Train
When they arrived at King’s Cross station and piled out of the car Mr. Weasley did a quick head count before nodding.
“Right then,” he said, glancing around the group. “Let’s do this in pairs as theirs so many of us. I’ll go through first with Harry.”
The group all whispered amongst themselves about what cover to go with as they approached the metal barrier that separated platforms nine and ten. Harry followed Mr. Weasley, and leaned casually against the barrier and through it. The next pair was Ginny and Percy who took the barrier at a run pretending to be late to their train. After that followed Ron and Hermione who’d pulled out a map and were arguing about which train they were meant to board. Lirum stepped forward with the twins to go together but Mrs. Weasley pulled them back. She’d made it very clear they would be going through the barrier together. In fact Lirum was convinced they weren’t going to be able to leave her side until they boarded the prefect's carriage.
Once everyone was on the Wizarding side of the train station Mrs. Weasley gave each of her children a goodbye kiss then Hermione and Harry. Conveniently enough missing the child she’d loved to hate all day. They were happy enough to be forgotten though, they all looked rather embarrassed and Lirum was glad they’d missed it. After she’d finished with all her children she came back to give Harry an extra hug.
Was it because he didn’t have parents to wish him off? Lirum didn’t have parents to wish them off? Maybe it was the murder on the loose? They decided it was definitely that, but chose to ignore it once again they’d rather not be the one being chased by a mass murderer.
“Lirum!” They heard a Voice call from behind. “We should be off to the prefects car!”
Cedric came running toward the end of the train where they stood with the Weasleys.
“Yes, we all should.” Percy said moving between Lirum and the quickly approaching Hufflepuff prefect.
“Sorry head boy, but I think he was talking to me.” Lirum teased, grabbing their luggage and running toward the front of the train with Cedric. “See you boys at school!”
“Wait! Don’t run, you could get hurt! What kind of examples are you leading to the First Years?!” Percy called After them before scrambling to grab his luggage and give chase.
Looking back they could see Fred and George laughing and smiling at Lirum. Meanwhile Percy huffed and dragged his trunk and cage for Herms after them. When the trio made it to the Prefects car they where very out of breath. When they calmed down they noticed the compartments were numbered by year. Opening the fifth year compartment they were greeted by several familiar faces. Those that stuck out most to Lirum were the ones they’d seen the most casually in passing.
The Gryffindors Alicia Spinnet, a dark skinned girl Lirum knew to be a friend of the twins, as they remembered it she’d been one of the most angry when the Malfoy boy used the word Mudblood; she was a good choice for prefect. She was accompanied by a gryffindor boy they hadn’t met yet, or if they had he hadn’t stuck out enough to be remembered. He introduced himself as Kenneth Towler.
For Hufflepuff it was easy Cedric had accompanied them in and was one of their best friends. They’d have no problem working together. As for his female counterpart Patricia Stimpson, they’d also never spoken a word as far as Lirum could remember, but if she’d been chosen for prefect she had to at least be responsible. She was tan with curly brown hair and looked incredibly anxious. Though with Black on the loose, could anyone blame her.
After they stowed away Grayson's cage, and their trunk they noticed what appeared to be the fifth year Slytherin boys prefect. He was a pale boy with black hair sitting stiffly across from them.
“Hello?” Lirum said awkwardly. He nodded back. “Are you one of our year's Slytherin prefects? I’m Lirum, I'll be one of our Ravenclaw prefects.”
“Pucey, Adrian Pucey.” He looked at them skeptically. They couldn’t blame him really among the house stereotypes Slytherins were the worst. Most people avoided them like the plague or deemed everything bad was their doing. It’s not every day people go out of their way to be kind to them.
“If last names are what you're looking for It’s Ollivander.” Lirum replied, waiting for the Ravenclaw and Slytherin girls prefects to join them.
When the door slid open it revealed Roger Davies, a Ravenclaw boy also wearing a Prefect pin.
“Ollivander? They picked you for girls prefect? I guess that answers a few questions.” Davies chuckled, taking a seat in the compartment.
“Somethings very wrong!” Lirum said aghast. “My letter very specifically said I’d be the boys prefect.”
“Well I’m not the one with a fanny here, now am I?” He said, rolling his eyes. Lirum sat appalled, while most of the others bit back laughter.
“Just because you can’t tell doesn’t mean I’ve got one.” He looked at them unconvinced. “Would you like to meet me in the washroom so I can prove it?”
“You know, I’m not sure who you usually hang around, but I’m not gay. So, I think i'd rather not see a todger today, thanks!” He chortled. “Or whatever other magical chaos you’ve got going on down there.”
Before Lirum could snap at him they were cut off by
“This is completely inappropriate, both of you!” Snapped a much shorter girl with straight black hair.
“You get them, Haneda!” Pucey chuckled under his breath.
“And who do you think you are telling us what to do, we’re prefects!” Davies said arrogantly at the Slytherin who’d appeared last.
“I’m very sorry,” Lirum apologised to the very angry girl in the doorway before turning back to Davies. “I want no part of this, leave me out if it. I’m sitting down.” Lirum said, putting their hands up in defeat and taking their seat next to Cedric.
“I am Haneda Yurika, I am telling you as a prefect to sit down and act like one!” She hissed, sharp eyes fixated on him.
“Like I said, very sorry, please don’t associate me with him.” Lirum clarified again only to receive a glare that shut them up.
“Um…anyone wanna play Shag, Marry, Avidi Kidivi,” the whole compartment roared with laughter breaking the tense silence.
“Cedric!” Lirum wheezed. “I hate you! I swear any time you’re an option, I don’t care, you’re getting it.”
“Getting what?” He joked back with a wiggle of his eyebrows, earning far more laughter.
