New story! Please don't hate me for not updating the others, I will get to them. This came about from watching Aladdin with my niece and nephew the other day and I decided to run with it. Hope you enjoy it!
Royal Advisor Riddle shifted irascibly upon his well-oiled leather saddle; his dark, stormy eyes scanned the horizon for the thief as he fingered his half of the pewter raven. Asmodeus, his prized midnight destrier, pawed at the ground impatiently, unused to being still. The pounding of hooves echoed across the sodden green fields, Mundungus Fletcher sitting astride a buckskin rouncey came to a shuddering halt before the wealthy nobleman.
"You are late," Riddle growled.
Mundungus flopped off his horse and bowed deeply, prostrating himself before the man. "Sorry fer that, mi lord."
"Do you have it?" Riddle asked lowly.
Mundungus grinned, his blackened teeth on display.
"I ha' to slit a few throats, but I got it," he said, pulling the other half of the pewter raven from beneath his threadbare, stained cloak.
Riddle reached for it expectantly only for Mundungus to pull it back. His fist tightened on the leather reins to stop himself from sheathing his sword into the other's torso – he still required him.
"Ah, ah, ah," Mundungus tutted. "Mi reward?"
A rush of air and the precious piece was gone, and in Riddle's hands, a serpent slipped back under Riddle's cloak, writhing beneath the cloth. Mundungus flinched.
"Trust me, my pungent friend," Riddle purred, his hand closing over the item possessively. "You'll get what's coming to you."
Grinning sharply, Riddle pulled the other half from beneath his cloak and clasped them together. Immediately it glowed silver and flew into the distance at break-neck speed. Riddle hurriedly mounted his horse and pursued the raven with a cry, Mundungus following closely behind.
Pressing his heels insistently into Asmodeus' sides, he urged the stallion to go faster. Seeing the bird dive into an unfamiliar lake, he pulled the reigns back harshly, watching as a section of the lake descended, revealing flooded stone steps leading into cavernous darkness. A ghostly figure rose, her long silver hair draped loosely over her back, her sapphire dress rippling around her waif-like figure. Looking up with matching eyes, she assessed the two of them and smiled dreamily.
Riddle exhaled in victory. He had found it, the Wealth of Wōden.
"By God, it's real…" Mundungus murmured, bringing Riddle's attention back to him.
He clasped Mundungus' cloak roughly, hauling the filthy vagrant close to him.
"Now remember," Riddle instructed fervently, "bring me the amulet, the rest of the treasure is yours. But the amulet is mine."
Mundungus nodded shakily, and Riddle shoved him towards the stairs. Licking his lips greedily, Mundungus approached the stone steps. As he reached the cusp, the girl spoke.
"Who enters the Wealth of Wōden?" she asked, her voice ringing like bells.
"Mundungus Fletcher," he introduced sloppily.
She hummed before fixing her gaze beyond, locking eyes with Riddle.
"Know this," she intoned, "only one may enter here, one whose worth lies far within – the-diamond-in-the-rough."
Mundungus looked back at Riddle nervously, but he waved him forth, and Mundungus took small, hesitant steps to the descent. Creeping down the first few steps, Mundungus breathed a sigh of relief when he was still alive. Abruptly the girl's expression twisted, and a blinding light encased the area. Sounds of crushing waves, swallowed the terrified scream of Mundungus Fletcher and then the lake was still, the girl gone, and the two halves of the pewter raven lay on the nearby shore.
Riddle clenched his jaw, another day without. He picked up the raven, scraping off the sand absently. "It seems I need to find him Nagini," he hissed to his snake, who had popped her head out curiously. "This fabled diamond-in-the-rough."
Fleeing from the guards, Harry covered in soot and dirt, dodged and weaved to avoid their capturing hands and their cutting swords.
"Stop, thief!"
Harry did not stop. He slipped into an alley, dismayed to see it was dead-end.
"I'll take your ear for this, street-rat," Malfoy the younger snarled, Crabbe and Goyle either side of him.
Eyes quickly darting around the alley, Harry spied a stack of wooden barrels he could climb. Scampering quickly, he deftly clambered up and onto the adjacent rooftops sprinting across them with light feet. Hedwig flew beside him, chirping in warning whenever his pursuers got too close. Grabbing a small clay pot in her talons she dropped it on Goyle, letting out a triumphant hoot when he let out a pained grunt.
"Thanks, Hed!" Harry praised.
Slipping in through a nearby window, the heady scent of perfumed oils permeated the air disguising the smell of unwashed bodies. Whores gazed at him with empty eyes, dismissing him as a customer and continued to call out to the men on the street like souls in want. Averting his eyes from their thinly clothed forms, he waited for the clanking of heavy armour and the enraged yells of Malfoy to fade.
Exhaling in relief, he started as a small feminine hand rested on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a collection of bushy hair framing a pale olive face, with deep-set brown eyes and a pert nose.
"Mione," he greeted soberly.
"Harry," Hermione squeezed his shoulder, "you can't keep out of trouble, can you?"
"You know me," Harry answered, patting Hermione's hand.
She shook her head fondly before delicately sitting beside him, the neck of her dress falling open to reveal several blooming bruises littering her flesh. Folding her hair behind her shoulder, his eyes grew hard.
"They're not that bad," she murmured, pushing him away.
A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he didn't argue further, it would only upset her.
"Do you want to see what I managed to get today?" Harry asked, changing the subject.
Rolling her eyes, she gave him a brittle smile before guiding him to the back away from the gallery. Wanton moans and lecherous cries drifted from behind closed doors, polluting the hallways causing Harry's cheeks to flush.
Sitting at the bench, Harry brought out a small loaf of bread, a cut of cheese, and some apples. Hermione's eyes widened seeing the spread.
"Good day then?" she asked teasingly.
"Yes, for some reason, the owner seemed quite distracted."
She let out a tinkling laugh, and Harry felt his chest lighten at the sound. Splitting the food, they ate leisurely groaning in appreciation at the taste. After a few moments, Hermione's walnut eyes locked onto his verdant green.
"You should leave Harry," Hermione insisted, "Madame Bellatrix will be back soon, and you know she won't hesitate to force you downstairs."
Grimacing, Harry nodded. Pressing a swift kiss to Hermione's cheek, he crept out the back window making his way to a place among the clouds. His own private, crumbling tower.
Please R&R and my Tumblr is always open
Also, I have not decided on who I will have as the King and the Prince/Princess (though I have some ideas) so if you have any suggestions please let me know :D