Quinn Fabray was many things: pretty, manipulative, fashionable, vengeful, popular, conniving; but 'nice' had never been an adjective used to describe her until now. One could even describe this new Quinn as sweet - she had helped push Artie's wheelchair to one of his classes on the second floor, complimented Mr. Schuester's vest of the day, helped Miss Pillsbury individually wash each piece of fruit in her lunch, laughed at one of Brittany's dull knock-knock jokes, and even said "hi" to Rachel as she walked by.
"Did you see that?" Rachel had squealed to Hermione immediately afterwards. "She said 'Hi Rachel' and smiled at me! Oh happy day!"
Hermione smiled as Rachel gave her an intricate play-by-play of what happened even though Hermione had been watching only a few feet away. She had broken the Ministry's agreement with the US Department, but it seemed worth it so far.
During lunch, Hermione made her usual observations of Quinn and her friends. At one point, Quinn smiled and waved at Hermione, which surprisingly caused Hermione to look quickly away and bring up a hand to cover the smile spreading across her face. To her embarrassment, Hermione could also feel a hot red blush tinge her cheeks. Rachel had muttered something at this point, but Hermione could not hear anything - an adrenaline-fueled buzz filled her ears.
A few hours later, Hermione and Quinn sat on the ground in the back of the library facing each other.
"I've done everything you wanted," Quinn started.
"Yes, beautifully," Hermione agreed. "So what do you want to know?"
"Everything."
So Hermione spent the next forty-five minutes trying to explain the entire wizarding world to Quinn - how there were wands, flying broomsticks, dark arts, Quidditch, apparating, Hogwarts, owls, charms, spells, the Ministry of Magic, Squibs, Muggles…
"So, what am I?" Quinn interrupted when Hermione had been explaining the concept of 'pure-blood' and 'half-blood.'
"Well, we're Muggle-born," Hermione answered slowly. "Some people would call us 'Mudblood' but it's quite a derogatory term."
"You have Muggle parents too?" Quinn asked with wide eyes.
"Yes, my parents are dentists," Hermione said simply. "And they're allowed to know all about the magical world, though they don't always understand it fully. It's different in the States - they want all their wizards and witches to be pure-blood."
"So, that's why I can't go to a magic school."
"Right," Hermione confirmed. "I-I don't agree with it, but that's how it is here."
"Can - may I go back to England with you?" Quinn asked cautiously after a brief silence. "To go to Hogwarts? I don't mind being behind…"
"I-I…" Hermione stammered. "I don't know - I'll have to look into it."
"Please," Quinn said softly, touching Hermione gently on the knee. "It's not fair that I can't learn about magic just because of my parents. You know it's not right."
The bell rang then, signaling the end of class. The sound of students filling the hallway outside the library could be heard faintly, but Quinn kept her gaze on Hermione. Hermione slowly gave a nod, causing Quinn to smile before she stood up and left. As Quinn walked away, Hermione could feel her heart melt.
Quinn's head was reeling with new information as she walked to class, occasionally smiling and greeting people she recognized along the way. Quinn had always believed she had a strange, uncontrollable telepathic talent ever since the incident at a preschool classmate's birthday party when she was four years old. A clown had gotten too close to Quinn and frightened her, and she had unintentionally caused the clown's colorful wig to tighten around his head painfully. Paramedics were called and they had to cut the wig off the clown's head to remove it. No one could explain what happened - but Quinn knew. There were other incidents when she was especially angry and afraid, so she had eventually learned to numb down her feelings to prevent anyone else getting hurt. Of course, when she reached high school, Quinn had learned new masterful ways to hurt people without using magic.
But it had been nice today to not have to worry about scheming and plotting. It had actually been nice to really make someone's day by simply smiling and acknowledging their existence. Quinn laughed to herself - that Hermione Granger drove a hard bargain, but now it didn't seem so hard.
Hermione Granger. Quinn rolled the thought of the witch inside her mind. Quinn had disliked Hermione at first because she had questioned Quinn's authority, but Hermione seemed to have all the power now. And there was that moment Quinn had touched Hermione's knee… a shiver had went up Quinn's forearm, and Hermione's eyes suddenly appeared to be a very distinct shade of brown and her dark blonde hair seemed to fall in perfect places around her face. Quinn could feel her heart beating against her chest as she saw Hermione nod. It took all her strength and composure to simply smile and walk away, but her body tingled with the after effects of what happened.
