Author's note: In answer to a couple of people – and I can't believe I didn't mention it in the first chapter; yes, this is a sequel to The Harry Situation. I'm sorry, I should have told you guys. Also, I forgot the whole disclaimer that says I'm not making any money off this story and that I don't hold the rights to any of the characters I am using. Merely the storyline as it varies from the typical Harry Potter scenarios – which it will.
OOOOOOOO
"Jack!"
O'Neill stopped in mid-stride at the sound of his name, turning his head but not his body to look behind him. Daniel was hurrying down the corridor after him.
"What's up, Daniel?"
"Where are you going?"
"To get lunch."
"Hey, I've been thinking about the Loa'a and how we might be able to salvage the whole not eating the First Delight thing…"
"Daniel, this isn't something I want to talk about before I eat. Do I have to remind you that the First Delight was a five foot caterpillar?"
"Jack, I'm just saying… the Loa'a might be an important ally against the Goa'uld. We don't want to dismiss that just because you didn't like their-"
"It was still alive, Daniel."
"I know, Jack. I'm just saying-"
"Look, there's Carter. Why don't we drop the whole caterpillar talk, okay? We don't want to gross her out while she's eating, right?"
Not to mention he didn't want to think about caterpillars – or any other bug – while he was eating.
Daniel frowned, looking over at Sam, who was sitting in a corner table, her meal ignored while she read the book that had been delivered to Jack. So far, she'd told them that the book was interesting – but her other duties had been getting in the way of any time she'd been able to read. When Jack and Daniel walked over, however, the archeologist noticed that she was near the end, now, and so completely engrossed in it that she didn't even look up when they approached.
They sat down across from her, and she still didn't look up – although she did turn the page. And then Daniel thought he saw a tear fall onto it. Jack noticed, too, Daniel saw, because he frowned.
"Carter?"
She started, nearly jumping out of her skin, and looked up at the sound of his voice. Her eyes were red, but she was quick to sniff and try to wipe them, hoping no one noticed.
"Colonel… hi. Daniel… um… hi."
Jack wasn't fooled.
"You okay?"
She smiled. Busted.
"Yeah." Another quick stab at her eyes with her shirtsleeve, and another sniff, this one muffled by her arm. "I was just… reading."
"Is it that bad?" Jack asked, glad he wasn't sitting through it. It was about the size of a dictionary, after all. A big, thick, and boring dictionary, most likely.
"No. It's good. Really."
Now she was blushing at having been caught getting weepy over a story. Of course, her face had already been red, so it didn't show that much.
"Uh huh."
Daniel didn't believe her, either.
She smiled.
"It's just kind of sad at the end…"
"You finished it?" Jack asked.
"Almost."
"The butler did it?"
Sam shook her head.
"No… a cousin, I think – if I'm keeping my lineage straight. It's a little complicated."
"What happens?" Daniel asked, curiously.
"Sirius dies."
"What?"
"That's the dog guy, right?" Jack asked. He knew it was – he wasn't as dumb as he pretended to be, after all – but it never hurt to make sure.
She nodded.
"He's killed fighting the Death Eaters."
Daniel felt like he'd been kicked in the gut. He'd only met Sirius that one day, but the guy had seemed like a nice guy.
"Are you sure?"
Sam nodded again.
"Maybe it's one of those soap opera deaths," Jack said, shrugging. He was used to death, and it didn't hit him quite like it did the other two. "You know; dead one minute, sleeping with the maid the next?"
Sam smiled, but shook her head.
"It looks pretty permanent, Colonel…"
"I can't believe…" Daniel trailed off, shaking his head. "What about Dumbledore? Where was he?"
"He didn't make it in time. Only some members of the Order of the Phoenix were there, and-"
"The what?"
Jack recognized the name as the title of the book, but that didn't mean anything to him.
"The Order of the Phoenix, sir," Sam repeated. "It's what the people who are fighting Lord Voldemort call themselves."
"Catchy name."
"Well, they have the only phoenix around, so I suppose it's not like anyone else is going to use it…" Daniel said.
"Good point."
"So Voldemort killed Sirius?" Jack asked, feeling a stab of annoyance at the name. He hadn't even known of the guy for very long – and definitely hadn't known he had an evil wizard half-brother – but he really couldn't stand the bastard. And this just made him more annoyed. Not so much that he'd killed Sirius, but because that had upset Carter. Jack relied on her too much to have her upset at something like that.
"No. It was his cousin. Voldemort didn't show until later. When he possessed Harry."
"What?" Daniel and Jack both spoke up at the same time, looking shocked.
Sam shook her head.
"It's complicated. He's okay, though. Voldemort couldn't keep his hold on… you know… it'd be easier if the two of you just read the books…"
It wasn't like she didn't have the entire set – and so did Teal'c. But Daniel had struggled through part of the first one – only to have his attention wander back to his many different translations and relics, and Jack just plain didn't have the attention span for it.
"Harry's okay?" Jack asked, ignoring her suggestion, and showing his first real signs of concern.
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
"According to the book he's okay," Daniel said. "Remember, it might not be exact. Remember what Dumbledore and Sirius told us? That things we heard might not be the way they are. What if he's not okay? What if that's what Dumbledore wants to talk to you about tonight?"
Jack scowled.
"Thanks, Daniel. I feel so much better, now."
"I was just pointing out what they said," Daniel said, defensively. "I might-"
"You could have just-"
"Sir." Sam interrupted before they could start an argument. "Daniel. Why don't we just wait and see what he has to say?"
It'd save a lot of time – and she'd be able to finish the book instead of refereeing their bickering.
Jack hesitated, but nodded.
"Yeah."
He could wait. Probably.