Disclaimer: I don't own either story world. This is just my brain child because I wanted to see what would happen if I combined them together.
Part 1:
"I don't care," Senator Draconis Malfoy, the Dragon of the Senate, snapped as he stormed towards the Chancellor's office, "I am going back to Čarobnjačkom no matter what anyone says. With or without permission, I am leaving Coruscant." Attendents, both his and the Chancellor's, swarmed around him and tried to keep up with his long strides.
When he arrived at the office, Draco burst through the doors. He vaguely registered other people in the room, but his focus was on the man behind the desk. He strode forwards until he was standing in front of the man. "Chancellor Shacklebolt," he said respectfully, nodding in difference, "I request brief leave from session to attend a funeral."
Shacklebolt sighed, glancing at the other people in the room: the other senators pushing for the anti-slavery bill and a representative from the Jedi Council. "I cannot allow that, Senator Malfoy," he said regretfully, "Because you are spearheading the anti-slavery bill, it is in your best interest to not go back to Čarobnjačkom. The political unrest of the panet makes you a target."
Draco scoffed. "They wouldn't dare hurt me. I am their prince," he retorted, "With my cousin's recent death, I am the only one left that can inherit the throne. Even if they don't like me, they need me." He defiantly raised his chin as he stood before the Chancellor. He would not back down; he would be going to the funeral of his favorite cousin.
Shacklebolt watched the young senator for a moment before shaking his head in defeat. "Since you seem set on this infernal course of action, at least take protection with you," he said before turning to the Jedi master, "Master McGonagall, could I possibly request a Jedi Knight to accompany Senator Malfoy?"
The woman smirked. "Of course," she answered, as she glanced at the blond senator, "I know the perfect one. He has just returned to Coruscant from a recruiting mission."
Draco narrowed his eyes as he watched the woman. He did not trust that smirk, but since he was getting his way, he would not argue. He bowed slightly to the Chancellor. "Thank you," he said, "I am ready to leave whenever my Jedi protector is ready." With that, he left the room.
Chancellor Shacklebolt rubbed his temples as the doors closed behind the blond. "Impetuous youth," he muttered. Master McGonagall and the other senators just chuckled.
* ~ . X . ~ *
Harlan Wolfe watched as Master Flitwick led the new recruits further into the Temple to begin their training. He wondered if he was ever that small. That scared. That awed. More than likely, and grateful as well. Very grateful to be saved from his living nightmare that was his life on Čarobnjačkom.
Some of these children were like Harry, were slaves, orphans. Alone in this galaxy. Survivors. But some were the opposite. Those were children of nobility, of merchants, of warriors. In a few moments, each would renounce their old lives and start on the path to become part of something greater than their previous allegiances.
Harry turned when he heard someone call out his name. He smiled in greeting when he saw the Lupyne. "Remus," he said as his mentor came up to him. It had been three years since they had seen each other. Remus had been stationed near the outer rim to keep the peace in a power struggle between two systems and the Hutts, and Harry had been part of the Temple Guard. They hugged silently, because neither of them were loud people; they were the silent and watchful types.
When they pulled apart, Remus smiled as he fixed Harry's head scarf, making sure the marks were still covered like the younger man wanted. "You look well, Harlan," the Knight said, "How was the trip?" The unspoken question was, 'How are you holding up after the recruiting mission?' Remus knew it would dredge up old, painful memories for the raven-haired Knight.
Harry ducked his head, subtly leaning into the affectionate touch. He thought of the other Knight like a father, and he knew the man thought of him as a son. "I am alright," he muttered.
Remus nodded and clapped the younger man on the shoulder. "I'm glad," he responded, "Also, you've been summoned by McGonagall to appear before the Council." Harry blanched, but Remus was quick to reassure his former Padawan. "You're not in trouble," he said, squeezing Harry's shoulder, "It has to do with a new mission. An important one. Highly classified."
Harry blinked in shock. "Really? Me?" he questioned, "Why me? I'm just barely a Knight. There must be other, more experienced and qualified Knights to do this job."
Remus shrugged, still grinning. "She asked specifically for you, so your skills must be suited for this mission," he replied, "You're underestimating yourself again." He leaned closer to Harry. "You don't know this, but you have some of the highest scores ever achieved in the Jedi trials," he whispered, "You are a marvelous Knight, Harlan."
