Hey guys it's me Gold Quantum Ranger. Yeah, so I'm back, sorry about the long wait. But let me tell you that life was giving me an absolute pain in the ass.
But yeah, I've had this idea on my mind for a while. Why not try and write a fic where Harry Potter is raised as a Sith Lord by Darth Sidious?
I mean it would be awesome. Harry Potter the goody two shoes Boy-Who-Lived raised by perhaps arguably the most evil, debatably (A/N Although not really in my opinion. More like a close second, but that's my opinion) most powerful Sith Lord of all time, and my second favorite Sith Lord of all time after Darth Vader, Darth-fucking-Sidious.
Man that would be so fucking awesome. This Harry will take shit from no one, except his master Darth Sidious of course.
So yeah kick back, grab a bucket of popcorn, a few snacks, and a soft drink as we dive right into this story.
Cue Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ~ "This is where the fun begins."
Major Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or Harry Potter, George Lucas/Lucasfilm LTD/The Walt Disney Company and J.K. Rowling do respectfully.
PS. Be sure to like, follow, review, and PM.
Harry Potter: Lord of the Dark Side
Chapter 1
Potter Manor, somewhere in England, Great Britain, Wizarding World, Earth, Sol system, Terran sector, Milky Way Galaxy, Unknown Regions
November 28th, 1979
It was quiet, very quiet. It was a crisp cold November afternoon, and yet it felt like the months of December and January had come early. All across England everyone felt the first signs that winter would be coming there soon. Atop a large rolling hill sat a large white manor that seemed to have been carved out of pure white stone. Walking away from the manor walking at a slow pace down the hill was a woman known by the name Lily Potter, formerly Evans.
She was a beautiful young fair-skinned woman of about nineteen or twenty years old. Her shoulder-length red hair glistened brilliantly in the afternoon sun, and her eyes looked to have been carved from priceless emeralds. Bundled against the chilly air, Lily continued to walk down the hill at a leisurely pace. She didn't have to run, nor did she want to. She just walked about as she wanted to; "slow and steady" as her mother would tell her when she was younger.
Lily continued until she had fully descended down the hill and almost out of sight of the white manor that still sat perfectly atop where it had always been. She only stopped once she had arrived at a small white marble bench. The bench fit in snugly along with a pond underneath a large tree that offered a beautiful spot shaded from the sun. Without a second thought Lily sat down. She looked in front of her at the pond as she saw the varying different species of fish that swam about within their watery home. It would be winter soon and the pond would freeze over, leaving the fish trapped inside until the warmth of spring approached and thawed the ice.
Lily slowly let a smile slip onto her face as she knew what would be occurring next year. She knew all too well in fact. She lowered her right hand down to rub at her still flat stomach. Lily inwardly smiled as much as she was on the surface, it had only been a week since she had discovered she was pregnant, and already she was ecstatic. She was going to be a mother! She would have a child of her own to care for, to nurture, and to watch grow up in front of her; she could hardly believe it. She was so entranced that she was almost startled when a figure approached behind her.
"I can't wait for our little buck to be here. You'll be such a good mother, my dear Tiger Lily." said the figure. Lily allowed a smile to grow across her lips as she already knew who was behind her.
Lily turned her head to the left to meet the 'figure' face-to-face. Standing there with a smirk on his face that could cause any woman to swoon; or in Lily's case cause her heart to warm, was her husband, James Potter. He was a young fair-skinned man of similar age with short, unkempt jet-black hair, hazel eyes, and black rimmed full moon glasses. He was also dressed in warm clothes to keep him comfortable in the unusually frigid autumn air.
Lily smiled at her husband in a loving manner as she scooted along the bench to allow James to sit down beside her on the cool marble. James wrapped his arm around Lily and gently pulled her in close for a gentle and warm embrace. James let a smile creep across his face as he marveled at his wife's beauty for a few seconds, knowing that he had really hit the jackpot when he had met her and even more so when she had accepted his proposal of marriage and became his wife.
Lily rested her head on her husband's shoulder and nuzzled up close to him. She closed her eyes as her face adopted a dreamy expression while she wondered what her baby would be like once he was born. She knew he would most likely be the sweetest, kindest, and friendliest person ever. But above all else she knew he was going to be special. How, she didn't know, but she at least knew it was for a good cause. She at least knew that much, deep down in her heart. After all it wasn't like the sky was going to fall, or anything ridiculous like that was going to happen, right?
July 31st, 1980
Lily it seemed, had been right, as she now understood that her son was indeed special.
While she had carried him within her for the last eight months, feeling him stirring and growing strong from her own body's energy, she had felt the typical signs of magical energy flowing through him. But unbeknownst to her, what also surged through her unborn baby's body wasn't just the power of magical energy; it was something else entirely. It was more potent and powerful than magic itself. It was like an ever burning furnace of pure radiant power, which would be responsible for the fate of not only the world, but even beyond, reaching as far across the universe as possible.
Lily could tell that when he was born her son would already be well versed in magic at a young age. Call it maternal instinct or the bond that existed between a mother and their unborn child, but Lily knew that whatever power laid dormant within her son would be unlike anything she or any other had seen before. For example, the unusual magic outbursts that would come around whenever Lily was heightened by hormones or stress. But there was something more to it than that. Like the time during her fifth month that Lily had planned a special anniversary picnic for herself and James, and yet found herself on the receiving end of a terrible thunderstorm as the sky poured and thunder bellowed, while lightning cracked across the sky. But before she fully abandoned her plans, somehow, the storm had unexpectedly turned to snow. The result of which was a crisp, white, snow-covered winter wonderland, covering from Potter Manor down to the woods surrounding the large manor. And they still got to enjoy their anniversary picnic, as well as the beautiful wintery scenery; making their picnic all the more enjoyable.
And coincidentally, just before the weather had changed, Lily had felt a surge of magic from her unborn son. She remembered when she told James he had laughed. He laughed hard and long, before he complimented his son for his work as he kissed his wife's stomach to thank his child for his act of kindness. Until he almost got accidentally kicked in the face from his son's most likely joyful kicks.
Another weird event then occurred a few weeks later when Lily had come down with a horrible fever that had left her rather weak and bedridden for sometime. While her temperature was dangerously skyrocketing to nearly 106°F, and was showing no signs of slowing, perhaps the weirdest of all had happened.
