Disclaimer:Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to J K Rowling. Labyrithcharacters belong toLucas Films and Jim Henson.

Authors note: I'm so sorry for the long wait, this chapter was by far the most challenging to write so far. I hope you will all enjoy it and promise that the next chapter will not be far behind. I also wanted to thank all of you for reviewing and all those lovely words of encouragement. My life has been pretty hectic in the past few months, it seemed as though just as one family problem was delt with another appeared and then, clumy sod that I am I went and broke my ankle. Huge hugs to Erin for sticking with me and getting this chapter beta'd. A note of thaks also to Brandy for listening to all my grumbles and woe is me stories the past few weeks. So without any further ado...

Thirteen Hours

7 o'clock. (pm)

Draco's eyes flickered open in the dull light. His head ached and spun and his muscles felt stiff and sore. He shifted uncomfortably then stilled as he felt a weight shift on the bed beside him.

Ginny Weasley's aqua coloured eyes sought his, a faint knowing smile gracing her lips. "It's about time you woke up Draco, you've been out cold for god knows how long. If you'd bled much longer and I hadn't found you, you might have died." She said seriously.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing in here Weasley?" He half shouted at her, anger and fear entering his tone.

"Looking out for your ungrateful arse, Malfoy," she answered him steadily.

"You don't know what you're talking about, so why don't you just bugger off?" He sneered.

Ginny grinned then, it wasn't a nice grin; it was faintly mocking and feral.

"I know exactly what I'm talking about Malfoy, I'm not daft. I saw the scars, the cuts, and all your self-inflicted damage and right now I can see more of it just looking in your eyes. You've torn your soul to pieces just trying to stay sane, tried to cut yourself off from emotions because it hurts too much to feel them, so instead, you feel this pain; pain that's real, that's tangible, that you can create and see. I know exactly what I'm talking about Draco, because not so long ago, I was in the exact same place." She reached for the hem of her skirt and pulled it up past her thighs, her eyes filled with steely determination as she seemingly ignoring the fact she was exposing her white cotton knickers.

Draco stared in shock at her skin. At the top of her hip the first faint red line started. It was followed by dozens of others, all the way down to her knees. Suddenly reality crashed down on him. Little Ginny Weasley had done this to herself, all because she felt the same way he did. In his confusion at her revelation he didn't notice the first tear that rolled down his cheek.

Ginny reached for his face and brushed away the tear. Before her eyes Draco's barriers melted away, confronted as he was with the physical evidence of someone else's confusion and pain. He hung his head unable to look at her. Tentatively she reached out a hand to his and he clutched it tightly.

"I'm sorry… I never knew…"

"Don't, why should you have known, none of my family noticed what I was doing." She said bitterly. "I had to help myself; I finally went to Madam Pomfrey. She was very kind to me, helped me see… that life's not easy or fair, but that doing this to ourselves won't really help. And it won't, you must see that too Draco, it isn't a soloution, only an escape, a way to forget, this is just how we deal with ignoring reality. You have to face your pain and your fear Draco… this self hatred won't stop until you do. But... you are stronger than this, you have to be, because I wouldn't help you if I didn't think you were worth saving. So, what's it gong to be? Are you going to fight, or are you going to let your own emotions destroy you?"

Draco leaned his elbow against his knee and ran his fingers through the blond hair. This was so much to take in. The Weaselette was trying to help him, she knew what he was and she still wanted to help. Doubt lingered though in his heart, he'd never had anyone he could trust before. Now this girl he had known for five years, five years in which he had mocked her, her family, sat there beside him telling him to choose and trust. Choose life or death, she was saying, choose right now and trust her to help him. How could she believe in him like this? They'd been mortal enemies for all those years, and yet, here they were, sharing something, forming a bond that, in the light of day, no one else would ever have been able to guess at. He looked at her then and nodded his head. He had nothing left to loose.

Ginny smiled softly at him.

"Good, I know this is not going to be easy for you, I know you'll sometimes hate me. For now, we are going to be friends… and friends share their feelings Draco, so now I want to know about yours."

"I don't know if…"

"Don't give me that crap Malfoy, it's all there, boiling under the surface, you have to let it out. Start with something small, we'll get to know each other slowly and I'll share with you as well. Budge up, I'll sit beside you."

Draco moved over on the bed and Ginny shifted round to sit beside him. She took his hand again and rested back against the headboard.

"Why are we...?"

"To help you relax and to create a false sense of intimacy to enable you to open up to me." Her tone brooked no argument.

"Oh. Ok… I don't know where to start," he said quietly.

He felt Ginny shrug her shoulders and turned his head to watch her. She looked up at him and rolled her eyes.

"Well… there's this muggle song that says 'lets start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start'."

"Huh, that sounds surprisingly insightful, for muggles."

"Just wait until you hear some of their rock music. I guarantee you'll never think they're stupid again."

"Ok, the beginning," he held her hand tighter, took a deep breath, and began.

"Ron?" Hermione's voice called from the hall.

Ron sat on the window seat his knees drawn up to his chest, hugging them tightly.

"Go away, Mione. I don't want to talk right now." He grunted angrily.

He could feel the veins on his forehead pounding with blood and anger. His cousin, how the hell could she be his cousin? And she bloody well knew it for two years and she never said a word. Never made it clear to him that… no it was unfair, he'd never said anything to her about how he had felt towards her. But she should have guessed, or heard some gossip. But oh no, not Hermione, she's not a girly girl, she doesn't listen to gossip; she just reads books all day and works on her bloody potions projects. How in hell could she really have missed it though, everyone in the school knew he had a crush on her, now her actions I the last year started to make sense. She wasn't upset that he hadn't asked her out, she was just pissed off that he was ignoring her and probably laughing at the complete and utter twit he had acted while trying to make her jealous. He felt like kicking himself. Not only had he been a fool, but he had then gone and blown off Lavender, a perfectly nice girl who he'd kind of quite liked, for nothing.

"Ron, I'm not going anywhere until you speak to me…you know you're acting just like a…"

Ron jerked the door open and glared at her.

"Don't even think of finishing that sentence Mione, I'm not acting like a child, I'm just… I'm angry, ok? You knew and you never said a word. Why didn't you just pull me to the side and tell me? You could have said something to me, anything really."

"Ron, you know perfectly well that if I had tried to talk to you about my feeling's you'd have run a mile. Besides which, do you really think you could have kept that from your mum? She'd have wormed it out of you the first time you saw her! Dumbledore wanted it kept secret for good reason, reasons I can't go into right now, but I agreed with them at the time it would just have put you and your family in more danger. Please Ron, try to understand; I didn't do this to hurt you, I really didn't. You're like a brother to me."

He sighed and leaned against the doorframe heavily.

"Just answer me one question, before you knew… did you ever… I mean did you think we…"

Hermione gazed at him a sad smile on her lips.

"I'm sorry Ron, I knew I loved you very much, but… I've never felt that way about you, we've always been too close. I think if you give this some time you'll realise that you never really felt that way about me either, everyone just expected that we'd be together and they were wrong. I don't want to lose you Ron, you're my best friend, and anyway, we're always fighting, and bickering, could you really ever have seen us together? I'd have killed you inside a week, we have completely different goals in life, you need someone that adores you and wants to cater to your every whim… I could never have been that girl for you."

Ron nodded and smiled at her.

"I know, your right, I… I just need a little time to get used to it, ok?"

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow then? I have some stuff I have to take care of right now."

"Ok, but Mione, all this work you're doing, is it safe? Harry might not have noticed how much you sneak off, but I have, you're up to something and, I know your hiding something else from us, what is it?