Harry blushed bright red. "Thank you," he murmured as he hugged the man again. He pulled back after a few moments, a cheeky grin on his no longer blushing face. "Well, best not to keep the Council waiting."
Remus chuckled, ruffling Harry's shoulder length hair. "May the force be with you, Harry," he said before heading off to the Records. Harry started walking towards the Council Chamber with a small smile of his face. Remus only rarely used his nickname, and Harry cherished every instance.
Harry made it to the Chamber in a few minutes due to his eagerness. He bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited to be called in. Try as he might not to be, he was nervous. This would be his first major mission, more than likely on his own. Right after he passed the Trials, Harry was immediately assigned to the Temple Guard. With what Remus just told him, it made sens that the Council would want him in that as soon as possible. And it also made sense why the head of the Guard said he could come back any time. He spent three years in the Guard. Then, Master Flitwick asked him to accompany him on a recruiting mission. They went to six different systems and found twenty children with the potential to become Jedi Knights.
Harry returned to the present when the doors opened. He took a deep breath and walked in. When he reached the center of the room, he bowed and waited with his head ducked for one of the masters to speak.
McGonagall smiled at the young Knight. She had a soft spot for Harlan. He was exceptional and his control of the force was sampling astonishing for one so young, but his past still haunted him. She hoped this mission would help him face his demons. Quite literally. "Jedi Harlan Wolfe," she began, "The Chancellor has requested a Jedi Knight to be a protector for a senator. His life is in danger because of his involvement in the anti-slavery legislation."
Harry had been listening intently and had to school his features to neutrality when Master McGonagall mentioned slavery. He had not realized there was an anti-slavery movement. McGonagall was still taking, so Harry refocused on her words.
"You will go with him to his planet for a family funeral," she said, "The planet is very pro-slavery, with centuries of cultural dependency on it. Thus, he will be very unpopular." She looked over her glasses at the young man. "Protect him and bring him back to Coruscant safely."
Harry bowed again. "As you command."
She smiled. "You are to meet him at his ship as soon as possible," she said, "May the force be with you."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, masters," he replied before heading off to the Senate. He had a ship to catch.
Once the young Knight was gone, Master Flitwick turned to McGonagall. "You did not tell Harlan he would be going back to Čarobnjačkom," he noted, "This could be very traumatic to the man."
McGonagall sighed. "It could," she conceded, "but it will help Harlan in the end. His past torments him still, after all these years. Going back as he is now should lessen their effect on him."
"We shall hope," Flitwick agreed.
* ~ . X . ~ *
Draco grumbled softly as he adjusted the dials and levers in the cockpit of his ship. He hated having someone else fly it; they always messed everything up. The Jedi better hurry up and get there, because Draco was itching to leave.
He slumped into the pilot's seat, his mind conflicted. He wanted to go back to Čarobnjačkom to pay his respects to Sirius. The man was like a father to him. No, that was the wrong analogy. Sirius was like an older brother, playing with him after Harry was gone and then taking Draco under his wing when he was older. Sirius was the only family member Draco actually liked, and now he was dead.
Draco despised having to go back to Čarobnjačkom. Stepping foot on the planet just seemed to fuel his righteous anger further. He hated the archaic social structure of the planet of which he was now the Crowned Prince. How could they justify enslaving a large part of their population? Even with the dire consequences of bearing a Nečista Stvorenje, they made up at least twenty percent of the people living on the planet. Why did they execute Krv Čista and Prljavštine Osoba for falling in love and creating a life? It was barbaric.
When he was sixteen, right before he left for Coruscant to be Čarobnjačkom's senator, Sirius told Draco about his best friend, James. James had fallen in love with a healer's assistant. A Prljavštine Osoba named Lily. They had kept their relationship a secret, and everything was great. Until it wasn't anymore. Though they had been careful, Lily was pregnant. She hid the pregnancy as long as she could, but it was discovered. The baby was tested and found to be Nečista Stvorenje. That sealed Lily's fate, and further testing sealed James'. James was executed immediately, and Lily was executed five months later after giving birth to a healthy baby boy. Sirius had tried to keep the baby, the last part of his best friend left, but he had been whisked away, already lost in the system.
Draco had already been frustrated with how things were on Čarobnjačkom, and that story increased his anger and determination. They should not be allowed to treat people as they do. That was when he made the decision that he was going to change everything. And well, he aimed high. The last six years, he had been working, pushing, and gaining support for his anti-slavery bill. He did not have the support in Čarobnjačkom for that, but there were other systems that did. If he could not change his planet, then he would change the galaxy.
