Thanks for the reviews...and the bribes!
So far my muse has only had to run after a few people to get reviews. Too bad as my Muse is in fact MUSE!! Yup their dulcet tones keep me writing all through the night! Matt Bellamy, although I do not own you (yet) you shall keep this story spinning XD.
I realise I may have forgotten a disclaimer, so here it is. Nope don't own Jareth, or Sarah, Hoggle maybe, I mean who would notice? And Harry Potter belongs to Malfoy; do you want to fight that boy for him?
Anyways, you know the drill, review or MUSE will haunt you! Except if you like them then they will not sing HA serves you right! ;)
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Sarah flew through the window into owl tower, which turned out to be the tallest tower in the school. She was glad that part of her lessons had included shape shifting, although all she could manage at the moment was a small white owl.
She morphed back to her human form, revealing that before she left she had hastily thrown on a pair of jeans and t-shirt; she was not going to be caught running around the school in her pyjamas!
"Jareth what do you want?" She called looking about the dimly lit tower.
"So how are you finding the castle" Whispered a voice in her ear, turning round Sarah smiled,
"It's a piece of cake"
"Indeed"
"Don't start that, we both know that you have no power over my progress here..."
"My dear Sarah you forget who you are speaking to! Do not test my patience"
Sarah decided that she needed to change the direction of the conversation fast at that point, "so how do you know Dumbledore?"
"Ah a very old friend of mine, I helped him with some research. But he knows nothing of the Underground. And I intend to keep it that way."
Sarah could not miss the threat in the words; but before she had time to analyse that properly she heard footsteps climbing up the winding staircase.
She changed her shape quickly, and hopped onto a nearby perch; Jareth merely fading into the brick his features becoming one with the rough stone of the castle. Huffing and puffing the man who had been introduced as Filch the caretaker came climbing up the stairs, closely followed by a mangy tabby.
"Now my pet, students out and about already, old habits die hard, probably Potter and his friends, well they couldn't have got far..."
Filch proceeded to search the whole of the tower, Sarah was amazed; Harry and Ron and especially Hermione did not seem the type to be stupid enough to wander around the school at night with the caretaker on the prowl, she thought she would have to question them about that later.
Sarah mimicked the others owls that were sleeping by tucking her head under one arm, Filch, obviously disappointed at finding the room deserted of students soon left and Sarah turned back to Jareth. Taking the opportunity to see if he seemed to have been affected by her victory. He still seemed the same old arrogant Goblin King. His clothes had not changed either, still a pure white poet's shirt, with the same grey leggings and knee high boots; he adjusted his gloves and Sarah wondered why he wore them; leather fetish perhaps? He seemed to notice her looking at him so she hurriedly started talking.
"Why oh 'Goblin King' did you bring me here?"
"My dear Sarah, you know better than to invoke my full title. But since you asked so nicely. It is my duty to watch over the Champion of the Labyrinth, you did not only win my game the Labyrinth chose you as it's Champion and that carries certain powers...as you may have discovered"
"Yes but why are you here now? Shouldn't you be off stealing babies and tormenting young damsels? Or has that grown tiresome for you?"
"My dearest Sarah, when you are an immortal everything grows tiring after a time, fortunately I have not yet grown tired of you otherwise you would not find yourself in such a fortuitous position"
"And what would that be?" Sarah quipped back, it was after all quite late and she had, had a long day.
"I am going to keep an eye on you, and hopefully prevent anyone else from doing so."
"Who else would care about me? As long as I keep my...ahem...abilities secret no one will have any cause to look into my past."
"Never say never Sarah, just be warned I may not be able to protect you forever" With that the Goblin King leapt out of the window, skin and clothes seamlessly blending to form feathers, his slim Elvin form contorted and shrank until he was once again a snowy barn owl. He soared higher and faster than a normal bird would be able to and soon disappeared against the dark backdrop of the September night.
"Protect me from whom?" Sarah called but the Goblin King was already gone, Sarah sighed and flew back to her own room, falling into bed fully dressed. However, sleep was not hers for very long.
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A few hours before dawn she was roused again but this time by a pair of bright orbs.
"Wha-"Sarah began but was stifled by a black glove like hand covering her mouth.
"Mistress must not make a sound; Dobby must take Mistress to the kitchens!"
Sarah stared but nodded to show she would go with the strange creature, she reasoned if any one meant her harm they would not take her to the kitchens!
The creature lowered his hand and placed it on her shoulder, there was a sharp crack and Sarah found herself in a brightly light kitchen. There were four rough cut tables that were laid out in a similar style to the house tables. Sarah wondered why, but then remembered how the food had simply appeared the night before. She assumed that some sort of magic was involved but did not understand the logistics.
"What do you want from me" Sarah stated to her mysterious kidnapper, who was apparently called Dobby.
In the light she studied him carefully, he had large bat like ears and green bulbous eyes. He looked like some strange creature that could only have originated from one place...
"Did Jareth send you?"
At this the mysterious creature bursts into fits of wails. "Oh such a wonderful mistress to think that the Goblin King would value Dobby and his kind above all others! How kind, how noble! Dobby knew that she was powerful and cunning, she is so like Master Harry!"
Sarah just stared and tentatively patted the wailing creature on the head, "Er it's alright, and I didn't mean to upset you. Wait why would Jareth not bother with your kind; what is your kind for that matter"
"Mistress does not know of House elves? We are shameful creatures, half elf and half goblin. The underground banishes us and the humans enslave us."
Sarah fumed, "how can the underworld banish you, it is not your fault if you are half anything!"
Instead of being encouraging this only sent the house elf into more spasms of wailing. "So noble and Kind!" he managed to choke out between sobs.
"Quiet" Sarah ordered, this seemed to have the intended effect, "why did you bring me here, I can assume it was not to cry"
"No Dobby brought you here to warn you, the King seeks to protect you, but even he cannot be everywhere at once. Dobby came to warn you about...He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named..."
"Who?" Sarah had never heard of him, well she may have done as she did not know his name. For all she knew the little elf was talking about her father.
"A powerful wizard, one who would seek to turn you if he discovered; if he only knew! The King has banned any of our kind from breathing mention of you to any wizard folk, we have been threatened with the Oubliette!"
Sarah looked again at the shaking creature; he was obviously terrified of Jareth and this mysterious wizard, "only Hagrid knows about me, most other wizard's think that the Underground is a myth. Just a story to scare little children. But why would this wizard be such a threat?"
"A powerful wizard that plays upon fear and hatred to gain power. He murders those who get in his way and only Master Harry and Dumbledore have the courage to face him!"
Sarah's eyes widened in shock, "And who is Master Harry?"
Dobby smiled, "only the Boy-Who-Lived! He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named tried to kill him when he was only a baby but he survived! He bears the mark of that curse to this day!"
"You mean Harry Potter?!"
Dobby nodded and looked about to go on about how wonderful Harry is so Sarah put up her hand for silence; "thank you Dobby of the Underground. I will think on all that you have told me tonight, if I can ever do anything for your people let me know."
Dobby nodded (and for once didn't cry), "should mistress need anything at all just ask for Dobby and he will supply it for you" then taking Sarah's had he transported her back to her room. "Goodnight mistress" he said eagerly and with yet another crack he was gone leaving a very tired Sarah behind.
"Now maybe I can get some sleep!!" she muttered and rolled over.
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Right you know the drill, read and review!! Hope you like this; thank you to all of you who have reviewed I really appreciate it. Next chapter should be soon as exams haven't quite started yet WOOOO!
Luv yas all, and if ya don't review I shall send my Muse after all of you! XD