m mad at.” Lirum said, giving him a hug. “Let’s just go to bed, you can show me in the car tomorrow.”
“I’ll take the floor, you’ve done enough for me today.” Percy said, grabbing a pillow off the bed.
“Percy this is your room you’re not sleeping on the floor!” Lirum argued, taking the pillow back from him. “You take the bed.”
“I have six siblings, I’ve slept on the floor plenty I can handle another night.” He said, trying to pry the pillow away from Lirum.
“Exactly, you’ve slept on the floor plenty, it's my turn.” Lirum said, grabbing one of the thin blankets off the bed.
“You’re my guest!”
“You just made Head Boy!”
“You just got made a Prefect!”
“I’m trying to sleep!” Ron shouted. “Now just share the bed or sleep on the floor! I’m tired!”
“Fine, he’s right, let’s just share.” Lirum said, crossing their arms and looking up at Percy who started turning pink. “You’re Head Boy after all, I trust you not to do anything you shouldn’t.” Lirum said, a smile creeping up.
“We’ll just put pillows in between us-yeah so we don’t-so it’s not inappropriate.” He said awkwardly, clearing his throat. Lirum’s smirk grew bigger.
“What would be inappropriate about us sharing the only bed, Percy?” They teased watching the blush spread across his pretty freckled face.
“We should just head to bed!” He said laying down before carefully building a wall of pillows between them. “Right, that should be good.”s