Chapter 11: Two Roads Diverged in a Wood
To say that Rachel Berry is walking on clouds, is an understatement. Ever since the night she spent with Quinn at the astronomy tower, there's always a skip and a hop in her steps. Hell, if Santana isn't there to pull her out of her daydreams, Rachel might even do cheerleading stunts on her way to her classes.
Unfortunately, her time with the Slytherin is cut short. Professor Sayworth, the muggle studies teacher for Quinn's class, is back at Hogwarts after getting over his unexplained sickness. That is the only class the brunette shares with the blonde, the only other time they see each other is in the corridors or mealtime at the Great Hall.
Rachel sits between Santana and Sam at the breakfast table. Her eyes scan the hall for a pair of hazel eyes. Though her action is unnoticeable by her friends, her best friend does not miss a thing.
"Calm your tits, Shrimpy." Santana says as she takes a bite out of her bagel, "She's not gonna be here any faster even if you gawk at every blonde there is in this hall."
Rachel rolls her eyes, "I would've said the same thing to you ten minutes ago, Santana, but it's kind of useless now that Brittany's here…"
Santana stuffs a strawberry into Rachel's mouth. "Don't jinx it." The Latina points her finger at her friend, "I'm getting to know her. We're starting from scratch."
Rachel bites into the strawberry. "I'm just saying, it's not fair for you to be teasing me when you're exactly in the same position as I am."
Santana rests her elbow on the table, "Oh yea?" she challenges, "Berry, I'm single. You have an overgrown baby you seriously need to ditch."
Something pulls Rachel back to reality. She still has a boyfriend. How could she have forgotten?
Rachel lowers her head in shame. "It's not like I'm cheating on him. I haven't done anything with Quinn. I won't do something like that."
"More like, you haven't done anything yet." Santana emphasizes.
"Santana, I'm not the type to cheat on someone I love." Rachel stares at the Latina.
"Yep, big keyword here, Rachie. Someone you love." Santana throws a grape in the air and catches it with her mouth, "Do you still love Finn?"
"Of course I do!" Rachel snaps.
Santana shrugs, "Whatever you say. I'm just giving you a heads up. I don't want you to be disappointed in the future." She takes a bite out of her toast.
"Why are you so insistent on this? Do you want to see Finn and I break up?"
"Yes and I've known you for years, Rach. I've never seen you this giddy, even when you first got together with Finnderella you weren't all full of this… annoying little miss sunshine."
Rachel smiles at the nickname, "He's still my boyfriend, San. At least call him by his name."
Santana chuckles as she puts her hand on Rachel's shoulder, "I just like seeing you happy, okay?"
Rachel gives Santana a small smile.
"Anyways, I'm all done with that mushy stuff." Santana claps her hands together to get rid of the breadcrumbs, "I'm off to get my game on." The Latina grins at her best friend and stands up.
"Where are you going?"
"Gonna ask Brit if she wants to go for a walk at the lake before our first lesson." Santana walks towards Hufflepuff's table.
Rachel watches as Santana bumps shoulders with the bubbly blonde. The Latina has that wide smile she only directs to certain people and Rachel has been seeing it a lot on her best friend. Rachel smiles. It does feel good to see your best friend happy.
In a matter of a few minutes, the Hufflepuff is on her feet walking side-by-side with the Gryffindor towards the exit. Rachel sees the Latina holding toasts wrapped with tissues in her hand and wonders what it's for. Just before the two of them exit the Great Hall, the blonde Rachel has been looking for enters the breakfast room.
Brittany skips towards Quinn and tackles her with a hug. Rachel sees the amused smile on the shorter blonde. From where Rachel is sitting, she can hardly hear what the three people are talking about. She watches their interaction with great curiosity and has to duck instantly when she sees the Latina pointing at her direction.
After she thinks it's safe again to look back up, she sees Santana with an arm-sized feather. Brittany is already skipping outside leaving the Latina with the Slytherin. Quinn glares at the Gryffindor as if daring her to make a move.
Santana laughs as she moves past the blonde, smacking Quinn full on the face with the feather. The blonde takes out her wand but before she can cast a spell, her nose scrunches and her eyes close. "ACHOOO!"
