Wins
For the rest of class Adrian ignored Lirum’s pestering. He was determined to receive results, much to Lirum’s dismay. That was the first time they’d struggled to pay attention in a class shared with Slytherin. The usual calm focused silence was replaced by a panicked one that ate Lirum alive. All they could focus on was Adrian’s annoyed expression, and the empty seat that should have housed Roger Davies himself. Apparently the noxious smell from the mixture of rotten eggs and stink sap had given him a free pass from classes halfway through their first day.
They were guilty for Cedric fighting on their behalf, and the Twins pranks. Worst of all the way they’d blown up at Percy. They weren’t fit to be the center of attention. They’d never been the fan of attention really or wanted to be the figurehead of anything. They were far more comfortable existing in the background. It seemed to be a common trait in their family, living a quiet life, in their shop with just their family, doing what they were passionate about.
The idea of starting a rebellion against their Professors was terrifying. Especially if it was in their name. They’d been ignored for years. It was ok for the most part. Nothing to worry about. Their issues had only started when they stepped into center stage. They’d give up their badge, take a step back, just another tree in the forest for the main cast to walk by. They’d only stepped into the light to be with their friends anyway. They could support them just as easily from the sidelines.
Class was dismissed. It was Lirum’s last chance to change the Slytherins' mind. But when they tried to grab his attention the final time Haneda the Slytherin girls prefect cut them off.
“You tell him, or I do.” She said bluntly startling them. “And I won’t be as nice as you.”
“But-“ Lirum tried to argue.
“You were ready to fight on the train, now fight smart.” She said, as she turned around.
Haneda was confident and well put together. She had sleek black hair, never a strand out of place. She was quite popular despite her intimidating aura, or maybe she was just intimidating to Lirum.
“Why do you care? We’ve barely just met!” Lirum asked, confused by Slytherins sudden inclination to help.
“Do you want the professional answer or the real answer?” Haneda asked, arms crossed, staring up at Lirum.
“Both?” Lirum asked, sceptically. Watching the girl sigh in response.
“Well, He singled you out to harass based of your perceived gender, and blatantly threw around, and abused the power he barely even had.” She explained. “But really, He’s an git who looked down on me the second I stepped onto the train, and I don’t like the way he spoke to me. Now whether he acted that way because I’m Asian or a woman has yet to be seen, but I don’t want to see him win in any case, and I’ll take almost any opportunity to put him in his place. So, that being said, will you be telling the other prefects or shall I.”
They were left speechless, but Haneda stared back smugly knowing she’d won.
“I guess I’ll talk to Cedric.” Lirum said anxiously. Standing from their desk to leave. Care of Magical Creatures was going to be fun.
As they made their way towards the edge of the Hogwarts grounds they were surprised to find Hagrid leading the class instead of Professor Kettleburn. Oddly enough no one else seemed to be surprised by that, but they made their way to Cedric’s side the moment he arrived.
“Is that Hagrid? Is he subbing for Kettleburn for the day?” Lirum asked, carefully.
“Oh no, He’s the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher.” Cedric explained, with a teasing smile. “You’d’ve known that if you hadn’t skipped the feast last night.”
They weren’t sure how to respond to that. Especially knowing the conversation they’d be having with Cedric before their next class.
“C’mom now, get a move on!” Hagrid called out to the approaching fifth years. “Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin’ up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!”
“First day and we’re already having a field day? Better than Kettleburn already!” Cedric cheered. “What do you think we’re doing?”
“Huh, oh I don’t know? Um-“ Lirum started unsure when or how to approach the topic they’d need to discuss with him.
“Everyone gather ‘round the fence here!” Hagrid called out. “That’s it- make sure you can see, now, firs’ thing yeh’ll want Tee do is open yer books.”
“Are you alright?” Cedric whispered to his friend.
“I was,” Lirum answered halfheartedly. “I mean that, I sort of am?”
“What’s happened?” Cedric insisted, ignoring the class entirely. “Is it what happened on the train?”
“Well, It’s related,” Lirum started, awkwardly.
“Did he say something to you again? I’ll-“ he asked, becoming angry.
“Not really,” They weren’t sure where to start. “But-“
“Then what-“ The Hufflepuff cut in again.
“If you would let me speak!” Lirum snapped, and He when quiet.
“Sorry, I just got worried,” he mumbled to himself. “What in Helga’s Name! Is that a hippogriff? Like a real life hippogriff?”
