Author: Brandi Vincent

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Labyrinth nor any of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter characters. Yet I only own my own. But hey, I own this story.

+Chapter 1: I Wish+

"Come on, now! We, as in all three of us, need to study for the finals! This is our last chance, unless you two boneheads conduct another bomb to stuff down a Slytherin's pants!" Hermione demanded, running down the narrow corridor and into the library, with Harry and Ron groaning from behind her. Hermione didn't need to study that much, since she already knew most of the techniques of magic, but Harry and Ron did for sure. Weasley Wizard Wheezes had a huge impact on their studying time. It was their 6th year at Hogwarts, Sirius's name almost cleared, Voldemort still surviving out there somewhere, and Professor Lupin back into teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts and helping Dumbledore out about something mysterious. But that didn't stop Harry and Ron from fooling around, no sir. And Hermione felt it was her duty to at least try and make them study.

"Hermione, we already know about potion stuff and transfiguration crap!" Ron insisted, walking into the warm library after her.

"Then what's the equation of mixing asphodel and sour milk into one cauldron at 500 degrees Celsius?" Hermione asked, turning around to face him.

Ron opened his mouth, acting like he was going to have some great explanation, then closed it. He changed his mind. "I'll answer that when I can think up something smart to say..."

"And that's why you are failing."

"No! It's because Snape hates us! If I had a little smudge on my bottle, 10 points off of Gryffindor!" Ron walked over to the bookshelves, which in his opinion hated him, too.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. "Do something about your friend before I take my wand and stick it up his-"

"Hey! Don't use it as if he is under my possession! He's you're boyfriend," Harry grinned at the look on Hermione's face, after he tried to act serious.

"He is not my boyfriend!" she snapped, as he walked past her and supervised Ron as he tried to find a book. Ron was having a hard time. Since he was looking under fiction, which was in some foreign language.

Hermione had to admit, though, that she was starting to get attracted to Ron, as he was for three years to her. She looked over at them and sighed. They wouldn't amount to anything in life unless the career had to do with Quidditch. Well, if they kept looking under foreign fiction, they just might. After standing there, thinking about where to look under since she had already studied enough that week, she decided the only reason she was there was to get Harry and Ron to study. Which wasn't a very successful plan. Yes, she did have one or two things to work on, but that was most likely under divination, which she was tricked into taking again that year. She hated divination because it was magic that had no use. It was a class full of idiots high on scented smoke. So, really, it wasn't a class to her. Sometimes she just ignored the professor. Because who wants to learn about what they can see in a little glass ball? Not her.

"Take this!" Hermione, having run over to books on potions, handed Harry and Ron a stack of thick studying books.

"But we were going to use this!" Ron showed her a French muggle novel from the bottom of Hermione's huge stack of books.

"And that will come in handy when?" Hermione had had enough. She was going to make them study if it meant threaten to take their manhood away. "Now sit down." She directed them over to a small study table and pushed them into a seat.

"Don't worry. We'll learn all of this by…" Harry looked down at his pile. On the top of the stack was a book called Transfiguration and 100,000,000 Uses of It. "tomorrow."

"Good." Hermione left once she saw that Ron had opened a book. Now, to find something to read that she hadn't already read. No luck. She couldn't find a single book that she hadn't read. All but in the restricted section. Well, you can always ask the librarian for suggestions…

"You have always been a great student, Hermione," beamed the librarian. She looked around slyly, making sure no one else was around, and turned back to Hermione, "So I think I can do you a small favor. Just because you have come in here more than one thousand times or so for your stay at Hogwarts…You have my permission to go into the restricted side."

Hermione's eyes brightened up a bit. "Really? Why thank you!" Hermione gave a big smile at her, and ran towards the back of the library. As she ran down the large library, she heard the librarian yell beware from behind her. But Hermione wasn't stupid. She knew all too well to beware of most of the mysterious books in there. But she was also curious. She opened the heavy door and walked onto the dust that covered the molding floor. All around had spider webs and it smelled a little odd. But that didn't stop her. She walked down the dark and shadowy walk way, peering at the old books. As she began to walk down the 3rd row of books, she saw something else that was quite odd. A tall blonde boy leaning against an old book shelf opposite of her.

"Malfoy? What are you doing in the restricted section?" she asked, looking away from the old books.

Draco, taken aback, looked up at her bewildered. "What…are you doing in the restricted section?"

"I had permission. I can't say the same thing for you, I'm sure." Hermione rolled her eyes and turned back to the books.

"What are you looking for?" He asked out of nowhere, pushing himself from the bookcase.

"Why is that any of your concern?" She skimmed the rows, until she knelt down to the bottom.

