Welcome to the Jungle

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Glee. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Part One: Fifteen

Chapter Thirty Eight: Life Goes On

In the fallout of Harry and Quinn's breakup, their mutual friends treat it something like a divorce. Harry gets Mike, Matt, and Hermione, Quinn gets Santana, Brittany, and Finn, and Puck is the hypothetical offspring, the one they share custody of, drifting between them, and caught awkwardly in the middle.

It's an analogy that's not wholly accurate, of course. Santana and Brittany, neither of whom are particularly impressed with Finn or Quinn, are still unabashedly, unrepentantly his friends. They still hang out with him outside of school hours, still call, still behave as they always have. Rather than share the same lunch table, however, they - and Quinn - sit with the Cheerio's, Finn with the football team, and it's a change they each accept bitterly, belligerently, begrudgingly.

It's gratifying that all of them - Mike, Matt, Santana and Brittany - each agree that Finn's and Quinn's decisions were deplorable. Santana, in particular, is rather scathing, and Harry's not sure he's ever appreciated her more.

Hermione, of course, is about as wrathful as a woman scorned, and she spends the entire week loudly and openly insulting Quinn for anyone and everyone to hear. Between her and Santana, word of the entire debacle is quickly spread among the lowerclassmen, and Quinn soon finds herself dubbed 'The Whore of Babylon', among the student population of William McKinley High.

It goes without saying that Quinn's continued involvement with the Celibacy Club has become something of a joke, and Harry wonders idly if he ought to feel bad about the fact that he has made no move to curb the rumours, insults, and general shunning of Quinn and Finn. He hadn't realised how highly people in his class thought of him, but the fact they take his side - such as it is - on this?

Harry won't lie: It feels really fucking good. More so is watching Finn make his awkward turtle moves on Quinn, and watching her, subsequently, rebuff him at every turn. Without a doubt, it's too little too late, but it's one of the highlights of his week.

In any case, by Friday afternoon, they've all settled into a new normal. It's weird, sometimes, not having Quinn right there to talk books or movies or music with, to tell her about his day, to listen to her talk about her own, but her absence - such as it is - is not debilitating. It's weird, too, to avoid eye contact with her in the halls, and in the classes they share, but it's not a trial, either.

In that week, Harry learns he can live without Quinn Fabray, and the knowledge buoys him. He's still angry of course, still tempted to punch Finn Hudson's face in every time Harry sees the asshole, but he works hard not to let it - the anger, the sadness, the sense of betrayal - take over his life. Instead, Harry focuses on everything else - his schooling, his work, his friends and family - and looks forward to the day everyone says will come in time; the one where it won't hurt anymore to look at her, to think about what she's done, to remember what they had been before it all went tits up. Harry's not sure if he loved Quinn - he's not sure what love is, really - but he misses her anyway, and he doesn't like to feel like this.

Maybe Puck's onto something, with the hedonist, nymphomaniac, bed-hopping lifestyle. He certainly seems happier for it.

"You played well tonight," Cedric drops into the empty seat beside Harry. Behind them, nearer to the back of the bus, their respective teams are in high spirits. "I thought you might be distracted, given everything."

It was the first basketball game of the season, an away game against one of the other high schools in Lima. WMHS won each game they played (womens and mens both), and it's a pleasant, auspicious start to the team's competition season. He hopes the rest of it goes so well.

"You weren't," Harry points out. Cedric's resulting smile is mirthless, and the knowledge that a high school breakup isn't the be all and end all of suffering is sobering. It certainly puts things into perspective. "How are you?"

Cedric shrugs. "I'm getting by."

"And Cho?"

Cedric's quiet for a long time, and Harry expects he won't get an answer. "She's okay."

"I'm sorry." Harry has no idea what else to say.

Cedric shrugs again, and stares blankly at the headrest in front of him. "Not your fault."

They sit in silence for what is left of the bus ride back to their school, though it's not unpleasant. It doesn't take them long to reach WMHS though, and the bus empties quickly, their fellow basketball players eager to get a start on their weekend plans and, in particular, the post-game party at Montague's.

"Are you going?" Cedric asks. He nods his head towards Montague, surrounded by a cluster of players, cheerleaders, and assorted hanger-ons, "His parties are always pretty good."

Harry hesitates. "I wasn't going to. I'd probably be shit company."

Cedric shrugs. "So?"

Puck, Mike, and Matt approach them then, accompanied by Brittany and Santana. The latter bitches loudly about the cold as they near, and unrepentantly tucks herself under Harry's arm.

"Yo, are we getting drunk tonight, or what?" she asks.

"Say that a little louder, Satan," Puck rolls his eyes, "I don't think Hooch heard you."

She gives Puck the bird, and glances at Harry, hopeful. "Are you coming, or what?"

It's Brittany's earnest, hopeful face that makes him relent, and Harry resigns himself to another endless Friday night.

He prays it won't be as terrible as the last.

-!- -#-

Montague's party is the place to be that weekend, so it's packed to the rafters. The heavy bass of someone's EDM trash reverberates through his skull, and Harry can barely hear himself think over all of the conversations around him. Congratulations, back slaps and toasts are passed around like sweets to the triumphant athletes, but the house - and accompanying scrutiny - is stifling, and Harry quickly retreats to the backyard to get some fresh air.

Katie Bell finds him there, a blanket in hand she's quick to throw over the both of them. She curls up beside him on the porch swing, and Harry's absurdly conscious of her closeness.

"It's kind of crazy in there, isn't it?"

"It is," Harry agrees, "I can see why Fred and George don't come to these anymore."

Katie nods her agreement, rifles through the pockets of her coat and jeans, and produces her iPod and headphones. "Same here. What do you think, should we listen to some decent music, or what?"

Harry grins. "I like the way you think, Bell."

Harry's only shared a few conversations with Katie, so it's a little odd, this instantaneous camaraderie he shares with the older girl, but he doesn't dislike it. More importantly, she has excellent taste in music.

"You like Blink 182?"

Katie scoffs. "Uh, duh. Who doesn't?"

Harry grins. He's just scrolled through the entire list of artists stored on her iPod, and he's kind of impressed. "Bell, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

They sit there for hours, listening to some good tunes and shooting the breeze, and it's the best time Harry's had since New Years.

Author's Note: You know what I'd really like to be reading right now? A fem!HP/Bucky Barnes WWII era story wherein Bucky and Steve aren't ridiculously codependent. Turns out? I really don't like Captain America. Go figure.

Anyway guys, hope you liked this chapter. I like it because it shows Harry can be a little petty, with the not trying to curb the rumours thing, and also, I really love the mention of Hermione in this chapter. It's a little ridiculous to say, since I wrote it, but whatever.

Anyway, thanks for reviewing. I loved reading all your thoughts about the breakup. Until next time, -t.