13:57
A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews! It's such a bright spot in the day, to log on to the computer and see reviews. What joy! What glee! And I am very sorry about the slower updates. . .work is hard, I want to go back to college! Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Kurt wakes up on Monday morning with a smile on his face, a warm, buttery feeling in his stomach, and his mouth full of hair. Which is strange, because the last time he checked, he didn't have hair long enough to infiltrate his mouth. He spat once, twice, and then just gave up and sat up.
"Kurt!" Rachel Berry sat back, a pleased expression on her face. Kurt glanced around at the other boys in the dorm. Most of them were still asleep, but James was awake, as was Hugo, and they were both staring at the girl with shocked expressions on their faces. Kurt sighed. Hugo burst into a bright grin.
"Dude!" he said, pointing a finger at Rachel, "you snuck a girl in! That's so badass!"
"Don't even try it," James said wryly. "Aunt Hermione will ground you for the entire summer."
"Yeah," Hugo said reverently, "but Dad would think it's so cool."
"Shut it, Weasley," Kurt said absently-mindedly, before turning to the girl still perched chipperly at the edge of his bed. "Rachel, what are you doing in the boys' dormitory?"
"Oh, yes." Rachel folded her hands primly on her lap. "We just received the clue for the second task, and I was hoping that you could help me parse it out."
Kurt just groaned. "Rachel, it is 5:30 in the morning. And you are in the Gryffindor boys dorm."
"Kurt, this is about the Tournament. This is more important than those silly school rules!"
"It's 5:30 in the morning!"
"You'd better get out of here," James said. A few of the other boys were beginning to shift and mumble in their sleep. "Kurt's incredibly cranky when he doesn't get his nine hours of beauty sleep."
"Nine point five," Kurt groused, already leaning over and sinking his head back into his pillow. His nice, fluffy, feathery pillow. Sleep is incredibly important to maintain healthy skin. He absolutely can't pull off the tortured artist look, with the bags under the eyes.
"But Kurt, you're my best friend. . ."
"I'm your best friend in three hours," Kurt said decisively. "Right now you're the obnoxious, female Slytherin currently in the wrong dormitory."
"Fine," Rachel said, moving and sitting on the bay window. "I'll just wait here until you're ready to deal with me."
Hugo looked ecstatic at the proposition. James looked irritated. Kurt just sighed, and swung his legs over the bed. He stood up and glared at Rachel. If his eyes ended up being bloodshot or he got so much as one zit, Rachel Berry was going to pay for it.
"Let's go," he hissed, promptly stalking out of the room.
"You're still in your pajamas," Rachel pointed out helpfully. "Maybe you should put on your normal clothes."
Kurt ignored her. It was far too early to be up, he hadn't had his coffee, and he was having to deal with a diva tantrum far too early. He should be given sainthood for this. Instead he stomped out the door, ignoring her protests at leaving the comfy common room with its "delightful fire."
He headed straight down to the kitchens, knowing that some of the house elves would give him coffee. Rachel just seemed pleased that he'd actually woken up, and was practically skipping along beside them.
"I just want you to know, I'm only doing this for you because you went to the dance with Blaine after. . .hey, wait a second! Blaine's gay!"
"Oh," Rachel said, her eyes shifting nervously. "Did you finally. . .uh. . .figure that out?"
Kurt glared at her, his eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. . .you knew! All those years that I was wondering and freaking out. . .and you knew he was gay!"
"He. . .might have said something about that," Rachel said. "After I kissed him."
"Might have? You said he just said that you weren't his type!"
"Well, I. . .I was looking out for you!" Rachel protested. To her credit, she did look genuinely upset. Then again, Kurt had seen her reduced to tears by her own singing, so he wasn't about to assume credibility. "I knew how much you liked him, and. . .I just thought it was easier. . ."
"What exactly did he say?" Kurt asked.
"I said, sorry, Rachel, but I'm gay. Definitely, 100% gay."
Kurt froze. Beside him, Rachel froze. Oh no, Kurt thought. Oh no no no no no. Of all the humiliating, horrible things that could possibly happen, this had to be the worst. It was always embarrassing to have someone find out he'd been talking about them. But this was a billion, quadrillion times worse. Because not only had Blaine caught them talking behind his back, he'd also caught Kurt in the morning, before his moisturizing routine, and before he'd styled his hair. He was still wearing his silk pajamas. And his bunny slippers!
