13:57
A/N: Thanks to all of the reviewers! For those of you who have expressed frustration that it's chapter ten and Kurt and Blaine are not yet together. . .too bad. Anyway, kind of a fluffy chapter for y'all today. . .a little bit of plot, but mostly just mindless Yule Ball stuff. Enjoy!
The Yule Ball was everything that Kurt had ever imagined. Absolutely everything. The Great Hall had been transformed, so that, as a thousand twinkling stars shimmered in the night sky, a billion shining stars sparkled from the floor. The tables had been shoved aside, to make room for a dance hall. The floating candles glowed with gentle romanticism. And the clothes. . .oh, the clothes! Kurt was, of course, dressed impeccably in the latest Zabini fashion (a tribute to the commissioner of the Tournament). He'd spent two hours on his hair, and an extra half hour on his moisturizing regime. He looks as attractive as he would ever get.
He'd also spent fifteen minutes convincing Finn that yes, he absolutely had to wear the dress robes, and no, it was absolutely unacceptable to just wear his Hufflepuff tie. He'd volunteered to help Mercedes with her hair, but she'd disappeared before he'd gotten a chance to do anything.
And his date – oh, his date looked absolutely fabulous. Jesse st. James had brushed his hair back into the most debonair style possible, and was wearing what had to be Malfoy original robes. They were the absolute height of fashion.
"Find us a seat, won't you?" Jesse asked as they entered the Hall. "I need to go check on something."
"Sure," Kurt said faintly, his eyes wide as he tried to take everything in. He glided across the hall, finally settling down in a chair next to Tina. His friend had redyed her hair, to have bright pink streaks. "Hi, Tina."
"Hi, Kurt," she said brightly. "Isn't this amazing?"
Before Kurt had a chance to respond, Figgins had stood up, and was addressing the room.
"Greetings, students," he said. "I hope that you all have a fun and productive time tonight. There is a troll running around the dungeon, so avoid that at all costs. Also, whichever Weasley spiked the punchbowl. . .there will be consequences. Do not drink the punch. That is all."
"Say what?" Artie exclaimed. "Spiked punch? I am there!"
Kurt giggled. The lights suddenly dimmed, all of the stars seeming somehow dulled, except for a spotlight that shone on the far entrance.
"And now," Professor Schuester said, "presenting your Champions for this year's Triwizard Tournament. . ."
Dave Karofsky and Santana suddenly appeared in the doorway. Karofsky's deep maroon dress robes perfectly offset the trim on Santana's dress. She, Kurt noted, looked absolutely ravishing, her eyes positively smoldering as she looked over the assorted people in the hall. Karofsky looked terrified.
They were followed by Rachel and Blaine. Kurt couldn't keep his face from breaking into a broad smile. Rachel looked presentable, for once, her hair gently curled, and her dress actually presentable. It was a sparkling gold, flowing around her body like molten gold. She shimmered under the kind light of the candles. Beside her, Blaine was equally radiant, in the most dapper of dress robes, his hair immaculately styled, and his bright, charming grin washing over the crowd. Kurt thought the gold in Rachel's dress brought out the gold flecks in Blaine's eyes.
"Wait. . ." Tina frowned, and elbowed Kurt in the side. "They're all coming in with their dates. . .shouldn't you be with Jesse?"
Quinn and Finn came in next. Kurt's breath caught. Quinn looked like a Boticelli painting, all soft colors and flowing curves. Finn looked like a lumberjack beside her, even in the dress robes that Kurt had carefully picked out.
There was a pause, as all of those couples spread out on the dance floor. All eyes travelled back to the door. A moment later, Jesse st. James walked out, entirely alone, waving left and right as he headed to the dance floor. Instead of joining the other Champions, however, he walked up to the stage, and picked up Figgins enchanted wand.
"Thank you, thank you," Jesse said with a grin. "Now then, as a way of thanking you for this glorious hospitality, I'll be singing for the Champions Dance tonight. "
"I've been alone with you inside my mind
And in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times
I sometimes see you pass outside my door
Hello, is it me you're looking for?"
Pair by pair, other couples began joining the Champions on the floor. Tina and Mike walked out, and Artie wandered over to Sunshine, and took her hand. As Kurt glanced around the room, it seemed like everybody was dancing. Except Jesse st. James, of course. And him.
"I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile
You're all I've ever wanted, and my arms are open wide
Because you know just what to say
And you know just what to do
And I want to tell you so much, I love you. . ."
In the middle of the crowd, Kurt spotted Mercedes, and was absolutely ecstatic to see that she had made it to the dance. Until he realized that she was dancing with James Potter. Then he felt a little sick. Because, as far as he knew, she'd been single until an hour ago and. . .he'd had a date. He'd had two dates, actually, and yet he was the only person in the entire hall not dancing. Except for Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Weasley, that is, but they were sitting close to one another, thighs brushing. Probably whispering sweet nothings to one another.
