Chapter Four

"What can we get for misses? Would you like bread? Cake? Cheese? Sweets? Chicken? Yoghurt? Ice-cream? Tea? Coffee? Chocolate? Hot chocolate? Marshmallows? Soup?..." The house elf wasn't breathing it was talking so fast, Ginny glanced at Sarah. 'Hmm' she thought, 'perhaps I ought to have warned her, she looks floored. Imagine what Professor King would say if the next time he saw her she was a gibbering?' Ginny paused to enjoy the mental picture and shook her head.

"We'll have Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows." She said quickly, thinking she'd miss Sarah if she had to be taken to a mental institution. Five cups were offered at once, rolling her eyes Ginny took one and thanked the House elves, motioning for Sarah to do the same. She copied and the house elves appeared to be on the verge of tears from the praise, grabbing Sarah, Ginny pulled her out of the kitchen so fast it was like she'd apparated. And then someone really did- right behind Sarah in an explosion of glitter.

Yep, that's right; it was the tooth fairy come to praise her oral hygiene habits. Of course, generally when people picture the tooth fairy they don't picture a man with blond spiky hair, mismatched eyes and a wardrobe to make a nun faint. Although, even though Jareth admittedly wasn't the tooth fairy, Ginny was fairly sure he wouldn't mind testing Sarah's oral hygiene. As soon as possible and extremely thoroughly.

"Professor King. What a surprise." Ginny said dryly.

"Miss Weasley." He nodded at her.

"Hang on a minute! How come you're not surprised to see him? Am I the only one who was surprised when Mr. Glitter appeared out of nowhere?" Sarah demanded.

"It's just common sense." Ginny looked down her nose at Sarah, went cross-eyed and gave up. "Judging from both his entrance to the hall, sexual banter and the fact he loves you," Sarah opened her mouth to protest at this but Ginny barrelled on, "it only made sense he'd appear at an unexpected time where you would either fall into his arms or somewhere awkward. Personally I thought it'd be the bath, but apparently, his majesty's got manners." Ginny looked a bit disappointed.

"The bath? Dammit! I'll remember that one next time." Jareth cursed. Sarah squeaked and glared at Ginny. She smiled and looked away. Jareth glanced at her with a quizzical expression,

"Something bothering you?" She enquired, raising an eyebrow. He fidgeted for a bit and then asked,

"Miss Weasley… Have you ever met a… Man with black hair sort of like mine but short and kind of… Yellow eyes?" Ginny looked at him as though he were insane and stage whispered to Sarah,

"His brain's short-circuiting, it's the trousers. Perfect excuse for you to get them off, hey I'll even show you to the nearest broom closet!" Jareth brightened and then flinched,

"Oh the agony, my brain, my brain. It's the trousers I'm sure, is there no-one to drag me to the nearest closet and help me?" He looked pointedly at Sarah, who glared.

"It's a conspiracy." She muttered darkly. Ginny giggled, then she looked evaluatingly at Jareth.

"Why are you so interested in my friends, your Majesty?"

"Why do you call me your Majesty?" She looked puzzled.

"That's what you told us to call you."

"Everyone else thought it was a joke; you said it perfectly seriously then, why?" She pursed her lips and cocked her head.

"I…I don't really know. Well, I suppose I do, the voice in my head called you that so I thought I should too." Sarah and Jareth just stared, she blushed.

"Hey! It's true, I'm not lying, it's been in my head for ages now, since first year. The whole thing with Tom, it really helped me you know. I'd talk about things with it, the only help I got here was a mug of Hot Chocolate, it was hard, trusting a voice especially just then but I haven't had blackouts or been told to do bad things." She looked defensive. "After a while, it was just normal. I didn't tell anyone 'cause they'd be worried, I'm not insane! I think. Lots of people hear voices! Even famous people, Malaren the Mad… er, bad example; Imogene the insane, forget that. OK I'm crazy, but I'm alright with that and I don't hurt people so… You won't tell my parents will you?" She shuffled and looked embarrassed.