“Oh my Godric!” Lirum had been so distracted they nearly missed the giant half bird, half horse creatures standing in front of them. “Am I awake? Is that real?”
“Merlin’s beard, that thing is huge!” Cedric said, just as astonished as Lirum. They’d read about them of course this was their fifth year. But a hippogriff, a real one in its large feathered glory, stood in front of them.
“Right, who wants ter go first?” Hagrid asked, looking around the class a mix of excited and terrified fifth years.
No one stepped forward.
“Any volunteers?” Cedric and Lirum looked at each other, neither had been listening to what he’d said before.
“If you’d repeat the instructions just to make sure I’m clear I’ll try first?” Cedric said inching forward.
“Right, Walk toward him, and yeah bow, an’ yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh’re allowed tee touch him. If he doesn’ bow, then get away.”
“We get to touch him?!” Cedric asked like an excited child. Then he turned to Lirum practically vibrating with anticipation. “Did you hear that, Guin?!”
“If he bows back,” Hagrid answered, heartily.
“Well you first Ced,” Lirum joked, elbowing him as he slowly approached the large animal.
“Just bow now, right?” Cedric said, bowing deeply. The hippogriff bowed in turn and Cedric came up glowing. “Thank you, you’ve made my year.” He said reaching up to pet the large horse bird.
“Keep wagging your tail like that, and it's gonna start petting you instead!” Lirum teased.
“And I would be fine with that.” He answered back. “It's your turn, Lirum!”
Lirum nodded, before they quietly and slowly walked up to the hippogriff. Bowed and waited for it’s response. Once again it bowed back.Lirum joined Cedric in caring for the large creature, feeling the warmth through its soft feathers. Others followed shortly as they learned how to preen hippogriff feathers.
On their way back to the castle Lirum and Cedric walked together as usual. Walking past the younger students entering the forest. They noticed a familiar bushy haired girl and dark haired boy with glasses waving them down; it was Hermione and Harry. “Lirum do you know where George is? It’s important.” They rushed looking expectantly at the Ravenclaw. “Why would I know where George is right now? Shouldn’t you be in class?” Lirum asked watching the pair exchange a panicked look. “We’re on our way to class! Yes, care of magical creatures!” Harry rushed out like he’d been caught. “Yes, with Hagrid!” Hermione added nodding rapidly. “Sorry for holding you up!” The pair ran off, leaving Lirum and Cedric baffled staring at each other. They were definitely doing something they weren’t meant to but Lirum was happy enough for any distraction to take them off their impending doom. Cedric had been in such a good mood since he’d seen the hippogriffs, and they didn’t want to ruin it by talking about what had happened. They elected to ignore it, hoping the situation would blow over and nothing more would come of it. They had one more class to go and then their first day would be over. None of their other friends had taken Arithmancy either so they should be more than safe, or so they thought when they reached the door for their final class to come face to face with the Slytherin prefects.
“You look rather chipper considering last night's events.” Haneda said, looking at Cedric. Who in turn stared at her confused. Lirum was in for it, and they knew it.
“What do you mean?” Cedric asked the Slytherin girl, following her eyes to Lirum. “What happened last night?”
“Well, um…I-I was trying to tell you earlier before the hippogriffs but-“ Lirum started.
“No, I gave you your chance to tell him.” Haneda cut in. “The Professors did nothing about what happened with Davies because they didn’t want to have to find a replacement.”
“What?!” He growled, angrily. “But we all-“
“Exactly, we can’t let that stand. Especially when Lirum told the Professors if they were going to allow him continue to be a prefect they wouldn’t share the title, and the Headmaster dismissed them.” She explained Cedric becoming angrier with each word.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cedric asked. “This should have been the first thing you said!”
“It’s ok I’ll-“ He cut them off.
“This is absolutely not ok! This is the furthest thing from ok!” Cedric insisted, fuming mad. “Does Percy know? He’d bust a blood vessel if he found out!”
The mood dropped again. Percy did know, he’d been there himself to hear it. He wanted them to stay even if it meant putting up with Davies. The guilt from before mixed with the pain of knowing the day before they’d believed the same as Cedric.
“He knows.” They mumbled under their breath.
“What did you just say?” Cedric asked, horrified and blazing angry. “He knows what? What did you tell him because he should’ve been the one about to bust down the door of the Headmaster’s office if he knew?”
