Slytherin
The next morning Madam Pomfrey woke them with breakfast and a check over before she released them for their first day of classes. Lirum wasn’t particularly excited as they made their way towards Professor Binns' classroom. History of magic had always been rather boring, but on the bright side it was meant to be with Gryffindor this year. So Lirum would at least be able to see the twins. When they arrived Professor Binns' ghosty figure didn’t even bother to acknowledge them as they found their way to their seat.
“Pst, Is this seat taken?” George whispered from behind them.
“I don’t know? Teachers love to reserve the seats next to me for especially troublesome students.” Lirum teased. George’s smile grew until he grinned ear to ear.
“That sounds like it was reserved just for me, Love.” He said slipping in beside them and dropping his bag on the floor. “Are you feeling better? You look a lot better.”
“I don’t know, I don’t feel normal but, I think talking to you last night really helped. So thank you.” Lirum said genuinely.
“Anything for you, Thumper.” He teased quietly, a broad smile on his face.
“And there’s the teasing.” Lirum laughed halfheartedly.
“You know I mean it though right?” He said, reaching up and linking pinkies with them. “I swear I’ll always be right here.”
“Are you trying to pinky promise you’ll stay beside me?” Lirum giggled, George turned red.
“You met my dad, he’s obsessed with muggle stuff. He said it was like an unbreakable vow, for muggles. I didn’t think you’d know what it was.” Lirum laughed more, linking pinkies with him.
“My mum was a muggle, remember? When I was little she’d make me pinky swear that I’d do silly things I didn’t want to and in exchange she’d sing for me or tell me stories.” Lirum said, turning to fully face him in their seats. “So what is it that you want back from me?”
“I don’t need you to do anything, just put up with me I guess?”
“Come on, if we’re gonna do this we should do it right.” Lirum teased, still keeping their hands locked together by their pinky’s.
“I don’t have anything to ask though?”
“You started it, you should’ve thought farther ahead.”
“Fine then, I Lirum Ollivander Pinky Promise to be a fair and true friend, and help You whenever I can as long as you’ll be by my side”
“That sounds like forever,” He chuckled before looking them in the eyes and saying. “ Because I George Weasley, Pinky Promise to always stay by your side, and be there whenever you need me.”
“You know, I’m really lucky to have you. I haven’t done anything like that in a long time. I know it’s silly to have been so excited about it, I just really needed that.” Lirum couldn’t help but give him a real smile.
“It’s Not silly at all, and I’m happy to do it again if it means you’ll keep smiling like that.” He said, intertwining the rest of their fingers with a gentle smile.
“Am I interrupting something?” Fred said indignantly, before getting hit over the back of the head by Lee Jordan.
“That’s what you get for ditching me!” Lee said taking the next seat over after Fred.
“Not at all Freddie, we just finished.” George smirked at his brother who huffed and took the seat on the other side of Lirum.
“That’s the last time you get to go ahead to class while I’m in the bathroom.” Fred mumbled, sourly. Causing Lirum to have to stifle their laughter. “At least you're doing better.” He sighed.
“I’ll tell you what Freddie, I don't think I’ve ever been so happy to show up early to class.” George said smugly.
“Rude, also I did not ditch you!” Fred said arguing with his other friend.
“You two ditch me in every class we share with Ravenclaw.” Lee argued, pointing between the boys.
“Lee, we've got the whole rest of every day with you! You can spare one or two classes a day!” George laughed at his bitter best friend.
“What about meals? You’ve moved to sit with them every day since last year!” Lee argued. “They weren’t even there for dinner or breakfast and you still sat where they would’ve been instead of with me!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get in the way of your relationship.” Lirum joked, turning all eyes on them.
“We’re not gay!” The prankster trio said together.
“Oh, I had a very different impression.” Lirum cackled too themself.
“You don’t count!” Fred teased.
“Oh I don’t count now? Please regale me with how that logic works?” Lirum teased, pinching Fred’s arm.
“You’re like a three in one shampoo.” Lee joked, causing Lirum to sputter for a second.
“Ok I have to hear this!” Lirum said, laughing, completely forgetting they were in class.
