Chapter IV: Labyrinth

Harry scanned his eyes over the valley before him as he took his first few steps. The soft sand sunk under his feet. He leaped over a fallen branch and started a light jog forward. A large, stone wall that stood about ten feet high came shortly into view with dried vines and roots climbing up the lifeless wall. Harry stopped a few feet back and looked around for a door or gate when he noticed a small figure standing next to a pond and urinating into it. Harry cringed and swallowed his nervousness and disgust before speaking up. "Excuse me?"

The small figure jumped before fixing himself and turning around. "Oh! Excuse me-oh...it's you." The figure stood no taller than three feet with greasy, black hair and a tight frown. He wore a faded leather vest that was worn at the edges and had a small hole at his left breast pocket. His pants were a dull black, Harry wasn't sure if that was the natural color or stained, and was in the same care as the vest. The figure's face had a pale complexion with a hooked nose adding with a nasty sneer, a nasty bruise coloring his left eye.

Harry bit his bottom lip and watched as the smaller figure reached over and picked up a rusted bug spray and limped over to the wall. Harry then noticed the small butterflies fluttering around the vines. He stepped closer and watched as the smaller figure quickly sprayed the butterfly closest to him. Harry gasped in shock and sprinted forward and realized that the butterflies were actually small fairies. "Oh no! You poor thing!" He reached down and carefully lifted up the scowling fairy. "How could you?- Ouch!" Harry dropped the fairy, grasping his bleeding thumb. "It bit me!"

The figure scoffed as he turned back to face Harry. "Well, what did you expect fairies to do?"

Harry blinked and shook off the small stinging of pain. "I thought fairies would do nice things, like granting wishes." He spoke as if it was the obvious answer.

"Shows what you know." He drawled in the same tone that Harry had. The figure sprayed another fairy and chirped, "67," before moving on.

Harry followed and shook his head. "You slimy snake," Harry moaned.

"No, I'm Snape, Severus Snape. Who are you?" Snape called over his shoulder while spraying two more biting pests.

"I'm Harry." He reached his hand out to shake but Snape either didn't see his hand or just completely ignored him. Harry felt a bit put out and frowned to himself. "Um, look I need to find my way through this Labyrinth to save my cousin. Do you know the way?" Snape continued his mission with Harry following only a few feet away. "Well?"

"Well what?" Snape grunted out. "70!"

"The door!"

"What door?"

Harry growled and threw his hands into the air. "Fine! It's bloody hopeless if you're not going to be of any help."

Snape stopped and faced Harry with one hand on his hip. "Not if you ask the right question."

Harry raised a eyebrow and thought about the correct way to word the next question. After a short moment Harry took a breath of air and asked calmly, "How do I get into the Labyrinth?"

Snape rewarded Harry with a stoic expression and nod of his head. "There you go," Snape moved past Harry and pointed towards a wall that was nearly covered with the dead vines and roots, "You get through in there." As if on command the vines parted and a set of large doors slowly swung open. A cloud of dust brushed past them before the doors finally settled with a low echo. Harry took a tentative step forward through the newly exposed door and into the challenging Labyrinth. He wondered briefly if anybody had gone through those door in a while. Harry's emerald eyes turned to his left to see a straight, endless path that gave no indication of turns for miles. To his right was the exact same way, making Harry feel confused and annoyed. "Cosy isn't it!"

Harry jumped in surprise, forgetting about Snape for a moment. "Bloody hell mate!"

Snape allowed a smirk at Harry's misfortune and settled between the entrance. "Now, are you going to head left or right?" Harry swung his head to look back at his two only options and frowned again. "Well?"

"They don't look like they're going to end." Harry mumbled to himself before facing Ron again. "Which way would you go?"

Snape shrugged. "Me? I could go either way." Harry groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.

"If that's all the help you're going to be then leave." Snape waved a finger at Harry and frowned while circling him.

"You know what your problem is? You take everything for granted, idiot boy. Even if you find your way through this Labyrinth," Snape reached over and roughly poked Harry in his side, "You'll never find your way out of it. Might as well give up!"

Harry rubbed his ribs and watched as Snape left the entrance. "Thanks for nothing Short-ious."

Harry was delighted to see Snape growl and wave a fist at Harry once he reached past the doors. "It's Severus! And don't say I didn't warn you!" With a flick of his wrist the doors slammed shut, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts. He glanced both ways once again before settling with what his gut said and went down the right path. The ground was littered with broken branches and loose rock making the path a bit more difficult than it needed to be. The brick within the wall was glossy with moss and some kind of sticky oose that Harry wanted nothing to do with. The air seemed to give off a small wave of magic in the air, making the hairs on Harry's neck and arms stand on end.

