A/N: After the last chapter, a reader asked me why Severus didn't recall Lily's sister. I couldn't remember but knew I'd had a solid reason for that. After re-reading a bit, I did remember the wards. I never say if it's the Fidelus charm, exactly, but I do mention in Chapter 13 that Dumbledore has placed wards over Harry and his family so that he can't be found, and by extension the Dursleys can't be found either. But I'll be sure to go over that in the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own the HP or Labyrinth worlds.

Chapter Seventeen

"Prince? Hey, Prince! You okay?"

Though he was awake and uninjured, Iarfhlaith was trying to figure out what happened. Jasper's insistent tone reminded him that he wasn't alone.

"I'm okay, Jasper. Where are we, do you know?" For some reason, Iarfhlaith felt a little odd and dizzy. There had been that odd tingling right after Duddykins had pushed him down, now that he thought about it. It was like his body had fallen through a bubble. Then, he was mad and his hands hurt.

"You don't look okay, Prince. You look all funny. I think you should lie down for a little while. That was some big wish you made."

"Yeah," Iarfhlaith agreed, his voice a bit thin and breathy. "Yeah, the wish," he mumbled. He had made a wish—two of them, really. Now that he thought about it, Iarfhlaith was feeling pretty tired. "'M gonna jus' take a kip." His words came out slurred and a faint prickle of alarm pushed back a little of the fatigue that tugged at him and he pushed himself upright.

The room they were in was dark, but their eyes had had time to adjust after the unceremonious landing which had left Iarfhlaith sprawled just as he had been when the large boy had pushed him. There was carpet under him and not dirt and rocks, however, and even in the heavily shadowed room, Iarfhlaith could tell that the colors were bright and varied.

He'd apparently landed upon a circular rug situated just a foot in front of a wooden rocking chair. Scattered around the room, leaving a wide area for the rug, were several small tables and chairs. On the other side, a few feet beyond the chair, there was a teacher's desk like he'd seen earlier while visiting the preschool classroom with Duddykins and Ma'am. All told, this room had quite a bit in common with that one, at least as far as he could make out in the dim light. Locating the windows, it was clear that it was nighttime…or possibly morning, but early. Sometimes he'd had to get up very early to do outside chores before the neighbors would see. The time that he'd had to stay out overnight in the shed it had been dark a long time before Ma'am and the big man had opened the door.

It didn't matter now, though, because he was tired—so tired.

"I think we'll be okay," he managed, his brief shot of energy fading away. "I'm so sleepy…gonna just close my eyes a minute."

"Good idea, Highness. You rest. That was big magic you did and I bet you're really knackered. I'll keep watch. You'll be safe, I swear it," Jasper assured him as he waved his little stick over Iarfhlaith.

Iarfhlaith vaguely registered a little flash of light as Jasper spoke. It happened like that sometimes, when Jasper said something extra-important, like a serious promise. He knew, no matter what, Jasper would always look after him. And now, wherever they were, they were away from those people and maybe those wizard-wards. For the first time in a very long time, Iarfhlaith felt a surge of hope.

"Jasper," he croaked, settling down on his side and tucking an arm under his head. "Soon 's I'm better 'nuf to wish again. We'll find Daka."

Whether or not Jasper heard or understood, or in fact, had anything to add, Iarfhlaith wouldn't know. The warmth from the magic of his Daka's memory along with Jasper's pixie dust eased him to sleep with a smile on his face.

KT KT KT KT KT

Dropping down into his throne, Jareth smirked to himself, very pleased after sending another small contingent of goblins through the Hogwarts portal. The havoc-wreaking team they were replacing should be along any time now. He leaned back against one side, brushing his dark, feathery cape aside and hooking one leg over the opposite arm. None of the goblins could stay Aboveground longer than a few days, but they could all return there in revolving groups. They were children, after all, children frozen in time, yes, but children all the same. Too much time Above and they'd be forced to change. They pranked and teased Dumbledore for a handful of days and then came home to rest and plan even more tricks for the old manipulator.

Though the reasons for targeting Dumbledore were serious and upsetting, the goblins were benefiting from it immensely. They had all been despondent with the death of Lily and James and the loss of Iarfhlaith. So much so, in fact, that Jareth had turned to his parents for advice. The healers they suggested were of little use since most were somewhat frightened by the goblins. Eventually, Ragnoc had told him that a battle always perked his troops up after a loss or bad news. Apparently that was why the goblins were such a warring race—war cheered them but caused loss. It was a vicious cycle. Given the differences between Underground goblins and those Above, they warred in mischief, not in blood. Thankfully, Jareth had a ready enemy for them.

"Sire!"

The urgency in Severus' smooth voice caused Jareth to bolt upright and grip the arms of his throne, his riding crop pressed into his palm so tightly that the small crystal atop it soon began to cut off circulation to his wrist. His Potions Master cousin was not easily upset.

"What is it Severus? Is Iarfhlaith…" he couldn't think of any way to finish his question and stay sane. So far, they knew his son to be alive, if nothing else. Surely, he would have felt or sensed something otherwise?

"Something's happened, Your Majesty. Iarfhlaith is no longer under the Headmaster's wards," the younger man reported breathlessly.