Sometimes it sucked to be Kurt Hummel. Blaine laughed at something that Rachel said into his ear. Finn brushed a tendril of Quinn's hair back behind his ear. Brittany giggled and leaned forward to kiss Sam. Karofsky dipped Santana, in a surprising display of footwork.
"Hello, hello, was it me you're looking for?"
Kurt decided to go for a walk, clear his head. He should probably be supportive, clapping his hands for Jesse, smiling just to see him, or something. But he wasn't that guy. He wasn't the guy to stand in the shadows. He was a star in his own right. He deserved better.
Instead of demanding better, however, he just turned and walked out of the room. A walk would clear his mind. A walk would make it all better.
The air outside was cool and cold, and smelled of winter. It hadn't snowed yet, but the air was just beginning to hold the bitter chill that warned of oncoming winter. Kurt shivered, and wrapped his arms tighter around himself, willing some warmth. He probably should go back inside, or wear a coat. He just had to wait until the song was over, however, and then Jesse would be done singing, and would finally be his date again. That was all he had to wait for.
"He can't be giving a joke again."
"You wanted to make sure he makes it to the final round. This is how you make sure."
Kurt craned his neck a little, curious. Both of the voices were familiar, though speaking in low, hushed voices. Voices that meant secrets, and Kurt very much enjoyed secrets.
"I need to know that he can sing, however. He's no good to me if he can't lift the spell."
"He's proven time and time again that he can sing. Just look at all of his fans."
"I need him tested. For all I know, the two Hogwarts Champions are more useful."
"Fine. We'll let your. ..pet. . .perform to the same standards as the other nitwits."
"NO! No. It still has to be rigged. Just. . .not so obvious."
Kurt blinked. He wished he could place those voices, so familiar and yet. . but even if he couldn't understand their words, he understood exactly what they were talking about.
They were talking about setting up the Triwizard Tournament, about ensuring that somebody in particular won. And it wasn't terribly hard to figure out who. Somebody was setting up the Tournament to make sure that Jesse won.
Kurt slid back against the wall, trembling a little. He had to tell someone. . .he had to warn someone. . .but he didn't know who. He still couldn't put his finger on who the two voices belonged to. They were a little too low-pitched, a little too different from the way that people speak in normal life. And besides, who would believe him? Who was he, to tell anyone about a rigged competition?
No, Kurt decided, he should just forget about it. Because it didn't matter. Jesse, suredly, knew nothing about it. And really, what did it matter? It was just some stupid competition. It wasn't life or death, or anything. No, he would just forget about it, just go back to his dance. He would drink some of the spiked punch, and dance, and maybe flirt a little.
Yes, he thought, that sounded like a very good plan.
When he entered the Great Hall again, Jesse had finished singing, though Kurt didn't see him anywhere else. Finn was sitting dejectedly at a table, however, so Kurt promptly went over to join him.
"Hey," he said, nudging his stepbrother's shoulder. "Where's Quinn?"
"In the infirmary," Finn said with a sigh. "I stepped on her feet during the dance, and then my elbow kind of hit her in the nose, and she started bleeding and, uh. . ."
"Well, why didn't you go with her?" Kurt asked.
"She didn't want me to," Finn said. "She just kept screaming at me to get away from her. Sam went with."
"Oh," Kurt said. "Hmmm."
He glanced out at the dancing couples again, surprised to see that Brittany was now dancing with Santana, as Dave stood alone against a wall. Blaine and Rachel were still dancing in the middle of the room, grinning and spinning one another round. Kurt sighed.
"I think that somebody's rigging the results of the Tournament," Kurt said.
"That sucks," Finn said.
"Yeah," Kurt agreed. "It kind of does."
A gentle tap pulled Kurt out of his funk, as he turned around to face Jesse.
"Hey," the other boy said with a self-satisfied smile. "Care to dance?"
What Kurt cared to do was give a snarky remark. What Kurt cared to do was slap the inconsiderate slumdog across the face. What Kurt cared to do. . .oh, who was he kidding. Figgins had probably asked Jesse to sing the song, and he was asking Kurt to dance now, wasn't he? So Kurt accepted the hand, and rose to his feet.
"Sorry that I didn't dance with you earlier," Jesse said, the words buzzing pleasantly against Kurt's ear as Jesse swayed, their bodies pressed close together. "I know that there aren't many out guys at your school. I didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable."
Kurt's eyes instantly drifted to Dave, still standing alone, arms crossed at the side of the room. Kurt considered. What Jesse said did make sense. There was no way of knowing how people would have reacted, seeing two guys dancing together at the Yule Ball.
But, as true as that statement was, Kurt couldn't believe that anyone would have cared, or taken it the wrong way. Hogwarts students just weren't like that. Wizards, in genereal, just weren't like that. There were so many bigger prejudices that they faced: Squibs v. wizards, and purebloods v. mudbloods. Gay and straight just wasn't on the radar like that.
