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 Two: Sixteen
Chapter Ten: We Are Okay
Harry tries to avoid any mention of Friday night, but it's practically impossible. In the morning, before classes, Fred, George, and Lee laugh, and shake their heads, and Mike, in a display of theatrics Harry wouldn't have expected from him, keeps on wincing, or cringing, or shuddering every time he is reminded of it. During homeroom, Puck thumps him on the back, as though it is an accomplishment to be acknowledged and appreciated, and Santana won't stop smirking at him every time they make eye contact in the halls.
And then there is Cedric, of course, whom Harry approaches during lunch time. To clear the air, or to get the drama over with, or something. Harry's not sure, really, but whatever it is, the suspense is killing him.
"Hey," Harry greets the Senior. He props himself against the bank of lockers, stares absently at the passing students - most of them are Cedric's classmates, too busy with their own lives to pay attention to Harry's drama - and flounders for something else to say. As he does so, Cedric sighs, inexplicably weary, and if nothing else, Harry doesn't have to enlighten his friend. "I guess you heard?"
"It's hard not to," Cedric grimaces, chagrined, and shuts his locker. He shoulders his backpack, but he doesn't move to walk away. He doesn't move to punch Harry, either, but he's not exactly pleased to see him. "Ethan did a check of the house when the party wound down. He told me that night."
"And you're… Okay with it?"
Cedric shrugs, shoves his hands into the pockets of his letterman jacket, and avoids Harry's gaze. "I won't lie: It's kind of weird, dude."
It's more than the fact Cedric and Cho are exes, and Harry knows enough to realise it. It's the fact that at one point, Cho had been pregnant with Cedric's baby. They - or maybe just Cho, Harry isn't too sure on the specifics - had chosen to terminate the pregnancy, but experiences like that leave their mark. Cho and Cedric would have that history between them for the rest of their lives.
Harry, who'd seen them both fall apart because of the baby they would never meet, had just become a footnote in that history, and not for a reason he's exactly proud of.
There's no taking back what he and Cho have done, however. It had happened, they can't change it, and all they can do is pick up the pieces, continue moving forward, get on with their lives.
That's easier said than done, however.
"We were drunk. It just… Happened."
Cedric winces. He doesn't want to hear it. "I don't need an explanation, Harry. Cho and I broke up in February. She can be with whoever she wants."
"We're not… She and I aren't together, Cedric."
"Okay?" Cedric nods, but he seems uncertain, "You don't need to tell me this, man. It's none of my business."
Harry cards a hand through his hair, exhaling, and he has no idea what to say. "I guess I just wanted to make sure you weren't pissed at me, or something."
"Like I said, it's kind of weird," Cedric shrugs, "But no, I'm not pissed. You're good people, so as long as you don't mess her around - Cho doesn't need that shit - we're fine."
"I'm not - I won't. I can't be bothered with mind games. Besides, she and I talked. We're not… Neither of us really want anything, you know?"
They'd spoken briefly before school that morning, too. Neither of them had changed their minds, and although it was still awkward, Cho had found it in herself to laugh at a lame, shitty joke he'd said - he's already forgotten whatever it was, now - and it's progress. It'll still be some time before they're back to normal, but at the very least, he's not about to lose a friend over something they'd both done while drunk.
It's about all Harry can ask for in that regard.
Cedric blinks, nonplused, and shrugs. He doesn't know what to say, it seems - probably as awkward as Harry feels - and the approach of Ethan is a relief.
"Dudes," Ethan acknowledges, eyeing them both uncertainly, "Everything cool here?"
"Yeah," Harry confirms. He drops his crossed arms, smiles wanly, and moves to leave, "I was just heading to the choir room. Mandatory team lunch, or something."
Ethan nods his acknowledgement. "Good luck, man. Hope it isn't shit."
"Yeah, you and me both." Harry glances at Cedric, apologetic, and still guilty, still awkward, "I'll see you guys around, yeah?"
"Yeah, man," Cedric nods, and manages a wry smile of his own, "Where else will we be?"
Harry huffs an inaudible laugh, waves at them, and makes his way to the choir room. He ignores the looks sent his way, avoids eye contact with any of his peers, pretends not to hear the whispers, and reaches the choir room at the same time as Kate.