“Yeah You’re The Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash of Gender! You could be any of them but your not really any of em. All we really know is you’re soap.” Lee shrugged, putting his hands up.
“That is somehow the best way anyone has ever described what I am, and I hate it. Thank you for your service Lee.” Lirum
“Any time!” He said, wearing a wide grin.
“Does that exist?” George asked, confused.
“Huh, I guess it’s a muggle thing? You’d think wizards would have come up with one that actually works.” Lee joked opening his text book reminding Lirum they where in fact in class and as boarding and monotone as Professor Binns was they did need this class for their O.W.L.s.
“Add that to the list George.” George nodded in response to Fred’s order pulling out a roll of parchment with thing’s hastily scrawled on it like: acne eraser, eavesdropping ear, make our own firework, and now three in one soap? The thing that drew Lirum’s attention the most was the words Joke Wand.
“What is that?” Lirum asked curiously.
“Fred and I are going to start a business!” George answered happily. “We’re working on a list of products!”
“What’s a joke wand?” Lirum asked, playfully.
“Well we use to break sticks when we where kids and sneak them in place of mum or dads, but we always thought it would be funny if you could charm them into doing something random when you tried to use them!” George said, seemingly excited to finally have someone interested in his ideas.
“I mean sticks probably won’t be very convincing for having them try to use it. Are you planning on making them look real?” Lirum asked, but George’s face dropped a little.
“It’s not very easy, it turns out.” Fred joked, making George look even more dejected.
“Trust me I would know. I could give you a few tips to help you make them look and feel a little more real?” Lirum offered, turning George’s mood brighter than before.
“You’d do that? But it would be a complete waste of your time? What if nothing ever comes of it after you tried teaching me?” George bombarded them with questions.
“I wouldn’t be wasting my time, you’re my friend. Even if nothing comes of it, it was worth a shot trying to help you, wasn’t it? Besides it could be fun I enjoy wand making. The practice is soothing, it’ll be nice to have someone listen to me rant about it. You’ll have to be patient with me though. I have tutoring twice a week, one for myself and one for Luna and Neville, and I’m a pre- you know what you can forget the last part.”
“I’ll take any time you’ll give me.” He smiled thoughtfully.
“Hey Georgie you know we’re in class right?” Fred taunted from the other side.
“Fred, since when do you care about paying attention in class?” Lee asked. “Just be cool and accept that your third wheeling.”
“I am not third wheeling!” Fred huffed. “There are four of us here! We’re all just friends!”
“You’re not trying to be.” Lee teased making everyone but Fred laugh.
“Shut up!” A bright red Fred snapped, elbowing Lee into silence.
The rest of the class passed quickly as Lirum sat quietly taking notes and listened to the boys' playful jabs as they bickered like a married couple. There weren’t many classes you could openly have a conversation in, but Lirum was glad to have had this one with Gryffindor; they served as a well needed distraction. Lirum hadn’t seen much of Lee since the brief moment they’d met in third year. They knew besides themself, Lee was the twins best friend. They knew they pulled pranks together and that he’d been friends with the boys since first year but Lirum was never the outgoing sort. So they’d never really crossed paths much.
After double History of Magic Lirum had to make their way down to the dungeons. Double potions with Snape, and once again they’d be sharing it with Slytherin. They weren’t bothered though, their classes with Slytherin tended to be the easiest to focus on. They were typically very quiet, and everyone was trying their best.
When they finally made it to Professor Snape’s potions classroom they looked for their new assigned workstation. They took their seat and set up their cauldron potions supplies, and text book. As they dug in their bag for their final ingredients they heard they’re station partners settling in. When they came back up they were faced with the same pale dark haired boy from the train; Adrian Pucey.
“Hey, it was Lirum right?” He asked, seeming more awkward now that they were alone.
“Yeah, you said your name was Adrian?” Lirum asked though they were quite sure they remembered correctly.
“I heard someone replaced Mr. Davies Cologne with stink sap, and that Peeves has been appearing just to throwing actual eggs at him any time he interacts with a girl. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?” He asked, with a small smile.
