Author Notes: So I don't know if anyone cares, but the Harry Potter "timeline" was pushed back 10 years to make everything work.
Cool, calm-no- unaffected. That is how Kurt Hummel would seem, because that's what he was. Even if this was one of the most important moments of his life and oh god how was he going to get through this!
"Finn Hudson" The announcer called. Kurt's step-brother gave him a winning smile before heading into the audition room. Kurt really didn't understand how Finn could just waltz into a national audition, easy-as-you-please, and smile at him as if it were a good thing that he would be next in line.
"Oh, are you next?"
Kurt really wished he could ignore the big-nosed horribly-dressed girl in front of him, but he doubted she would go away. She looked awfully determined.
"Yes." He replied, keeping his tone clipped so as to discourage her.
"Rachel Berry." She held out her hand to shake, mouth already moving a mile a minute before he had the chance to half-heartedly clasp her hand. "I auditioned yesterday. You don't really have anything to worry about. But what do you plan to sing? I went in with a charming, though powerful rendition of Gimme Gimme. Which is, of course, from Thoroughly Modern Millie. I think it went especially well for me considering that one of the judges was my father's- my gay fathers, and to this day I don't know which is my blood relation- egg donor. In my opinion, she's the best judge because she can spot talent but not be too nice like Mr. Shue who was the glee director from my high school. He's also one of the judges. What do you plan to sing?"
"I Am the Greatest Star."
"You are pulling out all the stops, aren't you?"
"It's better than expecting a shoe in based on who you know." Kurt couldn't help but be catty, really, he couldn't.
Rachel didn't seem to mind, "It's not about who I know. It's about genetics and drive. I was born and raised to be a competitor. But you're not really competition, because you're a boy. So I wanted to say good luck."
Kurt narrowed his eyes at the girl, not sure how to take her unabashed superiority complex. It was clashing with his own visions of stardom.
"Okay, I'll admit it. I saw you practicing. I've seen just about everyone warming up. I just know you're going to make it. I thought we could start being friends right away, make things easier for the trip to Scotland. This group is all about diversity and showing those witches from Hogwarts what music is all about."
Kurt blinked at her, not sure how to take the compliment and the scheming, and really, why hadn't he thought of scoping out the girls competition? He always got along better with girls, and the amount of media surrounding the Tri-Annual Wizarding Showchoir Worldcup would just gobble up a story of instant friendship between two competitors.
"Kurt Hummel." His name sounded, interrupting his plans for what may have been this most charming speech to a girl he'd hated on sight.
"Good luck!" Rachel squealed, hugging him happily just as Finn came out of the room. Finn looked confused at Kurt's company but there was no time to explain.
Kurt Hummel was about to prove himself worthy of a national selection for a world glee-off.
Rachel and Kurt met for coffee the next morning, reveling in the atmosphere of New York and good feedback from their auditions. Kurt had felt bad about leaving his step-brother behind, but hadn't been willing to unleash Finn's awkward-stupid on an unsuspecting girl. I mean, really. How it was possible for Finn to think he'd gotten his girlfriend pregnant without even going to third base was beyond Kurt.
"So, what made you decide to compete?"
Kurt smiled, "I almost didn't, actually. We don't have a show choir back home, at least one that anyone could be proud of, so it was lucky that I even heard of it. Finn, my step-brother, heard about it through his ex. He actually only auditioned to give me the moral support."
"Do you think he'll make it?" Rachel asked carefully.
"Honestly? No. He can't dance to save his life."
Rachel giggled at this. "He's rather cute, though."
Kurt shared a sly glance with the girl, "And don't I know it."
"Wait… is he?" Rachel gestured with her hands.
Even though he'd only ever really broached the subject with his family, he knew exactly what she meant. "No, Finn's not gay. He's ridiculously straight. It took me a while to come to terms with it, though. It caused a bit of a stir when our parents started dating."
"You seem so over it now." Rachel commented.
