Hello everyone,

Some of you may have noticed that I posted an adoption notice on this story. However, I can now announce that the story is no longer up for adoption. Following my most recent viewing of Labyrinth, the ideas have started flowing again.

I now have a defined story plan, but I'm no longer entirely sure how long the story will be.

This story will contain some Once Upon A Time crossover, but you do not need to have seen the show for it to make sense.

I'd like to thank everyone who has followed and/or favourited this story so far and special thanks to Shadow Silvertongue, Hyseion, Windsongspringheart, kyonomiko, Lugia'sChallenger13, Honoria Granger, Vaneesa85, Mr. and Ms Cuddles, Guest and Melinda for their lovely reviews.

Guest: Yes, I'm sorry the prologue was so short, following chapters SHOULD be longer.

Melinda: Thank you for your reviews, but you don't need to worry about someone picking up the story now.

Hope you all enjoy the rest, and now, on with the show.

Chapter One: Lost Souls at the Hunting Ground

A chill wind whipped at his robes, at his hair. Draco Malfoy opened his eyes and found himself sitting on the dusty ground at the crest of a hill. Before him stretched a vast maze as far as the eye could see, and overhead hung a heavy, cloudless orange sky.

"Merlin's pants!" Draco yelped. "The bloody goblin was right!"

The story with which he, and countless pureblood children, and possibly any number of halfbloods too, had been scared with was true. The goblins, the ones who didn't work in Gringotts, stole children away.

"Why are you so surprised?"

Draco started; he looked all around for the voice, but found himself quite alone. He shuddered. "Isn't there supposed to be some sort of Goblin King to offer me a wish in exchange for Granger?"

"I'm sorry I'm late," a woman's voice said, silkily.

Draco's head snapped up and his jaw dropped at the sight of the stunning woman standing before him. She wasn't tall, but her regal bearing made up what she lacked in height. The woman was dressed in fitted, black armour and a high collared ragged cloak. Her skin was pale, offset by wild, dark curls which were held away from her face by a silver circlet adorned with a curious crescent shaped symbol.

"Goblin Queen?"

Her lips curled up a smirk. "You almost sound… disappointed."

"No!" he shook his head quickly. "Are you here to offer me a wish in exchange for the mudblood?"

The smirk grew and she raised one hand, and a crystal ball appeared in her fingers. "Here, a gift. Do you want it?"

"I never took divination."

"Silly boy," the Goblin Queen returned, rolling the ball across her long, leather covered fingers. "It's just a crystal. But turn it this way, and look into it, and it will show you your dreams." She stopped the crystal ball in her palm, with a skill that surpassed even Potter's skill as a seeker, and held it out to him. "Do you want it?"

Oh Merlin, did he ever?

The chance to see his wildest dreams come to fruition was something that many men stronger than Draco would kill for such a chance. But no, he couldn't take the chance. He was doing this to save Granger. He had to run the labyrinth.

"It's very generous of you," Draco said, diplomatically, as he feared what angering the Goblin Queen might do to him. "But I want the chance to save Granger. The story says I have that option."

"Draco," she said icily, changing the crystal ball into a snake. "Don't defy me." And with that she threw the snake directly at his face.

Instinctively, Draco raised his hands to protect himself, as his fists closed around the snake it transformed into two small, soft somethings. A pair of fine black leather gloves. Draco stared at the Queen in shock.

She merely smirked.

"Very well, you have thirteen hours to solve the labyrinth, before Poor dear Hermione becomes one of us, forever." An elaborate clock with thirteen hour markers appeared over the Queen's left shoulder. "Are you up to the challenge?"

"Of course I am," Draco retorted, then with something dangerously akin to Gryffindor brashness he added. "It doesn't look that far."

"It's further than you think," the Queen told him. "And your time grows shorter by the second."

Draco scowled, absently stuffing the gloves into his robes pocket. "Thirteen hours? Piece of cake." He looked down at his polished dragon hide shoes and said, quite without understanding why. "Come on feet."

Then Draco Lucius Malfoy set off down the hill.

"Wiseman!"

The Wiseman was dozing in his chair in the hedge maze when he was rudely wakened by a familiar voice.

"Wiseman!" she cried. "Wake up!"

"Woo, woo, woo!" his hat exclaimed. "You better wake up, she sounds excited."

"Alright," the Wiseman grumbled. "Alright, I'm awake."

He opened his eyes just in time to see the closest thing that their kingdom had had to a monarch for the past several decades come running into the clearing, her golden hair flying out behind her, as her customary hat had flown off during her flight, and the goblin mask, which she liked to pretend that she did not wear sat crookedly on her face.

The Wiseman pulled himself to his feet. "My Lady," he greeted, with a shallow bow. "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"It's happening," she beamed. "Just as you said it would."

"Well that makes a change." The hat chimed in. "Normally your advice is crap."

"Be quiet," the Wiseman hissed, before returning his attention to the Lady. "The Queen is in the castle? Is she in need of a healer?"

The Lady nodded, her green eyes were troubled. "I fear she won't last until the king reaches the centre. I have Sir Didymus and Ludo the Rock Caller watching over her, they were her friends when she was questing for her little brother."

The Wiseman nodded. "Wise, My Lady. I shall make for the castle now to examine her."

The Lady produced a crystal. "I could transport you? These are my last hours of independence, and I intend to take advantage of them while I may."

"My thanks, Lady," The Wiseman shook his head. "But no thank you. I prefer to walk. The King's magic is not for those like us."

"Speak for yourself!" his hat retorted. "I'm more than up for a lift to the castle."

"Will you please, be quiet," the Wiseman hissed.

The Lady stooped to kiss his cheek then stretched up on her toes to bestow the same gift on his hat. She pulled a gold coin out of the pocket of her dress and held it out to them. "Here, a contribution for the little box."

"Gracias senorita," the hat cooed as she dropped the offering into their collection box.

The Lady gave them one last smile before vanishing and the Wiseman set off in the direction of the castle. Their Queen, he knew, would be fine. He had foreseen what was ahead of them centuries ago, before the Labyrinth was beaten by Princess Sarah, before the King was even born.

The balance of power would be restored, and at long last the wrong committed by the Blue Star and her sisters would begin to be put right.

~v~