In this part, the Labyrinth / Harry Potter crossover becomes more apparent, but I tried to explain everything as much as I could. If you still have questions, let me know, and I will try to fix it or e-mail you with answers. I'm trying to make it so people who had never read the Potter books will not get lost.
Also, any spelling and grammar errors, please forgive me, English is not my first language, but if you can e-mail me with corrections, it will be greatly appreciated and the fic will be corrected and re-posted.
Many thanks to those of you who reviewed Part 6: Amber (When are you going to post the next part of Say The Words? You are killing me here!!!), Kim, The Manipulative Little Monster (Hope you get your monitor soon, I miss chatting with ya!!!), Mara Trinity Scully (Thanks, is people like you who makes it worth to continue writing), Sadie (Aren't you glad you did? Now you have more fics to read and enjoy! ::evil grin::), ~*Sliver Wolf*~ (thanks for your support, like it when I have regular reviewers), and Caitlyn (I'm glad you are liking this).
As always,
DISCLAIMER: Sarah, Jareth, and everything Labyrinth belong to Jim Henson Productions. Oberon, Titania and Puck belong to William Shakespeare. Anything Potterverse belongs to the magnificent JK Rowling. I only own Jay, Caridwen and any other characters that you do not recognize..
And now, the story.
The Searcher
Part 7
Caridwen was running frantically towards the castle "Oh, I'm really late this time. If mom or dad find out, they are going to kill me. I hope Lady Katherine will be able to stall them."
Going through the main doors of the castle, she was looking out, making sure she was not seen. She was about to open the door to the sewing room, where she took her Etiquette lessons, when a voice behind her said "And where were you, and dressed like a boy, no less?"
She froze in place, recognizing the angry sound of her father's voice. She thought "Oh, oh, I'm in big trouble now."
She turned around, back plastered to the door "Um, hi daddy. Just playing a joke on Lady Katherine."
The Goblin King arched an eyebrow, and crossing his arms said "Oh, really? And why were not at your lesson earlier today? Valkor came earlier than expected and wanted to see you, but we couldn't find you anywhere. I had to look for you through the crystals. Imagine my surprise when I saw you in the Wise Man's cottage."
Her heart fell to her stomach when she heard that last part. Her own father had found her out. The only way to get out with a less severe punishment was if she told her father the truth, "I can explain, daddy. Can we discuss this inside, please?"
Knowing that his daughter was right, he motioned for her to go inside the room, closing the doors behind him. Crossing his arms once again, he said "Well?"
Swallowing and then taking a deep breath, she sat down in one of the sofas and proceeded to tell her father about the recurring nightmares, the new part of the nightmare, how she could talk to the labyrinth, and her mastery of magic. Last, but not least, she said, "And that's not all. I also know about the legend of the searcher. Is me, that's the reason for my nightmares."
In the middle of her tale, Jareth had sat down next to her, hearing what she had to say. Frowning, he said, "But how can you know that you are the one? I remember something about some kind of signal, but I can't remember. I should have paid more attention when I was told about this."
Caridwen opened her eyes, she forgot to tell him about that, "Um, dad, do you mean this?", showing him her pendant with the glowing amethyst.
Stunned, he took the amethyst in his hand, and asked, "Where did you got this?"
Cari smiled and said "Morath, I mean, the Wise Man gave it to me when I was three years old. He said that the amethyst has been glowing since the day of my birth, when it was asked if I was the chosen one. He has been helping me learn to control my magic."
A mixture of anger and jealousy crossed the Goblin King's face when he took his daughter in his arms and said "Sweetheart, you should have come to me. I can teach you to control your magic."
She just looked at him and said, "I wanted to, but Morath said that it would be better if he taught me first, because my kind of magic is much different than yours. I think he was right, he taught me how to communicate with Labyrinth, how to be guided by my instincts, also how to concentrate to interpret my visions, and try to get more information about them. Besides, you are always so busy taking care of the kingdom, I did not want to be another problem for you."
He gave her a kiss on her forehead, and taking her chin with his hand he said, "Listen to me, Caridwen. You will never, ever be a problem for me. Never think that. Is that clear?"
Cari just nodded, and hugged her father "I love you, daddy."
Smile forming at the corner of his mouth, he turned serious, and said, "Still, this does not excuse you from leaving without telling anyone where you were going, not attending a class, and dress up as a boy in public. You know you still have to be punished."
Caridwen, her eyes fixed on the floor, nodded solemnly, "What is my punishment?"
Jareth stood up, pacing the room with hands on his chin, concentrating on the problem at hand. What could be a suitable punishment for this situation? An idea struck him, and smiling turned back to his daughter, who he could tell was nervous and at least a bit frightened.
