Poor Harry...all he wanted was to withdrawal some money from his account... And why is Jareth bad at names? Maybe he's just trying to annoy his subjects like Hoggle. Poor Harry.

- Chapter 4 -

Running Partners

Harry Potter had been having an "okay" day. Not terrific, swell or great. Not horrible, bad or horrific. Well, not yet, anyways. He had excused himself from his friends Ron and Hermione while they were in Madam Malkins for robes after he realized he was short on galleons. Harry brushed off Hermione's offer to cover for him because Gringotts was just a little ways down Diagon Alley.

He didn't stop to greet his friends Neville, Luna and Ginny who were in the Weasley Twins' newly opened shop because he would meet up with them again at the Leaky Cauldron in half an hour. His friends made up half of his "okay day"…then there was the annoying guard who was currently stalking him from behind that balanced the day out.

It would have felt nice to turn around and glare at a member of the Order, one of the many guards that had taken turns over the summer to keep watch of him. But he couldn't, seeing as it would direct too much unwanted attention towards the Order member.

'At least I'm not in the Dursleys for the rest of the summer!' he thought trying to turn his day for the better.

His summer had been very bland so far, even if he was free of the Dursleys' hateful glares. But being locked up in Grimmauld Place, Sirius's house, was almost as bad when he wasn't allowed to go out when he wanted, confined to his room when Order meetings occurred (which was often) and Hermione and Ron as well as his other friends were not allowed to stay over. Occasionally Remus Lupin, a dear friend to both Sirius and Harry, would take the time to sit down and talk when he wasn't busy. But the Order always had something for him so this was rare.

Today, out in Diagon Alley had come as blissful escape from the depressing house. But it had only lasted minutes. Since Ron and Hermione had not been able to see him all summer until now…well, Harry wished they'd give up with the sympathizing already. Ron wasn't being his usual goofy, loud self and Hermione kept her thoughts to herself, not one peep out of her about a single book.

It got frustrating shopping with them too soon.

As he entered Gringotts, he hardly noticed the darkening clouds that were too speedily growing in the sky.

He fished his pocket for his vault key before he approached the desk to seek out a Gringotts goblin.

It was then that it happened.

He wasn't too happy with the glitter that got showered on his shoes.

"Welcome to England, Toby. This is Gringotts." the taller of the two said to the boy at his side. The tall man was dressed very funny. Those were definitely NOT robes. It was something Harry could have easily pictured his former Defense Against the Dark Art teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, wear…but he would have made it look terribly silly. This man stood with an aristocratic air that didn't appear negative. In fact, if people were 'born to look royal' this man would have been a perfect example.

The boy stood gaping at the bank. He was wearing muggle clothing so at least Harry wasn't the only one standing out in the bank.

'Damn glitter.' thought Harry irritably as he began to shake his worn sneakers. "Ugh. It's sticking!" he muttered as he lifted his sneaker to brush it off with his hand.

"You're sister is fine, I assure you, Toby." the glam star said gently to the boy. "I understand that you have not heard my story due to Sarah's…" He paused to tap his chin. "…stubbornness…so, I want to even your chances of running my Labyrinth, my boy."

"Um…Goblin King?" Toby asked hesitantly. "So why are we here?"

"We're here to recruit a Samaritan for your run. They would have to be Sarah's age when she last defeat—ahem, challenged me…so let us see…" the Goblin King murmured as he scanned the crowd. "Let us ask for some help from my subjects." the man offered. "Goblins…" he said softly, a slight hiss at the end.

Harry thought it strange how suddenly all the goblins had frozen to their spots, pointed ears twitching at his soft call. What was going on? The goblins who had been talking to their customers at their desks were now looking toward the man with the outrageous platinum blond hair and strange outfit. He thought that they were angry for being interrupted from their jobs as they were usually irritable until a handful of the goblins at their post abandoned their customers, scrambling to meet this 'Goblin King'.

Harry didn't even know there was such a thing as a Goblin King. Was there really? Was this man him?

"Ah, yes, Griphook, I shall be in need of your assistance. The rest of you will continue with your work. Now scoot." he ordered them pleasantly, his expression bored. "Toby, how old do you think your sister was when she ran my Labyrinth?" Jareth asked casually as Griphook bowed before the man.

"Um…twenty?" Toby asked.

He gave the boy a chuckle. "No, my boy, fifteen. Not as young as you but she was indeed young to beat my Labyrinth." He ground out the last part of the sentence with a look of annoyance. Composing himself, he turned to the goblin that Harry recognized from a previous Gringotts trip. He still wasn't sure why he hadn't moved from his spot on the floor covered in glitter. He knew Ron and Hermione would be getting nervous. And where was that guard?

"Hello, Griphook," the boy, Toby, greeted as he scooted closer to the Goblin King. Harry furrowed his brow when he thought he saw the goblin smile…not an evil smile or annoyed smile…but genuinely smile at the child.

"Goblins have a liking to you, Toby. They have never abandoned you these past ten years. They have watched you under my command for your safety." Jareth said airily. "You are quite popular among my goblins both in the Underground and Aboveground. Now, Griphook, I am unfortunate to have been reunited with young Tobias," The boy grimaced. "…because he has wished someone dear to us away." Toby looked up at the man when he mentioned "us".

