Friend

Harry sat at the bottom of the dark cavern, sobbing. Before Harry met the Dark Lord and entered his Labyrinth, he never cried. In fact, the last time he did was a few years ago when he found a snake in the garden. He didn't know he was afraid of snakes until then, when one slithered onto his shoe. He did find the snake dead later, though it still scared him. Aunt Petunia had given him a popsicle and told him she was afraid of spiders. She said everyone was scared of something and that it was okay. But, Aunt Petunia wasn't so nice to him since Dudley had been born. Nobody cared about Harry now, everyone cared about Dudley.

Why was he going through this anyways? What was the point of all of this? Nothing would change if he got Dudley back. Maybe he should give up… No, Harry thought, he removed his glasses and scrubbed his face. He couldn't just give up! Dudley was only a baby after all. He had to save him. Whether anyone cared or not.

Harry stood up, resigned to find a way out. He held out his arms and tentatively took a step, he only felt air. How large was this pit? He took another step, this time waving his arms. Still he felt nothing. Even if he did find a wall, would he be able to find an opening? Maybe the only way out was the hole he fell through. Harry swallowed, he did not want to go through that way. He continued to search, taking small steps, arms outstretched. He heard a shuffling noise.

There was something down here with him. Harry sank to the floor and covered his mouth, trying to be as silent as possible. The sounds got louder, then suddenly there was light. Harry blinked several times. A small candle was lit, its glow filled the darkness, Harry took in his surroundings. The area he was in wasn't that large. The ceiling was high up, even if he did want to crawl back through that hole there was no way he could reach it. The walls were very jagged, except for one small spot, it was smooth. Harry saw no door, no exit.

"Are you just going to sit there?"

Harry looked up to a smirking face.

"Oh! It's you!" Harry stood up, he was relieved to see someone else.

"Yes, me, have you forgotten me already? Not very bright, are you?"

Harry's relief died as soon as it came. He forgot how rude the goblin was.

"I just-"

"I knew you'd get yourself into trouble, told my Father-"

"Shut up and get me out of here!"

Draco looked affronted, his eyes wide, mouth agape. He quickly regained himself and scowled.

"Maybe I'm not here to let you out," Draco glared at Harry, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Right, you're in this dank hole for the atmosphere," Harry rolled his eyes.

"Well, it is quite nice, as far as oubliettes go that is," Draco made a show of looking around.

"An oubly-what?"

"You really are dim," Draco laughed. "The oubliette is where the Dark Lord puts people he wants to forget about. Lucky you," he sneered.

Harry's eyebrows shot up. Does he want to forget about me? He frowned. That didn't make any sense, he must be trying to stop Harry from solving the Labyrinth. He had been so close to the castle.

"Will you show me the way out?" Harry asked.

"Well, why else would I be here?" Draco shook his head. "I've been ordered to take you back to the beginning."

"What?"

The beginning of the Labyrinth? But he had come so far! He saw Hogwarts, he was almost there! How could he go back now? He could ask Draco to show him out of the dungeon and not take him back to the start. But he wouldn't. Harry got the impression that Draco was very vain, he would want something in return. What could Harry give him? Harry looked him over, he was practically covered in gems and jewelry, obviously he liked the junk. Harry's hand flew up to his chest. Perhaps he could sway Draco with this…

"You like jewelry, don't you?" Harry asked.

"Yes…" He eyed Harry cautiously.

"Well, if you show me to the castle," Harry pulled out a chain from under his shirt. "I'll give you this."

Harry held out a long chain with a large silver charm on the end. The charm appeared to be a line within a circle within a triangle. The necklace wasn't gaudy like all of Draco's other jewelry but it was still alluring. Draco stared at it hungrily.

"You do want it, yeah?"

"What? You mean that?" Draco scoffed, "who in their right mind would want that?" He eyed the necklace greedily.

"Oh, come on!" Harry sighed. "I know you want it, don't play coy."

Draco scowled at Harry. He began pacing, pulling at his hair. He stopped once and stared at the necklace again. Then something glinted in his eyes and he smiled widely.