The sound of a shuttle landing brought Draco out of his thoughts. It seemed his Jedi protector had arrived. He rolled his eyes as he stood up from his seat. He did not need a babysitter, no matter what the Chancellor or Master McGonagall thought. He walked down the gangway to the pad to meet them, wondering what the Knight would look like.
The Jedi stood there, robe billowing in the wind. Draco could barely see the other's face with the hood up against the cold. Light and shadows played over the Knight's features.
"So, you're my Jedi bodyguard," he drawled, "Wonderful. You know who I am?"
The Jedi frowned, reaching up to remove the hood. Sveti pakao, he was attractive: pale olive skin, raven black hair held back from his face that curled slightly at the ends, emerald eyes that sparkled in the city lights. "I know you are a galactic senator," the Knight said softly, "I was told I would be escorting you to your home planet."
Draco barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Of course, the masters would be enigmatic and only give him the barest of details. "I am Senator Malfoy," he answered, "And you are coming with me to Čarobnjačkom." The Knight's whole body tensed and his eyes widened in fear, much to Draco's surprise. Interesting reaction for a Jedi. "Let's go," he said, turning back towards his ship, "We have a tight schedule to follow." He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the Jedi was coming. After a moment of hesitation, the other man began walking. Draco turned back around and headed to the cockpit, checking everything one last time.
When the Knight entered, Draco pointed to the copilot's chair. "You can sit there," he said, "You don't have to do anything. I've already put in the destination; we're going to the Royal Palace in the capital." Draco frowned, something just occurred to him. "I don't know your name."
The Jedi Knight swallowed before answering. "My name is Harlan Wolfe."
* ~ . X . ~ *
Harry sat there, still in shock. They were going to Čarobnjačkom. In a few hours, he would be back on the planet he fled when he was seven. When the Jedi Knights found him, bought him from the Dursleys, and took him to Coruscant. And he was going with a Malfoy, one of the planet's aristocracy.
Harry was distracted from his panic by a beep on the console. It seemed that a communication was coming in. From next to him, he heard the Senator sigh heavily.
"Great. Just great," the other man murmured, before turning to Harry. "Brace yourself. It's my mother." He reached to answer the call. "Hello, Mother dear."
Harry could almost see the sarcasm drip off the words. With what Master McGonagall said and his firsthand knowledge of Čarobnjačkom, that made sense; the Senator was a Krv Čista who was pushing to abolish slavery. Of course, relations with his family would be stranded.
The woman in the projection pursed her lips, apparently not missing the sarcasm either. "Really now? Is that any way to talk to me?" she reprimanded, "Now, after the funeral, there will be a ceremony where you'll be named as the Crown Prince. It is essential that you are there, Draconis, showing your commitment to your planet, what with all these preposterous rumors about your involvement in the anti-slavery movement."
"Mother, I am leaving as we speak," the man said. More words were spoken, but they were lost to Harry. His mind had frozen when the woman said the senator's name: Draconis.
It couldn't be, could it? The senator couldn't be Draconis Malfoy, one of Čarobnjačkom's princes. He couldn't be Harry's childhood friend, Draco. The boy who gave him a name and never treated him as a slave. As a lesser being, like the Dursleys. Could it really be true that his friend grew from a prince of a slave-based civilization to the senator leading the galactic anti-slavery movement? As shocking as that revelation, Harry realized it had to be true. The senator was an older mirror of Draco: white blond hair, silver eyes, pale skin, and angular features.
Vaguely, Harry heard the other man grumbling under his breath as they left the planet's atmosphere. "I cannot believe them. Siri died not even a day ago and they've already moved onto the next thing. They could at least pretend to be sad he's gone." The blond glanced towards Harry. "I guess I should explain."
Harry nodded, watching the stars blur as they jumped to hyperspace. "If you want," he replied. He had faint memories from his time in the palace, but those were from so long ago and buried under horrific ones. It would be good to know some about the tensions within the royal family.
Draco chuckled humorlessly. The man swiveled his chair to face Harry, propping his feet up against the console. "Then get comfortable, my Jedi friend," he said, with a smirk, "because this will take a while."
