The next morning they had rented a car and Jack had driven them through the countryside. No one was certain of their destination, but the tension of their leader's face seem to grow as they drove on. By late afternoon they had arrived at a small river overlooking a several large hills. Jack parked the car and everyone followed him out of the vehicle.

"Take your gear. We probably won't need it, but just in case." Jack handed one backpack to Daniel and then took one for himself. Quickly and quietly Carter and Teal'c grabbed their own and readied themselves.

"Where are we, Jack?"

"About three miles from Hogwart's. I won't be able to drive us any closer without setting off the charms they have protecting the school."

"What are we doing here, sir?" Carter asked as he adjusted the strap on her pack and the team began to move forward.

"I have to see if Sirius Black was really here. Everyone thinks he's after the boy, but I want to know what he's really doing here, if he actually is here."

Without another word, Jack took point and led the team across a small bridge to the other side of the river and then moved them through the hills. It hadn't escaped them that Jack's wand was at his side the entire time, and even Teal'c seemed on edge as they moved closer to the school.

The sun was just starting to set, and the rain was pouring, as they reached the well-trodden path that led directly to the school. Jack could just make out the figures of the dementors guarding the path and he bit back a curse. There were sounds coming from a distance, and they sounded almost like a quidditch match in process and Jack smiled.

"We're gonna take a detour, team. Let's go this way." Jack pointed to their left and Teal'c led the way, going towards the sound.

"Was I the only one that felt that back there, Jack?" Daniel asked as they moved through the trees.

Before Jack could respond and orange blob came screeching towards Jack's head and he just managed to duck as swooshed past him. Turning his head he saw the creature clearly and shook his head, while the others were catching their breath.

"And who might you be, kitty?" Jack reached a hand tentatively towards the tabby cat, but it wouldn't come close enough to him.

Jack felt the new presence before he heard the familiar voice speak, but when he heard it he smiled and slowly turned around with his wand in hand. "Crookshanks, he won't hurt you."

"Don't think she likes me." Jack countered as he took a step back from the now hissing feline.

Teal'c and Carter had taken up defensive positions on either side of the intruder, and Daniel was standing to get out of the way if anything unexpected happened.

"She's a good judge of character usually, but she doesn't take to Slytherins all that well." Sirius Black laughed softly as he stepped closer to Jack, his emaciated frame looking ready to crumble to the ground.

"You look like hell, Siri. I'd heard you were here, but couldn't believe you'd actually try and kill your own godson."

"Heaven's NO! I'm here for Peter."

"What?! He's dead."

Sirius laughed, the laugh of crazed man and shook his head. "That's what everyone was supposed to think, that little rat actually outsmarted me. He was the one that blew up that street and killed those people, then he transformed before I could get to him. He even left his little finger behind so everyone would think I did it. Never thought he had it in him."

Jack shook his head in disbelief and disgust. "That little bastard got away with it! How do you know he's here?"

"I saw him in the bloody Daily Prophet! He was sitting on the Weasley boy's shoulder. As many times as we transformed together, I'd know him anywhere."

Jack and Sirius were so involved in their conversation they hardly noticed Daniel step forward and Crookshanks move closer and wrap herself around the linguist's leg. Only when Daniel bend down to pick up the cat, did both wizards turn around.

"These are some friends of mine."

"Muggles. I guess you really did get far away from our world."

Jack sighed and nodded proceeded to introduce his team. "This is Major Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Murray."

"Pleasure to meet you, though I must apologize for my appearance. I broke out of prison several weeks ago."

Daniel smirked and nodded. "I can imagine being on the run makes it difficult to keep up appearances."

Sirius laughed softly and turned to Jack. "I like this one. Where'd you find him?"

"Long story. Maybe I'll tell you sometime. Right now you should be trying to get as far from here as possible. If you haven't noticed, there are dementors everywhere."

"I had noticed, but I won't leave until I know Harry is safe. I owe James and Lily that much."

"That's insane! You're bound to be caught. Even if you stay transformed, you can't avoid them forever."

Sirius opened his mouth to speak and the shouting from the distance grew louder. "Sounds like the match is getting good. It's Ravenclaw and Slytherin."

"Are they good this year?"

"Not too bad. Although Gryffindor is going to take the Cup. Young Harry is an amazing seeker. Better than James, I think."

Jack laughed. "That's hard to believe. That man was practically born on a broomstick."

"The dementors are back that way, how about we take a peek." The rain continued to pour down and Jack motioned for the team to move.

Sirius moved behind them with Crookshanks by his side and they moved closer to the cheering sounds of the quidditch match. Once they were close enough to hear the announcer giving play-by-play, Sirius surprised them all by transforming into his Animangi form.

"Damn it, Siri! Warn me next time. My friends aren't exactly used to this."

Sirius growled, snorted and then moved past the team to get a better look at the match. They was enough rain to block anyone from noticing them, and Jack motioned for them to get a bit closer. They were standing just behind the stands with a nice view of the field, and all of them were mesmerized by the action as the teams swooped and streamed through the air.

