Diagon Alley, London
The hidden enclave of magical commerce had never seen so many people squeezed into the long shopping alley. It was mid morning, and the sun shone brightly down on the crowd of wizards, witches, Goblins, Vampires, a few Centaurs and House-elves to name but a few. Not a single member of this crowd had come to do any shopping though. None were there to peruse for a new cauldron, buy new spellbooks, select Potions ingredients from the Apothecary, or to look for a new animal familiar. There was a din of excitement and celebration in the air. Every single head in the Alley was faced towards the end of it, where the snowy-white building that housed Gringotts Bank stood. A stage platform had been erected in front of the silver doors that protected entry to the Bank; on which stood a group of figures and an open casket.
Most prominent amongst the group on stage was Harry Potter resplendent in a set of fresh set of silver, gold and white Alteran robes and behind him stood Albus Dumbledore and a number of Aurors. Harry raised his staff into the air and a sudden hush fell upon the crowd.
"My fellow magical beings," stated Harry, his voice carrying itself all along the Alley. "It is true, what you have heard over the Wireless. Three days ago a Resistance Task Force led by Albus Dumbledore and myself liberated Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…" There were cries of jubilation and victorious fists were raised into the air, Harry raised his staff again, and silence was prompted again, "…and in this second Battle of Hogwarts we have scored a massive victory against the darkness! Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband are both dead…" more victory exclamations were heard, "Severus Snape is in Resistance custody! Fenrir Greyback fell at the hands of Remus Lupin!" quite a few parents in the crowd breathed sighs of relief, as Voldemort had used Fenrir the werewolf as a spear of terror into parents hearts by threatening to infect their children with Lycanthropy. "Every Death Eater that was at Hogwarts is either dead or captured, the Dementors inhabiting the castle were scattered, and Vampires of the enemy were destroyed."
There were more cheers.
"But the price of this victory was high," said Harry gravely, "many Aurors, Goblins, Vampires and House-elves gave their lives for it. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten. They sacrificed their futures for our own. Every single friendly casualty in the battle will permanently memorialized in the Entrance Hall in Hogwarts. So that future generations will never forget of the blood that was spilt for them upon the altar of freedom!"
"It is also true…that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, You-Know-Who, the Dark Lord, Voldemort, Tom Marvolo Riddle…is utterly and finally dead!"
Albus raised his wand and the open casket was tilted in mid-air to face the crowd, who gasped in astonishment. The corpse of Riddle with the massive hole in his chest was clear for all to see. Around the body were various trinkets…a cup, a locket, a ring, a frazzled diary, a burnt quill and most gruesomely the head of a large snake.
Harry launched into a brief explanation of Horcruxes and how Riddle used them to ensure he would remain within the realm of the living. He also explained how he also had apparently cheated death via Ascension…just as Merlin had done…and a visual demonstration of his brilliant white tendril-like aura obviously helped to prove his point.
"But let us not forget, that there will still be difficult times ahead! A time of rebirth! There are still members of Riddle's inner circle at large and while it's the Resistance's hope that they will be captured or killed soon, we must remain vigilant, for they will be desperate. And there is nothing more dangerous than an enemy near the moment of his defeat."
"Hear, hear," shouted a few members of the crowd.
"As such, until the situation is normalized the Resistance will continue to function as it has always done in the height of the darkness. Judging by the last time Voldemort's first reign ended, it will be a six months to a year before the Resistance will begin efforts to establish a government. However," said Harry his eyes becoming hard, "the stagnant, bigoted, monolithic beast that was the former Ministry of Magic will not be re-established!"
The brought astonished muttering from the crowd.
"Its policies marginalized numerous magical races and drove those races into the scheming web of Riddle's empty promises and lies. The werewolves, vampires and Giants especially! It also drove wedges amongst wizards…the so-called purity of blood; how many Muggleborns have fled the British Isles because of the war, diminishing their vital input into magical society? How many have died needlessly?"
"Therefore, the supreme governing body of Magical Britain will be the Council of Magical Races! Any matters whether economic or legal that affects all Magical Races will be the concern of all! While each race will retain its own sovereignty in matters that only effects itself."
