I'm working on the next couple chapters. They should be ready pretty soon. Hopefully, folks are stillinto this story. I know my updates have been a bit sporadic over the last few months, but I'm trying to make them more regular now. Also, I appreciate any and all feedback ppl wanna send my way. Anyway, onto the next chapter...Enjoy.

The three members of SG-1 along with Severus returned to the forest that afternoon. Much to their surprise the Centaurs were waiting to greet them.

"We know what it is you seek, but I must tell you they will not come to any of you easily." Firenze warned them as he shook Daniel's hand.

"We mean the unicorns no harm. We only want to find Jack."

The Centaur sighed heavily. "That may be so, but I do not believe they can help you with your search."

"The only way to know for certain is to try." Severus tugged at the hem of his robe, and Firenze nodded.

"My brothers and I will not stop you, but you must leave your wand and the muggles must leave their weapons behind."

Carter balked at the Centaur's words and then shared a quick glance at Daniel. The expression on the young man's face made her change her mind and she removed the gun from inside her jacket, handing to Firenze. Daniel and Teal'c did the same as quickly as they could. Severus shook his head but reluctantly pulled his wand from his robes, handing it to the Centaur with a look of disdain on his face.

"I've only just got it back, so do be gentle with it."

Firenze rolled his eyes. "You must go now. I will leave your things with Hagrid."

With that the group marched into the forest, Severus taking the lead as Firenze galloped off towards the groundskeeper's hut. The team moved through the forest with Severus in the lead. After about an hour Carter motioned for Daniel and Teal'c to stop.

"How exactly are we going to find these unicorns?" Carter asked as she sighed impatiently.

Snape whirled around glaring at the major with disdain. Teal'c took a protective step forward while Daniel shook his head at his three teammates.

"What about the words that Jack used to call the unicorns before?" They all turned to stare at Daniel in confusion.

After a moment of silence Severus finally spoke up. "What are you talking about?"

"It's how Jack was spared by the dementors. I…I spoke the words he'd used before to call the unicorns…"

Snape's eyes widened as he opened his mouth to speak. "Of course. It all makes sense now. The unicorns would have been the only thing strong enough to stop that many dementors at once."

"Um…not sure I'm following you." Daniel raised an eyebrow as he tried to figure out what Snape was trying to say.

"What words did he use, Daniel?"

Slowly the linguist began to say the incantation that had called the unicorns to Jack's aid many months before. "Accium Quertus Nothas Learuim"

At Snape's insistence he repeated the words once more and the group waited for a response. An eternity seemed to pass in the next few minutes, before the sound of hoof beats caught their attention. Though the sound was coming towards them they could see nothing. The sounds stopped abruptly and the group looked around in confusion wondering where it could have come from.

Daniel blinked a few times then took a step away from the group. A few feet ahead he could just make out the soft sounds of heavy breathing and he slowly inched his way towards it. As he neared the spot where he heard the breathing he reached a hand out to touch a nearby tree and felt himself pulled forward. He could hear Teal'c and Carter calling out his name as he plunged headfirst into the dirt.

> > > >

"I have missed your counsel, Corrigan. You always were my most trusted advisor." Voldemort's voice was like gravel and it was almost painful for Jack to listen to.

"It was an honor to serve you, Master."

"Tell me, what has happened to my other servants? I know the fate of a few, but in my hiding I have not been able to seek them all out."

Jack lowered his head, snarling in disgust. "Unfortunately, few have remained loyal to you since your departure. I'm afraid many of them were too afraid to be sent to Azkaban. Malfoy and his cronies were among the first to denounce you. They swore that they had been under the Imperius Curse while they did your bidding."

"What of Bartimus?"

With a smile Jack nodded his head. "The boy was sent to Azkaban by his own father, but he died. I know he was always loyal to you, Master."

"I'm still loyal, my lord." Peter Pettigrew's voice piped up from a few feet away, and Jack growled at the pathetic looking wizard.

"You've have done nothing more than hide in shame while I have been gone." Voldemort's voice grew loud like thunder, causing Peter to cower in fear.

"You're hardly worth my master's effort, ratboy." Corrigan took a step forward as if to strike Pettigrew, but felt Voldemort's presence holding him back.