"Alright, fine," he began. "How about this, you give me the necklace and I'll take you back to the beginning of the Labyrinth."

"You were going to do that anyway!"

"Yes, well, it'll make it an especially nice gesture on your part," Draco grinned up at Harry.

Harry couldn't believe the audacity the goblin had. He was beginning to think that dealing with Draco required more patients than he had. Harry grit his teeth, he'd have to plead with him. Harry quickly ran a hand through his hair. He let out a long breath and crouched down before Draco, they were eye level now. Draco's eyebrows shot up as Harry touched his shoulders.

"Please," Harry's voice was soft, eyes fixed on Draco's. "If you won't show me to Hogwarts, can you at least get me out of here?"

The goblin stared at him, jaw slack.

"Draco, please, just get me out and I'll do the rest myself." Draco looked away, his face a bit pink.

"Alright," clearing his throat he stepped back, Harry's arms fell off him. "I'll see what I can do, but I don't promise anything."

Harry smiled brightly at him, Draco quickly turned around and walked to the one smooth patch of wall. He paced in front of it three times, Harry was about to ask what he was doing when a small door appeared. He slowly opened it, light shone through. Before they left Harry placed the necklace around Draco's head. Draco flushed, walking through the door.

"Come on then," Draco gestured for Harry to follow him.

On the other side of the door was another cavern, only this one wasn't just a hole in the ground. There was lots of light and giant stones covered in a sparkling dust. The underground corridor was massive. Draco and Harry walked slowly through it until a large stone face said something.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches," the voice was very low, it's stone mouth made grinding noises as it spoke.

Draco stopped walking, the blood drained from his face. He glanced at Harry, who just looked confused.

"D- don't listen to them," Draco's voice shook. "They lie," he turned walking faster. Harry, still confused, followed.

More stone faces spoke as they went down the corridor.

"It will happen tonight-"

"The Dark Lord lies alone, and friendless."

"Tonight, before midnight-"

"The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal."

" But, he will have power the Dark Lord knows not."

"Tonight,"

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord."

The stones all spoke the last line together. Draco grabbed Harry's wrist and ran.

Draco stopped running once they reached a brick tunnel. They both clutched their sides panting for a moment. Draco looked absolutely terrified. He was shaking, and even though they had just sprinted, his face was pale. Harry thought he might faint.

"Just what exactly were those things?" Harry asked.

Draco looked up at him shaking his head, he sat back against the brick wall and closed his eyes. That wasn't the answer Harry had hoped for.

"Is Voldemort going to die?"

Draco abruptly stood back up, he was very panicked now.

"Don't say that! Don't you ever say that!" He hissed. Draco paced, still pale, still shaking. Harry opened his mouth to ask another question, he shut it when Draco started rambling.

"I shouldn't have brought you this way," he fiddled with a clunky bracelet as he paced. "But how was I to know? The prophecy monoliths have never spoken before! It's not my fault, I can't be blamed," He quickly turned to Harry, harshly grabbing his arm. "You mustn't breathe a word of this to anyone. Not a soul, understand?" Harry only blinked at him, Draco's grip tightened. "Understand?"

"Ow, yes, let go of me," Draco let go, continuing to pace.

Harry watched him for a moment, rubbing his arm. Clearly Draco was worked up about the talking stones. They were creepy but he didn't understand why Draco cared so much. Draco told him they lied, so why did it matter what they said? Unless it was all true. Was there really someone out there stronger than the Dark Lord? Harry couldn't imagine it. Draco was still pacing, now muttering to himself. Was he that scared of the stone's words? He reached for Draco's hand.

"Come on, lets get out of here," Harry pulled him down the brick tunnel.

They silently walked down the corridor, until a crystal rolled passed them. Harry stopped and watched the clear orb go. Draco started to follow after the crystal, dragging Harry with him. They reached a juncture, where a small elderly goblin sat holding the crystal. Draco gasped, hand flying to his chest.