Harry nodded, settling down in his seat. He wrapped himself up in his robe, feeling chilled. Space was cold, but he was pretty sure it was memories from his childhood, of running around without a shirt all year, that made him cold at the moment. Memories he had repressed were resurfacing, proving to Harry just how not ready he was to go back to Čarobnjačkom.
* ~ . X . ~ *
Draco couldn't believe his thoughts. In no way should he be thinking a Jedi Knight, a highly trained warrior, as cute, but he is. When the other man had pulled the robe around himself and snuggled down into the chair, Draco had to bite down a coo. A man who has the ability to wield the Force with deadly accuracy looked more like a young child waiting for a bedtime story. Especially with those wide, earnest green eyes.
Actually, like this, Jedi Wolfe deeply reminded him of Harry, his childhood friend. Harry was his slave, but Draco never thought of the boy as that. He was his companion. Draco had not seen Harry since they were six, and the boy was sold away.
There was no way that the Jedi Knight before him was Harry. The boy he knew was still on Čarobnjačkom. Still a slave. Before he left the planet, Draco had tried to find Harry, but nothing turned up. Trying to find a Nečista Stvorenje in their society, which does not treat them as people, is impossible. And it was beside the point. Wolfe wasn't even Nečista Stvorenje. Actually, Draco didn't know exactly what species the Jedi was. He was probably a Lupyne, what with his last name and all.
Draco cleared his throat, refocusing on the task at hand. "So, Sirius Black," he started, "Son of King Orion and Queen Wallburga. We're going back for his funeral." He swallowed down his grief. "Sirius and I did not fit in with our family. We aren't, well weren't in his case, subscripted to their beliefs. We saw the flaws of our home." Draco was a flash of some emotion cross over the Knight's face, but it was gone too quickly for him to read. He mentally shrugged and continued.
"He was no one's first choice of heir, and neither am I," Draco said, "but we were the only options. In Čarobnjačkom, only a male of the blood, Black blood, can rule. King Orion had two children, sons names Sirius and Regulus, and Orion's brother had three children, daughters named Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa. Sirius had no desires for the throne; it didn't fit with his lifestyle." Draco chuckled softly and winked at Wolfe. He leaned forward and whispered, "Siri was gay and shagging my tutor."
Wolfe looked bewildered at those words, but thankfully not disgusted. Draco had seen enough bigots in his lifetime. He was glad the Jedi wasn't one.
"Sirius deferred the thrones to his younger brother," Draco continued, "Except, Regulus was an idiot and got himself killed during an illegal space speeder race. Sirius was the only one left, unless one of his cousins had a son. Bellatrix found to be infertile when she and her husband failed to conceive." Draco chuckled. "Good thing, too, because Aunt Bella is certifiably insane. No one wants her to reproduce and pass on the crazy genes.
"Andromeda was disowned when she ran off and married a scavenger. She 'sullied' the bloodline by reproducing with a non- Krv Čista. Their daughter is a wonderful, bubbly klutz and is a Metamorphmagus, like her father," Draco said with a smile, "We have lunch whenever she's on Coruscant. She's a blast." Draco chuckled softly. "And I am Narcissa's only child. Sirius decided to stay the Crown Prince for two reasons: one, it would piss off the King and two, I could do more good as a senator. That I had the chance and motivation to change the things that he couldn't."
The console beeped, alerting Draco that they were nearing Čarobnjačkom. "Looks like we're almost there," he said to Wolfe, "Ready to meet the family?" He glanced to the side as he adjusted their trajectory.
The Knight nodded. "I am," he said, then frowned, "One thing I don't understand. Why are you so adement for abolishing slavery?" He ducted his head a little, almost like he was expecting a hit or something. Draco would file that reaction away to be analyzed later. "I mean, you grew up on a planet where slavery is deeply rooted in its culture. It seems a bit strange that you would reject that so whole-heartedly."
Draco sighed. Of course, Wolfe would be smart enough to notice he never actually said why his family hated him. "When I was a child, I had this friend," he explained, "He meant so much to me, but he was sold away. My parents got rid of him because Krv Čista and Nečista Stvorenje only supposed to be master and slave, not friends. I called him Harry, and I don't even know what became of him. No one there cares about one lowly Nečista Stvorenje, and that sickens me." Draco looked away from the other man, focusing on preparing for their landing.