"Calm yourself, Jack. Peter may be a worthless coward, but I may yet have a use for him. First, we must get the preparations in motion for my return. Soon I will have my revenge on Harry Potter and once again take my place as the most powerful wizard alive."

Corrigan smiled at his master's words as nodded. "What would you have me do?"

"First, you must seek out our dear friend Mr. Crouch."

"But he's dead, Master?" Jack felt a coldness rush through is body, cringing as his lungs tightened in his chest.

Voldemort's voice was icy and coarse. "I do not believe that is so."

"Where should I seek him?"

"Find his father."

Jack bowed his head in agreement, then slowly turned his gaze towards the doorway of the tiny hut before getting to his feet.

> > > >

"Daniel?" Carter called out as she approached the area where Daniel had been standing. He was nowhere to be seen. All any of them know for certain was that Daniel had fallen forward and then disappeared before they could reach him.

Frantically, the three remaining teammates scoured the area trying to find their missing colleague. It was no use, even with Snape using what little magic he could without his wand, they had no idea where Daniel had gone or how they were going to find him.

He popped an eye open as he tried to gather himself to sit up. Groaning he eased himself up to a sitting position and tried to get a better look at his surroundings.

"Guys? Where are you?" He called out when he didn't see or hear his teammates anywhere nearby.

"Your friends cannot be allowed to join us, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel looked up to see a magnificent unicorn moving towards him. "Whoa! Where am I?"

"That is of no consequence. Why have you called us to you?" The melodic cadence of the unicorn's voice caught Daniel by surprise as he shook his head.

"I…I…My friends and I wanted to ask…we wanted to know…"

The unicorn stopped him mid-sentence. "You wish to know of Jack O'Neill's fate. You also wish to know the whereabouts of the Star of the Sorcerer, do you not?"

"Um…how did you…if you knew what I wanted, why did you ask me?" Raising an eyebrow at the unicorn Daniel sighed in confusion.

"I did not know until the thoughts came into your mind."

Daniel shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back against the nearby tree. "Well, can you help us?"

With a nod the unicorn began to speak once more. "To the first question, Jack is fulfilling a part of his destiny, though his future is still clouded. As for the second, we unicorns were indeed given the pieces of the Star to hide from the mortal world. We hid them with a race of beings you call the Asgard. Where they were placed I do not know, but can tell you that Jack has found them and will use them to complete his task. That is all I can say."

"The Asgard?" The confusion was clear on Daniel's face as he shook his head.

"The Asgard have helped us watch over this world for centuries."

"So they would know where the Star is now?"

The unicorn sighed. "Perhaps."

"What did you mean about Jack fulfilling his destiny?"

"We each have a path that we continue on. He has chosen his course, and must now see it through to the end."

"Okay, that made absolutely no sense."

The magical creature laughed heartily. "Your innocence is quiet refreshing, Daniel."

Daniel snorted in disbelief. "Innocence? I think you have me mistaken for someone else."

"No, you may not see yourself as innocent, but I can see your true goodness. It is that goodness that makes you pure and innocent in my eyes."

"What about my friends? They're good people too."

The unicorn lowered its head. "That may be so, but they are touched by darkness where you are not. Your soul is still free and pure while theirs are bound by the lives they've lead."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Do not trouble yourself with this. One day you will understand it all."

Shrugging his shoulders Daniel stood up. "Can you help us find Jack?"

"No, I cannot. If you cease your search, he will come to you. Already he is on his way, you need only be patient."

"Not sure my friends are going to like that answer."

"It is all I can give."

Daniel could feel that the unicorn had said all that it was going to, so he nodded. "Thank you."

"You are quite welcome, Daniel Jackson."

"Just one more thing…"

Before Daniel could ask the unicorn pointed its head towards the tree Daniel had been leaning against. "All you need to do is place your hands on either side of the tree trunk and you will find yourself back with your friends."

With that the unicorn took off at a gallop, leaving Daniel alone. He stared at the tree for a long moment then gently placed his palms against it, closing his eyes as he did so. When he opened them again he saw three very bewildered teammates staring back at him.

tbc...