CHAPTER 11

Sam looked at him "In order to study this we need some specialized equipment to start with the basics." Sam looked at Jack "Much like we did with our project about six years ago."

"Captain Carter there is no way General Hammond will allow that equipment off base without a very thorough explanation. Then he would have to write a report, the politicians would get involved…" Jack said thoughtfully.

Harry continued "Then everything goes to hell in a hand basket."

Jack said in a serious tone "I love that saying. It expresses so much with very few words but the gist is if you tell Hammond then Washington gets involved."

Sam stood still for a second in thought "I guess we should weigh the risks against the benefit then. Jack my instincts tell me this is important. Humans that can generate a wormhole on demand to transport themselves and others to another location I think that is important."

Hermione added in "We also can cast spells on objects to transport a greater distance."

Sam pointed to her and then looked at Jack "It is possible this is another great discovery like the Star gate was."

Daniel added in "It could also be a part of what we have already discovered."

Hermione seemed stumped by that "What do you mean?"

Daniel looked at Jack who nodded back reluctantly "The people who built the gate we know as the ancients. They had an outpost here a long time ago. We don't know a lot but we do know that in a limited way they had interactions with the life that was already here."

Hermione looked excited "What kind of interaction?"

Daniel looked at her "It is possible or at least I believe strongly that all of humanity may be their descendants."

Hermione sat down with a heavy thud and looked in thought before looking at Daniel "You could not have reached that conclusion without a sample of theirs such as their language or their writing." Hermione chewed her lip and then pulled a pen and paper from her pack. She began writing a set of runes down and when Daniel started recognizing them as what he considered ancient writing he moved closer.

"How do you know these?" He looked at her and asked.

Hermione smiled "I thought so. We have texts and writings that even predate our known history. These are runes we use to write ancient spells for wards and magic that is longer lasting. That particular rune is for vitality and health. If used on a person and written in blood it will heal the person quicker." Hermione took the paper and added a symbol and gave it back "When I add this symbol, skilior, it changes the entire meaning and used in a ward it shields a person, thereby ensuring their health and vitality."

Daniel jumped up "When did you want to bring them to the base Sam?"

Jack's eyes got bigger "No way! Are you nuts Jackson? We are not bringing these two to a top secret facility without authority."

Daniel didn't even flinch "Sam said already. We have to weigh the risk and the benefit for doing this and I can tell you that what she just told me saved me months of work on one symbol and I have thousands of those to do." Daniel pointed at Hermione "She could literally unlock the language of the ancients in weeks and you know how useful that could be for us."

Harry smiled "Jack we have something that we could do that would ensure our silence about anything we see."

Jack put his hands on his hips "Well unless you can make cross my heart and hope to die a spell on yourselves, I am not buying it."

Harry and Hermione both laughed at him as Hermione chuckled out "You hit the nail on the head. A magical oath from us could be done so that if we broke our promise then we could die or lose our magic."

Harry looked at Jack with a smirk and made a cross symbol over his heart "Cross my heart and hope to die."

Jack looked at him "Very funny wiseass! How do I know it will work?"

Harry pulled out his wand and held it straight up "I, Harry James Potter promise never to reveal anything I learn about the star gate program, upon pain of death, without Colonel O'Neil's permission, so mote it be." Harry finished and then a bright light flashed around him.

Hermione looked over at them "Did you see the flash of magic that acknowledged that a vow had been made and accepted by magic?"

Jack asked "That was the bright flashy thing at the end?" Harry and Hermione nodded. Jack turned to Hermione and said in a fatherly tone "Where is your oath young lady?" Hermione arched her eyebrow at him, raised her wand, and then gave her oath.

Jack asked Harry a question "What are your plans when you get the information you need?"

Harry looked unsure and then looked at Hermione before she shrugged her shoulders. That meant it was Harry's story to tell. Harry sighed "When I was seventeen I defeated the worst Dark lord the world had ever known. I am considered in the magical world as the strongest wizard alive. I am supposed to have no equal."

Harry looked at the fire place "Trouble with being known as the best is that there are many who would seek their fame by killing me or those I love."

Jack said in understanding "They want to knock the king from his hill and by beating the best, they believe they will be seen as the best."

Harry spat out "It is childish and I hate it. I want to be left alone more than anything." Hermione stood next to Harry and held his hand in support. "My mother was a seeress, a person who could see the future, and she left me a journal detailing my life for at least five years where the bad guys would challenge me and attack me."

Harry rubbed his face "In the last six months I have been attacked twice. In both those attacks they didn't come after me directly they kidnapped my mother-in-law to disarm me and two months ago they tried to kidnap Hermione. Both were stopped cold and I left them alive as a show of what I would do if attacked."

"My hope is that we can learn enough to build a ward or a device to neutralize their magic and become so scary that the attacks will stop."

Sam seemed concerned "Isn't there a chance that this will only make it worse?"

Harry looked at her "I am open to any suggestion that stops it and lets me live my life in peace."

Jack snorted "I know the type and their egos; they will not stop until they learn to fear you, and it's just not how they work."

Jack looked in thought for a moment and then turned to place his hands behind his back "This is the way it will go down kiddies and we will not deviate from this plan, am I understood?"

