Thanks for all the great feedback everyone has given me so far. I really appreciate it. Here is the next chapter, and I have a couple more just about ready to be posted. Enjoy.

"Major, where is Colonel O'Neill?" The tension in General Hammond's voice was obvious, and Samantha Carter nervously clasped her hands together as she shook her head.

"I don't know, sir. I haven't seen him since we got out of the briefing yesterday."

"And Dr. Jackson? I suppose you haven't seen or heard from him either?"

Lowering her head slightly she shook her head again. "No I haven't, sir."

Taking a deep breath, the General turned to Teal'c who was standing right beside Carter. "What about you? Have you spoken to either Dr. Jackson or Colonel O'Neill since yesterday?"

"I have not GeneralHammond."

"It's too much of a coincidence that Jack asked for more time off and then disappears when I won't give it to him. Where was he going?"

Teal'c shook his head. "We cannot say for certain."

Hammond ran a hand over his baldhead and sighed heavily. "This is unbelievable. If he wants a court-martial that's exactly what he's going to get. You're both dismissed, and if you happen to be in contact with either of your wayward teammates, let them know that there will be consequences once they're found."

Without another word both Carter and Teal'c took off out of the General's office with as much speed as they could muster and didn't stop until they reached Carter's lab.

"Where are they, Teal'c?"

"I do not know, but I believe that they went back to England."

Carter sighed and brought her hand up to her temple. "This is bad. If the Colonel gets caught he'll be facing a court-martial and possibly serious prison time."

"You are correct, but perhaps we can purchase them time."

"How do you figure we can do that?"

Teal'c cocked his head a little to the left and then raised his eyebrow. "I am not yet certain, but I am hopeful a promising solution will make itself known."

Sam shook her head at the Jaffa's optimism. She only wished she could be that positive, but at the moment all the negative possibilities seemed to be drowning her.

---------------

"You think we'll get there in time?" Daniel asked Jack who was looking out the window of their rental as drops of rain began to pelt across the glass.

"I hope so." The tone of Jack's voice was somber, and Daniel couldn't help but think that Jack wasn't too certain of himself at that moment, that he wasn't too certain of anything.

"Can I ask you something, Jack?"

Jack flipped on the blinkers so he could switch lanes and nodded. "Ask away."

"I was wondering something. You said Snape was your brother, and that you joined the Death Eaters to help him, right?" Again Jack nodded, but this time a bit uneasily. "I guess I'm not seeing how you two could be brothers."

With a sigh Jack turned his head to look at Daniel, and then back at the road. "We're really half-brothers. We have the same father, but different moms."

Jack went silent after his brief explanation and Daniel shrugged his shoulders. "Okay. Is that all you're going to tell me?"

Rolling his eyes Jack shook his head. "I guess folks like you need more info dontcha? Well if you must know. Our father was jerk. He slept with my mom, who also happened to be a witch, and as soon as I was born he made her swear to never tell anyone that he was my father. I ended up living with my mum and her family for a while, until she remarried. She had two other children with my step-dad. My sisters were complete opposites. One of them was witch the other was a squib." Jack noticed Daniel's face make a familiar crinkle at the odd sounding word, and he clarified himself. "A squib is a witch or a wizard that can't do magic. It's a rare thing, but sometimes is happens. Anyway, my 'father', and I use that term lightly, pretty much went on as though I didn't exist.

"I didn't meet Severus until I got to Hogwart's. We were roommates, and we sat next to each other in charms and potions class. That was actually how we figured out we were related. There this charm that basically tells you who your parents are. It's kinda like the wizard's paternity test. It must have been second year when we learned it, and we were practicing in class. We both thought we had messed it up, because it came up saying we had the same father. We even went to the professor to ask him what we'd done wrong. To our surprise, we hadn't done anything wrong." Jack sighed to himself as he remembered that strange day in class, but shook himself back to reality as he noticed Daniel curiously fidgeting in his seat.

"Needless to say we were both shocked. Professor Flitwick thought it was rather amusing. I still remember that little dwarf chuckling as we walked away from his desk. I went back home for the Winter Break and I asked my mum about it. I guess she figured there was no point in lying to me, so she told me everything. She made me promise not to tell him I knew, and I think at that point I really didn't care. I was so used to not having a father it didn't matter to me."

"Weren't you even curious to meet him?" Daniel asked as he adjusted the seatbelt that was slowly beginning to feel a bit tight.

"I did meet him. It was towards the end of the break. Severus invited me to his house. My mother nearly had a heart attack when I told her. She didn't want me to go, but I was always a stubborn child, and I got my grandparents to convince her to let me."