Kurt shrugged, uncomfortable about his ease with this annoying girl. He usually lived in a state of constant fear that someone would judge him or belittle him for being gay… but Rachel's dads were gay. If they both made it, as Rachel seemed to be sure they would, she'd be a great ally. It was hard to be both magical and gay- so many opportunities were denied just from how he was born.
"Well, we should really go around and spy on the others. We'll have already missed those who got an early start."
"How do you even spy on them? I thought all the practice rooms had soundproofing wards."
Rachel shared a conspiratorial grin. "They do. But they don't protect from Extendable Ears." Rachel dug a package from her purse, "I ordered them from a jokeshop in London. Apparently they were rather handy in that war a twenty years ago."
"You did your homework." Kurt nodded, approving.
"They really don't teach enough about the Death Eater Wars in America. It's hard to know anything about the British Ministry, what with the way they've been so hush-hush in the past."
"Well, we can't complain about the outcome." Kurt added, loving that he had someone to be politically correct with. The Worldcup had been established by Minister Shaklebolt a decade ago, as a way to build up the music program in Britain.
"Ohh! I'm so glad to have a buddy to do this with." Rachel gushed, leading to way to the practice basement.
Kurt followed her, feeling like they were going to war, spying on the enemy and making allies. They didn't get bored even after hours of snooping. It was also advantageous that they had mostly the same opinion on people's voices.
"That girl, she's got to get in." Kurt peered in, hoping not to be seen by the sturdy-looking black woman belting it out like no tomorrow.
"I'm actually worried!" Rachel whispered back, though she had a smile on her face.
"There are twenty- four spots to fill. If our snooping is anything to go by, you'll be fine." Kurt didn't know why he was being so nice. He hadn't even heard Rachel sing.
She smiled at him nonetheless, "Yes, but what if she takes too many solos?"
Kurt may have answered, but some commotion down the hall sent them flying from each other, trying to look inconspicuous. Rachel dove into the unused practice room beside the one they'd been spying, and Kurt had out his phone in seconds, pretending to text as he leant against the opposite wall.
He glanced up nonchalantly to see the most gorgeous hazel eyes looking back at him. The package they came in wasn't half bad either. The boy had black curly hair, plastered to his head with gel, a strong jaw, and the most dapper looking dress suit that Kurt had seen in ages.
"Hello." The boy greeted with a charming smile.
"H-hello." And why was his voice so breathy?
"Are you waiting for a room?" The boy stopped beside him, looking about nervously. There had to be a hundred practice rooms in the basement.
Kurt blinked. "Ah, no. I'm waiting for a friend. She said she'd be out right about now." Kurt vaguely gestured towards where Rachel had disappeared.
"That's good. I wouldn't like to take a room from someone who hasn't gone yet."
"You've already auditioned?" Kurt didn't know where his courage to ask all these questions was coming from.
"Yeah, on the first day. Anderson."
"I-I'm Kurt. Kurt Hummel." He was stuttering. Oh god he was stuttering. It was like he had a sign over his head flashing 'I'm gay and you're gorgeous!'
Blaine gave him another flashy grin. "I'm Blaine."
Kurt nearly jumped out of his skin when the door opened behind Blaine, revealing the sure-to-win girl he'd just spied on.
"Ah, your friend?" Blaine stepped back as if to include the girl in the conversation.
"Say what?" The girl demanded.
"Kurt!" Rachel burst out of the next room, causing him to jump again.
"Yes, Rachel?"
"We, ah, have to go, ah-" Rachel shifted her feet nervously, as if to buy time and draw all awkwardness onto her.
"If you'll excuse me, I have an audition to ace." The girl had plenty of sass to spare. She was glaring at Rachel much in the manner that Kurt had done just the day before. Oh, they were going to be such friends!
"Good luck!" Kurt smiled, pulling Rachel out of the way. "I'm sure you'll do great!"
"Yes!" Rachel chimed in, "The judges are looking for a voice just like yours."
Kurt hated being associated with Rachel at that moment. He should have known that she'd fail so spectacularly at spying after the way she had bombarded him the day before.
