A/N: Hey guys, sorry for taking so long to get this out. I sort of lost inspiration for a while. For the song in this chapter, lines "like this" are sung by Hermione, lines "like this" are sung by Rachel and Hermione, and lines "like this" are sung by Rachel. Once again, terribly sorry for the delay, but thank you to all of you for remaining loyal to this story!
unexpected sabotage: So sorry for not getting this out any sooner, but I hope you continue to enjoy this story! :)
xOrax: Thank you!
Pineapple.X: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Their interactions are so much fun to write!
DragonsWillFly: I'm a huge Bellatrix fan too, haha. Thank you for your kind words though! I hope you like this next chapter :)
On to the story!
~Chapter 33~
Loud music was blaring out of the weight room as Hermione continuously threw punches at the bag hanging in front of her. She closed her eyes tightly as memories from the past began to creep back into her mind and began another relentless assault of the punching bag. She'd already been at school for several hours, her body was glistening with sweat, but she refused to give in to her fatigue. The Gryffindor was so focused on what she was doing that she didn't hear someone calling out her name. When the music clicked off, she spun around furiously.
"Whoa, Granger, it's just me," Santana answered cautiously, holding her hands up.
"Oh, sorry, San. I wasn't expecting anyone to find me here," the British girl informed her meekly.
"Sam told me you like to come here sometimes," the Latina shrugged. "Is everything ok, Mia?"
"Ye—actually, no. It's just...I know she's gone, but I'm scared she's going to come back," she muttered vulnerably. "But then I get pissed because she turned me into this—this hateful person." The shorter girl frowned and placed her hands on the other girl's shoulders.
"Princesa, stop. You are the most loving and caring person I know. And it's ok to be scared, but I promise you that I will make sure no one ever hurts you again." Hermione finally looked up, meeting the raven-haired girl's concerned gaze and gave her a watery smile.
"Thanks, love," the older girl murmured tiredly. "I really need to shower," she mused out loud.
"Wanky," smirked Santana as she eyed the girl who was wearing nothing but a pair of barely there shorts and a sports bra. "And as much as I would love to join you, I'm going to go tell your teacher that you'll be a few minutes late."
"You're so sweet, San," the young witch beamed as she made her way to the girls' locker room for a quick shower.
"Yeah, don't go around telling anyone that!" The former Cheerio yelled out playfully as she walked out into the hallway.
A few hours later, Santana made her way to her locker only to grin happily upon seeing Hermione waiting for her.
"Hey, are you feeling any better?" The shorter girl inquired with a tilt of her head.
"Yeah, love, thanks to you," the British teen responded with a smile. The two girls just stared longingly at each other before Santana's phone rang.
"It's Weezy," she spoke with a roll of her eyes. "Make it quick," she drawled into the phone. "Oh god. It sounds awful." The Latina looked at the older girl and mouthed 'the hobbit is having a party'.
"San, be nice!" Hermione chastised sternly as Brittney approached them.
"Is anyone actually going?" The dark-eyed girl asked her best friend before facing a now glaring Hermione and apologizing to her lover for mocking Rachel yet again.
"Let me find out," Brittany stated, amused at the sight of the Latina begging the older girl for forgiveness. "Hey, babe. Did you hear?" She asked into her phone.
"Yes, Mercedes just told me," Artie spoke with an uncomfortable laugh.
"You're going, right?" Mercedes voice rang out from Santana's phone.
"Only if there's liquor. Because a Rachel Berry party is not something I can do sober," the raven-haired girl told the diva, earning a smack upside the head from Hermione.
"Seriously, San! Rachel is not that bad!" The British girl shrieked, crossing her arms and glaring at the Latina.
"But it's alcohol awareness week," the ditzy blonde pointed out, while giggling at the two girls.
"Precisely. And I'm aware of how much fun alcohol is. Let's ask Puckerman," Santana pointed out with a crooked grin, trying to win the British girl over. She started to dial the boy's number when Hermione sprinted away from her side and into Puck's arms.
"Hey, Herms, how are ya?" The taller boy asked her with a rare, genuine smile while spinning her around as the others came into view.
"Getting annoyed by San as usual," she informed him while sticking her tongue out at the her lover, who began to pout.