“Alright I’m game.” Alicia cheered followed by most of the cabin.
“No better way to get to know each other than an honest game right?” Pucey chuckled.
“You’re all idiots.” Haneda said crossing her arms, and huffing.
“Come on, it’ll be good to work on our inter house relationships.” Pucey practically begged his fellow Slytherin.
“Yeah what he said!” Alicia cheered.
“Alright, fine.” She said looking awkwardly around the cabin. “But no answers leave this cabin.”
“I’ll put 50 points on it, anyone slips they loose that many, agreed?” Kenneth wagered.
“You’re on,” Davies answered first, followed by everyone else in the compartment.
“Now that that’s settled let’s start in here, Snog, Marry, Kill. Diggory, Davies, Pucey and I’m asking you Ollivander!” The anxious girl from before, Patricia Stimpson asked.
“My?! Why does everyone always pair me with men?” Lirum sighed. “And with two of the worst men in this cabin. Fine, Cedric, Pucey, Davies in that order!”
“I’m not one of the worst guys?” Pucey asked staring at Lirum confused.
“Going back on your word already?” Cedric teased, leaning in and elbowing Lirum.
“Well I’m not shagging or snogging the arrogant prick, now am I?” Lirum argued, pushing Cedric away. “Also I don’t know you well enough to say that, so if you are, you're lucky.”
“But I’m a Slytherin?” He said dumbfounded.
“Well, someone wise once taught me we aren’t our houses, we’re people who have a few things in common. That doesn’t make us the same.” Lirum explained, earning an odd look from most.
“I don’t know if I’d call Tonks wise?” Cedric chuckled.
“What has gotten into you today? You know what shove off, ‘Shag, Marry, Avidi Kidivi’ as you said it. Adrian Pucey, Kenneth Towler, Roger over there?”
“You couldn’t have thrown yourself in there I don’t really know them?” He looked at the other boys in the compartment for a second giving them a once over in contemplation. “Gryffindor boy, Slytherin chaser, Ravenclaw Git, Final answer.”
“Wow, apparently you’re real marriage material Pucey!” Haneda laughed.
“No, apparently I’m the better of three evils.” He joked back.
“Alright Haneda, chicks or lads?” Cedric asked, pointing at the Slytherin girl.
“What?!” She gasped.
“I think he’s asking if you’d like a list of men or women?” Adrian teased.
“I understood the question!” She snapped. “Boys.”
“Ok Me, Lirum here, or Pucey?”
“Is Lirum a…?” She did a once over of Lirum. “I…Ollivander, Pucey, you.”
“You changed your mind quick?” Alicia giggled.
“You can’t tell me you’re not curious.” She defended, pointing at Lirum.
“I feel less good about that answer now.” Lirum mumbled to themself.
“Well if last year is to be believed, it could be a surprise every time.” Cedric joked under his breath, earning surprised faces around the compartment.
“Don’t tell people that!” Lirum snapped, hitting him over the side of the head with one of the books they’d left out for the ride.
“I mean, it helps for the game, now we can put you on both lists.” Alicia teased trying to make it better.
“Alright then Spinnet, Ollivander Lirum, Stimpson Patricia, and myself.”
“Oh are first all girls round is on me then? Alright, this could be fun.” She answered looking carefully around the cabin. “Yurika-“
“Haneda.” She corrected. “We aren’t on a first name bases yet.”
“We would be if we where shagging, my answer stands Haneda, Patricia, Lirum. No offence.”
“None taken its just a game?” Lirum answered earnestly.
“Kenneth, Your turn. Haneda, Lirum, Patricia.” Alicia asked, nudging him.
“Uhhh…Patricia, Lirum, Haneda?” He answered unsure.
Suddenly the train began to slow, the lanterns all flickered out, their way yelling down the hall, everyone jumped to attention and scurried for the door. They made it to the hallway tripping over each other in the dark. Pucey was the first to the door struggling to open it in the dark.
“Move or get out of the way!” Haneda shouted, stepping on Lirum’s robe.
“Haneda, I can’t move if you're standing On My Robes!” Lirum snapped.
“Patrica are you not coming?” Cedric asked, not feeling her move next to him.
“Stupid door! I can’t see a thing!” Pucey said, rattling the door.
“Uhg fine…lumos!” Lirum said using the light charm.
“Oh, that was smart. No wonder you’re the ravenclaw prefect!” Kenneth said, followed by angry grumbling from Davies.
By the time they made it to the hallway the lanterns began to flicker back to life, and the floor began to rattle. The train was moving again and the prefects all looked awkwardly at each other.
“Well I guess we missed the action?” Cedric shrugged.
“We should still check, make sure everything’s alright!” Alicia said, taking charge.
“For once, I agree with the Gryffindor.” Heneda nodded.
“Well why don’t you go on ahead we’ll follow?” Davies said, gesturing them to keep going while backing slowly back into the compartment.
“Don’t make this house look bad! Do your job!” Lirum snapped.
“I-I’m with the other girls we need to check.” Patricia mumbled.
“Let’s go then,” Kenneth said, taking a deep breath and puffing out his chest. “We’re prefects now, us Gryffindors aren’t scared right Alicia?”
She nodded leading the way, only to immediately run into the new Head Boy and Girl: Percy Weasley and Gemma Farley.
“Back to your compartments. It was an inspection from the Azkaban Guards to make sure Black wasn’t on board.” Gemma said, turning towards the hoard of fifth years.
“We will be arriving at the school shortly. Make sure to change into your robes, that you look acceptable, and that badges are visible before we arrive.” Percy finished chest puffed so his badge stuck out.
Everyone scuttled awkwardly back into their compartment digging out their school robes and taking turns running to the washroom to change.