"Um, thanks." The black girl looked oh so confused, and Kurt felt sorry for anyone who'd have to go through what he had gone through.
"Don't worry about her." Kurt stepped forward, "Just do your best."
The un-named girl smiled, touched and—wait that wasn't a good sign—flattered by his words. Sometimes Kurt wished he actually had a sign over his head pronouncing his orientation. He'd seen that look before. "Thank you." She responded, and was gone before Kurt could do any damage control.
Of course, as soon as she was gone, Kurt looked back to where Blaine Anderson was eying him suspiciously, his look especially trained on the girl behind him.
"You tried to spy on me." Blaine wasted no time in accusing Rachel of what she probably had done.
"Aren't the practice rooms warded?" Kurt had no idea why he was sticking up for Rachel; she was obviously just going to continue her behavior. Like a toddler in a candy-store, fingers into everything and leaving evidence behind.
"No, ah, I tried to sneak into the observation deck behind the judges." Rachel admitted
"You said you were in there to see your mother."
Kurt did not want to be in the middle of this argument. Kurt did not want to be there.
"Of course I wanted to see her in action. She's a nationally acclaimed show choir director. It's only thanks to luck and my scheming ex-boyfriend that I even knew who she was. He almost ruined my show choir's chances at Regionals two years ago by spying on us and ruining our morale when he left at the last minute to join his own show choir. He killed a baby chicken on my head."
Kurt blinked, his eyebrows far into his hairline. "He what?"
"He egged me. I'm vegan."
"You're crazy." Blaine's voice held no anger, just pure astonishment. Rachel didn't seem to mind.
Kurt groaned, giving in to the desire to facepalm. What else could he do? He peered out to see Blaine eyeing him curiously, as if he was worried about Kurt's reaction.
"So can we spy on you now?" Rachel asked.
"You both are spying on everyone?" Blaine looked to Kurt for confirmation, which made Kurt's heart swell. It was almost as if he thought Kurt better than that. Not that Kurt was better than that, he loved national attention as much as the next American teenager, but Kurt wanted to impress Blaine.
"This is a competition. It's not like we're ruining anyone's chances, just being aware of who we may end up against."
And yeah, it still hurt when Blaine looked disappointed in him, but that was fine. At least he was being judged based on his actions and not his labels.
"Okay, come on in. But only if you guys show me what you've got, too."
Rachel followed Blaine back into the room that she had just departed, smiling as if she had won the lottery. Kurt was reluctant to follow, no matter how excited he was to hear Blaine's voice.
Blaine settled at the piano while Kurt shut the door. He looked so composed, not even bothered by his small audience.
And then he began to sing.
"He turns on the animal
It's that time of day
Here comes little Johnny
From the back streets of the UK
He's got the answer
Doesn't go away
Who's gonna treat you right
Who's gonna change the world tonight...tonight
It was definitely an odd song choice. Kurt was sure he'd never heard the song before in his life. It didn't really have all that impressive of a range, and the words seems a bit vulgar, but Blaine was singing the words with a passion. Kurt was mildly impressed, until Blaine looked right at him to sing the chorus.
The lasting first impression
Is what you're looking for
I said oh, is that your first impression
And is that good enough for you?
Blaine stopped glaring at him, but Kurt was had a sinking feeling in his gut. This was no normal performance.
Don't want illusion
A power glory ride
Doesn't run with the neighborhood shadows
On a death trip body slide
He won't give up
And he won't give in
And he won't let up until
He gets inside your pretty skin
Kurt's eyes rounded, not believing his ears. Was this song meant for him? His first song sung to him by a guy, and this is what he got? Not so subtly called a whore by the most attractive boy he'd ever seen in his young gay life ever?
I said oh, the lasting first impression
Is what you're looking for
I said oh, is that your first impression
And is that good enough for you?
At the repetition of the chorus Kurt prepared himself to bolt, but then Rachel was grabbing his hand. She had a determined look on her face, one that Kurt had never seen before. It didn't look good.