Minutes passed and Harry knew he was needing to find a turn quickly and hoped to find one soon, time was too precious to waste at the moment. He decided he should start jogging to cover the space faster, minding the rocks so he wouldn't trip and fall. When Harry was sure he wasn't making any progress he stopped and slammed his fists against the wall to his left, turned to his right to kick the other wall, and pivoted against so his back fell against the previous wall and slid down to the ground. Harry sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, and carefully threw his head against the wall behind him. He was stressed and frustrated and Harry was sure he wasn't going to get anywhere at this rate.

"'Ello." Harry froze when a small and soft voice spoke up from behind his shoulder. Which should be impossible since Harry was against a wall.

Harry slowly turned his head to look over his right shoulder and saw a small blue worm that had a blue and white scarf wrapped around it's neck. The worm tilted it's head and smiled much like a little sister would to her older brother. Harry licked his lips and adjusted himself before he asked, "D-Did you just say hello?"

The worm smiled and shook it's head. "No I said ''ello', but that's close enough." Harry lifted a eyebrow at the worm. "I'm Luna, would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?"

Luna motion to the worm-sized hole a few inches away and Harry smiled politely. "Thanks but no. I need to find my way through this Labyrinth but," Harry sighed and threw his arms to motions the endless corridor, "There aren't any openings or turns. It just keeps going on and on and I'm-" He ended his rant with a sigh and crossed his arms.

"Dear Harry, there are plenty of openings, you just have to look forward to them." Harry raised his head and Luna giggled. "In fact, there's one right across you."

Harry wanted to address the fact that he never gave the worm his name but got to distracted from trying to find the opening. His eyes narrowed to the wall only feet from him, not seeing any doors or way to get through. "Luna, there is only a wall there."

Luna crawled forward a bit and wiggled again. "Of course there is, go on and try it." Still unsure Harry stood up and took a few steps forward with his hands forward. He stood about a foot away and shook his head.

"There's no wall, Luna."

With patience Luna encouraged him. "Not everything is as it seems here, Harry. You cannot take everything for granted if you want to find your way through." Taking a moment to examine the wall again before Harry again stepped forward. Soon he realized that Luna was indeed right as his hands past through the wall boundary and found a new corridor.

"Hey! You're right!" Harry, without a second thought, turned to his left and continued his way.

"Harry! Hold on!" Quickly, Harry came back and smiled at Luna.

"Thanks, Luna. That was a lot of help." Harry was about to turn again when Luna caught his attention for the last time.

"Don't go down that way." While raising a eyebrow at her Luna continued, "Never go that way. You must go the other way."

Harry turned to look down the other corridor and shrugged. "Oh, thanks." He proceeded forward missing Luna's musings as she watched him walk away.

"If he'd gone down the other way he would've gone straight to the center of the Labyrinth." Luna smiled to herself. "Can't have that now can we?"

At the Castle standing at the center of the Goblin City sat the king himself, watching the young child get passed around the horde of goblins within his throne room. The stone walls were a dark silver with torn, green drapes hanging from the ceiling and windows. Lit torches kept the fairly large room warm as they always do. A throne made of the bones of the first dragon that dared attack his land almost two thousand years ago; the beast's skin stretched over the seat and armrest, making it very comfortable for the king.

The child, Dobby if Draco was correct, seemed terrified and beyond nervous at first but now looked as if he was enjoying himself. Most children usually react the same way before the magic transformed them into a new citizen of the Goblin City. Draco's eyes drifted to the large clock on the opposite wall that showed how much time dear Harry had left. Two hours had already done by and he was only halfway through the first maze. It was a decent time but Harry would have to speed up his progress if he wanted to get Dobby back.

"Hey! You can't pull at my hair like that!" Even though the boy frowned it still didn't change how much fun and attention he was receiving being thrown about his throne room. Yes, Harry would have to hurry before Dobby will be willing to choose to stay and when that happens Harry will be desperate to get the boy back. That will be where Draco will offer his terms of agreement. Before the time is out Harry will be locked he within his Labyrinth, with or without the child.

Dobby released a fit of giggles as he began to be thrown about ten feet into the air before being caught and thrown again. A small, and rare, smile appeared on the sharp, pink lips of the Goblin King. This was the reason he choose this kingdom as his own. There was never a dull moment within these walls. Now if only he could have that boy by his side forever, then everything would be complete.

Tell me how I'm doing so far. If you have watched the movie before then I will like to hear your opinion. Until next time~