"Now most of you will wonder how wizardom will govern itself then without a Ministry," he went on, "the answer to that after consultation with the Council of Magical Races and all former Ministry employees in exile is as follows: Executive Power in the new government for witches and wizards will never belong to a single individual; the bumbling and denial of Cornelius Fudge and face-saving of Scrimgeour nearly dragged us down into the abyss…never again!" The crowd cheered in response. "Instead, Power will be vested in a Supreme Council of Nine wizards and witches, selected by the Goblet of Fire. The identities of the Nine will remain secret, even they will not know who the other members are, and magical means will be employed to prevent them from knowing each other."
"The former Departments of the Ministry will be reformed under the Supreme Council and the Department Heads will appear before them to be issued orders and consulted on affairs of government. Further more pertinent details will be communicated through the Wireless and Owl Post to each magical household in the country."
"Now who could possibly become a Supreme Council member? Who do we trust with such a vital task? Only those who knows what its like to be at the bottom should rule from the top! Therefore, anyone who calls the British Isles their home can submit their name to the Goblet of Fire. Your next-door neighbor, the ordinary shopkeeper, your average Joe Wizard or Jane Witch could be a Council member, it doesn't matter…the Goblet will select those most worthy. Furthermore an obvious age restriction will be placed on those who can submit their names…you have to be between thirty and seventy years to submit your name. The upper age limit is there because there is only one constant in the Universe…change, and if wizardom does not change with the rest of world, it will stagnate and die! Such is the way of all things. Too often have the old graybeards sat in their Wizengamot seats to administrate over wizardom with antiquated points of view that have no bearing on vital issues facing the modern world and not addressing them! Tom Riddle…who became Voldemort was not a product of blood, but of a failure in the past to address the needs of orphaned magical children left to rot during World War 2."
Harry stopped speaking and gave a brief look at the astonished and solemn crowd.
"I leave you with these few thoughts…a truly noble man once said; 'think not what can be done for you, but what you can do for others.' While I say, the uncertain future is upon us, meet it with open eyes and minds, accept that which is different, for only with that can come true Enlightenment…"
Harry flared his aura into the visible spectrum and his form was blurred with white light, which with a chiming sound flashed and he was transported away.
Hogwarts
The aftermath of the second Battle and Harry's announcement would be felt far into the future in the annals of wizard history mused Albus Dumbledore to himself as he sat in his old Headmaster's Office, which at the moment was but a shade of its former self. Empty shelves and tables, the bookcases gone, no magnificent phoenix to converse with and brighten up the room…at least he had gotten rid of those horrid black curtains which had covered the great windows and also uncovered the numerous portraits of former Headmasters and Headmistresses whom were all delighted to see the light of day again.
He had been spending most of the morning filling in the exceedingly curious portraits of events and happenings. The main topic of intrigue had of course been about Harry…the topic of Ascension received its fair share of speculation, especially by the portrait of Dilys Derwent, the former Head Healer of St Mungo's Hospital.
"It would be interesting to see the specifics of what is needed to achieve it…" commented Dilys.
Albus nodded and was interrupted from replying when there was a knock on his Office door.
"Come in, Hermione," he said with a smile.
The brunette witch opened the door and closed it behind her, looking rather haggard but seemingly in slightly higher spirits than he ever remembered her being for a long time.
"Albus," she nodded and glanced up at the portraits, "I see you've been doing some redecorating."
"I thought it was long since time that they are displayed again," he said solemnly, "any luck on your end?"
"No one's seen no hide nor hair of Harry since the public address," she said with a rather sad sigh.
"He told us himself that he could not remain among us forever and that his time here is limited," said Albus solemnly.
"He could have at least said goodbye in person," she complained.
"And I will do so but only after a necessary conversation and a cup of tea," said a voice from the other side of the office. Hermione and Albus snapped their heads to the source of the voice. Harry stood there, still clad in those unique robes of his with his staff clutched in his right hand, and a lopsided grin on his face with sheer joy that shone from his emerald eyes.