The possibility he sees the possibility
To seize the opportunity he sees the possibility
To turn on the animal
I said oh, the lasting first impression
Is what you're looking for
I said oh, is that your first impression
And is that good enough for you?
Good enough for you
Enough for you
And is that good enough for you?
Rachel Berry began clapping as soon as Blaine was done, and Kurt kept his hands clasped in front of him.
"I could tell you put your own twist onto the song, though I'm sure it's not what you sang for your audition. Now, Kurt and I haven't ever practiced together, but since I'm sure you've never sang that song for an audience before it'll put us on an even playing field. Well, as even as you can get when put against America's most talented."
Blaine's eyebrow shot into his hairline, and Kurt hated to be sharing an emotion, even confusion, with the boy.
"You're singing a duet?" Blaine replied.
Rachel smirked, and got out a mini iHome for her iPhone.
Kurt pulled her to the door, "Rachel, I can't do this."
Rachel stopped him from opening the door, and gave him a scrutinizing look. "All right… We'll have to do my back up."
Kurt shook his head, "You know what I mean, Rachel. I can't."
"You can, silly." Rachel scoffed. "Just follow my lead," and before Kurt could stop her, the music began.
And she sang something he definitely wasn't expecting.
"We'll always be bosom buddies,
Friends, sisters and pals;
We'll always be bosom buddies,
If life should reject you,
There's me to protect you."
And then she turned to Blaine, a challenging glare on her face. "If I say that your tongue is vicious"
Kurt got it, and sent the song's next, quite fitting, insult to Blaine. "If I call you uncouth"
Rachel took his hand, leading him to Blaine so they could sit on either side of his piano stool. "It's simply that—who else but a bosom buddy
Will sit down and tell you the truth."
And that's what you get for calling me a whore, Kurt though viciously as Blaine looked between them, eyes wide.
"Tho' now and again I'm aware that my candid opinion may sting," Rachel poked Blaine quickly in the arm.
Kurt was absolutely giddy to speak the next line.
"Tho' often my frank observation might scald;
I've been meanin' to tell you for years
You should keep your hair natural like mine." He gave a pointed look to the overly gelled mop.
Rachel giggled "If he kept his hair natural like yours, I'd be appalled." She took a breath, "
But darling…"
They harmonized perfectly, standing up together. "We'll always be dear companions"
Rachel took his hand again, "My crony," Kurt smiled back, "My mate;" they turned to Blaine with twin looks of glee "We'll always be harmonizing."
And then Rachel reached over to her iHome, spinning the circle like a pro. It was lucky that Kurt knew the song enough to follow her quick change.
"Just turn your bosom buddy
For aid and affection,
For help and direction,
For loyalty, love and for sooth!
Remember that who else but a bosom buddy
Will sit down and level
And give you the devil,
Will sit down and tell you the truth!"
Rachel picked up her iHome in a swooping gesture, and they exited the practice room arm in arm. They had barely made it into the main lobby before Kurt was grabbing Rachel into an exuberant hug.
"I can't believe we just did that!" Kurt shared his excitement, happy to see Rachel just as smug.
"I knew we could do it!" She returned.
"No one's ever just given me a woman's part to sing like that! I usually have to fight for it..."
"But did you see his face? Kurt, he looked smashed when you mentioned his hair!"
"Do you think that showed our talents enough- we skipped so much of the song!"
"That was the most dramatic exit I've made in my life! That includes the one where I covered Tommy Hawkins's face in cake at his bar mitzvah."
They squealed and hugged again, jumping a little.
"We've got to find that girl, Kurt we don't even know her name! how else can we congratulate her when she gets on the list if we don't know her name!" Rachel switched gears immediately, but Kurt didn't mind.
"I hope we're not too late!" Kurt replied as they set off towards the doors into the audition room.
Lucky for them, the girl was just leaving the audition room. Her eyes lit when she saw Rachel and Kurt heading for her.
"How did it go?" Rachel asked right away.
She nodded her head with a smile, "I feel great about it!"
"That's wonderful! Mr. Shue would be crazy not to pick you."