Lily, in a sweat-ridden state, had suddenly found her body tingling with some unknown power, and magical energy. After a course of only seven minutes, her whole body had suddenly become cooler dropping her temperature down to about 84°F, but that it had also become healthier and stronger. Meanwhile, the healers were left absolutely stumped. Once again, the young Potter heir-to-be had somehow been able to sense his mother's pain, discomfort, and suffering, and had managed to use a combination of some unknown power and healing magic to cure Lily of her ailments.
According to the healers, in a child that came from such an old and powerful bloodline such as the Potter's, it wasn't unusual for the child to be able to possess such a skill with magic, but, on the other hand, it was unusual for him to be able to do such feats while still in the womb.
Lily herself was left as stumped as James and the healers, despite the fact that she knew her child was incredibly and remarkably powerful. She didn't expect him to be that powerful to be able to heal her ailments while he was still yet to be born. She then decided to retrace where her son's immense power could have come from. She already knew that James was descended from one of the members of the Peverell family, one of the Most Ancient, Most Noble, and most powerful Pure-Blood wizard families ever known. The family consisted of three brothers. Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus. Ignotus Peverell, who was the youngest of the three brothers, was whom James was descended from.
Later in his life before he died of extreme old age, Ignotus sired a son who would carry on the Peverell name and bloodline when his father would be gone. Later on when the son had reached maturity, he fell in love with a very beautiful young woman. That woman, it turned out, was the daughter of a very powerful and important wizard, Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After she received her father's blessing on marrying the young Peverell heir, Gryffindor's daughter was married into the Peverell family. This allowed the powerful bloodlines of the Houses of Peverell and Gryffindor to merge and intertwine, resulting in the offspring of the two families to be born with immense magical power. After that the newly wed husband and wife sired a daughter named Iolanthe Peverell. Later on in her life Iolanthe soon fell in love with and married a young man by the name of Hardwin Potter, thus allowing her to marry into the family and making their child now bear the surname of Potter. And it seemed most likely to Lily that her unborn son had inherited much of, if not, all of the immense magical potential as a result of the union that happened centuries ago.
However, while Lily knew now of the heritage of her husband, she herself hardly knew of her own. She wasn't aware that her bloodline traced back to a Muggle family that was well known and revered. Lily didn't know that her bloodline was just about as famous and important as her husband's. She was a descendant of one of the most famous Muggles in history; King Arthur Pendragon. Not only that, but Lily wasn't even born into the Evans family due to the fact that she was adopted, meaning that her and Petunia weren't even sisters through blood. But it seemed that there was more to the story than that. Arthur's wife Guinevere and his father-in-law King Leodegrance of Camelerd, secretly weren't who they at first appeared to be. They weren't born in Europe, nor were they born on the planet Earth itself, they came from somewhere beyond. Beyond even the stars of the solar system or even the Milky Way Galaxy. They came from another place. A galaxy far, far away.
It turned out during the Middle Ages of Europe, during the First Millennium Anno Domini, during some of the darkest times and days in the world's history, both for Muggles and Wizardkind alike, that an advanced spacecraft from another galaxy experienced an error in its navigation systems and as a result crashed onto the Earth. And two people emerged from it, two wielders of an incredible and unlimited power that they referred to as 'The Force'. They were Kenek Estren and his daughter, Mayla. They were Force-users and Jedi Knights that were descended from one of the Masters of the Je'daii High Council of the ancient, now lost, Je'daii Order, Jake Fenn. One of the most powerful Force-users of the era.
Later on shortly after landing on Earth, Kenek and his daughter adopted newer identities, and thus changed their names to Guinevere and Leodegrance. Then after stopping some bandits who had attempted to rob the villagers of a small kingdom called 'Camelerd' by using their Force powers, Leodegrance and Guinevere were hailed as heroes to the citizens of Camelerd, and were declared their Lord and Lady for the rest of their days. After a few weeks had passed, the kingdom's Archbishop later crowned Leodegrance and Guinevere King and Princess of the Kingdom of Camelerd respectively.
After that, Leodegrance warned Guinevere that the outside world of their 'kingdom' must not at all become aware of their unique gift. And told her that any problems that they encountered, would be dealt with by the knights that had sworn their loyalty to them. Soon after, Camelerd would come under siege from ouside forces. And just as her father told her, Guinevere didn't defend her and her father's kingdom using the Force. But rather, let their loyal knights wage battle to protect them. However, their forces were no match for their enemies, and as a result, began to quickly deplete, leaving Leodegrance to secretly ponder whether he and his daughter should use their connection to the Force, or to flee from their kingdom.
However, before Camelerd could fall, Leodegrance and his daughter were saved by the most unlikely of help. Riding over the hills arrived aid in the form of 20,000 strong knights and warriors from the distant Kingdom of Camelot. And riding at the front was their King, and the man who decided to selflessly lead his men into combat against the enemy to protect the innocent kingdom that was currently under siege. He was well known to many since the day he had pulled the mighty sword Excalibur from the stone as an adolescent and had become the King of Great Britain. He was the mighty King Arthur Pendragon.
After the many hours of battle, the enemy decided to retreat and make great haste back to their kingdom, leaving the battle a victory for the combined forces of Camelerd and Camelot. Later that evening, Leodegrance had invited Arthur and all of his men to enjoy a large and illustrious feast within the halls of his castle. Arthur had graciously accepted the elder ruler's offer to dine with him in his home, and during the celebrations it was then that Arthur first caught sight of the fair and beautiful Guinevere, and on that day knew in his heart that she would be his wife one day.
After the feast had ended Leodegrance had approached Arthur and thanked him for his help of protecting his kingdom from being captured and destroyed. He later told Arthur that he owed him for his help, and that anything he asked for, Leodegrance would immediately give to him in full. And on that night Arthur had graciously asked that should Leodegrance and Guinevere feel the same way, that he wished to have the hand of the King's daughter in marriage, and that Guinevere would return to Camelot with him and his men, and rule by his side as his and Camelot's Queen.
After the wedding in Camelot, Arthur and Guinevere would sire a son, leaving Guinevere quite distraught when she sensed that upon his birth, that her son's connection to the Force was practically non-existent. It would only get worse, as over time the descendants of Guinevere and Arthur continued to show no connection whatsoever to the Force and it appeared that Guinevere's marriage to a non-Force-sensitive was the reason behind their child and later his offspring and descendants having their connection to the Force being cut or non-existent at all.