Jack waited for everyone to nod their agreement before he continued "Sam and Daniel you will work a lot of late nights in your lab." Jack looked at his watch "Right now the base is the least occupied and I believe that Harry and Hermione can learn to wormholey into your lab. So do this now and let them learn how to get there tonight.

Tomorrow at 9:00 PM Daniel and Sam will enter their lab, place the top secret sign on their lab door and then lock it. At 9:10 Hermione and Harry will transport directly to the lab and will go no place else but there. Agreed?"

Harry looked at Hermione and she nodded before he answered "It's your show and we agree."

Hermione stood next to Daniel and Harry did the same with Sam. They left a second later and returned in about two minutes. Harry and Hermione grabbed their things and were about to walk out when Harry walked up to Jack and held his hand out "I know what a risk you took and I appreciate what you did. I will make sure that I don't cause you a problem."

Jack looked down at him and then smiled "Somehow I think we will both benefit from this bargain and your very much welcome."

Sam stopped Harry by touching his shoulder "Wait. Where are you two staying?"

Harry looked at her "We have a room at the Holiday Inn out by the interstate, why?"

Sam put her hands in her pockets and looked around the house "Well I have more than enough room here and you are welcome to stay here, if you want."

Hermione looked at her "Is this a friendly gesture or a way to keep tabs on us?"

Sam smiled and gave a chuckle "It was a friendly gesture only."

Harry smirked at her and then pushed on the corner of the wall to test its strength. He shook his head and looked at the ceiling "I don't know dear?" he said to Hermione and then he asked Sam "Does your house insurance cover outside attachments?"

Sam looked at Jack and then at Harry again "Yes, I believe so, why?"

Harry opened the door and stepped out slightly and then whispered "Well, I need to have someplace to install my brand new GUS 12,000 super secret spy antenna." Hermione started to chuckle.

Jack responded "That was not funny Harry. You keep it up and I will kick your ass!"

Harry waved his hand backwards and responded "Bring it old man but when I mop your ass all over the floor, don't cry!"

Jack said out loud "In your dreams kid."

Sam couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing "That was actually quite funny."

Daniel smiled and then gave a little laugh "It was funny."

Jack turned on the two "That was not funny!" Jack then looked at them and then a smile crept to his face "Actually it was very funny." Jack turned to where they were still walking down the lane "I like those two and I don't think they have a dishonest bone in their body."

Harry and Hermione checked out of the hotel after they made a call to Bill and Ellen and let them know that everything was fine. They updated them on making contact and the hope that they would have something accomplished very soon. Bill and Ellen sounded hopeful that they would be able to return soon.

Sam answered the door and was happy to see them and took them to a spare bedroom. They all settled in and sleep came easily after a long day. When Sam woke up the next morning she found Harry and Hermione in shorts and t-shirts having just come back from a run. Sam smiled "Good morning! What has you two up so early?"

Hermione smiled and then gave a little chuckle "We run just about every morning and then do Karate exercises and then a little weapons training afterwards."

Sam looked surprised "I was just going out for a run myself and I am not into the other stuff. I wouldn't mind the company on the run. How long do you run for?"

Harry answered "We do at least seven kilometers and we started forty-five minutes ago. We are hydrating and then we will head to the back yard." Harry held his finger up and then took a swig of water "I think if any of your neighbors ask we should tell them that you have a house swapping agreement with us where we use your house and then you can use our house in London for an equal amount of time."

Sam smiled "Actually that is quite a good cover."

Hermione slid a paper over the counter to her "Here is a web site you can put a small ad in to make the connections so the story holds up to muster. On that site we are James and Anne Evans and our house, our real house, is at number 12 Grimmauld place in London."

Sam looked at them "You have done this before?"

Harry chuckled "Actually no but Hermione is always steps ahead of everybody else and she came up with it last night."

Sam smiled at them "I want you to know I am checking my house everyday for the spy antenna."

Harry didn't miss a beat as he dead panned back "Oh, I am really glad I got the camouflaged stealth model then."

Sam looked at him "What?" Hermione gave it away as she started laughing as she walked out the back door. Sam shook her head and left out the front.

Sam returned thirty minutes later and went upstairs to shower. When she returned dressed for work she smelled tea, coffee, and other aromas permeating from her kitchen. She came in and Harry set a mug of coffee in front of her. Sam looked on and Hermione brought a plate of bacon and eggs.

Sam smiled "I didn't think I had any food in the refrigerator."

Hermione chuckled "You didn't but we did find your high school science experiment in there."

Harry added "After we wrestled it out we were able to banish it. It was a dirty job but someone had to do it." He said with a laugh. Sam and Hermione joined in.

"Well thank you for breakfast this is wonderful." Sam stated.

Hermione sat down next to her "Harry and I are going to Denver to the magical community there and grab some reference books for tonight. If they are the right texts I will leave them for Daniel for future use."

Sam with a mouthful of eggs swallowed "He will like that and appreciate it too. What time will you be back?"

Harry looked thoughtful "Probable around mid afternoon or earlier. If we stay too long then the local criminal elements have time to rally. We don't spend much time in the magical world."

Sam shook her head "It is a shame that you have to do that."

Hermione agreed with her "Yes it is but we hope it will get better in time."