As soon as the white light vanished, Harry saw it begin to engulf him again. Before they disappeared, he caught a glimpse of a large window, with a big blue blob and lots of stars outside it. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that he'd just seen Earth from space. The blue blob looked a lot like the pictures from his old muggle schoolbooks.
Once the light died down for the second time, Harry looked around the room in which they now stood. It was not very large, big enough to fit a long table with a white board at the end and leave enough space for people to move about. It seemed to be a briefing room, not unlike the one he used at the Auror headquarters. The walls were beige, the table black with a red trim. A number of chairs sat around it.
The door opened, and a heavy-set man with graying black hair strode into the room. "General! Good, now that you're here we can move things along. I gather you'll be joining SG-1 and the others?"
"Yeah," Jack said from Harry's right. The man was standing behind him, but now he moved forwards. "Good to see you, Hank."
"And you, sir." The other man said. "Dr. Jackson, I believe Mitchell and the others are gearing up." Daniel nodded and left, understanding Hank's unspoken request. "Who's this?" He motioned to Harry.
"Harry Potter, sir. Head of Britain's DMS." Harry shook hands with the man.
"General Hank Landry." The other introduced himself. "I gather you're aware of what we do here?"
"Yes, sir, I am." Harry said.
Hank nodded and eyed Jack. "Then I assume that you're here to help us with our current crisis?"
Harry shot Jack a worried glance, but the older man waved him off. "He's alright, Harry. He knows what's going on with all this. You'll have to tell the teams we're working with, which are-"Jack stopped. "Who's all coming with us?"
"SG's 5-9, and SG-1." Hank answered. "You'll also be working with SGA-1, but you can have them train their people, since they've got wizard allies over there."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Can we just have them train everyone, then? I'd rather keep this as much of a secret as possible."
Jack shrugged. "It's up to you, but I'd tell SG-1 and SGA-1 at the very least. Your buddy'll be working close with them, and if she's said anything about being a witch to SGA-1, they'll put two and two together anyways."
"For the others," Hank interrupted, "We can tell them you're an expert on the non-magical theories of magic and that the IOA thought you should tag along. Won't make you very popular with our teams, but it'll keep them from asking too many questions."
Harry nodded and relaxed a bit. It was a believable story, and he knew enough about the muggle world to pass as a muggle.
"When do we leave?" Jack asked.
"In ten minutes. The others are making their way to the 'gateroom now." Hank motioned behind the two, to a window Harry hadn't noticed before.
He gaped at the scene before them. A large stone ring sat at the far end of the iron room below, and twenty or so people were milling around in military gear, packing up crates of weapons and supplies. Harry noticed Daniel amongst them, out of his business suit and dressed instead in a black t-shirt, a green vest, and camouflage BDU's. He had a machine gun at his side. To his right, a woman with long black hair was bouncing about him. Harry was reminded vaguely of Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil, but this woman looked more dangerous than either of them. He looked at Jack. "Should we join them?"
Jack nodded, smirking as the woman clung to Daniel's free arm. The archeologist's expression was one of extremely stretched patience. "Yeah, let's go greet the kiddos." All three men left the room, headed down a hallway to an elevator, and then headed down another hallway to the large room that was once below them.
"O'Neill!" A voice boomed just as they entered the room. "DanielJackson informed us that you would be joining us." They turned to the right, and a large man with gold metal imprinted on his forehead approached. The only person Harry knew larger than him was Hagrid, and he was half-giant. "It is good to see you."
"You too, Teal'c." Jack said, smiling. He shook hands with his friend and patted the man's shoulder. "Where's the rest of the team?"
"ColonelMitchell remains in the locker room." Teal'c said. "ValaMalDoran and DanielJackson are near the Stargate." Now Jack saw them – just where they'd been not a minute before, Vala still clinging to Daniel's arm. Teal'c looked pointedly at Harry. "I do not believe we have been introduced."
Harry shook his head. "Harry Potter." He shook the man's hand, and with a nod from Jack he explained why he was there. "Jack asked me to help with Atlantis's… er… problem."
