What's going on in the Aboveground while Harry is in the Goblin King's Labyrinth? Look through the eyes of an Underground goblin names Smithers and through the eyes of Severus Snape.

Spy meets spy. Oh fun.

- Chapter 8 -

The Order of the Goblin

In the Underground, Jareth, Sarah and Hoggle were in the Goblin King's throne room switching from feelings of anxiety and annoyance. Each were either watching the two runners continue their challenge or Sarah and Jareth fighting while Hoggle attempted to keep the two at bay as a peacemaker. The dwarf wasn't up to having either getting hurt because both were very hard to deal with when in a foul mood. Hoggle studied Jareth's silent looks of regret and adornment towards his female friend while Sarah fiddled with the worry that was building with every passing second.

It was hard being Hoggle. 'At least I'm not a certain goblin…' thought Hoggle. The image of a wrinkly faced goblin that worked as Jareth's Aboveground spy came to mind. Underground goblins rarely bothered with wizards, feeling the muggle kind were easier to play mischief on, and he wondered how this certain goblin was faring with the wizard boy's companions. This goblin's name was Smithers.

So as Toby and Harry continued their trek with Sir Didymus and Ludo, Smithers appeared in the Aboveground searching out Ron and Hermione.

In the Aboveground…

Fighting for the light wasn't always easy and there were some very bad days. 'Today,' thought one Severus Snape, 'is definitely one of those bad days.' The Potions Master of Hogwarts was seated in a dark corner observing the faces of stress and frustration that were bickering with one another.

They were in their headquarters. Well, in the dingy kitchen of the House of Black.

"Are you sure they didn't see him in the Leaky Cauldron? Maybe he went into another store?" Molly Weasley questioned her son. Sitting beside the red head was the bushy haired Hermione looking very upset.

"Mum, I told you already. He went to Gringotts to get some galleons and then he was supposed to meet with us in the Leaky Cauldron. Half an hour later, Harry hasn't shown up!" said Ron irritably as his mother glared at his tone.

"We should check if he went back to his relative's place." offered Hermione. "Maybe a guard can check if he went to see the Dursley family."

Remus Lupin held his face in his hands and shook his head wearily. "We've been there already, checked every store in Diagon Alley and the last anyone saw of him was at Gringotts."

"He didn't take any money out from his vault as you two said he would." Shacklebolt pointed out.

"Why would he have gone to Gringotts and not visit his vault?" Arthur Weasley pondered. "Why else would he go into Gringotts?"

"Tonks, yer sure Harry went in, right?" grumbled Moody, fake eye swiveling quickly in its socket. He watched the girl nod eagerly, hair changing colors with each nod. "He might've met up with someone inside."

Severus lifted his head with an uneasy feeling. Moody had been in Diagon Alley as well, taking watch at one intersection of stores and no where near Gringotts. And there was no way that the old Auror could see through the thick, magically protected walls of the Goblin bank…it was one of the most magically protected places in the wizard world. And the Slytherin Head of House knew for sure that it wasn't wizard magic that protected it.

'Jareth,' his mind growled out the name. His mental shields had been up but Albus Dumbledore, looking even more tired than anyone else in the room, looked up to meet the dark eyes of the younger man. 'What has that thick headed Fae been up to? Why Potter?'

Smithers, camouflaging easily within the old, peeling surroundings of the Grimmauld house, scampered noiselessly across the room, under the breakfast table and past legs. The wizards and witches that noticed only felt a slight breeze along their ankles.

The two Gryffindors left the kitchen, heads slightly bowed.

"Oh, I'm so worried about Harry. It's been four hours!" Molly fretted as Arthur came to her side comfortingly. "The poor dear…"

"At least he's not with the Death Eaters." Severus spoke up.

"Yer report is correct, then, Snape? Yer sure that evil Lord of yers ain't foolin' with ya?" Moody asked, one eye slit in suspicion.