Jack's eyes were focused on the Slytherin seeker as he moved through the lightly drizzling rain, dropping low and high trying to find the golden snitch. Suddenly an eerily cold feeling came over him and he could tell by his teams stillness that they felt it as well. Looking back he could see five or six dementors coming towards them. He cast a glance towards the trees and saw Sirius and Crookshanks running away.

No one in the stand seemed to notice the dementors coming towards the stadium, or at least Jack was sure no one had, until he looked up and saw Albus Dumbledore peering down from the stands in his direction. Quickly he gathered his team and pushed them into the cover of darkness and trees just behind the stadium. He could see the dementors floating around above them and Jack did his best to hide among the trees that were around them. He kept Sirius in sight for as long as he could, but lost him as the rain clouded his vision.

"Damn! I lost him!" Jack shouted more to himself than anyone else, as he came to a halt at the path they had been at before Sirius had found them.

"Jack, what are we gonna do?" Daniel asked as he stepped up behind Jack.

Shaking his head Jack motioned them to get down. He could see two dementors coming towards them and pulled his wand out. As they drew closer he felt the coldness surround him and his hand began to shake ever so slightly. The rest of the team did as Jack order and crouched down on the ground as the dementor got closer. They couldn't see what Jack was seeing but they could feel the coldness and numbness surround them and they looked to each other wondering what it was.

"Expecto Patronum!" Jack's stood and his voice echoed into the night as he pointed his wand and the creatures and a white light erupted from his wand and moved rapidly towards the two dementors.

Daniel and the others watched in silence as the light traveled from Jack's wand on down the path. They were amazed at how bright the light was and were relieved as it seemed to drive away the cold numbness they were feeling.

Jack collapsed to his knees and his wand fell to the ground beside him. Daniel was the first to his side and Teal'c and Carter followed almost as quickly.

"What did you just do?" Jack looked up trying to focus on Daniel's words but he couldn't seem to, and his eyes slowly drifted shut. "Jack!"

"Come on! We have to get him away from here. Follow me!" The team turned to see Sirius Black just behind them and steadily moving closer.

Teal'c took a protective step between his comrades and the Sirius, and the wizard stopped in his tracks.

"Come no further!"

"I want to help him as much as you do. That spell just took a lot out of him. If you come with me, you'll be safe. I promise." Teal'c seem to study the other man's eyes for a moment before quickly turning and picking Jack up and letting the wizard lead the way.

They moved swiftly through the trees in the darkness, and didn't stop until they were a few yards from a large tree. Sirius turned around to face them.

"I'll have to transform for a moment. When I signal you, it'll be safe to follow me."

Teal'c nodded and they watched in awe as Sirius stepped away from them and quickly transformed. The large K-9 eased his way forward, and it was then that they noticed Crookshanks just beside the tree trunk. Branches on the tree began to sway rather violently as Sirius neared the tree. Both the cat and the dog seemed to disappear into the tree trunk for a moment and the tree stilled. Then the dog popped his head up from the tree trunk and barked. Teal'c took that as a sign to follow and he and the rest of the team moved towards the tree. It was a tight fit, but they managed to squeeze through the opening in the trunk and followed Sirius and Crookshanks through the underground tunnel.

"There's a cot upstairs. You can put Jack there." Sirius said as he transformed back into his human form and led them into the Shrieking Shack.

Teal'c obeyed and carried the still limp form of their team leader up the small flight of stairs, leaving Daniel and Carter alone with Sirius.

"What was that back there? I mean what did Jack do?" Daniel asked waving his arms in the air.

"I forget muggles can't see dementors." Sirius sighed. "Jack used a spell to ward off those creatures. Had they got any closer they probably would have taken him for me."

"What do you mean? Jack told us about the dementors. Why can't we see them?"

"Not really sure actually. Something about the way muggles think, I suppose. You're brains are wired to see certain things. I don't doubt you felt them though. A cold, dark feeling, like your world was nothing but sadness and pain?" Carter and Daniel nodded.

"That's what that was?" Carter shook her head at the thought as she leaned against the wall.

"Yes."

"Why did that spell take so much out of Jack?"

Sirius turned to Carter and lowered his head. "It's complicated. The dementors feed off of a person's good feelings. They leave you with nothing but your worst memories. Jack's worst memories are enough to drive most wizards to madness. Being around the dementors probably overwhelmed him." Sirius could see the concerned look on Jack's friend's faces and he gave them a reassuring look. "He'll be fine once he wakes up. I'm sure of it...um, you haven't any chocolate have you?"

Carter raised an eyebrow at the curious question and reached into her pack, pulled out a small bar and handed to Sirius. "What do you need that for?"

"Oddly enough it helps to get over the effects of a dementor. I'll take some to Jack. If you have more, it wouldn't hurt to eat a bite or two."

Doing as Sirius suggested Daniel pulled the chocolate bar out of his own pack and split it with Carter as Sirius made his way up the steps to where Teal'c and Jack were.