It now seemed that Lily's unborn child seemed to have been conceived with a high concentration of bacterial-like symbiotic micro-organisms called 'Midi-chlorians' in his cells that allowed him to connect to the Force just as his ancestors Jake, Kenek, and Mayla could.
Many of the healers wanted to run different sorts of tests on the child, but both Lily and James immediately shot that idea down. They didn't want to risk someone learning the truth of their baby's incredible power. In a desire to help them learn more about the incredible magical potential that their son would possess, Lily made the suggestion to James that they should either consider binding their baby's core of magical energy until he was old enough to understand his great power. But James disagreed, warning Lily that such an act could leave their son a Squib, and he wouldn't want to risk it for their child's sake.
The second option that they had available was for them to entrust the secret of these strange, mystical acts, as well as the immense magical potential their unborn child already possessed, to someone who knew what it was like to wield such great power himself. Someone like Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and someone that every wizard and witch worth their wand and magic knew to possess incredible levels of magical power himself. Of course, only James and Lily knew what was partially-responsible for Dumbledore possessing such power; the wand in his hand, which had been stolen from its rightful owner over a century ago, before finding itself in the hand and possession of the Dark Lord Gellert Grindelwald, one of the darkest and most powerful wizards of all time.
Grindelwald would then wreak havoc for years terrorizing Wizarding Europe and building an army, which he believed would allow him to conquer the outside world of non-Magical human beings, who were dubbed as 'Muggles' in the Wizarding World. Grindelwald would then lose the wand in his possession on a dark night in the year 1945 to Dumbledore, who would then claim the wand for himself by rightful conquest in defeating Grindelwald in a Wizarding duel that many spectators who bore witness would claim it as "The greatest wizarding duel that had ever been fought." Thereby transferring ownership of the wand to him.
This wand, the Elder Wand, was one-third of a trinity of magical items that belonged to the Peverell brothers, with the wand originally belonging to Antioch, a stone dubbed as the 'Resurrection Stone' belonging to Cadmus, and a special Invisibilty Cloak dubbed as the 'Cloak of Invisiblity' belonging to Ignotus. The items were known throughout history, myth, and legend as the fabled 'Deathly Hallows' and were said to be able to bestow almost divine-like levels of power onto their bearer, and should they all be brought together into union, they were able to bestow a mantle known infamously as the 'Master of Death' onto their master. And so it was that James and Lily made the agreement to speak to Dumbledore about helping their child, but on one condition, one that they were meant to talk about on the night they met the old man.
James had been sitting in his high back leather chair for the last hour since he had spoken to Dumbledore through the Floo Network in his home's fireplace. Lord Potter sat rather impatiently twiddling his thumbs anxiously.
'Albus is normally never this late. I wonder what could be keeping him? Lily and I even told him what we needed to talk about is important.' James thought as he looked up at the beautifully carved grandfather clock in the corner of the room. James then saw that it was quarter after 11 as he shook his head and wiped the small amount of sleep out of his eyes as it was getting late. James was about to call out to Lily who was in the kitchen at the moment making herself a cup of tea that he was going to be turning in for the night. However, before the Potter Lord could even get the words past his lips, the fire in the living room's fireplace seemed to wildly blaze and change color from its normal bright vibrant orange color and turn a bright shade of emerald green.
Out from them emerged Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, First Class Grand Sorcerer of the Order of Merlin, founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, vanquisher of the Dark Lord Gellert Grindelwald, and the Leader of Light. He was an extremely elderly looking fair-skinned man who looked to be in his late nineties with creepy pedophilic looking blue eyes, and long silvery-white hair that sloped down his neck towards his back with a matching long beard that reached down to just below his belt line, and was tied off in several places with multiple thread-like chains. He was dressed in ridiculously outdated clothes that consisted of dark red robes, black worn leather shoes, black rimmed half moon spectacle glasses, and a slightly pointed red hat that sloped backwards. James met the man with a relieved smile, his hand outstretched for the other man.
"Albus, I'm so happy that you hadn't forgotten about coming tonight. But please, come through and sit down. Lily is just preparing some tea, and I don't think she would mind making you a cup as well, if you'd like." James remarked as he and Dumbledore ended their handshake and stepped further into the room.
"Thank you James, my boy. I would appreciate that very much. I can only apologize about my tardiness here tonight. It seems that Millicent called for a meeting with me about some important issues regarding the Wizengamot." Dumbledore explained as he looked around at the living room of Potter Manor, seeing that the walls and carpets were lined with a brilliant shade of crimson red and gold. A large portrait of a lion standing atop a rocky structure hung on the wall just behind the sofa, highlighting the Gryffindor tendencies of the owner and master of the home, past, present, and future. After he had been led away from the fireplace and further into the living room, he looked fondly at James with his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles, as he addressed his former student and Head Boy.
"So, what may I ask, was so important that you asked me to meet you here rather than at Hogwarts, or somewhere more public? And why did you ask me to come so late in the evening?" the elderly Headmaster asked as he settled down on the deep red sofa while James returned to sitting in his equally red chair.
James slightly averted his gaze from his former teacher and slowly began to nervously twiddle his thumbs as he began to think of how he would tell Dumbledore about why he needed to talk with him. Swallowing a nervous lump in his throat, James inhaled a deep breath through his nose and quickly exhaled it as he returned his gaze back to Dumbledore. James then let out a small cough before he spoke.
"When I was at school, I always felt that I could rely on you, no matter what you said or did. If I'm to give you the full details, can I trust you to honor what I've already classed as a Potter family secret? Meaning that only I, Lily, you, and the ones we entrust with those secrets will know about this?" James asked as he maintained eye contact with Dumbledore at every word.
"Of course." Dumbledore agreed, his eyes twinkling and filled with curiosity. "James my boy, I have never seen you so focused on something. Is all well with you?" he asked as James then averted his gaze from Dumbledore to look over at the kitchen door.
"One moment please." James said as he lifted his left arm and held up his index finger. He then took a breath before calling out to Lily, "Lily, Albus is here. And I was wondering if you were almost done in there, and if it was alright with you to bring us some tea?" he called out to his wife.