“Really? I hadn’t heard.” Lirum tried to hold back their smile. They’d never understand how the twins got in good graces with a poltergeist.
“Yeah, he’s been chanting bad eggs get egged. And then pelting him with eggs. I’m not sure exactly where they’re coming from though. Some are normal, some rotten but even that didn’t compare to the stink sap, but one was boiled?” He whispered.
“Yeah?” Lirum replied, silently begging for more details as they hid their excitement.
“Yeah, he’s been throwing them quite hard to. The boiled one probably left a bruise. They’re smashed everywhere Filch has been fuming.” Adrian joked trying to keep the conversation light. He looked around before he leaned in to whisper. “How did you get peeves on your side?”
“Me? No, you give me to much credit. He can just sense a bad egg I guess.” Lirum laughed.
“Well, you’re quite charismatic, I wouldn’t have been surprised to find you’ve charmed the damned poltergeist.” Adrian teased a small smile on his face.
“I am not. If I where that charismatic I’d have more friends.” Lirum joked, enjoying their chat.
“You basically won over the entire prefects car in one train ride.” He joked, opening up more.
“Not everyone, that's for sure.” Lirum huffed.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. um if you don’t mind my asking. How did everything go? I didn’t see you at the feast.” Adrian said nervously. “Why aren’t you wearing your badge?”
“Well they said they couldn’t take his badge so I told them to take mine.” Lirum explained, disinterested. His demeanor changed from the nervous, but playful attitude to quite intimidating.
“Why on Earth would- after being told what happened by all of us? They didn’t do anything?” He asked, shocked.
“No, they didn’t.” Lirum sighed. “Now if you don’t mind I’d really rather not think about it. I've been having a good day so far and I don’t want to ruin it.”
“Does your Hufflepuff friend know yet?” He continued. “Oh well, that won’t do. If they thought replacing one prefect would be too hard, they’ll have fun trying to replace four.”
“What are you talking about? What do you mean four?” They asked, confused watching him write a note.
“He should not be allowed to stay in his position after he taunted people specifically so he could blatantly abuse his power. Especially after everyone there should have told the Professor what happened. Haneda won’t stand for it either when she finds out. With half the prefects threatening to resign they’ll have to do something.”
“Are you suggesting we threaten the Professors?” They asked watching him fold the paper into a Crain before casting a charm on it and sending it flying across the room to Haneda, the other Slytherin prefect.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He said, in a matter of fact tone. “Talk to your Hufflepuff and the Gryffindor girl. That will make five out of eight if they can’t convince the other two. Even if they wouldn’t actually quit standing with us will be a big enough threat.”
“That’s crazy! They’d never do something like that!” Lirum argued, trying to make him see reason.
“What’s crazy is they thought if they talked to us all separately they’d be able to make the problem seem smaller.” Adrian explained before Haneda’s reply landed on his desk. “Haneda’s in.”
“Stop let’s talk about this.” Lirum insisted but he didn’t stop.
“Do you know why I quit the Slytherin Quidditch team?” Adrian asked.
“I wasn’t aware you’d quit? I’m sorry what does this have to do with-“
“Marcus Flint’s way of making sure Slytherin always wins is by cheating, every game. He refused to allow girls on the team even if they were far better than me and he knew Professor Snape would enable him. I refused to be a part of that. Haneda should’ve been one of the chasers last year, but she wasn’t because flint is a bloody minger.” He ranted.
“I am so lost. Can we please slow down a second?” The door to the classroom flung open and Professor Snape walked briskly to the front of the room.
“Let me put this in Ravenclaw terms then. There's power in numbers. Even if it’s a bluff the risk of having to replace five is higher than the strain of replacing one.” He said bluntly before looking up at snape. “Class is starting, you should pay attention. Just remember to talk to your Hufflepuff after. Even if you can’t find the Gryffindor Girl I’m sure he’ll handle it.”
“He’s not My Hufflepuff! His name is Cedric.” Lirum corrected.
“He got into a fist fight with a prefect because that guy insulted you. He’s your Hufflepuff.” Adrian said, flicking them. “Now pay attention.”