"I can't tell you that right now Ron, just trust me, it's how it has to be." Ron accepted her answer reluctantly and watched as she ran down the stairs. Closing the door he leaned against it and slid down to the floor. He knew intellectually she was right, but it still hurt. So he cried for all his dreams that would never come true.

8 o'clock.

Lucius strode the corridors of the Labyrinth humming under his breath. The place was bizarre. Talking worms! Moving walls and disembodied voices! Who built this infernal place? And why any of its inhabitants would want to live here was completely irrational. He was tired, hungry and irritable; the next creature that blocked his path just might get an invigorating round of Crucio for daring to face him.

Hoggle watched the blond as he made his way at an impressive pace through the maze. At first he had thought about helping him, but decided there wasn't much point, after all he seemed to be able to hold his own and to top it all off he had a wand. No mere mortal here, but a wizard. One that seemed to radiate the same sort of energy and superiority that Jareth could evoke. Not a wizard to be crossed this one. As he had followed him though he realised that something incredibly strange was going on. No one had been purposely sent to way lay the man, in fact it seemed as though the Goblin King was taking no interest in the game. To Hoggle this could only mean trouble. If Jareth wasn't interested than he wasn't here, and if he wasn't here then he was up to something and it was up to Hoggle to find out! However, Hoggle being Hoggle was a practical and pragmatic creature. Coward a small voice whispered in the back of his mind. Practical he reminded himself firmly. Better to throw someone else in his path first then get answers while he was distracted.

Using the tunnels and switch points in the maze Hoggle tracked down Ludo and Sir Didymus, they would help with his plan nicely.

9:15 pm

Minerva brought the meeting to a start. The Order members sat silently as she opened proceedings.

Harry sat slouched in a chair, eyes blank and unseeing. Every time they had one of these stupid meetings there was more bad news. He didn't really want to hear it any more. He knew it was entirely his fault; his fault that everyone was dying. He was sick of all the ineffectual talk that seemed to be going on around him. He knew they were all looking to him for answers, for hope, for a leader. But he didn't want the job. He never had wanted it. All he had ever wanted was to have a normal happy life. Instead he had been thrust into the whole thing from the minute Hagrid had knocked down that bloody door. It wasn't fair, why did this happen to him? Why not a boy who had grown up in this world and understood it better than he did? Why had he been the boy who lived and not Neville? But there was really no point in asking why. It simply was this way, and he was the one to blame for the whole sorry mess. No one around him was safe, they were all out there fighting to protect him and keep him safe, what if he didn't pull through for them? What if he couldn't be the hero they all needed? Deep down in Harry's soul he knew that was the crux of the matter. Hero. He wasn't a hero; he was just lucky. He'd never stopped that killing curse, it had been his mother, she had stopped Voldemort, not Harry. Why didn't everyone see that?

"The Prime Minister asked about the Order of the Phoenix today, by name. He asked for help from them if I could get a message to them." Kingsley said. Harry pushed himself up in his seat to listen.

"How on earth did he find out about us?" Minerva asked, her voice clearly shocked at this announcement.

"He didn't seem inclined to tell me. He just said he had a source and asked if I thought they might be willing to help with the Newclear Power station."

"Nuclear Power," Hermione piped up then. "It's very dangerous. My source told me what had happened. He said the Ministry weren't interested in helping the muggles. It was something I was going to bring up anyway. The poison from the fall out of the explosion could seriously contaminate the whole area and more besides. There still might be time to do something to help minimise the damage."

"What do you mean Miss Granger? This nuclear stuff, surely if they use it to make that Electricity thing, it can't be dangerous." Minerva questioned her.

"I know, there has been a lot of controversy over the scheme, but it's a cheap way for the muggles to produce energy. They used it first in bombs though, back in 1945 the Americans used it to wipe out the city of Hiroshima in Japan. A bomb with a core the size of a bludger bat killed nearly 200,000 people. The poison radiation from the blast contaminated the land people are still dying today from exposure to it. Voldemort ordered that place blown up; we have a moral responsibility to help them with this. Thousands could die and if the radiation got into the food and water supply, it would be more than just the muggles that would be affected by it, we'd be at risk as well."

Harry watched as McGonagall seemed to weigh up Hermione's words, for a moment he thought he detected a silent communication between them. McGonagall gave Hermione an almost indiscernible nod of agreement.

"Very well, Shaklebolt, organise a team and try to do what you can for them. I'm sure Miss Granger might have some insight into what you can use to get rid of this radiation. I want them out and clearing up this mess before morning."

Kingsley nodded, his lips a grim line across his dark face.

"The next order of business please." Minerva asked.

Harry slipped further back in his chair as Tonks started relating news from the ministry. Tomorrow he would get out of here, go to Godric's hollow and start the search for the next Horcrux. He gripped the fake locket tightly in his palm, a frown marring his features. He's wasted enough time here; Voldemort was becoming bolder with each new move. How many more might die because he was sitting wallowing in self pity? He pondered again the words of the prophecy, 'a power the dark lord knows not'. What power? What sort of magic could Voldemort not know? What could he have that had not already made it's self-apparent? He knew without a shadow of a doubt that even if they managed to destroy the horcruxes, in the end it would be up to him to defeat the dark lord. 'Either must die at the hand of the other...' so one of them would die, it didn't say he would defeat him, just that he would have the power. They didn't bother telling him how to get it or use it! He huffed with annoyance, everyone turned to look at him.

"Yes Harry, you have something to add here?" Minerva asked kindly.

"I…"

The door to the sitting room crashed open and Fred Weasley fell through the door. His face was white with shock and horror.

"You have to come… Luna Lovegood… she's... her father, the death eaters killed him, we couldn't bring her in, we need the secret keeper's permission."

Harry felt his whole world sway perilously around him. Luna? How could this happen to sweet scatty Luna?

"Where is she?" Harry demanded standing up.

"Outside, we just need the secret keeper."

Narcissa stood up and crossed to the door. Harry was hot on her heals, wand drawn ready for any attack they might face should someone have followed Fred and George.

Harry heard Narcissa make a strangled sound as she raced out the front door and quickly saw what had caused her sound of distress.

Luna stood supported by George on the pavement. A pair of broken silver rimmed glasses clutched tightly in her hands. George was trying to get her to let go of them as the jagged pieces of glass were cutting her small pale hands to ribbons. Her bright sunshine yellow cloak was dark with blood and her ash blonde hair hung in tangled clumps around her wide-eyed face.

"Luna!" Harry called out to her. Slowly her face lifted and a pair of blank eyes regarded him almost as though she didn't recognise him.

Narcissa took Luna's hand and pried the glasses from her grip.

"Luna, I'm Cissa, now you must listen carefully to me. The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix are located at number twelve Grimmauld Place." Luna nodded her head.

"Can you see the house now?" Cissa asked gently.

"I saw it before, it's always there." She relied calmly. Narcissa looked at Harry, puzzlement in her expression. Harry shrugged and gave Luna a speculative look.

Luna looked up at him as George led her into the house.

"Hello Harry, it was a lovely day today wasn't it? The sun was so bright, but it's all dark now isn't it. Has it always been like that for you? I'm not afraid though, I can still see, even in the dark… can you?"

Harry's mind spun at her seemingly crazy chatter but what she had said hit him deeply and hard. What truths could Luna see that he could not? He would have to find out, he owed her; her father must have been killed because of him, because he had supported Harry so strongly. Who might be next if he didn't find a way to stop Voldemort?