"Hey, guys, sup?" The football questioned, putting down the wavy-haired brunette.
"Can your friend score us some wine coolers?" The raven-haired girl asked as she scooted closer to Hermione, who was trying to ignore her.
"No, but his ID can."
"Seriously? Wine coolers?" The British girl snorted, giving her lover an incredulous look.
"Oh, hush, you," Santana growled back playfully as she poked the older girl in the stomach causing her to squeak and jump up.
"Back to the original subject at hand," Mercedes interrupted with a grin as the group entered the choir room. "Well, if we're all in, it's settled. The Rachel-Berry-House-Party-Train-Wreck-Extravaganza is officially a go."
"This better be fun," grumbled the tan-skinned girl.
"I'm sure it will be, but hopefully there is something a lot stronger than some wine coolers. I definitely could use a drink after the past couple of weeks I've had," chuckled Hermione, causing Santana to frown and grab her hand reassuringly.
A few days later, Hermione and Santana entered the Berry household and were ultimately shocked by the complete and total lameness of Rachel's first attempt at throwing a party. The Latina turned around to leave forcing the taller girl to link their arms and drag her over to a fuming little diva.
"Noah, I will not allow you to do that! My dads trusted me to be responsible!"
"Rach, honey, you gotta let Puck break into your dads' liquor cabinet or people are going to start leaving," Hermione whispered into her ear urgently. "Trust me, I won't let anything get too out of control." The diva sighed, but nodded at Puck who suddenly looked like a kid in a candy shop.
"I bet you're a lightweight," Santana informed the older girl beside her after she was handed a plastic cup.
"Oh, how wrong you are about that one, love," she replied with a wink before grabbing a bottle of gin from the boy with the Mohawk and taking a long drink out of it.
"So hot," groaned Santana as she gazed at the other girl lustfully. She quickly grabbed the British girl and pulled her over to the makeshift dance floor. Things were rapidly heating up between them before Rachel's voice tore them out of their thoughts.
"It tastes like pink! It tastes like pink! Let's play spin the bottle!"
"Berry, stop squawking! Fuck, talk about a turn off... Um, you up for a little spin the bottle?" The raven-haired girl asked, trying to calm down her racing heart.
"You won't get jealous?" Hermione pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not!" She pushed Hermione to join the circle and went to make herself another drink. When she came back she saw that Brittany was spinning the bottle. After a few seconds it landed on Hermione. The guys started cheering loudly as Brittany leaned over the bottle, meeting Hermione halfway.
"Finally!" The blonde dancer cheered, closing her eyes.
"You know what? A reminder, I owns those lovely British lips. They belongs to me!" Santana interjected before her friends' lips touched. After several moments, they broke apart, earning a glare from the fiery Latina. "Berry, spin the fucking bottle!" She spat. Rachel frantically did as she was told and spun the bottle, which landed on Hermione yet again. "Oh, hells no! Is that damn bottle rigged?"
"Santana, relax, it's all a part of the game," Artie told her with a roll of his eyes as Rachel inched closer to an amused looking Hermione. Their lips touched for a few seconds before the British girl started pulling away, only to be pulled back in by the diva.
"Uh, Rachel…" Finn began uncomfortably.
"Hobbit, get off my woman! No me gusta!" Santana screamed pulling Hermione over to her. "You like the dwarf better than me," she began to cry.
"Love, you know you're the only one I want. Calm down, ok?" The taller girl murmured to her fuming companion. "Bloody hell, who knew you of all people would be the weepy girl drunk," she snorted.
"I'm sorry. It's the alcohol talking," the Latina murmured bashfully as she tried to regain her composure. "Wait, how come you're not drunk?"
"I'm used to drinking a lot stronger stuff back home," she replied with a smirk, thinking of all the nights she drank Firewhiskey with Harry. She kissed the other girl passionately before she felt someone drag her up onto the stage.
"This is my new duet partner!" Rachel squealed, handing a microphone to a confused looking Hermione.
"Um…" The wavy-haired brunette started to speak before Rachel started singing.
"My head is in a spin
My feet don't touch the ground.
Because you're near to me,
My head goes round and round.
My knees are shakin' baby,
My heart it beats like a drum."