Quinn turns around and points her wand at the Latina's back. But then she starts sneezing continuously. By the time she's ready to aim and jinx, the Gryffindor and the Hufflepuff are already gone.
Rachel sees the blonde's shoulders slump in defeat as she approaches Slytherin's table. Hazel eyes look up to meet hers. Neither has any expression on their faces, each daring the other silently, to look away. Then Rachel sees that mischievous twinkle in Quinn's eyes. The blonde winks and sticks out her tongue at the brunette. This triggers a mega-watt smile as well as pink ears from Rachel.
However, Rachel experiences a total eclipse of the sun in front of her, blocking her direct view of the blonde in the form of her boyfriend. Rachel looks up to see a dopey-smiled Finn. "Hey you." Her wide grin is still on plastered on her face.
Finn settles himself in front of her, "Well, someone's happy to see me." He grabs Rachel's hand and kisses it.
A pang of guilt hits Rachel. Even if she's not doing anything with Quinn, she's happier with the blonde than with her own boyfriend. Maybe it's because they're already together and the excitement of falling in love has faded. But Santana's words left an impression in the brunette's mind.
Rachel begins to eat breakfast as she half listens to Finn talk about Quidditch. The other half of the time, she tries to remember what it felt like when she first got together with Finn.
"Hey, Rach." Santana nudges Rachel to get her attention, "Ever felt like you're being stalked?"
Rachel's raises her eyebrow as she looks at the Latina, "What are you talking about?"
"Finncapable has been trying to get your attention for weeks now." Santana cocks her head towards the timid boy.
Rachel looks up in the direction her friend has shown her. Finn gives her a dopey smile and then continues to pretend to read his upside down book.
Rachel watches the boy with interest. This is the first time someone has taken interest in her and she feels embarrassed by the attention. "Oh my…"
Santana scoffs, "Come on, Berry, he's not worth your time."
"Santana, I appreciate your opinion but this is the first time a boy likes me." Rachel brushes her hair away from her forehead.
Santana chuckles, "Berry, trust me, in a few years time, boys will come after you. You just need to wait it out and pick out the best. Don't settle for the rest." She flips her hair and does a flirty wave at a nearby boy, causing him to grin from ear to ear.
Rachel sighs, "Santana, I'm not hot or fashionable like you. This is the first time someone likes me, not the other way round."
Santana rolls her eyes, "Berry, you can change how you dress, but in your case, you don't want to. And I've just hit growth spurt faster than you. Trust me." Santana grabs hold of both of Rachel's breast causing the latter to shriek, "These babies are going to come out and say hi." Rachel swats Santana's hands away, "And when that time comes, you'll have boys on their knees. Hell, maybe even girls."
Rachel chuckles at the memory. Santana was wrong when she said that boys were going to be chasing after Rachel. Ever since she has agreed to go out with Finn, no other boy has expressed any interest in her. But then again, maybe it is because she is taken. However, because of her lack of confidence in her sexual appeal, she went with the safest choice, which was to stick with Finn Hudson.
But now, all she can think about is those hazel eyes. Those orbs that usually hide mischief behind them when they look at her. Those pearly white teeth that usually trap the blonde's tongue between them when she teases the brunette. The warmth of pale fingers that fit perfectly with hers. How comfortable it is for Rachel to hug a Slytherin, is beyond her knowledge. Rachel can always rest her head on Quinn's shoulder and her arms would always feel so right while wrapping the blonde. Oh, and not to mention the scent. Damn, Rachel really needs to find out what the blonde wears because every single time the brunette smells it, it seems as if she is hypnotized. Hypnotized by the image of warmth and contentment the blonde provides her with.
Rachel glances over Finn's shoulder subtly and sees Quinn chatting with Karofsky while eating breakfast. The Gryffindor sighs.
Rachel gets out of the bathroom stall to find Quinn washing her hands at the sink. The brunette smiles shyly and approaches the sink. There is a group of upperclassmen belonging in Ravenclaw in the bathroom with them, all fixing their make-up and chatting about the hottest boys in school.
