Welcome to the Jungle

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Part Two: Sixteen

Chapter Twenty-Three: Misery

"Have you two been keeping in touch with Leo and Ursa?"

The question is unexpected. Harry's midway through his dinner, his mind on whether or not he'll later regret a couple of hours of video games in lieu of finishing his homework, and Kate's daydreaming over her plate, absentmindedly creating some sort of art piece out of her peas and mashed potatoes. Their father's question, therefore, comes out of left field, and they're both jolted by it.

"Why?" Kate asks sharply, "Has something happened?"

"I don't know of anything in particular," James answers, eyebrows furrowed. He scrutinises Kate a long moment, seems satisfied that she's not aware of or involved in anything dangerous, and continues, "Sirius is worried about them, is all. They both refuse to attend sessions with their grief counsellor."

"I've been talking to Leo," Harry offers, "He hasn't mentioned anything. He's mostly just been writing a lot of music, I think."

"He's gotten really good," Kate contributes. Harry nods his agreement. "But he hasn't said anything to me, either. Mostly just says he's fine, you know, basic neanderthal."

"Don't call people neanderthals, Kate," Lily sighs, long-suffering.

"Whatever."

"And Ursa?" James queries, "Have you two spoken to her? Or has Leo mentioned what she's been up to?"

"Not really," Kate shrugs, "She seems pretty busy these days, I guess."

Neither of them mention the blog Ursa's started, wherein she posts some truly spectacular photos of people and places in and around London, increasingly edgy poetry, and nonsensical - occasionally disturbing - rambles about the universe and fate and the meaning of life. To do so would seem like a betrayal, and neither of them feel inclined to let Ursa down like that.

"Are you sure?" Lily presses. She studies them both, "They haven't mentioned anything to you?"

"Nothing new," Harry denies, "What's with the interrogation?"

"Like I said, Sirius is worried," James explains, "If they're doing something dangerous, you'd tell us, wouldn't you?"

Kate shrugs, "I guess? But they're not. They wouldn't."

"Sometimes grief makes people do crazy things," Lily rationalises.

"I guess," Harry concedes. Kate sets to finishing her potatoes and peas, and Harry finishes his second serving. They do so in another thoughtful silence, this time preoccupied by concern for their friends, and Harry has no idea how to go about determining the Blacks' wellbeing.

In any case, the silence is once more broken, but this time by Kate.

"What's going on there, anyway? With the terrorist attacks? I haven't seen anything on the news."

James and Lily share a brief, wordless conversation, and their children wait impatiently for a reply.

"From what Sirius has said, the Death Eaters are laying low after King's Cross. The public is still out for blood, and they don't want to bring any attention to themselves."

"What about Nain and Taid?" Harry wonders, "What happened with those death threats they'd gotten?"

"They're safe," James assures Harry and Kate, "But Sirius is fairly certain the threats are connected to the Death Eaters. He's still trying to figure out the reasoning behind them, though it may just be that your grandparents are public figures who are rather vocal about their left-wing ideals and are, therefore, a convenient target."

"And you're sure they're safe?" Kate presses.

"Remus checks in on them regularly, and has a team that monitors them 24/7, besides. They're as safe as they can be without leaving the UK."

"I guess that's something," Kate acknowledges, "I think I'd prefer it if they just came and stayed with us, though."

"I think we would all prefer that," Lily replies, "But your grandparents have made their choice, and we have to respect that."

Kate pulls a face, unable to argue, and none of them pursue the subject further. The topic leaves them all feeling melancholy, however, and Harry's unapologetically relieved to retreat downstairs after cleaning up the kitchen. He's no longer in any mood to socialise on XBOX Live though, and so he busies himself with some of the easier homework he has yet to complete, intermittently texts with his friends, and frequently finds himself dwelling on that night's dinner conversation, and in particular, his ever-present but now increasing concern for Leo, Ursa, and Cassiopeia.

Such considerations are cause for a restless night, and Harry wakes in the morning more tired than he'd been the night prior, and still at a loss of how to help his friends.