Teal'c nodded once. "GeneralO'Neill is an honorable warrior. To be chosen by him is a great privilege."
"Stop it, Teal'c, you're embarrassing me." Jack admonished. "Harry here's saved the world, too, but that's something of a secret between him and SG-1."
Teal'c inclined his head again. "Indeed. It is my hope that we will vanquish many enemies together, HarryPotter."
Teal'c's mannerisms and speech patterns reminded Harry of the centaurs. "Er, thanks." He said sheepishly. They fell into an awkward silence.
"Well," General Landry said, breaking the quiet, "I'll leave you to it, then, General. Get everyone ready; you'll be departing in" he glanced at his watch "six minutes. Good luck." Hank left them standing in the bustling 'gateroom.
Jack nodded. "Teal'c can show you around, Potter. Have him introduce you to the rest of the team." He then turned to an Airman and started taking control of the preparation activities.
"This way, HarryPotter." Teal'c led Harry to where Daniel and the woman were standing. "DanielJackson, ValaMalDoran, this is HarryPotter. He will be assisting us in the coming battles."
"We've met." Daniel said, smiling at Harry.
Vala eyed the newcomer. He was attractive, with his messy black hair sticking everywhere and his emerald green eyes. He seemed extremely fit, too. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Potter." She stuck her hand out at him. Daniel gave her a warning look, but she pretended not to notice.
Harry grasped her hand tightly. "Call me Harry, please."
"Are we ready?" A new voice asked, this time coming from a man around Harry's height with bright blue eyes and brown hair.
"Took you long enough, Cameron." Vala turned from Harry. She wandered over to where he was standing and gripped his arm. So it's part of her personality, then, Harry thought with a glance to Daniel. He filed the information away for later.
Cameron rolled his eyes. "I don't see you helping the other teams get their gear ready to go." His voice was teasing.
"I just got my nails done," Vala said, as if that cleared her from any work. "It'd be a shame to break one now."
Harry snorted. When she tossed him a dirty look, he explained, "Sorry, you sounded like one of my friends' ex girlfriends just now. I swear all she ever talked about was clothing and nail polish." He shook his head, but winced when he remembered exactly who 'Lav-Lav' had clung to during their sixth year.
"At least someone has some sense." Vala said, forcing Harry to stop himself from laughing too hard.
"A Brit, huh?" Cameron interrupted. "The accent's unmistakable."
"Harry Potter." Harry introduced himself, shaking the man's hand. "I work with Britain's DMS. Jack thought my area of expertise could prove useful in this situation."
Comprehension dawned on Cameron's face. "A wizard, huh? Didn't know we had those on Earth."
Harry looked around. The other teams were steering clear of this group as they got everything together. He nodded. "There are, but we prefer to keep our society a secret. Only your team and SGA-1 will know my true – er – training, I guess you could say. To everyone else, I'm a consultant the IOA brought in on muggle theories of magic."
"Muggle?" Cameron asked.
"Non-magical folk." Harry explained. He frowned. "Sorry, but I don't think I ever caught your full name."
"Colonel Cameron Mitchell, US Air Force." Cameron said. "I'm in charge of SG-1."
Harry nodded. He recalled Daniel and Jack talking about him during the meeting earlier that day. "It's a pleasure, sir."
Before anyone could say anything further, Jack strode by them and climbed up the ramp. "Alright, campers, it's time to go. Keep your hands and feet inside the wormhole at all times, and whatever you do, steer clear of the ramp until the puddle appears in the center unless you want to be turned into ashes."
Harry looked at Daniel, who was smirking. "The wormhole explodes outwards when it engages and settles into a blue puddle." He explained as the 'gate started activating. "All that's left behind if you're caught by the explosion are your shoes. Just part of the physics of the thing."
"Ah." Harry said, but the comment made him a bit more wary of the big device before him. He watched it with trepidation as they stepped backwards to make more room for the 'explosion' of the wormhole.