"I believe Severus's report. But we'll have to keep a guard at the Dursley residence, Diagon Alley and possibly outside the Leaky Cauldron on the muggle street." said the Headmaster finally. "We are all tired. Stick to your guard shifts, my friends, and keep an eye out—"

"Constant vigilance!" cried Moody.

"—and we must be sure to keep this out of the papers. So far, Voldemort—" The room shuddered at the name. "—does not know that Harry has gone missing. We'll have to keep it that way as long as possible."

The room began to shuffle out leaving Molly Weasley fussing over cleaning, desperate to get her mind off of worrying. Lupin remained in his seat at the table; his face still hiding in his hands with shuddering breaths.

"Severus, we shall move into the dining room, I believe you are not the only spy among us." said Dumbledore as his blue eyes darted to the space under a chair. "He shall follow us as well."

The two wizards left the kitchen and Molly didn't notice the invisible figure that waddled silently past her skirts. The headmaster settled himself onto one of the dining room chairs while Severus wrinkled his nose at the room.

Something collided with the back of his legs.

Quickly, the room was cast with a silencing charm and locked up and when the spy goblin felt the magic was protecting his cover, the wrinkly creature revealed himself.

"Ah, Smithers!" Dumbledore greeted with the twinkling eyes. "To what pleasure do we owe your company?" Severus rolled his eyes at the old man's pleasantries, the goblin blushing at being treated so nicely.

"Sir Albus, my King has sent me here to quell the worry that upsets your gaggle!"

"Our what?" Severus asked, still standing.

"Your companions who were talking in the kitchen!" squeaked Smithers pointing at the door.

"Yes, old Jareth…he has the boy, Harry Potter, then?" The little goblin nodded vigorously at the question. The little creature was only a quarter of the size of the Gringotts goblins and as tall as the Potions Master's knee.

"As far as I'm aware of, Headmaster, the Dark Lord did no such wishing away recently." said Severus smoothly.

"Yes, Smithers, who has wished away Mr. Potter?"

Smithers swayed his knobby hips and looked to the black marble floor, unsure of how to say it. "Our Highness has not the boy as prize but the fair maiden that bested his game years ago. Your Harry is running the King's Labyrinth as we speak!"

"Potter wished away someone?"

"Oh, dear, Severus, this is quite a spot of trouble we have here."

"No, Sires! Your Harry did not wish away my King's Lady but the young Sire, her brother did! Your Harry has agreed to help young Sire to reclaim his sister before the thirteen hours!" piped Smithers jumping up and down now.

"What shall you do now, Smithers, as your message has been passed?" the bearded wizard asked the impish creature. "Has Jareth requested anything else of you for the Aboveground?"

'Not another love potion, I hope…' Severus thought irritably. 'He can't keep tinkering with my brews!'

The little goblin pulled something out from behind its back and Severus groaned with annoyance at what was clutched in his little grip.

Four peaches.

"My King's Lady has…erm…yet to consent to His wooing…" said Smithers awkwardly.

"Of course!" Severus cried angrily. "Tell your king I have no time to be concocting love potions for his will. Plus he knows not the dangers he puts 'his maiden' when he adds his Fae magic to it!" he snapped.

"My king said you would say that…" Smithers told Severus who frowned at his words. "His third order for his subject was to help!"

"Help?" Severus asked in disbelief. "How can you help?"

Dumbledore's shook his head with a hearty smile.

"The only way goblins know how, Sire! Causing trouble!" Smithers answered with too much excitement.

"Oh?" Dumbledore asked.

"I will distract your friends and lead them from close accusations. Your Harry should return back after the thirteen hours whether he manages to aide the Young Sire win the Lady back or not!"

The headmaster turned to the ex-Death Easter. "Severus…"

He didn't like the way the old man was smiling like that.

"Would you like to help our little friend, Smithers, here? I say Voldemort won't be calling on you for a while as he plans for his recruitment."

The Potions Master frowned, arms crossed over his chest when the little goblin began to tug on his black robes smiling that impishly mischievous smile.

'Well, I haven't pulled a prank since my school years.' thought Severus.

A/N: Review, por favor? Thanks for reading this far!