You owe me
The trio sat around the flip book of CDs. George read several tracks trying to decide the best one.
“So you do this every year?” George asked, flipping through the CD binder. “How’d I miss this?”
“Yeah. Well, like I said Tonks started it third year after everything that happened around Halloween, A little pick me up after everything that happened. Then we did a few more here and there. Last year after Christmas me and Cedric decided to continue the tradition by bringing in Luna.” Lirum answered, pulling a blanket off one of the spare beds for them to lay on. “Here’s a lot more private than the Hufflepuff common room. Plus we don’t have to share a bed.”
“You shared a bed before?” George’s head shot up to look at Lirum.
“Oh Helga, not a chance!” Cedric belted out. “Can you imagine the three of us on one bed! Tonks would have pushed it both on the floor!”
“Then how-“ he was cut off by a pillow hitting him. Lirum stood triumphantly holding more pillows they proceeded to dump on him.
“Cuddle puddle.” They answered, sitting down next to him, adjusting the blankets and pillows into a comfortable area for them to sleep. “We sleep here.”
“Cuddle puddle? As in you held each other, while you just all listened to music, and slept on the floor?”
“Not just that. We also usually do each others makeup,” Cedric joked falling back on the make shift bed Lirum had made for them, before cracking a smile “and talk about Lirum’s failed love life.”
“Shut up!” Lirum gasped, looking around for anything to throw at him. “Don’t listen to him.”
“Really?” George asked, smile growing. “You wouldn’t mind catching me up to speed?”
“Cedric, don’t you dare!” Lirum threatened, desperately searching for something to silence him with after dropping all the pillows in the middle of the room. “George I promise you it’s not that interesting!”
“Complete muck up really! Haven’t even managed to get a real boyfriend. Luckily they‘ve finally gotten over their crush on P-“ They ripped off their shoe and threw it at him. “Oww- Damn Lirum you didn’t have to hit me that hard!”
“I warned you!” They snapped before pulling down the blanket off of the top bunk. “Merlin’s beard, it's a wonder why I even put up with you!”
“You probably wouldn’t if you weren’t so terribly awkward about talking to people of the…” He paused for a moment looking at them evilly. “Red headed variety”
“George, pick your song already!” Lirum rushed trying to change the topic.
“Red headed?” George asked, looking down at Cedric.
“Red headed!” He repeated, nodding. “Lirum’s got a terrible thing them.”
“Don’t make me kick you both out!” The Ravenclaw snapped embarrassed. “Hurry up and pick your song before I change my mind.”
“Don’t listen to them, they're just embarrassed.” Lirum could practically hear his wink. “There’s a red head in their bedroom after all.”
“You’re a terrible friend.” They said throwing the blanket down over his face.
“Pmhf!” Came from beneath the blanket before he pushed it off. “I am an amazing friend. I agreed to chaperone your not date with your not romantic interest!”
“It is Not a date and he’s Not a romantic interest!” Lirum stressed.
“That’s exactly what I said.” Cedric shrugged.
“Please pick a song before he gets even worse.” They begged looking at George who looked back and forth between the CDs and Lirum.
“Do you have a favourite?” He asked, holding the booklet out to them.
“I wanted you to pick one.” Lirum pouted, a bit childish.
“I don’t know what I’m looking for.” He said flipping the page again.
“Just pick what sounds good!” Cedric said, watching them. “Or I’ll play girls just wanna have fun for the millionth time and you can watch Lirum do my makeup.”
George stuck a disk into the player awkwardly fumbling for a second but waving off the help offered. The disk started spinning and after a few seconds the pop beat came through the speakers.
“Oooh good choice.” Cedric said, enjoying the music as the upbeat song started.
“The name was encouraging.” George Shrugged, watching Lirum dance alone.
“You better dance with them!” Cedric said, waving him toward them.
“I think I’m enjoying watching.” George answered back while Lirum ignored them both.
I've done alright up 'till now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls, loneliness calls
“You’re gonna regret that in three, two,” Cedric counted down. “One.”
“Oh, I wanna dance with somebody!
I wanna feel the heat with somebody!
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody!
With somebody who loves me!” Lirum belted out in time with the music.
George scrambled to his feet to join them.
“Oh, I wanna dance with somebody!
I wanna feel the heat with somebody!
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody!
With somebody who loves me!” Lirum grinned, reaching a hand out for him as he ran toward them.
The pair danced poorly together. Neither particularly gifted in the area, or overly familiar with the song, but even as the messy collaboration of overexcited movements they were, they knew one thing; they were having an absolute blast. The pair collapsed on the makeshift bed after. Wide smiles, and genuine laughter enveloping them.
“That was definitely a good choice.” Lirum grinned at him.
“I know, I could really get used to that smile.” He replied, rolling onto his side to look at them. “I’ve really missed it recently.”
“I know, I’ve missed it too.” They sighed. “Everything has just been so much recently. Thanks, for always being here.”
“Always,” George said, reaching over to play with a ringlet. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk about it too.”
“I just-It’s a lot.” Lirum reached up, putting their hand on top of his.
“We’ve got the rest of our lives.” He interlocked their fingers on his free hand.
“What are we married?” They joked, laughing.