The girl frowned at Rachel's words, looking quite uneasy.
"I'm Kurt, she's Rachel." Kurt held out his hand. It worked well as a distraction, but the girl was fluttering her eyelashes at him now.
"I'm Mercedes Jones."
Kurt smiled, "Rachel's been trying to made friends with the contestants most likely to be chosen. She has some connections in the business. We overheard you practicing."
Mercedes looked taken aback, "Oh."
"I'm not cheating," Rachel responded carefully, "I just know talent when I see it. I've been preparing for this competition since the first auditions took place nine years ago."
"Wow. I hadn't even heard of the audition a month ago." Mercedes responded candidly.
Kurt rushed to respond, "Same here. My brother sort of made me do it. The opportunity to get away from my old school in Lima, Ohio was too good to pass up."
"Ohio, huh?" Mercedes asked, "Is it really boring there?"
"Could be, if I weren't busy avoiding all the bullies at my school."
"Oh, Kurt." Rachel wrapped her arm around his sympathetically.
Mercedes, on the other hand, looked positively incensed. "You, bullied? I can't see why. You're the perfect man!"
Rachel and Kurt shared a look.
"Well, I'm starving." Kurt spoke before Rachel could even try to out him. "I promised to meet my brother for lunch. Care to join me?" he offered his other arm to Mercedes.
"I'd be delighted." Mercedes giggled at the chivalry.
Finn was waiting for them in the lobby of the hotel where they had stayed.
"So you've got friends." Finn gestured to the girls on either side of Kurt.
Kurt made the introductions, slightly relieved when Mercedes looked just as taken with Finn as she had been with him. It felt more normal to have Finn be the center of attention; he'd always been so popular.
"Are we eating here?" Finn gestured to the hotel's restaurant.
Kurt nodded, and wasn't surprised when Rachel burst forward to take Finn's arm. Rather cute, indeed. They caught a booth near the buffet, waiting for a waitress to take their drink orders.
"Kurt! You didn't say your brother was as hot, too! You guys must've made a killing with the ladies back home." Mercedes spoke in something that was in no way a whisper.
Finn's face collapsed into a frown immediately, opening his mouth for a few seconds before shaking his head in bemusement.
"So, are we going to split up into teams to scout out the rest of the competition?" Rachel asked.
Kurt could see where this was going, but really didn't want to be stuck with a flirty Mercedes while Rachel sunk her claws into his step-brother. "No, I don't think we need to dig ourselves any deeper, dear. Not everyone can be chased away by a little duet."
"Is that what you were doing all morning? Spying?" Finn questioned. He seemed just as disappointed as Blaine had been at the revelation. Kurt had no idea why either would think so highly of him… especially how Kurt had schemed in the past. The waitress came around and ordered their drinks, and the group split up to grab food from the buffet. Kurt really didn't feel like eating all that much, so he grabbed some fruit to nibble on.
"Kurt, we should take this opportunity to get to know as many people as we can. It'll only help." Rachel told him when she returned with her food.
"I really don't think we should be dragging anyone else along as we subvert the rules." Kurt responded as Finn and Mercedes returned, their plates piled with food. Mercedes seemed to have quite the taste for tater tots.
"I don't mind. I think it would be fun." Mercedes shrugged, "but what's this about a duet?"
Rachel took up the story, "Well, that boy—"
"Blaine Anderson" Kurt supplied, earning a look from both Rachel and Finn.
"—caught us watching you, Mercedes, and he wasn't very happy about it. We convinced him to do a small performance of us. He has quite a passion for singing, but he practically called Kurt a-a slut for scoping out the competition."
"He what!" Finn was immediately angry, so much so to drop his food.
Kurt sighed, "Finn, it's fine."
"It's not fine. We came here to get you away from all of that."
"I'm fine."
Mercedes scoffed, "That doesn't make it okay." She looked to Rachel, "can't you put in a bad word for him to your connections? Make sure he doesn't get picked?"
Rachel shook her head, "This audition is completely merit based. It's after the show choir is chosen when the director start worrying about attitude."