10 o'clock.

Severus felt the watch in his pocket heat up. It had been less than a day since they had spoken. What could have happened to make her contact him so quickly?

Looking at the casing he saw that she wanted to meet with him in a half an hour at the cottage. A feeling of dread crept over him. Had he missed something? Had there been an attack he did not know of? As he got to his feet he felt the mark on his arm burn with fire. Damn the bastard! A meeting so soon!

Severus apparated to his master's side, barley managing to keep his roiling emotions under control. There was obviously something amiss. They were never called in on such short notice unless there had been an unexpected occurrence.

Voldemort sat in a wing back chair, his skeletal hands resting lightly on the arms of the chair. His face was menacing but unreadable. With unexpected delight, Severus realised that his Master, had called in all of his followers. This could prove to be very useful, after all what voices or gaits or comportment might reveal the identities of some of the others within his ranks. Severus calmed himself and stood back waiting for Voldemort to speak, to reveal the reason for this meeting. Severus felt that either something very good had just happened or someone was about to be made an example of.

An unnatural quiet seemed to settle upon the room as the perceptible agitation washed over the assembled congregation. Like supplicants before an angry and unforgiving god one by one they knelt at his feet and kissed the hem of his robe, crawling backwards in terror as he continued to survey them in silence.

"My Loyal sssubjectssss, I have called you hear asss one of our own thought to attack and kill Lazarus Lovegood. I gave no such orders, or voiced such sssentimentssss. So it comes that I must question thisss trussst that I have placed upon you. Who dared to act without my permission?"

The robed figures all stood abjectly still, no shifting or shuffling in the whole crowd.

Severus glanced surreptitiously through the throng. From the corner of his eye he saw a thin figure step forward shaking with fear. The man, or was it a boy, was about five foot ten, thin as a rail, but trying hard to hold his head up and his shoulders back. As he walked forward, Severus noted the way he held himself and the way he walked. A memory flickered in his mind and his heart sank with dread. Surely not! Surely this couldn't be who he thought it was?

Percy Weasley stepped up and fell before Voldemort.

"Forgive me my lord, it was I."

The dark lord regarded the boy dispassionately and a cruel smile graced his lips.

"Crucio!" His wand whipped down and red light arced towards the boy. Percy writhed and screamed in torment. When the curse finally lifted Percy pulled himself to his knees, but stayed quiet.

"Tell me, my death eater, who were you working with? I have heard how the body was found and how he was killed, surly you were not working alone?" His tone was deadly.

"I worked alone my lord, no one helped me." He reiterated.

"Crucio!" Again the red light struck him, making his body convulse in pain.

"Bella, sssstep forward."

Severus kept his face carefully blank as Bella moved out from his left and knelt in supplication before their master.

"Rise Bella. Your young protégé seems to be completely loyal to you my dear. Pray enlighten me as to why you had ordered him to do this?"

"My lord, it was a test to see if he was worthy of you. Lazarus Lovegood had been about to publish the truth behind your name. Somehow he knew of your original name and of your past. I felt it presented the perfect opportunity to test this ones loyalty. He did indeed perform his task alone and in my most humble opinion, my Lord, he completed it beautifully. I beg your forgiveness my Lord for my impulsiveness, I was about to bring word to you, when we were called."

Voldemort seemed to Severus keen eye, a little surprised as he pondered her actions.

"You have done well my dear, but that does not circumvent the fact that you failed to inform me of this. Crucio!"

Bella managed to keep quiet as the curse worked upon her skeletal frame, her muscles jerking spasmodically, seemingly resisting the violence of the curse.

"Return to your placessesss." Voldemort hissed when the curse was lifted.

Severus felt the relief of the crowd as Bella and Percy retreated to their places. The Dark Lord then stood and opened his arms to his congregation.

"Death Eaters, my loyal subjectsss, I am ordering a raid on muggle London; capture, kill, torture, revel in blood, we shall show all that we are unstoppable."

A grim look of determination passed Severus face as he apparated away, intent on saving those he could from the blood bath, which was about to commence. Percy Weasley would have to wait until later; right now there were lives to save.

Jareth strode the streets of the mortal realm like a god among humanity. For the first time in five thousand years he could freely walk among them in his true form. He reveled in the freedom, in the attention from the mortals he passed. He treasured each and every emotion that crossed these pathetic mortal faces. Fear, delicious in its scent and taste, longing, adoration, obsession, bitter and sweet on his soul.

He had laughed as the power of their emotions made him stronger than he had been since Sarah had left him. His thoughts broke off there. He knew before the hours were up that he would find her, would take her, and would make her submit to him, as he should have done years ago. And yet, another part of him wanted nothing more than to hear her refute those shattering words she had last spoken to him. ' You have no power over me' Ah Sarah, he thought, almost melancholic, how little you truly understood.

The first time he had seen Sarah, she had been no more than nineteen, a laughing beautiful nymph dancing with her sisters in the palace gardens. He too had been young then, a mere thirty years old. Long before the labyrinth, long before the thousand-year war and long before the only love and peace he had ever known had been so cruelly ripped from his heart. She had been called Merenwen then, her dark hair and green eyes had caught his attention among the sea of blond and blue. Once he held power over her, once she held that same power over him, once they had been joined, bonded in the deepest way possible, once he loved.

Now as he took in the city bathed in the bloody hues of the sunset he resolved that this time, unbound, as he was, that he would explain to her, tell her the whole story and find out if she remembered. Unobstructed by the chains of servitude which had been forced upon him in his grief those years ago, he could at last try to win her back, his wife.

10:30pm.

Hermione waited at the cottage, gazing at her watch anxiously every few minutes. Coldness started to permeate her heart as she worried over his lateness. He should have arrived half an hour ago, but there was as of yet no sign of him.

She had gone to the Lovegood's' house with Tonks to retrieve some of Luna's clothes and had been unable to avert her eyes from the open kitchen door. Aurors had come and were gathered around Lazarus Lovegood's mutilated corpse. They were talking in hushed whispers trying to work out the progression of the attack. She had wanted nothing more to go home to her own parents and cry in their loving arms, to know they were safe and unable to be found by the death eaters. Her heart had constricted when she had heard some of their words. Luna had not seen the dark mark over her house because the killer had only left as she herself had entered the house. A mere handful of seconds had saved her from a similar fate. Now certain of what had happened she contacted Severus to let him know of the attack and find out what he himself might have learned.

A smoky white blue patronus appeared through the door and waited patiently for her to retrieve the message. She quietly muttered the charm to release the words of the message.

His voice filled her ears and her relief nearly overwhelmed her.

'Hermione, there has been an attack ordered on muggle London, random strikes, over three hundred death eaters; bring help.'

Rolling her eyes she disapparated with a crack and landed back at Grimmauld place. Time to call the order into action and alert the ministry.

Sarah tried to push her way through the crowds of milling people. There had been explosions and screams erupting everywhere around her. She had come to London two weeks ago, a graduation present from her father when she had finished at Julliard, top of her class with a B.F.A in Dance. Her relaxing vacation meant to let her soak up the culture and history of London, had suddenly turned into a nightmare. She had had tickets to see Twelfth Night at the Globe, shortly before the end of the performance the stage had been filled with men in dark shimmering robes with masks of bone. At first many in the audience had thought it some sort of theatrical surprise. That was until the first dead body had hit the floor and a screaming girl had been defiled upon the stage. People around her were screaming and crying, while others stood dumbly in shock as they watched these atrocities.