Rachel meets Quinn's gaze at the bathroom mirror and they both share a smile. The Gryffindor knows that the Slytherin wants to keep up the cold attitude towards other people, that's why the brunette lets the blonde approach her first.
'Ugh… hurry it up.' Rachel thinks to herself. She closes her eyes and focuses on the Ravenclaws hoping that they'd get the message. They don't.
"Excuse me." Rachel hears that husky voice to her right. She opens her eyes and sees the blonde leaning over to her to reach for the tissues.
"Of course…" Rachel acts casually and begins to move backwards, offering space to the blonde.
However, a firm hand on her back kept her in place. Rachel sees a smirk on the blonde's face as she pulls out tissues slowly. Quinn has placed herself strategically putting her back against the group of Ravenclaw, blocking their view and trapping Rachel between her and the nearby wall.
Rachel would not have had a big problem with it if the blonde hadn't started drawing patterns on her back leading up to her neck. Rachel curses her body for being so ticklish. By this time, Rachel's eyes flutters at the mere touch of the Slytherin. She's pretty thankful that the other people in the bathroom are still oblivious to Quinn's action.
She snaps out of it and glares evilly at the blonde. Quinn takes her hand off of Rachel's back and winks at her again. After drying her hands, she throws the used tissues in the bin, "See you round."
"How did you even get this into my bag?" Rachel asks about the paper as soon as she sees the blonde leaning against a wall at the astronomy tower.
Quinn smirks, "A conjurer gets no credit once he has explained his trick." She pushes herself off the wall and walks closer to Rachel.
The brunette can't help but grin. The Slytherin is pretty sneaky. Rachel went back to her dormitory after her classes finished for the day and found a note from the blonde asking to meet her at the astronomy tower at eight.
"What if I hadn't discovered your paper and didn't come tonight?" Rachel folds her arms and walks around the blonde, smiling cheekily.
Quinn chuckles. "I would've waited until tomorrow to make sure you didn't get it."
Rachel's surprised. "You would?" she takes a seat on a nearby table.
Quinn turns around and smiles, "Yep."
Rachel taps her chin thoughtfully. "Now… why would you do that?" she teases. She knows what the answer might be. Well, more like she hopes she knows what the answer is.
Quinn scoffs as she places herself in front of Rachel. "Isn't it obvious?"
Rachel folds her arm defiantly, "I wouldn't have asked, if I knew."
Quinn chuckles and puts both of her hands on either side of Rachel. "Let's see." The blonde pretends to think.
Rachel rolls her eyes, "You better have some good explanations, Fabray. You're taking me away from my beauty sleep."
The blonde doesn't reply immediately. She smiles adoringly at Rachel, "You don't need any."
Rachel's eyes widen by millimetre. Why does the blonde have to be so adorable? "Why do you have to be so adorable?" Rachel repeats her thoughts in a whisper.
The blonde chuckles quietly, "Why do you have to be you?"
If the blonde continues this pace of flirting, Rachel's heart would not be able to take much more of it. Subconsciously, her body gravitates slowly but surely towards the blonde and her lips feels so dry that she needs to moisten it with her tongue.
Quinn realizes what the brunette is doing by the way Rachel is staring at her lips. It takes a huge amount of effort from Quinn's side to not lean forward as well. As tantalizing Rachel is to her, she knows that it's not right if she complies with her own desires.
The blonde pulls back abruptly and clears her throat, "And back to our earlier question, no, I don't know why I would wait for you until tomorrow, but I will wait for you until the end of time."
Rachel can feel something heavy drop down from her throat to the bottom of her stomach making her sick. Frustration is now definitely an understatement. She can hear her heartbeat ringing in her ears. She can feel her blood beginning to boil from somewhere in her chest. She can't decide whether she wants to choke the blonde in front of her or just shove her violently against the nearest wall and ravage her way with the irresistible girl in front of her.
Rachel feels a bit dizzy. Her breathing is uncontrollable and she needs time to regulate it again. These emotions stirring in her heart are new to her and she still needs time to acknowledge it.
"But I'm happy you came." Quinn continues.
Questions pop up in Rachel's mind. The blonde's flirting and affection are now way too obvious in the brunette's eyes, but why isn't she taking it a step further?
"Can I get a hug?" Quinn approaches Rachel once again.
