Breaking Protocol {Percy Weasley}

Chapter Thirty-Six

Percy didn't get any sleep at all last night. He stayed in his bed, just staring into the darkness, wondering.

Wondering if Sirius Black had gotten to anyone else. Or, to be more specific, Clara. Percy didn't know what he would do if Clara had gotten hurt, or worse, killed. Knowing the last thing he had ever said to Clara was him criticizing her haircut, Percy wouldn't be able to live with himself if she died.

It was then that Percy realized the fear in his chest wasn't for his wellbeing, but Clara's. He feared loosing her. To loose Clara without letting her know how much he loved her would surely kill him.

As soon as the sun rose from below the Scottish hills, Percy was out if his bed and wrapping his housecoat around him. He pulled on the slippers his mother gave him for his birthday and headed straight for the Great Hall.

All students were forbidden to leave their rooms at all last night, even to just go to the common room of their house. The castle was of course searched again last night, but if they found anything Percy didn't know about it. He hoped to Merlin they caught the murderous bastard, because the disturbance was really starting to get on Percy's nerves.

As Percy rushed towards the Great Hall, he noticed he wasn't the only one awake early Sunday morning. Many students were making their way to the Great Hall as well, and Percy could tell who the Gryffindor students were because they all looked like they didn't get any sleep either.

He didn't know whether or not the other houses knew about the attack on Ron last night. He didn't assume so, and least not yet.

As Percy entered the Great Hall, his heart sunk in his chest when he realized Clara wasn't there yet. She was usually up early, eating breakfast with her friends. But when Percy saw Clara's roommates without Clara, he felt as if he were suffocating.

"Michelle, where's Clara?" Percy asked as he approached the three girls. They all looked up at him with tired eyes.

"Well good morning to you too, Percy." Erika said, eyeing him.

"You look like hell." Niki observed. Percy tugged at his hair with a frustrated groan.

"Whoa, calm down there Weasley. Clara's was still sleeping when we left her. What's wrong with you?" Michelle asked. Percy sighed heavily, plopping down to sit beside the girls.

"Sirius Black was in the Gryffindor tower last night. Nearly killed my brother." Percy said into his hands that covered his face.

"WHAT?!" All three girls shouted.

"Sirius Black? How the bloody hell did he get passed your guardian?" Asked Erika. Percy sighed, rubbing his eyes.

"Black gave him a weeks worth of passwords and he let him in." Percy said, shaking his head. "Daft painting that one is."

"What the f--?" Niki began, but a soft voice from behind cut Niki's swearing off.

"Percy?" Came Clara's voice. Percy stood quickly to his feet, bashing his knees off the table as he turned to see his girlfriend, but he didn't care.

"Oh, Clara." Percy whispered, gathering the small girl into his arms. "I'm so glad you're here. I'm so glad..."

"Percy-?"

"I love your hair cut." Percy said pulling away from the hug. Clara stared up at him, obviously extremely confused. "It looks good on you. Merlin, anything will look good on you. So what if Penny chopped it all off?" Percy tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "It just means I can do this easier."

Clara gasped and giggled when Percy kissed her bare neck, but not just once. His kissed traveled from crook of her neck to her chin and finally stopping at her lips for a quick peck.

"Alright, alright. You're in love. We get it." Came Niki's voice. Percy smirked at Clara who gazed up at him with her stunning silver eyes.

"She's right, you know." Percy said, slipping his arms around her waist.

"About what?" Clara asked. Percy smirked, kissing her on the lips for a longer period of time before pulling back.

"That I'm in love you, Clara Delaunay."

*

The Easter Holiday was not relaxing for Percy nor Clara. The girl was beginning to stress about the exams, not to mention she hadn't even started to study yet.

Their teachers had decided it was a brilliant idea to spring loads of assignment on their students, all because they had an extra two days to their weekend, and Clara was not happy about that at all.

March had been a somewhat relaxing month. Ever since Sirius Black entered into the castle after the Quidditch game in February, the students hadn't heard of any news pertaining the murderer. But soon enough, what had happened to Ron Weasley died down and their school days went on as usually.

But now, halfway through the month of April, Clara found herself on the dangerous edge of having a mental breakdown. Percy didn't seem too pleased with the assignments he had either, but Clara watched in amazement as Percy sat down for five hours straight Friday afternoon and completed every single one of them.

Not even the exciting party Fred and George threw for their birthdays on April 1st cheered the girl up. There was just so much stress.

Grumbling from Clara's side of the table where they sat in the library brought Percy to look up from his textbook, An Anthology of Eighteenth Century Charms.

"Are you quite alright Clara?" Percy asked. The girl looked up from her parchment paper, her eyes red and hair a mess from the many times she angrily tugged at her locks. She swore very loudly in her native tongue, earning a hiss from Madam Pince, the librarian.

"If I drop charms will I still pass?" She growled. Percy frowned.

"You're still working on that assignment? Clara, you started that two hours ago, I finished--"

"Yes I know you finished." Clara hissed. "But if you haven't noticed Percy, I'm not exactly a genius when it comes to charms." Percy chuckled, earning a deadly glare from his girlfriend.

"Well why didn't you say anything, my love?" Asked Percy, scooting over to sit next to her. Clara's nerves lessened when Percy addressed her as 'my love'. She knew Percy had only said that to calm her down a little, because he knew it worked every time.

"You've got your own work to do though." Clara said, but she really didn't want Percy to go back to his own work. The only time she understood charms was when he explained it to her.

"I've been studying charms for the past hour, I'm sure I can stop for my beautiful Clara." Percy said. Clara smiled.

"I have the best man ever." Clara said as Percy reached for her parchment paper. Percy chuckled, shaking his head.

"Because I do your homework for you?" Percy asked, smirking. Clara gasped dramatically.

"How did you know?" She said, giggling. Percy dipped the quill in the ink bottle, shaking his head. Clara took his chin in her hand, stealing a kiss from him. "You know I love everything about you, not just that beautiful brain of yours."

"And I guess you're okay." Percy shrugged, looking back at his work. This time Clara's gasp was real.

"Percy Weasley did you just...did you just sass me?" She said, staring at him. Percy smirked, looking over at her.

"I believe that was called sarcasm." Percy said, and Clara exploded into a fit of giggles.

"I didn't think you had a sarcastic bone in your body!" Shrieked Clara, laughing.

"SHHH!" Hissed Madam Pince.

"Sorry." Clara whispered, still giggling.