Sarah detached her mind from the shock of what she had seen and then quickly recovered her wits. They had been using wands, magical lights had shot from those wands making people fall to their knees in agony or die. Some had suddenly become like sleep walkers, following and obeying commands from the ones wielding the wands. Through it all Sarah had walked as calmly away from the scene as she could, drawing her black wrap tight around her shoulders.

Magic… the one thing she had tried to distance herself from for years. Since the Labyrinth, since Ja… no, I must not think of him she said to herself.

Sarah knew only too well how real magic was. How dangerous it could be and knew without a doubt, that those she had seen use it were magical. Their power radiated from them and made her skin tingle and sting. But it was different from how she had felt around Him. This magic felt… younger, different, no less powerful, but new and fresh. His magic had felt like a well-worn glove; had rolled from him in gentle powerful surges towards her like the waves towards the rising moon.

Sarah shook her head; she must stop thinking of him. Long ago she had learned that he could tell when she thought of him, could almost feel his presence reaching out to her. Never would she say his name, he would hear it she knew, would come for her again and this time, she feared that she would not be able to say the words she had uttered so desperately before. As soon as those words had left her lips she had watched in horror as He was borne away, the look of betrayal and hurt in his eyes cutting deeply into her heart and for an instant she had heard a whispered name that tugged at her unconscious mind, Merenwen. Although it had taken her years to admit it, she regretted the words the very second she said them. Something inside her had raged with its own pain and grief even as the last syllable had left her tongue.

As she forced her way through the terrified mob, she could feel some strange instinct inside her begin to well up, to respond to the danger she could feel. The air around her began to crackle with energy as she became aware of it. Desperately she tried to move faster, and then fell and felt a bruising grip pull her to her feet again. One of the masked men was staring at her with unconcealed puzzlement.

"Who are you?" He asked urgently.

"I'm Sarah…. What do you want with me?" Her voice rose and she forced the strength behind it to hide her fear.

"Why are you unarmed, surely you should at least have a wand on you, or you should had apparated to safety. You are drawing attention from the rest by letting your own magic loose so violently. Get out of here." His black eyes flashed with annoyance.

"Look, I don't know what your talking about; I'm not one of your kind," she hissed back, trying to keep her voice low.

Surprise flitted across his face at this revelation and he tugged her roughly to the side of the street. Shoving her into a narrow ally, he scanned the place for signs of danger.

"Listen to me, stay here, and hide behind those bins. Wait for me to return. If you are caught before I can get you away, you'll wish you had died out there like those muggles. The Dark Lord will not hesitate to drain you of your magic in the most painful way possible. Do you understand?"

Sarah felt as though she were in the middle of one of her nightmares again, but decided that for now this man had posed no threat to her and that it would be in her best interests to do as he had asked and stay where she was. She nodded and he gave her a curt bow before departing himself.

As she sat there hidden behind the huge metal bins she suddenly felt the magnitude of the whole situation finally set in. Her body started to shake and shiver as the death she had witnessed finally registered properly in her mind. The cacophony of blood and death continued unabated into the night, Sarah put her head in her hands and wept. All she wanted was to be safe and taken away from this place. The trauma and violence of the night seemed so familiar somehow. As the hours past she could feel the magical vibrations in the air and again the feeling of deja-veu pressed itself against her senses. The smell of ozone and copper invaded her mind and she thought she remembered the call of pipes or flutes. She could see the flashes of metal as swords and axes whistled thought the air perfecting the beauty and art of death as they danced in the dying light. Then a new memory arose, the feeling of a magical blade cutting though her own skin as she clutched her rounded stomach, full with her first child. The sound of an incantation that separated her soul from her body and the last face she had beheld in that form, cradling her broken body and crying in body wrenching sobs.

"Jareth…" she whispered hoarsely.

1am.

'Jareth'

The Goblin King stopped and tilted his head as the whispered call reached his ears. She was close that much was apparent; he reached out and felt for her mind. Cold, frightened, terror, blood, fear.

Rage and anger welled inside him. Sarah was in danger, his only thought at that moment was to reach her. In a swirl of shimmering robes he ported towards the call.

Lucius stopped as he reached the great doors, which would lead him closer to the Goblin city. The light around him had dimmed, although he knew the sun never set here. With a quick scourgify he cleaned a stone pedestal and then sat for a much need rest as he contemplated the door before him. Two gargoyle knockers lay silent on the oaken doors, magical guardians to protect the kingdom. He knew no amount of magic he possessed would allow him past. Propping his hands on his cane, he leaned forward and stared at the gargoyles with piercing silver eyes. He had six hours left to get to the castle. He estimated that it would take at least an hour to get to the castle once he had gotten past the gates.

Now the only problem that remained was to come up with a suitable plan to confuse and trick these guardians into letting him past. Every creature he had encountered so far was obsessed with stopping for a chat with him. Gossip, being the only thing that seemed to keep the inhabitants of the labyrinth content. Silence would be the key here. Bargaining was after all what Malfoy's were good it.

Sir Didymus watched the regal looking wizard with a mixture of apprehension and fascination. Just as Hoggle had told him the wizard was surrounded by a similar aura of power that Jareth possessed. Formidable, yes, dangerous, yes, but approachable, perhaps. Pulling himself up to his full two feet, Didymus strode towards the blond man.

Lucius had been aware of the curious eyes which had followed him throughout the maze, seemingly hidden in the shadows and biding their time. It appeared that now, having assessed what and how much of a threat he might pose they had decided to approach him. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he saw the small fox of some kind? Approach him purposefully.

"Greeting's Sir Wizard!" The small canine hallooed.

"Greeting's Sir Knight." Lucius replied nonchalantly.

"I am Sir Didymus of his royal majesty's army. What business have you here sir Wizard?" He asked bluntly.

Gryffindor, Lucius thought with a mental role of his eyes; Godric's spirit certainly lived on in the most bizarre of places.

"I seek to reach the castle at the heart of the Goblin City."

"A child you seek to win then?"

"No." His reply was short and unforthcoming. Didymus frowned at this.

"Come Sir Wizard, what quest have you embarked upon to reach such a perilous place if not for a child of your blood?"

Lucius weighed his options carefully in his mind. The small creature was a giant in his manner and bravery; a trait that might benefit Lucius. One such as this could be persuaded to help him if he were to use the truth.

"This challenge is one I must face in order to complete… what you might call a noble quest."

Surprise and excitement flitted across the knight's face.

"A quest!" He exclaimed animatedly. "Pray tell me Sir Wizard, what quest are you on?"

Lucius smiled benignly at this and stood, firmly straightening his still aching spine and muscle.

Didymus, regarded the wizard with a mixture of awe and fear, when standing the wizard towered over him by at least four feet, hair of sunlight gold shimmered around him like a halo of light.

"I seek to win the help of the fey and Umbra Iuguolo for the mortal world, where a mighty and terrifying dark wizard has begun his own quest to dominate and rule all wizard kind. As we speak, he spreads death destruction and hate among my own people, dividing those of magic amongst themselves. Brother against brother, husband against wife, wizard against muggle, he must be stopped before he destroys us all."

"Sir wizard if what you say is true then once the mortal world was conquered he may very well have the power to enter this realm. I am honour bound to help you in your quest. I am at your service, most noble of wizards."

Lucius allowed a laugh to escape him at this.

"Most noble indeed. I fear you may believe me to be more than I am. I assure you most noble of knights, I am anything but noble; I'm doing this purely through self-interest. I have no intention of bowing before some half blood upstart like the Dark Lord for the rest of my days, or inflicting it upon my family. I have no need for any justice, which would not help me reach my own goals. This quest is purely self interest my friend."