"Harry!" and Hermione assaulted him with her characteristic bear hug. He chuckled at her antics and returned the hug.
"You didn't think I would leave without saying goodbye did you?" he said with a raised eyebrow, looking down at her.
"Well, you've become all mysterious and secretive and vague…and a lot of other things too numerous to mention…can you blame me?" she fired back.
"Perhaps not," he admitted and stepped out of her embrace. He greeted Albus with a handshake and a one armed hug. "It's good to see you again, old man."
"Indeed, my boy," nodded Albus.
"Well, I promised a cup of tea," said Harry with a mischievous looking grin, looking at both his friends, and raised a finger "stand absolutely still." Both Albus and Hermione looked at him in confusion, when Harry mentally contacted the Achilles AI and all three were encased in the white light of a transporter and winked out of the office.
They reappeared in a delightfully appointed circular room with three soft beige armchairs facing each other and a coffee table between them with a tea set ready for use. The walls were slightly curved and colored in soft grays, silver and white. The roof shone brightly and projected a soft light around the room that seemed to make everything slightly glow with an equally soft radiance. It gave a warm feeling of comfort, yet there was a slight din that resonated through the air that Harry knew neither Albus nor Hermione understood.
"It almost feels like when going through the teleport at Glastonbury," said Hermione looking around the room and frowning as she inwardly tried to catalogue the feeling. Harry smiled at her tenacious drive to understand everything around her and merely gestured for the two to sit. He leant his staff against his own armchair and sat down and began serving them tea.
When they had a saucer and cup in their hands he began.
"Welcome to my home away from home, so to speak," said Harry with a grin. "I call this place 'Achilles'"
"Strange name for a place or a home for that matter," murmured Hermione taking a sip of her tea.
"In reference to the Greek Hero, of course," said Albus, "it has some significance?" he asked of Harry.
"Yes, but it will not make sense to you," said Harry, "I obviously admire some qualities of Achilles and even identify with him in some respects but not all. But I digress, you recall in my speech in Diagon Alley that I referred to an uncertain future? Well, I am here to enlighten you on some avenues that future may take and how appropriate steps must be taken by the magical world to prepare itself."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"You recall I told you that there are battles to be fought beyond this world? That the fight against Voldemort was but a minor struggle," his guests nodded looking slightly disgruntled, "I don't mean to demean it, the greatest battle is fought within the heart, between good and evil and in that respect this War was a titanic struggle…no, I am merely talking in reference to its scale."
"Beyond the world…large scale…" murmured Hermione, clearly trying to reason it out.
"Let me help that thought process, Hermione," said Harry with a cheeky grin. "You are about to witness something that fewer than a hundred people have ever seen." He gestured with his hand to one of the curved walls and there was a drone of noise and the wall slid down to reveal the beautiful blue and speckled white orb of Earth dominating the lower part of the large viewport while the inky blackness of space stretched into infinity above it.
Hermione had frozen with her cup halfway to her mouth as her wide eyes took in the scenery from out the window. Albus blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes as if clearing it and stared transfixed at the Earth. They remained like this for a few seconds trying to comprehend it and suddenly the tableau was broken when there was clinking of a teacup breaking as Hermione rushed out of her seat towards the large viewport and taking in the scene with fascination.
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Albus standing at a more gingerly pace and joined Hermione staring out at the planet of their birth from mid-orbit. Harry allowed them their time to 'take it all in', and when it had passed the inevitable storm of rapid-fire questions deluged from her.
"There's no window? Why aren't we weightless? Is this a space ship or just an illusion? How did you get it? Why are we here? What…"
"Whoah, whoah," said Harry is exasperation, standing up and coming to stand behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders; sending feelings of calm and relaxation through her. Her wild incredulous eyes died down a bit and she let out a heavy breath and visibly deflated from the tension and fear leaving her. "I will answer most of your questions that you both have, but only those that you need to know," he looked at the visibly stunned Albus and moved a hand to his shoulder to snap him out of it.
"So?" asked Hermione with a touch of exasperation, gesturing to the view out the window.
