Chapter 31 (Stand down chapter 2- written whilst laughing at the people on Super Sweet Sixteen and Jackass)

"What on earth were you doing with my baby boy?" Karen screamed, snatching Toby from her

"Sarah, I can't believe you would do something like this! Who was that man?" Robert cried, putting his arm around Karen protectively

"Sawah's in twubble!" Dumbledore said, pointing at her with one hand, covering his giggling mouth with the other.

She glared at him, causing Dumbledore to cover his mouth with his hand and run out of the room. Sarah turned to her father and stepmother

"I'm sorry," Sarah said, looking at the ground

"I still don't understand why you would let a strange man look after Toby. Let alone throw him into the air repeatedly." Karen said

"And I have a feeling he may have been drunk" Robert said suspiciously

"I said I was sorry! It wasn't my fault!"

"It wasn't your fault? You were supposed to be watching Toby while your father and I were out." Karen cried

"Well I was only home for a little while, why couldn't you have spent a little time with me for once!" Sarah said, tears beginning to fall from her eyes

"Sarah, I can't believe you would be so selfish! You show up on our doorstep, unannounced, and expect us to cancel all of our plans just for you," said Karen.

"Well I am your only daughter!" Sarah yelled. She rubbed her hand across her face in an attempt to rid herself of her tears. "I hate you," She said softly

"You spoilt child!" Karen said, standing over her. "We sacrifice so much for you. Entertain your girlish fantasies; send you to an illustrious school out of our own pocket…"

"Well don't then!" Sarah cried, "I don't need you to 'sacrifice' all of that for me. You were going to send Toby here anyway. Just go, get out. Give up on me. I'll get my things after Christmas."

She attempted to leave the room, but stopped when she heard Karen speak

"Fine then." She said, in a low angry voice. "We rid ourselves of you. I never wish to see you again. Don't bother getting your things. I'll send them all to you." Karen reached out, took Roberts sleeve and led him out of the grounds, before apparating away.

Sarah stumbled out of the room, too shocked to notice where she was going.

"Sarah?" Someone called

She didn't notice them

"Sarah!" They called, louder now.

She turned, blinking, fighting away tears.

"Jareth" She said softly

"Sarah, what's wrong? What did they say to you?" he asked concerned.

Sarah didn't reply

Jareth wrapped his arms around her. Sarah buried her head in his chest, holding onto his shirt.

"Shh, it's ok. I'm here. Whatever's wrong, I'm sure we can find a solution." He said soothingly, patting her hair. He looked around, and then led Sarah up to his rooms.

"Sarah, what's the matter? I can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong." He said, sitting her on the couch and standing over her.

"They've disowned me." Sarah said in disbelief.

"What?" Jareth asked

"They never want to see me again. I've been kicked out. I can't believe they'd do that. I'm only fifteen. Jareth, this isn't possible." Sarah said, throwing herself sideways down onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. She began to sob.

"They what?!" Jareth cried angrily, whirling to face her. "Who would do such a thing?"

"Wait a minute" Sarah said, sitting up suddenly. "I'm dreaming!" She said happily. She pinched her arm, hard. "OUCH!"

"Sarah, I can assure you, you are not dreaming" Jareth said.

Rather than assuring her, Sarah began to cry again.

"How am I going to pay for tuition?" She asked. "And where am I supposed to live during summer? I can't stay at school all holidays, they don't allow it."

"Well, you're always welcome to come to the Underground." Jareth said

"What?" Sarah asked, taking her face from her hands and looking up at him

"Well, I know how much you miss you're friends."

"I didn't know you cared that much."

Jareth rolled his eyes

"I'll ignore that comment, as I've ignored the others like it. But yes, you can always come stay with me. And I won't even make you run the Labyrinth" he said.

"Well, that's one problem solved. But what about my fees? And everything else I'll need?" Sarah asked. "I can't go around taking your charity forever you know."

"Well I don't see why not. I told you when we met at that Bank place"

"Gringotts, your goblin bank?"

"Unnecessary details." He said, flapping his hand. "I told you that I set aside a bank account for you and Boby to use, and I meant it."

"But where is the money coming from? I don't want to be taking money from your pockets." Sarah said

"It's just a few extra profits from the income every few weeks. It's nothing Sarah." He said, cupping her cheek with his hand. "I just want you to be happy. To be comfortable. Now, everything's sorted, no?" He asked

"I suppose…" Sarah said.