Didymus regarded him sharply for a moment.

"That makes no difference Most Noble of Wizards, I believe actions speak more loudly than words. Your actions tell me you faced almost certain death in even seeking the help you need. That you must have offered your own life to even enter this maze, and yet still you entered Most Noble Wizard, knowing that most who enter the Labyrinth never return, even wizards have succumbed to death at the hand of the maze. You must know the legends, yes?"

Lucius nodded. Yes he knew the legends. Labyrinth, maze of death and torment. Created on the very waste ground of the last battle of the thousand-year war. A maze built on ground soaked in immortal blood, in violence and death and pain.

"What you may not know is how the labyrinth truly was created. Oh, everyone had heard the stories of battle and graves and blood. But the very essence that made the labyrinth was the death of one of the fey's most powerful and loved daughters. His wife."

Lucius cocked an eyebrow in question at this and then sat once more upon the pedestal.

"Whose wife?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him here. Perhaps this story might help him in some way, certainly the little Knight didn't seem the sort to prevaricate, this story had a purpose.

Didymus settled himself on a nearby rock and cleared his throat.

"Five thousand years or more ago a great war was ended. Rhiannon surrendered her husband and king to the Master of Half Moon House. The Master however granted her people peace for this, even though he had the right to demand blood for what the king had ordered. You see all the children and women of the vampire race were exterminated, each and everyone slaughtered and their souls cast asunder upon the elemental plain. They would it seemed never be reborn.

The fey who had captured and defeated the king was Rhiannon's brother, the King who now sits upon the thrown of yonder castle. He was more powerful than any fey had ever been, wielded more influence and magic than many had seen. Many feared him, but he was loyal to his sister and content with his life. In fact many would say that he was the happiest soul to have walked the thirteen realms. However, his happiness was not to last. His wife Merenwen was one of the most gentle and loving of creatures. Even among the Vampires she was smiled upon and loved, for her beauty, her spirit, love surrounded her and touched all who met her. Jareth worshipped her with every atom of his being.

She was the centre of his universe, his reason for living. Anything she asked for he granted her. All he asked of her was to love him and her promise never to leave him; she gave it willingly and asked the same in return. She was by his side always, even through the war, a thousand years they were wed, the only shadow to cloud her life that she and Jareth had never had any children, it seemed she was barren. Then a miracle occurred, the night the war ended, she conceived. Life from death, light from dark, creation in a world destroyed. It seemed then that their happiness would be complete. Where the castle sits now was a monument to those who died, a reminder for all of what had been destroyed by one act of violence. Merenwen visited it each day and planted flowers around it; a garden of life and beauty sprang up under her loving and gentle hands. The very morning her labour began, she insisted that she would come to the garden and make offerings to the goddess in thanks for her child. Jareth did not accompany her, he went to his sister to ask that she come and assist his wife in her labour.

In the hour it took for him to return, Merenwen tended her garden and gave thanks for the babe that she was about to bring into the word. This point in the story is unclear, when he returned and found she was not at home he and his sister hurried to the garden, when they reached it Jareth saw a man in black take a ceremonial dagger and sink it deep into her belly, ripping open her womb and killing the child. By the time he reached her the mysterious man had finished his work by using dark magic to rip her soul from her body and to cut all bonds that linked her soul to her people, there was no way for her to be reborn among them.

The murderer got away as Jareth tried to reach her side. He cradled the body of his wife and child in his arms and wept tears of blood as he cursed the very ground that seemed to drink the blood of his family. The most powerful Fey in history destroyed the garden, cursing nothing ever to grow again in this place of death and pain. He cursed that all others who set foot on this earth would be tortured and that the true nature of their hearts would transform their bodies to match their black souls.

Rhiannon could only look on in horror, as all life seemed to be sucked from the plains, the darkness and death killed everything making it a barren wasteland. She rushed for her councilors and gathered them together. She had been unable to stop her brother or reason with him. He had gone mad from grief and it seemed that if he were not stopped he would rip the realms apart, casting death and darkness over each one. In an effort to save her people and all other people she and her council joined their power with that of the whole Fae nation and bound him to the land he had killed by his blood and magic. His power was now tied to the very place his love had died. He could not enter the mortal realm, could not harm anyone and could not in his grief, start another war. Only if he were to be called by name could he venture forth and only then with an infinitesimal amount of his power. With his magic he constructed this castle, and from the blood of Merenwen and his babe the Labyrinth created its self, a garden of stone and weeds and each animal that entered became something different. Each being that entered was transformed to their true nature. I myself came here to try and pay my respects to his majesty and to offer my condolences for her death, alas I did not at that time understand the nature of the curse and soon found myself as you see me today."

The Knight finished his tale and sat in silence for a moment. Lucius was perplexed. True, the story was a tragic one of power and love, of grief and rage, a story of how darkness could be born of love. His own true nature he knew would not take on any form of good. He was a man who prided himself on being able to control his own emotions, of being able to withstand the storm of grief. He was ruthless and cold, but inside his soul, he loved deeply. He loved his wife, he valued her friendship and he wondered what would drive him to lose his control as Jareth had done. If Narcissa and Draco were to die…

As he sat thinking of the story he suddenly found himself imagining what it would be like to lose them in such a way. It seemed for a moment that a barrier broke inside his heart. The barrier he had made upon learning of his parents' murder collapsed under the pressure of twenty years worth of emotion. A solitary tear raced down his cheek and fell to the dry ground at his feet.

Didymus watched with satisfaction as the tear hit the earth.

"Love may yet conquer all Most Noble of Wizards." He said softly.

Lucius looked up unguarded and startled and gave him a questioning look.

Wordlessly he pointed to the ground at Lucius' feet. A flower the colour of blood grew where the tear had fell and as he watched the petals unfurled to reveal a heavy key of iron; the key to the gates of the goblin city.

"Hermione!" Ron called desperately as he saw his cousin seemingly hit by a curse.

He was on the other side of the street from her and a death eater was trying to corner her in an alley. They had been battling against the Death Eaters for hours now. The Order and the Aurors were co-operating to try and defend the muggles from the attack. The muggles in question were now almost all inside and cleared from the streets. It seemed now, to him at least, that they were only toying with them now. He had heard Shaklebolt denying the use of anti-disapparition wards in case one of their own people had to get out quick. Unfortunately this had the same bonus for the Death Eaters as it did for them.

Hermione was backing into the ally, shooting curses at a rapid pace, but her shields were failing. He knew even as he sprinted towards her that he wouldn't make it in time to save her. Out of nowhere a second Death Eater appeared and blasted the one cornering Hermione thirty feet back and into a wall with a bone-breaking thud. He faltered and stared as Hermione was swept into strong arms and kissed soundly by the hooded man. Anger welled up in him, what the hell was going on?

He started running towards them again when he saw another figure being pulled out from the alley, a girl with dark hair. The Death Eater held out an object and they all touched at as they disappeared. He reached the alley, breathing hard, looking around for some evidence of who they might have been, but more importantly why Hermione had went with them.

Suddenly a burst of light and glitter exploded in front of him and a tall fair-haired man stood before him.

Ron tried to back away but was caught in the fierce grip of the stranger.

"Where is she? What have you done to her?" He demanded viciously.

"I... what? No, I haven't done anything." He denied shaking his head more fiercely than his body was.

"I know she was here, she called me. Now where is she, tell me and I might make your death a painless one." Mismatched eyes bore deeply into his soul. Never had Ron been as frightened of anyone as he was right now. Magic was leaking into the air around him and he felt as though it were crushing him to death.