To James's shock and Dumbledore's bewilderment there was no answer, but rather silence from the kitchen. Dumbledore's eyes then narrowed behind his half moon spectacles as James then stood up from his chair and slowly made his way towards the door that separated the kitchen from the living room. And just as James had approached the door he heard, to his fear, a gasp of shock and pain. Before he could do anything to stop himself, James burst through the door.
"Tiger Lily, are you alright Honey?" he asked.
As the door fully opened he was given his answer in the form of Lily on her knees with her hands firmly placed on her stomach, her face was contorted and showed the clear signs of the pain she was in. Seeing Lily alive at least quelled some of the fears that James had in his mind, before his remaining fears were replaced with shock at what Lily answered with.
"J-James, my water broke! I'm going into labor!" Lily replied with pain still evident in her voice as she squeezed her eyes shut and tears began to flow down her cheeks from the agonizing pain she was in.
Out in the living room Dumbledore's eyes widened, while James's face lit up with a smile that could light a thousand suns. He was going to be a father tonight, after all the months waiting, tonight his and Lily's child would finally enter the world and complete their family. Before he had a chance to even change his mind, James turned around to look at Dumbledore who had just begun to stand up from the sofa.
"We...I don't think we have time to get to St. Mungo's. Would you mind getting ahold of someone, and asking them to come here?" James asked with a stutter as he looked at the old Headmaster.
"I will floo Poppy immediately," Dumbledore replied as he had already begun heading for the fireplace as he added, "I find it an odd, but not unwelcome coincidence that this would happen merely a day after Frank and Alice were blessed a son into the world. Has Frank flooed you and given you the news, James?" the ancient Hogwarts Headmaster asked. James nodded his head as looked over his shoulder at Dumbledore out of the corner of his eye, while he watched over Lily to make sure she was alright.
"Yes, he flooed me about ten minutes before you arrived. He told me that he and Alice agreed on naming him Neville. Neville Longbottom." James remarked as Dumbledore took a handful of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace allowing the flames to blaze wildly and turn emerald green once again as Dumbledore made the call to Poppy on the floo.
After the call was made Dumbledore returned to sit on the sofa as James kept watch over his wife, feeling his heart ache from seeing her in so much pain. Now all they had to do was wait.
As they waited, James got Lily as comfortable as possible among the pillows and blankets in the living room and laying her down on another one of the red sofas, wanting to provide comfort while also keeping watch for Poppy. He looked up at Dumbledore who still sat across from him on the sofa. James then drew his wand and cast a Muffliato Charm to create a privacy bubble so as to not disturb Lily, James let a nervous cough loose from his throat as he caught Dumbledore's attention and began to speak.
"Albus, what I'm about to reveal to you will probably also be recognized by her too. So, as Lord, Patriarch, and Head of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, I'm asking for your trust and silence on this matter." James requested as he stared into the Headmaster's eyes.
Dumbledore's eyes widened as he felt an air of great magic following James's words, and the old wizard could tell that by the look in James's eyes that he would brook no betrayal or lies on this matter. As the magic wrapped itself around them, the old man looked over to James as he spoke.
"What is it, James? Why would you invoke your Family's magic about this?" he asked with a curious tone in his voice, as he wanted to know everything about what James was talking about. James began to anxiously run his hands up and down his legs towards his knees until he placed both of his hands together in his lap.
"Because," he began shivering slightly as he said so, "I think you should know that...my son. I mean my and Lily's son, Harry...that's what Lily and I have chosen as his name. He...well...he..." James couldn't stop himself from shaking. He couldn't help it. He was trembling, as he feared what might happen when someone like Dumbledore knew the truth about his and Lily's child. James swallowed a large nervous lump in his throat and followed behind it with a slow, deep breath inhaling and exhaling as slowly and calmly as possible. "Harry's not just an average wizard, Albus. He's too powerful to be just a wizard, I know he is, and so does Lily. His power is incredible." James replied as he looked down and clasped his hands together, nervously twiddling his thumbs. He then lifted his head back up to meet Dumbledore's gaze.
Dumbledore's face then displayed a look of shock and surprise as his eyes widened even further than they had done before. He then looked at his old student for a good long minute before he directed his gaze towards Lily lying on the other sofa in the other section of the living room, convulsing in agony and pain, before he looked back at James.
"H-How...how powerful is he?" the old wizard asked nervously.
"More powerful than any wizard or witch I've ever seen or known before." James replied as he anxiously licked his lips. "But, I can tell you only from what I've seen, of how powerful Harry really is." he began to explain. "He was easily able to break Lily's fever when she had a temperature of about a hundred-six, all by using some sufficiently powerful healing magic. Then he was easily able to change the weather from a thunderstorm to a gentle snow. And mind you, both of those displays of power were only a few months ago. And I can tell you that I feel those two displays barely scratched the surface of the potential of Harry's full power." James replied.
Never before had James seen Dumbledore pale so quickly or so fearfully, as many in the Wizarding World claimed that the old wizard was afraid of nothing. And yet James saw that the old Headmaster looked like he would die from pure shock and fear. Swallowing a nervous lump in his throat and letting himself take several deep, calming breaths, Dumbledore finally spoke up.
"H-how...how do you think this is possible, James? How could your and Lily's son...how could Harry, be so powerful?" the old man asked in a quivering voice, fear itself seeping into his every word. The elderly Headmaster was only barely able to keep himself together and not be thrown through the far wall of the house, as his magical senses were being absolutely bombarded by all of the pure latent magical energy that was being radiated from the as-of-yet unborn son of his former two favorite Hogwarts students.
James took a moment to think as he once again clasped his hands together and place them in his lap. Letting a small cough and a soft sigh loose from his throat, he looked up from his lap at Dumbledore. "I don't know, Albus. I just don't know. This is something I've never encountered before, and I'm beyond shocked at what's happening. But, like I said before. All I know is that something unknown is the reason for Harry's immense power." the Potter Lord replied as both he and Dumbledore sat quietly in thought and tried to determine how Harry could be so powerful.
Two minutes after James had told Dumbledore the truth about the secret of his and Lily's child's remarkable power, both men were almost scared out of their wits as the flames in the living room's fireplace blazed wildly in a bright emerald green for the second time that night as a rather feminine figure emerged from the bright roaring emerald flames.