* ~ . X . ~ *
Harry sat in his chair as the blond maneuvered the ship. He needed to process everything he just learned. Particularly, the part about him. It did appear that the senator was Draco, his friend before the Dursleys.
Apparently, Draco had looked for him. Tried to find him, to free him. He wondered when the blond searched. How old was Draco? Probably late teens, so Harry had already been long gone from Čarobnjačkom. It warmed his heart to know Draco cared enough about him to try to save him. Even though he'd already been saved, it was the thought that counted.
The ship dropped out of hyperspace. Čarobnjačkom loomed before them. It looked just as it did when he left fifteen years ago. He remembered watching the planet disappear behind them as the Jedis flew them away. While the planet hadn't changed, he sure had. Harry was no longer that helpless little boy. He was a skilled Jedi Knight. He was not helpless. Not anymore.
Draco was talking to someone, probably the planet's air control, requesting permission to land. The blond stated a clearance code, and the permission was granted. They started their descent. Harry steeled himself. This would not be pleasant, but he could handle it for the brief time they are there.
"So," Draco said as they approached the palace landing pad, "There are customs that I'm not sure you'll know." The man frowned for a second. "Not that I'm implying you're stupid or ignorant, Harlan, but Čarobnjačkom customs, well Krv Čista customs to be exact, are inane, obscure, and complicated. I think it would be best if you just act like my shadow and don't speak."
Harry sighed but nodded. "That sounds like a good plan," he replied, "I will go along with whatever you say. You can figure out how to explain my presence."
Draco hummed as he navigated the ship. "Well, if you weren't a Jedi, they would believe you were my lover," he said with a wink and an eyebrow wriggle, "But we'll want to keep you in uniform, to intimidate and scare anyone with intensions to hurt me. Also, you look very dashing in that." Another wink.
Was Draco … flirting with him? Harry could hardly believe it, but all signs pointed that way. He fought hard not to blush. He knew he failed when he saw the blond smirk in his direction. The ship touched down, leaving no time for Harry to respond.
The senator stood up, motioning for Harry to follow. "Let's get this over with," he said as the hatch began to open, "Just be my handsome shadow."
Harry chuckled softly, standing at the blond's shoulder. "Of course," he answered, "Whatever you say."
When the hatch fully opened, there was a man waiting for them. He was a looming figure, with a large hooked nose. Lavender eyes stared blankly out of a haunted face. The man's black hair hung limply to his shoulders, greasy like it hadn't been washed in a long time. Something about him tickled Harry's memory, but he couldn't quite place why. And now was not the time.
A choked off noise caught his attention, and Harry turned to look at Draco. This was the first time he had seen a genuine expression on the blond's face. Sadness was etched across every feature as Draco walked towards the man on the platform.
"Sev," Draco croaked, grief coloring the word, "I'm so sorry." The blond wrapped the man up in a bone-crushing hug. The older man returned it just as fiercely.
Oh, this man was Draco's tutor, and his cousin's lover. Harry vaguely remembered a man with black hair and a large nose looming around them. He does not get the impression of being scared from the memory. He does get the same warm and fuzzy feeling he gets whenever he is near Remus. A feeling of being loved and protected. He wondered if the man would recognize him, but he reasoned that if Draco did not then the other would not either.
Harry stood a respectful distance away from the pair. He did not want to intrude on their moment of grief. He stood at rest, watching the palace for anyone's approach. He cleared his throat a few minutes later, alerting the pair to their surroundings again. A group of people had appeared out from under the arches of the palace and were making their way down to where they three of them stood. One of the men had the same platinum blond hair as Draco, so Harry guessed it was the man's father.
Draco straightened, his grief reigned in behind a mask of indifference. The blond walked back over to Harry to stand shoulder to shoulder as they waited for the group to reach them.
"Showtime," Draco murmured out of the corner of his mouth. The group stopped several feet in front of them. The two blonds stared at each other in silence. The tension built as a battle of wills war between them. It was a matter of who would yield and start the official greeting first. Harry was very interested to see the outcome.
In Čarobnjačkom customs, the esteemed person is greeted first by the lesser esteemed in the interaction. Esteem was dictated by age and title. Normally, those two things coincide. In this situation, they do not. Before, Lord Malfoy, Draco's father, would have been the obvious choice. But since Sirius' death, Draco holds the higher title. "Crown Prince" trumps "Lord". Both men were proud and suborn, so who knew how long it would be before either yielded.