"Please, I don't know what you're talking about. My cousin just port-keyed away with a Death Eater and a girl. I don't know where they've gone."

Jareth regarded the youth coldly. He appeared to be telling the truth. Port keys… ah yes the mortal wizard invention.

"The girl, what did she look like?" He asked loosening his grip and pulling his magic back around him.

Ron stooped over breathing in air for all he was worth. "She had long dark hair, she looked about twenty five… I didn't see much else, except that the Death Eater knew where she was hiding and took her and Hermione, my cousin, away."

"What is a Death Eater?" Jareth asked, his tone clipped and chilling.

Ron's face showed surprise and shock. How could someone from the magical world not know about Voldemort and the Death Eaters?

"They're Voldemort's followers. They've been attacking London all night, killing and raping and torturing people, we've been trying to stop them."

"Then she's in danger. She will call me again and when I find them I will tear this Death Eater limb from limb."

"What? No, you don't understand." Ron said urgently. "I… just before you got here the Death Eater that took them away just saved them from one of the other Death Eaters. My cousin looked as though she knew him. I think they're safe, he might just have been getting them out of harms way. I don't know who you are or how you got here, but look, there are people dying out there, we need help and you look like you know your way around a wand, help us… Please, there's nothing you can do until your friend contacts you, no way of finding her before that. If you stick with me and help, when my cousin comes back she'll help you get to your friend alright?" Ron really didn't know where his whole speech had come from but right now they could use all the help they could get and the amount of magic rolling off this guy was stronger than anything he had felt before.

Jareth felt relief flood through him. Sarah was safe. He pondered the request the mortal had made and decided to go along with it for now. After all it might be fun to get a little exercise. A cruel smile graced his pale lips and a shiver of fear ran down Ron's back at the sight. With a flourish of his hand, a battle-axe appeared in the stranger's hand and he twirled it with deadly precision.

Ron gulped.

"You may call me Jareth, mortal, others know me as the Goblin King. I'll help you for now, after all if what you say is true, these, Death Eaters, have threatened my wife, I'm feeling a little murderous, so which way and what am I looking for?"

Ron felt the blood drain from his face and backed away a step as the Goblin King chuckled sadistically, enjoying the boys fear.

"Black robed hooded figures with masks." He managed to force out, then turned and ran back into the street, half hoping the monster behind him followed and half hoping he wouldn't.

Hermione felt the hook in her navel and then landed smartly on her feet as the portkey deposited them back at her cottage.

Severus pulled off his hood and threw the mask and robes to the ground. Pulling Hermione to her feet, he enveloped her in another embrace, his strong hands running over her body trying to determine if she had been hurt. He was completely oblivious to the girl who he had hastily remembered to bring with them.

Hermione winced as he touched one of the wounds a slicing hex had managed to make.

"Severus, I'm ok, it's just a cut." She tried to tell him.

His eyes flashed with anger and impatience.

"Just a cut? It's an inch deep and you're bleeding all over the place Hermione." He pulled away from her and glared at his hand, which was covered with her blood.

Sarah watched the two a sad smile on her lips. She was reminded forcefully of Jareth. He too used to look at her that way; protective and frustrated when she was hurt. Memories she didn't know she had were quickly making themselves known to her since she had been thrust into her past life. Instincts she had been born with but never used were reasserting themselves within her. Without a thought she waved her hand and all the candles in the room lit themselves.

"You both need to sit down and take care of your wounds. I'll go and get some water to clean them with." She told the stunned couple as she left the room, intent on finding the kitchen.

Hermione raised one brow with an uncanny similarity to Severus own raised brow. He quirked a smile at her then helped her out of her robes.

"I'm not the only one with battle wounds Sev, you're bleeding too." She said softly.

"I'll be all right. I used to this, although I have to admit, Tonks has remarkable good aim for such a clumsy chit." He said acerbically.

Hermione laughed and then hissed with pain as she pulled her top over her head. Two gashes cut deeply across her ribs.

"At least you know who was shooting at you. I don't have any idea who gave me these."

"Dolohov, the man positively hates you. I knew if he caught sight of you he would come after you again. You're one the few who have ever managed to get away from him alive."

"So it happened then? They were broken out of Azkaban." Severus sighed and nodded his head.

"A few hours ago, all the aurors were pulled out to deal with this attack, it left the prison open to them. Voldemort must have ordered Bella and her latest protégé to let them out. I don't yet know what has happened about Lucius. They won't find him there after all, and with Narcissa in hiding and Draco disappeared if he's spotted when he comes back he'll be killed on sight, not just by Aurors, but by death eaters as well."

"What happened tonight Severus? There was no warning of this attack, it came out of nowhere."

"I don't really know, I think the attack on Lazarus Lovegood triggered it. Voldemort didn't order his death. Bella took it into her head to do something about him, and somehow she knew he was about to publish that story on the Dark Lord's true origins. She used it to prove her latest initiate's commitment to the cause."

Something in his voice made Hermione look up at him then, worry in her gaze as she asked him who it was.

How do you tell the woman you love that her own cousin has turned against his family and all they believed in?

"It was Percy." He said quietly, his eyes locked with hers as the news sank in. He saw her face as it crumpled in sorrow.

"Oh goddess how am I to tell Molly? How do I tell them? They'll never believe it. Was it actually him who…?" She couldn't finish the words let alone the thought. Severus held her as she cried. Long fingers ran though her hair and the steady beat of his heart calmed her he held her.

2:30am

Molly and Narcissa sat at the kitchen table. Neither saying a word. The house was empty save for themselves, Ginny and Draco.

Molly fretted over her children's safety. Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron and even Harry and her Arthur were all out there, fighting to protect all those muggles. It was a battle, a real honest to goodness battle in the middle of London. Silent tears of fear and frustration ran down her cheeks as her hands gripped the cold cup of tea before her.

Narcissa reached across the table to the other woman and gently took her hand and squeezed.

Molly looked up startled by the touch and gave her a weak smile.

"It's so hard knowing they're all grown up. No matter how old they are, they're all my babies still. I hate to feel so helpless. I can't protect them anymore."

"I'm sure they will be all right. Why don't we go upstairs and check on Draco and Ginny?" She asked soothingly.

Together the two mothers made their way upstairs to see their children. When they reached the landing Molly pushed open Ginny's door and looked in. The bed was empty and the room in darkness.

"She's not there…" Molly said worriedly.

Narcissa coughed and nodded her head towards Draco's now open door. Side by side they looked in and saw a sight neither thought they would ever see.

Lying on the bed were Ginny and Draco. Blond and red hair twining together as the two teens lay sleeping, arms warped protectively around each other. Draco's arm clutched Ginny possessively and Ginny's was curled up around his neck, her fingers gently touching his skin comfortingly.

Silently the two women closed the door and went back downstairs.

Molly looked thoughtfully at Narcissa.

"Well, I certainly never saw that coming." She huffed with annoyance.

"Never." Narcissa agreed equal perturbed.

"But." Molly continued thoughtfully. "They looked so…"

"Sweet." Narcissa finished with a light chuckle. They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Somehow they had just become friends and allies.

3:00am

Harry and Luna fought back to back as arrows of green and red light were being shot towards them.

These were the people who had killed her father.

These were the people who made it possible for my parents to be killed.

They killed Cedric.

They killed Sirius.

They killed Dumbledore.

They killed Hermione's parents.

They want to kill us.

Two streams of unconscious thought blended seamlessly as they shot back hexes and curses while deflecting those being shot at them.