Jareth passed sentence "I will not take away weapons lessons, because they are important. You will also start getting magic lessons with me, after you finish your double Etiquette lessons. I am being generous, but if I find out that you skip another lesson, no matter which one, I will not be so generous next time. Oh, and before I forget, you are also confined to stay inside the castle for the next month. Is that clear?"
A very nervous Caridwen responded, "Yes, father."
With a smirk, he dismissed her, "Now, go to your room and get yourself presentable. Make sure that you look and act like the princess you are."
She quickly turned on her heels outside the room, and before reaching the door, she turned around, "Does this mean that I'm allowed to use magic inside the castle?"
Jareth half closed his eyes, wondering what his daughter had on her mind this time, "Yes, why?"
Just smiling, she answered "I guess I'll see you in a little bit.", disappearing in front of him in the midst of glitter.
Reappearing in the middle of her room, she heard Agnes scream, startled by her sudden and unexpected appearance in her bedchambers.
She smiled, "Sorry to startle you, Agnes, but I'm in a hurry. Val is already here, and I need to bathe and change clothes."
Agnes just mumbled, and said "Your dress is already out, and the bath is almost prepared. I was expecting you a bit sooner."
Sarah grimaced, and said "I would have been here sooner, but Dad caught me. I had to confess everything, but my punishment was not as bad as it could have been. Now I get double the lessons for Etiquette, and study magic with my father. Also, I can't get out of the castle for a month."
Once she got bathed and dressed, Caridwen went into the study, were she knew she would find her parents and Valkor. When she opened the door, three pairs of eyes looked at her direction. Sarah looked at her daughter, and said "Cari, since dinner is not going to be ready until half an hour later, why don't you show our guest the gardens?"
Caridwen just nodded, and Valkor offered his arm, "Milady, whenever you are ready."
She just smiled at him, and taking his arm, she led him to the gardens. Once they were out of earshot, Valkor said "I heard you got caught skipping a class because of me. I am so sorry."
She smiled at him, and said "Don't worry, is my fault. I shouldn't have skipped Etiquette, even if it the most boring class in the world. Now I get double Etiquette every day, and after that, magic lessons with father."
Valkor looked at her, and said "You don't go to a school to learn magic?"
She shook her head and said, "No, my father has been teaching Jay for a while, and now me. Did you went to a school?"
He smiled at her, and sitting down on a bench with her next to him, he answered, "Yes, I did. In the wizarding world, when a young witch or wizard turns eleven years old, He or she receives a letter from a wizarding school that summer, announcing the commencement of the school year, materials required and such."
Looking at him in amazement, she asked "And you have to go to the school that writes to you?"
He shook his head, and continued, "No, when you are announced that you have been accepted in a school, you can choose not to attend that school, and enroll in another one. You have to send a reply by owl either way if you accept or not."
As soon as she heard the word "owl" her head snapped to his direction, and with surprise she said "Did you say owl?"
He simply stated "Yes, owls are used in the wizarding world as a mean of communication. The owls are very proud that they can send a letter to anyone, anywhere, without getting lost. Not all owls can be in the owl post. This owls are very special."
Caridwen locked this information in her mind for later review. She asked him, "So, what wizarding school did you went to?"
Proudly, he said, "I went to the best school there is in the wizarding world, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Is not only the best, is also a boarding school. That means that you get immersed in your magical studies 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the school year. You get to go home during the winter break, and the summer break."
She was curious about this school idea now, "But how can you live with so many people at the same time? You share a huge common bathroom, a common bedroom, how can you handle that?"
He chuckled at the idea, and then explained "That is not how it works at all. When you enter the school for the first time, you get sorted into four different houses. The houses are named for the founders of the school, the four most powerful wizards and witches of their time: Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Griffindor and Ravenclaw. I happened to be a Slytherin.
Once you get sorted, you live in your house and share a dormitory with the members of your same year. Girls and boys dormitories are separate from each other, of course. There is a common room, where you get to interact with the members of your house from different years. You also take classes with a group from another house in your same year, so you get to know a lot of people in your school."
Caridwen could not stop the nagging feeling that there was something that she should remember, but could not put her finger on it. Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought, knowing that it will come back to her later. Now, she was hungry, and wanted to eat.
So looking at her fiancé, she said "I think is time for us to go back. I hope that dinner is ready, I'm starving."
He smiled, and said "Me too. I would have told you to go sneak in the kitchen with me to see what's for dinner, but I don't want to make your father angrier at you."
She smiled sadly, and said "Thanks, Val.", then added something her mother said "Is the thought that counts."