"Yes, we are on a ship that travels in the void between stars," nodded Harry, "and Albus can most assuredly tell you this is not an illusion. Albus?"
The old man took a rasping breath as if he was struggling to master his own emotions and said, "What is beyond is no illusion Hermione…I can sense that quite clearly."
"And weightlessness?"
"A field of energy that emanates from the floor, creating an artificial gravitational attraction to itself, I bet you can think of a spell that has the same effect?"
"An inverted Levicorpus…anti-gravity mist…I'll have to research any other ones," she said with a frown.
"How does it travel between the stars?" asked Albus, who had seemingly recovered sufficiently for his prodigious intelligence to come forward. "I was a rather accomplished Astronomer in my day and the sheer distances between them means any theoretical journey would take lifetimes."
"True," said Harry, "however, to explain this to you in terms you would understand is quite…a challenge, hmmm," he mused, "Ah, I got it. Our Universe or Reality is much like an onion. The one we naturally occupy is the outer layer of the onion. In this outer layer we are constrained by Einstein's Laws of Motion that a body or object cannot exceed the speed of light without access to near infinite energy. And even if we did have Infinite energy it would still take years to cross interstellar distances, not to mention the relativistic effects of Time…the closer you get to the speed of light the more time slows down for you."
"So the answer is simple…burrow a hole in our 'natural' layer and go deeper into the onion…a place simply called 'Subspace' where those pesky Laws of Motion don't apply any more."
"Isn't that…dangerous? Burrowing a hole in the fabric of reality?" asked Hermione with wide eyes.
"Of course it is," said Harry with an astonished look, "but not if you take certain precautions and have knowledge of how to do it properly. With this ship, at full power, I could jump to Proxima Centauri in less than a second."
"Wow," breathed Hermione in awe. Albus merely shook his head in silent astonishment.
"Now, I need to show you the reason why I disclosed this to you," explained Harry, turned away from them and picked up his staff. "Follow me." Albus and Hermione stepped in his wake as they approached the other side of the room. A door parted seamlessly out of the wall and he led the way into the octagonal corridors of the ship. Harry noticed how Hermione looked absolutely fascinated with the mathematical design of the corridors and various odds and ends in it…the buttons, the lights and so forth. He also noticed that Albus was eyeing the various signs on the hallways that were written in Alteran…no doubt he had made the connection to Merlin's Journal.
"Ah, here we are," said Harry and waved his hand over a panel next to a large door. It split open automatically and they entered an octagonal sided room. On the ceiling and floor were glowing, raised transparent panels slotted together to form a hexagram that faced each other. On one end of the hexagram nearest to the door was a raised pillar. Harry walked over to it and placed his hand on it; the pillar's flat surface immediately glowed blue and he sent mental instructions to the computer. There was a ringing sound and a flash of a transporter and a large transparent tank containing a special clear fluid appeared just off to his right. "Come closer," gestured Harry to the other two. They hesitantly complied and looked into the cylindrical tank. Swimming inside was what Hermione initially thought a snake. Then she noticed the little details that made this thing hardly a snake…she noticed the fins, the sharp four pronged mandibles, the crystal eyes…
"What is that?" she breathed. Harry looked at her gravely.
"The enemy," he answered simply.
"It doesn't seem very dangerous," mused Albus with narrowed eyes, "then again, appearances can be deceiving. Am I right?"
"Indeed," said Harry. "What you are looking at is a parasitic alien species…that finds the human body a very nice place to live and control." He turned towards the pillar again and in between the raised hexagons a hologram appeared showing a rendered human torso and an animation of a Goa'uld symbiote entering it; wrapping itself around the spinal column and extending neural links into the back of the brain. Harry proceeded to give a brief history of how nine thousand odd years ago the Goa'uld encountered Earth and found that humanity was a superior host than the previous bipedal lizard like first hosts on the ancient Goa'uld homeworld. How they posed as Gods of various Classical Pantheons and took humanity and seeded them on other worlds to use as slaves. How the physically strongest humans were genetically altered into the Jaffa warrior race. He also showed them a strategic map of the Galaxy. And gave an overview of the Feudal System Lords. Afterwards, to say that they were again overwhelmed would be an understatement and Harry had to soothe Hermione empathically with his hands.