"What have we got here?" The old goblin croaked.

"Nothing," Draco responded quickly.

The goblin looked them over, its eyes settled on their entwined hands.

"Nothing?" The goblin shimmered. "Nothing at all?"

The Dark Lord stood where the goblin had been.

Draco immediately sank to the ground, bowing. "My Lord," he whispered.

The Dark Lord watched him, unimpressed.

"My Lord," he tried again. "What a pleasant surprise!"

"Hello, Doyle."

"Draco," Harry and Draco said together. Draco flushed, fixing his eyes on the floor.

"Yes, of course, Draco," Voldemort spoke to the goblin, but he only looked at Harry. "Could it be that you are helping the boy?"

Draco swallowed. "Helping, Sir?" He shook his head. "In what sense?"

The Dark Lord glared at him. He took a step back.

"In the sense, that you are leading him towards the castle," Voldemort's voice was low.

"N- no, no, of course not, my Lord," Draco's voice quivered. "I was taking him back to the beginning."

"What?" Harry shouted incredulously.

"I told him I was going to help him, but actually-" The Dark Lord had his eyes set on the goblin's chest, Draco was unnerved. "My Lord?"

"What is that around your neck?" Voldemort asked quietly, face blank.

Draco slowly looked down, clutching the charm.

"I-it's nothing, my Lord."

The Dark Lord stared him down, Draco began to squirm.

"Diggle,"

"Draco," Harry corrected.

"Yes, Draco," Voldemort hissed. "If I thought, for one second that you were betraying me, I'd be forced to suspend you head first into the bog of eternal stench."

Harry watched confused, yet again, Draco seemed he would faint. The Dark Lord was calm as if he'd just spoke about the weather instead of threatening someone. Draco sank to his knees at the Dark Lord's feet.

"Oh, please, my Lord," he begged. "Not there, anywhere but there!"

Suddenly Draco was thrown against the brick wall, he let out a sharp breath as his head smacked into it. An unseen force twisted him upside down until Harry's necklace fell off, clattering to the ground. Draco was abruptly dropped on his head. He was shivering and wheezing.

"Pick it up," the Dark Lord whispered. "Give it back to him."

Draco hastily scrambled to his feet, scooping up the charm, and shoved it at Harry. Harry took it with wide eyes. The moment it was in his hands, the goblin quickly jumped back to the wall, head bowed.

"I don't understand," Harry voiced, inspecting the necklace.

"Of course you don't," the Dark Lord turned towards Harry, smiling softly. He reached for the chain and slipped it around Harry's neck. Harry flushed, looking away. Voldemort was standing too close now.

"How are you enjoying my Labyrinth, Harry?" The Dark Lord breathed in his ear.

Harry felt warm, his head a bit light. He glanced at Voldemort, he was smirking. Enjoying the Labyrinth? What a loaded question! He wasn't enjoying it, the Dark Lord clearly knew that. How could anyone have a good time in this place? It was horrible. The Dark Lord was mocking him. Harry scowled up at him.

"It's a piece of cake," he said, defiantly.

Voldemort's face, which was amused a moment ago, was now blank. He took a step back.

"Really?" He turned, the bizarre 13-hour clock was on the brick behind him. "Let's up the stakes then, shall we?" As he spoke the clock's hands whirled around, when they stopped the clock only left Harry with five hours.

"That's not fair!"

The Dark Lord smiled cruelly at him.

'The Labyrinth's a piece of cake, is it?" Voldemort walked past Harry, towards one end of the tunnel. "Let's see how you deal with this little slice," he threw a crystal into the darkness.

For a moment there was nothing but silence. Harry glanced at Draco, who watched the tunnel. A small scuffing noise was heard. Harry went to ask the Dark Lord what he had done when he noticed, he was gone. The noise grew louder, it sounded now like a large machine grinding away. Whatever it was it was getting closer. Draco stumbled backward.

"It's the cleaners!" He grabbed Harry.

"Run!"

