This is just from this weird dream I had the other night. It's a weird AU Labrinth/Harry Potter crossover universe where Jareth is only 12 years old. The events take place just after the last Harry Potter book.
It's always bothered me that Harry and the others seemed to get away with stealing from Gringott's. I just can't see them getting away with it scot-free reagrdless of their heroics during the war. I just can't see the goblin's caring more about the war than their reputation for the safety of a Gringott's vault. Oh and Dumbledore's alive in this AU. Don't ask me why, i'm not in control of my dreams.
Jareth's adventure!
Usual disclaimers, etc.
"Someone's coming!" Bill hissed.
Dumbledore and Harry glanced around quickly for a hiding place. Bill was risking his job to help them find the documents they needed and they must not be discovered.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had all had their Gringott accounts suspended for their part in the now famous Gringott's break in. Though the goblins had submitted to the might of the ministry ministries and hadn't pressed charges, they still utterly refused to hold any of the 'Golden Trio's' money. Life was fast reaching impossible in the wizarding world without access to Gringott's. The three were left with hoards of galleons to protect, and not a single goblin was willing to even exchange what they had to muggle money, so they couldn't even put what they owned in mortal banks. Hermione was the best off, with very little in her account to start with, and with muggle parents having money safely in muggle banking systems. Ron had never had much money to start with, but did have plenty of family members willing to help him out. Harry had ended up with a large unprotected fortune, left temporarily at Sirius' old house. However not one of the three could get jobs, go to university or interact with the wizarding world without access to a Gringott's account, not without spending the rest of thier lives reliant on someone elses kindness.
"The balcony," Dumbledore finally decided. They backed into the shadows; there was a balcony circling the room below leading to the main lobby. hey were just in time, for a group of goblins entered the room below chattering happily.
"Transvere" Dumbledore muttered. Suddenly the three could understand the goblins talking below them. They glanced at him amazed, Dumbledore grinned, "Just a little something I've been working on," he whispered.
Bill recognised one of the goblins, a goblin by the name of Fenrook. He wasn't quite sure what the goblin did in the bank, but he seemed to get a great deal of respect. He looked nothing like any of the other goblins, was about 6 foot tall, built like a tank, and always carried a sword. The other two goblins he knew vaguely too, one a teller named Griphook and the other was the London branch manager Ragnok.
Suddenly a third goblin entered the room.
"Sir" he said bowing nervously to Fenrook. Bill's eyes widened, he'd never seen them do that before.
"Yes," answered Fenrook somewhat impatiently, they had a lot of work to get through tonight. Fenrook sighed when he a second, clearly wary, younger person sidled innocently into the room.
"Why are you not at school?" Fenrook asked sternly.
Jareth shrugged guiltily "The headmaster said I'm suspended for the rest of term. I'm supposed to think about what I did."
"And what was it exactly, that you did?" Fenrook asked suspiciously.
"It was totally not my fault," Jareth started virtuously.
By the end of Jareth's explanation all of the goblins were hiding smiles, except Fenrook who was trying his very best to act stern.
"And that's why the fire was the gardeners fault." Jareth finished triumphantly. He could already see he'd got away with things, as per usual. Fenrook was the usual one to watch out for, all the other goblins tended to spoil him outrageously and he knew already, by the look in his eye, that Fenrook was trying hard not to smile at the story.
"So can I have some lunch now? Grout here has promised to take me to the circus this afternoon."
Fenrook's attention immediately turned to the original messenger. "The circus? You think he should be rewarded for setting fire to the library and hitting his teacher with a shovel?"
Grout wilted, "But he didn't really mean it," he tried.
Fenrook glared, hard. Grout melted completely, "Sorry sire," he said to Jareth apologetically, "But I've just remembered this thing... I have to go do it." He bowed once to Jareth nodded his head to Fenrook and made his escape.
Even Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at this. "Sire?" Bill mouthed surprised
Jareth scowled "That was mean," he whined. "What else am I going to do with my day?"
Fenrook finally smiled "You can stay with me, and actually learn something for a change."
"Learn something?" Jareth replied dubiously.
"What do you know about Gringott's?" Fenrook asked.
"Well it's a bank, a goblin bank." Jareth answered.
"How many branches does it have? How many staff? What's the profit margin?" Fenrook fired back.
Jareth looked flumuxed "5 branches, 200 staff, no profit." Jareth answered.
"Jareth, if you are going to just make it up, at least be faintly believable. Fenrook growled. The other goblins sniggered.
"Lots of profit," Jareth tried hopefully.
"Over 50 million Gallons a year of profit, and there's 502 branches in the above and below staffed with goblins, with 10,000 muggles cash machines and 80,000 though the Link system. There are over 1000 non-goblin members of staff, and 3000 goblins. That's not to mention our other areas of interest, such as treasure hunting and exploration."
Jareth latched on to only one word of this. "Treasure?" he questioned "You go treasure hunting? Can I go?"
Fenrook sighed heavily, he'd known as soon as he said it that it was a mistake. He was never going to get Jareth to listen now.
"Forget the treasure," Fenrook said angrily, already knowing it was a hopeless cause.
Jareth ignored him, turning to Ragnok with new interest. "Can I go treasure hunting with you?"
Ragnok melted instantly at the attention from his King. "I don't see why not sire." He answered, trying not to look at the fuming Fenrook.
"Because it's dangerous, that's why not!" Fenrook almost shouted. He already knew he'd lost. He might be Regent, but the young Goblin King usually got his own way. If he said no he just knew that one of the goblins would sneak him out there anyway.
"Pleaasse?" Jareth whined.
"We could take him to the Queen Mamoosh's tomb," Ragnok tried. "It's in Egypt," he added helpfully to Jareth.
Jareth grinned triumphantly.
"And we could make sure there are no non-goblins on site." Ragnok added helpfully.
Fenrook's shoulder sagged, not nearly as immune to Jareth as he always tried to pretend.
"You stay with me every single minute." He said seriously "No running off, no magic, no touching."
Jareth rolled his eyes. "Alright already, I promise to behave," he said excitedly. "This is going to be great. My friends are going to be so jealous; none of them have ever been treasure hunting."
"This is not a reward for bad behaviour." Fenrook tried, already knowing it was far, far too late.
"This is way better than a crummy old circus." Jareth continued happily, visions of discovering graves, lined with gold and with suitably horror filled ancient curses and mummies, lodged firmly in his mind. He'd discover something great, he just knew it.
"And I want at least 5 Knights of the Labyrinth present, as bodyguards." Fenrook continued seriously to Ragnok. "You're sure the area is secure?"
Ragnok paused, thinking seriously for the first time about Jareth's welfare. "We should be able to make it safe enough," he replied seriously.
"I don't want safe, safe is boring." Jareth whined. This time every goblin in the room glared at him. Jareth's safety was always the highest priority.