Kurt nodded, "There have been a few bad boy personas in the past. It's all about promoting America the way it is. The best of the best, talented and selfish."
"Then I'll tell him to back off. You should point him out to me." Finn demanded.
Kurt shook his head, "I'm not going point him out to you, and neither will they. You'll get disqualified if you start fighting, Finn. Not to mention how angry our parents would be."
Finn shook his head as he took another bite. "Your father would be the first person in line to get this Blair guy to back off."
"Blaine. And my father isn't here. So you don't need to take up his role. I'm just fine."
"Kurt, what if he gets in… and you do, but I don't? We can't let another guy like Krofsky-"
"He's nothing like that!" Kurt responded harshly, and then took a breath. "He didn't do anything, Finn. I can take care of myself."
"And Mercedes and I will always be there to back him up." Rachel smiled dutifully, and Finn smiled at her gratefully.
Mercedes patted Kurt on the arm, which was a comforting gesture. If only she didn't demure into her drink right after.
On the fourth and last day of the national auditions, Kurt though it best to keep an eye on Rachel in case she decided to do anything crazy. Somehow his determination to make sure Rachel wasn't alone and stalking other performers turned the day into a play date where Mercedes and Finn came along. Every now and then Rachel would sneak away with either Mercedes or Finn, and Kurt would find them downstairs by a practice room, listening in to an unsuspecting performer with one ear between them.
Finn loved the idea of a prank item being used, and Mercedes just seemed to like the extra attention that Kurt gave when he would drag her back upstairs. It was better than them trying to cheer him up, which Finn had tried to orchestrate the football team to do last year in his honor.
That hadn't gone over well.
It was nice to be distracted from the complete failure that had been the previous day, but when he had to round Rachel up three separate times for lunch he knew it had gone too far.
"Isn't there a musical or movie playing nearby to keep us occupied?" Kurt demanded of the group as they once again ate at the hotel buffet.
Rachel's eyes lit up right away. "We could put one on if you're bored."
"No." Kurt responded immediately
"Wait, do you mean like… a flash mob kinda thing?" Finn asked, already psyched.
Rachel nodded her head endearingly. "Isn't it too be expected after such a long audition process?"
"No." Kurt didn't think they were really listening.
"Won't that be kinda hard to put together?" Mercedes asked.
"A few Sonarus charms should do the trick." Rachel must've been waiting for the opportunity.
"No!" Kurt said, and then continued to speak before they could keep planning, "You'll do anything to get in the papers, won't you?"
"I'll do anything to promote our country in this prestigious competition!"
"You're going to go ahead and do this, no matter what I say, aren't you?" Kurt bemoaned his fate.
"I think it's a great idea." Mercedes smiled at him. Kurt let his head drop to the table.
Finn and Rachel worked together to pry him from the buffet, landing them in Finn and Kurt's hotel room to practice for the performance.
Kurt put his whole being into it, of course. If he was going to earn the scorn of Blaine Anderson (and really, why was Kurt even worried about the prissy over-gelled snob?) then he was going to do it in style.
Of course, timing was everything. Rachel had stationed them each at an exit, and Finn right in front of the double doors that led into the audition stage. The moment that the last person finished their audition, Rachel started her iHome and Levitated it onto some high rafters, putting a very strong sticking charm.
Finn, the best of them at Charms, had taught Kurt and Mercedes how to draw an age line that would only allow those of age for the contest into the doors. It would slow down security for ten minutes, but that was all they needed.
Finn began their song, his voice empowered by a Sonarus charm.
"And it came to pass, all that seemed wrong
was now right, and those who deserved to
were certain to live a long and happy life
Ever after..."
Finn smiled at everyone, and Kurt was pleased to see most of the room join in.
"Ever after!"
"Journey over, all is mended,
And it's not just for today,
But tomorrow, and extended
Ever after!"
"Ever after!"