She was a somewhat portly fair-skinned woman who looked to be in her late fifties to early sixties with short gray hair, and kind soft crystal blue eyes. She was dressed in her red and white nineteenth century nurse's uniform, and was carrying a brown worn rucksack in her left hand. She was Madam Poppy Pomfrey, the Head Medi-witch and Matron of Hogwarts's Hospital Wing.
James didn't even need to open his mouth as Poppy walked past both him and Dumbledore, seemingly ignoring both of the men at this moment, and headed straight for Lily, she drew her wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm shielding off a section of the room to give them privacy. However, when James made to follow her, he felt Dumbledore put a calm hand on his right shoulder. The old wizard was then given a look from James prompting Dumbledore to then give James a look of his own from his blue eyes.
"If what you have told me about your son's potential is true, James, as well as what you have shared with me just now. I would advise that you stay out here, so that Poppy can cast the necessary backlash prevention wards, without fear of your magic interfering in any way." the elderly wizard spoke in a supposedly wise voice, as both he and James sat patiently once again in thought.
James sat rather uneasily in his chair. Although it looked like he had been able to compose himself, underneath he was just as worried as he had been before Dumbledore had even arrived. He could feel his heart hammering against the inside of his chest as if it were a raging centaur. James tried any reason he could possibly think of to remain calm. But as he would start to calm himself down, he would continually rile himself back up as he would nervously glance to where Lily was located behind the Disillusionment Charm, wondering how she was doing.
To help pass the time for the nervous father-to-be, James had gotten up from his chair and walked over to his fireplace, and after taking and throwing a handful of floo powder into the hearth, James got on the Floo Network and began to speak with someone. A few moments later after speaking to whoever was on the opposite end of the floo, James stepped back away from the fireplace as the flames blazed even more wildly signaling that someone was coming through. Two figures emerged from the fireplace, by their heights and builds, they were male.
First to come through was a tall fair-skinned man of average build, roughly a year older than James, with mid length dark brown hair and a small matching goatee, and slate colored eyes. He was dressed in a dark gray suit. He was Sirius Black, one of James's oldest friends and the closest person he had ever had to a brother. But while Sirius looked to have been wide awake and rather excited as if Christmas had come early, the second man that emerged from the fireplace looked to be rather exhausted.
He was also a tall fair-skinned man. He stood at least a few inches taller than Sirius and was the same age, with short light brown hair and a small matching mustache, and light blue eyes. He was dressed in a rather dark olive green suit and an ash gray bowtie. He was Remus Lupin, and just like Sirius, he was one of the closest friends that James had ever had.
All three friends stood together and looked at one another, knowing that this night was something special. James then let a small grin slide onto his face as he knew that he had his two brothers-in-all-but-blood to help support him. However, James's eyebrows furrowed as he took stock of the fact that someone was missing from what would essentially be like a reunion for the Marauders tonight.
"There's only you guys, where's Wormtail? Isn't he coming?" James asked, confusion clearly present in his voice as he quickly looked over both Sirius and Remus's shoulders towards the fireplace, then quickly back at his two friends. Sirius then shook his head as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"No I'm sorry, Prongs. He's not coming tonight. He said that he had some important 'business', to attend to, or whatnot." Sirius replied, his tone laced with suspicion as he added. "Although, what's more important than the first ever second-generation Marauder being brought into the world? I'll never know."
James then sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I'm just glad that you're here Padfoot. Lily and I decided that we want you to be Harry's godfather." James replied as he looked over at Remus who seemed to look like he was completely ignored. "But, I'm also glad that you're here too, Moony. I could use all the help you and Padfoot could give me."
Remus then let a smile break out across his features as Sirius's eyes were still wide open as he was still completely blown away at the thought of him being the young boy's godfather. James meanwhile took stock of Sirius's reaction, and made a note to test his friend's loyalty to this cause because, as a magically sworn-in godparent, Sirius would also be entrusted with everything he would need to know about his godson, if the worst ever happened.
The all-but-complete Marauders ventured over to the sitting area of the living room as Sirius and Remus shook hands with Dumbledore and sat down on the sofa on opposite sides of the old Headmaster, while James returned to sitting in his chair. Again they had to wait, for how much longer? They didn't know.
Lily was in indescribable pain. She lurched her head forward, grunting and squeezing her eyes shut in pain. Her face was contorted as she felt as if she was being ripped in two. Madam Pomfrey had set to work trying to help the distressed mother-to-be through all of the pain to help deliver her child into the world.
Lily squeezed her eyes further shut as tears began to run down her cheeks. She couldn't take the pain much longer. It was too much. It was unbearable. She couldn't hold back her pain any longer. So in the end she screamed. She screamed as loud as she could ever hope to. And in the last moment before she could scream any more, she felt a calming sensation. At first she didn't know where it could have possibly come from. But then after a second or two to wrap her head around the situation, Lily figured out the cause and reason of why her unbearable pain had suddenly and seemingly ceased. It was Harry, her son, it was he who was responsible. It seemed that once again in her hour of need, Lily's young child had used the great power contained inside of himself to cease his mother's pain. But, what Lily didn't know however, was that someone had sensed Harry's great and seemingly unlimited power.
Emperor's throne room, Observation Tower, Imperial Orbital Battle Station codenamed "Death Star", outer space in orbit above Despayre, Horuz system, Atrivis sector, Outer Rim Territories, Known Galaxy
15 standard years Before the Battle of Yavin, 4 standard years after the Rise of the New Order
Far enough away from the farthest moon, or the farthest planet, or even the farthest star within the solar system; or even expanding vastly out across the seemingly endless stretches of the Milky Way, located far enough away from the Milky Way, there lay another galaxy: one full forever more of chaos, torment, betrayal, anger, hatred, manipulation, and corruption. But what it consisted of more than anything; apart from the seemingly endless cycles of war, peace, and the following revolution, was consuming it at this moment. Blanketing out any source of light that could be found, there was the endless lure of pure darkness and evil.
Far out in the Outer Rim Territories, the supposedly benevolent Galactic Empire was hard at work. They were building what would perhaps be known as the greatest weapon that the Galaxy had ever seen. It would usher in true and eternal peace for the inhabitants across the Galaxy.