The Gryffindor is still speechless, but she can't deny the blonde from her request. Rachel merely opens her arms to welcome the girl in her embrace. Quinn wastes no time in enveloping the shorter girl and settles herself between Rachel's legs. Quinn isn't sure whose heartbeat she is feeling against her chest.
Rachel clutches Quinn's shoulders and buries her face in the blonde tresses. Oh no… that scent.
"Ah!" Quinn twitches when she feels a firm bite and suck briefly against her neck.
Rachel holds her in place and the blonde makes no action to move away. "That's for teasing me, Fabray." Rachel whispers as her grips tighten.
Quinn chuckles quietly in Rachel's ears and runs her fingers down Rachel's back. The brunette shivers at the act.
They stay like that in silence, until something intrigues Rachel. "You like hugs." She states.
The blonde didn't reply.
"No… you love hugs." Rachel restates and pulls away. She tilts her head slightly and casts a curious glance at those hazel eyes.
Quinn grins and nods. "Yea, I do."
Rachel smiles adoringly, "And Brittany knows this."
Quinn nods again, her grin gets wider.
"How is she related to you, then?" Rachel raises her eyebrow, trying to draw through the dotted lines.
The blonde traps her lower lip between her teeth in contemplation as she searches Rachel's eyes for a certain something, "She's my cousin."
"Your cousin?" Rachel repeats in surprise.
Quinn nods once again, "Yeah. My mom was her mom's sister." The blonde takes Rachel's hands in hers, "Please don't tell anyone." She silently begs.
Rachel shakes her head, "Why would I? And why would you keep it a secret?"
"I don't want anyone knowing she's blood related to me. It gets… complicated with my dad's ties to… you know… you-know-who."
"You're… trying to protect her."
"Yea, keyword here being 'trying'." Quinn chuckles, "But she sometimes doesn't understand that. She still tackles me every time she sees me like when we were kids."
Rachel smiles, "I don't think it's because she doesn't understand. I think it's because she understands you, that she doesn't want you to survive the day without hugs." She giggles.
Quinn snakes her arms around Rachel again and pulls herself against the brunette, "Yea…" she sighs.
Rachel settles her head on the blonde's shoulder and she realizes another thing, "Wait…" She pulls back, "Your mom was Brittany's mom's sister?"
Quinn looks confused but nods nevertheless.
"Was?" Rachel prods.
Quinn's smile disappears from her face, "Yeah."
"Since when?" Rachel can't help but feel curious about the blonde's life.
Quinn pulls Rachel close to her and hugs her again. She shrugs, "About a year before I entered Hogwarts."
"Oh…" Rachel puts her arms around the blonde's shoulders, "I'm sorry…"
Quinn snuggles closer to her, "Don't be. It's been a while."
Rachel doesn't ask any more questions after that.
Rachel walks into a classroom followed by Santana. The fifth years are expected to attend a little briefing and heads up from the heads of the houses. Scanning the room, there are only a couple of fifth years already sitting down according to their houses or friends circles.
Rachel sees Blaine and Sam sitting close to the front while a few Slytherins are behind them. A couple of boys from Ravenclaws are chatting with a few Hufflepuff girls.
Rachel walks towards her friends and the next thing the short brunette knows is… "Ahh!" She squeals as she feels her body propel upwards and she lands on her back.
There's loud laughter in the classroom as she picks herself up and dusts her skirt.
"Score! This muggle trick actually does work." Rachel sees Noah Puckerman beside her in a crouching position on the floor with a bar of soap in his hand.
Rachel scans the room and finds worry etches on a certain Slytherin's delicate face. Hazel orbs scan the brunette's face as if asking, 'Are you alright?'
The embarrassed Gryffindor clears her throat, "At least I didn't fall and break my talent."
Snickers ensue in the room.
"You play a childish game, Puckerman." Santana takes out her wand.
"What are you going to do about it, Lopez?" Puckerman also takes out his wand.
"Enough!" Rachel stands between them, facing who she thinks is the most dangerous one.
Puckerman looks down at her and scoffs, "What are you going to do about it…" He searches her eyes, "Mudblood." He hisses.