Kurt turned around slowly, and groaned. Because Blaine looked as delicious as ever. He only had on his slack and a whit et-shirt, not yet in full uniform, but at least dressed like a normal person. His hair was still rumpled and curly, which Kurt. . .oddly liked. He'd always respected Blaine's impeccable styling, but there was something about seeing him half-ready that was gorgeous. There was a spark in his hazel eyes, and his lips were slightly quirked.
"Oh my Dumbledore," Kurt whispered. "I had no idea you were there."
"Obviously," Blaine said. "What are you two doing down here?"
"Nothing. . ." Rachel said slowly.
"Rachel wanted help figuring out the second clue," Kurt said sharply. "And I refuse to try and force my brain into functioning without coffee."
"Same here," Blaine said with a grin. "Shall I make you a grande non-fat latte?"
Kurt froze. Absolutely froze. His brain went blank for a moment.
Then he was back. "You. . .you know my coffee order?" he asked lightly.
"Of course I do," Blaine said, scoffing a little. "You think all those coffee outings with you, me and Finn went unnoticed?"
Why yes, yes, Mr. Anderson, I did, Kurt thought. Because those outings had always resulted in the same thing: he and Blaine would idly chat until Finn sat down with his hot chocolate and double whipped cream, and then the older two boys would promptly start talking sports, while Kurt quietly read a book.
"Rachel, can I get you something?"
"Oh, no," Rachel said smartly. "Caffeine stunts your growth."
"Oh, is that why I'm so short?" Blaine quipped. "Wish my parents had warned me about that."
Rachel looked consternated. Kurt giggled a little, which made Blaine smile. "Here," he said warmly, handing Kurt a full mug. "I put a little something special in it."
"Cinnamon?" Kurt guessed, before he'd even lifted it to his lips. He knew that Blaine loved putting the spice in his own coffee. Blaine's thick eyebrows lifted into his hairline.
"How did you. . ."
"You're not the only one who knows a coffee order," Kurt said. Blaine smiled again, that half smile that made Kurt's stomach do flip-flops. Why had he agreed to go to the Yule Ball with Jesse, instead of Blaine?
Blaine promptly handed Rachel a cup of tea. "Earl Grey, right?"
Oh, that's right. Because Blaine only asked him because he was a considerate, open person. And Jesse had asked him as an actual date.
"Well, I'm not even sure I'm going to waste time trying to figure out the clue," Blaine said. "Last time we figured it out, and it didn't do us any good."
"That's true," Kurt said.
"But it might be some kind of advantage!" Rachel protested. Kurt just took a sip of his drink. The cinnamon really was heavenly. He smiled a little at Blaine.
"Actually," Blaine said, lowly and conspiratorially. "I was thinking about cutting class today. Just getting my mind off everything before the competition tomorrow."
"What?" Rachel gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of her face. "But that's. . .that's breaking the rules!"
"Seriously?" Kurt asked. "You snuck into the Gryffindor boys' dormitory, and you're worried about breaking the rules?"
"That was different! That was in preparation for an extracurricular activity!"
"This is extracurricular," Blaine said. "It has absolutely nothing to do with a Hogwarts class."
"How will you keep from being caught?" Kurt asked. Normally, he was opposed to skipping class. But the idea of skipping class with Blaine was a bit intoxicating. He tried to imagine what they might do. Sit for hours in the back of the library, talking. . .cuddling on the couches in the Hufflepuff common room (he assumed it was cozier than the Gryffindor, since it was by the kitchens, and not in a stupid, drafty old tower). Maybe they would walk out to the lake, and just lie there, entangled in one another.
"I know a secret passage that lets out into the Forbidden Forest," Blaine said.
"You can't go into the Forbidden Forest!" Rachel gasped. "It's. . .it's forbidden!"
"Well, I'm in," Kurt said, the words out of his mouth before he really had the chance to consider what he was saying. Blaine grinned at him, and waggled his eyebrows.
Two hours later, Kurt really wasn't sure why he'd agreed to any of this. What had ever made him think that he would want to walk through the wood? He hated the woods. He hated bugs, and mud, and icky things like this.
"Isn't this awesome?" Blaine said idly. "Being out in nature like this?"
"Not especially," Kurt said, because even for Blaine he wasn't going to change who he was. The other boy didn't seem to mind his honesty, however, chuckling a little.