Griphook nodded his head, feeble wisps of hair bobbing up and down with his large nose.

Suddenly, the man, this Goblin King, turned to see that most of the goblins were still staring at him and Toby. "I will ask kindly only once more. Get. Back. To. Work." the man seethed from between his teeth, eyes glittering with quite the opposite effect of Hogwarts Headmaster had. It was strange how none of the goblins snapped back smartly or glared at him like they did with other rude customers. "Now, Griphook, fetch us a partner for Toby to run my Labyrinth with. Must be fifteen, understand?" He turned to the boy who was shifting uncomfortably on his feet beside the man. "Go follow Griphook, young Toby. He will help you find a partner. I shall wait on those horrendously stuffy seats over there."

Harry was sure something was about to happen soon so he cautiously made his way to the exit, glitter trailing from his sneakers in his wake.

He turned back to see Griphook leading the boy, who couldn't be older than a first year, after him looking positively frightened…and defeated. The amazement in his eyes as he had gazed at the wizard bank, like Harry had some years ago, was lost from his whole demeanor now. What could have made the boy so depressed?

Next he studied the strange man who was now inspecting the waiting chairs that were kept to one corner. He plopped unceremoniously onto one and stretched his leg over one of the armrests. The Goblin King gave his wrist a fancy wand motion and Harry's mouth opened slightly to see a crystal ball appear in his hands. He watched the man create another three in his hands and juggle them in between his fingers, spinning them effortlessly. He gazed into one deeply… What was he looking at? A seer and a king?

"Um…excuse me…" came a soft voice.

Harry turned around to meet the doleful blue eyes of the boy, Toby, and Griphook's long, bony nose. "…er…hello…can I help you?" Harry asked wishing he had not been entranced by the man's juggling act.

"Master Toby, this is Harry Potter. If anyone can help save your sister…this boy can." Griphook said confidently.

"Pardon me? Did you say 'save'?" Harry asked. 'Oh, no…this was bad…'

The boy began to tremble and looked near the verge of tears. From the side lines, Jareth watched intently as much as it hurt to have Toby feel so down.

"P-Please, Mr. Potter, my sister has been taken away from me and I need your help." the boy began to sob in an American accent. Harry instinctively knelt down in front of him. "I-It's my fault she was taken away! I-I just didn't want her to leave me alone and teach in H-Hogwarts." The tears were working full force now and Jareth had already made his way toward Harry and Toby with concern.

Both Harry and Jareth looked confused at the boy's last word.

"Hogwarts?" Harry repeated. "…I go to school there…"

Jareth seemed even more perplexed. "Hogwarts? Do you mean my gardener? I could have sworn his name was Hedgewart."

"You kidnapped this child's sister?" Harry asked standing to meet the eyes…well, chest of the Goblin King. He was not yet as tall as the older man. "What are you? Are you a Death Eater working for Voldemort?" he hissed. Strangely, the man did not even blink at the name of the Dark Lord.

"Who? I apologize, I don't keep up with the politics of the Aboveground." Jareth said waving his hand leisurely. "But yes, I did, young man. I am Jareth the Goblin King."

"Who?" It was Harry's turn to ask. "And why do you want this boy's sister?"

"Oh, she happened to beat my Labyrinth, leave half my city in shambles (although it was quick to restore) and broke my heart…say…thrice in thirteen hours." Jareth replied with the same calm and casual tone. It was like they were talking about the weather.

Harry glanced upwards at the ceiling windows. When had it started to rain and thunder like that?

"So this is about revenge? That's just ridiculous, evil and…and…"

"Cruel?" Jareth offered.

"Yeah!"

"Thank you, young man. You are…?" Jareth asked, his smile decidedly predatory-like and amused.

"I'm Harry Potter." When the man's face continued with the same expression, Harry couldn't help but ask curiously "You know? Harry Potter? The boy-who-lived?"

"The-boy-who-whatsah?" Jareth was definitely amused now. "You're calling me ridiculous? That is a ridiculous title!" Jareth sneered.

"Um…highness? My sister?" Toby asked, tugging on the man's gloved hand.

"Oh, right, my beloved Sarah, I can't believe I forgot about her." Jareth said worriedly to himself. "Well, Boy-who-zit—"

"Boy-who-lived." Harry corrected him but Jareth ignored it.

"Will you help this child out? I will give you details of the challenge and you may refuse to help once I am done explaining…and if so, poor, helpless Toby Williams will have to face dangers untold and hardships unnumbered…alone." Now, the Goblin King had made Harry feel a little guilty about wanting to run off.

But…

"I think an Auror would better suit—"

"Ah, I have not finished. I will show you what you are up against and the rules, Mr. Potter. Then you may decide if you wish to act as young Toby's aid." He took out the crystal from out of nowhere as usual, Harry trying to see where he hid his wand, but soon Toby and Harry were staring deeply into the clear orb he balanced on his fingers.

"Welcome to my labyrinth, boys."

Suddenly the three were no longer in Gringotts or anywhere in Diagon Alley, Harry was sure.

A/N: We've been ignoring Sarah for far too long! ...and a nice dose of a little JS could be had, hmm? Please leave a kind review, good reader.