They both took off in the opposite direction of the grinding. They tripped and tumbled a few times, still they ran. Harry fell down and looked back. He caught sight of what was chasing them. A large machine that filled the whole tunnel, the face of it was full of sharp quickly moving parts that brushed away cobwebs and debris. Harry quickly sprung up, bolting. That machine could easily rip his skin apart, he understood why Draco was so terrified of it.

They ran until a gate blocked their path, Draco grabbed the bars and shook it violently, it didn't budge. Harry turned, scanning the area, there was nowhere else to go. He pushed on the gate, there was no way they could move it. The cleaners were getting closer. The side of the tunnel was crumbling near the gate, maybe they could move the brick out of the way and get passed…

"Here," Harry called.

He began shoving the wall, Draco joined in. They both shoved and the wall gave way, breaking into a dark room. The machine whooshed passed not a moment after. Draco and Harry lay on the floor panting.

"The cleaner's, bog of eternal stench, you sure got his attention!" Draco complained, rolling onto his back.

If this was the Dark Lord's attention, Harry did not want it.

"What's the bog of eternal stench, anyway?" Harry panted. Draco shuddered.

"It's the worst place imaginable."

"Is that all it does? Is smell?"

Harry was confused, a stinky bog was the worst part of the Labyrinth? That didn't seem likely. Harry would wager that the hole filled with rotting hands was the worst part.

"Believe me, that's enough," Draco sat up. "But that's not all. It's a breeding ground for Dementors," he shuddered again.

"What's a Dementor?"

"A terrible, dark creature. They feed on happiness, leaving you only your worst memories. Sometimes they even suck out your soul. Incredibly nasty creatures," Draco stood, searching around.

Harry agreed. He sat up, his necklace swung heavily on this chest.

"Draco?" he began. "Why was the Dark Lord so interested in this?" He gestured at the charm.

Draco shook his head. "I wouldn't know. How did you come by it?"

"I found it," he tucked the necklace into his shirt. "It was lying at the park. It was just there, so I took it."

"It was left in a park?" Draco's eyebrows shot up. Harry nodded. "Peculiar…"

"Why is it peculiar?"

"Well," Draco sighed. "It's a very, very, old goblin symbol. To find it in a human park is extremely strange."

Harry nodded. He decided to drop the subject, Draco was staring at him now, eyes narrowed. Harry didn't like it, he got up and started looking around. A little bit into the room, was a ladder.

"Look."

Draco's eyes brightened, he stepped up to the ladder testing his weight on the first rung. He motioned for Harry to follow him.

"A way out," he breathed and went to climb. Harry grabbed him.

"Wait a second!" the goblin turned. "How can I trust you now? You said you were taking me back to the beginning!"

Draco scoffed, going to climb again. "I told him that."

So he wasn't taking Harry back to the beginning? He lied to the Dark Lord. Harry found this hard to believe.

"How can I trust you?"

"Let me put it this way," Draco turned around, regarding Harry. "What choice have you got?"

Harry thought for a moment. He really didn't have a choice. He followed the goblin up the ladder. About a quarter way up the stupidly long ladder, Draco made conversation.

"You have to understand my position, Harry," he started, panting. "I'm a coward, and the Dark Lord scares me."

Harry figured that was the most honest thing the goblin had ever said to him. He didn't understand why Draco was telling him this, though.

"What kind of position is that?"

"It's no position! That's my point."

Harry scoffed, shaking his head. Draco scowled.

"Well you wouldn't be so brave either, if you knew the Dark Lord like I do," Draco trembled.

Harry didn't doubt that Draco had good reason to fear Voldemort. He had only met him twice and both times were frightening. The rest of the trip up the ladder was met with silence. Harry had never climbed up a ladder before, he rather enjoyed it. Until his arms and legs started shaking and he looked down. He couldn't see the ground, just ladder and darkness. He was about to ask how much further when Draco hit his head on a trap door. He cursed, lifting it up.

Draco crawled out first, only to land on his face. They had just exited through a vase of all things. Harry tumbled out, landing with little grace. Looking around he saw he was back above ground, in the Labyrinth.

