Breaking Protocol {Percy Weasley}

Chapter Eight

A single tear slid down from her cold, silver eyes, followed by another one, and another one, until soon, a steady stream of salty tears flowed it's way down her pale cheeks, releasing the sadness and sorrow that had been held up in Clara's chest since the library with Percy.

The black dog had scared Clara to no end, her body trembled as she sank down to her knees, her body racking with noisy sobs as she tried to hold back the awful loneliness and terror the girl felt. But it was useless. Her crying was both ferocious and noisy, her almost inhuman like noises piercing the dark night.

She had run from the dog, as fast as her legs could take her. That was until, she fell, her ankle twisting in a gaping hole in the ground. Her wand flinging from her grip, and no matter how long the girl searched for it, she could not retrieve the thin wooden stick in the mess of the grassy ground.

The black dog hadn't approached her afterwards, instead, it vanished into the dark shadows.

She could walk just fine, her tears weren't from physical pain, but emotional pain. It had been a shock when her ankle twisted, but loosing the only thing that could possibly protect the girl from who knows what roamed the grounds at night sent her into a fit of hysterics. She just wished someone would find her. She didn't know how to re-enter the castle, and she sure as hell didn't want to walk away from the area where she lost her wand.

Percy would know what to do.

She blinked briny tears from bloodshot eyes, her thick lashes stuck together in clumps as if she'd been swimming. The tears made wet tracks down her face and dripped from her wobbling chin. Clara hated crying. She never looked pretty when she did so, her eyes swelling and turning red. She lost her capability to speak, capability to breath, everything. The world around her becomes a blur of colour that melts to gray, the weight of her chest locking in her throat.

But then suddenly, Clara was pulled into a strong hold. Kicking and screaming, she fought for freedom from the grasp until she heard the soothing voice of Professor Sprout.

"It's going to be okay, pumpkin."

"Percy, shouldn't you be inside?" Asked one of the Prefects guarding the entrance to the Great Hall. Percy shook his head, standing firmly before the doorway.

"I'm waiting." Percy said. "Besides, there are quite a few Prefects in there that can manage without me for a little while." Percy knew he couldn't possibly go out searching for Clara, knowing the Headmaster would surly scold him for leaving his post, so instead Percy stood guard, awaiting Clara's arrival.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do once he saw the girl--if he saw her. He just felt, somehow, that it was his fault Clara didn't make it for curfew tonight. He was harsh on the girl, but it was necessary. He would rather repel her than have to leave her like he had done with Penny.

Percy had to be responsible, and getting involved with another students was not being responsible. The biggest coward is a man who awakens a woman's love without the intention of loving her. Percy didn't even know if he was capable of loving Clara, now or ever. He couldn't let history repeat itself. He couldn't stand to break another heart.

A hiccup alerted the group of three. With their wands at the ready they awaited to see the source of the noise and it didn't take Percy long to recognize Clara's outline. Her long, curly brown hair hung past her hips instead of tucked away in a pony-tale or bun as usual. He stepped forward, tucking his wand back in his robes. Percy didn't realize how tight his muscles were until they finally relaxed at the sight of Clara.

"Clara?" He called, and the soft cries came to a stop.

A sniffle.

A pause.

And then she finally spoke, her wonderful french accented voice raw and hoarse.

"P-Percy." She called. Percy was quiet, unsure of what to do now. She was here, alive, and from what Percy could tell, she was well and not hurt. He sighed in relief.

A sickening sob escaped her mouth, a pain stabbing at Percy's chest at the sound of the girl's distress but surprise soon replaced that when she called out for him once more, louder, and she came at him in a full blown run.

Panicked, Percy tensed up as Clara wrapped her arms around his torso. She cried against him, the familiar coconut scent was all he could smell as her hair tickled under his chin where her forehead rested against his chest.

"I was so scared." Clara said in her native tongue. "I was so scared."

Percy slowly wrapped his arms around Clara's small, trembling body. He ran his fingers through her long hair as she cried into his chest. He wondered where she had gone, what she had seen, why she was so terrified. But Percy knew he couldn't ask questions, he knew what Clara needed.

"It's going to be okay." Percy whispered. "I won't leave your side."

Professor Sprout smiled over at the two, resting her hands on her hips. "I trust you'll take care of her, Percy?" She asked, and Percy nodded.

"Always."