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Part Two: Sixteen

Chapter Twenty-Two: Watch Over You

After another study period spent powering through another one of his IGCSE worksheets, Harry expects another average, ordinary, unremarkable Glee Club meeting. The gossip circulating about the Homecoming weekend notwithstanding, the school day itself had been the same as any other, he assumes Glee Club will follow the same vein, and he is therefore blindsided when Quinn, Santana, and Brittany flounce into the choir room like they own the place.

"What the fuck?"

"Nice to see you too, jackass." Santana smirks at his bewilderment, and Brittany settles herself in his lap, unruffled. Around them, the rest of the Glee Club stares at the three cheerleaders, dumbfounded, and the tableau is only broken as Kate squeals her delight, and throws herself at Santana.

"Surprise?" Brittany offers, a hesitant smile on her face.

"I'm definitely surprised," Harry acknowledges. Also, he's not remotely thrilled by the prospect of more time spent in Quinn's vicinity, but that's a given. As such, he doesn't bother pointing that out. "What brought this on?"

"San and I just wanted to dance," Brittany explains. She settles her head on his shoulder, and whispers in his ear, "Quinn just wants to make sure Rachel stays away from Finn."

"Rachel isn't the one without any respect for relationships," Harry replies sardonically, and beside him, Santana snorts, amused, "Also, Kate says she's not interested in him."

As Santana glances at her, expectant, Kate nods her confirmation, releases Santana, waves at Brittany, and meanders back to her place beside Artie, Tina, and Rachel. Finn had been trying to get the latter's attention, had mostly been failing to do so beyond general politeness on Rachel's part, and was only deterred by the unexpected appearance of his girlfriend in the choir room.

"What do you think?" Santana queries, apparently interested despite herself.

"I agree. Just watch, you'll see. It's actually kind of embarrassing."

"Oh, such suspense; I can hardly contain myself."

Mr Schuester arrives before Harry can answer, directs Brittany to sit in her own seat, and then informs them that Quinn, Santana, and Brittany have joined the Glee Club. It's redundant, of course - by now, they've all realised that they have new team members - but the established Glee Club clap regardless, most of them unenthusiastically, and wait for Mr Schuester to inform them of the plans for that day's practise session.

"I thought we could spend today familiarising Brittany, Santana, and Quinn with Don't Stop Believing," Mr Schuester informs them, "Unless you guys want to work on something new?"

"Well, given that our hopes for competition eligibility don't seem so far-fetched anymore, it doesn't seem unreasonable to make up a setlist for sectionals," Kate opines, "Though I'm not sure I know the requirements for it."

"There aren't any," Rachel explains, "And I agree. I think preparing a setlist now is an excellent idea."

Mr Schuester looks around at the rest of them, and queries, "Anyone opposed?"

When no one speaks up, Kate and Rachel take the lead in the discussion. It's mostly a brainstorming session, and by the end of it, nothing has been determined beyond the fact that broadway and ballads has been a recurring theme in past competitions, and they should, perhaps, stick with a strategy that has already proven effective.

"All right, think of some more ideas guys," Mr Schuester bids them, "We'll take a vote on Thursday."

At the dismissal, Harry gathers up his things, and approaches Kate and Rachel. Puck has started something of a campaign of terror against Jacob Ben-Israel as a means of deterring him from harassing Rachel, but nonetheless, Harry's taken to walking his classmate to her car, and he's not about to ditch her just because Brittany, Santana, and Quinn are watching.

"Time to go?" Kate asks him. Harry nods, and the two gather up their own things quickly, say their farewells, and approach the doors. Brittany and Santana join them, and they walk to the parking lot in a group, Brittany's fingers twined through Harry's. He still has no idea what's going on with them, but Brittany doesn't seem in any particular rush to put a label on whatever it is, and frankly, Harry's just going with the flow.

"Has Jacob Ben-Israel still been bothering you?" Harry wonders. Puck had said he'd handle it, but Harry hasn't kept up with the details, and it'd be good to check, anyway. Just in case.

"He has not, in fact," Rachel replies, "He's made himself rather scarce, actually. I believe that's your doing?"

"No, actually," Harry denies, "I asked around about him, and when Puck found out why, he - ah - took it upon himself to do something about it. He went on about JBI giving Jews a bad name, but honestly, I kind of tuned him out after a while. But yeah, it's all him, really."

"I'll have to thank him," Rachel observes, "Just like I have to thank you. I'm quite vocal in my feminist ideologies, but Jacob's persistence had begun to make me feel quite uncomfortable, so I sincerely appreciate yours and Noah's intervention. On that note, I know your mother is a baker so you likely enjoy them frequently, but how do you feel about thank you sugar cookies?"

"I won't say no to them, but you really don't have to," Harry demurs, "Walking you to your car is literally the least I can do to help you feel safe."

"Still, thank you. The effort is appreciated."

Harry shrugs, sheepish, and casts his gaze over the parking lot. Santana, Brittany, and Kate linger near his car - taking the opportunity to catch up, presumably - and Harry probably should join them before they (namely, Santana and Kate) grow impatient.

"Anytime," he assures her, "But I'd better go. Kate will bitch me out if I keep her waiting."

"Of course," Rachel acknowledges with a laugh, "Thanks, again, Henry, and have a pleasant afternoon."

"You too."

Rachel slips into the driver's seat of her car quickly, Harry lingers until she's on her way out of the lot, and then he joins his sister and their friends by his Camry. Kate, it seems, has already explained what's going on, because Santana doesn't demand answers, and instead offers him a warm, fierce hug, and Brittany follows suit.

"You're a really nice person," she informs him, presses a lipgloss-sticky kiss to his cheek, and steps back with a cheery grin. She links pinkies with Santana, they saunter off with identical waves, and a bemused Harry is left in the company of his equally bemused sister.

"Are you going to unlock the car, or…?"

Harry does so, they both pile their bags in the backseat, and then clamber into the driver and passenger seat, respectively. Kate connects her iPod to the iTrip, Harry pulls out of the lot, and they make their way home to the accompaniment of Kate's 90's boy band playlist.

Harry, surprisingly, doesn't hate it.

He'll never admit that, though.