"Harry…w…why…show us this?" muttered Hermione with wide eyes. "What could we possibly do against a race as powerful as…them?"
"I have a feeling that Harry told us the bad news first to get it over with," mused Albus, stroking his beard contemplatively. The old wizard really was a master of his own mind. "And to give us an appreciation of what could happen…you expect there will be an invasion of Earth?"
"It's possible," conceded Harry. "But unlikely. Albus is correct. I gave you the bad part first…now for the good. Earth is protected via treaty by a race more powerful than the Goa'uld; the Asgard. They represent a 'good' Pantheon of Gods or 'aliens' that was present on Earth…namely the Vikings. I'm good friends with them and I represent them on Earth." Harry brought up a hologram of a typical Asgard.
"That's uncanny," said Hermione, latching on to the familiar image. "Those look like the Roswell Greys."
"Sad story that," nodded Harry. "But not really important to the matter at hand. The problem with the Asgard is that they actually call another Galaxy their home and they are currently occupied with a war there. Very limited resources and ships can be spared to maintain the Protected Planets Treaty. However, they have gained a decisive advantage and within another few months expect complete victory over their enemy. After which they have promised to aid Earth in its various endeavors."
"Also, weighing in on our side is also a 'sub species' of symbiotes, they take human hosts but it is voluntary on the part of the host and both personalities share consciousness equally, they are known as the Tok'ra or roughly translated 'Resistance.' However, they do not have the military resources of the Goa'uld and are forced to use deception, infiltration, sabotage, and spying to achieve their aims."
"And finally there is a small but growing rebellion among the Jaffa against their Goa'uld masters, it is uncertain whether it will hold out or grow, but with a few more strategic victories…we can but hope."
"You say you represent the Asgard on Earth," said Albus, "that implies that one or more governments know of this."
"Yes," said Harry with a nod. "But I have been authorized by the Asgard to brief you both on it as leading figures of the Resistance and in the future you will be highly placed to influence Magical Britain. At the moment, the United States is the only country aware of the full situation."
"Why?" said Hermione looking indignant. "This is a threat to the entire planet and they hoard the knowledge of it!"
"Initially, because America had the only device capable of allowing Interstellar travel without the use of a starship," said Harry and a hologram appeared of the Stargate; which he began to explain, its use, how it was found in Giza 1928 and how it was finally deciphered fully in 1995 with the first team going through and resuming its use two years later with the establishment of the SGC after Apophis came through the gate.
"So the American military is involved in the struggle as well," said Albus with a sigh, shaking his head. "Americans exploring the Galaxy, God help us."
"Just what can they do against the Goa'uld?" asked Hermione dubiously.
"Oh, you'd be surprised just how effective Earth is at throwing a spanner in the works," said Harry with a chuckle. He gave a brief summation of how some System Lords met their end at the hands of the soldiers and teams of the SGC. Ra got very familiar with a nuke ringed aboard his Ha'tak. Apophis'first attack on Earth thwarted by cunning sabotage of his ships. Hathor chucked into a cryogenic pit. Apophis's fleet got toasty with a Supernova while the Asgard took care of him personally. Sokar became a bright firework with his ship above his homeworld. Chronus dead at the hands of Teal'C. And various other tactical successes.
"But anyway, the Americans realize they can't foot the bill in money and manpower to fight this war on its own, so plans are underway to disclose this information to countries that can provide strategic and material resources for this fight. Obviously any technological gains made in the interim by America will be shared and disclosed fully, something I intend to make personally sure of."
"So what do you feel we, as in Magical Britain, could contribute?" said Albus with a frown. "This fight is quite out of our league."
"My only intention was to inform you of the situation," explained Harry gravely. "So that if we fail in preventing a large scale attack and invasion of Earth that you would not be wholly surprised by it. And in the interim you could take subtle steps to prepare the Magical Races for this eventuality." There was a flash of light and a laptop computer appeared in front of Hermione's feet. She gingerly picked it up and opened it.