People were beginning to pour into the room, security waving wands at the age lines. Finn jumped up onto a table, and everyone looked happily up at him. For the first moment, Kurt thought that maybe Finn would make it into the show choir. He had such charisma.
"All the curses have been ended,
The reverses wiped away.
All is tenderness and laughter
For forever after!"
"Happy now and happy hence
And happy ever after!"
Finn held out his hands, leading the group through the part that really called on a multitude of voices. Of course, they had practiced with only the four of them.
"There were dangers-"
We were frightened-
And confusions-
But we hid it-
And the paths would often swerve.
We did not.
There were constant-
It's amazing-
Disillusions-
That we did it.
But they never lost they're nerve.
Not a lot.
And /we reached the right conclusions
And we got what they/we deserved!
Not a sigh and not a sorrow,
Tenderness and laughter.
Joy today and bliss tomorrow,
And forever after!"
Rachel then stepped forward with Kurt, singing the next little part.
She sang,"I was greedy."
He followed with "I was vain."
"I was haughty."
"I was smug."
They joined together in the quick verse, "We were happy."
Rachel held out the extendable ear for a flash, "It was fun."
Kurt shrugged, "But we were blind."
They gestured to sea of people, highly entertained by now:
"Then we went into the woods
To get our wish,
And now we're really blind."
Mercedes sanf the next part, not a shoe in but because the audience expected the whole song. This is where they really began to perform.
"I was perfect.
I had everything but beauty.
I had power,
And a daughter like a flower,
In a tower.
Then I went into the woods
To get my wish,
And now I'm ordinary.
Lost my power and my flower."
It was a surprise to see other people cast a charm on their voices, join in with the next few lines. They were reveling in the last chance to be in a room where the talented all across America would see them.
"We're unworthy.
We're/I'm unhappy now, unhappy hence,
As well as ever after.
Had we used our common sense,
Been worthy of our discontents,
We'd be happy."
Rachel cast finite on the interlopers, letting their voices mingle for the chorus part. No one really seemed to mind.
"To be happy, and forever,
You must see your wish come true.
Don't be careful, don't be clever.
When you see your wish, pursue.
It's a dangerous endeavor,
But the only thing to do-
Though it's fearful,
Though it's deep, though it's dark,
And though you may lose your path,
Though you may encounter wolves,
You mustn't stop,
You mustn't swerve,
You musn't ponder,
You have to act!
When you know your wish,
If you want your wish,
You can have your wish,-
No, to get youy wish"
And like it had been rehearsed, people started doing Jazz squares and partner work, sharing all the things they had learned from their own Glee clubs. Some people tripped and lost their footing, but it looked so good altogether.
"You go into the woods,
Where nothing's clear,
Where witches, ghosts
And wolves appear.
Into the woods
And through the fear,
You have to take the journey.
Into the woods
And down the dell,
In vain, perhaps,
But who can tell?"
Rachel grabbed Kurt's hand and then Mercedes, getting them both to jump on the table as well.
"Into the woods to lift the spell,
Into the woods to lose the longing,
Into the woods to have the child,
To wed the Prince,
To get the money,
to save the house,
To kill the Wolf,
To find the father,
To conquer the kingdom,
To have, to wed,
To get, to save,
To kill, to keep,
To go to the festival!
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Then out of the woods
"
Finn threw up his hands "To be continued!"
Everyone ended with a resounding, "And happy ever after!" Catcalls and applause followed the end of the song.
"What is going on here!" An authoritative voice demanded. The judges had come out of the room and watched the ruckus.
"Rachel!" The judge with the curly mop of hair demanded. It was Mr. Schuester. "Get down from there!"
And then the second song began. Because timing was everything, and Rachel was a pro.
"You cant stop an avalanche
As it races down the hill"
The judges tried to get to them, but Finn cast a hasty age line around the table so Rachel could keep singing.
"You can try to stop the seasons, girl
But ya know you never will
And you can try to stop my dancin' feet"
Finn twirled her, right there on the table, the both of them grinning like mad.
