A/N: Happy National Coming Out Day!

Also, thanks so much for all of the feedback. It really means a lot! :)

~Chapter 4~

Previously: "Oh, thank god, you're alright," Will murmured, throwing his arms around her. "Whom did you meet?"

"This awesome guy named Blaine. He goes to Dalton Academy and he's really sweet. I'm hanging out with him after school on Monday if that's alright."

"Of course it is. Just let me know when you're about to leave the school. Oh, and we'll go get you a phone tomorrow."

"You're the best uncle ever!" She squealed, snuggling further into his warm embrace.

The rest of the weekend flew by and even though Hermione woke up screaming every night, she could not help but smile as she got ready for her first day at McKinley High.

"You ready, Mia?" Will shouted from outside her room.

"Yeah, Will," she replied, swinging open the door.

"Wow, you look great, sweetheart," the curly-haired man informed her happily. "When did you become such a beautiful young woman?"

"Oh, hush, Will," the teenage girl responded bashfully before grabbing his hand and dragging him out of the apartment.

They rode to school obnoxiously singing along to the radio and laughing at their silliness. When they pulled into the parking lot, however, Hermione instantly fell quiet.

"You can do this, hon. I know you can."

"I don't know, Will…"

"Hermione, you are the most incredible person I know. Everyone will adore you."

"Yeah, yeah," she mumbled sardonically. "I guess we have to go get this show on the road," she groaned as her uncle led her to the principal's office. Once there, she was introduced to Principal Figgins who welcomed her warmly and gave her the schedule he and Will had arranged for her.

"I'm taking one of your Spanish classes?" Hermione asked disbelievingly as they exited the office.

"Well, yeah, I need to keep an eye on you somehow."

"But Will!"

"No buts, Mia," he teased. "See you in class!" He called out over his shoulder. She sighed and headed to her first period class when she heard a loud crash resonating throughout the hallway. She turned the corner and found a very well-dressed boy shoved up against a set of lockers by what she assumed was some sort of athlete. As she neared the two, she heard the word "fag" spat from the Neanderthal.

"Hey, asshole!" She yelled out, causing both boys to whip around. "Leave him alone, you bloody wanker." The larger boy pushed the other one again before he stormed over to her.

"Who the hell are you?" He growled out threateningly.

"That's none of your damn business. Now walk away before I make you cry," she muttered dangerously, stepping closer to him.

"Whatever, bitch. This isn't over," he spat before walking away. After he vanished into a nearby classroom, Hermione hustled over to the boy who looked at her in awe.

"Are you ok?" She inquired softly.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks for helping me out. What you just did was simply amazing."

"Oh, um, it was nothing. I know how it feels to be bullied, so…"

"Still. You've officially become my hero for standing up to Karofsky and dressing that fabulously. The name's Kurt Hummel, by the way." Hermione smiled and shook his hand.

"Hermione Granger. I just moved here from London." Kurt beamed at this piece of information and the two immediately began to talk animatedly about fashion as they walked to their classes. "Oh, well, this is my stop. Guess I'll see you later, Kurt?"

"Absolutely, babe!" The brown-haired boy informed her with an enthusiastic smile as he headed to his class.

The rest of the day went by problem free until seconds before the final bell rang. Hermione was making her way to her uncle's office when she was cornered by three jocks carrying what she noticed were different colored slushies. She gulped and braced herself for the onslaught of the frozen beverages.

"Payback's a bitch," Karofsky smirked before he and his thick-headed companions hurled their slushies into the brunette's face and walked away snickering. Hermione sighed and continued on to Will. She walked into what appeared to be a choir room and immediately felt a dozen pairs of eyes on her.

"Oh my god, Mia, what happened?" Will cried out as he hurried over to his niece.

"Calm down, Will, I've had much worse," she laughed as she gently pushed Will back.

"Uh, Mr. Schue, who is this?" Rachel interjected rather rudely.

"Oh, guys, I'd like to introduce you to my niece, Hermione Granger." Everyone's jaws dropped.

"Mr. Schue, if she's your niece, why does she talk all funny?" Brittany inquired curiously.

"Well, she just moved here from London!" He told them with an exuberant smile, as the group began conversing in excited whispers. It was then that Hermione recognized someone.

"Kurt! You wanna help me get cleaned up?"

"Sure thing, darling!" He responded as he stood up and headed towards the girl. The two exited the room, chatting lightheartedly, neither noticing the two sets of eyes focused on the British teen.

Twenty minutes later, Kurt re-entered the room chuckling as Hermione followed closely behind wearing Kurt's old football practice jersey.

"Ok, Will, Blaine should be here soon, so I'll see you at home later tonight, alright?"

"Sounds good, sweetheart. Wait! Before you go, how 'bout you treat us to a song?" The brown-eyed girl sighed and ran her hand through her damp hair.

"Will, you know I don't do that anymore." He nodded sadly and kissed her forehead before she turned around and walked out the door.

"Whoa, she's smokin'."

"Puck, that's my niece you're talking about."

"Sorry, Mr. Schue, but I think everyone in this room would agree with me on the hotness of your British niece," he replied defensively as everyone eagerly began to nod their heads in agreement.

Santana Lopez was casually talking to Quinn and Brittany when an unfamiliar brunette who was covered in slushies walked through the door. She looked her up and down and couldn't help but smirk. This girl, though covered in slushies, was absolutely stunning. She was torn out of her thoughts when Mr. Schue introduced the girl as his niece.

"Mr. Schue, if she's your niece, why does she talk all funny?" The Latina raised one of her eyebrows, wondering how the girl talked to sound so funny to the naïve Cheerio. As soon as the glee teacher said "London", she joined the rest of the group in whispering about the new girl

"She's so hot. I wonder if she'll let me make out with her."

"Yeah, right, Brit. She's totally gonna wanna get all up on the Puckasaurus first."

"I hope she can't sing." Santana scoffed. Leave it to the dwarf to bring up music. As she listened to everyone else's comments, she noticed that Quinn hadn't said anything and was simply staring at the British girl as she and Kurt walked out of the choir room. Santana, too, focused on the wavy-haired brunette and rolled her eyes. She was just a girl, there was nothing special about her.