High up above the green and blue planet of Despayre; hanging in geosynchronous orbit like an angel of death, was a monstrous behemoth of silver Quadanium alloy. It shone brightly from the large stars scattered across the Horuz system, and even though it was barely past fifty percent of its overall completion, the very sight of it would cause not only shock and awe, but also fear.
It was codenamed by the Empire as the 'Death Star' and upon its completion, it would possess firepower of which the Galaxy itself had never bore witness to.
Sitting in the as-of-yet seventy-five percent complete throne room that had been seemingly dipped into pure darkness, was a large imposing metal throne. It was the figure however, who was sitting in the throne who deserved the required attention.
Sitting in his throne was an elderly man who looked to be in his mid sixties with sagging, pale, and disfigured skin, and sickly golden bloodshot eyes that scanned around the space before him. He was dressed in a long, flowing midnight black hooded robe that seemed to blanket him in further darkness, showing that he was truly at home within the dark. He was Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious, ruler of the Galactic Empire and Dark Lord of the Sith.
Sidious sat in pure, unmolested silence. He sat within his dark metal chair with both of his arms rested upon the armrests and his wrinkled and boney fingers atop the cool metal, his eyes looking out of the large viewport at the seemingly endless void of space before him. His black robes that lay upon him unmoving, and gave off the impression of death as he remained sitting motionless.
That space before him was later filled with two hundred Imperial Venator-class Star Destroyers. At 1,137 meters, they were seemingly unstoppable juggernauts of pure destructive capabilities. Despite being remainders of a bygone time; on their way to the scrap yards in short time, they were capable of enforcing order on any troublesome planet, and were useful for the time being, for now.
Flying alongside them were their newer, younger, and by far larger brothers, one hundred brand new Imperial-class Star Destroyers, freshly produced from the orbital construction shipyards of Kuat Drive Yards. At 1,600 meters, they were slightly larger than their relic Clone Wars-era siblings, and also carried enough firepower to enforce order. But flying alongside the two different Star Destroyers were the true monsters that the Empire had at their disposal, until the Death Star and Sidious' secret project were completed.
Flying alongside the miniscule Star Destroyers were their more dangerous 'big brothers', thirty five absolutely monstrous Executor-class Imperial Star Dreadnoughts. At 19,600 meters, and carrying enough troops, weapons, and starfighters to quell an uproar within an entire star system, they were truly a force that no one in their right mind would ever want to anger.
Sidious watched as before him the rather large starfleet began soaring throughout the vacuum of space. The fleet was the largest that the elderly Sith Lord had ever seen. He averted his eyes from the viewport upon catching sight of his own disfigured features, the result of his claim to ultimate power within the bygone Republic. He still remembered the day that he had been scarred by the Jedi Master Mace Windu. The searing hot lightning that coursed through his body, every nerve and molecule screaming in agony as his features were forever changed from what they had been before. He sat in thought pondering how he had come so far since that day four standard years ago at the end of the Clone Wars, and his ascension from Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, to the Galactic Emperor of his new Galactic Order.
He had finally accomplished what the numerous Sith of old had constantly attempted and failed to do, the total annihilation of the accursed Jedi and their precious order. It was finally the Sith, who would rule the Galaxy for the rest of eternity. He was the Sith who had accomplished all that his predecessors had failed to accomplish. And to him, the taste of victory was oh so sweet to him. And he reveled in his triumph, never before had the Galaxy ever bore witness to the evil that plagued it in darkness.
The Dark Lord then looked to his right, knowing that while he might have held the majority of the victories within his grasp, he didn't hold them all. To his right stood nothing, but a void of shadows. The Emperor had lost what he had noted as his "Ultimate victory against the Jedi." He had lost what he saw as the perfect apprentice for the Sith Order, the apprentice that he had spent countless standard years grooming and preparing to embrace the Dark Side and become a true Dark Lord of the Sith.
Anakin Skywalker might have at first glance, appeared to only be a reckless and hot-headed young Jedi Knight. But it was the power he contained within himself, that Sidious had so craved. The boy had been born purely out of the Force with no father, he seemed to have been conceived purely by the Midi-chlorians. His potential in the Force had been so vast, that upon reaching his full potential everybody; whether Sith or Jedi, believed he would truly have become the most powerful being in existence. His pure raw Force potential would dwarf all Force-users that had come before, or would come after him, combined. Including Sidious himself.
But it seemed, that the victory of possessing the most powerful Force-user in existence as his apprentice and to give the Sith true eternal power, wouldn't last for long. As merely a few standard hours after swearing his allegiance to Sidious' teachings and the Dark Side of the Force, the newly christened Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader was defeated on the volcanic planet of Mustafar, by his former Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Upon sensing Lord Vader's distress, after his victory over the Jedi Grand Master Yoda that resulted in the old green Jedi Master's retreat, Sidious immediately travelled to Mustafar to aid his apprentice, should he require it. Upon landing on the ash covered volcanic world and finding Lord Vader's severely burned and disfigured corpse, Sidious was met with extreme unadulterated anger at the fact that his apprentice who had sensed the death of his wife, Padmé Amidala, and his unborn children, chose not to live anymore. Vader it seemed had lost the will to live without the presence of his family, and rather than channel his hate into the Dark Side to stay alive, like Darth Sion before him, the newly christened Sith chose to die on the banks of a lava river, rather than live a now lonely life, separated from his loved ones.
Sidious closed his aged eyes, and let the pure unlimited power of the Dark Side flow through his veins. He then quieted his mind as he let the darkness swirl even further around him. His body radiating the true black evil of the Dark Side. At the moment the darkness was at its greatest, Sidious thought back to that very day four standard years ago, when the Jedi had denied him his chosen apprentice. He chose to do this to let the Dark Side further fuel his strength, as he called on every negative emotion there was, and channeled those raw emotions into the Force to feed his power.
burning shore near a lava river, Mustafar, Mustafar system, Atravis sector, Outer Rim Territories, Known Galaxy
Four Standard Years Ago, 19 BBY
Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, formerly known as Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Chosen One of the Force gurgled out helplessly on the burning shore of a raging lava river. He reached out his cybernetic right hand, the only remaining limb on his mutilated, burnt, and disfigured body, and grasped helplessly against the burning black sand as he tried to pull himself further up the shore, and away from the raging river. However, try as he might, the sand continuously slipped from his grasp and seeped through his mechanical fingers.