"There," the goblin panted. "You're on your own from now on."

"Wait!" Harry gasped, catching his breath. "You can't just leave me here!"

"Of course I can, and I am," Draco began to walk away, Harry grabbed his arm. "Oh, let go! I did what I said, I got you out of there!"

"Take me to Hogwarts," Harry demanded. "You seem to know your way around the Labyrinth, help me."

Draco laughed, humorlessly. "Help yourself," he huffed, yanking his arm back.

Harry went to reach for him again, instead of Draco's arm, he snatched a large bag that was encrusted with jewels. He ripped it off the goblin's belt and held it high in the air. Draco was livid.

"Give that back!" he screeched, jumping to grasp it.

"Take me to the castle and you can have it back."

"What? No! That's not fair!"

Harry thought for a second.

"No, it isn't, but that's the way it is, right?"

Draco growled at him, simmering in rage.

"Which way to the castle?" Harry asked, looking around.

Draco was silent for awhile just glaring at Harry. He waited patiently, eventually Draco sighed and pointed left. Harry smiled, walking in that direction, Draco following him grumbling. They didn't walk very far before they saw a strange old person with a large red bird on his head.

Harry stopped and gawked. The man was practically ancient. Harry had no idea what kept the man from simply dropping dead right there. The old man looked extremely odd. He had a long white beard that went past his middle, and very sharp, bright, clear eyes hidden behind half-moon spectacles. He stared back at Harry.

"Come here, my boy," the elderly man's voice was soft, gentle. Harry stepped up to him. Draco on his heels.

"And who's this?" the man asked, gazing at Draco.

"My friend," Harry spoke. The goblin gaped at Harry.

"Is he now?" The old man's face lit up, his eyes twinkled. "Excellent."

"Excuse me, Sir, but who are you?" Harry didn't understand why this weird old man was talking to them.

"That's not important," he brushed off, smiling. "You are searching for something, yes? In the castle beyond Hogsmeade?"

How did this man know what he was doing? Harry cautiously nodded. He glanced back at Draco, silently searching for answers. Draco stared up at him looking bemused.

"You see, my boy, sometimes the way forward is the way back."

What? Was this man insane? What in the world was he talking about?

"Sir, I don't-"

"It does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to live," the man whispered. "Remember that." Suddenly the man and his bird were gone.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" Harry asked Draco. He shook his head.

"Come on," the goblin grabbed his wrist, pulling Harry along.

The way forwards was the way back? Harry didn't understand, and Draco wasn't talking. Everyone in the Labyrinth were so strange, they never made any sense. It wasn't just the talking things in the Labyrinth either, everything about it was strange. How was Harry going to solve a place that made no sense in five hours? It wasn't possible! At least he had Draco with him, he was awful company but it was better than being alone. Plus, Draco knew his way around the Labyrinth. If he wasn't lying, though. Still, he was better off now than he was before. Perhaps he really could solve the Labyrinth. Maybe things would get easier. Harry smiled.

A loud roar broke Harry's musing. Draco let go of him and bolted in a different direction. Before Harry could catch him, Draco was out of sight.

Harry was alone.

AN: So, some superawesomemegamazing person created tribute art for this fic! You can check it out on tomriddleislordvoldemort on Tumblr. If for some reason you can't find it, it's also on my Tumblr which is hollyjinx. I'd put a link but, y'know, ff is r00d. It's awesome and you should check it out.
Also, I've been posting every 5 days but this week is going to be very busy for me so I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that. If you don't see a new chapter on the 25th then it'll be out on the 30th. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Lastly, I'm trying to improve my writing, so if you find anything weird or whatever with my writing, feel free to let me know. I've noticed I tend to be a bit repetitive with my words and I'm working on that. Also turning something from a movie into a written story is a bit awkward. I'm not always sure where to end things or how to segway into the next thing. Any feedback/suggestions/criticism is welcome. Anyways, thank you for reading!