((A/N-I appologize to Rebecca in advance for paragraphs 2 and 4 of this chapter. She mentioned something in one of her e-mails to me, and I couldn't resist. *laughs evily*))
It wasn't long before Sarah spotted her best friend, running up to him, hugging him. "Hoggle!" "Hey, Sarah," the dwarf said, smiling at his friend. "Where have you been?" he asked. "It's been months since you called on us." "I'm sorry, Hoggle. I've just been so busy with my new job. I hope you can forgive me." "Oh, now, Sarah, you knows I can. Besides, that fan club of Jareth's has formed some sort of mailin' list to talk to eachother, and I've made friends wit' some of 'em. There's one, now, in fact," he said, motioning to the woman who had just appeared.
"Hello, Hoggle," the woman said in greeting. She was an older woman, older than Sarah, anyway. She didn't look like Jareth's normal type, more like a house-wife, and Sarah guessed she was mostly there to see Hoggle. "Hey, Rebecca. Er, Rebbecca, I wants ya to meet Sarah. Sarah, this here's Rebecca, my, uh, friend." "It's nice to meet you," Sarah said, extending her hand out to the other woman. Rebecca was about to take it and respond when the air was filled with peaches, most of which hit Rebecca, though a few little bits of peach hit Sarah and Hoggle.
Laughter fille dthe air, then, and another Fae appeared. Blond, like Jareth, but much better built. Rebecca glared up at him. "Puck! You damn trickster! What was that for?" Puck continued laughing as he replied. "You're on and off the List so much, I'd just realized you hadn't gotten your first official peaching yet. Well, I'm off. More people to peach," he said, then disappeared. Rebecca shook her head in disgust. "I'm beginning to see why His Highness has so little patience with him. It was nice to meet you, Sarah, but right now, I've got to get a shower." With that, Rebecca left.
Sarah could see Hoggle blushing a little. Did he have a crush on Rebecca? They really didn't have time to find out, though. Ten minutes had already passed. Bending down to Hoggle's position, she explained the situation to him. Hoggle frowned, looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "I can let yas in," he said, "but I think I should let you know that the labyrinth's changed itself again." "How so, Hoggle?"
"Well, it's decided it's going to start dropping you off at a different spot every time you go through them there doors. It's also decided it's only going to let two people in at a time." Sarah frowned at this. They really needed to all get in at the same time. Well, maybe if they... No. The labyrinth was too temperamental. For all she knew, they could be thrown to the other side of the Underground for attempting to cheat like that. Turning, she headed back to the others to discuss it with them.
"Hoggle just gave me some bad news, guys," she said. "The labyrinth will only allow two people at a time through it's doors, so we have to go in pairs." "What's so bad about that?" Hermione asked. "What's bad is that it will drop each pair into a different spot." "Can't we just hoist ourselves onto eachother's shoulders into human towers?" Sirius asked. Sarah shook her head. "I thought of that, as well," she told him. "But as temperamental as I know the maze to be, there's no telling what would happen to us if we tried to cheat like that.
There wasn't any choice, it seemed. So, they seperated into the logical (according to the author) pairs of Sarah and Sirius, Ron and Hermione, and Harry and Ginny. Sarah gave the four students some quick reminders, such as about the wise-man, the worm who gave bad directions, and peaches. She also reviewed with them firies, the Bog of Eternal Stench, Jim, Tim, Alph, and Ralph, the knockers, and the helping hands. They also agreed that, unless there was only an hour or less remaining, they'd meet up at the gates to the Goblin City, the group set off. Sarah and Sirius first, then Harry and Ginny, and finally Ron and Hermione.
Meanwhile, stuck in the throneroom of the Castle beyond the Goblin City, Severus Snape was furious. He'd been up late when the storm had started, grading papers. In fact, he'd just entered his bedchambers and started changing when he'd seen that infuriating drag queen who looked stuck in the 80's had popped in. Snape still couldn't comprehend how he could just apparate into the castle whenever he wanted. It was supposed to be impossible, never mind Albus's explanation he was a Fae. Irritated, Snape lowered the shirt he'd been about to remove and fixed his patented glare on the uninvited guest.
"What are you doing here, uninvited, in my chambers?" he asked, the usual contempt in his voice. Jareth just shrugged non-chalantly. "I've come to take you to my kingdom." Snape shook his head. "I don't recall asking to go to your kingdom, nor do I have any wish to." The potions master frowned as, instead of leaving, the Gopblin King just found a crystal. "I'm afraid that, at the moment, your wishes ahve been overridden. Catch," he said, tossing the crystal at Snape. It hit its target, and Snape was transported to where he was now, sitting on what surely passed as a throne. And somehow, it all seemed eerily familiar...
Looking around, Severus wondered what kind of goblins these were supposed to be. Despite the sudden feeling of deja vu, they didn't look like any he'd ever seen. But then, the only goblins he'd ever seen had been working in Gringotts. These disgusting creatures before him were not as intelligent or well groomed as the ones who ran the wizarding bank. Shuddering slightly, Snape firmly resolved to take a long, hot shower once he got back to Hogwarts. That was, if he got back to Hogwarts. He had just begun to wonder on that subject when that damn drag queen with bad hair and worse makeup returned.
Snape stood up, looking ready to kill. "Will you now please explain WHY I'm here and why I can't go back to Hogwarts?" Jareth, seemingly ignoring him, plopped down on his throne lazily, sitting sideways, and formed a crystal with which to observe the group currently traversing his labyrinth, before bothering to answer. "It's quite simple. You were wished away by a student. Said student and all who witnessed the wish are currently attempting to solve the labyrinth in order to save you, giving up their dreams in the process. You'd be surprised at the dreams each one of them have, what each would see should they look in the Mirror of Erised."
The potions master looked rather surprised at this last statement. The last time he had heard the Mirror of Erised mentioned had been nearly four years ago, towards the end of Potter's first year. Albus had told him it was being used to protect the Philosopher's Stone. So..."How did you know about the Mirror of Erised?" Snape asked, his eyebrow arched at the strange, effeminate freak standing before him. Jareth finally bothered to look at him. "I helped create it. Albus needed something a bit more powerful than his own magic to make to to where one could only get the Stone if he wanted it, but didn't want to use it. He needed Fae magic."
"So, you see dreams?" Snape asked, "And you know what everyone's deepest dreams are?" Jareth nodded slightly. "It's a great priviladge, and at the same time, a great curse. All of it comes with great responsibility. I grant wishes and fulfill dreams to those who truly deserve them. And don't worry, Severus. When the time comes, you will be able to teach your class without showing favoritism just to keep your cover up. But first, the Dark Lord must be defeated for good. But I don't need to tell you that, do I?" the Goblin King asked, finally sitting up straight in his throne.
"No, I suppose you don't," Severus said, sitting on the ground, looking throughtful. "So, grant dreams for anyone at Hogwarts recently?" he asked. Jareth shook his head. "I didn't have to, for the one who's dreams have just come true. Sarah has always dreamt of a fairy tale prince and happy ever after. And now, she's dating my son," he said, wryly. Snape's eyes went wide. "You mean that damn incouragable prankster Black is your son?!?" he asked. Well, now he knew exactly where the impertanence and lack of respect for other's privacy came from. "I'd hold my tongue about Sirius, if I were you," Jareth said, threateningly.
"Now, if you don't mind, I'll have a goblin take you to a room where you can get some rest. You must be exhausted. Meanwhile, I have to speak with Albus and inform him of exactly what has just happened." With that, he instructed the nearest goblin to take the potions master to the guest chambers in the north tower, transformed into his owl shape, and flew off to meet with his friend.