He tortuously began to roll over until he had turned completely over on to his inflamed back. He then looked down at his body, taking stock of his condition. His left arm had been severed at the elbow, and both of his legs had been cut off at about his kneecaps. But what Vader saw was that his Jedi garments had been burnt completely off of him leaving him looking at his inflamed skin that had been dotted with numerous fourth, fifth, and sixth degree burns. Vader stared up at the pure black clouds hanging over him, straining his damaged eyes as he was unable to fully focus on the blanketed sky of darkness.
Internally Vader cursed Obi-Wan Kenobi who had destroyed him before his career as a Sith Lord could truly begin. He raged that the man whom he had looked up to like a father or an older brother figure had done this to him. He had betrayed him as all the Jedi had, but the Jedi didn't just betray him, they betrayed the whole kriffing Republic and the Senate. They had tried to assassinate Chancellor Palpatine even when the man had only the Republic's best interests at heart, and had provided the Jedi with the information pertaining to General Grievous' location that later ended with his destruction and the end of the war. But still, the Jedi had craved to overthrow the Chancellor and seize control of the Republic for themselves. And not only had Obi-Wan betrayed him, but somehow his former master had manipulated Padmé against him and his wife had even brought Obi-Wan to Mustafar to kill him. How could she do that?! After everything they had been through, how could she side with the enemy and betray her husband and the father of her child?
Vader couldn't make sense out of any of it, no matter how hard he tried to think about what happened, he was met with the same answer, over, and over, and over. She had betrayed him, and yet deep down in his heart, he couldn't find the strength to hate her. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate his negative emotions into the Force, she was his angel, his wife, and the same girl he had fallen in love with when he had first laid eyes on her in Watto's junk shop thirteen standard years ago.
Vader then closed his eyes as he tried to sense Padmé's presence through the Force. He had to make sure that she was at least safe. Out from him the Force ebbed and grew, it retracted and then thrust out from him like a sponge. With much concentration and with great effort, he reached out further with the Force and cast it off from himself through the fog of Mustafar, into the void of the Galaxy. He passed many worlds, heard many out there in the void go about their lives. He felt death and darkness permeate the Galaxy. He reached out and pushed beyond the many quadrillions and quintillions of lifeforms as he searched for his wife's familiar presence through the Force. He looked out further and further, yes even straining himself in the process so that he could find her amongst the maze of the stars and planets of the Galaxy. It was then at that moment that he finally found her!
He could sense her presence through the Force. But what had Vader taken aback, was that he could feel her life force diminishing, he could feel her drifting away from the physical world and away from the land of the living. But she wasn't alone as he could feel their child, no wait, there were two Force signatures emanating from his wife, not one. She wasn't carrying a single child, but twins, a boy and a girl. He could feel his wife and children, his son and his daughter, slowly slipping away. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it. But the evidence was clearly there for him to feel through the Force. Padmé and his children were dying, and there was absolutely nothing that he could do about it.
'Don't give up Padmé, please don't give up. I already lost my mother, I can't lose you and our children.' thought Vader as tears began to flow down from his eyes, stinging his burnt skin as they did so. 'I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I don't know what came over me. Please don't leave me. If you die, I don't know if I could keep on living without you. You're my heart and soul.'
Vader continued shedding tears as he could sense his wife and children's presences begin flickering repeatedly. But in the end he felt their presences finally flicker out of existence. They were gone, his entire family was gone. His wife, son, and daughter. All gone. Vader threw back his head in agony, he could feel his anger, his hatred, his pain, all of it flowing through him. He could feel it begin to give him a temporary boost to his strength. He let it flow through him like a rapid torrent, like a pure tsunami of rage. He raged at the unfairness of it all. He raged at the uncaring galaxy that he was born into, and Obi-Wan for betraying him and manipulating Padmé to betray him as well. But, above all else, he raged at the Force. If this was the Force's will, then he cursed the Force. He venomously cursed it with every last ounce of hatred that he had of his being. He hated it, and he would hate it forever.
He cursed himself for being so kriffing stupid. He had attacked her, he had attacked his wife, the one he loved the most, the mother of their children. He then focused his hatred away from the Force, and focused it onto the one that he truly hated more than the Jedi, or Obi-Wan, or even the Force itself. He focused it on the one person that was solely responsible for all of his pain. Himself.
He then remembered the last time he spoke to his wife, and how he had kriffed up his own life, from just those standard seconds alone. And those standard seconds, he knew in his mind, that he could never get back.
"Padmé, I saw your ship..." he remembered saying as she ran into his arms and they embraced. Padmé stepped back a step to look up at him with concern.
"Oh Anakin!" she had said.
He remembered putting his hands on both sides of her head in a loving manner. "It's all right, you're safe now. What are you doing here?" he had asked.
Padmé looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "I was so worried about you. Obi-Wan told me terrible things." she had said.
He looked at her with concern. "What things?" he had asked. He remembered seeing Padmé's face with her eyes displaying her confusion with all that was happening.
"He said that you've turned to the Dark Side...that you killed younglings." she had explained as she looked up at him, hoping he would deny what Obi-Wan told her.
He sighed and then quickly became disgusted. "Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me." he had exclaimed with ire.
"He cares about us." Padmé had tried to convince him.
He remembered looking at her in shock. "Us?!" he had asked with even further shock.
"He knows...he wants to help you." she had tried to explain to him, but he remembered that that only seemed to anger him even further.
"Is Obi-Wan going to protect you?" he paused as he remembered trying to calm himself down. "He can't...he can't help you. He's not powerful enough." he had tried to persuade her. He remembered Padmé looking up at him with tears falling rapidly down her cheeks.
"Anakin, all I want is your love." she had declared in a sad voice.
He reached out to her again, taking her face in his hands, and looking down at her with love, but also with arrogance. "Love won't save you, Padmé. Only my new powers can do that." he had told her. He remembered Padmé's facial expression becoming alarmed.
"At what cost? You're a good person. Don't do this." she had pleaded with him as she reached up and touched his face.
He sighed and looked deep into her brown eyes. "I won't lose you the way I lost my mother! I've become more powerful than any Jedi or Force-user before or after me has or could ever dream of, and I've done it for you." he then paused, "To protect you." he had said as he cupped her left cheek with his cybernetic right hand. He remembered when Padmé took a hold of both of his hands in her own.
