Santana's POV
The distance from the Great Hall to the dungeons felt like a light-year when everyone's eyes were on Santana. She was crying, and worse, in public.
Now they know how weak I am. All of them. Santana thought.
She moved forward step by step, each one was harder than the one before. The sewer was the only nearest place she could think of that she could be in peace, and maybe she would collect herself and go back to deal with Hunter Clarington.
"S! Santana, wait!" Quinn called out from somewhere behind her.
Jesus, why can't she just leave me alone?
The Latina quickly opened the manhole and got in, hoping her best friend would not find her.
All she wanted to do was to break something, but instead, she took a deep breath. She looked around as she recalled the memories she shared with Brittany here. It was the first time they were truly bonding. They saved each other from the Boggart, and Santana remembered how fast her heart was beating when the blonde was holding her.
But Brittany was not here. She wished Brittany was here.
"Here you are," Quinn's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Leave me alone, Quinn," Santana muttered and wiped the tears away with the back of her hands.
"No," the blonde replied calmly and crossed her arms. "Not this time."
She stepped in front of Santana without other words.
"Fine," the dark-haired girl sighed and told her friend. "Say whatever you wanna say and leave."
Quinn pursed her lips and shook her head.
"You're doing it again."
"What?" Santana asked irately.
"You're shutting me out. You're shutting everyone out," Quinn remarked. "I followed you here to tell you I'm here for you, but now you're pissing me off. I thought I was your best friend."
"Guess what, Q. You don't have to make everything all about you," Santana retorted.
"Exactly," the blonde agreed. "This is about you. You know you can talk to me, right?"
"I'm fine," the Latina lied. "I just want some me time, and then I'm gonna kick Clarington's ass."
Santana started to walk to the other end of the sewer when Quinn grabbed her by the arm.
"S, listen to me. You're the strongest person I know, and I know you can handle anything," the blonde said and added. "But this time, it's different… and maybe… it's okay to not be strong for a while."
"I can't," Santana refused. "I have to… I have to…"
The Prefect could not finish the sentence and she did not need to, because it was the moment Quinn hugged her.
The tears she was holding back started to pour out and Santana let them. When she felt herself trembling, Quinn only held her tighter. The blonde did not say anything during the whole time they embraced, and it was oddly comforting.
After what felt like an hour, Santana pulled away to wipe off her tears.
"So what do you wanna do now?" Quinn asked.
"I… don't know. I don't think grandma will ever love me again."
"You don't know that. People can change, but it might take a million year in your grandma's case," Quinn said and quickly added when she saw her friend's eyes widened. "But from now to then, you have me and Brittany, and a bunch of people who love you for who you are."
"Quinn," the dark-haired girl started and added genuinely. "Thank you."
"Well, that's a first," her best friend joked, and Santana could not help but punch her arm lightly.
"You know I appreciate you, right?"
"Now you're being sappy, but I know," Quinn responded. "Under the hard exterior, you're a softie inside and you love all of us."
"I'm not a softie, but yeah," Santana replied and rolled her eyes. She let out a sigh and looked up at the ceiling. "How am I gonna deal with what's out there?"
"We can stay here till the end of semester if you want," Quinn suggested and Santana could not tell if she was serious.
"And let those assholes win? No way!" the Latina replied instantly.
"That's the spirit," Quinn sounded satisfied. "So what are we going to do now? Which jinxes are we using on Clarington? I'll even Crucio him if you ask me."
"That will be no need," Santana replied and smirked. "I have an idea."
"What kind of ideas?"
"I just need to talk to Figgins."
"Ugh, lame," Quinn whined.
"It won't be lame," Santana said and cocked one of her eyebrows. "You'll see."
It was Friday morning when Santana was adjusting her new leather jacket. She smiled while remembering the day Brittany gave it to her as a Christmas present. There were only three more days left until her girlfriend would come back to Hogwarts, but she told herself to focus on today first.
She smoothed down the black skirt her mother gave her for a long time ago. It was kept in the closet most of the time because she only wore it for special occasions. Today was one of them.