Rachel is taken back by his word and prods his pulse point with her wand.
"What is going on here?" McGonagall asks as she and the other heads enter the classroom, "Now if you please take a seat, we'll get started."
Rachel's eyes start to water but she refuses to cry in front of others. She starts walking towards where Finn is sitting and plops next to him. Puckerman has joined Karofsky and Quinn at the back of the room.
"Nice hickey, Quinn." Puckerman smirks, "Good job, dude." He fist bumps with Karofsky who put his arm around Quinn.
Rachel turns around to see the hickey she made just last night on the blonde's neck. Anger and jealousy arouse within Rachel when she sees Karofsky's hand on the blonde's knee. But what Rachel hates is that Quinn does not remove the offending hand.
As more people come into the classroom, it's obvious that the amount of seats in the room would not be enough for the students that have just arrived. Finn pulls Rachel onto his lap and she begrudgingly obliges. However, she feels like she's being watched and when she turns around, she is met with deadly hazel eyes staring back at her.
The heads of the houses only brief them about the dangers of being out late at night because they still find students lurking around the castle, outside the allowed time. Rachel has to suppress a grin when she remembers what has happened the night before. But her smile is immediately wiped off her face as she remembers beefy hands that rest upon delicate pale skin behind her.
They are also reminded of the dangers of being out and about when prisoner has just escaped Azkaban. Rachel scoffs, 'Why would someone who has just received his freedom back want to go back to school?' She then has to mentally slap herself, 'Oh right… because the chosen one is living among us.'
They are dismissed after fifteen minutes and Rachel takes her time hoping that she can clarify a few things with a certain Slytherin. "Rach babe, are you coming?" Finn asks as he offers her his hand.
"You go ahead, I still have something I have to finish." Rachel smiles sweetly as her boyfriend.
"Okay." Finn leans in and pecks her chastely on the lips, "I'll see you later then."
Rachel takes the longest time to fix her bag and feels happy when it is rewarded when she hears that familiar husky voice.
"I'll catch up later, Dave. I've got something to do." Quinn says to Karofsky.
Rachel then feels a violent bump against her shoulder and sees Puckerman walking towards the exit without glancing back, "See ya round, loser."
Karofsky follows closely behind him. Rachel hates his face for reasons she's not ready to admit.
The room slowly clears out as students head to their first class of the day. Rachel picks up her bag and slowly makes her way towards the door when the last student in the room pulls her back.
"Oh… hello Quinn." She greets indifferently.
"What was that?" Quinn hisses.
"What was what?" Rachel shrugs off Quinn's hand that was on her bicep.
"You were all over him."
"I believe that it is natural since he is my boyfriend. I can't say the same for you. You did tell me that you're not actually together with Karofsky."
"And I'm not." Quinn dangerously steps closer towards Rachel.
"It didn't look like it to everyone else." Rachel retorts, "That hickey does not belong to him."
"What was I supposed to do? Admit that you bit me last night marking me where everyone can see?" For some reason, Rachel feels proud of what she did. Quinn continues, "Ever thought of what other people would think? Of what your boyfriend would think?"
Rachel's smile is wiped off. "You could have at least stood up for me when your lapdog insulted me!" she raises her voice, "You didn't even do anything."
Quinn scoffs, "Rachel, your boyfriend didn't even do anything. He even laughed when you fell!" her voice matches the brunette's, "No one stood up for you!"
"You could have done that! Santana did that!" Rachel drops her bag violently when she suddenly feels a heavy burden on her shoulder.
"I have no right to do so, Rachel. Finn is the one who's supposed to be standing up for you because he's your boyfriend, Rae, and Santana's your friend." Quinn points her index finger menacingly at Rachel.
"What about you?" Rachel throws her arms in exasperation, "Aren't you my friend too?" she's breathing heavily.
"I don't want to be, Rae!" Quinn exclaims effectively surprising the brunette.
Tears spring into Rachel's eyes faster than she can hold them in. What has the blonde been doing with her all these times? She clears her throat, "Well… Fabray… I do realize that I don't have many people that care about me, such as yourself. But I still have people like Santana who would risk being expelled for my dignity. I'm sorry that you pity me to the extent that you thought you needed to be my friend." With that, Rachel dodges Quinn's hand that is making an attempt to reach her and she picks up her bag.
