Chapter Text
Lirum woke up wrapped in their soft sky blue blankets. A week had passed since that day in the library and unfortunately today they would have to meet Percy again for another study session. As they got up they watched the sun rise over the lake. Hues of orange and red shown through the room with a warm light that felt in sharp contrast with the dark chill waiting outside their haven of blankets. Sunrises most loved and hated if they had to be awake so wretchedly early at least they’d be greeted by something so breathtaking. A perfect view from their tower. Their second favorite only to sunsets showing the land in cool tones. They were taken in by the orangey red color of the sky in that moment though the shine reminded them of something they couldn’t quite put their finger on.
It was a beautiful color entrancing like a genuine smile given freely from someone who doesn’t give them carelessly. Lirum was snapped back to reality by the grumbling in their stomach. Realizing they had better get to the great hall before breakfast ends or they’ll end up starving until lunch. Standing from their bed and changing into their standard blue and black robes. before head down the stairs they cast one more look out of the window trying to remember what that color reminded them of.
Lirum passed several students in their way down the stairs to the great hall. Everyone chatting about homework, classes and drama. They ignored the idol gossip of other students nice warm food was the only thing in their mind maybe accompanied by the bold aroma of earl gray with milk and sugar. They failed to notice the footsteps behind them.
They felt a piece of parchment graze their shoulder as an arm came to rest in there. then suddenly as they turned to look they felt the weight of another arm cross over the first on their other shoulder. Now a Weasley twin on either side resting their had Lirum unfortunately sandwiched between them.
“We heard you went and got detention after your date with Percy huh!” George teased from the right.
“Couldn’t wait to see us, yeah!” Fred chimed from the left nudging them with his unoccupied hand.
“You two are insufferable-why dose everything I do have to be about you? I have my own life I existed well before meeting the two of you or your snobbish brother.” Lirum snapped, not ready to be bombarded with the Gryffindor antics so early in the morning.
“Someone’s grouchy this morning! We must have found you before breakfast.” George said teasing as always
“Where else would I be going this early in the morning? Please just let me eat before the two of you start today.” Lirum just wanted some small bit of peace.
“Fine we’ll have all the detention with you after class today after all!” Fred laughed, pulling himself away and tucking his parchment back into his robes.
“Yeah, transfiguration and charms as well as muggle studies.” George dropped his hand from Lirum’s shoulders and listened to their classes together.
“You're not in muggle studies?” The confused Ravenclaw turned and spoke to George.
“Yes we are you’d know that if you ever took your head out of your books!” Fred said teasing, messing up Lirum’s fluffy green curls from behind before walking into the great hall.
Lirum made their way to their breakfast to their simple breakfast fresh bread with jam and a mix of berries placed thoughtfully on top for every perfect bite. their cup of earl gray sweetened with what other students would say was ‘probably a bit too much’ and a dash of milk. Finally a peaceful morning after evening that has happened so far this year. They happily munched on their breakfast until they saw what appeared to be Neville the boy from the first day on the train bunny hopping into the half empty room as he approached the Gryffindor table.
“Not my house, not my problem. I only ever had one conversation with the kid.” They said to themself taking another bite of food before seeing the girl he was talking to rush out of the room with the two young boys from the train platform not even attempting to help the poor kid.
“Oh those little brats. Fine, I’ll take care of it this one time.” Lirum stood from the Ravenclaw table to make their way to the boy. He struggled to get on the bench to join the other Gryffindor kids for breakfast.
“Hey! You’re the girl from the train! Would you help me-w-wait um…do you have a sister? Y-you look a lot like-in a good way!” The boy rambled as Lirum got closer.
“Nope just me Lirum, and It’s just a leg locking curse that's not hard to un do.” The Ravenclaw said completely used to these types of questions. They cast the counter curse with ease and helped the boy up.
“Thank you! B-but Wait I swear you where a girl! I’m sorry that’s so rude I don’t have the best memory” neville said confused
“No I don’t believe I explained before I’m a metamorphmagus I always look a little different. You’ve got nothing to worry about their. Now join your friends for breakfast.” Lirum said and felt their face change thinking about what in their face Neville might have thought was feminine.
“Oh wow! That's so cool. How do you do that?” Neville said, eyes wide with wonder.
“I was born like this. It can come in handy sometimes but it also leads to a lot of questions from curious kids like yourself. Now hurry up and eat before you spend all day starving in class.” Lirum said to Neville as they turned to return to their own class
“W-wait hermione said she won’t help me when I get cursed or jinxed anymore w-would you help me? I know you’ve already helped me a lot but p-please I don’t know where else to go?” Neville begged Lirum was already busy with studies, their tutoring sessions with Percy and now this but they couldn’t say no he was just a kid who needed help.
“Yeah you can usually find me in the Library, here or Ravenclaw tower, the entrance is in the fifth floor corridor. You won’t be able to get in on your own so check their last.” Lirum spoke as they walked back to their table. They had a deeply set feeling they would regret that.
Most of their classes passed simply enough to read ahead in the books more, answer all the questions, ignore the gossip from the other Students. Until it was time for their study block in the library with Percy. They stood outside of the room they’d spent so much of their free time in years past, now trying to convince themself it was worth their time to go in at all.
