Jack scowled.
"You guys better not fail, then… I'm not really baby-sitter material."
"It sounds a bit more permanent than that, Colonel," Sam said, sounding concerned.
"Don't worry, Jack," Sirius said, lightly, despite the serious topic. "We're not going to fail."
Dumbledore looked at Sebastian.
"What else can you tell us?"
The house elf gave a very human-like shrug.
"Not much, I'm afraid. The Great Lade made many prophecies. Some – most – were scattered. Several remain in her protected retreat."
"Guarded by the spirit guy," Jack said.
"It isn't really a he," Sebastian told Jack. "But yes. It protects the house, and the prophecies – and me, at times."
"Are there any more about Jack?" Daniel asked curiously.
"Not at the house," the house elf said. "But The Great Lady was not the only seeress, so who knows if more exist?"
"That's comforting," O'Neill said, sarcastically. "I'll probably be kidnapped once a week at this rate…"
He didn't sound too worried about it, Sirius noticed. Of course, he was a Muggle, and unaware really just how dangerous the Dark Lord was – even though he'd escaped him twice already. Or maybe that was why he wasn't aware of the danger…
"We'll figure something out," Dumbledore said. "There are protections that can be used to keep Voldemort and his followers from coming after you. At your home and obviously at your work, at any rate." He looked at Dobby, who cringed slightly. "There isn't a lot we can do if you're taken somewhere else…"
"Harry Potter needed to talk to Jack O'Neill," Dobby said, trying to explain himself.
"You put Jack in danger, Dobby," Minerva said, firmly.
The house elf's ears drooped and he turned his mournful gaze on Jack, who shrugged.
"He tried to help, though," Jack said. "He even managed to take on one of Voldemort's guys and knock him back."
Jack agreed completely with not wanting to be snatched again without so much as a by your leave, but Dobby looked like a kicked puppy just then, and he couldn't help but rise to his defense.
"Just ask first, Dobby," Dumbledore said kindly, not wanting to browbeat the little elf any more than Jack. Especially since Dobby wasn't really the culprit in this case.
The house elf nodded, miserable at having Dumbledore disappointed in him (he was used to having anger directed at him, but disappointment was a lot harder to handle).
"So how do we know if there's more of these things?" Sam asked. "We can't just wait around for Voldemort to find out about one and need Colonel O'Neill to access it."
"We'll just have to-"
"What are you going to do about Snape?" Daniel asked, interrupting.
Dumbledore looked at him.
"What do you mean, Doctor Jackson?"
"Well, he's a bad guy, right? I mean… he did help Voldemort escape, didn't he?"
"Which might have been part of his cover," Teal'c said. "To ensure that Voldemort continues to believe him to be his ally."
Sirius scowled darkly, but Dumbledore nodded his agreement, looking pleased that he hadn't been the one who had needed to point that out.
"I'm sure that's what it is," the old wizard said.
Sirius looked at Sebastian.
"I don't suppose your mistress had any prophesies about Snape?"
"None that I was privy to, I'm afraid."
"What are you going to do now?" Daniel asked the house elf. "Now that the house isn't a secret any longer?"
"I'm going back," Sebastian answered, immediately. "The house is secure. It's already rebuilt itself by now, and there are enchantments in place that are designed to make the protections more potent each time the old ones are broken. Besides, the centaurs will protect it as well. They always have."
"Good thing," Jack said.
Sebastian smiled.
"If there's nothing further you need, I'll take my leave of you."
"Will we see you again?" Lupin asked.
"Who knows what the future brings?" the house elf asked with what could only be a wry smile. "I am not a seerer, after all." He looked at Jack. "It was truly a pleasure to meet you, Colonel O'Neill. You and your friends."
"You, too, Sebastian," Jack replied, meaning it. While the house elf wasn't exactly someone he'd have chosen to hang out with, Sebastian was definitely interesting – and seemed sincere.
"Come visit sometime," Daniel said.
"But call first," Jack added.
The elf left the room with a slight bow to the others, and those left were silent for a minute.
"So what now?" Daniel asked.
"We continue what we've been doing," Dumbledore said. "There isn't anything else we can do, until we know what Voldemort is planning next. So we'll just have to keep preparing to fight whatever he brings at us."
"That's not much of a plan," Jack said, disapproving. Of course, he was always more for going on the offensive than sticking to the defense.
"It's all we can do, Jack."
"But we'll definitely be keeping an eye on you when you're out and about," Sirius added. "If Voldemort tries anything, we'll be there next time. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried about Voldemort," O'Neill told them. He had better things to worry about. Like the Goa'uld, the Tok'ra and the Asgard to name only a few. Then add in any of those other races they'd come across – and the stray earth-threatening crisis – and his plate was plenty full already.
"I guess you don't need a place to hide out anymore?" Sam asked, unnecessarily.
Sirius shook his head, wryly.
"No. Not anymore. That secret is well and truly out in the open, now – for better or worse."
Sam was sure that meant that while he wished they could still have the information they might have gotten from using Kreacher, he was also relieved the truth was out.
"Which reminds me," Jack said. "There's definitely someone I want to talk to before we head for home."