Patrol
Lirum laid out the materials they’d need and continued working on their astronomy assignment until they were interrupted by a voice they recognised. Another Gryffindor.
“Didn’t you have to patrol today?” Alicia called out, looking across the table at Lirum.
“Yeah? I mean I do, but not until this evening.” Lirum said, looking at the Gryffindor prefect. “Just from four until supper.”
“I know you Ravenclaws are the bookish sort but you should keep an eye on the clock in the library it’s already five till.” She replied, and Lirum paled.
“I should run.” Lirum said throwing their mostly finished work into their bag.
“Running will set a poor example for the underclassmen.” Alicia warned, watching the lone Ravenclaw prefect flick their wand at the books on the table to put them back. “And so does that!”
“And so would being late!” Lirum rushed, throwing their bag over their shoulder and darting for the exit.
Lucky Fourth floor patrols were usually some of the easiest. Students didn’t hang around much. The only things around were professor Binns' history of magic classroom and the hall of mirrors, well and the clock tower, and people rarely wanted to be around though the dull ghost was generally avoided unless kids were being forced into class. The path for patrol was an easy one: make sure no one’s snogging in the clock tower crosses the West Bridge back into the main castle past the history of magic classroom through the hall of Mirrors, loop back, repeat.
They made their way out of the library and to the base of the clock tower. Half heartedly climbing up the wooden stairs, and making sure there were no third year’s making love confessions, or people in their own year doing worse. Before continuing across the bridge into the fourth floor of the castle. It would be so easy to stop and finally get their chance to start their book, but with their luck they’d be found by whatever prefect poor soul had been assigned the patrol from the hospital wing to the bell tower. Given the walk was almost two floors uphill they no longer wondered why people found near the bell tower usually ended up with harsher punishments.
The halls were quiet and boring, an hour of pacing down the hall of mirrors trying desperately trying not to catch they’re reflection. That was the last thing they needed now. Some half baked identity crisis about if they’re nose always looked like that or what colour their eyes were. Was that an Adam's apple? Had they had one before. No they definitely don’t have one. That definitely looked like they had one.
“No, we are not doing this today!” Lirum shouted, covering their face, turning around and hopefully heading back the way they’d come.
“Lirum?” They heard a confused voice call out from down the hallway. “Is everything alright?”
“Fuck off diggory.” They snapped trying to ignore him.
“Diggory? Really?” Cedric laughed.
“Really!” Lirum replied storming past, attempting to blindly make their way towards the bell tower.
“Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?” He called out concerned. Followed by the sound of shoes on stone, he was following them.
“No, I just-I’d just rather not see you.” They said quickly, trying to cover for the fact they must look absurd walking down the hall covering their eyes.
“That’s- a little petty, but I respect it.” He paused for a moment before continuing “Look Lirum, I’m sorry. I realise that I hurt you, and that I should have thought about your feelings more, and I-I I’m sorry can you just stop that for a second. I really need to have this conversation with you, but this is making it feel so unserious”
“Are we still in the hall of mirror?” Lirum asked, making Cedric pause.
“Yes?” He answered, more confused than ever.
“Then no.” They answered a bit drawn out.
“I’m sorry? I think I’m gonna need an explanation on this one.” The Hufflepuff said, bewildered.
“You know how I’m a metamorphmagus, yeah?” Lirum asked.
“Yes? I’m not sure I follow?” Cedric answered.
“That I can change the way I look sometimes on purpose, sometimes not?” They explained, waiting for him to put it together. He did not. “Cedric, Mirrors make it weird.”
“Oh.” He said finally realising the issueS “OH! Ah, right.”
They felt his hands land on their shoulders as he ushered them in, well, a direction for sure. Presumably away from the mirrors. But they could only really hope. They walked for a while until they felt him pull them round a corner.
“Right! Now then, we’re in the clear.” Cedric assured them. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“Rather not honestly.” Lirum said, dropping their arms and turning to face Cedric.
“Fair, but I-“
“Thank you for the guid but I should really be patrolling right now. Besides, don't you have class? Or your own patrol to be doing?” Lirum rushed trying to avoid whatever conversation Cedric was pushing.
“No because it’s almost dinner.” He answered. “Besides as your best friend-“
“You’re not my best friend.” The ravenclaw responded indifferently.
“Of course in your best friend, don’t be daft. Anyway-“ he started again.
“You’re actually not, not anymore you lost that privilege.” Lirum shrugged.
“You can’t just revoke my best friend status that’s-.” Cedric argued, appalled.
“Too bad, Revoked.” Lirum cut him off.
“Not possible, you can’t-“
“I absolutely can if you’re a twat. Which you were.” Lirum shrugged. “besides Luna’s my best friend, not you.”
“That’s a lie and you know it.” The Hufflepuff said seriously.
“Is not!” They argued childishly. “She’s been my best friend!”
“You might be Lunas best friend, but she is not yours. That’s my spot.” Cedric insisted.
“Says who? Definitely not me.” Lirum said, crossing their arms.
“Give me one reason she’s a better friend to you than I am!” He pestered, staring at them intensely.
“She doesn’t lie to me-“ Cedric cut them off.
“One time! Of which I’m trying to apologise for-“
“And, she broke up Penny and Percy because I liked him.”
“You considered that a fault more than a perk and you know it!” He argued. “Besides if we’re going the romance route I’m the only reason you have a boyfriend now and you know it!”
“Rude! You ruined our first kiss!” They snapped.
“How long did you expect me to lie there silently?! I had to say something before you ended up shagging with me next to you!” Lirum gasped.
