Condition
As the train slowed for a second time they had finally arrived at hogwarts. As Lirum shuffled around retrieving their luggage, they noticed Grayson was one of the only pets in the cabin. The other one in the cabin was Patricia’s shy tabby cat in It’s carrier, probably the reason she was hesitant to leave earlier. The group awkwardly filtered out one after the other and began checking compartments to make sure all of the students had off boarded.
“I don’t know why we do this, I can’t think of a good reason for anyone refusing to leave the train.” Davies said walking in front. He’d earned an eye roll from about half of the others, Lirum included.
“It’s less about refusing to get off and more about, what if someone fell asleep or passed out, or what if they’re muggle born and don’t realise the train only has one stop, or at least usually only has one.” Lirum corrected, opening the compartment on the other side, empty again.
“Everyone knows how trains work, Ollivander.” Towler the Gryffindor prefect laughed.
“You realise muggle trains like the Muggle Underground or even trains from King’s Cross have multiple stops right? Usually they announce what stop is next, we don’t have that. It’s really not fair to them.” Adrian defended, casually flinging open the next compartment.
“Yeah but it is the hogwarts express you’d figure someone would’ve told them.” Haneda said, marching ahead to open the next door.
“But who would tell them? They’re parents have never been, do you think the teachers who escorted them for school supplies would even think of that?” Alicia spat angrily at the Slytherin girl. “They like you would think it’s common knowledge, but common knowledge is only as common as your experience’s.”
“I think you might’ve been sorted wrong, Ms. Words of Wisdom.” Davies mocked. “But I guess that temper must’ve held you back.”
“You’re worse than the Slytherins, you know!” Alicia snapped back at the Ravenclaw boy.
“Settle down now, wouldn’t want Gryffindor losing points a before we even make it to the sorting ceremony.” Davies threatened throwing the next door open with a smug grin.
“Don’t you dare start abusing your power or I will take points from our own house and report you to the teachers.” Lirum threatened, with a huff.
“Oh you say as if you’re even a real prefect! You were obviously picked by mistake, as I’m clearly the boys prefect and you don’t even know what you are!”
“That’s so uncalled for!” Patricia piped up sticking her head out of the compartment she was checking.
“You take that back right now Davies!” Cedric shouted, pushing his way between Lirum and the other Ravenclaw prefect.
“Oh come on you all know it’s true she can’t even come to class two days looking the same. She couldn’t even tell you what color her hair’s meant to be.” Davies continued gesturing wildly towards Lirum, as if his point would be proven if they turned around.
“You cut that shit out right now-“ Cedric started.
“My hair is green, you twit.” Lirum snapped, trying to get past Cedric.
“It’s not meant to be that color!” He shouted. “What was it when you were born.”
“I’m a metamorphmagus! It’s been changing colours since the day I was born!” Lirum defended, trying to squeeze past Cedric who was blocking a majority of the corridor. “Cedric! Get out of my way!”
“No, I’m trying very hard not to let you lose your badge over this idiot.” Cedric said actively moving to stop them from getting into a fight. “But this is your last chance to shut up before I step in myself.”
“I agree with the puffs on this one, you’ve definitely crossed a line!” Pucey said joining the group followed by Haneda who nodded.
“You all know I’m right! You’re just worried you’ll be in trouble with the Head Boy!” He argued, bitterly. “He’s not here right now! We’re all prefects, if we all agree on what happened they won’t believe her!”
“You need to stop this-” Haneda snapped, while Roger still attempted to convince the prefects.
“All of you, stop bickering like children!” Gemma Farley shouted walking down from the other end of the train.
“Here comes Head Girl,” Kenneth Towler mumbled under his breath. It was the first time he’d spoken since the start of the argument.
“What’s going on? What started all this shouting?” Percy followed
“And there’s Head Boy. Now, why don’t you tell him what you said?” Cedric chimed eagerly at Davies who stood stunned in the corridor.
“I-I…well, I-“ He fumbled.