But it was nice, dancing with a boy at Yule Ball. It was nice, the way strong arms encircled his back, the way breath huffed, hot and heavy, over the top of his head. He'd danced at the previous balls, of course, with Rachel and Mercedes, and even a bit with Finn and his friends, but it had never been like this. It had never been slow, and so, so nice.
"Tell me about yourself," Jesse whispered.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything," A pause, as Kurt tried to think of something to say. Luckily, Jesse gave him a platform. "Tell me about your friends. Tell me about Rachel."
"Rachel?" Kurt laughed a little. "Rachel is. . .well, she's one of a kind. She's self-centered and conceited, and thinks she's the most talented person in the entire world. But the thing is. . .she just might be. You've heard her sing. She's absolutely phenomenal. And she really is a good friend, when it comes down to it."
"Hmmm." When Kurt looked up, he was surprised to see that Jesse was frowning.
"Are you okay? Kurt asked. Jesse grinned, and winked down at him.
"Fine. What about your other friends? What about Blaine?"
"Blaine's perfect," Kurt sighed. Jesse quirked one eyebrow, and Kurt realized that he probably shouldn't be going on about one boy, while dancing with another. "I mean, objectively speaking. He's very attractive. . .I think every girl in school is in love with him. Look at him, you can tell. He's a prefect, and he has some of the highest marks in his class. He'll probably be Head Boy next year. And he's popular. About the only thing he doesn't do is play Quidditch, and that's just because he has a thing about heights."
"Oh," said Jesse, the words tickling the hair around Kurt's ears. "They sound. . .nice." His arms tightened around Kurt's body. He probably should have been thrilled – after all, an international sex symbol was embracing him, in full view of everyone. He should have, except that over Jesse's shoulder he could see Blaine whispering something to Rachel, and pointing at Finn. He watched as the two split up, and Rachel reached out a hand, asking Finn to dance. He watched as Blaine walked over to Karofsky, standing alone against a wall. He watched Rachel's face light up as Finn took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He watched Karofsky's hesitation before taking Blaine's hand.
The two couples should have looked ridiculous: Finn and Karofsky dwarfed their dance partners, each standing head and shoulders over the other. But the expressions on their faces were positively euphoric. Admittedly, Finn looked a bit like he'd been clubbed over the head, but Kurt knew his stepbrother well enough to recognize that expression: that was Finn thinking.
He wonders where Mercedes is. And wow, isn't there something horribly wrong about thinking about his best friend when he's dancing with the most gorgeous man around? Probably. Kurt should go check out Madame Pomfrey, because clearly there is something wrong with his head.
Luckily for him, the music changed right then, to something more upbeat and exciting. Seeing Finn and Rachel standing awkwardly, he begged off from Jesse and went to join them.
". . .support me for the Second Task. Of course, the Second Task is traditionally used as an opportunity to allow the Champions to confront their fear of losing that which is most precious to them, so it is entirely possible that you won't be watching from the stands at all!"
Rachel was, of course, talking. Finn was just blinking.
"Way to mix business with pleasure, Rach," Kurt said, casually bumping her on the side.
"Kurt!" Rachel shrieked, turning and throwing her arms around him. Kurt raised one eyebrow. Finn shrugged.
"I think she had some of the spiked punch," he said. "She's a clingy drunk."
Just then, Santana and Brittany appeared, grinding and dancing to the music. Santana was crying into the blonde girls' neck, while Brittany appeared to be. . .undressing. Interesting.
"Weepy drunk," Finn explained, jerking a thumb toward Santana. He redirected the same thumb to point to Brittany. "Slutty drunk."
"Oh," Kurt mused. "I wasn't aware that there were drunk archetypes."
"I don't know what that means."
Kurt just sighed, and tried to gently pry Brittany off his backside, which she had begun to hump rather enthusiastically.
"Hi, Kurtsie!" she cried enthusiastically. "Are your lips as babysoft as your hands?"
Kurt couldn't really understand what happened next. One second he was trying to keep Brittany's thighs from touching his ass, and the next her lips were suddenly on his, and - oh, gross, was that her tongue? He was too confused and shocked to push her away. He just stood there and let her kiss him. When she finally pulled back, it was with a loud smack! and a delighted giggle.
"Your lips are delicious!" she exclaimed. Then Santana slapped him, screeching something about "culo" and "malvado" and "pinche pendejo" and Kurt really didn't know what was going on. Except that he'd had his first dance with a boy and his first kiss in the same night. Granted, the dance had been less than amazing, and the kiss had been with a girl, but. . .even so, Kurt Hummel was going to count the night a total success.
A/N: Clearly, Kurt is having too good of a time. This must be stopped! Have no fear. . .twill be angst coming up soon.
COMING SOON: The Second Task! Sam ends up juggling three girls, Blaine must face his biggest fear, and Kurt decides that it's time to do some investigating.