"No. Wait, Rachel…" Quinn calls out but Rachel is already out the door. The blonde drops her hand. She sighs.
"Berry! What are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you." Santana folds her arms and glares at her friend as she enters the room.
Rachel is sitting on the couch in the Gryffindor common room huddled up at the edge of the seat.
Santana moves closer, "Berry, I'm talking to you. You haven't been to any of your classes. Whatever happened to the 'school is important, school is great, let's all worship books?'" Santana mocks Rachel.
Rachel looks up at her friend with puffy red eyes and it is clear that she is not done.
Santana is taken by surprise, "Rachel… what happened?" The Latina settles herself next to Rachel. The next thing she knows, her face is full of brown hair and an uncontrollable sobbing is heard.
"Uhh… Rachel?" Santana doesn't know what is happening to her friend and she is never really good in comforting other people. Except for a certain blonde she tries so hard to woo.
"Santana… how could I have been so stupid?"
Santana rolls her eyes. "You're over-exaggerating but yes, I know you're stupid." Santana rubs circles on her back.
Rachel hiccups and smiles at this, "I just… I just thought…"
"Well you thought wrong." Santana checks her nails.
"Santana, you're not helping!" Rachel sits up.
"I never said I would." She rolls her eyes.
Rachel wipes her wet cheeks.
"Well, so tell me what happened." Santana looks at her impatiently, "Did Finn do something stupid? Again?"
Rachel shakes her head, as she sniffs, "No it wasn't him."
Something clicks in Santana's head, "Ah, it's Fabray." She smirks. Santana's eyes then widen with realization, "Fabray?"
Rachel pouts. "She says that she doesn't even want to be my friend." She wipes an escaped tear from her cheek, "Am I really that unbearable?"
Silence fell between them. Santana's eyes are unfocused and Rachel wonders what she's thinking about. "Santana?"
"What?" The Latina snaps.
"Do you like me?"
"I find you annoying."
"That doesn't answer my question." Rachel bows her head.
Santana looks at the sad girl beside her, "Why are you asking me that?"
"Do you consider me your friend?"
Santana pauses for a second and sighs. "Of course, I do, Rachel. We've been friends ever since we stepped foot at Hogwarts…"
"That's not true…" Rachel smiles at the memory.
Santana thinks back for a moment and chuckles, "You're right, I hated your guts every time you raised your hand up in Snape's class." Santana frowns a bit, "Which… actually… puzzles me… how did we become friends?"
Rachel looks up at Santana.
"Hurry up, Hudson!" Young Santana is dragging a boy who is a bit taller than she is.
"Santana… I don't think we should…"
"Shut it. Hurry up before Filch finds us." Santana takes out the dungbombs she has in her bag and tries to sneak into the Slytherin's common room.
"Santana, I'm going to bail. You know what McGonagall said. You'll be expelled if she…"
"She won't catch us." She lights one of her toys.
"I'll see you round." Finn runs away.
"Coward." Santana murmurs under her breath.
Santana slowly tiptoes under the shadows waiting for an unexpected Slytherin to open their common room.
"Santana, what are you doing here?" A young Rachel Berry comes around the corner clutching her books.
"Ah!" Santana jumps at the surprise, "Berry! Don't you ever scare me like that again." Santana clutches her chest trying to slow down her heartbeat.
Just then, the Slytherin's common room opens to reveal Puckerman, Fabray and Karofsky. Santana tosses the dungbomb and it explodes right in the middle of the common room.
"What the…" Puckerman doesn't finish his sentence when the putrid smell hits his nose. "Lopez! It's so on!" He takes out his wand and blasts Rachel and Santana back a couple of meters effectively hitting their heads against the wall.
"What is the meaning of this?" Snape comes out of a classroom and immediately closes his nose, "Who did this?"
Puckerman points at the Gryffindors.
Santana and Rachel are taken to the hospital wing to treat their bump when McGonagall walks in. "I should've known, Miss Lopez. I've warned you, if you ever pulled one of your tricks again you'll be expelled without…"
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall." Rachel squeaks under her blanket.