"Come away with me. Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind, while we still can." she had pleaded again as she tried to pull him along with her back towards her Chromium plated Nubian cruiser.
Instead of going with her, he pulled his hands from hers and started to wave them around as an arrogant smile formed on his lips. "Don't you see, we don't have to run anymore. I've brought peace to the Republic. I'm more powerful than the Chancellor. I can overthrow him, and together you and I can rule the Galaxy. Us and our family. Make things the way we want them to be." he had tried to convince her. He remembered Padmé shaking her head in disbelief as she cautiously started backing away from him with tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"I don't believe what I'm hearing...Obi-Wan was right. You've changed." she had said with great hurt in her tone.
He then started to become irritated again and started pacing back and forth. "I don't want to hear anymore about Obi-Wan. The Jedi turned against me." he stopped and pointed his right index finger at her. "Don't you turn against me." he had said with anger beginning to surface in his tone. He remembered seeing Padmé's face adopt an expression of pure horror and sadness.
"I don't know you anymore." Padmé told him with despair in her voice. "Anakin, you're breaking my heart." Tears then began blinding her vision as she continued to back away from him. "I'll never stop loving you, but you're going down a path I can't follow." she had exclaimed with her voice sounding hoarse from her sadness.
He then became more irate with his tone and expression. "Because of Obi-Wan?" he questioned in anger as his eyes slowly began transitioning from their normal light blue to a light sickly golden tint.
"Because of what you've done...what you plan to do. Stop, stop now. Come back! I love you!" she had pleaded him.
He then remembered noticing a caped figure appear at the top of the landing ramp of Padmé's cruiser out of the corner of his eye. "LIAR!" he had shouted at her with pure rage seeping into his words as he accused her.
Padmé, confused, then abruptly turned around and to her surprise, she saw Obi-Wan standing at the top of the landing ramp of the Nubian cruiser with his hands on his hips, looking at Anakin with disappointment and determination clearly present on his face. Padmé, looked at Obi-Wan and then him with fear and anguish present in her eyes.
"No!" she had shouted.
He looked at Padmé with anger and distrust as he began to pace again. His eyes intensified to become a more vibrant, sickly glowing golden color than they had been a few standard moments before. He then thrust his right arm forward and pointed his index finger accusingly at Padmé. "You're with him! You've betrayed me! You brought him here to kill me!" he had roared in pure venomous rage.
He remembered Padmé adopting a look of absolute horror. "No! Anakin. I swear...I..." she had shouted back her assurance as he reached out with his right hand and compressed it into a fist as the Force reached and gripped around her throat and he choked her through the Force. She gasped for air as she looked back at him with fear and anguish as she reached her hands up to her throat trying to remove the invisible hand that clenched at her windpipe.
He remembered Obi-Wan stepping down the landing ramp towards him. "Let her go, Anakin." he had demanded in a commanding tone. But the Sith Lord merely ignored his former master's words. "I said..." Obi-Wan demanded in a louder tone, this time earning his fallen apprentice's attention. "LET...HER...GO..."
The last thing that he remembered was releasing his grip through the Force as Padmé fell to the landing platform and collapsed in a heap. Before he was blinded by pure unadulterated rage and began engaging in the Lightsaber duel with his former master that would lead to his current situation.
How, how could he be so karking stupid? He looked down at his cybernetic right hand, the one that had hurt her, the one that had led to her being taken from him. He stared at the black cybernetic appendage and narrowed his eyes as best he could in anger and clenched the metallic fingers inward into a tight fist.
But as quickly as the anger manifested within him, it just as suddenly disappeared as he let calmness wash over him as water would wash over a stone in a stream. He looked back up at the billowing black ash filled sky of this volcanic hell. He closed his eyes and concentrated as best he could with his body aching from its injuries as the pain grew more extreme every passing standard second.
'Padmé, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything that I've done. From hurting you, to killing younglings. I never deserved you. You were too good for me. You're all the things that I've tried and wanted to be, but failed. Caring, warm, compassionate, all of it. I don't expect you to forgive me. And I'd understand if you don't. But, I just want you to understand that I made a mistake, a HUGE mistake. But, I'm willing to apologize to you as a man knowing that he's done wrong. I'm sorry my angel. Can you ever forgive me for what I've done?' he thought as he shed a tear from his eye that streamed down to his cheek stinging the irritated skin.
It was then at the moment that he felt a light stirring inside of him. He could feel it in his chest, it began as a small flicker like that of a light switch. But as the standard seconds passed by, the light began to grow, and grow it did. After a few more standard seconds passed, Vader began to hear something. He heard a voice, a voice that he thought he would never hear again. But he heard it as clear as a Kyber crystal. It was her, it was Padmé!
"Yes Anakin, I do. I do forgive you." said the ethereal voice of Padmé, sounding as if she was so far away, and yet so close to him at the same time. As if she were lying there right beside him.
"P-Padmé? Is it, is that you?" asked Anakin with disbelief clearly evident in his tone and on his disfigured face. 'Is it really Padmé...or am I just hallucinating?' he thought. "It can't be. You're gone. I felt you and our children pass on through the Force. This can't actually be real. I must be hallucinating."
"Yes...it's me." replied Padmé as Anakin could practically hear the smile through his late wife's words. "And no...you're not hallucinating, Ani. I'm here. I'm really here with you." Anakin then couldn't stop the flood of tears that erupted from his eyes, he couldn't help it. Padmé, his wife, his angel was still there. However, his attention was directed at the words his late wife spoke. "However, what about you? Who are you?" she paused. "Are you Anakin Skywalker, my husband...or are you Darth Vader, the Sith Lord?" she asked with wonderment and a slight trace of possible distrust in her words.
Anakin felt as if he had just been backhanded across the face from an angry Bull Rancor by her question. He just stared up at the black cloudy sky in stunned silence. "I-I'm A-Anakin. Anakin Skywalker, your husband. Padmé." he replied stuttering with his voice cracking to answer her. The tears streaming down his cheeks in uncontrollable waves. The memories of what he did to her, but a standard hour ago or so flooding back into his mind more powerful than they had been standard moments prior.
"I-I'm sorry, Padmé. I'm so sorry." he apologized once again as his vision began to blur due to how much he was crying. "I just can't believe what came over me. I'm not that person anymore. