Chapter 31 – Well Played

The mediwitch tried to keep the aggravation out of her voice as she attempted to persuade her recalcitrant patient. "Sarah, if you don't lie down and rest, I'm going to put a full body bind on you. You need to let the potions heal the damage done by the cruciatus curse and we can't do anything else at the moment. Albus is on his way here. Take a deep breath and calm yourself until he arrives."

The younger woman's eyes were filled with tears. "Poppy, how can I rest when Voldemort has Jareth? Not only is he trapped in an iron cage by that madman, but Voldemort wants to 'bind' Jareth's powers and intimated that he would steal them. We have to do something!"

"I believe you may rest peacefully, my dear". The Headmaster smiled as he made his way to her bed.

"Albus, how can you say that when that sadistic lunatic has him trapped?" Sarah was panic-stricken trying to get the Hogwarts staff to understand the peril Jareth was in.

The elderly wizard patted her hand in comfort. "Tell me my dear, how did you escape and turn up here?"

"Jareth summoned a crystal and it transported me. But I don't know if they work on him. Or if he used the last power he had to get me out. Or what kind of trouble he's in since he's not here yet!" She raised pleading eyes to the Headmaster. "Please Albus, can't you send people to help him?"

Albus paused and his eyes became unfocused for a moment before he smiled at the distraught woman. "I don't think that will be necessary, my dear."

Before he finished speaking, Sarah felt the familiar sensation of power filling the room and then with a loud crack, Jareth appeared.

He barely had time to brace himself before Sarah jumped out of bed, threw herself into his arms, wrapped a hand around his neck and pulled his head down for a frantic kiss. Jareth wrapped one arm around the young woman's waist and with the other slowly caressed circles on her back, even as he responded to the kiss.

After a long minute, Sarah drew back. "Jareth, I was so worried about you! Don't you ever send me away and face such evil alone again!"

He smiled tenderly and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Did you mean what you said, Precious?" He pressed a brief but tender kiss on her swollen lips. "Do you love me, Sarah?"

She blushed and nodded and then pulled his head down for another kiss, which he deepened as he molded her body to his. Finally, he lifted his head and murmured "And you will be my wife and Queen? Will you permit me to paint you mornings of gold and spin you Valentine evenings, Precious thing?"

Sarah gripped him tightly, keeping and savoring their closeness. "Yes. I don't ever want to let you go. I'll be there for you as the world falls down." She was rewarded with a breath-taking smile that lit his face and eyes. "No one should be allowed to be so incredibly gorgeous" she thought and then put the thought aside in favor of another deep and toe-curling kiss.

When she moaned at the astonishing sensations she felt, a slight cough from Albus returned them from their private haven. Sarah blushed at the amusement in the Headmaster's eyes, while Jareth smirked at him before smiling down at Sarah again. He seemed to drink in her features although he responded to the wizard's interruption.

"Headmaster, I only claimed the five wizards that were involved with abducting my future Queen and the one who ordered it." He glanced again at the wizard and curled his lips as if holding a diabolical secret. "I do abide by the Compact, after all. The remainder I will leave in your capable hands."

Albus paused for a moment, his amused expression giving way to surprise and hope. "The one that ordered Sarah's abduction... You defeated Voldemort?" The Fae had already turned away and was caressing Sarah's cheek again. He shrugged indifferently in response to the Headmaster's question.

"He did not seem to possess all of his soul. You will likely discover pieces of it littered throughout this island of yours. You might want to find and destroy them, but feel free to do so at your leisure." The Fae's lips curled again and the Headmaster swallowed at the look of malicious pleasure in that expression.

"Come Precious thing. You need to rest. Permit me to take you to your chamber." He didn't wait for a response, but lifted her in his arms, ignoring her gasp and disappeared from the infirmary with his future Queen.

"Albus?" Poppy's voice was strained. "Voldemort is gone? It's over? Just like that?"

The Headmaster's eyes were twinkling merrily again. "So it would seem, Poppy. So it would seem." He patted the mediwitch on the shoulder and turned to leave the room muttering to himself. "This should be an interesting discussion with the Minister."

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Jareth kissed the sleeping woman gently and then bade the two goblins watching from the end of the bed to guard her closely. With one last adoring gaze, he reluctantly left her and returned to his kingdom. He summoned his Chamberlain for a brief update before retiring for the evening.

The Chamberlain inclined his head as he entered the King's study. He had been the King's Chamberlain for many years and was well acquainted with the young Fae king. "Is the Lady well, Your Majesty?"

"Yes thank you old friend. She was sleeping quietly when I left." He smiled in contentment as he remembered the vision she presented with her hair spread across the pillow, her face beautiful and serene in sleep. He shook his head, amused at how maudlin the thought of her made him. He returned his attention to his Chamberlain. "And how was the rest of your day? Did you get everything sorted out?"