Giving a goodhearted laugh, he stood up, and offered his arm to her, which she immediately accepted and they went into the castle. The idea of a school to learn magic still intrigued her. She would love to go to a school like that, but shaking her head, she dismissed those thoughts, that would never happen.
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"Merry Christmas, uncle Toby!", a pair of kids said, the oldest, with hair golden as a wheat field and mismatched eyes, and the younger one, with hair like dark chocolate, and blue-gray eyes.
Toby Williams smiled at the scene that greeted him when he opened the door of his flat. His niece and nephew threw themselves at him. Bracing himself for impact, he scooped her with one arm, picking her up, and messing his nephew's hair with the other. Still smiling he said "And how are my little monsters doing?"
He got laughing mixed with the word "Good." in response. Then he looked at his older sister, "Hi Sarah, come in. Where's big J?", looking around for the Goblin King.
Sarah smiled and said "He needed to take care of some business first. He said he should be here soon.",
She gave him a big hug, she hasn't seen her brother since he started touring with the theatrical company. How ironic, that the one to pursue an acting career was her brother instead of her. Now, he was back in London, where he was practicing to become the new Phantom.
Closing the door behind him, he just said "My, you guys are big! You are almost as tall as I am, Jay. How old are you?
Jay answered "Just fourteen. And before you start, I know about my voice.", making his little sister giggle.
His voice started changing recently, so he still was having problems with his voice going out from a deep voice, to a high voice. Of course, his little sister could not resist to make fun of him any time she could.
Toby smiled in understanding, and said "Don't worry, I understand. I was also the butt of the jokes from your parents when my voice started changing, which was not long after they got married."
"I seem to recall those days as well, squeaker", said a melodious voice behind them. The kids looked back, and Caridwen went to his side saying, "Dad, you made it!"
Looking at his daughter, he said "Of course, I would not miss this for the world. Is your uncle's dayview as the Phantom of the Opera."
Looking at his brother in law, he said "How are you Toby? How was your world tour?"
Making a face, Toby answered, "It was exciting, but after a while it gets kind of boring. I'm glad I'm back home. Never thought I would miss this little flat so much. Do you have any plans right now? I need to stop at the theater for about an hour or so, but you can come with me, and take a walk around London while you wait for me."
Sarah looked at her husband, who had changed into more normal clothes, black jeans, black leather boots, a dark beige sweater, and a black leather jacket. His hair was also tied up in a ponytail.
She had made the kids change before they left, Cari being the happiest about it, jeans being a welcomed change from all the dresses she wore. After being caught sneaking out of the castle three years ago, Caridwen made sure that she behaved like the perfect lady, but she knew her daughter inherited her temper, as well as her father's.
Sarah wouldn't be surprised if she found out that her daughter still sneaked out of the castle, but was more careful this time. She also knew that she still "borrowed" some of her brother's clothes to do it, but what the king doesn't know, won't hurt the princess.
They went to take the tube, and as soon as she saw the sign, Caridwen commented "I think I like this place already.", earning a chuckle from her father, while she was still pointing to the sign that said "Underground".
They left Toby at the theater, and they started walking around the streets of London. Caridwen was looking at everything with curiosity and awe. They passed couple of libraries, a music shop, and then she noticed some people with strange clothes.
They actually were wearing some kind of robes and pointed hats. And most curious, all of them were going inside that establishment that any other person who was dressed normally seemed to ignore it, or were not aware of it's presence.
A strange sensation overcame her when she read the sign with the establishment's name "The Leaky Cauldron". Something was telling her to go inside.
She squeezed her father's hand to get his attention, and pointing to the place, she asked "Why are those people dressed so funny? And why are they going there, looks like no one else can see that place."
Taken aback by his daughter's questions, he stopped, and looking at the direction she was pointing, narrowed his eyes, and asked "What people, and what place, sweetheart?"
Exhaling in frustration, she pointed again, "There, the people in the funny robes and hats getting into that place, The Leaky Cauldron."
It was his turn to be surprised, "You can see that?"
Caridwen looked at her father "You can see that too, right?"
He said "Yes, I can, but I doubt your mother or your brother can. Because of my involvement with Gringotts, I am allowed to see certain things that are remained hidden for everyone else. But if you can see it by yourself, that means…", and he trailed off, looking at his daughter very seriously.
Seeing her father's reaction, she was getting nervous, "That means what, dad? Please tell me, you are getting me nervous."
Still looking at his daughter, he said "I don't know how is this possible, but sweetheart, I think you are a witch."
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A/N: Ok, people, what do you think? Let me know with your reviews. It is your way of letting me know if I'm doing a good job or if this sucks.
As Pepe would say: "Please leave a contribution in the little box." ^_^