"Because! What would a Mudblood like yourself be looking under Dark Arts?" Hermione was about to give a mean comment back, but couldn't. A suspicious looking book caught her eye. At the last row of the old bookshelf, there was a large, thick book titled The Legend of the Labyrinth. As Draco was waiting for her reply, she pulled it out instead.

"What is that?" Draco's voice lowered as he glanced over her shoulder.

"It is a book. What does it look like?"

"That's not just any book. It's The Labyrinth. The legend. The whole other world…" he trailed off into 'his' own little world. Hermione had never seen him act so strange. And he was also not showing the same amount of hatred towards her as he usually did.

"I read books. I read fiction. This is fiction. A legend is a fairy tale, really. And I choose not to believe them," She stood up, carrying the heavy book under her arm, and began to walk out of the restricted section.

"What about Hogwarts?" Draco called after her, following close behind. "Is this not just some fairy tale to Muggles?"

"But that's only because we hide the fact so well. Look at Santa Claus. He isn't real, just because adults tell us he is when we're infants."

"The Labyrinth is on a fine line of fairy tale and reality, Mudblood. Some refuse to believe it, like you, compared to muggles with Hogwarts, but some actually know it's there, like myself and Hogwarts. The only difference here, is that one of us is a 'don't believe everything you read in books even though I've read every single book in this library', and the other is a proof seeker."

"Please make your point, Malfoy." Hermione slammed the book down on the closest table to her. She only picked it out because it looked interesting to read, why should she be nagged about if it is true even though she didn't even read it yet? "Look, this is also another case of 'proof needed'. Nobody has proof that God is real. All they have is 'faith' but that isn't any proof whatsoever. You have no proof this legend is real. Like God, you, Malfoy, just believe in it. People always say you shouldn't mix science with religion, but what other way are you going to get proof? They are just afraid that God might not be real. Like you! My point is, you're mixing faith with facts. Never do that, Malfoy."

"I am not mixing stupid faith with facts! I have been searching for that damn book all year, I have you know! And then you waltz up in there and just grab it! And I think I know why. And you know what? I am pretty pissed off!"

"Okay, why do I have this book right now then, Malfoy? Tell me then get out of my face!"

"Because Jareth chose you!"

"Because….what?"

"The Goblin King! He needed a female to find it…he needed a female to find it! I can't believe this! I have wasted all year trying to find that dumb old book and I needed a female to see it! The book was invisible all along! Well you know what, Goblin King? I wish that you would go to hell!"

"Malfoy. You are losing it." Hermione turned back to the book. It was just some dumb old book! Why in the world was he making such a big deal out of it? He was nuts, that was it. He was crazy in the coconuts. The boy needs therapy. "Fine, I'll read a sentence. Will that make you happy? And I still don't know why you are here." She opened up the book at a random page and read out loud: "All though many have never even defeated the Goblin King, only one has made it past the labyrinth. Though, he was forced back home and his baby sister was turned into a goblin, named Meredith."

"Hey, that's completely out of date," Draco insisted, as Hermione flipped a few more pages.

"Wow. I am so believing every word." she said sarcastically, looking upon a portrait of the Goblin King; Jareth. "Whoa…"

"What?"

"He is…cute…" She breathed, staring at the black and white portrait.

"He's over one thousand years old, you know."

Hermione read a few more pages as Draco peered over her shoulder. It was obvious that he would not leave her alone until he had that book, and had her believe that it was real. Or he would have to do something drastic.

"Are you convinced yet?"

"No. I'm not. But who ever wrote this had a very vivid imagination."

"So, you don't believe that if I wished right now for the Goblin King to take Hermione Granger away to the Goblin City, that that wouldn't happen?"

"Correct. I don't believe in this little myth that you say to be true." She closed the book and turned around to face him; looking deep into his gray eyes. "Now. Leave me alone."

"Well, the only reason I'm doing this is to prove a point. So you're on your own from here on…" Draco paused, watching Hermione roll her eyes, then finally said, raising his voice, "Show this Mudblood what the labyrinth is really about. I wish the Goblin King would take Granger away. Right now." Hermione rolled her eyes again, and picked the book back up.

"Fine. You can have it. I honestly don't want to read it anymore." She handed it to Draco and brushed pass him, walking back into the restricted section. Draco, on the other hand, just smirked. He wanted to meet the Goblin King. And he knew that Jareth would be there. So, after Hermione disappeared into the dark library that was restricted, he walked back into it as well.

It was still musty and dirty, but one thing was different: Hermione's presence. "Why where ever could she be?" Draco wondered out loud, looking down the aisles and still smirking. Once he walked down all of them he heard a rather odd noise. It was some sort of snigger coming from all around him. It was the goblins. "Come on Jareth, I've been waiting to meet you my entire life."

"That long?"