“Oh don’t you want to tell them how Lirum was chosen as a prefect by mistake? Oh or what about how Lirum’s just confused about who they are, or asking them how they were born?” Cedric listed angrily. “Or the fact that they have been them since first year and you’ve decided now that you think you know what might be in their pants you’ve chosen to call them her?”
Gemma’s eyes went wide, eyebrows raised as she took a moment to process what she’d just heard. Percy grew red all the way to his ears, and so furious his knuckles had turned visibly white from how tightly he was clenching his fists but held himself back from yelling.
“Ok…then?” The Slytherin girl said a bit stunned. “Let’s start with, what makes you think they were picked by mistake?”
“She said her letter said she’d be the Ravenclaw boys prefect. Clearly I’m a boy so either she lied because that’s what she wanted or she was sent a letter by mistake.” Davies said proudly now that he thought someone was on his side.
“And you’re sure of that?” She asked.
“Of course I’m sure, look at us!” He said pointing at Lirum again. “Besides no Ravenclaw girls prefect ever boarded the train so it must be them and she don’t want to admit what she is!”
“That is enough!” Percy bellowed, shaking with anger. “Even if it turns out they are meant to be girls prefect, that doesn’t give you the right to blatantly disrespect them!”
“But she-“ Cedric and Alicia both jumped towards Davies in an instant Cedric made full contact knocking Davies flat on his rear. Where Alicia on the other hand had been jerked back by Towler, desperately trying to keep from losing Gryffindor house points before the sorting.
“Everyone off the train!” Gemma barked, as Pucey dove to try and pull Cedric off of Davies.
“The other prefects will lead the first years across the lake. You will all be giving statements as to what exactly happened here. Each of you will be reporting what you saw and heard to your house heads, is that understood.” Percy barked, as the group poured out of the train and rushed to the carriages in silence.
The fifth year prefects were split Into two carriages. One held Lirum, Percy, Alicia, Cedric and of course Adrian Pucey the Slytherin prefect who was still dragging Cedric by the arm.
“You can let me go now we’re in the carriage it’s not like I can hit him from here.” Cedric grumbled.
“You could still hex him.” Adrian joked, letting go of Cedric.
“That’s a good idea actually,” Cedric perked up, flashing a smirk.
“Please, don’t give him ideas.” Lirum said very tired, and down trot after the night's events so far.
“You alright?” Alicia asked nudging Lirum, who sat beside her.
“I’ll be fine.” Lirum answered quietly.
“You should cheer up. You’ve got friends waiting for you back at the castle.” She said playfully. “You know, if Fred thought I let someone treat you like that without saying something he’d totally kill me.”
“Yeah he’s…a good friend.” Lirum said uncertain of how to respond.
“Is that all?” She teased, earning a glare from Percy.
“Yeah…He and George are two of my closest friends?” Lirum answered confused, ignoring the stifled laughter from the other fifth year boys. “Why?”
“I didn’t realise how bad he’d been friend zoned.” Adrian cackled.
“You have no idea.” Cedric cracked up. “Wait until you hear the other bit.”
“I just think if you two spent a little more time-“ Alicia started again.
“Quite!” Percy snapped, arms crossed forcing the cart back into an awkward silence.
“There’s the other bit.” Cedric laughed to himself as if he’d heard the funniest joke.
“In all my time at Hogwarts, I have never heard of a group of prefects causing this much trouble in one day!” Percy snapped. “Diggory, if you don’t want to lose house points I suggest you pull yourself together!”
The carriage rolled to a stop before Percy led the group upstairs and toward the headmasters office. Lirum was told to wait while the others had to speak to their heads of house respectively. When they were finally allowed into the headmasters office they sat across from the headmaster himself Albus Dumbledore.
“I’ve heard you had a rather eventful first day.” Dumbledore spoke calmly.
“You could definitely call it that, but if you’ve already heard why am I the one in this chair?” Lirum mumbled.. “The letter that I received with my badge specifically said I would be boy's prefect. Because I might not be able to enter the girls dormitory.”