And there it was. The blue, water-like material shot out from the center of the 'gate and locked into place. Harry had to admit that the result looked a lot like a puddle. He heard Jack singing softly as he stepped up the 'gate. "Off we go, into the wild blue yonder!" He was cut off when he went through the wormhole.
Harry and the rest of SG-1 climbed the 'gate next, but he let the others go before him. Finally, it was his turn. He took a deep breath and stepped into the wormhole.
Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy
Samantha Carter was happy that everyone was back on Atlantis. John was alright, thanks to some powerful wand-waving by Kleit. He didn't even seem to have a limp in his step, though they said the man couldn't walk very well after they brought him back to Icetower. They'd arrived ten minutes ago, and five minutes after that Madeline Marshall had come back with Ronon, Certus Calhoun, Marcus Ventrius, and Maggie Ventrius. She was sure they'd need all the help they could get, so Sam was more than willing to let the three Lorenians join them.
Now they were awaiting the arrival of the reinforcements from Stargate Command. She'd sent word through the 'gate while the other teams were gone, and they were supposed to be coming any moment now. There. The Stargate powered up. She recognized the address that was locking into place as the one they used for the way station. "Lower the shields," she said to the tech at the controls when he told her it was SG-1's IDC.
Hermione was standing next to Ronon and Sirius in the control room, watching the Stargate activate. Four people came through, none of them she recognized, but obviously Carter did. The Colonel was already down there, greeting the others and smiling, giving them hugs as if they were old friends. They probably were old friends, now that Hermione thought about it. It would certainly explain the behavior.
But then another man caught her attention, one with messy black hair and bright green eyes. This man was tall, wore glasses and a muggle business suit, and stood with an air of confidence and assurance that spoke of heroic deeds in his past. Many she'd met here on Atlantis, such as Ronon, John, Colonel Carter, and Teyla, had the same air of confidence about them. It was not one that a person gained lightly; she only knew of a single cause: that of living through difficult times, whether a war or a battle or some other tragedy in one's life, and rising above it.
She watched his expressions. He was frosty for awhile, just as she had been the first couple of times she used the Stargate, so she gathered that he was new to the project. He was now staring around with wonder and awe – he obviously hadn't been to Atlantis before. He was so dazed, in fact, that when other people started materializing he didn't notice until they pushed him aside so he was out of the way.
"Hey, you alright?" Ronon asked her, giving her a worried look. She'd been fixed on the man below them for nearly two minutes now, and hadn't noticed that she was the only member of the team (besides Ronon) still on the balcony.
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go down there." She followed Ronon down the steps and into the main 'gateroom. She glanced around, looking for her teammates. Rodney was next to Carter, babbling to her about whatever they'd found in Icetower and Northtower. John was talking animatedly with a man who had bright blue eyes and brown hair. Teyla was standing quietly next to John, wearing a soft smile. And Ronon, of course, was just beside her. The Lorenians had remained in the shadows, hidden until the others decided they were needed.
Harry surveyed his surroundings in stunned silence. Never had he imagined that something like this had been erected. Never had he imagined that there was life on other planets, in other galaxies, or that he'd ever meet any of those people.
Oh yes, he saw the 'aliens', the outsiders. There was a tall man standing behind another woman with black hair who looked vaguely familiar for some reason. He had dreadlocks and carried himself the same way many of his Aurors did. Then there were four others, all standing off to the side in shadows. He couldn't see their features clearly, but he could tell that they were wearing long robes. Another woman stood next to a man with black hair. She was tall, had brown hair, and was almost as attractive to him as Ginny, but not quite. She, like the first 'alien', carried herself as any leader would.
"So, Carter, why don't we all get down to business?" Jack was asking the blonde haired woman he was standing beside.
Carter nodded. "Sure. Get SG-1 and your consultant up to the conference room. We'll all talk there." Harry blushed in embarrassment. Had he been introduced without realizing it? Carter noticed his expression. "It's alright, Mr. Potter, Atlantis has that effect on everyone."
Harry smiled. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I was too distracted by the city to catch your name."