Draco jumped. Fortunately, it was somebody he wanted to see. He slowly turned around, to find Jareth, the blonde Goblin King, leaning against a rotting bookshelf from behind him. He was speechless. Jareth was wearing his black gloves, draping black cloak, and tight black pants. He was looking darker than ever before. "You….you're the Goblin King…."

"My dear friend. Did you just wish away a sixteen year old girl?" he asked, smirking as brilliant as Draco was.

"She was a pain."

"A lot say that. But they would be happier if they hadn't wished so."

"Not me. I hate her."

"Well then this is a pity. I wanted some sort of challenge to claim my prize. So then I guess I can keep her without some other fool risking to save her?"

"Hey, if you want a challenge, I know a ninny who will be happy to run through your little maze and save the Mudblood."

"You do? Then bring him to me, son! I can't say I've never loved a challenge."

"Neither do I." Draco grinned, walked past him, and back into the library. There he saw right away Ron, staring at a page in a potions book. This ought to be fun. "Weasley! You're girlfriend fell in the restricted section of the library. Blood is all over the floor. Just thought you would want to know." Harry wasn't around to hear this, so Ron was on his own. So, judging by the smile on Draco's stupid face, Ron jumped out of his chair and ran into the restricted section. In which Draco followed.

"Hermione?? Hermione??" Ron searched the floor every where, panic rising in his blood.

"Why, Hermione is gone, little man." In the dark shadows of the bookshelves, Jareth stepped out of. A brilliant smile plastered across his face meant he was pleased. "Thank you, young Malfoy. He is perfect. Though he doesn't seem to be quite challenging. Well, a seeker is a seeker."

"What?" Ron looked at Jareth's polished boots, then all of the way up to his face. "Who are you?" From crawling on the ground, Ron stood up, feeling foolish.

"A legal kidnapper, you might say," Jareth replied, smirking.

"Malfoy, what have you done with Hermione?" Ron turned to Malfoy, ignoring the stranger for a moment.

"Weasley, I did you a favor. I think I did everybody a favor…" Draco said, leaning against the opposite bookshelf.

"I have her. The only thing you should be worrying about is attempting to get her back. Though I wouldn't put my hopes up," Jareth said, as tons of small goblins around the restricted section popped up and snickered, then popped back down to where they were.

"Where is she?" Ron's voice was shaking with fury, and his fists were quivering with anger.

"That upset about it, I see." Jareth put one hand under his draping cape and pulled it back out, holding a thick book entitled: The Legend of the Labyrinth, and threw it at Ron. Ron caught it with success and looked at the cover.

"What is this?" he asked, for once interested in what a book was about.

"It's your conquest. But, if you don't want to read all of my book, here's a short cut." With a wave of his hand, the surroundings changed, and the dusty floor was replaced with a dirt hill. Yet, shockingly to Draco, he appeared too.

"Wait, why am I here? You're going to take me back to Hogwarts, right?" Draco panicked. Nobody seemed to be listening.

"That," Jareth pointed ahead of them into the musty sky, "is your destiny. In there is Hermione, who you seem to want back."

"What, some kiddy maze?" Ron asked, thinking it of some joke. "I'll not only find my way through, but I'll make your little labyrinth seem like some five year old made it out of glitter and glue."

"Are you so sure?" Jareth asked, "Because I do so hate it when fools lie. An over inflated ego only fills your head up with helium. Don't fly away on me now."

"Excuse me! Am I going to be zapped back or something?!" Draco stuttered.

"How long do I have?" Ron asked, still staring at the labyrinth that was only up ahead.

"Thirteen hours," Jareth grinned. "Don't waste you time."

"What about me?" Draco shouted. Ron turned around to face The Goblin King, but he was already gone. "Jareth! You screwed me over!" Ron turned back to the labyrinth. He wasn't feeling so confident now. With Draco cursing behind him, his hopes were dropping little by little.

"Malfoy, if you want to get out of this place, you're going to have to come with me," Ron rolled his eyes. And, with that said, he began walking down the dirt hill and towards the entrance of the labyrinth.

"I cannot BELIEVE THIS." Draco huffed, at first refusing to follow, but that wasn't going to help much. So, after Ron was a few feet ahead of him, he agreed with himself to just make it out of the maze and go home. And all of the way down, he kept mumbling to himself "What a waste of a year." And "All I wanted was the fucking book!"

"There's the entrance." Ron pointed out beyond two small fish lakes. He decided that if he was going to rescue Hermione, he was going to have to cooperate with his enemy. "Are you with me on this?"

Draco hesitated a moment, not wanting to do anything with a Weasley, but then decided it was the best option, and nodded with dark eyes.

"Fine."

"No tricks, Malfoy." Ron warned. "And…what the hell is that??"

To Be Continued