“We were not going to shag!” Lirum shouting, anger bubbling and feeling the heat rise in their face. “You-you filthy little pervert!”
“Tongue was already involved and I wasn’t taking that chance!” Cedric countered.
“I’m not a whore!” Lirum snapped, hitting Cedric on the shoulder.
“Ow! You-I never said you were” He argued, avoiding another swat.
“You thought it!” They argued, attempting to spat his shoulder again.
“I did not, and don’t hit me!” Cedric said, defensively.
“Or what you cunt?” Another smack rang out through the room.
“Stop it!” The Hufflepuff huffed.
“No!” Lirum snapped.
“Fuck off! Last chance!” Cedric warned.
“Your dating a child you don’t have rights!” Lirum shouted.
“ME?!” He shrieked. “Never heard of the pot calling the kettle I see!”
“Well this pot knows a kettle when they see one!” They snipped.
“That doesn’t even make any sense!” Cedric yelled back.
“It! doesn’t! have to!” They argued, taking swings between their words he dodged with ease.
“Alright that’s it!” The quidditch captain growled, grabbing hold of their hands so they couldn’t keep hitting him. “You’re just mad you’re getting led on by an actual adult man! And guess what HE'S NOT EVEN THAT ATTRACTIVE!”
“That’s a low blow and you know it! He’s barely two years older than me!” Lirum scoffed.
“He’s also just not worth the effort! We’re still young! We’re still teens, not even young adults! Oh, And let’s not forget since you called her a child. she’s only a year younger than us!” He ranted. “Oh and did you forget you're using Mr. Far from perfect in everyone’s eyes but yours little brother to get over him!”
“That’s not true!” They argued.
“Oh isn’t it?!” Cedric sassed.
“What is going on here?” Professor McGonagall’s voice rang out through the hall.
The prefects froze realising they’d been caught. Looking desperately at each other for help.
“Nothing professor.” They answered in unison.
“We were just discussing some personal business,” Lirum explain.
“Oh yeah, very personal. We are very sorry, professor. Especially Lirum.” Cedric Said awkwardly gesturing to them. “We won’t let it happen again right?”
“Absolutely not, in fact we need to go…” Lirum said searching for an out.
“Study?” Cedric answered, nodding and standing straight up.
“Studying? Where the two of you planning on skipping the feast.” She asked, looking at them knowingly.
“The feast! Oh! It’s dinner time! We must’ve lost track of time on our patrols? Yes.” Lirum stumbled over their words rushing towards the stairs and away from the professor, followed closely by Cedric.
“Ah yes got to get going, can't miss dinner!” Cedric said, rushing behind them.
“This conversation isn’t over Cedric.” Lirum grumbled under their breath as soon as they were out of ear shot.
“Oh I know! Just to let you know you weren’t my best friend I absolutely would have decked you the second you tried to hit me.” He jeered. “Also you hit like a girl”
“‘Maybe because I’m a wizard!” They said dramatically “It’s almost like we use spells to fight.”
“Well then why didn’t you?” He badgered on.
“I’m learning the killing curse.” Lirum said, dead panned. “And you’re going to die.”
“You’d be a complete wreck if I died and you know it.” Cedric said smugly.
“Let’s just make it to dinner ok.” They said, they were exhausted.
“I’m just saying. It's almost like you’d miss me terribly, and already do trying to pretend like I’m not your best friend.” He pushed “Which I am.”
“If I say you’re my best friend, will you shit up.” Lirum grumbled.
“I think I could agree to that deal.” Cedric grinned.
“Fine.” They sighed.
“Fine? Fine what?” He pestered, wearing a now shit eating grin.
“Fine, you're my best friend.” They mocked childishly.
“I think you can do better than that.” The Hufflepuff joked.
“Don’t push your luck, predator.” Lirum cut back.
He leaned in, wrapping an arm around their shoulders. “Ok, slut.”
“I will dance on your grave.” Lirum threatened
“You’ll cry, like a baby.” Cedric teased, as they made it to the great hall. He became more serious, well as serious as Cedric got. “How’s your boyfriend?”
“He got dragged out of our study session.” Lirum scoffed.
“Wait, which brother are we talking about?” He asked, confused.
“My boyfriend?” They answered, just as confused. “George, ringing any bells?”
“The trouble maker? The quidditch beater?” Cedric clarified.
“The one you saw me kiss? Yeah.” Lirum finished. “That One.”
“I thought that was Head Boys thing? Since when do you two study together?” He paused for a second looking dumbfounded. “Since when does George study?!”
“Percy was also a twat and we stopped studying together-“
“Don’t see that lasting long.” Cedric cut in.
“Shut up, anyway George wanted me to start going to his quidditch matches.”
“And you told him only if he studied with you.” Cedric said finally putting the pieces together.
“Obviously.” Lirum nodded.
“And Percy’s just ok with that?” He asked sceptically.
“Oh no, he seemed…very not well after he found out.” They clarified, watching the realisation set in on the Hufflepuffs face.
“Oh that’s evil. Maybe you should stop spending time with the Slytherins.” Cedric suggested, before quickly changing his tone “I mean I’m in favour of getting back at Percy but that’s- you really threw his failure to get his brother to study and keep you in his life in his face in one move.”
“I’m doing this for me, not him.” Lirum said, warningly.
“Right, and I really believe that.” Cedric said, earning a sharp glare. “We should go eat.”
He opened the door and the pair walked into the great hall slitting off to go towards their regular tables. Lirum found their place next to Luna and across the isle from their Gryffindors. Until they sat down and realised only Neville was at the table behind them.