"Maybe we should go find them…" Jack said, looking around. Not that he was nervous or anything, but he hated waiting for people – in Forbidden Forests or for that matter on city streets.

Rip looked down at Sebastian.

"Where are they?"

The house elf shrugged.

"I only know that they're coming looking for Jack O'Neill," he said. "Once the group left the area surrounding the Great Lady's house, I can't track their progress."

"That's not much help," Jack grumbled.

"Sorry."

Before Jack could say anything else, however, there was a rustling in the brush only a hundred yards away or so. Instantly, three bows were turned in that direction, while at the same time the centaurs all turned their bodies so their passengers were protected by the business end of the weapons as they searched for a target.

A moment later a large black form emerged from the brush, and Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. It looked like Sirius' dog form – so much so that he felt a pang at the sight. It couldn't be, of course, his mind told him, even as his heart leaped in hope. Sirius was dead. Harry had seen it happen. He'd been there.

Before any of the centaurs could decide if the animal was a danger, more forms emerged – and two of them they recognized immediately

"Hagrid."

Rip's bow lowered as Hagrid was followed immediately by Dumbledore, and then several others – all humans, although from the looks of them they weren't all wizards. Of course, the centaurs weren't the best judges of that kind of thing, since they admittedly didn't have all that much contact with humans.

"Colonel!"

There was definite relief in Carter's voice when she saw Jack was safe. She was so relieved, as a matter of fact, that she didn't actually realize what he was sitting on right away. Her eyes were only on him, checking quickly for blood or other obvious signs of injuries.

Daniel, on the other hand, had stopped in his tracks, staring at the three creatures that were straight out of legend – even though Sirius had told him they were looking for centaurs.

"That's a centaur…"

Which might not have been the most intelligent assessment he'd ever made.

Zip snorted, and all three of the centaurs lowered their weapons. Before he could speak, however, Dumbledore stepped forward.

"Colonel O'Neill. It is good to see you safe and unharmed."

Jack slid off Rip's back, while Harry clamored down from Zip's, stumbling as he did so.

"Thanks to these guys…" Jack told him.

"Zip."

Not surprisingly, Hagrid knew all three. As was proper, however, he addressed the oldest.

"Hagrid, it is good to see you again."

"You, too. How are yer dame and sire?"

"They are well. I will tell them you asked about them."

The formal greeting over, Zip turned to Jack.

"You will be safe with Hagrid and the others, Colonel O'Neill – and you as well, Harry Potter. I must advise you, however, to stay out of the forest without more protection."

Harry flushed again, well aware that Dumbledore was looking at him. The last the old wizard had known, Harry was safe and sound at his aunt and uncle's house. Harry knew that the very fact that he was here plainly told Dumbledore that he'd been eavesdropping on the conversation with Snape – not to mention that he'd disobeyed Dumbledore by leaving.

"Thanks for the help," Jack said, holding his hand out to Zip.

Luckily, the centaurs understood the human ritual of shaking hands. Zip shook hands with Jack, and then Rip and Bip followed suit.

"The Great Lady arranged it," Sebastian said, drawing the attention of the others to him. Not even Dumbledore could hide his surprise at the sight of the house elf.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked.

"He means that we're following a prophecy of our own," Zip said. "One that was made before we were born – and one that my sire made certain we knew existed."

"He was there when it was first spoken," Rip added. "And referred directly to his own offspring."

"It's the only prophecy we know of that concerns our kind directly helping one of yours," Bip said. "Although we help when the occasion arises... Are you injured?"

Daniel had been staring at them, still stunned by what he was seeing. He didn't care so much about the prophecy they were talking about; he was seeing a legend come to life. This stunned look drew Bip's attention, and he incorrectly decided that something was wrong.

The archeologist flushed, embarrassed at being caught staring so blatantly.

"Um… no. Thanks…" To cover this, he turned his attention to Jack.

"Are you okay?"

O'Neill nodded.

"It's been a wild ride, though… and I don't mean with these guys."

Sam smiled, just as entranced by the centaurs, but far more relieved to see her CO alive and well. Especially since she had been the one to convince O'Neill that going out for dinner the night before had been a good idea – which made her responsible for the events that had followed that decision.

"We need to discuss that, Colonel O'Neill," Dumbledore said. He glanced at Harry only briefly before turning to Sebastian. "Apparently there is much we need to discuss, and many questions to be answered…"

Sebastian bowed low.

"I am at your service Albus Dumbledore. The Great Lady knew this day would come, and I have information you and your Order will need."

"You're a house elf…" Minerva said, clearly surprised at how articulate Sebastian was. She'd had plenty of experience with house elves, after all, and had never seen anything like him.

"Correct."

"This is not the place for you to have this discussion," Zip said. "While many of the creatures of this Forest will willingly assist your side of the battle, there are also those that would be more than pleased to be able to share information with the Dark Lord."

"The Forest isn't safe," Rip agreed.

"They're right," Hagrid said. "This isn't a good place for any kind of long discussion – not with Harry here."

Which drew everyone's attention to the boy, who flushed again.

"We'll return to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "There is much to be discussed."