Mr. Schuester sent his guests a worried look. Although he didn't want to admit it to his Glee Club, or to them for any matter, they were definitely not what he had been expecting. For one thing, the person he had talked to over the phone had definitely been female, and had sounded at least happy. The person in charge of this club didn't seem like a happy camper at all. He looked allergic simply to the possibility.
He shook his head, trying to clear the thoughts. Now wasn't the time for dwelling on that kind of thing. Regionals was only a couple of months away, and he knew that the competition from Vocal Adrenaline would be intense.
"Alright then," he suddenly spoke, clapping his hands together. "Guys, we've said we're going to go first, so that we can give Rawstorne a little rest, and then they'll show us what they've got. Any objections?" He scanned around the room, praying that for once, another hand would pop up besides Rachel's. Score! He saw another one, Puck. "Yes!" He said enthusiastically and pointing.
"Mr. Schue, remind me why we're doing this?"
"Because we want to practice Puck, and to be the best, we have to practice against the best." He quickly shot a look at the Rawstorne students behind him, who looked none too impressed at that comment. He smiled weakly.
Puck shook his head. "Puckzilla ain't afraid of anyone." He thrust his neck out, trying to look intimidating.
Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth, trying to still her laughter.
"What in the name of Merlin's Pants is, Puckzilla?" Draco whispered quietly to Hermione.
Hermione shook her head, trying to stop the laughter escaping.
Draco shot her a funny look. Muggles. Whenever they came together, there was always chaos.
"Alright, anymore questions?" Mr. Schue asked. "Nope? Alright, let's get started!"
The Hogwarts students went to the seats at the back of the room where 'Mr. Schue' had directed them. Draco looked at it in horror. Plastic? These Muggles used plastic for their seats? What kind of backwards area was this? He looked at Hermione pleadingly, praying that his thoughts would travel to her mind and she would do something to prevent him from sullying his backside with such filth.
And, no such luck. She shot him a disgusted look and hissed, "Sit down."
He was about to protest when a quick poke from her foot in the back of his knee made him collapse into his chair.
"Just smile," she hissed, "We won't be here for much longer, and we've got bigger things to worry about!"
"Like what?" He moaned piteously. "My cloak will never be the same now it's been covered with Muggle plastic germs! Ouch!" He glared at Hermione who had just whapped him round the head with her hand while pretending to have been stretching. "What is it with you and hitting me today? I swear if Professor Snape weren't here-"
"You would have blasted me to smithereens," Hermione continued in one quick breath.
Draco smiled, "I'm glad to see that you've finally been paying attention. I will have you know that I can best you at anytime of my choosing."
Hermione snorted at that, "In no way did I insinuate that that would be the outcome. I merely stated what would surely be your immature response, while knowing full well that I can, and continue to, beat you at everything."
Draco saw red at this, how dare she? "Now, wait just a minute-"
Hermione elbowed him sharply in the side, "Oh, look, they're starting," she whispered sweetly.
Draco stared in outrage at the side of her head. Never in all of his life had someone ever dared speak to him that way. However, a battle may have been won, but the war wasn't over. The corners of his mouth turned up in a slow smirk. Did she think she'd got the best of him? She was certainly going to see what happened when she messed with a Malfoy.
The brunette Draco had identified as, 'Rachel,' stepped forward. He eyed her up and down with interest. Not of the romantic kind. That would have been just weird. Dating a Muggle. He shuddered delicately at the thought. However, she seemed to have their teacher scared of her, a talent that would certainly be interesting considering her non-magic capabilities. She also seemed to intimate the rest of the boys in this group, and he was wondering how on earth one tiny person could exhibit so much power over the rest of them.
Then she opened her mouth, and he instantly knew why. No one with that kind of voice and consistently never-ending topics couldn't be intimidating. She had only been talking for one minute, and he already had the urge to cast a strong, Silencio. His hand twitched for his pocket, only to be subdued by an evil glare from Hermione that promised strong retribution if he did. So, he tried to tune her out.
"Welcome, fellow Glee Clubbers! It is my personal honor to welcome you to McKinley High and to see our performance today. As I'm sure you are aware, our own Regional competition will be occurring within a couple of months, so it is absolutely essential that we gain as much experience as we can, and performing to you, and seeing your performance today will greatly aid us. We are so grateful-"
"Ahem," Mr. Schue coughed quietly.
Rachel glanced over quickly and beamed at him. "So, without further ado, we are proud to begin our first performance!"
The group assembled into position. Including the boy in a chair with wheels, who Draco had over-heard being called, 'Artie.' What kind of name was that? He snorted, it was probably the Muggle equivalent of Neville. But then again, what kind of name was Puckzilla? And Finn? Clearly, something was wrong down here in Lima, Ohio.
Rachel started to sing.
Is it getting better?
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now?
You got someone to blame
You say...
One love, One life, When it's one need, In the night
One love, We get to share it, Leaves you baby if you, Don't care for it
Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without?
Well it's...
Too late, Tonight, To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?
Did I ask too much?
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Will we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love, One blood, One life, You got to do what you should
One life, With each other, Sisters, Brothers
One life, But we're not the same, We get to, Carry each other, Carry each other
One... life
One
As they continued to sing each line, Draco grew more and more enraptured. He knew that he had always liked music, he had listened to all the classical composers growing up. But, he had never listened to any music of this genre. And certainly nothing with lyrics in it before. Quite simply, he was entranced.
That something could sound so beautiful, and be so powerful, and so, so, encompassing.
He quickly looked around to make sure that he was not the only one spellbound by the performance, and was relieved to see everyone else still staring breathlessly at the group. The girls had tears in their eyes, and the boys were gazing dreamily at the blonde and dark-haired girl with the 'Cheerio' outfits on.
When the music had finished it's final note, the Hogwarts students clapped enthusiastically, complete with a few wolf-whistles from Ron, Harry, and Blaise. Draco shook his head, thankful for his sense of self and restraint.
"Well, thanks guys." Mr. Schue smiled gratefully at them all. Draco shot a half-smile at him in return, unable to bring a smirk to his face at the present moment. However, it would be restored to functioning power shortly!
"I'm sure your performance will be equally as good, if not better, and we can't wait to hear it!"
Author's note: Thank you all so much for reading this! I know it's definitely not what I usually write, but I'm so glad that most of you are seeming to enjoy it :)! Have fun reading, and reviewing ;)!