As he shuffles towards his car, Kate grousing about the morning chill behind him, Harry wryly wonders if the daily grind of another day at school will offer up a solution, but doesn't dare to hold his breath. After all, he'll only be disappointed.

-!- -#-

In their shared Maths class, Puck is distracted. He's quiet, mind far from Pre-Calculus, but Harry's got his own concerns, and so his friend's preoccupation isn't addressed until Puck brings it up himself.

"I think I've fucked up," Puck says, his gaze on the contents of his locker. It's an uncharacteristic sentiment, the expression of mingled fear and guilt incongruous on his face, and Harry is unsure of how to respond.

Throughout the day, he'd half expected a resurgence in Puck's unsolicited commentary regarding Harry's involvement in the Glee Club, but thus far, none has been forthcoming. With Quinn, Santana, and Brittany's inclusion, however, there has been an increase in speculative glances, unsubtle insinuations, and a disconcerting increase in slushie facials. It's like the meatheads on the JV football and hockey teams are determined to prove their dominance or something, and the only reason Harry hasn't yet lost his shit over it is because they haven't yet dared to slushie himself or Kate.

"Why? How?" He asks, for lack of anything else to say. His first thought is that Puck's cougar-chasing pastime has come back to haunt him, and he wonders if a visit to their local Family Planning clinic is in Puck's future. Harry's not expected to go with him to one of those, is he?

Anyway, in Harry's mind, it's a valid concern, and frankly, Harry's not sure what else it could be. Cougars notwithstanding, PUck's usually been pretty good about staying out of trouble.

"I slept with someone I shouldn't have," Puck explains, and Harry frowns, nonplused. He's fairly certain Puck's been doing that for months already, and as far as Harry knows, this is the first bout of guilty conscience Puck has expressed about it since day one. Who the hell would inspire that kind of reaction?

"Who?"

Puck shakes his head, unwilling to answer, and Harry wonders, "Did you sleep with Rachel or something?"

Puck is nonplused. "Rachel? Rachel Berry?"

Harry shrugs, clueless and a little defensive, "I don't know, you're weird about her."

"Fuck off."

Harry arches his eyebrows, unsure of whether or not he should laugh or brace himself for a punch to the face. "Are you denying it, Puckerman? I'm pretty sure JBI has started running in the opposite direction as soon as he sees her."

"I kicked his ass good, didn't I?" Puck smirks, insufferably smug about it. Harry's almost relieved to see the expression, but all the same, he rolls his eyes, unimpressed. "No, I didn't sleep with Rachel, asshole. Do I look stupid? Chick has two dads."

Unable to argue with self-preservation like that, Harry retrieves his lunch, shuts his locker, and turns towards the cafeteria. Puck follows suit, falls into step beside him, and proceeds with brooding once more.

"Why are you so bothered by it?" Harry wonders, "I doubt it's the first person you shouldn't have slept with."

Puck's face is ashen when he replies, "Because the condom broke."

Well, shit. Not only is a visit to their local Family Planning clinic in Puck's near future, but he's also going to spend the next few weeks and/or months wondering and stressing about whether or not he'd gotten his unknown hookup pregnant.

"Yeah, man," Harry offers his friend a sympathetic grimace, "You messed up."

Puck grunts his acknowledgement, but they enter the cafeteria before any more can be said regarding the matter. He joins Harry though, at a table with Mike and Matt and their usual lunchtime companions. He doesn't partake in conversation, but he listens, laughs at their jokes and steals Santana's curly fries, and none of the rest of them question his presence there, or his uncharacteristic silence, either.

It's almost normal. Puck's still worried though, Harry's trying not to (worry, that is), and it's not really normal at all.

They're pretty good at pretending it is, though.

Author's Note: I spent a lot of time trying to decide if Puck would get Quinn pregnant. Original plan was yes, because it offers so much opportunity for character growth, but then I was like 'but Q's already cheated on H, isn't that kind of repetitive?' but then character growth won out. Probably going to skip Acafellas, but we'll see. Until next time, -t.