Quinn was sleeping soundly when she closed the door and left. Her short walk from Pentagon's dormitory to the Great Hall had felt longer than usual over the past few days due to the whispering and glaring that she had to endure. The difference was that today, it did not matter to her anymore.
She gave a glare to a first year who dropped Flobberworm Mucus on the floor and was pretending he did not. She greeted Puck, who gave her a thumbs up, and made a straight line to the Great Hall.
The room was still half-empty and Headmaster Figgins was not present, so Santana decided to grab her breakfast. The Pentagon tables were occupied by Karofsky and Azimio, and some students from other years, therefore, the Prefect gladly made her way to an empty table.
She barely took the first bite of her sandwich when Rachel, Mercedes and Kurt joined her. It was one of the rare occasions in US Hogwarts' history that students from rival House sat at their opponent's table, at least from what Santana had known or seen.
"What the…?" the Latina exclaimed.
"Quinn told us you were giving an important speech today, so we're here to give you support," Rachel said and beamed.
"Damn it, Quinn," Santana muttered to herself and replied. "Support accepted. Can you go back to your table now? People are staring."
Mercedes ignored her. "How are you holding up, by the way?"
"Good," Santana kept it short.
"I still can't believe you're gay," Kurt blurted out excitedly. "We surprisingly have a lot in common."
"I'm not joining your LGBTQ+ club or whatever you're proposing," the Latina replied and realized how harshly she sounded, judging by the expression on Kurt's face.
Being mean on purpose was a habit she was trying to change since she promised to Brittany the night she told her about her past, and she determined to keep that promise.
"Sorry, Hummel" Santana said. "What I mean is yes, I'm… umm… gay, but I still don't like labels and stuff, you know?"
"That's understandable. We're more than our sexual orientation anyway," Kurt agreed. "But you have to go on double dates with me and Adam sometimes."
"Adam? You mean you and Crawford...?" the Prefect replied while processing the new information.
"Kurt just asked him out five minutes ago, and he said yes," Rachel chimed in.
"Wow, good for him. What an upgrade from Courtyard," Santana said and smirked at the boy in front of her. "Don't tell Britt I said that."
"Your secret is safe with us," Mercedes said firmly. "So, are you ready for your big shiny moment?"
"I guess. I'm waiting for Figgins," Santana replied and looked around.
The Headmaster walked in and gave her a nod. It was the time she realized how crowded the room had become. The man did not stop anywhere until he reached the podium.
"Quiet, please, children," he started with the same words as usual. "Today our Prefect, Miss Santana Lopez, would like to say something. Miss Lopez, if you're ready."
Santana got up and fixed her clothes for one last time. She could feel every pair of eyes on her, and wished it was not making her nervous. She finally arrived at the podium and grabbed two sides of it with her sweaty palms.
"Hello," the voice almost did not sound like her own. "I'm here to talk about what everyone has been talking about. Me."
Her eyes searched the room, and she was surprised to see Rachel, Mercedes and Kurt still sitting at the same table. The three of them gave her encouraging smiles. She also did not miss Hunter Clarington and his friends at the far corner of her House's tables.
"Four days ago, I got a howler from my grandma. Most of you probably have heard it, or heard from your friends about it. I felt embarrassed, sad and angry. But today, I'm here to tell you that I'm not ashamed of who I am and of who I am with. I also wa-..."
She was cut off abruptly when the Great Hall's door opened and Quinn sneaked in. The blonde's hair was a mess and Santana tried her best not to laugh.
"Sorry, I overslept," Quinn announced loudly from across the hall and made her way to join Rachel, Mercedes and Kurt at their table. "Proceed."
The Prefect gave her a quick smile and continued.
"I also wanted to talk about bullying in our school. I realized that I, myself, was a bully in the past and even encouraged my Housemates to do the same. I've been trying to be a better person, but after what happened to me, after I was bullied, I realized that it wasn't enough."
Santana swallowed. Her eyes searched for every student she had hurt, both verbally and physically. Strangely, she remembered almost all of them.
"I would like to apologize to every single one of you if I have ever hurt or upset you. I am truly sorry. At the same time, I have talked with Headmaster Figgins and he agreed that we should enforce anti-bullying policies from now on..."
