The living room was silent. Sam was sitting on one end of Jack's couch with her feet tucked up under her and the book in her hands, reading the last chapter, while Jack and Daniel were pretty much pretending to play chess – since neither was concentrating. They were both casting occasional glances at the fireplace – or at the clock that was sitting on the mantel. It was closing in on 7 PM, and about two minutes till, Jack finally leaned away from the board – which still had almost all the chessmen it started with still in position – and looked at the others.
"Think he changed his mind?"
Sam looked up from the book, and over at the clock.
"It's still early."
"It's 7, Carter."
"It's 6:59, sir."
Jack scowled, but before he could say anything, there was suddenly a fire in the fireplace where a moment before there was none. All three of them turned, startled, just in time to see a tall figure step out of the fireplace as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
Sam came to her feet, the book falling to the floor with a loud thump.
The old man smiled at her, his silver hair and beard glowing in the light of the now fading fire.
"Major Carter, it is truly a pleasure to see you again."
Sam smiled, but before she could say anything else Dumbledore turned to Jack and Daniel.
"Doctor Jackson, it's good to see you as well. Jack? Thank you for your prompt reply."
Jack nodded.
"We thought it might be important."
"It is." Dumbledore started to say something else, but looked around, and then back at Jack. "Where is Teal'c?"
"He's… out of town," Jack said.
Dumbledore smiled.
"Offworld, you mean?"
"This house isn't all that secure, Professor," Sam said, quickly. They couldn't have him mentioning things that were better discussed somewhere else. While O'Neill's house was checked frequently for bugs, and his phone line was secured, there was always the chance that someone was listening in.
"Forgive me, major." He smiled, and pulled out a wand, muttered something under his breath, and there was a shimmering light around the living room that vanished only a moment later. The old man nodded with satisfaction at something only he could see, and put the wand back into a pocket in his robes. "Now we can speak more freely…"
"What was that?" Daniel asked, curiously.
"A simple repelling charm," Dumbledore said. "No one will be able to hear what we discuss now – your people, or mine."
"You mean wizards can't get past it, either?" Sam asked.
"Exactly."
"What are we going to be discussing that we need to keep from your people?" Jack asked.
Dumbledore ignored the question, looking around the living room with interest. He walked over to the chessboard that Daniel and Jack had abandoned and touched one of the pieces, watching it intently for a moment as if expecting something to happen.
"They don't move," Daniel said, proving to Sam that while he had only read the first book, he had paid attention to the finer aspects of wizard chess.
"They move," Jack said, misunderstanding. He walked over and moved the knight that Dumbledore had touched, jumping one of Daniel's pawns with the action.
"I meant, they don't move on their-"
"Did you read the book I sent you?" Dumbledore asked, looking at Jack.
"I've been a little busy," Jack said, almost guiltily. "But Carter read it."
The old man looked at Sam, who nodded.
"Most of it," she amended. "I haven't quite finished."
"Did you reach the part that covered the ambush in the Ministry of Magic building?"
She nodded again.
"It was quite disturbing…"
Now it was Dumbledore's turn to nod.
"It was even worse in person, I assure you, Major. We came very close to losing several people who I hold very dear."
"What are you talking about?" Jack asked, just annoyed enough to wish he'd read the books, now.
"Voldemort is out in the open, now, Jack," Dumbledore said, turning to face O'Neill. "His deatheaters lured Harry and several of his friends into the Ministry of Magic building where they –"
"What's a Ministry of Magic building?" Jack interrupted.
"It's like their headquarters, sir," Sam told him.
"For the Order of the Phoenix?" Daniel asked.
"No," Dumbledore replied, before Sam could. "That building is in another place completely – and far too secure for Voldemort to attack. The Ministry building is a place that holds many of the most important secrets of the wizard world. Secrets and devices that we cannot allow to fall into the hands of the enemy so we protect with the most stringent of security spells."
"And Voldemort and his buddies tried to get them?" Jack asked.
"They tried, yes."
"And…?"
"We managed to keep them out of the wrong hands – and now the Ministry knows what we've been trying to tell them for the last few months; that Voldemort is back. They will guard them, now, and the Ministry building is even more secure now than it was."
"But you had losses…" Sam said, softly, in a same tone of voice that reminded Jack of Sirius' death.
Dumbledore must have noticed the change in her voice as well, because he reached out and touched her hand, squeezing it.
"According to all reports, we have, yes. Sirius dead and Harry and a couple of his friends almost killed as well."
Sam lowered her eyes. She'd hoped that maybe it hadn't been true. That maybe the-
"So-"
Another brilliant flare from the fire drew everyone's attention, and an instant later another form emerged. This one was much younger, and looked tired, and dirty, but there was absolutely no doubt who it was. Even Jack recognized him.
Sam flung herself into his arms before she even realized what she was doing, and the man grinned, hugging her back.
"You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?" Sirius asked, shaking his head to clear some of the soot that had settled there.