“I believe that you can though, can’t you?” He replied.
“I mean I can but also I’ve not been able to in the past.” Lirum said awkwardly. “It’s complicated.”
“Because of your…condition?” He questioned again.
“It’s not a condition! I’m a metamorphmagus, there’s nothing wrong with me!” Lirum snapped.
“I never said that there was, but not every metamorphmagus has the same…experience, you’ve had with it. Some can change more or less some only their hair may change others like your friend Nymphadora-“
“Tonks.” Lirum cut in, fuming.
“Yes, Tonks, the one who graduated a few years back. She had the ability to give herself the appearance of teachers or sometimes animals. Quite a good party trick if you ask me.” He chuckled, before continuing. “But you, things seem to change without you intending them to. Though these are your most tumultuous years of life, and you are in a constant state of change, you don’t seem to be aware of what’s happening in regards to your changes a majority of the time.”
“Its just how I am.” Literally defended.
“Again there’s nothing wrong with that, it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be. however to most it appears to be a condition that affects you.” He explained.
“Stop calling it that. Just because you speak calmly doesn’t mean your words lack edge.”
“I meant no offense, you seem to be rather defensive when we speak.” The old wizard spoke, removing his bifocal glasses.
“And you seem to make a show of dancing around issues to avoid fault.” Lirum snapped back, fully on guard.
The entrance to Dumbledore’s office began to open again as he walked the four heads of house: Professors Snape, Sprout, McGonagall, and Flitwick. They were followed in quick succession by The Head Boy and Girl who walked with Roger Davies between them. He was motioned to sit in the seat next to Lirum. Flitwick and McGonagall both stepped forward then at each other before speaking.
“I believe they’re has been a slight mistake in paperwork.” Professor Flitwick said, looking up at Professor McGonagall.
“As well as some miscommunication among the staff.” McGonagall, finished.
“Professor McGonagall upon finding out Mr. Ollivander resides in the Boys dormitories wrote and sent they’re letter stating they’d be the boys prefect” Flitwick started, then cleared his throat before continuing. “before she saw who the other ravenclaw prefect would be. Therefore telling both they would be boys prefect.”
“You actually picked him, as prefect?” Lirum said disgusted. “And we're going to have me look after the girls?!”
“Sometimes we have to work with people we aren’t fond of Ms-“ McGonagall started, before correcting herself. “Mx. Ollivander, and after the incident second year-“
“Five years! I’ve been here five years now! None of you ever thought it important enough to ask!” Lirum huffed standing from their chair. “The only person who actually considered what I preferred what’s Professor Snape of all people! And no offence, you’re quickly rising the ranks too favourite teacher tonight, he hates all Non-Slytherins.”
The Professors stood stunned for a moment, staring back at them. Professor Snape wore a self satisfied smirk. While Lirum stood seething with rage.
“Temper, temper,” Davies chimed under his breath, drawing all attention to him.
“That’s not quite fair-“ Flitwick started, only to be silenced by Lirum’s rage.
“No, you know what’s not quite fair? None of you have even addressed the reason we’re here right now! Him! Everything that was said on the train?” Lirum gesturing towards the smug fifth head beside them. “All of its fine, right? It’s true after all, isn’t it? No one can tell what I am, and they don’t care enough to ask, so it’s just a mistake, then? We can brush It off, act like everything’s well and good?”
“We can’t very well strip him of his position before the sorting-“ McGonagall started.
“So, his behaviour is fine with you then?” Lirum asked, disgusted. “If threatening to abuse your power, picking fights, bullying, arrogance and blatant ignorance are perfectly acceptable behaviour for a prefect then you can take mine, I have no wish to be associated with it!”
“Lirum!” Percy Shouted shocked.
“The First years will be arriving at any moment. I suggest we hold off on any major decisions until after.” Dumbledore stood from his desk. “Minerva, you should meet them in the reception hall.”