A/N: So I was going to upload this several hours ago, but I've kinda been watching Glee all day... Don't judge me!

Anyways, a special thanks to MadMabry and LauraFlowi for their awesome feedback! :)

P.S. I'll try to upload another chapter when my roommates commandeer the television in a few hours.

~Chapter 6~

Previously: "I'm really glad I met you, Blaine Anderson," she told him honestly, squeezing his hand. "You truly are remarkable." The boy turned a light shade of pink as he pulled into the restaurant and helped Hermione get out of the car.

"Well, from what I've seen so far, I'm nothing compared to you, Hermione Granger."

The next day, Hermione walked into the school confidently, talking to Kurt and Mercedes about London. Everything was going well until they were nearing their lockers.

"Hey, homo!" Karofsky shouted before throwing Kurt aside.

"What the hell is your problem?" Hermione screamed at him, grabbing his arm and dragging him away from her frightened friend.

"Nothing, just putting this fag in his place. Why do you even care? Are you a dyke or something?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am," she spat, stepping closer to the jock, who merely sneered before roughly shoving Hermione face first into the lockers. Puck, who had been walking by, ran up to his fellow football player and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"Dude, you do not do that to a girl."

"She's no girl, Puckerman. She's a dirty little dyke!" He yelled, causing everyone to look at the girl who now had her arms wrapped around her.

"Get the fuck outta here, Karofsky, before I beat the shit outta you!" Puck growled, pushing the boy away. The bully stalked off, mumbling dangerously to himself, and glaring at anyone who got in his way.

"What an ass…" Hermione choked out as she collapsed to the ground.

"Girl, you're bleeding!" Mercedes shrieked.

"Oh, bloody hell…"

"Shit. C'mon, babe, I'm taking you to the nurse," Puck spoke quickly as he picked the girl up. He rushed to the nurse's office and put her down on the bed before beginning his frantic search for Mr. Schue.

Once he disappeared from her sight, Hermione took off her shirt and groaned when she saw that the gashes from the Sectumsempra curse had opened up and were now bleeding through the bandages.

"What the hell?" A soft voice called out, causing the brunette to jump and whip her head up.

"Shit. Um, please don't tell anyone about this," she begged, taking time to really look at the other girl. "She's gorgeous," she thought to herself.

"I'll think about it," the blonde drawled out, inspecting her nails.

"Thanks, I guess," Hermione replied uncertainly. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I got into a fight with another cheerleader after I told our coach about her boob job," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"Didn't I see you in the choir room yesterday?"

"Yes," she answered with a sigh. "The name's Quinn Fabray."

"Pleasure to meet you," Hermione told her with a smile. "Oh! You're bleeding. Let me clean that cut up above your eye." She walked over to the sink to get a damp cloth before approaching the blonde. As the British girl gently wiped away the blood, Quinn's heart began to flutter.

"Thanks," she murmured taking a step back from the brown-eyed girl. "You're the one who needs help though," she spoke with a small smile.

"Eh, I'm fine," Hermione shrugged. "Can you hand me that gauze though?" Quinn nodded and handed the bandages over to the other girl.

"How did that happen?" Quinn finally asked as she watched the brunette take off the old bandages.

"Um…"

"Mia, are you alright?" Will cried out as he ran into the small office with Puck. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at her uncle's impeccable timing.

"Yeah, Will, of course I am. I've dealt with a lot worse than a homophobic gorilla," she told him with an uncomfortable chuckle, wrapping the gauze around her torso.

"There she goes again saying that whole 'I've had a lot worse' thing again," Quinn thought to herself as Hermione threw on the t-shirt Puck had brought her.

"Thanks," she spoke with a smile aimed at the boy with hazel eyes.

"No prob, babe," he responded with a smile of his own, suddenly feeling protective of the girl.

"Well, if you're all done gawking at me, I'd like to get out of here," Hermione mumbled before quickly hugging her uncle. The remaining three watched her walk out of the room, two of whom were slightly confused, especially by their teacher's next comment.

"Thanks for your help, guys. She may not show it, but she really needs some people to lean on right now."

"Yeah, of course, Mr. Schue," Quinn told him with a rare, genuine smile.

As soon as Hermione exited the nurse's office, she began aimlessly walking around the school until she stumbled into the auditorium. She cautiously walked down to the stage where she found an acoustic guitar and a stool. She looked around and was relieved that no one was in sight. She picked up the guitar and began strumming the intro before opening her mouth to sing.

Santana was angrily walking past the auditorium when she heard a voice unfamiliar to her. She silently crept onto the stage and was shocked to see Mr. Schue's niece sitting on a wooden stool, playing a guitar, and singing. She sat down in the row closest to the stage and watched the beautiful scene unfold in front of her.

"There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go.
I never said thank you for that.
I thought I might get one more chance.
What would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance."

As the brunette sang, a few tears trickled down her face.

"May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
So what would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in."

Santana found herself struggling to maintain her composure as she listened to the pain in the British girl's voice.

"May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
And if you were with me tonight,
I'd sing to you just one more time.
A song for a heart so big,
god wouldn't let it live.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in."

"Well, well, well, I'm impressed, Granger," the Latina spoke, trying to hide her emotions as she climbed up onto the stage. Hermione spun around and quickly wiped away a few tears.

"Oh, um, I didn't know anyone was here."

"You've got a nice set of pipes. You should really try out for glee."

"Uh, why?"

"Because you're the only one who could knock Berry down a notch," she responded bluntly.

"And if I don't?" Hermione retorted defiantly.

"I'll just keep tormenting you til you do."

"Ugh, fine. I'll prepare something for tomorrow. Just don't tell anyone yet." Santana smirked triumphantly while looking the girl over before heading out of the auditorium, leaving behind a puzzled Hermione. "What the hell just happened?" She mused aloud, running a hand through her hair.