"So some woman created you…?"
Yes.
"Just to say hi to me?"
Not just you, Colonel O'Neill. There are others like you – and a couple of them have already made their way to me.
Jack looked around.
"Where are they?"
It was a long time ago. They have long since passed on. You are not the last, though.
"What did they come for?"
Answers, of course. Just as you have.
"I'm here because I was kidnapped," Jack said. "And really, I need to get back – preferably without Voldemort in tow, if you know what I mean… so, how about an answer? Or better yet, a way out of here without him knowing about it."
I cannot assist you in an escape, Colonel O'Neill. While I can keep the Dark One from entering this dwelling, my magic is not strong enough to engage him directly.
Jack turned and looked the direction that he was pretty sure the door was in.
"Is he out there trying to get in?"
He is, yes.
"Not happy?"
No.
Well, that was just too bad. But since Voldemort couldn't get in, then Jack had time to think of a way out of his predicament – even if the… whatever it was… wasn't able to help him.
"What are you?"
A magical creati-"Yeah, I got that part. But what are you? Do you have a form? Are you the house?"
I have no need of a form, Colonel O'Neill. I am merely here to protect you while you learn of the destinies in store for you.
Jack scowled.
"Destinies?"
What the Great Seeress prophesied about you.
"So Voldemort was right about that?" Jack asked, curious despite the fact that he really needed to focus on his way out. "There is a prophecy here about me?"
Look towards the shelves.
Jack did as he was told, looking the direction of the far wall where the shelves holding the little spheres. One was suddenly glowing, a pale green light pulsing within, as if lit up from the inside.
"What does that mean?"
The one that is lit up concerns you.
Jack walked over to the shelving, which was even more imposing the closer he got. There were literally hundreds of the little things.
Four hundred and twelve.
"You can read my mind?"
Yes. Does that bother you?Jack scowled.
"A little."
There is no need to be annoyed. Your secrets are safe with me. There was suddenly a feeling of amusement. As a matter of fact, one has been safe with me for more than a century.
"Cute."
Thank you.
Jack looked up at the sphere.
"What does it say?"
Take it in your hand and concentrate on it. The message will appear.
Jack reached up to do just that, but before his hand could close around the sphere, the entire building shuddered with what felt like some kind of huge explosion – or impact.
OOOOOOOOOOO
There was only one way to get to Hogwarts – and therefore the Forbidden Forest – Harry decided. Since Dobby – and no one else, for that matter – could apparate directly to the castle, and Harry needed as powerful an ally as he could get once he entered the forest, he asked Dobby to apparate (with him in tow) directly to Grimmald place.
The only problem with that was that Dobby didn't know where it was, and Harry couldn't tell him as he wasn't the secret keeper.
"Damn it!"
Holding his Firebolt in one hand Harry couldn't help but lash out at the bushes in frustration. He'd thought about getting Buckbeak – who had already proven himself capable of handling a werewolf – and using him to get to Jack. But that wasn't going to work now.
Dobby's ears were low and his eyes mournful as he watched Harry, but Harry whirled so quickly that it startled the house elf.
"How about Hogsmead?" he asked. "You can go there, right?"
"Yes."
"Take me there, then, Dobby," Harry said. "I'll just have to risk the Forest."
"Dobby will not allow Harry Potter to enter the Forbidden Forest alone."
"I'm not, Dobby," Harry said, double-checking to make sure his wand was still in his pocket. "You're coming with me."
Whether that made things any better or not, Dobby didn't say. He just reached out and took hold of Harry firmly, and a moment later there was a loud crack and the space they had occupied was empty.
OOOOOOOOOOO
"This way would not appear to be the best route, Hagrid," Teal'c said, looking at the groundskeeper and then at the odd shimmering light that was lazily drifting across the very faint path they had been following. All of them had stopped, uncertain what the light was – and when a wizard as powerful and wise as Dumbledore decided to stop and check something out before just walking into it, you knew it was only smart to stop and avoid it.
"What is that light?" Daniel asked, standing beside Lupin and catching his breath.
The wizard shook his head.
"No clue." He looked over. "Dumbledore?"
Even the headmaster looked stumped.
"I've never seen anything like it. Nothing so large, anyways." He didn't explain the qualifier and none of them asked him to. "We'd better go around it."
"But that'll take forever," Sam protested. She felt like they were getting close, and she was anxious to get to Colonel O'Neill and make sure he was okay. It was somewhat her fault he was in the mess he was in, after all. She'd helped convince him to go out that evening – which had brought all this down on them. "We-"
"We need to listen to Dumbledore, Sam," Sirius told her, reaching out and squeezing her hand for a moment before releasing it. "Between him and Hagrid, no one knows the Forest better, and if they say it's dangerous, then it is."
Sam stifled the urge to give vent to an exasperated sigh, and nodded.
"Let's go, then."