"Seems ordinary," she commented.
"Only on the surface," said Harry with grin. "I've modified so it can work in any area like Hogwarts. It actually draws power from the ambient energy of Earth's electromagnetic field…so you don't have to worry about recharging it. It carries more detailed information on everything you've learned here today. I also included a few recommendations of skills and spells that should be learned to counter any Jaffa and/or Goa'uld. The information is keyed to your DNA and unique magical signature, so no one else can access the data."
She nodded and tucked the laptop under her arm.
"Also, there might come a time when I ask for either or both of your assistance. I am only one person and often two or three heads are better than one. I will try to be discreet about it, but often time will be against us and I might need to teleport you out from whatever you are doing."
"Any further questions?"
"I have millions," said Hermione chuckling ruefully, "but I'm sure this," she pointed to the laptop, "will answer all or most of them."
"I have a question in addition to the millions, that I hope you can address," said Albus his eyes twinkling in mirth. Harry nodded giving permission to ask them. "I noticed that this ship is filled with the script in Merlin's Journal…is this an indication that Merlin was an…alien?" Harry smiled with a great grin at that question.
"No, Merlin was not 'technically' an alien as such," answered Harry chuckling. "He belongs to the ancient race that built the Stargates. A race that we have many names for…the Ancients, the Gatebuilders, the Alterans, the Builders of Roads."
"Bane called you an Ancient One," said Hermione with wide eyes.
"And there you have it," said Harry with a triumphant grin, and he didn't even have to break Merlin's rules to do it. "I am genetically an Ancient One…what does that make you Hermione, Albus?" The old wizard frowned for a moment in thought before his eyes widened in astonishment.
"Are you saying," said Albus seriously, "that the origin of our power, of wizardry, is because we are…descendants of this Ancient race?"
"I can't confirm or deny, you'll have to make up your own mind," said Harry, looking apologetic, "Merlin left behind some rather strict rules about how he envisioned wizardom to move forward…to enlighten you as to our true origins is against his wishes."
"But isn't that what you've just done?" asked Hermione incredulously.
"No," said Harry looking astonished, "you've drawn a conclusion from circumstantial evidence and my words. And my words could be all a load of tripe."
"Oh," said Hermione with an air of enlightenment, "how very Slytherin of you. You're talking between the lines and all that."
"And it's not like you have any hard evidence," said Harry with a lopsided grin, "I mean…who would believe that I've just whisked you out of Hogwarts onto a starship that can travel the Galaxies? Unless they'd seen it with their own eyes."
"No one," said Hermione rather disgustedly, "they'd think we've gone bonkers."
"Precisely," said Harry with a soft grin, "and now it's time to part ways…for the time being. The Galaxy needs saving." Hermione nodded and stepped forward to give him a long hug, but as she parted it seemed she instinctually grabbed him by the head and dived into teary, near soul wrenching kiss. He allowed her this last moment and after they separated she wiped her eyes clear rather furiously and sniffed.
Harry and Albus also exchanged a one-arm hug. "Until we meet again," said the old wizard somberly.
"It will be so, God speed," said Harry with a nod and stepped back. He raised his hand in goodbye and after a mental order to the AI, both wizard and witch were encased in white light there was a chiming noise and they were transported back into Hogwarts.
"I will miss them both," said a longing voice from behind Harry. He turned around and regarded the two figures that had appeared there.
"They will find their way along the path," said Harry looking at the vital, and healthy form of his identical cloned brother, dressed in the black robes of a Hogwarts student.
"They are both needed in the 'magical world' Harold, especially at this critical juncture in its history," said Oma Desala, the other stately dressed figure, addressing Harry's brother by his formal name to differentiate between the two.
"Yeah," said Harold with a sigh, "I just hope I can see her again soon."
"You will," said Harry confidently, "now that she knows of the Path of Ascension, do you really think that she wouldn't try it after a living a full life on this plane of existence?"