Finally, after some very comfortable moments, the older blond submitted to the ritual. Lord Malfoy bowed his head and crossed his left arm in front of his chest, hand fisted. "Pozdrav, cijenjen jedan," the man grounded out as if the words caused him physical pain to say.
Draco looked like he was fighting a smirk as he mimicked his father's stance. "I pozdrav za vas, Lord Malfoy," he replied, amusement clear in his voice.
Lord Malfoy sneered as the pair straightened up. It obviously irked the man that his son now outranked him. The man glanced at Severus for a moment before landing on Harry. His eyes narrowed in consideration. Harry mentally cursed; he needed to do something to distract Lord Malfoy before the man recognized him.
Harry bowed his head and crossed his arm. "Pozdrav, cijenjen jaden," he said to the man. Hopefully the shock of a random Jedi knowing Krv Čista customs would disrupt the man's contemplations.
After a moment, he glanced up and saw the older man mirroring him. "I pozdrav za vas," he said, "Jedi …" He trailed off, glancing up at Harry in question.
Draco answered before he could. "Wolfe," he said, "This is my friend. He asked to accompany me when I told him I was leaving, because he didn't want me to have to travel alone." The blond wrapped his arm around his shoulders. "Isn't that just the sweetest?"
Harry barely held in a sigh. Apparently, Draco had decided to just go with the 'lovers' reason after all. Thankfully, the blond just implied verses explicitly stating the fact, else Harry would have a hard time explaining this to the Counsel in his report later.
Lord Malfoy briefly wrinkled his nose in distaste before dismissing the news. "Come," the man commanded as he turned his back to them, "The funeral will begin shortly."
Harry did sigh this time as he fell into step behind the group. These next two days were going to be very erratic and stressful. He already felt exhausted.
* ~ . X . ~ *
Draco hated ceremonies. They were long, tedious, and mind-numbingly boring. At least, he hate Krv Čista ceremonies. During the funeral, it was torture to sit and listen to people who hated Sirius talk about how wonderful the man was and how he would be missed. The only reason Draco did not murder someone was the Jedi Knight next to him.
Thinking about Harlan Wolfe occupied his through the insincere eulogy and the dull crowning ceremony. The Knight had known the greeting ritual. Why would he know that? How would he know that? Krv Čista rituals would be too obscure to be taught as part of a Jedi's training. The fact that Harlan did not stumble over the words added another layer to the intrigue. Maybe the Knight spent time on Čarobnjačkom, enough to learn the customs.
Draco changed out of his ceremonial clothes and put away his crown. There was no way in pakao he would willingly wear that ostentatious thing on a daily basis. In the senate, no one cared that he was royalty, and Draco loved that. He was just another senator, and he had managed to make a name for himself: the Dragon of the Senate. It had a nice ring to it, and it was completely accurate. Draco was ferocious, hot-tempered, stubborn, and focused to the point of obsession, just like a dragon. He remembered when his friend, Senator Blaise Zabini of Essos, took him to his home planet to see the magnificent creatures.
Draco shook his head to clear away the thoughts. Recently, he seemed to get lost in memories far more frequently than normal. It was probably caused by coming back to Čarobnjačkom.
Draco left his chambers to find Severus. He wanted to discuss their plans for the older man to come back with him to Coruscant. Harlan detached himself from the shadows and fell into step with Draco. Žurica, the Knight was freakishly good at blending into the background. The only reason he did not jump was the Malfoy breeding ingrained in his mind. The Knight's presence also was not helping Draco keep his mind in the present because the man looked how he imagined Harry would look at their age. But Harry might not have even lived this long. Nečista Stvorenje did not tend to live to be very old. Krv Čistas claim that it has to do with the mixing of Krv Čista and Prljavštine Osoba genes, but Draco figured the real reason was their treatment. Another reason to abolish slavery.
They continued down the hallway and out of the Palace into the garden. Draco figured Severus would be there, because he loved the garden. Both of them did. Draco had so many memories of spending time there with Sirius and Severus. Sometimes, when he could not focus, they would have their lessons out there. Severus was in pain, so he would retreat to where he felt closest to Sirius.
Draco found the man where he expected: on the bench under the Weeping Willow. Sirius had planted the tree for Severus when they got together; the tree was nearing on thirty years old. Draco glanced at the Knight before parting the canopy to join Severus. Wolfe turned his back to them and the tree, giving them the illusion of privacy and keeping watch. Draco hesitantly approached the older man and sat down.