"Miss Berry?"
"I… I threw the dungbomb into the common room…"
Santana's jaw drops.
"Wh-what? Miss Berry, how can you be so…"
"I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall… you see, we have a long term rivalry with the Slytherin that started by the upperclassmen… They've been pranking us as much as we did to them, however, as I have found out, Professor Snape who knew of these activities, had never punished them. I wanted my revenge, Professor…"
"Miss Berry, that is a very immature way of thinking. We as Gryffindors are noble and will sink to no useless activities such as what Snape is encouraging."
"So you do agree that Professor Snape does not take action when these things happen?" Rachel asks.
Professor McGonagall falls silent, "I neither deny it nor confirm it."
"So if you were to punish me, it would be as equivalent to what Professor Snape would do to his darling students?"
Professor McGonagall squares her shoulders, "I am not comparable to him. You will not get detention this time, Miss Berry, however, twenty points will be deducted from Gryffindor as a warning to you." She turns to look at Santana who is still dumbstruck, "As for you Miss Lopez, be thankful that you have friends like Miss Berry here. If I catch you misbehaving in the near future, I will not tolerate it."
With that, the head of the Gryffindor house leaves the hospital wing. Santana's mouth is still hanging open as she looks at Rachel. "That was…"
Rachel watches with anticipation.
"Thanks…" Is all that came out of the Latina's mouth.
Rachel smiles shyly, "You're welcome."
Santana laughs at the memory, "I don't remember ever being caught before."
Rachel chuckles, "Because, ever since that day, I noticed that your sneaking skills improved drastically." Rachel shrugs and bites her lip in contemplation.
Santana watches the insecure Rachel, "Yes Rach, we are friends. You've been my best friend ever since that day and I would never trade you for anyone else."
Rachel looks surprised and happy towards the Latina.
Santana also looks surprised, "If you ever spew out what I've just told you, I would be sure to not let only words come out of your mouth."
But Rachel isn't listening, she is grinning from ear to ear.
"So, what did Fabray do that made you so upset?" Santana folds her arms.
"Well… more like she didn't do anything when Puck insulted me." Rachel's eyes look gloomy again.
Santana watches her friend quietly before sighing. "Rachel, even Finn didn't do anything. Why are you stressing out about Fabray?"
"Because…" Rachel frowns. The same words that Quinn said is being repeated, and she has only just realized it, now she is not as emotional as before. She can't answer the question.
Santana takes a deep breath and exhales, "Look, Rachel… you're not thinking straight." She chuckles at her own innuendo, "Anyways, you need to get yourself out of the box. Seriously." Santana folds her arms, "You want Quinn to do everything Finn is supposed to do."
"I don't!"
"Karofsky did a nice job on her neck." Santana checks out her nails.
"That wasn't him!" Rachel exclaims.
Santana smirk, "You would know that, because…"
Rachel turns bright red.
"As I was saying, Rach, you need to distance yourself from these people." Santana sighs, "By my book, you're actually already cheating on Finn. Your heart's not all for him nowadays. You really need to think more clearly. The longer you drag this out, the deeper you're going to hurt the people involved. You have to know what you want first. As much as I love to see Fabray and Hudson hurting, you're going to lead one of them into false hope. And I know that you don't realize it now, but I know you care about the two of them so if you don't stop this now, I know you're going to regret it. " Santana takes a deep breath, "I don't care which one you choose Rachel, because, I'm still gonna annoy you and vice versa, whatever happens in the future."
Rachel's waterfall starts again as she tackles her best friend in a hug, crying and laughing at the same time. To her, it's such a relief to have Santana as a best friend. She knows when to toughen up and when to open up.
Santana freaks out as she tries to move away from Rachel, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I never agreed to this whole cuddle fest, let go of me!"
Rachel laughs at this and hugs her friend tighter, "I love you, Santana!"
"Ahh! The lesbian demon has converted my best friend! No! My heart belongs to another! You'll never have me!" Santana laughs.
A few days have passed since Rachel had talked to Quinn. The blonde knows something is going on with the brunette but doesn't know what it is exactly from the way the Gryffindor avoids her.
