Chapter 11

Jareth tapped his fingers on the chair, having finally finished examining the stone, "You're going to need a new heart stone," he finally stated.

Dumbledore looked up and frowned, "where would we get one?"

Jareth frowned, "That isn't the problem, I've informed the Labyrinth to begin making a new one, but it's going to take several weeks."

Dumbledore brightened, "well that's excellent news. We can wait a few weeks."

Jareth shook his head, "I'm rather afraid you can't headmaster, things have deteriorated rather further than I expected. Your castle is dying."

Dumbledore paused, "dying?"

The portraits started whispering together urgently.

"You have a couple of days at most," Jareth sighed, "I'm afraid without a bond, there's very little you can do."

"Bond?"

Jareth glanced up at the portraits surrounding them, "perhaps this is something you should discuss with your predecessors."

He stood up, "I'll leave you to talk it through, though I'll need a decision quickly. If you decide to go through with it I'll need to have the goblins bring a few items to properly set up the ritual, I will of course ask Ragnok to send you an estimate of the cost."

Jareth paused, "Should you decide to go through with it I'm rather afraid you will be putting your own life at risk and frankly I'm doubtful even a powerful human such as yourself would have enough power to keep both of you alive till there is a new heart stone in place. I'm rather afraid you may be out of options headmaster."

He nodded at the headmaster, who was looking pale, before heading down the stairs, his guard a silent presence behind him.

He paused when he reached the bottom of the stairs and turned, "Would Severus be in his quarters?"

The goblin frowned, "One moment Sire," he backed up a step and spoke softly into his ear piece.

"I believe he's teaching a class at the moment Sire"

Jareth frowned, "well I suppose I'll go to my quarters then."

He sighed, Sir Hugh had been called away to solve a crisis and Fenrook and Ragnok were both busy somewhere. Jareth was alone again.

Jareth was bored, walking aimlessly round his quarters distractedly, wondered what he should do with himself for the afternoon. He opened his window; it would be a lovely day for a fly. He turned slightly and watching the entrance of an owl that proceeded to land on his shoulder, "what do we have here then?"

He opened the letter as the owl flew away, obviously not expecting a reply, and groaned heavily. Jareth had spent many years avoiding his family and now here they were suddenly all popping up at once. He glanced around the room, wondered if he should tell someone. But with the Faire coming up and everyone so busy, would they really need to know about a note from his aunt?

And so, late that evening, a small white owl flew, entirely unnoticed, from Hogwart's.

"Hello Aunt Lily," Jareth landed and proceeded to bow politely to the old lady.

She'd tried her best, but even with dark magic there was no longer any hiding of the shades of grey or the wrinkles that marked Lily as a very old lady.

"Hello Jareth," she looked around him and raised an eyebrow; "you've come alone?"

Jareth frowned, "not alone aunt, but not with company either."

She nodded, assuming his guards were remaining discrete.

They talked through to the early hours, Jareth at first hesitant but gradually becoming more open as he finally discussed his brother's actions with someone. Jareth was offered a bed as the evening grew late; he was by this point far too drunk to fly back to Hogwart's.

He'd wanted to be independent and yet somehow as the night went on, that had just turned into lonely. He didn't sleep well, though he blamed it on the cheap mattress he was subjected too.

Jareth awoke cold, alone and uneasy. He wasn't even that keen on his aunt, wasn't even sure why he had agreed to come, or stay here. It all boiled down to Donald, Jareth didn't want to fail again, didn't want to be hated by any more of his family, for he'd give them as much thought over the years as he'd given Donald.

Jareth flew off after breakfast, but only after promising a ticket to the upcoming Faire.

He arrived back at Hogwart's just before lunch and he landed in his quarters with relief. He showered and changed before leaving his quarters, he frowned when he eventually left, for there were no goblins outside. He cursed softly, it becoming clear that his little excursion had been noticed after all.

He didn't have to walk far before bumping into a goblin, which widened his eyes at the sight of him, frantically speaking into his ear piece.

As suspected he got barely a few more feet before Hugh made his appearance and he sighed inwardly.

"Is there a problem?" he tried innocently.

Hugh stared at him, "where have you been?"

Jareth shrugged, "I went out for a fly."

Hugh frowned, "all night?"

Jareth shrugged.

Hugh stared at him suspiciously.

"Why are you here? I thought you were needed in the Labyrinth?" Jareth questioned.

"Indeed Sire. I must, in fact, get back to it," Hugh confirmed, before bowing slightly and leaving.

Jareth blinked at the abruptness, stifling the sudden pang of guilt.

There was a sudden scuffling sound behind him and he turned quickly, another of those house elves was staring at him. Everywhere he went they seemed to turn up.

"Can I help you?" he questioned.

The creature just flattened his ears and continued staring.

So Jareth sighed and decided to ignore him, though he turned back after a few paces, "am I too late to get lunch in the dining hall?"

The house elf nodded, "but Kreacher will bring you lunch in room."

Jareth turned back to his quarters, "very well then."

Lunch turned out to be a rather sizable spread and he had to order the elf to stop bringing him things at one point.

He spent most of his afternoon in the school library. Dumbledore, it seemed, had done his work for him and all the relevant texts pertaining to the stone had already been collected together and were presented upon his request. He sat at a quiet corner in the restricted section, ignoring the whispering and giggling from the studying children.

He knew what needed to be done in general terms, but he'd never been known for having the greatest memory around, and most of the ritual surrounding the stone was lost to him. He knew rather more about bonding to a magical construct, but much of the ingredients would be both rare and expensive.

He spent some of his time writing a note to Ragnok, requesting both the ingredients for the potion and an experienced spell caster. He could do it himself, but the ritual was extremely delicate and would be best left to a suitable professional. He made certain he mentioned that the itemized bill should be sent direct to Dumbledore, aware that otherwise his goblins would bear the cost themselves, though Jareth had only promised assistance with the stone itself.

Dumbledore didn't appear at the evening meal and it was left to Jareth to briefly inform the teachers about his conclusions regarding the heart stone.

"I'm rather afraid he has chosen to reenact the ancient bond, though this will only give the castle an extra week at most," Jareth said.

"I'm in the process of acquiring a heart stone, but it will take rather longer than that."

Snape frowned, "there's no possibility of getting a heart stone from somewhere else?"

Jareth frowned haughtily, "such crystals can only be found in the goblin heartlands, particularly of the quality needed here."

Snape rolled his eyes, unaccountably reminded of Lucius, "my mistake."

"What if there was more than one bond?" Filius interjected, listening intently.

"More than one?" Jareth questioned unsure

"What if two people were to bond with the castle, would that extend things?" the charms master leaned forward, "perhaps even several people could be included."

"That isn't how these bonds normally work," Jareth answered thoughtfully, "though it might be possible I suppose, if you knew what you were doing."

"Indeed Your Highness, but it happens to be an area I have some small knowledge in. Excuse me gentlemen, I need to go and find Albus."

"I'll come with you," Minerva put down her napkin, regardless that she had barely finished her starter.