Chapter Seven

Ginny grimaced,

"Why me?"

"God must hate us." Sarah's reply was no less woeful as she turned around to go back into the classroom. They exchanged a look; Ginny nodded and squared her shoulders. She sauntered to a desk and perched on it shifting slightly to give Sarah room when she followed.

"So, what's up? You both look like a Goblin pulled down your trousers…"

"In public…" Sarah chipped in,

"And shoved ice in your underwear…"

"Mixed with bog water!" She finished triumphantly "assuming you wear underwear." At Jareth's leer Sarah added quickly,

"And no we don't want to check!" Jareth pouted then Sarah muttered something intelligible but Des's stony look hadn't vanished, Ginny shot a glance towards him. Great, Jareth's already practically forgiven Sarah, why do I have to have the difficult one? Ginny's eyes widened,

No way did I just think that! Jareth and Sarah are all… Jareth-and-Sarah-y, me and Des are so not… Jareth-and-Sarah-y.

Obviously not, Angel.

Thank you! Uh oh, Angel? Oh damn, please tell me I'm insane and that Des wasn't listening to my thoughts just then!

"You're insane and I wasn't listening to your thoughts just then." He looked amused.

Damn!

Sarah was looking at her weirdly, she blushed fiercely turning the same colour as her hair, trying desperately to ignore the smirk on her friend's face.

Please God, I need a distraction. Urgh! Where's a chicken hula-dancing when you need one!

You know, that's the second time you've wanted a chicken doing the hula. I'm starting to get disturbed, although it makes you extremely easy to shop for, Christmas will be amusing. I can just see the look on your Mother's face now.

Stop it!

You never protested before!

I was but a mere child then, naïve to the ways of the world!

Ah yes, it's amazing how one can mature in, what's it been? Two days? Maybe three? A pause. And what do you bloody well mean you were 'naïve to the ways of the world' you'd better still be! Good Lord, leave you alone for 48 hours…

I didn't mean it like that! She was blushing so much she was probably glowing, next thing you know she'd be on top of a lighthouse.

You have the weirdest imagination.

She stuck out her tongue at him mentally.

Promises, promises.

She squeaked indignantly.

Anyway, what would you have done if I weren't.

Skipping back a few comments? The light-hearted tone vanished. I'd have killed him.

What if he were, like, Voldemort or Dumbledore she shuddered at that mental image.

What? Old? Huh, well each to her own.

No! Powerful!

Doesn't matter, even if the bloke had been a Titan he'd still be pushing up daisies.

What about… She cast about for someone… Jareth?

He glanced pointedly at the smitten Monarch.

Yeah that'd happen. But if he did go insane or something, shared blood would not save him.

Why? She felt a bit hopeful but she quashed that immediately, hoping he hadn't noticed. He didn't appear to have, and… He shrugged.

"Come on Ginny." Sarah's voice was cold. Ginny jumped. "Let's go to dinner." She swept out leaving Ginny jogging to keep up.

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(Sarah's POV on what just happened. Yay! J/S action!)

"And no we don't want to check!" I murmured, "not that we need to check anything with those leggings!" Jareth smirked at me,

oh God! He did not hear that! He did not hear that!

Oh, but I'm afraid I did precious!

Stay out of my thoughts, you interfering pig, remember, eavesdroppers never hear well of themselves!

Oh I don't know, I quite like your thoughts.

I bet it's a sock! I shot spitefully. Before he could reply I noticed Ginny start blushing enough that I was having thoughts about fixing her to the ceiling to save electricity, ooh she was going to get it the next time she mentioned Jareth and I having… feelings for eachother. If the look Des is giving her is any indication then she certainly has more to worry about than me! Wow! I've never seen that colour; it's even more impressive than the transparent girl in Potions!

I thought we'd covered this, precious. He hadn't noticed, urgh men!

Did you not see that!

What, precious?

Des…and Ginny, they were… Oh never mind! Idiotic, insensitive brute.

Tell me!

Nothing! You're so pushy!

You don't think you're being a tad unfair?! I haven't even done anything and you just sit there accusing me and calling me names. I can see the Labyrinth was really maturing experience for you!