"What was that like?" Daniel watched the emotions play on Jack's face before he answered his questions, and a tinge of regret passed over him.

"That was an experience I'll never forget. It made me glad I wasn't raised with that bastard. I've never seen anyone so cruel and hard-hearted with their own child. From the moment I got there, I noticed Sev was a completely different person around his father. My brother isn't the most sociable person around; in fact he's probably one of the least sociable people I've ever known. When I saw him around his father he was even less sociable. He was so quiet and docile it was actually pretty disturbing. For the first time since we'd met, I felt sorry for Sev."

Jack went on about the first meeting with his father, and Daniel too felt sorry for the man he had yet to meet. He also felt for the man beside him, who despite his best efforts to hide it, was visibly pained by the memory.

"How could he just ignore you both like that?"

"Hell if I know. That's just the way he was I guess. My brother never could stand it. Severin Snape is and always will be just an uncaring bastard."

Jack sighed softly to himself as he slowly pulled the car over. Daniel looked around and realized they were only a block or so from the Leaky Cauldron.

"What are we doing here? I thought we were going to go straight to Hogsmeade?"

"We have to get some supplies first. To do that we need money, wizard money." Daniel nodded curiously as they got out of the car and started up the street.

The walked into the Leaky Cauldron, and on through to Diagon Alley. There was a noticeable uproar of people moving through the streets this time, and couldn't help but be curious about it.

"Why are there so many people here today? Everyone seems on edge."

Without a word Jack pulled Daniel around a corner and pointed to a poster that was hung on the alley wall. "This is why."

The moving images on the parchment showed a maniacal looking Sirius Black laughing wildly and pointing at an unknown figure just out of view. There were words below the picture that read "Black attacks Hogsmeade villagers. Countryside now in fear."

"My god! This is crazy! He wouldn't do that." Jack brought his hand up to quiet the irate archeologist.

"I know that, and you know that, but nobody else does. The Ministry wants him found, and making up stories is the best way to keep people looking for him."

Daniel stared quizzically at Jack. "What exactly is the Ministry? You've mentioned them before, but I just never asked."

Jack snorted and rolled his eyes at his friend's question. "Basically, they're a group of wizards who try to put a bunch of rules in place so other wizards don't go messing with the rest of the world and screwing things up. Unfortunately, they're bureaucratic morons who can't see past their own noses half the time."

"Oh...I see." Daniel nodded in understanding as Jack shook his head and focused back on the road. "If the Ministry is that determined to find him, Sirius won't be safe there for much longer, will he?"

With a sigh Jack shook his head. "No, he won't. If we don't find Peter in the next few days, the Dementors will catch Sirius."

The look of dread was clear on Jack's face as he pulled back from Daniel and looked out into the street where the rest of wizarding world was going by. Though he'd only known Sirius for a short while, Daniel had come to see that he meant a great deal to Jack, and that everything in this seemingly strange world meant a lot to Jack. The expression on the older man's face told Daniel all he needed to know. What ever he could do to help Jack save Sirius, he was going to do.

"So where do we get the money?"

"Gringott's. It's the wizard bank a few blocks down. There's only one problem. I need you to go in and get it."

Daniel glared at Jack curiously, and raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Why me?"

"Well, I can almost guarantee that I'll be recognized if I go in and ask for my own money, and seeing as I'm still wanted I figured that wouldn't be a good thing."

"How can I be of any help?"

"All you have to do is go in with the key to my vault and say you're my nephew. They won't question it, at least they shouldn't. You can get what we need and get back out easily."

With a sigh Daniel shrugged his shoulders. "Are you sure this will work?"

"Positive."

"I can't do magic, what if-"

Jack smirked as he cut the younger man off. "I promise you won't have to do anything but give them the key. No magic involved. Even if you did, all you'd have to do is tell them you're a squib, and that would be it."

Shaking his head Daniel followed Jack out of the alley and down the street. They stopped a few yards from Gringott's where Jack handed Daniel the key and gave him instructions on what to do and how much to take out, and then quickly he walked down the street a bit. He watched as Daniel entered the building and leaned back against the wall and waited.

Inside, Daniel was nervously fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket as he approached the counter. The creature glared at him as he handed the key over, but he managed to keep himself calm as the goblin passed the key to another who motioned for him to follow.

The goblin led him to what looked like a mining cart and waited for him to take a seat inside it. Once he had the creature started the cart moving down the long dark tunnel. The movement was making Daniel a bit nauseas but he took a few deep breaths, willing his stomach to calm itself.

"Vault number 694." The high-pitched sound of the goblin's voice brought Daniel's head up and he nodded and slowly removed himself from the cart.

