Hello, My Loyal Subjects! It it I! Yes! I have updated once again! Cue dramatic music! I have decided to update sooner, you lucky lucky people, to celebrate hitting 100 reviews! Yes! 100! Whoohoo! I never thought I'd ge 100! You can understand why this is a big boost to my ego! I will still update on time, as planned, this is just a reward to all you little people. I hope this dosen't feel to much like a filler, I rushed it a little especially for you guys! So if it's rubbish, feel guilty! It's all your fualt! Enjoy!
Chapter Nine: Drake and Past Events
"Why'd you hug Hagrid?" Ron asked as he and Hermione dragged Toby into a vacant carriage with Harry and Ginny.
"Don't know. I just felt like it." Toby shrugged. "He's a very huggable guy. And Jareth's always teaching me to do the unexpected. So I couldn't help myself."
"Yeah. I wanted to do that too when I first met him, but I never had the guts." Ginny giggled. The carriage gave a jolt and they began moving.
"There's the lake. You'd be crossing that by now, if you went with Hagrid." Harry pointed out the window, five minutes into the drive. Toby looked out. It was a clear night, with the moon reflecting off the lake revealing the small bunch of boats sailing across it and the long shadow following them.
"Oh, that's just the giant squid." Ron said airily when he saw Toby stare. "It's nice enough, just don't go for any midnight swims." Toby nodded feverishly. "Here comes the castle. Welcome to Hogwarts!" Toby looked up, as they passed through a pair of iron gates, to see the large castle glowing in the dark.
"It's almost as big the Jareth's," He told the gang, with a slight grin as his head poked further out the window. "only grander. If Jareth could get them to tidy up a bit, maybe a fresh lick of paint and some new gilding, then the Goblin Castle might rival Hogwarts." The wizards and witches all grinned at his complement of their home.
When they got off the landau and up the stairs to reach the great hall they were called over the crowd by an old woman in teachers robes. "Mr Potter, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley. Could you bring our guest here, please?"
'That was more a demand, than a question.' Toby thought as his friends lead the way.
"That's Professor McGonagall. She's Gryffindor's Head of House. Don't be scared, she's a tough old bird, but fair."
"Ron!" Hermione hissed. "Don't call her that! What if she hears you?"
"Who can hear anything in all this?" Ron indicated the students around him, all chatting and yelling. "It's a wonder Toby can hear me at all."
"Right. If you'll come with me, your Majesty. I will give you a tour around the school grounds so you can begin your investigations." Professor McGonagall said sourly to Toby when they had arrived and she had given him a brief study.
"Umm… Professor? Is it not too late for a tour?" She turned to look at the small boy again. "It just seems to be a bit late at night that's all. I'm a little tired from the journey here and I'm sure there is something you would rather be doing this evening than babysitting me. So why don't I begin by investigating the food in the Great Hall tonight and Hermione and her friends can tour me tomorrow, as it will be a Sunday." The teacher looked down in surprise at the circlet adorned boy looking back up at her.
After a think she finally gave him a small smile and said, "As you wish, your Highness." before turning to Harry, Ron and Hermione and saying "Miss Granger, I trust you and your friends will cater to his needs. If there are any questions Miss Granger can not answer, feel free to ask the staff." and leaving them for the Teachers Table.
Ron snorted before muttering. "Like there's something about Hogwarts, Hermione doesn't know! We should rename her 'Hogwarts: A History'." Toby gave him a funny look, not entirely understanding what he meant.
"That was a bit cold." Harry commented about the Professor, as he walked with his friends to the Gryffindor table to introduce Toby to they're DA group.
"Maybe she's got something on her mind." Toby guessed as he sat between Harry and Ron.
Toby had marvelled at the floating candles, asking whether wax fell into the food, the enchanted ceiling, asking what happens when it rains or snows, and the amount of food magically put on the tables at once, asking how it was done. Hermione was glad to answer all his questions. Then the Sorting was done and she explained the significance of the ceremony and about the Houses people were entered in.
"Attention, please!" Dumbledore stood at the Head Table when everyone had finished eating and the plates had been taken way. "In typical Hogwarts tradition," His eyes sparkled as they moved over the crowd of stuffed students. "I would like to introduce the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Drake." A tall thin man sitting close to Dumbledore stood up. He had his long brown hair tied up in a high ponytail which brought out the point in his arching eyebrows. Toby took one look at him and knew he was sidhe. "And we hope he is the one to break the tradition." Drake held eye contact with Toby for a moment, quickly breaking it with an small bow when Toby gave him a stony look and raised an inquiring eyebrow. "I would also like to also introduce Prince Tobias of the Goblin Kingdom, who will be inspecting our House Elf barracks for a few days as they are so big." Toby stood up on his bench, so that the hall could see him and kept his stony look, really nervous as all the students looked at him. "If you have any complaints about the House Elf staff, please be sure to contact him as he will be lead around the school grounds by Miss Granger." Hermione stood up to receive everyone's gaze, then they both sat down as Professor Dumbledore continued. "This is just a routine inspection, one Hogwarts takes every couple of hundred years. That's all of the notices for now, except that I must remind students that Mr Filch will ferry crossings across the swamp in the corridor on the fifth floor of the east wing as it seems the staff, with the help of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, are still working on a counter spell. It seems the original spell was cast with a little more vigour than intended. Thank you and now I suggest, as I assume we are all fit to burst with the amount of food we have consumed, that everyone goes up to bed and has a nice lie in, as tomorrow is Sunday. Good night." The students all got up and crowded to their dormitories. Toby followed Harry behind Ron and Hermione who were in charge of the first years.