Power Luna didn't know she had roared through her veins; her stunners knocking death eaters off their feet and flinging them back with deadly force.

Harry seemed to be on autopilot as he defended and shot curses of his own using all his anger as fuel for his magic.

On and on they went cutting a path through the carnage as they tried to protect the hundreds of screaming muggles around them.

As sunlight began to dance on the horizon they stopped. There was no one left to fight. Together they collapsed on the blood soaked ground breathing heavily.

"Harry."

"Yes Luna?"

"It's not over yet is it?" She asked hopelessly.

"No, it'll never be over. Not until…" he trailed off, not until he killed Voldemort would this end.

"I know." She said quietly, understanding his unspoken words.

"Are you alright?" He asked her softly as he looked into her eyes.

"No, I won't be until…" She left the words unspoken, until the war ends.

"I know." He said, a resigned tone in his voice.

"Luna?"

"Yes Harry?"

"I can see in the dark now, thank you."

"I didn't do anything." She said firmly.

"Yes you did," he told her just as firmly.

"I think I love you Harry."

"I know."

"Oh."

Harry took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each bloodied knuckle reverently. Luna smiled.

3:25am

Hermione watched Sarah with unconcealed interest. Much the way a scientist might watch a particularly mysterious piece of bacteria under a microscope.

"Could you please not stare at me quiet so forcefully?" Sarah asked her with evident amusement.

Hermione blushed and shook her head.

"Sorry, it's just, well, it all seems so fantastic. I've read about the Goblin King of course but there has been so little evidence in the past few hundred years as to make it credible. But here you are telling us this story and about how your not really you, it's just a little… well fascinating. Severus is right; we can feel your magic quite strongly. It's strange you never got a letter from the Salem academy. You should have you know. Even if as you said you were once one of the fey, the body you now possess is mortal, or at least it was."

"What do you mean, was?"

"Well..." Hermione began slowly. "From what you have told me you had magic that made strange things happen before you went into the Labyrinth. But right now you look… well you don't look exactly human. Ever since we got here your appearance has begun to change. Your hair is longer, your skin is positively glowing and your eyes, they seem to be brighter. It's possible that the magic in your soul has broken free and even as we speak is correcting your mortal body and making you into what you should be. I think it might be something to do with your memories being restored."

"I believe Hermione is correct. When I first found you tonight the air around you crackled with your magic, but it was nowhere near as strong as it is just now. You are changing. Do you feel any different?" Severus asked her.

"I'm not sure. I feel stronger, I think and more confident. But I'm frightened. I'm not who I thought I was, I'm someone else. As more of these memories come back I feel as though I'm losing… me." She said quietly.

Hermione sat in thought taking in the girl's words. If she was who she said she was then perhaps they might be able to get Lucius back. That is if she was willing to call out to… Goddess this was frustrating, she warned us not even to think his name, had written it down on paper. She sighed softly, utterly exhausted by the nights events. Severus brushed her face gently with the back of his hand and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Gazing up at him she smiled warmly, glad he was there with her; making the most of what little time they had together.

She looked back as Sarah with a glint of steal in her eyes.

"What are you afraid of?"

Sarah looked up at her a pained expression on her face.

"I'm afraid he'll hate me. I said those awful words to him. I hurt him when he must have been searching for me all that time." She whispered.

Severus spoke then, his voice low and understanding.

"You can't run from him forever Sarah. You've been running for ten years and in the end, it all comes back to him doesn't it? I heard it in your voice when you spoke about him, he completes you, I know that feeling, I have lived with it for nearly twenty years. An emptiness you can't quiet place, a longing for something greater than yourself. If he loves you as you said he once did, he will forgive you; call to him, denying yourself only hurts you both."

Sarah looked at them with tear stained eyes. Hermione squeezed her love's hand and smiled at him knowingly.

Stealing herself Sarah stood and brushed her dress with her hands trying in vain to flatten the wrinkles.

"Jareth." Her voice echoed across the distance and found the ear of the Goblin King.

Lucius stood before the thrown of the Goblin King and whirled around taking in the room. Light streamed in from tall windows and the vaulted ceiling only stood to make the room that more imposing. He smiled in triumph as his cane tapped a happy beat against the stone. Goblins ran and ducked behind columns as he shot off hexes at any who dared to come closer. With a flourish he seated himself on the thrown and grinned with satisfaction. He'd done it! He had managed to get through the maze, get past the gates and all before his time was up. He had managed to buy his side the winning ticket in the lottery of life. At last the day he had dreamed of for thirty years finally seemed as though it were in his reach. With the Fey and Vampires now bound to honour their promise, the light would surely win. Now he just had to get home, bollocks!

Across the elemental plains a name reverberated through the cosmos. On the wings of the winds it floated and whirled, twisting, streaming, dancing and strong, the call of love from a time before. Some frowned as their minds tugged on memories long dead, others smiled as they remembered the one who now called. Still more stood up with joyous cries, they felt the end of a curse and the coming of a new light.

As the tapestry was woven and new threads brought to life, one thread once cut, now grew long with new life. Golden and bright it ducked and it wound through the lives of those who now stood in the night. The crone gave the mother a look of surprise as she picked and she helped this new thread survive. The maiden watched both with a feeling of hope, their work would continue unending to cope. As she spun a new thread so vibrant with life it glittered and pulsed and glowed in delight. The maiden smiled as she cradled this life, one she spun once long ago, but which had existed so briefly; her creation destroyed by darkness and death, a soul cut a sunder to dwell in the night.

The tapestry moved it twisted and turned. It flashed and it dazzled and shimmered and burned with power as the promise now made at last was fulfilled.

Jareth heard her voice as she called out to him. He stood and quickly vanished his battle-axe. He reached out with his senses and felt for her and found her. Trepidation, fear, love, hope and longing thrummed through the call.

Jareth smiled.

Ron watched this new ally with wariness as he stood and seemed to listen for something only he could hear.

"Well, young mortal, I must depart. I fear my wife is calling me now and I must go. Perhaps we will meet again, my brave and foolish friend."

"Wait!" Ron shouted.

Jareth raised his brow in question and Ron felt a shiver of unease in its similarity to Snape's same look.

"Umm, my cousin, she might be with you wife, can I come with you?" He asked urgently.

Jareth stared once again at this mortal boy, an enigma to be sure. They had fought for hours side by side in the battle. The young mortal man was fearless by his side, yelling out battle cries, which had disturbingly reminded him of his youth and the thousand-year war. The usual disdain he felt for foolish mortals seemed lacking here for some reason. He had to admire the boy's bravery, his strength of spirit and sheer nerve at even asking him to help them. But now was not the time bringing him with him. Through the bond he shared with Sarah he knew the two people with her were… close. A sardonic smirk quirked his lips at this observation. From fighting by this mortal he also knew that he felt more than a familial affection for his cousin and something told him that the confrontation over her choice of life partner would be detrimental right now. Perhaps the council had been right in binding him before, he always did love to meddle. In his usual mood this was just the sort of thing that he would have relished in watching. However, Sarah had not broken their link since she had called his name, she had remembered who she was and this brought more hope than he had ever thought possible to his dead heart.

"Not now my young friend. But if your cousin is there I will tell her you await her return." With that he disappeared in a haze of smoke and glitter.

Ron glared furiously at the spot he had inhabited and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. On some level he knew Hermione was all right. But something else sat in the pit of his stomach like lead. All her mysterious wandering and information she had brought back started to take on a sickening sort of sense. The kiss he had seen from a across a blood filled street kept popping into his mind. The only question left now was who it was. Who had been feeding her the information? Who had held her so tightly in the street as though his very life had depended on it? Who was her Death Eater spy?