The goblin opened the vault and Daniel slowly stepped inside. His jaw hit ground as several piles of gold and silver appeared in front of him. It was quite possibly one the brightest sights he'd ever seen and he took moment to breathe it in. The moment didn't last long though, the goblin tapped at the vault entrance impatiently and Daniel grabbed a few handfuls of coins and stuffed them in his pockets. A few minutes later he was back at the bank entrance and staring out at Diagon Alley.

"How'd it go?" Jack's voice caught Daniel by surprise and he spun around to see the older man smiling at him.

"It went fine. I've never seen that much money in one place before. You never told me you were rich!"

Jack shook his head. "I'm not really rich. Most of the money I inherited when my grandfather passed away."

Daniel nodded curiously at Jack's mention of his grandfather. This was definitely something he was going to have to probe into later. Silently both men made their way back through Diagon Alley, purchasing supplies as they headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. Jack waved to the bartender who again recognized him as they entered the tavern and they quickly made their way back to their rental car.

Jack started the car and Daniel buckled his seat belt and watched as they moved through the city. The drive out of London was eerily quiet for both men, and finally Daniel broke the silence with a question.

"So what exactly is the plan when we get there?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Haven't decided yet."

Daniel nodded and leaned back in his seat. He turned his gaze back towards the window and continued to watch the English countryside go by. His eyes closed for a moment, or what he thought was a moment and when he opened them again he noticed the sun had changed position. At least two hours had gone by and a quick glance in Jack's direction told him that something wasn't quite right.

The Colonel was breathing hard and blinking as though he couldn't see properly. Daniel opened his mouth to speak, but Jack brought his hand up to stop him. "I've just got a headache."

"You want me to drive for a bit?"

"Nah. I'll be fine." Daniel shrugged his shoulders, not buying his friend's act in the slightest.

He sat quietly for a few more minutes before he finally spoke up again.

"Jack are you okay? You look a little flushed." The concern was clear in Daniel's eyes as he watched his friend attempt to maneuver the car along the country road rather unsuccessfully. Twice already Jack had veered off the road and had to skid back on. The closer they got to Hogsmeade the worse Jack's condition seemed to get. "You need to pull over, Jack. Something's not right."

Reluctantly, Jack nodded and started to steer the car to the shoulder but suddenly his head tilted back as he body slumped forward. Daniel grabbed the wheel as Jack's foot pressed hard on the accelerator. There was no stopping the impending impact, and Daniel shouted as the car went spinning into a nearby grove of trees.

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"GeneralHammond, we wish to speak with you." Teal'c's voice echoed through the hallway as he and Major Carter approached the Major General.

Curiously, Hammond motioned for the two SG-1 team members to join him in his office, and closed the door behind them once they were all inside.

"What is it you wanted to speak to me about?"

Carter and Teal'c took a seat in the chairs in front of the General's desk. "MajorCarter and myself would like to request permission to search for DanielJackson and ColonelO'Neill."

Hammond shook his head. "Do I look like I was born yesterday?"

"Sir-" The General cut the Major off with a raised hand.

"I'm no fool, Major. I know you two want to protect them, but this has gone far enough. Where are they?"

Teal'c stood up and brought his arms behind his back. "That we are not entirely certain of, but if we could search for them-"

"Enough! Tell me where they are!"

"We can't sir. You have to trust us on this."

Hammond angrily got to his feet. "If you don't tell me where they are now, you will be facing similar charges, Major."

Carter stood up and turned to Teal'c who nodded in agreement with her. "Then I guess you'll have to arrest me, sir."

"Are you really willing to take this that far? Both of you?" They both nodded and Hammond reached down to pick up the phone in front of him.

Carter raised a hand to stop him just as he was about to dial. "Sir, if you do this you'll never find Colonel O'Neill and Daniel."

"Are you threatening me, Major Carter?"

"No sir, but we're the best chance you have of finding either of them. I'm just asking you to trust us."

The vein on Hammond's forehead looked ready to explode as he glared at the two people before him. "This is insane. It's insubordination at the least."

Carter sighed and Teal'c stepped closer to the desk and cocked his head in the General's direction. "Were there another way for us to accomplish our goal, we would have chosen it. We have never given you cause to distrust us, all we ask now is that you show us the same faith you have shown previously."

General Hammond sank down in his chair shaking his head. "I'm just supposed to let you two go?"

"Sir, I promise we'll explain everything to you once we're back. Please just trust us on this."

Before he could stop himself he was waving the two of them out of his office, still shaking his head. As he watched them go he wondered just what was so important that his flagship team was willing to risk everything, without any regard for themselves at all? And as he ran and hand over his bald scalp, he silently hoped that they'd all make it back so he could find out.