That is why, Quinn is unsure at who actually started it all. Whether it is from her pent up aggression or just the Latina's short fuse, she's still trying to understand the facts. The blonde looks over to her right and sees Santana with a bloody nose and swollen black eye and she chuckles, "You don't look so good, Lopez."
Santana turns over to the blonde and studies her face. Quinn is supporting a bruised and bleeding lip, a cut just above her left eye and blood trickling down her forehead. Santana smiles, "You should look at yourself in the mirror, Fabray."
"Oh, Merlin! Quinn… Santana…" Rachel runs up to the two people who are leaning against each other for support as well as a wall looking ready to move. "What happened? Who did this to you?" she asks as she checks the horrible scratches and wounds.
Santana moves back a bit to meet hazel eyes and smirks grow from both of their faces. Thumbs are held out and pointed at each other's directions.
Rachel is surprised as she alternately points at the both of them, "You two…" she then proceeds to roll her eyes. "Kids!" she says in annoyance, "Why? What were you two fighting about? And why are you two grinning at me? Stop it!" Rachel demands and stomps her foot.
Quinn chuckles. "Have fun explaining, Lopez." She starts to walk away but Santana grabs her by the back of her collar.
"Yea, right, you're not getting away that easily, Fabray."
"Fine." Quinn rolls her eyes as she swats Santana's hand away. "Hey, Rae. Look." The blonde tilts her head slightly to meet Rachel's gaze, "I know you're avoiding me and I don't blame you. But look…" Quinn grabs Rachel's hand in hers, "Don't run away until I finish my side of the story."
Rachel tries to keep an indifferent look as the blonde continues, "I'm really sorry that I didn't stand up to you that day. But… don't get me wrong when I say that I don't only want to be your friend." Quinn takes a deep breath and exhales, "I don't want to be put in your friend section. I want to be so much more than that, Rae." Quinn holds her gaze steady at the questioning brown eyes, "I really like you. I have for a while. That's why… as long as you have Finn as your boyfriend, I can't do anything I want to do with you. I don't want to be someone you cheat with on your boyfriend. I don't want you to see me only as a friend, it's better if you see me as a stranger. With the hope…" Quinn ducks her gaze, unable to say it to Rachel, "That maybe someday… I could fill in Finn's shoes." Quinn lets go of Rachel's hand. "I know I'm attacking you with all these information. But… after only a few days without you… I was already scared that I lost my chance with you, before I even presented my case. So…" Quinn clears her throat then looks up as she regains her confident Slytherin posture, "The ball is in your court. You may do whatever you wish to do. I will honour whatever decision you will make. When I make my promises, I will fulfil them to the best of my ability, so when I said that I will wait for you until the end of time..." she trails off.
A couple of third years exit a nearby classroom. Hermione Granger is seen with Harry Potter walking past Quinn watching the blonde with curiosity because of her injuries. Quinn adopts her cold expression that Rachel and Santana are so familiar with. "The ball is in your court." Quinn repeats as she touches her head and realizes that there is dried blood on her hand. "Going all out, Lopez?" Quinn directs the question to Santana.
"I'll…" Santana looks uncomfortable, "I'll match your game, Fabray… I definitely will."
"Good." Quinn straightens up and leaves.
From a distance, Santana and Rachel see Hermione Granger approach Quinn only to be brushed off by the blonde.
Santana chuckles, "You've got competition, Berry."
Rachel says nothing. There's too much in her mind right now that she's amazed that she's not passed out from the information overload. But Santana is right. She needs to take some time off to re-evaluate her choices.
Rachel approaches her boyfriend by the fireplace one evening when she sees him finishing up his homework. "Hey sweetie." Rachel sits next to him.
"Hey babe." Finn greets her with a chaste peck on the lips, "How was your day?"
Rachel shrugs, "Too much in too little time."
Finn gives her a dopey smile, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Rachel gazes at her boyfriend's eyes and sighs. "Finn… Do you love me?"
Finn nods, "Of course I do."
"What do you love about me?" If Rachel wants to re-evaluate her choices, she needs to see everyone's views on her. She has Quinn's. But she's also unwilling to let go of a safe 2-year relationship if she knows it's worth continuing.