Breaking Protocol {Percy Weasley}

Chapter Forty-Eight

As Percy walked down the dimly lit corridor with his wand illuminating his way, the heels of his shoes clicking against the hard floor and his bookbag swinging against his knee, he barely noticed the irritating shouts and grumbles from the painting that hung on the wall.

"You'd think a Hippogriff were walking down the corridor." Shouted one. "Can you walk any louder, boy?"

"Those damned wands," Muttered another in a hoarse voice. "always lighting up the corridors like the bloody sun."

"The boy isn't the problem." Said a sharp female voice. "It's you idiots with all your grumbling!"

Percy hurried down the corridor as the paintings erupted into a full-blown argument, turning their attention away from Percy. At times Percy really had to admit that he did not appreciate those paintings and their big attitudes. However, he supposed they were a great importance to the school, especially if there was a killer like Sirius Black on the loose in the school and they needed to find him. Percy sighed when yet another painting shouted at him.

"Don't you kids ever listen to your Professors? It's past your curfew!"

Percy could say that he was beyond irritated with the paintings as he ventured through the corridors. It wasn't like he was out past curfew on his own accord. He was dealing with a serious issue and had been in the presence of the Headmaster up until he left for his dorm room. Besides, he was Head Boy. He was responsible.

As Percy came close to the Gryffindor tower, his mind had been going through the events that had unfolded--when Amelia refused to talk to any of the Professors until the Head of her House, Professor Snape showed up and demanded she obeyed or else she would receive detention for the rest of the year, that Percy barely heard the small cries emitting from the end of the dark corridor. 

He stopped in his tracks, standing quietly with his wand still illuminating the hallway, but not enough to see the source of the noise. There was a sniffle, and then silence.

"Hello?" Percy called, squinting to see through the darkness. "Who's there?" He asked, moving forward. Percy gripped his wand tightly, ready for anything that might jump out at him.

Even Sirius Black.

"Whoever is there. It is way passed curfew and you should be in bed. There is no exception to the rule." Percy said sternly.

"Well," Said a small female voice. Percy turned around abruptly, pointing his wand firmly at the nose of Penelope Clearwater. "you seem to be an exception to the rule." She said, forcing a smile.

Percy stared at Penny, her eyelashes wet and nose red.

"Penny?" Percy said, frowning. "What are you doing out of bed?" Penny reached out, slowly lowering his wand from her face.

"I'm sorry. I just...needed to go for a walk." She said. Percy sighed.

"You cannot be out, Penny. You know I'm going to have to report you to your Head of House, right?" Penny's eyes widened and she grabbed for the front of Percy's robes.

"No! Please." Her eyes began to water as she cried. Percy stepped back from her, flattened the wrinkles she created on his shirt.

"Do not touch me." He growled. Penny began to cry harder, and Percy didn't understand what was happening. He rarely ever saw Penny cry. "You are going to come with me, silently, and I'm going to bring you back to your dorm room. Why are you by the Gruffindor tower? Ravenclaw is quite a distance away."

Penny nodded quickly, her face glowing against the light.

"I needed to speak with someone--" Suddenly she hurtled forward and Percy jumped back as vomited spewed from the girl's mouth.