"But i just cannot stand still
Cause the world keeps spinnin'
Round and round
And my heart's keeping time
To the speed of sound
I was lost til i heard the drums
Then i found my way"
Finn and Rachel then began to sing together "Cause you can't stop the beat
Ever since this old world began
A woman found out if she shook it
She could shake up a man
And so i'm gonna shake and shimmy it
The best that i can today
'Cause you cant stop
The motion of the ocean
Or the sun in the sky
You can wonder if you wanna
But i never ask why
And if you try to hold me down
I'm gonna spit in your eye and say
That you cant stop the beat!
"
Kurt sang the next part, knowing it was a girls part and that he'd never done such a thing in front of… now hundreds of people.
"You can't stop a river
As it rushes to the sea"
Of course, Mercedes had the next part just fine, jiving with a big grin on her face.
"You can try and stop the hands of time
But ya know it just can't be"
Kurt took a breath to continue his singing, hitting his notes perfectly.
"And if they try to stop us, Honey,
I'll call the N Double A C P"
There were catcalls around the room, surprised whoops of enjoyment. It spurred Kurt on.
"Cause the world keeps spinning
Round and 'round
And my heart's keeping time
To the speed of sound
I was lost til i heard the drums
Then i found my way"
Mercedes and Kurt then sang together, holding hands to do a simple two-step on the table
"Cause you can't stop the beat
Finn got down from the table, and Rachel followed him. They broke through the age line, giving the judges someone to chase while Mercedes and Kurt continued to sing.
"Ever since we first saw the light
A man and woman liked to shake it
On a saturday night
And so i'm gonna shake and shimmy it
With all my might today
'Cause you cant stop
The motion of the ocean
Or the rain from above
You can try to stop the paradise
We're dreamin' of
But you cannot stop the rhythm
Of two hearts in love to stay"
Rachel and Finn found their own table, and a new age line just in line to joined in on the last words.
"Cause you can't stop the beat!"
More applause filled the room, people cheering. Rachel summoned her iHome from the rafters (which the judges looked quite displeased that they had missed) and Kurt helped Mercedes down from the table. Finn quickly took down all the age lines, but as the security tried to head in everyone was leaving. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but the four mob performers slipped into the crowd and made it out.
With spirits high, knowing that the Performance had no standing on whether or not they got into the show choir, they celebrated for a few hours.
It was the most fun that Kurt had been a part of for a long time.
They went out to dinner, buzzing with nervous energy. Finn was the only one able to finish his meal; their nerves had started to act up the closer it got the ten, when the names would be posted.
It would be a flurry of Apparations, Floos, and Taxi's once the names were posted. Only the chosen twenty-four teens would stay the night at the all-expense paid hotel room. There would be a party to welcome them, and then they would go into intense vocal training and team bonding the month before heading to Hogwarts. The month of September would be dedicated to bringing everyone together as a united front for the competition.
Rachel had wanted to head to the wall where the names would be posted an hour early, but Kurt held her back. After their flash performance it might cause too much trouble. Kurt didn't bring up the fact that Blaine might run into them. He seemed the type to come freakishly early to things, looking dapper and far more composed than he hand any right to be—but Kurt didn't let himself dwell on those thoughts. Instead he routed through Rachel's belongings and dissuaded her from wearing a ridiculous frock dress, instead giving her something that made her look only marginally culture deficient.
Mercedes, much to Kurt's relief, was perfectly set in the fashion department. At least he could have a crush that knew the lingo and how to dress herself. Kurt gave up on Finn before he started, mostly from knowing just how hopeless the boy was but also not wanting to get his brother's hopes up for the competition.
When they arrived at the wall, people were amiably milling about. There were the nail biters and the foot tappers and the nervous talkers, but Kurt stood with his step-brother and two new friends to the side of the wall. People didn't interrupt them, and Kurt was glad that he didn't see Blaine in the near vicinity.
Someone gasped, and the wall began to glow. It looked like a muggle projection, but Kurt knew that the Charm to make the words show up on the wall was well within Finn's capabilities.
Colors swirled and one by one names began to appear on the screen.