"Hello Sarah."

Hermione gasped and stepped back as a tall imposing man suddenly appeared in front of them, his burning gaze resting with riveting hope on the strange young woman whom they had helped.

"Hello Jareth."

They stood staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity to Hermione, both drinking in the appearance of the other. Magic crackled between them and Hermione sighed with relief as she felt Severus arms wrap around her with protection and love.

Sarah seemed truly otherworldly now in his presence and she watched in wonder as this proud young woman sank to her knees before the powerful Fae.

Sarah looked into Jareth's eyes pleading forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered. "I love you, I have missed you, you always had power over..."

"Shhh." He placed a finger against her lips and knelt beside her.

"Our power is equal my love." He said quietly, clasping her hands in his own.

With an inarticulate cry of joy Sarah threw herself into his arms and cried. He had not rejected her, he loved her still. Goddess of morning how many years must it have been since last he had held her? Still faithful, still true, the same man he had always been, but still… different. Five thousand years and their horrific parting had not been kind to his heart. She felt now through their bond, the bitterness, the darkness the pain and loneliness. Then a chill swept through her at his next words.

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here, to the mortal realm to take back my love who was stolen from me."

Sarah answered with a tentative smile at the play on his words.

"For your will is as strong as mine." He smirked.

"… And my Kingdom as great." She whispered.

"Look what I'm offering you, your dreams…" his tone passionate and demanding.

"You ask for so little..." Her eyes twinkled.

"Just let me rule you…" his hand cupped her face.

"And I can have everything that I want." She leaned into his touch.

"Just fear me, love me..."

"And I will be your slave." She smiled, her tone full of amusement.

"I have power over you." He finished, waiting to see her response.

"You always were a pompous ass Jareth, I see time has done nothing to remedy that." She teased.

"And yet still…"

"I love you," and he kissed her, softly, reverently, hands caressing and exploring, bodies close and closer.

Severus watched them with amusement then tugged Hermione's hand and led her from the room, a bright blush forming on her cheeks. He discretely transfigured the sofa into a bed as he closed the door.

Her eyes glittered with laughter and embarrassment as he winked at her.

"I feel as though I just witnessed something devastatingly beautiful and funny at the same time." She told him, caught between mirth and tears, as they made their way upstairs to rest.

"They are certainly… unique." He said wryly, opening the bedroom door for her.

Hermione smirked at him and her brow rose in sardonic question as she stood in the doorway, sensing his hesitancy.

"Well is seems you played agony aunt tonight. What do you do for an encore my dear professor?" She said as she stepped into the room inviting him to follow with a look in her eyes.

"Why Miss Granger is that sarcasm I hear in your voice." He stepped into the room, determined that nothing would happen between them yet, but torn with the desire to stay by her side.

"Why professor is that an invitation I hear in yours?" She knew she was playing with fire, but she needed his closeness right now, something to block out the destruction and death of the previous hours.

He smiled wickedly at her, shrugging off the oppressive weight of the events of the night before.

"Miss Granger, I do believe I have misjudged you." He purred as he watched her walk towards him, his mouth going dry at the look in her eyes.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean professor." She said innocently, as not quite so innocent fingers reached out and drew a path over his chest, between the undone buttons of his shirt.

"Hermione…"

"Severus…"

Then all was silent in the cottage. Two couples, souls bound, bodies joined, hearts as one, silent, as the sun broke into the sky.

6:35am.

The sat around the kitchen table quietly discussing what had happened the night before.

On Jareth's urging and with a guilty heart, Hermione sent her patronus to the Order, telling them she was safe and well and to expect her back in a few hours.

Hermione smiled inwardly when she realised that she and Sarah were almost mirroring each other's poses, both leaning into the warm and welcome embrace of their lovers.

Lovers. The word brought a rush of thrilling excitement as the memory of their early morning acclamation of love stained her cheeks pink with remembered pleasure. Severus, her lover, her life. But as this new day dawned she had to shake off the remembered happiness and refocus on the tasks at hand.

"They unbound me so a wizard could run the Labyrinth. They wanted to test him, find out if he was worthy. If he has reached my castle in the time allotted then the Fey and Umbra Iuguolo will throw their support behind your order. And they have promised to unbind all those of Wizard blood in whose veins run the blood of immortals."

"Wait. What do you mean, unbind?" Hermione felt uneasy with the implications of what it might mean.

Jareth stiffened at her demanding tone, a little put out that one such as she felt she had the right to question him in such a way. Sarah's foot connected with his shin and he hissed with pain as he glared at her, and then relented. He'd meant what he said before; he was her slave for as long as she loved him.

"When my people decided to leave the mortal realm for good, they realised that because they had married and born half blood children with your kind, that those half mortal children and their future children and so on, would never be able to properly learn some of the more powerful magic's that they would inherit. Without any contact or instruction from us, they could prove dangerous not only to themselves, but to others. The council decided to bind their fey or vampire powers that were most dangerous, from use, this powerful binding would have been passed down through each magical generation for as long as there was a single drop of fey blood in them. Those with such power will now be free to use it. Rhiannon, I'm sure, will send someone to help train those on your side to use their power properly. Those on the other side will be uncertain of what is wrong and without training will be unable to access their power with any amount of precision."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. She could understand why they were bound in the first place. Excitement welled within her as she thought of how much help all this could be.

"When will Lucius' time be up?" Severus asked him.

"In about fifteen minutes." Jareth replied with a grin. "Are you ready to go Sarah?" He asked her.

"I'd follow you to hell itself my love, lead the way."

With a flick of his wrist a glowing crystal sphere appeared, Sarah reached out and touched it with a last word of thanks and goodbye to Severus and Hermione, they were gone.

Severus had a feral smile turning up the corners of his lips as soon as they were gone.

"What?" Hermione asked him; irked at the fact he seemed to know something she didn't.

His smile widened. "Lucius." One word, one smile, smug and gleeful.

"Oh." She said understanding dawning. "You really believe he'll make it?"

"I've known Lucius for thirty years, the man is dangerous when crossed, contrary when someone tells him he can't do something and no matter what else he might be, no one could ever accuse him of not succeeding in what he does."

"What does he do?"

"Lucius has always been, still is and always will be, a winner."

"So…" she trailed off, her eyes glazing over in anticipation of the knowledge she might be able to gain from all of this.

"Exactly; however, lets not start counting chickens yet."

She nodded, he was right, best to expect nothing, and then if it worked out, it was a bonus. Then another thought hit her.

"Severus, if we get their help, they might have… I mean books… potions… the headmaster, they might know of the…"

He placed firm hands on her shoulders as the possibilities flashed before both their eyes.

"Calm down, even they might not know."

"But if they don't then no one does. This is like being given it on a silver platter. When do you think we'll know?"

A crack of apparition sounded behind them. They turned, wands drawn to face the intruder, surprise lighting in both their eyes.

7:00am

Lucius tapped his cane impatiently as he waited outside the meeting room.

The doors opened and he walked in.

Rhiannon sat at her place beside Karithal, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

Lucius bowed low once more and waited to be invited to stand strait.

"Rise, noble wizard. You have made it through the maze and managed to enter the castle of the Goblin King. We keep our promise. You are free and we will support the light against Voldemort. We shall send emissaries to you on the next full moon, until then young one, I bid you goodbye." With a nod from Rhiannon, Jareth tossed Lucius a crystal sphere and he disappeared with a crack.

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