CHAPTER 2:
EXPLANATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
:-------------------------------------------------:
Sitting in the Leaky Cauldron's smoky interior Harry Potter shifted uncomfortably. The trio of friends had returned hastily to the busy pub only to discover that the Weasleys had already been notified of the somewhat disconcerting happenings at Gringotts earlier that day. Needless to say they and Ginny soon found themselves seated at a small table fidgeting (Fred and George had long since disappeared muttering about funds and inconvenience) as Molly and Arthur talked in worried tones. And from the sound of the other not-so-hushed conversations within his hearing, Harry had no need to ponder over what the day's topical issue was.
Another few minutes of tense silence passed and Harry finally couldn't take anymore of it and directed his question at Ron, who had had the most experience with the Wizarding world out of them all.
"Look, I know this is weird and all, and excuse my ignorance here, but why in the world is everyone so worried? Sure they manage the banks, but would it really be that big a deal if the goblins cut ties with us? And why does everyone seem so scared of this king of theirs, Gareth or whatever it was, I doubt he's as dangerous to the world as Minister Fudge…"
Ron, who Harry had almost expected to redirect the question to Hermione via some graceless hand gesture, massaged his temples with his thumbs then answered.
"Blimey Harry, I forgot how little you know about all this sort of thing sometimes…"
"You spend your holidays locked in a room and see how much you find out." Harry muttered in return.
"Sorry mate, anyway lets see…how to explain. I guess it all starts with the goblins themselves – obsessed with gold they are I swear, great miners. They rivaled the dwarves once or so I heard. But eventually the mines in the Underground ran dry and the goblins needed a new way to make money… argh, what am I saying here I sound like Hermione, this is practically history of magic…." Ignoring the elbow in his ribs Ron sighed and continued.
" Anyway, what it comes down to is that most Wizarding gold was originally goblin gold which got circulated around. Unfortunately wizards and other folk weren't nearly as good at managing that gold as the goblins were. The goblins saw this as a pretty good opportunity for revenue and established themselves as fincanciers and bankers all throughout the Wizarding world. You see, if they cut ties with us, the Wizarding world falls, Harry. It crashes. We lose everything. Because technically they'd be well within their rights to take back every galleon and sickle that ever belonged to them."
Harry was slightly taken aback not only by his friend's apparent knowledge of society, but by the gravity of the situation which was beginning to become apparent.
At this point Hermione interrupted his chain of thought.
"And by the way Harry, I do believe that goblin said their King's name was Jareth, not Gareth."
"Gareth, Jareth, whatever, why would he want to cut ties with us, that's what I still don't understand," Ron remarked darkly. "This alliance has been around for well…centuries."
Uncomfortable silence hung over the table again, as that was a mystery no one in the room could answer.
:-------------------------------------------------:
The Castle beyond the Goblin City,
2 Days earlier.
Jareth, King of the Goblins, and Master of the Labyrinth strode down the long stone hallway as fast as his dignity would allow. When one is King, running is out of the question, as he had always found it lacked a certain grace that was essential to his image. The dark scowl across his features was testament that the pounding headache he had been developing since early that morning was fast becoming a migraine of epic proportions, and his hair was, if possible, a touch more disheveled than was normal.
"HIGPOLE! Get in here right now or I'll bloody well throw you head first into the bog of eternal stench!" he roared as he sat down in his throne in the large circular room at the center of the castle, then winced as his voice echoed painfully inside his head.
"Hoggle, your majesty, it's Hoggle." Came a voice in the vicinity of the door, as a small figure entered the room and bowed.
"That's what I said, Hogswall. But as to why you're here, I need to know more about the young man who was wished away this morning. Ever since he arrived the Labyrinth has been very distressed, and it's giving me a migraine…"
"His name, I believe, is Draco Malfoy, your majesty. Underage member of the Aboveground British Wizarding World."
"A wizard is he? My my my, and I thought normal humans were the only people foolish enough to call the goblins. A wizard should know better indeed."
Jareth laughed softly to himself, then stopped as his headache once again made itself apparent. Massaging his temples with the heel of his palm and summoning a crystal of healing magic he closed his eyes and concentrated momentarily, only to find the remedy was having no effect whatsoever.
"What in the world is going on with this headac-" The Goblin King was cut off as the room pitched violently, throwing Hoggle to the ground and scattering chickens and various other debris over the floor. As the world once again righted itself, small tremors continued to run though the floor and Jareth stood shakily and made his way to the window to survey the scene outside. What he saw scared him, and that was certainly saying something in a three centuries old Fae King. The sprawling pathways and corridors of the Labyrinth were bathed in flashes of a sickly emerald green, emanating, as Jareth saw upon closer inspection in a hurriedly summoned scrying crystal, from a long wooden stick held be a platinum blonde boy in a black robe. Another flash of green erupted from the stick ('wand' Jareth's memory supplied) and the world once again shook and the Goblin King held down a wave of revulsion at the feeling of the foreign magic.
"Your majesty, what's happening!?" Cried Hoggle, struggling up from the floor.
"It's that darn wizard boy…he's trying to destroy my Labyrinth…the magic is so dark." Jareth suppressed a shiver as the feeling washed over him.
"Send him back your majesty! Just send him back!" Hoggle yelled over an eerie screeching sound which had filled the air.
"That's against the rules Hogpile! He hasn't successfully run the Labyrinth and his time is not up! This place must exist by the rules of its game, I cannot afford to break them." Jareth clenched his fists, angry at the feeling of helplessness that swept over him as the room once again shook and the sky outside took on a sickly black and green tint.
"With respect, Lord Jareth, if you don't do something now, there won't be a Labyrinth anymore!" Hoggle bowed before Jareth's feet. "I know the rules your majesty but not all of us are like you, we can't move on if the Labyrinth falls. We, its denizens, fall with it, so please!"
Jareth took one last look at the world outside and swallowed the feeling of dread at what he was about to do, summoning a crystal and slinging on his feathered cloak, he disappeared in a cloud of dark glitter and smoke.
:-------------------------------------------------:
AN: Shock horror! Ohnoes! What's going to happen to Jareth, Hoggle and the rest of the Underground? How did Draco Malfoy end up in the Labyrinth? And what will be the consequence of Jareth's reluctant intervention?
I'd tell you, but I haven't decided yet XD
But you'll find out in the next chapter!
By the way, in response to a few reviews from the last chapter, yes, Sarah will be in it, and it will be JS.
REVIEW PLEASE!