When they opened the door they saw Percy alone at the same table as a few days prior. The midday light poured in from the windows as he flipped a page in his book. The sun glimmered in his Curly ginger hair so pretty it almost rivaled the warm glow of a sunrise.
“You're joking. No, I refuse the twat is not allowed to be pretty. If he’s pretty his idiotic brothers are also pretty and that’s not ok nor is it how I will ever feel.”Lirum Grumbled to themselves as they huffed and walked to their library table.
“It’s good to see you back Lirum” Percy spike as Lirum made their way to the table sitting opposite him.
“I need this so I don’t fail. If I had a better option I wouldn’t be here” Lirum said as they pulled out their textbook and parchment paper with a mix of class notes and assignments on them.
“I realize we may have started off on the wrong foot-“ lirum gave him a look that if he started again they would put him in his place just like the last time.
“When you acted like a prick.” Lirum spoke without giving him an inch.
“I wanted to apologize. After thinking it over and getting counsel from outside perspectives, I believe I may have crossed a line.” Percy apologized rather stiffly.
“ At least you acknowledged it.” They said resting their head on one hand and handed him the stack of papers with the other.
“You’re doing better already, you really didn’t need a tutor.” Percy said to himself as he read over the parchment.
“As much as I hate to say it, I listened to you. I stopped giving the definition and just started writing what it looked like.” Lirum said, crossing their arms and kicking back from the table.
“Please don’t do that your going to fall, or break the chair.” Percy corrected marking things down on Lirum’s parchment
“Why I’m a bad kid and an idiot remember I’m friends with your brothers and I’m already ruining my future. They might as well let me fall and break the chairs. What does it matter.” Lirum said leaning themself as far back in the chair as they could without falling. Refusing to look back at Percy even when the heard him sign and the ruffling sound of His robes moving.
“Immobulus” with those words the chair froze in place. “Know you’re angry with me, and you have a right to it. but please don’t go getting yourself in trouble just to get back at me. You have detention tonight and now this. You’re only hurting yourself.” Percy spoke with concern and yet still sounded so patronizing.
“You know you Weasleys all seem to have a real talent for making everything about yourself. Between you and the twins I wonder when I’ll actually do something because I wanted to and it just because one of you were around.” Lirum spoke with a voice dripping with venomous sarcasm.
“I’m trying to make up for my previous actions. How hard is it to forgive someone-no I’m sorry I don’t get to say that.” Percy said, beginning to grow agitated.
“I’ve been thinking a lot and I read ‘Atonement is a sacrifice of pride. Explanation of why you did what you did or said what you said will not vindicate you. If the cost to heal someone is only your pride then apologize and be grateful that you’ve received peace at such a bargain.’ And I realized I need to be sincere in my apology and as we move forward I’m doing this because I know this is what’s right and I’m sorry” he said gently, far more real then they had ever seen from him, no arrogant persona to hide behind.
“If you remember that you should also remember that ‘If you are waiting for forgiveness, be prepared to wait. Be prepared to stand in the path of time and wither.’ To ‘ Respect that forgiveness is difficult. Not all traspasses are equal and not everyone will heal according to your schedule.’” Lirum stood up from the crooked chair and recited lines from a poem they had read to the best of their recollection.
“I know I have no place to ask it but he was right when he wrote that we need to ‘Realize that some people are still learning.’ That ‘If forgiveness is not possible then think of everything you’ve ever wanted to be forgiven for but weren’t. Hold that uneasiness in your mind until you feel your desire for absolution becoming a wish. Realize you can grant this wish for others.’ You have no reason to forgive me. I’ve been unreasonable and quite frankly rude you where right to tell me off.” He spoke again if they hadn’t been their before they wouldn’t believe the boy in front of them was the same one who openly mocked them before.
“You’re right by the day. You’re doing much better in divination though and I hope to help you continue to do well. Please take a seat and let’s try this over from the beginning.” Percy admitted softer.
“Fine but don’t believe you one over my forgiveness with one poem.” Lirum said, dragging over a new chair.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He said before pulling his prefect pin out of his pocket and pinning it back to the front of his robes earning an odd look from Lirum.
“Hello. I’m Percy Weasley. I believe you're in the same year as my brothers, yes?” Percy asked, sticking his hand out from his side of the table.
“Hello I’m Lirum Ollivander, and yes Fred and George are in my class.” Lirum said hesitantly.
“Would it make you more comfortable to pretend I’m not a prefect Lirum?” Percy asked, gesturing to his prized prefect pin.
“I believe it would-I’m so sorry this is bizarre. Just pretending nothing ever happened can’t possibly be the best way to deal with this.” Lirum said, looking at Percy for a better answer.
“It’s certainly a better option than just running away from everything, we can’t very well do that now can we you tried that last week.” Percy said, looking for a compromise.
“Very well then pin off parchments here let’s study I guess.” Lirum said giving up and agreeing to the compromise, handing him their papers back while he took off his pin. The rest of their study time went over smoothly.
