When Hermione had come in from finishing her rounds, one of her duties as a prefect, she had been surprised, but pleased, to find Ron still up, apparently studying. She had told him, of course, how pleased she was to actually see him doing so, and offered to join him. Ron just shook his head. "You're tired, 'Mione. Go on to bed. I was just about to head there, anyway. Besides, you already study enough."
Ron had said this with all good intention, but it seemed that, this late at night, he had forgotten the cardinal rule about Hermione. Never, ever, tell her you thought she studied enough or, worse, too much. It somehow offended her. Tonight was no exception. "How can you sa that, Ron? We take our OWLs this year! I don't study enough, and neither do you and Harry!"
By this time, Harry had been woken up yet again, this time by Hermione's screaming about the OWLs. Heading down to the common room, he noticed Ginny was up as well, watching the quarreling couple, who didn't seem to notice anyone else was around. Walking over, he sat next to her. Even with her hair messed up from sleep, she was beautiful, and Harry could feel his heart racing. Did he feel that way? "So what have I missed?" he asked, not daring to look her in the eye, for fear he'd be lost.
Ginny shook her head, shrugging. "I wouldn't know. I just got down here myself a minute ago." Harry nodded his understanding and turned to watch as Ron had his say.
"I don't see what the point is, anyway, this early in the year. Especially for potions. Even if that greasy git Snape DOES tell us which potions will be covered on the exam, he'll wait 'til the last possible moment, although I wouldn't be surprised if those precious Slytherins of his are sitting in their dorm right now, memorizing it. The slimy bastard-" "RON!!" Even thought she agreed with him, Hermione couldn't stand to hear a teacher spoken badly of, even Snape.
"What? It's true, 'Mione, and I know you agree with me, even if you won't admit it. Hell, I wish the goblins would come and take Snape away, right now!" Hermione's hand flew to her mouth. Ron looked around, and finally noticed Harry and Ginny, who were both looking uneasily at him. Outside, thunder clapped and lightning flashed. None of them had noticed the storm outside before now, and to Harry, it looked suspicously the way Sarah had described the night she had run the labyrinth.
Sarah and Sirius had noticed the clouds starting to gather and headed inside. Walking Sarah back to her room near the library, they had decided to detour by Gryffindor Tower to check on Harry and his friends. They were just crawling through the portrait hole when Sarah heard words she had been hoping to never hear again. It was too late to stop them, however, and as she and Sirius entered the common room, Sarah knew what she would see.
((A/N-Hey! This looks like a good place to stop this chapter, doesn't it? *ducks incoming peaches and cockroach clusters* ACK!! Alright, alright!! I'll make it longer!!))
Goblins tittered around the room. A white barn owl flapped madly against the window panes before bursting into the room, transforming into the familiar form of the Goblin King. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione stared. They had thought Sarah's story was just that, a story. It was Hermione who worked up the courage to speak first. "You're him, aren't you? You're the Goblin King..."
Jareth arched one elegant, glitter covered eyebrow at the young witch. "Very observant, my dear. Now," he said, glancing at the four in front of him, "which one of you wished away your poor potions master, hmm?" Sarah shook her head, disgusted with the scene in front of her, having tired of Jareth's arrogance and the act long ago, stepping in front of her cousin and his friends. "Honestly, Jareth, there's no need for the intimidation and mind games. Did your goblins really take Severus?"
"Of course they did, Sarah. You know they always take those who have been wished away. You've run my labyrinth. You know the rules. The wisher, and all who witnessed the wish, must make a choice. Run the labyrinth, or, I can give you your dreams, and forget all about the child, or in this case...professor...wished away." Ron muttered something about gladly forgetting about Snape, which earned an intimidating glare from Hermione. With his usual flare, Jareth produced three crystals, twirling them in his hand as he leaned casually against the chair Ron had been sitting in only moments before.
Sirius watched, not sure of what to make of the scene before him. On one hand, he wanted to congratulate Ron on getting rid of Snape. Also, he was rather proud of Sarah. The bravery she was displaying tonight would have let her fit right in at Hogwarts as a Gryffindor, if only she hadn't gone to Salem... On the other hand, he was seeing a whole new side of his father. A cold, cruel side that was very Slytherin. And yet, Sirius also had the feeling that it was all just an impressive act-mostly because of Sarah's actions. After all, Sarah didn't seem one bit phased.
"Well, it's obvious isn't it?" Hermione said. "He's a teacher, and while his methods are unorthodox, and he doesn't exactly inspire anything other than hatred in his students, his status as a professor DOES make him worth running the labyrinth to save. Besides, it could be a very educational adventure." Ron groaned. Leave it to Hermione to find some way to see this as educational. "I agree with Hermione," Harry said. "As much as I'd like having my dreams, I know there isn't any magic to give them to me, because all I want is my parents to be alive, and for me to have a normal life. We run the labyrinth."
Ron nodded finally. "Right. If they go, then so do I. After all, best friends shouldn't go on adventures without eachother. Besides, I DID make the wish..." "And anywhere Harry goes, I go," Sirius said, finally speaking up. "After all, he IS my godson. It's my duty to watch over him for James and Lily. Besides...I may as well see this place, considering my newly found connection to it...Father..." Jareth looked up at Sirius, smiling. So his son had accepted him. That made him more proud than he ever thought he could be. The smile passed quickly, though. For this, while the game was being played out, he had to play the cruel King.
"You know I'm going, your Glitterness," Sarah said. "I figured you would," Jareth said, sighing at the nickname she and the Listians, the girls who made up his little fanclub, had started calling him. "I believe Hoggle's already at the front doors of the labyrinth, waiting. But there's one more witness to the wish...." he said, his eyes scanning the group until they fell upon Ginny. "Well?" he asked, looking at her. Ginny felt uneasy near him, and stepped closer to Harry, who, conveniently, was closest, for protection. "Of course I'm going. I'm tired of being left out of their adventures," she said, motioning to her brother and his friends.
"Very well," Jareth said, opening up the portal so all were standing on the hill that led down to the giant maze. Next to him, a 13 hour ornately carved clock appeared, floating in the air. "You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth before your potions master becomes one of us, forever. And knowing his temper, it's going to be a long thirteen hours on my part..." he said, fading away with the clock. Everyone looked expectantly at Sarah, since she was the only one who'd been there before, who shrugged.
"I know the basics," she said, "but the labyrinth changes constantly to the traveler's imagination and will. Sure, there are some things that will never change, like the Bog of Eternal Stench, the Firies, and the wiseman who gives out riddles as directions..." "Well, let's get started then. It doesn't make sense to just stand here and chat. If the story you told us all is to be believed, it will take all thirteen hours to get through, so it's only logical that we start as soon as possible, isn't it?" This, of course, came from Hermione. Sarah just nodded, and motioned them down the hill to where she knew Hoggle would be wating.
A/N-Yeah! 2 chapters in just 1 week!! I rule all!! Oh, and to everyone who keeps asking for longer chapters? I write these things as long as I can, I really do. Unfortunately, they come to a natural stopping point that I can't control. When the chapter tells me it's done, then it's done. If I force it longer, it'll just look silly. Trust me. Been there, done that.