Thinking that this time was as good as any, Toby asked. "Why do people keep asking if your okay, Harry?"
Harry seemed to think about it for a second as he studied the floor beneath his moving feet. Then he answered in a sad whisper. "Because my godfather died last year, in a battle with Death Eaters. He saved my life."
"Oh." Toby looked at his sad friend for a moment before giving him a small hug. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"Thanks. It's okay. You didn't know. Grimmuald Place use to be his house and I didn't know him really well. He was in Azkaban, a wizard prison, for a murder he didn't commit and had broke out a few years ago to clear his name." Harry said to the floor as they continued walking.
Toby thought for a second before asking. "To change the subject: Do you know where I'm going to sleep?"
Harry gave a small smile and a shrug. "I'm sure Hermione knows. We'll ask her when we get to the common room."
Apparently Toby would be put up in a guest bedroom close to the Gryffindor common room, for his and Hermione's convenience. Professor McGonagall had left a parchment for her in the common room.
When Toby woke up the next morning he looked around, puzzled to what had woke him so early. The light coming in from the window was barely enough to see by. Looking around he found five House Elves staring at him from the floor, all with big watery eyes and clad in a pillowcase with the Hogwarts emblem. "Um.. Hello. Did you want something?" Toby asked them sleepily.
One of the Elves came forward, looking down to fiddle with his hands, and asked. "Is it true, Majesty?"
"I've only just woke up." Toby explained patiently with a yawn. "What have you heard?"
"That… that…" The first Elf stuttered but was taken over by another.
"You and Lady Sarah was attacked by bad wizards, sir." The second Elf said, timidly.
"Yes, I'm afraid that's true." Toby answered, not sure why they were distressed. "What's wrong?"
"Well… Highness…"
"Please spit it out, I want to get back to sleep." Toby moaned as he fell backwards onto the pillow. Seeing as the House Elves weren't going to move or say anything, Toby sighed to himself and, lifting his head up to see them, patted the side of his bed, motioning the House Elves to feel free and climb up. Only one did, the second Elf who had stepped forward, and Toby watched him as he sat down and look nervous, as if he didn't belong there. "Could you please get on with it?" Toby asked as his eyes threatened to shut.
"Majesty… Grip knows why dark wizards attacked, sir." He muttered.
Toby sat up, the little House Elf now had the princes undivided attention. "Why?" Grip fiddled some more, making Toby want to snap, "Stop it!" but he didn't. Instead Toby said, as patiently as he could. "It's okay. If your worried, I wont tell anyone you said anything. You won't get into any trouble."
"Sir is very kind." Grip's eyes began to water again as he stared up hopefully at Toby. "Sir," He began as the other House Elves came forward. "the Dark Lord didn't know his Highness and Lady was in. Professor Dumbledore sent Solleret to send a letter to Lady Sarah telling Lady Sarah that Lord Toby and his Highness was helping Professor Dumbledore in the war, sir, and was asking her permission so you's could stay in England to help, sir. The Dark Lord sent dark wizards to stop Solleret from delivering her message, sir. But it was too late, sir." Grip fell silent, not knowing what else to say.
Toby nodded his head, fitting the pieces together as he thanked and dismissed the Elves. Jareth had been asked to help in the war against Voldemort, and while Jareth hadn't cared if humans got themselves blown up, he had recognised that Voldemort would get word of Toby's magical station when Jareth sent him to Hogwarts, the best school for magic Aboveground, in two years time. Then Sarah would be in danger too. So Jareth had agreed to help them.
(SHOUT OUTS! I LOVE YOU PEOPLE! Kiss! Well... maybe I don't love you that much... but its close!)
Maniac: Your question was, 'How'd they know where the house was anyway's?' And the answer is... drum roll please...because that cow Bellatrix told them! Yay! Is it just me, or dosen't she sound like a charicter from 'Asterix and Obelix'? Not that I'm sad enough to read their books... you belive me, right? Shut up!
Jumping-jo: Don't worry! You haven't seen the last of Jareth and Sarah! Mwaha!
Vampirehelsing: As I told Jumping-jo, you havent seen the last of Sarah and Jareth! Being so very evil,I have something diabolical instore for them! Mwahahahahahaha!
Solea: I just felt like shouting you out. Hello!
The 1 hp fan: Wait no longer! For I have saved you from rolling your eyes in boredom!
Ladyofthedragons1: YAY! COOKIE! CHOCO CHIP GOODNESS! CRAP! NOW YOU'VE MADE ME HYPER! NOOOOOOOO! NOW EVERYONE IN MY HOUSE WILL DIE! (Gets hit over the head by Amberfox with a shoe.) AF: Shut up!