"Knowing her," said Harold with a chuckle, "I wouldn't be surprised if she bullies the knowledge out of Albus eventually."
Harry nodded in agreement, "Now, I think it's time that I get back to my children, Apollonia is already grumbling about my absence for this as it is."
"Congratulations, by the way," said Harold with a thumbs up.
"Thanks," said Harry with a grin, "now you behave yourself on the higher plane, Ok? Listen to Oma. She helped you Ascend as a favor to me, it would be poor form to go and repay her and me by having the other Ascended slap you back down for a serious rule infraction."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand," said Harold.
"It's time," said Oma with a hand on Harold's shoulder.
"See ya later," said Harry with a nonchalant wave as both figures dissolved into bright beings of coalescent white energy with multiple squid like tendrils. They both moved through the air as if moving through water and a moment later vanished.
Infirmary, SGC, Earth
There weren't words to describe Harry's feelings as he held two sleeping bundles on either arm and surveyed their plump little peaceful faces. Doctor Frasier had decided to follow the long custom of wrapping the two babies according to color depending on their gender…hence pink and blue. He felt like he could stare at them all day long…they were beautiful and perfect and…well, words cannot convey the spirit, so he did not bother to try and rationalize his feelings in his mind. He looked up from where he was sitting towards the bed the twins' tired mother was sleeping in. His heart burst with emotion again and he thanked the Infinite Creator for blessing him with this wonderful woman to carry and bring his children into the world.
If he'd open his mind to Universe it would seem as if he was carrying two stars in his arms…instead of babies, so bright was the essence of their beings.
He heard the tapping of high heels behind and Doc Frasier came into view and gave a smile and nod in his direction as she discreetly checked his wife's vitals and made notes of them on a medical clipboard.
"How are you feeling?" she whispered.
"It's difficult to explain," he answered with a grin in return.
"I can only imagine," said Doc ruefully. "I mean, I know I've got Cassie but she was adopted, and my career has pretty much come first in my life…hardly have time for a boyfriend or husband."
"If only raising Cassandra is what makes you happy in this life, then do it, Doc," said Harry with a twinkling eye.
"Yeah," said Janet softly, "it's just, seeing you and Apollonia go through these moments…it makes me slightly envious." With that Janet finished and headed back to her main office. Harry remained by his wife's bedside for the next hour, occasionally getting up to stretch his legs. To prevent the movement from waking his two sleeping infants he created a slight levitation effect so that they hovered just above his arms as he walked.
"Don't do that," came a sleepy voice from the bed. Harry smiled at his wife as she sat up and yawned.
"Do what, my dear?"
"Levitate them," she answered with a pointed look. He smiled sheepishly and let the two infants softly lower into his arms. He walked over and handed one of them carefully to his wife. She carefully cradled the girl in her arms and looked lovingly at her for a moment.
"How are you feeling?"
"Physically I've been better," she said ruefully. "But emotionally I've never been as happy as I am now." Harry nodded in understanding. "It's amazing if you think about it," she continued, "I'm a mother. I mean ten years ago I was training to be a Priestess and remain a virgin for the rest of my life and now…" She laughed and her eyes fell on the infant in her arms again.
"We make plans for our future," said Harry with a grin, "and the Creator laughs at us."
"Too true," she said.
"I love you," said Harry his eyes dead serious, meeting hers. "Together we made both these little miracles."
"And I you," she said stroking his face lovingly and communing in shared feelings for a moment. "And I would hardly call these 'little'." Harry grinned in agreement.
"So what's been happening around here lately?" asked Harry.
"Well, since Apophis' death, things have been rather quiet on the Goa'uld front, at least where Earth is concerned," said Apollonia. "However, the System Lords have returned to their feudal ways and are fighting each other again."
"That's good for us, at least," stated Harry.
"We had one close call though," said Apollonia, looking grim. "We found a very powerful weapon system on a decimated world called Velona. To make a long story short, the weapon system was built under the guidance of a sympathetic Ascended Ancient called Orlin, who wanted to help the people resist the Goa'uld. They resisted all right and the Goa'uld were defeated, but it turned out that the people turned their eyes towards conquest afterwards."