"Colonel Samantha Carter, US Air Force, commander of the City of Atlantis." She smiled as she led them up to the next floor. "I answer to Colonel, Carter, or Sam. Take your pick."
"Call me Harry, Colonel." Harry said, deciding he'd stay professional.
A little ways behind them, Hermione was walking with Sirius. "It's good that they brought so many people. It'll help with the repairs we need in the cities we found."
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, it will. It'll make the whole process go quicker. I just hope Machien and Cally are alright." He grimaced. "Whatever happens, I want that bastard Darien for myself."
"Not if I get him first, Certus." Kleit said from Sirius' left.
"He's mine, and that's an order." Sirius said jokingly, but an undercurrent of hatred seeped through his voice and no one laughed.
"Not one I'm inclined to follow, Protector." Kleit said in the same tone Sirius had just used. In the next few minutes, they'd reached their destination, and the others were already sitting down when a gasp of recognition and shock came from the right side of the room.
Harry had just seen Sirius Black. He knew it was Sirius – it had to be. The man had the long, shaggy hair his godfather wore, the same grey eyes, and the menacing look he'd worn in the Wanted posters. But how did he get out here? And why was he amongst the 'aliens' he'd noticed before? Deciding that 'better safe than sorry' was the angle to take here; he pulled out his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the man impersonating his godfather.
"Woah, hold it," Jack said, stepping in between Harry and Sirius. "What's gotten into you, Potter?"
Sirius and Hermione were both staring at Harry with newfound recognition. Sirius simply hadn't seen his godson in the crowd, but now Hermione knew why he looked so familiar. "Harry?" She asked. "It's alright, Harry, he doesn't mean any harm."
He turned to him. "How do you know my name?" So her disguise had worked; it was just too different for anyone from her past to recognize her. "How do you know who I am?"
The room was tense. Her team watched her with concern; they all knew the only 'Harry Potter' to which she could be referring. But why was he here? Obviously he recognized his long-dead godfather - that was why he was pointing the wand at him. Whatever she decided to say, they'd stand behind her. Of that much she was positive.
"Harry," Hermione was starting to choke on her held-back tears. "Harry, it's me."
His eyes widened. "No, no way. How the bloody hell did you manage to get your hair that strait?"
Hermione laughed and jumped forward to hug her long-lost friend. "Put that wand down before you poke someone's eyes out." The tension lightened a little in the room, but it was quickly replaced by confusion so strong it shut out all questions anyone had.
"But he looks like Sirius. He can't be Sirius." Harry said to her. "He can't be Sirius. He was born on another planet, for Merlin's sake."
"I am Sirius, Harry." Sirius spoke up. "Harry, put your wand down."
"You're dead!" Harry said. "I saw you die!"
"Wasn't Sirius your godfather's name?" Jack asked. "The one you thought was dead but found the not-moving painting of?"
"Moving painting?" Mitchell asked, voicing the first question that came to mind.
"Later." Jack said.
Harry nodded in response to Jack's question. "But how could he have come all the way out here? It's not possible!"
"I Ascended, Harry." Sirius said, putting his hands up in a defensive position. "I became pure energy. They - the other Ascended - dropped me off on Lorena, in this galaxy. I have to fulfill a prophecy out here, that's why I didn't come back."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
Glancing at the Lorenians, Sirius motioned for them to come in so the door would close. Once it was shut and everyone was in the room, he turned into his dog form.
With a clatter, Harry dropped his wand. "Sirius." He said, smiling through an onslaught of tears. He went to the dog, who tackled his godson and licked the man's face, tail wagging exuberantly.
Carter looked at Madeline. "You've got some explaining to do, Dr. Marshall."
Hermione just grinned. "Of course, Colonel Carter. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? My name isn't Dr. Madeline Marshall. It's Hermione Granger, and I'm a witch."
A/N: YAY! Another chapter done, and this story's over 40,000 words and counting! Thank you for all of the reviews! With six more reviews, I'll have my first 40K word story AND my first story with 100 reviews! So cool
Oh, and for those who aren't aware, 4th of July is America's Independence Day.