Summary: Broken by her past, Josephine moves to Ohio to start all over. But what happens when romance comes into the picture? Will she finally be able to heal or will her past rule her?
Disclaimer: I do not own this – the writers of Glee and Harry Potter do. Additional credit goes to Alanis Morissette for the song Guardian.
A/N: Right now I am actually in finals week and this chapter resulted from the need to take a brain break so enjoy! Please REVIEW!
Without You
Chapter 4
Guardian
Tick. Tick. Tick. Sigh. Tick. Tick. Tick.
"Okay, will someone tell me what's going on?" Burt finally asked. Josephine and Kurt glanced at each other and then Kurt glanced down at the floor. Josephine sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"My name is Josephine Potter," Josephine began. "I've been at McKinley for the past couple of days working on improving and sponsoring clubs. And –"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Burt interrupted, impatiently. Kurt's had shot up and he glared at his dad.
"If will you let her finish, you will know," Kurt snapped. Josephine placed a calming hand on his back. Burt watched jealously as the fight drained from his son's face and body. Josephine's eyes searched his face.
"Right," Burt said uncomfortably after clearing his throat. "Go on."
"Because of this I have been in the halls a lot and I have spoken with several teachers as well," she went on but then hesitated before she continued. "There has been a lot of bullying at the school. The common consensus among the staff is if they do not see it, it is not happening. Some are going as far as turning a blind eye when they come across it." At the look of rage on Burt's face, she barreled on before she could be interrupted again. "Several of them have tried multiple times to report bullying but between the principal and the school board, it only caused more problems for the teacher and the victim. Apparently a couple of years ago a teacher kept pushing for the bullies to have some kind of punishment, only to lose her job." Burt rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Why look into all of this?" Burt wondered. "You said it yourself; you have only been there a couple of days."
"She looked into it for me, Dad," Kurt quietly spoke. "The bullies at school are getting worse."
"Instead of just verbally bullying Kurt, they are now physically bullying him," Josephine explained. "I caught on to the bullying when I saw Kurt get slammed into the lockers."
"Well then report it!" Burt roared and Kurt flinched. "Get the kid expelled!" Josephine glared at him coldly.
"Control yourself Mr. Hummel," Josephine said coolly. "It is not a simple matter of one bully. If it were the problem would have not devolved so quickly. If "the kid" as you put it were expelled, at least 5 more would step in and they would be worse because their "buddy" was expelled." Burt sighed as he rubbed his eyes tiredly once more.
"Well, what do you suggest?" Burt asked after a moment of silence. Kurt and Josephine exchanged looks and after a barely perceptible nod, she answered.
"Dalton."
"So while you've been searching for your other half, you saved a kid?" Draco asked incredulously. Josephine snickered.
"Yep," Josephine cheerfully answered. Draco groaned.
"Life is never boring for you Potter," Draco mused, Josephine "hmmed" her agreement. A knock interrupted her thoughts and their conversation.
"Draco someone is at my office door, I've got to go," she told him.
"Fine, keep me updated," Draco grumbled. "Goodbye." After she said goodbye, she hung up her phone and put it away.
"Come in," she called out. Mr. Schue poked his head around the door.
"It's time," he told her and then disappeared. Josephine sighed, she got the joy of telling the New Directions that Kurt was gone and why – she was not looking forward to it. At least Kurt was safe now.
The first thing Kurt noticed as he and Blaine walked to practice was that Blaine kept smiling at him strangely. The second thing he noticed was the increasing sound of a drum roll. It was only when Blaine suddenly stopped that he realized that they had arrived. Before he could do or say anything, Blaine pushed the door open.
"Welcome Kurt!" everyone sung once the door opened. Kurt reared back in surprise and was about to walk in and join them when he found himself being guided to a chair by Blaine. Once he had coordinated himself, he noticed a familiar face standing in front of all the Warblers.
"We wanted to say welcome to our new Warbler in a unique way," Blaine told him with a large grin. Behind Blaine, several of the Warblers shifted nervously. Next to him, Josephine was bouncing on her toes. "So with some help from my godmother" he grinned at her "and the Warblers we put this number together. Hope you like it and welcome to the Warblers Kurt." Blaine looked back and then backed up. Josephine stepped forward and began to sing.
"You, you who smiled when you're in pain
You who soldiered through the profane
They were distracted and shut down
So why, why would you talk to me at all"
Kurt stared in shock for a moment before he felt his cheeks begin to turn red. Josephine winked at him when she got to the part about talking. She then backed into the group as Blaine stepped forward and took over singing while the Warblers contributed in the background.
"Such words were dishonorable and in vain
Their promise as solid as a fog
And where was your watchman then
I'll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I'll be your warrior of care, your first warden
I'll be your angel on call, I'll be on demand
The greatest honor of all as your guardian"
As he sang, Blaine could feel exhilaration run through his veins. He could feel very word and he meant them. He decided to look Kurt in the eyes to show him this. Soon he was back in the dancing group and Wes stepped forward and took over.
"You, you in the chaos feigning sane
You who has pushed beyond what's humane
Them as the ghostly tumbleweed
And where was your watchman then
I'll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I'll be your warrior of care, your first warden
I'll be your angel on call, I'll be on demand
The greatest honor of all as your guardian"
Wes sang with all his heart. He remembered the dejected, frightened Blaine when he had arrived. When Kurt had shown up with Josephine, he had feared the worst. As Blaine said, the woman had a habit of taking in the injured strays and helped them back up again. Once he sang the word "guardian" Josephine and Blaine joined him. The three finished off the song together.
"Now no more smiling mid crest fall
No more managing unmanageables
No more holding still in the hailstorm
Now enter your watch woman
I'll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I'll be your warrior of care, your first warden
I'll be your angel on call, I'll be on demand
The greatest honor of all as your guardian."
Kurt could barely say anything as he rushed forward to hug them all. His blubbered thanks and hugs were all the group needed so they were surprised when someone began clapping and as one they all turned to the door. In the doorway stood the head of the history department and US History teacher, Mr. Hunter Clarington.