Sarah put an arm around her and hugged her.

"You're not insane, don't worry. I talk to people who aren't there; I've also heard voices a time or two." Jareth looked a bit uncomfortable; Sarah narrowed her eyes at him.

"It was you wasn't it."

"I was curious…"

"So you invaded my head!"

"Sarah, you're making a way to big a deal out of this…"

"Says you!"

"The Fae do it all the time!" Sarah paused.

"Do you think a Fae might have something to do with Ginny's voice?"

"I do." He replied grimly.

"You may now kiss the bride." Ginny intoned, they looked at her with identical expressions of amusement. She giggled, "Sorry skipped a few chapters."

"You skipped reality if you think that's gonna happen." Sarah informed her.

"How you wound me Sarah." Jareth sounded injured, then he turned to Ginny half-smile gone.

"Now, Miss Weasley, did the voice tell you it's name?"

"Yes." Ginny replied reluctantly.

"Well? What is it?"

"He doesn't want me to say. He says to trust him, that I shouldn't tell, he's been there for me. He's saying you mean well but you don't know what you're doing and to stop prying." Tears had formed in her eyes. "I can't betray him."

"You won't be, just tell me. I won't do anything to him unless he's bad news. Just tell me."

"He says you'll misunderstand his intentions." He growled,

"Just bloody well tell me girl!"

"I… Des."

"Desdemona?" He asked incredulously.

"Ouch, I can see why he goes by Des." Sarah remarked. "What, was his Mother stoned?"

"Not at the time." Ginny and Jareth answered together.

"This is bad, Miss Weasley. Des is a dear friend but, he hates humans desperately. He loathes humanity, he's my half-brother, my Mother was stranded aboveground exposed to iron, she was unable to do magic and she was… raped by a human."

"He's half-human?"

"He was. The underground isn't really human-friendly, they all get- converted- into a species of Faerie. With Des it was easy, he was already half-fae. My Mother died in childbirth and Father hasn't ever forgiven him. He named him you know. Desdemona, it means unlucky."

"But it wasn't his fault!" Ginny cried out. "How can he blame him for…" She turned to Sarah.

"I'll show you the dorms. I need some time to think."

"Be careful, Miss Weasley, Des does whatever he can to carry out revenge on the whole human race, he's my brother and I love him but he resents humans deeply."

"I'll be fine. Come on Sarah. Bye your- Professor." She spoke coldly and stalked down the corridor, a worried Sarah trailing behind.

(First person GPOV)

I sat in the toilet ignoring Myrtle's wails. How could he! Manipulating her so well into trusting him. Biding his time, just evicted a snake? Get another one free, yeah that's me, 'Arseholes 'R' Us'., do the Fates really want me dead? Survived an adolescent Dark Lord with a Basilisk, let's see what a vengeful, bigoted fae can do. Huh.

Ginny, you know that's not right. What? Six years into making you trust me without a single attempt on your life? Angel, you credit me with too much patience.

As if I can trust anything you say! Des's voice was angry now.

When have I lied to you he demanded you've trusted me for years and nothing bad has happened!

Do you hate humans? A pause and then a reluctant yes, then how can I trust you when you hate me!

I don't hate you!

I'm human!

You're- different.

I'm still human, Des a species you hate.

Everythings changeable Angel and don't you forget it. What's up will come down. His voice was soft. What the truth is today is a lie tomorrow. A lie today maybe truth tomorrow. Even softer now. What is today may not be tomorrow. And his presence disappeared completely from my mind for the first time in six years. I should feel free, I don't, I feel naked.

He smashed a black crystal and ran his hands through his spiky black hair, gold eyes flashing. He rubbed a hand over his sharp features and sank onto his throne, lightening flashing outside the window.

He chuckled,

"I understand what you mean now Jareth." At the mention of his name a clear crystal rolled towards him.

"Fine, visit tomorrow evening Jareth." He snapped testily.

The crystal exploded. That'll be a meeting to look forwards to.