Breaking Protocol {Percy Weasley}

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Clara stumbled out of her fireplace, falling face first into the carpeted flooring of her home, her trunk flying from her grasp. She never really could land Floo traveling perfectly.

At first, all was quiet before footsteps erupted from outside the room Clara had landed herself in. It was one of the many rooms with a fireplace. Clara never understood why her mother liked old fashioned fireplaces so much, yet they never bothered to light them, using the home furnace instead.

One of their maids, Rhonda, came stumbling into the room, carrying a toilet plunger as a weapon if needed. Seeing Clara on the floor, covered in ash and soot, the maid nearly fainted.

"Miss Clara! How did you--? When did you arrive?" Rhonda asked. Clara cursed under her breath, not even thinking about the muggle employees at her house when she decided to use the Foo Network.

"Oh, Rhonda! Sorry about the mess...I was trying to see if I could light the fire." Clara laughed nervously as she stood to her feet. "I obviously didn't do it properly." Rhonda gave Clara an uncertain look before hustling towards her.

"Well, Miss. Come with me, I'll run you a hot bath. You're a mess!" Clara allowed Rhonda to drag her out of the study and down their long hallway. She ushered Clara into the bathroom, fetching her a towel along with the soaps.

"Thank you, Rhonda." Clara thanked as the lady turned on the hot water.

"I can have your current clothes washed before you're finished your bath if you'd like. Just leave them outside the door. I can unpack your luggage as well, would you like me to start the fire in your bedroom so you're not cold going into your room?" Clara laughed.

"That would be amazing Rhonda, thank you so much." Rhonda bobbed her head. "Do you know where my parents are?" Clara asked.

"They are on the sixth floor, Miss. They requested privacy while in the Master Chamber." Clara nodded. It wasn't unusual that her parents requested privacy while in their bedroom.

"Okay. When they come out, could you possibly let them know I'm here?" Clara asked.

"As soon as I can, Miss."

"Thank you Rhonda." She bobbed her head again.

"It's good to have you back. The house gets quite lonely without you around." Rhonda said before exiting the bathroom. Clara smiled, stripped out of her clothes and dropping them on the outside of the door as she promised.

It was nice to be able to soak in a bathtub again, Clara thought as she stepped into the steaming water. She also missed the house staff. Their friendly faces and eagerness to insure Clara was comfortable. It was hard to leave some of their old workers behind when they moved from France, but the workers like Rhonda that lived with them in the house were able to move with them.

However they had to hire a whole knew kitchen staff because their old ones were locals who lived in their own homes. It took Clara a little bit getting used to, but soon enough she became familiar with the smiling faces.

And Clara visited them often because who didn't like food? Especially food you didn't have to make. Although, Clara mostly found herself in the staff kitchen, not to eat but just to talk. It was something she did very often while living at home because her parents were never around to ask how her day went, or even how she was doing. Most times, the house staff were more family to her than her actually family was.

Especially Rhonda, who acted more like a mother than a maid.

Clara closed her eyes and held her breath as she dunked her head under water. She couldn't believe she was actually home. A home she missed so much. While she loved spending the day at the Weasley's, there was nothing better than home.

Well maybe except for the kiss she shared with Percy.

Smiling, Clara came up from under the water. Percy and her had talked about whether or not they were official. It took Percy literally asking Clara to be his girlfriend that the debate finally ended but a new one had arisen.

Whether or not they would tell their parents.

Percy was was so nervous about his family knowing that he was basically shaking as they talked about it. Clara understood that Percy was a nervous person around his family, but instead of having that super awkward conversation, Clara decided to let it be known when she kiss Percy in front of his whole family.

Clara did feel bad about planting one on him unexpectedly, but she had to rip the band-aid off, or else it would never get done. Now it was her parents that Clara had to deal with.

Clara was excited to tell her parents. The only thing that pained her was the fact that they probably wouldn't care all that much that Clara had a new love interest. Rhonda would absolutely flip her top though, and that made Clara smile.

Clara stayed in the tub until the water grew cold, her fingers pruney, before she decided to get out, drying herself off.

As Rhonda had promised, the current clothes Clara had been wearing were cleaned and folded neatly just outside the door. She grabbed for them, quickly changing into them before leaving the bathroom to head for the sixth floor towards her bedroom.

On her long journey to her room, Clara ran into many of the house staff. All of them were surprised to see her but nonetheless excited she was home.

When Clara made it to her bedroom, she noticed the green Master Chamber light blinking on her Intercom System. Pressing the voicemail button, her mother's recorded message came through the speakers. "Clara. It's your mother."

"Mama?" Said Clara, pressing the outgoing button. It was only a matter of minutes before her mother's voice came through the speakers.

"Clara? Clara honey, why are you home?" She asked. Clara swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I wanted to see you." She said weakly.

"Oh. OK." Was all she said.

"Mama? Will you be out of your room soon?" Clara asked. It took five minutes before Jennifer's voice came over the system.

"Your father and I are very busy. Ask Martin to make you some dinner and we'll maybe see you tonight before bedtime."

"I had dinner at a friends. I have a lot to tell you mama."

"Not now honey. Maybe later." Came Jennifer's voice. Clara stared at the Intercom for a moment before pressing the button again.

"Merry Christmas, mama." She said.

Silence.

The green light turned to red, showing Clara she had been blocked by her parents from reaching the Master Chamber with the Intercom. She pressed the voicemail button, knowing her parents wouldn't be able to hear her right away, but a flashing green light would appear on their side, letting them know Clara had left them a message.

"I love you." She whispered into the speaker.