Silence reigned for several minutes before Draco decided to break it. "You will come back with me, won't you?" he asked softly, "You won't be appreciated here, now. I hate to say this, but they only put up with you because you had Sirius' protection by being the Crown Prince's consort. Not now. There would be so many opportunities for you to expand on your research in the capital." He turned his head to look at the older man. "And I've missed you, Severus."
Severus sighed, shifting his hands on his lap. Clenched in one fist was a pendant Sirius gave him on their tenth anniversary. "You're right," the man conceded, "I would have access to many more resources. And I'd …"
He was cut off by the sound of a lightsaber igniting. They looked up to see, through the branches, the Knight swing his deep indigo saber. A moment later, Harlan stepped into the enclosure made by the branches.
"We need to go," he said, a fierce stubborn glint in his emerald eyes, "I just destroyed an assassin droid. There could be more. I need to get you back to Coruscant, where you'll be safe."
Draco shared a look with Severus. That droid could have been coming for either of them, though it was most likely after Draco. "Of course," he replied, standing up, "My ship is still in the landing pad I'll lead the way."
Severus stood up as well, glancing between the two men. "There's a secret passage," he said as he layed his hand on a large knot in the bark of the tree. Behind the trunk, a section of wall slid away to reveal a set of stairs leading down. "Sirius found these passageways when he was a child. They've been forgotten, but they were built as siege tunnels when the Palace was rebuilt during Čarobnjačkom's last large-scale war."
Draco blinked in shock. "That was centuries ago," he murmured.
"Exactly why no one remembers they exist," Severus answered.
The Knight stepped forward to peer into the dark, his lightsaber out to the side. "If they are that old, how do we knew they are safe?" he questioned with a glance to Severus, "How will we know where we are in these?"
Severus rolled his eyes in annoyance. Draco recognized that expression from his childhood when he was being particularly obstinate or argumentative. Harlan was about to get a tongue lashing, and no one gave better ones than Severus.
"Do you really think I would lead us somewhere I could not navigate? Insolent brat," the older man snapped. For the moment, Draco though he saw a sheepish look on the Knight's face, but it was gone too quickly for him to be sure. Severus continued, "I can get us to the other wall, very close to the landing pad."
The Knight nodded. "Alright, lead on," he conceded, "I'll guard our backs." He turned to look at Draco. "Senator, stay between us so we can protect you better."
Draco barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "I can take care of myself," he retorted, glaring as Severus snorted. He crosses his arms over his chest, pouting as they walked. "I do not need a babysitter," he groaned.
Harlan chuckled right behind Draco, breath ghosting over his neck. However, when Draco looked back, the raven-haired Jedi was a couple steps behind him, turned around to watch the way they came. The deep color of the lightsaber added to the shadows instead of dispelling them. Draco had never seen a blade that dark a color; he wondered why. Maybe he would ask Severus later. When they were back on Coruscant. Safe from his own people.
Severus stopped in front of hat appeared to be a completely random stretch of wall. With a smirk thrown over his shoulder at them, the older man pushed on a stone, and a section of wall slid aside.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Still one for dramatic flares," he muttered, as he and Harlan glanced through the doorway. Light was shining at the end of the revealed hallway.
Harlan stepped around Draco and headed towards the light. "I'll check to make see if the coast is clear," the Knight stated, "and give us some cover. You two head quickly for the ship." Draco nodded.
Severus walked passed and gave Draco's shoulder a squeeze. Draco followed, the wall sliding back into place behind them. Harlan was already outside when Draco and Severus reached the end of the hall. They paused to listen before leaving the passage.
When no blaster fire was heard, Draco stuck his head out. He saw the Knight standing alone by Draco's ship. The Knight nodded and waved them forward. Draco led the way, Severus just behind him.
They made it about half the way to the ship when shouts sounded across the way. Draco looked over and saw several people running down the ground staircase to the landing pads. People with blasters. Draco could feel himself start to panic. In front of him was physical proof that his own people wanted him dead. He could no longer deny the Chancellor's words, and that terrified him.
Draco was pulled from his panic by the sound of a lightsaber engaging. He looked over to see Harlan next to him, wielding his indigo lightsaber. The Knight must have come back to them while Draco was frozen with panic.