“I didn’t tell him…he was there whe-“
“You need to find a new boyfriend, because you can do better.” Cedric said, before turning back to the Slytherins. “What’s our plan then?”
“Cedric!” Lirum was shocked to hear their friend say something that crude.
“I’m not going to apologise, that you picked the wrong brother.” Cedric snapped at them. “Now, what’s the plan?”
“We already told Professor Vector all the fifth year prefects where needed in the headmaster's office due to the events on the train on the way here. She didn’t know all the details but enough to believe the story.” Haneda explained. “So with us, you, and Lirum it should be believable enough to get Patricia, Spinnet, Towler and well yourself out of Potions.”
“But-“
“Snape will believe it if both Slytherin prefects and two other prefects all go at once.” Adrian spoke for the first time reassuring Lirum.
The group of prefects all walked together to the dungeons lead by Haneda and Adrian. Normally the pair would be intimidating enough, without the angry Hufflepuff storming behind them. To most seeing a Hufflepuff that angry was a warning sign that something has gone very wrong and someone will end up on the hospital wing. It was questionable if this time was very different.
When they arrived at Professor Snape’s classroom it was quite clear that he saw right through them, but still he allowed the other prefects free. Seemingly he was happy enough to know whatever they were planning would be an inconvenience to the Headmaster, and maybe even lose the other houses points. Alicia and Patricia took almost no convincing, Kenneth though held an odd hesitation as they made their way to Dumbledore’s office.
“What are you all doing out of class?” Professor McGonagall’s voice rang down the hall.
“We have to see the headmaster, Professor.” Alicia said, making her way to the front of the group.
“Really, what has got into you all today?” Professor McGonagall asked, walking towards them. “You are all meant to be in class.”
“We have urgent news we have to bring to the Headmaster!” She argued.
“All of you?” McGonagall pressed.
“Yes, we all need to be present for it.” The Gryffindor prefect insured her head of house.
“Very well then.” McGonagall sighed before opening the door to Dumbledore’s study.
“Are you all ready?” Haneda asked, gesturing them up the stairs.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Lirum replied nervously. The group made their way up the stairs and found themselves face to face with the Schools headmaster; Albus Dumbledore.
“To what do I owe this visit?” Dumbledore asked, eyes scanning over the crowd of Fifth year prefects. “I doubt it’s to thank me for giving you all this opportunity, to serve as prefects.”
“We’ve come to inform you of our resignation.” Haneda responded confident as ever even in the face of what of the most powerful wizards of all time. “After the incident on the train ride here each of us have come to realize if being a prefect means you no longer have to show basic respect to those you see as less than, then we will no longer be serving as such.” She said before unpinning her badge and setting it on his desk.
“I second that thought.” In quick succession Adrian took a step forward and removed his badge.
“As do I. It should have never come to this.” Cedric said, tossing his badge onto the desk knocking into the others.
“Everyone deserves respect.” Alicia said, dropping her red badge into the pile.
“I as well.” Patricia said, slipping the pin off her robes.
“I gave mine yesterday.” Lirum said awkwardly.
“Kenneth!” Alicia spit under her breath, gesturing towards the desk.
“Not all of us can afford to throw this chance away!” He spit back.
“Ugh, brave my arse you coward!” She muttered under her breath trying not to let Dumbledore hear they’re argument.
“It is quite impressive, you know.” Dumbledore spoke looking at Lirum. “Your ability to rally those around you, even by accident.”
“Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” Alicia said, taking charge. “That’s what you say isn’t it? You teach us to stand with those who deserve it.”
“You should have expected something like this would happen teaching your students to band together.” Haneda warned.
“I assume your demands will be Roger Davies badge in exchange for all of yours.” The headmaster asked cunningly.
“They’re very simple demands. We’re not unreasonable people” Adrian spoke calmly, watching Dumbledore.
“Very well then. In the morning this issue will be handled.” He said calmly, standing from his desk. “Each of you have remarkable determination in the face of great challenges. You will each be awarded fifty points.”
“He’s trying to patch over what happened with points.” Lirum accidentally said under their breath.
“Unfortunately we have to take our wins where we can get them.” Adrian whispered back resting a comforting hand on their shoulder.
That’s when Lirum realized the Slytherins must be all too familiar with that feeling given the way all the teachers besides snape himself dislike them by default.