Jareth sighed

"What's wrong now?" He asked.

"Nothing" Sarah said. "I still feel bad though, taking all of your money."

"It's not all of my money." Jareth said. "Besides, you'll find a way to pay me back one day." Jareth said suggestively.

Sarah glared.

The bells began to ring

"Dammit! It's lights out. Man, if the prefects catch me, I'll be in so much trouble." She said

"Well, we could always have another lesson." Jareth said, producing a crystal.

"Actual transportation? That's a bit tricky… are you sure I'm ready?"

"I don't mean actual transportation, I mean using mirrors to travel from room to room."

"Oh. Cool" Sarah said.

"OK, picture the place you want to go to." Jareth said, leading Sarah to the mirror in his bathroom. She thought of the mirror in her dorm room.

"Then take your crystal, and push it into the mirror" Sarah did so, the mirror turning jellylike as she did so.

"Now, judging by the mirrors reaction, I think this should work. If not, you'll probably come up in your room… or somewhere near it." He said. He held his hand out to her and led her up to the mirror. "After you."

He pushed her through.

Sarah found herself in a darkened dorm room.

"Oh please let this be my room." She whispered

It wasn't, judging by the extremely loud snores coming from the rooms.

In fact, when she listened carefully, she heard a snore from one red head, and answered by another.

She was in the seventh year dorm room.

The boys dorm room.

"Oh great" Sarah said. She turned and looked for the door. It was across the room. Slowly, Sarah began to pick her way towards the door.

This was a difficult job, as the floor was littered by the mess left by the boys over the past few weeks.

After tripping many times, and stubbing her toe twice on their trunks, Sarah finally made it to the door.

Heaving a sigh of relief, she went down the stairs, and began to trudge up the stairs to her dorm.

And came face to face with Jareth

"You" she said

"Sarah! What took you so long?" He asked

"The mirror went to the wrong room." Sarah muttered

Jareth smirked

"Where?"

"The boys' seventh year dorm" she said softly

Jareth threw his head back and laughed

"Nice" He said.

"I blame you."

"Why is it my fault?"

"Everything is your fault" Sarah said

"Since when?"

"Since I said so. I win."

"You win what?"

"I win everything!" Sarah cried happily, running up the last few stairs to her room. "Now go away." She said, turning back to him and slamming the door. To be safe, she put as many locking spells on the door as she could.

"It won't work!" Jareth called in a singsong voice.

"If you come in here, I'll kill you" Sarah said, tossing a crystal up and down.

There was no sign of Jareth again that evening, and Sarah fell asleep, trying to sort out her thoughts.

THIS IS AN AUTHOR'S NOTE… I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED THAT THOUGH

Hey all… sorry this took so long, I was away all weekend and out all Friday…

But anyways

I wasn't sure how far apart the twins were, so I kinda guessed two-ish years…

YAY!

Angsty chapter… with a little bit of a plotline going!

I think I see some actual events happening!

I believe I may have actually beaten my average this chapter!

Will try for more Harry Hermione next chapter.

Well, I think that's all I have to say about that

I shall leave you with a little quote from Saiyuki, of which I only have about four episodes to see… but no means of seeing them… :'(

Sha Gojyo: cracks open a beer and takes a swig Goddamn it, this one's hot. Goku, get me another beer.
Goku: Get your own beer, jerkoff!
Sha Gojyo: Okay, you're gonna get me another beer or I'm gonna take this can and shove it up your whiney little ass! You got that?
Goku: You just try and see what happens, ya shithead!
Sha Gojyo: Oh, yeah?
Goku: You're just looking for an excuse to touch my ass, aren't you?
Genjo Sanzo: sighs Please ...
Sha Gojyo: You little fag! Don't project your fantasies on me!
Goku: All right, that's it! Pull over, I'm taking him out!
Genjo Sanzo: Your little unrequited love affair is starting to get on my nerves! Get a room!
Gojyo and Goku fall silent
Cho Hakkai: Good move there, uh, Sanzo.
Genjo Sanzo: I thought so, thanks.
Cho Hakkai: Oh, my, awful quiet back there guys. Are you two making out?
Sha Gojyo: Shut up, Hakkai.
Goku: Yeah, shut up

Your greatest Sovereign yet!

The Queen of the Nymphs

PS!!!!!!

WC 1,675 words!