Hermione rolled her eyes playfully before joining the shorter brunette on the chorus.
"It feels like,
It feels like I'm in love."
Hermione looked up at Santana and winked, causing the Latina to laugh and shake her head.
"Ain't been this way before,
But I know I'm turned on.
It's time for something baby,
I can't turn off.
My knees are shakin' baby,
My heart it beats like a drum."
Rachel skipped across the stage and spun the British girl around so they were standing back to back for the chorus.
"It feels like,
It feels like I'm in love.
My knees shake,
My heart beats like a drum.
The girls put their hands up on their foreheads before throwing their heads back dramatically.
"It feels like,
It feels like I'm in love.
My knees shake,
My heart beats like a drum."
"Ooh baby. Ooh baby. Ooh baby."
Rachel sang as she strutted towards the center of the stage and bent over to grab Finn, placing a sloppy kiss on the football player's lips. The remaining New Directions shuddered and returned their focus on the wavy-haired brunette up on the stage.
"My head is in a spin,
My feet don't touch the ground.
Because you're near to me,
My head goes round and round.
My knees are skakin' baby,
My heart it beats like a drum."
The young witch pulled Rachel away from her flustered boyfriend and motioned to her that they had to finish the song.
"It feels like,
It feels like I'm in love.
My knees shake,
My heart beats like a drum.
"Ooh baby. Ooh baby.
Ooh baby. Ooh baby."
Once they finished the song, their friends cheered loudly for them before Rachel attempted to take a bow causing her to fall off the stage and into Artie's lap. Santana snickered before helping Hermione take the diva up to her room.
"Ok, Rach, you get some sleep, alright? San and I will stay here and keep an eye on you if that's alright," the older girl muttered soothingly, running her fingers through the weary girl's hair.
"Mmpff, thanks, Mione. Satan is a very lucky lady," Rachel answered with a yawn, burying her face into her pillow. Once the tiny brunette was sound asleep, the British girl dragged the former Cheerio back to the basement to help clean up the mess the New Directions had created.
"Princesaaaaa, why do we have to stay?" Santana whined as they walked down the stairs. Hermione turned around and gently pushed the tanned-skin girl into the wall.
"Because this was Rachel's first time drinking and she needs someone responsible to watch over her in case she gets sick. Please, love, I'll make it up to you," she whispered huskily, placing kisses all over the shorter girl's neck.
"So not fair," groaned the Latina. "Fine, fine, fine! But this does not mean that I care about the hobbit. I only care about sweet lady kisses with you."
"That's my girl," chuckled the Gryffindor as they joined the others, trash bags in hand.
"Ok, mates, we have a mess to clean up!" The former prefect began passing around trash bags to the group of singers.
"Mia, remind me again why we have to do this?" The raven-haired girl pouted a few minutes later, looking disgustedly at a pile of sticky cups.
"Because it's the right thing to do! And if you keep whining, I won't reward you later for helping me out." This statement shut Santana up and she hastily shoved all of the trash into several trash bags as Hermione decided who could drive and who couldn't.
"Ok, Finn, you haven't been drinking, you can take Sam, Quinn, Puck, and Mercedes in your truck. Kurt, you stayed sober to impress a now very wasted Warbler, so you can take Blaine, Brittany, Artie, Mike, and Tina. San and I will stay here to keep an eye on Rachel since neither of us should probably be driving. Sound good?" Finn looked like he was about to protest before Kurt elbowed him harshly in the side. The step-brothers nodded and thanked Hermione for helping them round up the drunken teens.
Once they were finished cleaning, the two girls collapsed tiredly on the couch, snuggling into each other.
"Ugh, my head is spinning. Why did I drink so much?" Santana grumbled as the wavy-haired brunette kissed the top of her head.
"Because you were jealous of Rachel and Brittany getting to kiss me?" The older girl snickered.
"I didn't really mind Brit as much. I mean, she is my best friend, but the dwarf went too far," the dark-eyed girl growled.
"Love, relax. No one's got anything on you. Now finish your water and get some sleep."
"You're amazing," the younger girl murmured before kissing Hermione quickly and throwing a blanket over them.
A/N, part II: I'll really try to get the next chapter out in a couple of days! Song was "Feels Like I'm in Love" by Kelly Marie.