“I promised to always stay by you didn’t I?” He teased inching closer.
“Fine, I’ll tell you why I passed out,” Lirum sighed in defeat. “but only if you tell me about your boggart!”
“I think I can deal with that.” George said, looking intently at them.
“Do you remember what I told you second year?” They asked vaguely.
“You told me a lot of things second year Love. I’m gonna need you to be a little more specific.” He teased.
“About my parents?” George’s face changed instantly.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t ha-“ He started clearly remembering.
“No, no it’s alright.” They reassured him. “Did you see my boggart?”
“For a moment? It was just a big scruffy bloke?” George had been so good with putting everything else together why did he have to be so bad now?
“He…was there.” He stared at them confused for a second before it clicked. “He was a werewolf …apparently.”
“Oh Godric! I’m so sorry.” His grip on their hand tightened. “You were so young. That must’ve been awful.”
“I refused to come out until my grandpa got there. Even then it still wasn’t…erm, pretty?” They struggled to put words to it really. They’d never really talked about what happened. It was easiest left in the past.
“Oh and we- I shouldn’t have pushed you to- I’m sorry, you had every right to refuse to face your boggart.” The hand that had started with a single ringlet worked its way into their curls.
“He tried not to let me see anything but, I-I’d already-uh, already seen it. When it was still, you know-erm happening-“ He pulled them close the same way he had when they were crying before.
“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.” He spoke softly, “Anything that makes you uncomfortable can wait.”
“I think that about it right? Nothing else to say really. Your turn right?” Lirum rushed out, trying desperately to change the topic.
“Yeah, mine's gonna sound a little silly.” He said pulling back to give them a goofy smile. “But if you really wanna hear it.”
“I told you mine!” They said, shocked. He laughed at their reaction.
“You’re not allowed to call it stupid.” He said looking down at them.
“Why would I, if it’s your worst fear?” They asked, his goofy smile turned genuine.
“It’s not really what it looked like at first glance, and it’s really complicated.” He sighed. “I’m not just scared you’ll get with my brother. If I was it probably would’ve been Percy.”
He let go of them and rolled over on his back looking up at the roof.
“At least with Percy I would know he’ll respect your boundaries, talk to you about problems, and just treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I love Fred, he's my brother, my twin we’ve spent our whole lives being Fred and George. But I don’t think he’d do any of that. He’s selfish and self absorbed and bad at communication.” He sighed, staring sadly up at the ceiling “I don’t know if I’d be able to sit there and watch him break your heart over and over for the rest of our lives. I can’t lose my brother, but if you ever finally gave up on him, I don’t know if I could choose between the two of you. He’s the jealous type he always has been. He won’t let me keep both, and I know that. If he even lets me keep you at all after you get together.”
“Me and Fred aren’t dating, and as long as he keeps acting the way he has, we never will. Even if we did, I wouldn't allow him to tell me who I can and can’t be friends with.” Lirum reassured him. “And separately I’m not property! No one gets to ‘keep’ me and they certainly don’t get to decide who can and can’t ‘keep me’!”
“There’s also the fact that we have the same face. Again with anyone else I can say that you just find them more attractive, or that their style suits your own more, but with Fred, we’re identical. Almost everyone confuses us for each other, even mum. Which means…it was just me? Something about me just isn’t enough for you. That I would have had every chance if I had just been a little different somewhere.” He rolled over to face them again. “And I know that that’s stupid, and that we’re two different people, and that we shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to one another, but all I can think is what about me isn’t enough. Fred is everyone's first choice. It’s always been Fred, and George. And I know it’s selfish and stupid, but just this once, I want to be chosen. I want to come first with you.”
“George,” Lirum couldn’t find the words to say. He’d just poured his heart out to them. “You are the sweetest and most caring person I think I’ve ever met. I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything because you think you have to. I don’t want you to pick me because I begged you to, or you felt pressured too. Please, don’t lie to me for my sake. We can talk about anything else you think of instead.” He said, gaze softly meeting theirs.
“You know my arse doesn’t look that good right?” They giggled, he fell over laughing.
“That’s what you’re stuck on?” George asked, grinning. “I’ll have you know I think it’s quite nice, but it’s far from the nicest thing about you.”
“Wow, that was so smooth.” Lirum teased, lightly. “Sorry it was the only thing I could think to lighten the mood.”
“It’s alright. Any other questions?” He chuckled.
“Yeah actually, why was my hair red?” They asked curiously.
“I just gave this theory based off something that happened last year.” He looked away, the first time he’d actually seemed shy.
“What kind of theory?” They were far more intrigued with what could make him of all people shy, after he’d poured his heart out.
“I’d hate to waste your time if I’m wrong, but I could test it if you’d like?” George said, timidly.
“Alright?” He smiled, and leaned in and their lips collided.
It was warm, and soft. He smelled like sweet rain and felt like safety and home. It wasn’t the clumsy quick peck they’d rushed into with Percy in an unthought out moment. It was rich and meaningful. They felt his fingers gently work their way back Into their hair, pulling them closer as he asked for entry Lirum didn’t hesitate to give.
“You owe me so much money.” Cedric's voice cut threw the moment in an instant.