She shot her eyes up and darted them to Hunter Clarington.
"Starting with Hunter Clarington. His scheme against me was cruel, and I do not wish to see something like this happen to anyone else ever again. Therefore,..."
Santana held her gaze with her bully and emphasized every next words.
"I would like to set an example by giving him detention for the rest of the semester."
"What the hell?!" Hunter exclaimed. "You can't do that!"
"As a Prefect, I actually can," the Latina replied nonchalantly. "Starting from today, you will be helping our elves in the Kitchens. Wonka, the head elf, will let you know where you'll be needed each day."
"Each day?!"
"Yes, the detention is everyday, Clarington," Santana enjoyed the way his expression changed, so she continued. "Wonka will let you know whether you have to clean the dishes or take out the trash each day."
"What the hell?! I'm not an elf," the boy did not give up. "This is bullying! She's bullying me!"
He looked around the room, hoping someone would come to the rescue, but there was no hope.
"Headmaster," Hunter turned to plead with Figgins. "You can't let her do this to me. I'm going to tell my parents."
"I'm sorry, Mister Clarington," the Headmaster said. "I, along with other active Prefects, agreed with Miss Lopez regarding this matter."
"And you don't have to tell your parents," Santana spoke in the sweetest tone. "It will be on your school record and they'll find out anyway."
"So what?" Hunter retorted. "I got detention, but your grandma still hates you."
The Prefect took a deep breath and replied calmly. "That's true, but I have many people who love and support me, and we'll get through this together. Unlike you, who have like, what, two friends? And they're both losers just like you."
"Miss Lopez," Headmaster Figgins warned her from behind.
"Anyway," Santana cleared her throat. "My point is, you should work harder to earn what you want instead of holding a grudge against people who rejected you and trying to ruin their lives. You would have become a much better Seeker if you actually practiced and didn't waste so much time hating on me, Hunter."
The boy seemed to be lost for words.
"Anyway, I might consider changing your detention from daily to weekly if you behave, so we'll see," Santana said and converted her eyes to the audience. "And if you are bullied or need someone to talk to about anything, you can talk to me and all of our Prefects. The anti-bullying policies started now, and I wish everyone a wonderful and bullying-free day. Thank you."
When she stepped down from the podium, she felt like she had left all the worrying behind. She was surprised to hear Quinn start clapping and everyone else followed suit. She could here Puck shouting "Yes, Queen!" loudly and she could see Kurt's teary eyes. Mercedes even hugged her when she finally sat down.
"That was so much cooler than jinxing him," Quinn admitted. "This is more permanent, and did you see his face?!"
"I told you it wouldn't be lame," Santana replied proudly. "It was kinda exhausting, though."
"It was awesome!" Rachel gushed. "Your Housemates are gonna make fun of my height less now."
"And no one would shove me against the wall again," Kurt said and arched his eyebrows. "Except maybe Adam."
"TMI much?" Santana joked. "But seriously, people do that to you guys?"
"You have no idea," the boy answered dryly.
"I guess… I might have something to do with that since I wasn't a very good example for my Housemates," the Latina said sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I'll make sure they stop bullying you."
Rachel and Kurt nodded while Mercedes hummed in satisfaction.
"Who's this softie?" Quinn bumped her shoulder against Santana's and started singing. "Soft and squishy, not sharp and pointy."
"Oh, shut up," the dark-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Can I have my breakfast in peace now?"
"Santana, look," Mercedes ignored her the second time of the day.
Her eyes followed where her friends were looking at, and she gasped when she saw many tables with students from both Houses sitting together.
"Miracle," she could hear Mercedes mumble to herself. "Pure miracle."
A/N: I'm sorry it took THIS LONG to update this fic. I kind of lost my passion after Glee ended, and you know, work and study were always in the way. :( But I never had an intention to leave this fic hanging. This chapter is kinda short, so sorry about that, I just wanted to update even a little. Hope you like it. ^_^ I can't promise I'll update regularly, but I sure will try. Comments is always a big motivation for me to keep writing. :)