"Do you mind?" he asked, and before Kurt could asked what he was talking about, they were holding hands. Nothing intimate, no interlocked fingers, just two hands lightly clasped together, as Blaine swung them back and forth in a slight pendulum. Kurt's heart stuttered twice before resuming, and he just hoped desperately that Blaine didn't notice.
"I don't," Kurt said. "Unless you're like Finn and forget to wash your hands after using the lavatory."
"Ew, no," Blaine said, making a face. "You're totally right, though.. . .he does forget sometimes."
They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes. Kurt hoped he could get the mud off his boots. Granted, they were just the standard issue Hogwarts boots, but he still took care of them, tried to keep them shined and nice and clean. He had to make do with what he had, after all.
"I like this," Blaine said. "Spending time with you, I mean. I know I said that we should hang out at Hogsmeade. But we never really did after that."
"Oh," Kurt said softly. "Well. . .can I be perfectly honest?" This time he didn't wait for the other boy to respond. "I didn't think you wanted to hang out after. . .after the bathroom. And Karofsky, and. . ."
"Yeah," Blaine said softly. "Dave. He's just. . .he's so confused, you know? It's kind of sad."
"I suppose," Kurt said slowly. "The truth is, I've never really been confused. I've just always. . .known."
"Yeah," Blaine said, consideringly. "But it's not so easy for all of us. And, you know, it can be hard. My dad didn't talk to me for a month after I came out."
"Really?" Kurt, feeling incredibly bold, squeezed the other boy's hand. Blaine glanced up and grinned at him.
"Anyway. Let's not talk about that. Did you see the latest issue of Vogue?"
xxx
Kurt got to Musical Lyricism a little bit early. He hated being the first person in the room: there was always that awkwardness of having to look at every single person who walked in. So instead, he just leaned against the hall, idly flipping through the hseet music that they were supposed to be working on.
Jesse was the first one to walk, complete with entourage. He winked at Kurt as he strode by.
"Waiting for something?" he asked. Kurt just shrugged. Jesse brushed his hair back, and walked into the room, glancing over his shoulder for just a moment before the door shut. Kurt straightened himself, and tried to tighten up his tie.
Azimio walked away without paying any attention to him. Karofsky, however, went out of his way to shouldercheck Kurt into the wall.
"What the hell?" Kurt asked. "I thought you were over that whole, fake homophobia thing?"
"Stay away from Jesse," Karofsky hissed. "He's not into you. And you'd better not be spying for your stupid Slytherin girlfriend."
Kurt didn't even have a retort to that, it was too completely asinine. He just stared as Karofsky walked away down the hallway. Really, what was the guy thinking? He obviously had some kind of a problem with Kurt. Maybe he was too gay for Karofsky, maybe he threatened his sense of masculinity or something. Whatever. Kurt wasn't going to waste another minute of his life trying to figure out that stupid Neanderthal.
Though he did wonder whether he should tell Blaine or not.
As it turned out, it didn't matter, as Blaine came in, laughing over something with Finn and Sam. The Beauxbatons girls were in next, giggling and glancing at the boys, and inutes later class had started. At least, as much as class had ever started, since Jesse st. James had joined the class.
"Look, Mr. Schuester, we have the Second Task tomorrow," Jesse said. "I really think that it's important to teach us some offensive magic."
Professor Schuester sighed, and shook his head. Yet again, Kurt thought. It seeme like every session of Musical Lyricism was going the same. Jesse would insist on one thing, Professor Schue would shoot it down, and then so on and so forth. He wished he'd brought some of his homework with him. Then he could have gotten some work done while waiting for them to resolve it.
"Jesse, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Musical Lyricism is not the proper place to learn offensive work. This is a great way of doing prolonged magic, and of altering emotions, but it's just not practical for offensive spells. It takes too long."
"This is ridiculous," Jesse sneered. "This is baby magic. I learned all of this my first year at Durmstrang. If you're not going to teach me something that might actually be useful, then I simply don't see the purpose in being here."
"Nobody is forcing you," Professor Schuester said, and Kurt jerked his head up. That was new. Professor Schue looked downright angry, and glancing at him, Kurt could see that his anger was just barely restrained. Interesting. Professor Schue was about the most mild-mannered teacher that he'd ever met.
"Fine," Jesse said, stepping up and sniffing. "I'll be holding my own class next door, for anyone who wants to learn advanced magic. Kurt?"