"Oh boy," said Harry with a sigh, knowing the level of belief the Ancients had about non-interference and free will. "The other Ascended stepped in at that point, didn't they?"
"To put it mildly," said Apollonia with wide eyes. "They destroyed the people of Velona and banished Orlin onto the planet surface to watch the consequences of his own actions. SG1's presence afforded Orlin an opportunity to escape to Earth. The SGC and the Pentagon was of course interested in the weapon as well. But they and I did not understand the true origins of the weapon at the time, nor what the Ancients would do if Earth benefited from it as well."
"Oh, that's just great," said Harry in exasperation, "that would be the supreme irony, after all my efforts to secure Earth and save it, and then it would be all for naught when my Ancient ancestors swoop down and wipe us out to balance the books again."
"Indeed," she said dryly, "Orlin had in the meantime retaken human form…I think he was rather smitten with Sam…so he could be with her. Of course, the NID had other ideas, and tried to apprehend him but he managed to make a one use Stargate in her house's basement to escape back to Velona and prevent the weapon test but was killed in the process. He ascended with help from the Ancients who apparently felt he had been punished enough."
"Next time I see Oma, I should tell her to pass along my thanks to him," said Harry with a relieved grin. "Anything else?"
"Oh yeah, I had to take SG1 on the Briseus to a planet called K'Tau. Their initial trip through the Stargate to the planet had inadvertently gone though the System's sun," said Apollonia, looking pointedly at her husband, knowing he didn't need her to explain what that would happen if this occurred. Harry knew that since the Dialing computer was of Terran origin that it wouldn't have many of the Alteran safety protocols built into the DHD devices that controlled the Stargates across the Galaxy. Hence the Stargate wouldn't be instructed to 'bend' the wormhole around the K'Tau sun.
"A superheavy element contaminated the fusion reaction within the sun," concluded Harry with a raised eyebrow.
"It changed the sunlight to…what did Sam say…oh, it shifted the sun to radiate in the infrared frequency," she said with a frown. Harry had over the years managed to educate his wife to a reasonable level in the sciences but she still struggled with some aspects, despite his best efforts. He hoped that she would soon approach that 'door' within her mind that held the legacy of their Ascended ancestors and allow some of that knowledge and understanding to come forward. "They also first had to convince another civilian scientist to part with his life's work in creating a similar artificial superheavy element…a Dr Maclaren."
"Giving him a tour of this place ought to have done the trick," speculated Harry with a grin. He filed the name away in the back of his mind…he was definitely going to speak to Dr Maclaren on helping with the 'anti-matter' research.
"When Dr Maclaren learned that his new element would help save an entire civilization and planet he obviously agreed, Sam even said she would file the request to have his new element named after him," she said with a pleased smile.
"He deserves that," agreed Harry immediately.
The Infirmary doors opened and Sam herself walked in dressed in casual green BDUs with a happy smile on her face as she spied the couple.
"Good evening, Sam," said Apollonia with a grin.
"Hey, Sam," waved Harry.
"Good evening you two," said the Major fondly. "How are our little guests today?"
"Still sleeping," said Harry grinning at the sleeping form of his baby son.
"Have you given any thoughts as to names? Because Teal'C apparently wants to do some or other Jaffa blessing for the newborns and he has been…persistent that I ask you." Harry stared at his wife and met her eyes, for a few moments they just looked at each other and then blinked and nodded.
"The boy's name will be Jason," said Harry.
"The girl's name is Alexandra," said Apollonia.
"Nice," said Sam with a grin and turned to Harry. "That incoming wormhole a few hours ago had a message from Tollana."
"Oh?"
"We, as in SG1 and you, have been invited to attend a funeral," said Sam her smile fading somewhat.
"Who?"
"Omoc," said Sam.
"Damn," said Harry with a frown. "I didn't like the guy but…does it mention how he died?"
"Heart attack, apparently," she said.
"When is it scheduled for?"
"Two days from now."
"Well, I guess I should go and pay my last respects then," said Harry matter-of-factly.