Breaking Protocol {Percy Weasley}

Chapter Ten

"You're not seriously staying in and working on school work again, are you?" Clara sighed, placing her quill on the floor where she and her school work was sprawled out. Looking up, she gave Michelle a pleading look.

"I'm almost done. I promise I will come down for dinner today." Clara said, turning back to her work.

"You better be." Michelle said, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's been nearly a week you've gone without dinner. Lunch and breakfast isn't enough food for your system!" Clara rolled her eyes.

"I am not as hungry as you."

"Clara, we all know why you're skipping dinners." Erika said, walking over to the two girls as she curled her blonde hair. "You can't just avoid Percy. You've got to talk to him at some point."

"I have talked to him--"

"Okay, in class doesn't count because you two literally just exchange two words. Clara--"

"I do not see Percy talking to me!" Clara shouted, making the two girls jump at her raised voice. "Why do I always do the...the...confronting."

"Well maybe if you leave this horrid room from time to time, he'll talk to you! It's not like he can just waltz into the girl's Hufflepuff dorm rooms." Clara sighed, massaging her temples.

"I will meet you down there--" She began, but Erika cut her off.

"No can do, Clara." Erika said. "I've got something else in mind. Up you go."

"Wha--?" Erika and Michelle hoisted the girl to her feet and dragged her over to Erika's bed.

"You look like you've been tied to the back of a broom and dragged across the Quidditch field." Erika was saying as Clara plopped down on her bed.

"Wow. Merci." Clara said, rolling her eyes. Erika was digging through her large makeup bag.

"I do not tell lies." Erika winked. "Now for a girl who has a wand that can do most of the work, you never do anything with your hair."

"I would not like to change anything. You know how I am in charms--"

"Nonsense." Erika said, pulling at the hair clip that held Clara's long locks in a knotted bun. "I've got this down to a science."

The magic felt weird as Erika worked on Clara's hair. At times, Clara would wince as her hair was yanked on, the many knots proving the task nearly impossible as Erika tried to smoothen out her hair. But to Clara's surprise, it only took ten minutes of torturous yanking before her hair was finally knot free. Michelle watched in awe as Erika worked her magic.

Clara blew a strand of hair from her face for the fifth time, earning a slap in the shoulder from Erika. "Quit that!" She hissed.

"I do not like hair in my face." Clara huffed.

"Oh, stop being such a baby and stay still! I'm nearly done the first layer." Clara sighed, fiddling with her hands.

"You do not have to do this. I am just going to wash it out tonight--"

"I don't care what you think you're going to do tonight. If my plan goes as it should, you'll be busy right up until curfew and won't have time for a shower." Erika said from behind Clara. Clara turned to look at the girl but Erika pushed her head forward again.

"What have you done?" Clara questioned, glaring at Michelle because she couldn't glare at Erika.

"Nothing." They both said together. Clara sighed.

"If you've told Percy anything--" She began.

"Oh hush." Erika said. "We haven't talked to your boyfriend anymore than you have. But I know he'll be so surprised by your beautiful look that you'll be totally shagging in the Astronomy tower tonight."