"Are you all right?" it asked, turning to look at him. Now that he actually had a chance to look at it, Jack saw that the person part of the centaur was easily as muscular as Teal'c - maybe even more muscular – and the guy's chestnut colored hair matched the horse part exactly. Its – his? – blue eyes watched him, concerned, and Jack nodded, holding his battered ribs.
"Yeah… thanks for the help…"
The other two were facing him, now, as well, and they were also chestnut colored, with similar colored eyes and features. Of course, as far as O'Neill knew – and what he knew about centaurs could fit on the back of a matchbook in large writing – all centaurs might be chestnut with the same features.
"We can't stay here, Human," one of the others said, his deep voice showing a little concern, even though the expression didn't. "It's too dangerous."
Jack nodded, assuming they meant that he was on his own, now.
"No problem. Thanks again for the-"
The one Jack had been riding – to use the term loosely - smiled, and it was hideous.
"We're not leaving you here, Colonel O'Neill. Bip was just letting us know it isn't safe to linger. And he's right."
"How did you know my name?" He was getting tired of strangers – and strange things – knowing who he was.
"This isn't the place to explain," the centaur told him, moving a little so his horse body was close to Jack's once more. "Hop on, we have a ways to go before we're far enough away from the Dark Lord for my peace of mind."
Jack frowned, looking at that broad back. There was no way he was going to be able to just hop on – and besides, now that he thought about it, he had heard that they didn't like being ridden.
"I thought you guys don't like people on your backs…?" He asked, hesitating.
All three of the centaurs smiled, now.
"You've read the Histories…"
Jack shook his head.
"I went to a convention, and they were talking about you. The woman said that-"
"We're nothing like the histories have us as being, Colonel O'Neill," the one called Bip told him, moving closer and offering his hand to Jack. "Hurry and mount Rip and we'll discuss it more when we're safe."
"Your name's Rip?" Jack asked.
"And his is Bip, and mine is Zip," the other centaur confirmed. "Our sire and dam had no originality whatsoever, but we're used to it by now." He reached down and picked Jack up as easily as Jack might have picked up a toddler and placed him on Rip's broad back. "Hold on with your legs as well as you can," the centaur advised. "We'll keep you from falling."
Since there wasn't any place for Jack to hold on anywhere else, he nodded, and tightened his legs around the barrel sized belly of the centaur.
"Ready?" Rip asked, looking back at him.
"As I'll ever be," Jack said.
The centaur chuckled and they all took off, almost dumping Jack with the initial jump, but moving into a smoother gallop after only an instant. It wasn't the most comfortable way to travel, but it was fast, and he had to admit it was better than the flying skeleton horses.
OOOOOOOOOOO
"Are you sure you know where you're going, Sebastian?" Harry asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Of course!" Came the voice from just ahead of him.
He and Dobby had grown accustomed to hearing the voice and seeing no one – although it was still a little weird.
"Are we almost there? I-" Harry gave a yelp as the scar on his forehead suddenly came to life, a searing pain boring into his head as if a dozen knives were being forced into his skull. He dropped to his knees in the soft loam of the forest floor, his hand clapped tightly over his head.
Dobby was there instantly, his big green eyes worried.
"Harry Potter…?"
"It's Voldemort," Harry said, gasping. "He furious…"
"He Who Must Not Be Named?" Sebastian's voice asked, sounding close.
"Yeah."
Harry's head hurt so badly his eyes were watering, now, like being hit in the nose.
"Harry Potter must return to Hogwarts," Dobby said, sounding as if he really didn't expect Harry to agree to it, but knowing it needed to be said.
Harry shook his head, and forced himself to his feet, even though the pain was still as bad as ever.
"We have to find Jack. If Voldemort's mad, then Jack's in trouble." Harry turned toward the last direction he remembered hearing Sebastian's voice. "Sebastian? We really need to hurry. Our friend-"
"If He Who Must Not Be Named is involved, then it must be urgent," Sebastian said. "I know just the route to take. Come with me!"
Harry nodded, and blindly followed, his hand still tight against his forehead. He was so distracted by the pain that he didn't notice they changed from their initial direction. Dobby was so worried about Harry that he didn't notice, either, and Sebastian's cheerful voice led them almost completely back the way they'd come.
OOOOOOOOO
"There is no sign of O'Neill," Teal'c said after looking around the entire perimeter of the little shack.
"He's got to be inside that house," Sam said.
"He isn't," Sirius told her. "If he was, then Voldemort wouldn't have been outside."
"You don't know for sure, though…" Daniel said, walking towards the place. The door was hanging off its hinge and was an obvious entrance into the place.
"Please, Doctor Jackson," Dumbledore said, holding up his hand to stop Daniel. "This house is as magical as any I've seen. It's bound to be laced with protections to keep people away. Don't go too close until I've had a chance to-"
"Albus…"
Minerva walked up to the group. She'd been walking around the building with Teal'c, and had noticed something the Jaffa had missed. In her hand was an arrow. A very long arrow.
Dumbledore took it from her, frowning.
"You found this here?"
"Yes."
Sirius frowned as well, but Hagrid was the one who spoke.
"This is a Centaur arrow," he said. "See the long fletching? It's ter give them extra accuracy on-"
"Centaurs?" Sam echoed, looking at the arrow. "What does that mean?"
"It may tell us who saved Jack from He Who Must Not Be Named," Minerva said.
Dumbledore looked at Sirius.
"See if you can find us a trail, Sirius."
The young wizard nodded, and almost instantly transformed into the large black dog. Who immediately went sniffing around the perimeter of the shack. Only a moment later, he barked loudly, his tail wagging furiously.
"That didn't take long," Daniel said.
Hagrid smiled.
"Centaurs aren't known for their bathing," he said. "I'm surprised you couldn't pick up the trail yourself."