I am not! I haven't accused you of anything! Anyway, you brought this on yourself, if you weren't so… cruel…and

Manipulative? Cold? Did I act like a mean, nasty Goblin King? Well princess that would be because I am one! If you'd just look at yourself you'd see the same things in yourself! How many times did you reject me? Haughty, cold and cruel! And as for manipulative, what have you and your new friend been doing the past few days, hmm? He sneered. You know what? You're a spoilt brat only caring about your own feelings!

Well sorry, by the way you acted one wouldn't think you had any! Spoilt? Hah, I bet you threw a temper tantrum when I beat you, your Majesty. His eyes narrowed. Oh, did I touch a nerve? I gave him an innocent look. Still sore? Hey I only went through the Labyrinth once, you must have dealt with it hundreds of times! Did the maturing experiences cancel each other out or what? As for rejecting you, it's not like it even meant anything.

Jareth snarled. Never… Of course not princess, a little girl playing with people as much as her dolls, why would it!

He was practically spitting the words. I drew myself up feeling like crying and spun around,

"Come on Ginny. Let's go to dinner." I sneered at Jareth and stalked through the door.

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"Er, Sarah?"

"What!"

"What exactly have your potatoes done to you? Whatever it is, were they really deserving of such a punishment?"

"I'm pretending there someone's head."

"Are you sure their head is deserving of such punishment?

"It's Jareth."

"Ahh, well that's alright then. I was worried it was someone who'd stolen… No wait Jareth's done that… who'd covered your house in… Hang on he's done that too…I'll get there in a minute." Sarah chuckled.

"Men are such prats." And promptly dissolved into tears over her much-abused dinner. Ginny patted her on the back and rubbed her arm, hauling her up she pulled her out of the great hall, hissing at people looking their way.

"Losers."

A seventh year spotted them and jogged over.

"Ah, damn!"

"Ginny!" He completely ignored Sarah who was currently wiping her slightly puffy eyes.

"Uh, hey…" She thought for a moment. "Jake."

"Hey, um, would you like to go with me on the next Hogsmeade trip?"

"Ah… I…I-"

" No." Des had materialised behind her, yellow-gold eyes glinting out from under his short, dark spiky hair. The boy blustered, drawing himself up to his (rather unimpressive height) Des didn't bother moving, he just looked down at him and sneered. He shifted weight forward, subtly flexing his muscles; Ginny slapped her forehead glaring at Sarah who was singing 'Neanderthal Man'. She smirked.

"I'm a Neanderthal man, you're…"

"Well Jake, I'm unavailable but, Sarah might like to." She pointed at the unsuspecting green-eyed girl, smiling innocently. Sarah's eyes widened and she looked furious.

"No she bloody well isn't!" Surprise, surprise look who else had turned up.

"Look Sarah! Our stalkers have united!" Sarah shoved Jareth away.

"It's not any of your business! You have no power over me!"

"Ooh, ouch." Ginny conjured some pom-poms and started chanting:

2,4,6,8

Who does Sarah really hate?

Ja-reth, Ja-reth!

"I would love to go out with you." The traumatised Ravenclaw looked at her fearfully and nodded furiously.

"You will not!"

"I am! Deal with it Jerk!" She flipped her dark curls and stormed out.

"…You're a Neanderthal girl. Huh we've been making way too many dramatic exits recently." Ginny smiled suddenly and winked.

"See you soon!" She giggled as she walked away from the fuming fae about to descend on Jake.

"Have fun! Too-da-Loo!" She threw back her head and laughed all the way to the Gryffindor common room.

Okay, Ginny's insane, oh well so am I. Anyway, Gerberas are flowers, I just picked something random 'cause I didn't feel like generic flowers like roses or lilies. His Nibs is a term I use for my three year old brother when he's demanding, I looked it up 'cause it's just something my family always says so I'm not entirely sure. Here's the official definition.

This is a mock title used to refer to a self-important man, especially one in authority. It is modelled after the pattern of references to the British aristocracy, such as his lordship. There is some evidence that nibs is a variant form of nabs, and that both may have their origin in the ancient word neb, meaning a beak or nose, or more generally, the protruding bit of anything (our word for the business end of a pen comes from the same root). Also, nib itself was once used as a slang term for a gentleman, as was another old slang word still to be heard, nob, and these could very probably be connected. Several early examples of the latter are spelled nab and his nabs is a variant recorded form of his nibs. It seems the vowel was highly fluid, not surprising considering the different dialects and periods it has come through. Perhaps the association with supposed social superiors may have something to do with people so elevated in self-importance that they "have their noses in the air"?