Breaking Protocol {Percy Weasley}

Chapter Twenty

It didn't take long before Clara noticed her group of Hufflepuff friends sitting together at the table, food piled on their plates.

"Pumpkin is NOT a Christmas flavour!" Michelle was yelling, causing some of the students around them to glance their way with questionable looks. Clara laughed as Niki rolled her eyes at the girl.

"Michelle, there is no such thing as a 'Christmas' flavour. Neither is there a 'Halloween' flavour. Have you gone mad?" Niki said. Erika gave Clara an exasperated look as she took a seat beside Michelle which was a mistake as the girl jumped in her seat, sticking an accusing finger in Niki's face.

"WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED I WENT MAD THE DAY I MET YOU." Michelle all but yelled. Clara, Niki, and Erika winced, shooting deadly looks Michelle's way. Michelle didn't seem to notice, or care, because she continued on with her rant.

"I don't care what you say, Nicole, it's just wrong to eat anything pumpkin around Christmas time. It should be all peppermint and chocolate."

"But we eat chocolate during Halloween--"

"Don't test my patients Nicole Collins." Michelle growled. Niki didn't look pleased either. Apparently when it came to food, Michelle was very precise and serious.

"Call me Nicole one more time and I'll make sure you don't live to see Christmas eve." Niki responded.

"Alright, alright. Why don't we have at least one Christmas without death threats. Is it really that hard?" Erika asked, rolling her eyes at the two bickering friends.

"She started it." Michelle huffed.

"Did not." Niki replied.

"Did so!"

"DID NOT!" Niki said loudly.

"DID SO--!"

"IF YOU TWO DO NOT STOP I'LL BE DOING THE KILLING THIS CHRISTMAS!" Erika yelled. And if Michelle and Niki didn't already get all of the Great Hall's attention, Erika sure did.

*

As it turns out, thankfully, everyone made it to Christmas eve with minimal damaged. Only a few busted eardrums, but nothing a little chocolate couldn't fix. Niki spent most of her time with Gabriella knowing they wouldn't see each other over the Christmas break because Gabriella and her family were spending their Holidays in the United States to visit family.

And still, Erika, Michelle, and Clara were waiting for the day when Gabriella and Niki expressed their undying love for one another. Though it didn't seem like that day was coming anytime soon.

Erika took to binge eating her sorrows away, avoiding the topic of going home and any conversation pertaining family gatherings. If Clara hadn't stopped the girl, Erika was surely going to buy out the Sweetstore with no regrets. It was definitely a sight to see when Erika got her hands on the sweets. Clara often wondered how the blonde stayed so fit with the way she ate, but when Clara saw Erika's early morning rage runs she understood.

Michelle spent Christmas eve with George Weasley, as was expected among the group of friends because George and Michelle had been spending more and more time together. At one point, Fred actually tracked down Clara to demand she tell him about his brother's whereabouts, but when it came to Michelle and George, what they were up to was always one big question mark.

Clara thought it was cute how jealous Fred got over other people spending time with his twin without Fred there by his side. Clara had to admit, Fred had some major separation anxiety, and the Weasley said he wouldn't leave Clara's side until George was spotted.

Thus, Clara's Christmas eve was spent in the window seats sitting across the infamous Fred Weasley.

"So...Clara. Nice weather we're having." Fred was saying as he watched Clara draw Christmas pictures on the frosted window. Clara looked out the window at the very white ground and smiled.

"Indeed." She said, turning to smile at Fred who only sat there with a smug look. "You are doing that face again." Clara stated dryly, and Fred grinned.

"What face?" He asked innocently, wiggling his eyebrows. Clara rolled her eyes.

"You are definitely the strange Weasley." Clara said. This only caused Fred's grin to widen.

"I'm a one of a kind." Fred said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"But you have a twin." Clara pointed out.

"That I am much better looking than." Fred said. "I like to think I'm the best looking Weasley out of us all." He said proudly. Clara scoffed, but covered her mouth quickly with her hand, letting out a surprised giggle. When a hurt expressed passed over Fred's face, the girl's giggles ended suddenly with a snort.

"Miss Delaunay!" Fred gasped. "Did you just snort?!" A very red faced Clara continued to laugh nervously, and soon her giggles became contagious and Fred joined in.

"My mum would love you." Fred said, catching his breath from the laughter. Clara looked up at him with surprise.

"Well of course she will." Came a voice. Clara and Fred looked over to see George leaning against the window seat the two were seated in, Michelle standing next to him with her usual permanent smile she had whenever she was next to George.

"She's a girl, and she tolerates not only us but Percy as well." George continued, earning a elbow in the side from Michelle at the mention of Percy's name. George shot her a look.

"Georgie!" Fred exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air excitedly. "I've got loads to talk with you about. If you would turn up every now and then that'd be nice."

"Awe, I missed you too Freddie." George sang. Fred shot him a look, smacking him on the shoulder.

"Stuff it. I was bored is all." Fred said, rolling his eyes.

"Thanks." Clara scoffed from where she still sat in the window seat. "Glad I was able to bore you to death."

"Oh Clara, don't worry." Fred said, patting her on the head. "You didn't bore me to death, I'm still alive. Barely made it though. Thanks for showing up Georgie."

Clara stuck her tongue out at him.

"Real mature." Fred muttered before turning to his twin. "So did you ask her?" Fred asked, and George's face grew a slight shade of pink.

"Yes." He said through his teeth, obviously not wanting to talk about whatever Fred had brought up. However Fred didn't notice, or he didn't care, because he carried on with the conversation.

"Did she say yes? No? Maybe? Bloody hell no?" Fred egged on. "I'm leaning more towards the fourth answer. If I was in her shoes I'd say bloody hell no for sure."

"You know I'm right here, right?" Michelle piped up, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yes, yes, Michelle. I'm aware. So George? What did she say?" Fred asked, basically bouncing in his spot. George sighed.

"If you must know, Fred. Michelle said she would go if Clara tagged along." George scratched the back of his neck. "Michelle wants another friendly face there for her first time."

Suddenly all eyes were on Clara.

"So what do you say, Clara?" Fred asked, turning back to look at the very confused Clara. Her eyes bounced between the three set of eyes staring down at her.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Clara asked, frowning.

"You coming to stay at our place for a few days during the Holiday." Fred said excitedly.

A coughing fit erupted from deep within Clara's throat.

"WHAT?"