"The day completed quite satisfactorily, Your Majesty. Of the newest goblins, two were assigned to the stables. Worgot was especially pleased to have new help in mucking out the stalls. The other three were assigned to the scullery. The kitchen overseer requested help with scouring dishes and pans while the head laundress needed help with the boiling. I am certain all three will be kept quite busy.

"That is acceptable. And the sixth?"

"Ah yes, Little Tommy." The Chamberlain almost felt sorry for the little goblin. Not only was he a runt, but he wasn't the brightest, even by goblin standards. He had been quite happy-go-lucky as far as goblins went, and seemed genuinely happy to do whatever he was assignment, which wasn't much considering his total lack of magic.

"Per your suggestion, he has been assigned to hand-scour the goblin chamber pots." The Chamberlain grimaced and added "Considering the vile things that go into goblins, what comes out is particularly repugnant." Normally they were magically cleaned, but the King had wanted the newest goblin to scrub them by hand.

Jareth nodded at his steward and allowed a smile to play about his lips. The mortal dared to harm his beloved, his chosen queen? He would regret and atone for that decision for centuries.

While the little goblin runt would work like a drudge and grin like a buffoon doing it during the day, everything would change at night. In his dreams, "Little Tommy" would remember exactly who he used to be. He would remember the power he once held and be able to starkly compare it to the nitwit goblin he was while awake. His dreams would be tormented by all the choices he made that brought him to where he was, by the memory of the Goblin King draining all of his magic before destroying his magical core. Every night he would strain and fight against the nightmares that held him hostage knowing there was nothing he could do that would ever change the wretched life he now led. He was trapped for the remainder of his very long life - goblins were practically indestructible - with no hope of reprieve or mercy.

The Chamberlain shuddered at the look on his King's face and reminded himself once again never to cross the Goblin King. His vengeance was both devious and terrible. Quickly turning to more pleasant matters he said "Now, about the upcoming nuptials and the coronation of your Queen…"

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Several months later, the Aurors were pursuing the remaining Death Eaters with focused zeal. Cornelius Fudge did his best to assume or at least share the credit for vanquishing the Dark Lord, but even he couldn't find a spin that the wizarding electorate believed. There was no mention of a Fae King and no one paid attention to the Muggle Studies Assistant as she finished the term and then bid farewell to Hogwarts. Several of the staff were invited to the Underground for the upcoming wedding.

Severus strode into his chamber with an impassive face. The Headmaster had been oh-so-empathetic when Sarah Williams chose the Goblin King. "I hope you are not too disappointed, dear boy and can be happy for her" he said as he treated Severus to a bottle of aged fire whiskey. The rest of the staff had commiserated as well, giving the Potions Master so many sympathetic looks he had finally growled at them to leave him alone.

"Fools" he sneered once he was safely behind closed doors. He strode to a cabinet and poured himself a glass of fire whiskey and sat down in front of the fire. He sipped the drink and then permitted a smirk to appear.

"I should be able to get out of at least one of Albus' public events and possibly chaperoning a Hogsmeade weekend or two if I milk this properly." The smirk broadened into deep satisfaction as he recalled the conversation with Sarah.

"I need to learn how to think and behave like a Slytherin, Professor. Would you teach me?"

With a sneer, he responded "You are a little old to be sorted into a House, Miss Williams."

"I don't need to be a student of anything but learning how to tap into my inner Slytherin." The young woman frowned at him. "You may not have dealt with Fae before, but I have and this one especially. He is manipulate and devious. He plays games within games, each with hidden meanings. I need to learn how to recognize the game and win it without him realizing I even know the game is in progress. The only way I can do that is to learn the cunning and subtleties of a Slytherin. And you are the man who could best teach me."

He gave her his best glare; the one that said he would rather use her as potion ingredients than deign to speak with her, but she smiled back at him. "And why would I want to do that, Miss Williams?" The candid question was an assessment of her aptitude.

"Because for every hour that you spend helping me, I will spend an hour and a half watching the students that have detention with you."

He hid any reaction behind a jeer, ridiculing the offer, but was surprised that she had analyzed him enough to offer an incentive he could appreciate. Even so, he had nearly declined. The benefit wasn't enticing enough to become involved in someone else's romance. However, when the Fae attempted to manipulate and warn him to stay away from the young Muggle woman, that decision had quickly changed. He always enjoyed a challenge of cunning and wits. Sarah had been an apt pupil, absorbing the nuances quickly. It necessitated them spending time together which led to the rumors, but it hadn't been as tedious as he had supposed. And at the end, the Goblin King chased the young woman until she caught him, giving Severus the most entertainment he had enjoyed in years. .

The Potions Master raised his glass in salute. "Well played Miss Williams. Well played. Here is to your Happily Ever After."

Finis

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Thank you for reading this Labyrinth and Harry Potter crossover through to its completion. I hope you enjoyed it.