With the hand not holding the saber, Harlan grabbed Draco's shoulder and shoved him towards the ship. "Get to the ship," the Knight said, glancing between the two, "Senator, get it up and running, ready for takeoff." Emerald eyes bored into Draco's silver ones. "Set course for Coruscant. I'll hold them off."
Draco started to protest, because there was no way he would leave the Knight behind. Not with so many unanswered questions between them. Harlan cut him off with a look and a smirk.
"You're not getting rid of me that easily," the Knight said, "Just leave the landing hatch open for me. When you're ready to blast away from this planet, I'll hop aboard." With a wink, the Knight turned around, raising his saber in time to deflect a blaster shot.
Draco felt a hand pull on his arm. He startled, looking to Severus. He had practically forgotten the older man was there. Together, they ran to the ship. As Draco was about to step onto the ship, he spared a glance back towards the fight. He saw Harlan holding the men off, moving as if part of a deadly dance. The Knight fought so fluidly, so naturally. It was magnificent to behold. And so hot, too.
Draco shook his head to clear those thoughts away. Now was not the time to fantasize about his Jedi Knight of a bodyguard. Prep the ship, get off this nightmare of a planet, then fantasize. Priorities.
Draco clapped Severus on the shoulder as he passed the man. "Set the coordinates for Coruscant into the hyperdrive, would you?" he called as he made his way to the cockpit.
Once there, Draco started flipping switches, priming the fuel cells. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Severus in the copilot's chair, typing away. Draco pointedly ignored the blinking warning which indicated the landing hatch was still open. He would not be the one to deal with it; Harlan would once the Knight was on board.
Soon, his ship was ready to go. Draco held it at a low hover above the landing pad. A few moments later, the warning light shut off. Draco smiled, angling the ship up and away from Čarobnjačkom at last.
However, Draco's smile soon melted to a frown. Harlan should have come into the cockpit by now; the ship was not that large. He had a bad feeling in his gut. He turned to Severus.
"Go find our wayward Knight please?" he asked.
Severus sighed and rolled his eyes, but stood up nonetheless. The Draco was alone, staring out into space. A deep darkness, pinpricked by intense dots of light. Of life, fighting against the oppression of nothingness.
The intercom buzzed, breaking Draco's musings. He answered, "Yes, Severus?"
Silence reigned for a second, then Severus replied, "Change course to the nearest planet that supports your bill."
Draco frowned. "Why?"
"Because I found the Knight unconscious with a blaster wound to his side," Severus replied, tone reminiscent of times in the past when he thought Draco to be extremely idiotic, "He needs professional medical attention, preferably on a planet that does not want you dead."
Draco cursed, getting up from his chair and moving to Severus' chair.
Draco was in the process of changing their destination to Felidae, the home planet of his good friend and collaborator on the bill, Senator Granger, when the intercom buzzed again. Draco absently answered it.
"By the way, there is something else I think you should know," Severus drawled, "It seems our resident Jedi Knight is Nečista Stvorenje."
Translations: (from Croatian)
Čarobnjačkom - Wizarding
Nečista Stvorenje - impure creature
Krv Čista - blood of pure
Prljavštine Osoba - dirt people
Sveti pakao - holy hell
Pozdrav, cijenjen jedan - Hello, esteemed one
I pozdrav za vas - And greetings to you
pakao - hell
Žurica - Merlin
Links to explanations/background information: (remove the spaces)
Čarobnjačkom - docs. google . document/d/1dEzSi9AVeJE_uKOHGM4Vtz3q-tmt3VbvpnShaYQQtkg/pub
Lupyne - docs. google . document/d/1LY3GHjovbRZHJJF8NFwCDLUDrR4dwgpb1oQrBEm1Rlg/pub
Nečista Stvorenje - docs. google . document/d/1yyY3siHSAYc40GKMbrx7xQjdJDTdaOqsoTBMip4ISmk/pub
Krv Čista - docs. google . document/d/1nGK-ljXLaPG7TOBECTQiwJFnrdTz0LOZ-trdLKI2x8A/pub
Prljavštine Osoba - docs. google . document/d/1nkORSlWKvjDfJRsjV0dWSCxKkv7p2-5R62O5y0o9Uj8/pub
Felidae - docs. google . document/d/1lS7scdd_2zGAzZAjl-105GSWqTCuCHfTVxaBlUMObbs/pub