"You know, it really sucks to hear rumours of my brother's sex life," Kate greets him.
"Yeah, it really sucks to be the subject of those rumours," Harry scowls, disgruntled, and drops onto one of the risers, "You should try it sometime."
Kate grimaces at the thought. "I'll pass, thanks."
"Wise," Harry acknowledges. He produces his bagged lunch from his backpack, Kate follows his lead, and Harry listens absently as his sister makes small talk with the others already gathered. It's everyone bar Finn and Mr Schuester, and they're all curious about the mandatory and unexpected team meeting.
"What about you, Potter?" Hummel addresses him. He seems nervous, but simultaneously defiant - as though he expects Harry to be pissed off that he's being addressed, but speaking to him anyway - and honestly, Harry has no idea what to do with that. "Any ideas?"
"As my darling sister keeps on reminding me," Kate scrunches up her face at the address, and Harry spares an unapologetic smile for her, "We need more members to be eligible for sectionals, so probably something to do with recruitment, but I don't know. I'm probably wrong."
"It makes sense," Mercedes interjects. She wipes her hands free of grease, drains her lemonade, and frowns at the door, "It'd be nice if they were on time, though. I missed an Association meeting for this."
"Association?" Kate queries, curious.
"African American Association," Mercedes explains, and adds proudly, "We have 13 members."
Sardonically, Harry considers the likelihood that Lee, Matt, and Dean would be pleased by her absence. She's apparently been trawling for a boyfriend among the Association members since she'd joined up the year prior. As a result, the guys don't care for her much. Matt and Dean, in particular, go out of their way to avoid her where, when, and if ever possible.
"Oh, yeah," Kate smacks herself on the forehead, "Nat told me about that."
Nat - or Natalie MacDonald - is one of Kate's friends from middle school. Along with Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, and Demelza Robbins, they'd been inseparable.
Not so much these days, though. Ginny, Natalie, and Demelza have joined the cross country team, and they spend most of the time with their other teammates. Kate spends a lot of her time with Colin, or with Artie and Tina, or with the friends she's made from the Steam House. Luna, it seems, spends a lot of time alone, and although Harry's tried to keep her from the worst of it, she's become a favourite target of the Freshman and JV football and hockey teams.
Harry still can't figure out how their tight-knit friendship had deteriorated so quickly.
"You still talk to her?" Harry queries idly, "I thought none of you were friends anymore."
"Just because we don't hang out, doesn't mean we're not friends," Kate argues, defensive, "We talk all the time on Facebook."
"Right," Harry mutters. He shouldn't have asked.
Before Kate can delve into an in-depth explanation of what's going on in her friends' lives, Mr Schuester and Finn finally make their appearance.
Apparently, Schue expected Finn to forget about the meeting and thus went looking for him. Hence, their tardiness.
Harry's not overly impressed.
"Why did you want to see us, Mr Schue?" Rachel prods.
"A couple of reasons," Mr Schuester makes himself comfortable in the teacher's swivel chair, "First, to let you know we're all going on a little field trip on Saturday afternoon. Carmel High's glee club, Vocal Adrenaline, is hosting a showcase, and I thought it would not only be an excellent bonding opportunity for all of us, but also, I thought it would give us a chance to get a handle on the competition. Apparently, they're the team to beat at regionals this year."
Finn looks as though he's juts been handed a death sentence. The JV football team has training that afternoon, and Coach Tanaka won't be thrilled about losing his quarterback. That's not even getting into what the team itself will think.
Admittedly, Harry's not pleased by the prospect of an excursion to Akron, either, but it's not the worst thing ever. He can get someone to take on his shift at the Steam House, he can work on his homework before, after, to, and from, he can probably put up with Finn Hudson for a few hours, and because he's grounded, it's not as though Harry will be able to do anything else.
The only thing is…
"Do you think Mum and Dad will give me my car back for this?"
Author's Note: Um… is there a song about a guy who slept with his friend's ex?
Happy holidays, guys and gals. I still haven't got my presents for, like, 4/6 of my family members, so feeling a little stressed, but here, enjoy. Until next time, whenever that may be, -t.