"Come," Jareth ordered as he stood and headed out of the Goblin Throne Room. His mind was leaping at the possibilities, though he forced himself to wait. Behind him, he heard the excited shouts of the returning goblins followed by the garbled buzz and chirp of conversation. The instant the two men were behind his closed study doors, Jareth demanded, "What happened? Where is my son?" When Severus opened his mouth to speak, Jareth held up a hand to stop him. "Get us a drink, Severus, and then start from the beginning. Take a breath." He wanted to know now—before now, actually—but Severus needed to think, to review and tell the entire series of events that he knew or else important information could be missed. As anxious as he was, Jareth was too experienced to rush. Even the smallest detail could change everything.

Lost in thought, Jareth conjured a crystal and began to weave it through his fingers, tapping his riding crop against his right thigh. The quiet, muffled sound of heavy crystal set upon polished wood shook him out of his reverie. He inclined his head to Severus and lifted a brow, waiting.

After what amounted to several years of reasonably close association, Severus had finally become secure enough in his position as part of Jareth's family that he had already seated himself, drink in hand.

Clearing his throat, the younger royal began to speak. "I'd just left the dungeons this morning, on my way to consult with Madam Pomfrey concerning her potions stores when I happened upon the headmaster." One side of his mouth quirked in a fleeting smirk. "He had apparently stepped through a stone step in need of repair. At the same time, his hand had landed in a wad of sticky gum or sap on the handrail. Must have been Peeves…"

Jareth snorted in response. "Who else would do such a thing?"

"Of course I stopped to offer my aid."

"Of course," Jareth agreed, his attempt at commiseration turning into a spiteful snicker.

"As it happened," Severus went on, his smirk undeniable now. "Somehow, the hem of his robe had become stuck to the stair behind him and he was quite tangled." His expression sobered as he continued. "Suddenly, an alarm sounded from somewhere on his person…Possibly a medallion of some kind as it was at chest level." He stopped to sip his drink. "All the color seemed to leech from his face and he gasped. He grabbed my arm. His eyes looked wild…" Severus cleared his throat and took another long drink from his tumbler. ""The wards, Severus, something has happened to the wards", he told me. It was as if he really didn't remember his anger and distrust toward me. I released him from the various little traps and he didn't even seem to notice, though I have no doubt he'll realize it eventually. He took off at a dead run toward his office. I followed close on his heels right up the stairs. The gargoyle had leapt away before we even rounded the corner. The second he entered his office, he rushed up to a collection of odd trinkets and statuettes. One of them stood still while the others moved. It seemed to flash red, but so slowly that it took several moments to tell. He began to mumble as he inspected it. "The wards haven't fallen, but he has completely left even the outer wards. I still have no idea where they are…the little monster turned my own spell on me. I should have known after he did the same to Tom. He's quite wiped any recollection of where he was and who with. I can't even go and speak to his keepers to gather information about where he might have gone. Not until the wards fail entirely. That could take days, weeks, who knows?" After that, he moved to his chair where the goblins apparently added a whoopee cushion to the seat. I left after he reached into his bowl of lemon drops and they melted around his fingers as he seemed to have nothing else to say."

Finishing his drink, Jareth moved to place the tumbler back on the drink tray and began to pace, tapping his crop against his leg rhythmically. The steady movement helped him think somehow.

"You say these wards seem to be impenetrable?" They'd had this discussion many times, but Jareth just needed to go over his facts again.

"I'm sorry, Sire, but I can't even remember Lily's sister's name—only that she had one, which is odd enough in itself. The Fidelus charm takes any pertinent information relating to a specific secret and removes all knowledge of it from everyone but a specific secret keeper and those with whom the secret keeper shares the secret. It's an odd and particular spell, which has caused all number of problems. Lily and James had that spell cast over their home, as you'll recall." Jareth shot him a half-hearted glare. "The thing is, Sire, he added other wards to it. He, Dumbledore, was the only one who knew the secret, and on top of it, he'd added wards for intent and then anti-magical creature wards. That had to be so that the Gringotts goblins and the Potter house elves couldn't find the prince. Only those within the wards when they were cast would be able to remain there." The dark man was quiet for a moment. "I can only assume that the child passed outside of those wards somehow and can't return, or has chosen not to."

"Under what circumstances will we or Dumbledore be able to find him or where he was kept?" Jareth asked after a moment. He returned back to his chair and flopped into it, hooking his left leg over the arm.

"The wards themselves have to collapse. Possibly, this will happen after he's been outside of them for a certain time. Otherwise, I really don't know the parameters of Dumbledore's wards, but I intend to go back and grill him as soon as he calms down. I have been here such a short time that very little time has passed Aboveground."

"Yes, of course," Jareth agreed, propping his elbow on the nearest armrest and cupping his chin in his palm to think. After a moment, he said, "All I can do is have the Aboveground goblins and elves search for him. He would be in England, do you think?" he queried, turning to look at Severus speculatively.

"I can't imagine the scenario that would cause Lily's prissy, opinionated sister and husband to live anywhere else, assuming that's who he's with. From things the old man had said in the past, it seems likely. While I don't remember much, certain things remain. If it's her, they have be somewhere in Great Britain, though I feel sure they'd never stray to Scotland or Ireland. I doubt they'd even consider Wales, though they might, but only under duress," Severus offered.

"Yes. We'll start there in that case." Jareth sat up. "We'll begin in Meridian and work out way out. Good, Severus, good." He stood with Severus following immediately. "We'll find him. We're closer than we have been since they died. It's only a matter of time now."