Kurt glanced around. Rachel was biting her lip and smirking at him, while Mercedes was covering her own grin with her hand. Kurt sighed.
"No, thanks," he said, "I'm good."
Jesse slammed the door on his way out. Kurt wasn't surprised.
Blaine raised his hand. "Not that I agree with Jesse entirely, but he does have a point. Rachel, Quinn and I have the Second Task tomorrow. And we all used Musical Lyricism to succeed in our First Task, so isn't it possible that there's something you could teach us that could help?"
"Of course there is," Professor Schue said with a grin. "In fact, this just might be the greatest lesson I have ever taught, if I do say so myself. A mash-up."
Finn instantly stood up and started walking toward the door, prompting Professor Schuester to ask him what he was doing.
"I just. . .you said that we were doing some mashing," he said. "Since that's exactly what Jesse wants to do, I thought I'd go get him."
"No, Finn," Professor Schuester apparently couldn't keep from laughing at that. "A mash-up has nothing to do with fighting. It's taking two songs, and mashing them together to make one super song."
"Oh," Finn said, sitting back down. Sam and Blaine both smirked at him. "I knew that. Totally knew that."
"So what will be the inspiration for today's synergy?" Rachel asked peppily. Professor Schuester grinned, and walked over to his whiteboard. Kurt tried not to grin. Their professor, while generally an adequate enough teacher, had a distinct propensity for writing single words on his whiteboard. He probably thought that it was inspiring. Instead it made Kurt question his level of education.
Indeed, Professor Schuester scrawled one word (well, two, but the hyphen combined them) across the board.
Self-Empowerment.
"Today we'll be mashing up a Protection with an Affirmation," Professor Schuester said. "Here's the great thing. You can divide these up and use them separately, to either create a defensive spell, or to urge yourself on when you lose faith. Or you can sing them together for more power."
"Oh, I do hope that you've chosen Barbra Streisand's seminal classic 'Don't Rain On My Parade' as an exemplar of the Affirmation!" Rachel said, practically bouncing out of her seat. Professor Schuester looked chagrined.
"Actually. . ." he said, "I planned out a mash-up of Colbie Caillat's 'It Stops Today' and JJ Heller's 'Keep You Safe.'"
Kurt frowned. It just figured that Professor Schuester would force them into a mash-up of pop music. At least it was better than white rappers or 80s tunes. Or. . .gasp. . .Journey.
As it turned out, it was a pretty good lesson, after Finn pointed out that they had no way of knowing if the Protection was working. So Finn, Mike, and Artie promptly stopped singing, and began trying to zap everyone with Stunning Spells. Then Sam wondered idly if the defensive magic would also prevent physical objects. He ran to the kitchen and promptly began pelting everyone with cherries.
In the end, it came down to Blaine, Rachel, and Quinn, as the last members still singing, without hazy vision from a Stunning Spell or cherry juice running down their clothing. Which gave Kurt a funny feeling in his stomach. . .even funnier when he realized that if Jesse st. James were there, he'd still be belting it out, too. And they were the four Champions.
But then Sam winked at Quinn, and she lost her concentration just long enough for one of Artie's cherries to hit her square on the forehead. And it was really hard to hold on to that ominous sense of foreboding when Quinn Fabray is licking cherry juice off her nose.
And it's even harder when Blaine starts giggling, and a watermelon splashes across his face. And then Rachel is jumping up and down, screeching that she's won, and Mercedes is laughing as she pulls bits of cherry out of her weave, and Brittany and Santana are hugging Quinn, and Artie's kissing Tina, and Professor Schuester is standing there laughing, and Finn and Sam are high-fiving and. . .Kurt kind of thinks that somehow, this group of weirdos have become friends.
And then there's something sticky pressed against him, and he turns to his side to see laughing hazel eyes. "You were entirely too unscathed," Blaine said, as he dropped a chunk of watermelon into Kurt's hair. Which really should have pissed him off, but somehow didn't.
COMING SOON: The Second Task, where Finn is confused, Kurt is pissed, Blaine is terrified, Jesse is smug, Rachel is oblivious, Sam is touched, and Mercedes is nowhere to be found. What could the Second Task be? Here is your hint: 1. A home of wood in a wooded place, but uilt not by hands above the eartern ground, it holds its pale blue gems. 2. I am the outstretched fingers that seize and hold the wind, wisdom flows from me in other hands; upon me are sweet dreams dreamt, my merest touch brings laughter.