It was strange - what did this mean? Quinn had dated quite a few boys in her romantic history, but none had made her feel this way. Truthfully, most of the relationships she had were carefully planned and strategic with strict qualifications, but this feeling of giddiness and anticipation was something else entirely. For the first time in Quinn's life, her mind was filled with the thoughts of another person, and how to make her smile.
Days turned into weeks, and Hermione fell into a sort of routine: she would apparate a short distance from school and walk the rest of the way with Rachel meeting her at their lockers. Rachel would babble on about the newest musical, her latest solo piece, or the freshest gossip. Then they would go to class. At lunch they would eat and observe Quinn and her friends. A few periods later, Quinn would join Hermione in the library, and they would talk non-stop about magic ("You need a wand to learn proper magic," Hermione told Quinn, who was eager to learn spells and charms). After school was Glee Club, and if she was lucky, Hermione would be able to leave immediately afterwards and apparate back in her office before midnight, where she would record her observations and (hopefully) get a few hours sleep.
A month into their second semester, Rachel was recounting her latest ploy to get Finn to break-up with Quinn. Rachel was using her usual strategy to get Finn confused with his attraction towards Rachel and make himself break up with Quinn over the self-imposed guilt. Apparently Rachel had done this successfully last year, but this time she did not think Finn was the prize.
"Quinn is a very popular girl," Rachel explained carefully while Hermione was unloading her textbooks into her locker. "There is always a very finite window where she is actually single…"
"Hi Rachel," Quinn's sweet voice said as she walked by. Rachel's face instantly glowed, but quickly fell when Quinn turned her head and smiled warmly at Hermione for several steps after she had passed.
Hermione smiled and shook her head in disbelief when Quinn had disappeared. Quinn was quite possibly the most adorable…
"What was that?" Rachel demanded, interrupting Hermione's fanciful thoughts.
"What-what do you mean?" Hermione asked, forcing confusion in her voice. She closed her locker and began to walk toward the school exit and hoped Rachel wouldn't get too suspicious.
"That look!" Rachel insisted. "Have you been spending time with Quinn that I'm unaware of?"
"Well," Hermione tried to say with nonchalant tone. "There's lunch and Glee Club."
"Yes, and…?"
"And… maybe she stops by the library sometimes when I have my free period."
"Your free period…" Rachel contemplated, obviously rushing through schedules in her head. "You mean when I have Spanish with Quinn?"
Hermione flinched when Rachel had shrieked out the last question. She honestly didn't know Quinn had a class during that time. She always assumed Quinn had a free period as well and chose to spend it with Hermione.
"What? How can she even leave Spanish for the entire class?" Hermione deflected.
"Her status as the most popular girl in school also extends to teachers," Rachel huffed. "They also let her do whatever she wants when she bats her eyelashes at them."
"I-I didn't know, Rachel," Hermione started apologetically.
Rachel glared at Hermione for a moment, then let out a breath to release her anger. It wouldn't do to stay mad at her only friend.
"It's alright," Rachel sighed. "Quinn doesn't even like women anyway."
"Quinn, your gay is showing."
"What?" Quinn spat out, startled by Santana's statement. "What are you talking about?"
Quinn, Santana, and Brittany were sitting together at a table in an empty classroom after school. They were attempting (albeit poorly) doing their school work: something they hadn't done in years.
"I saw the way you eyed Granger," Santana said, crossing her arms smugly. "Pretty gay, if you ask me, and trust me - I know about gays. I have awesome gaydar."
"She does," Brittany agreed. Her textbook was noticeably upside down.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Quinn said defensively and looked down to study her class notes.
"Au contraire, Q," Santana retorted. "I have every idea what I'm talking about. Just ask Britt-Britt here."
"Santana is an expert lesbian," Brittany agreed again.
"Whatever," Quinn muttered dismissively. "Finn and I are going to get Prom King and Queen this year."
"Quinnie, do you not remember what happened last year with me and Karofsky? Disaster."
Santana paused, then changed to a softer tone. "Look, high school's almost over. Our rule is coming to an end - don't you think it's finally our time to do whatever the hell we want? Be with whoever the hell we want?"
Quinn looked over at Brittany, who had suddenly discovered that she could wave her pencil in front of her face so that it looked rubbery. Santana watched Brittany as well, but there was nothing but love in her eyes as she reached over and affectionately brushed Brittany's hair over her shoulder.
Quinn smiled. But then she shook her head, dismissing her thoughts.
"No," she stated with finality. "I have to get the crown this year - end of story."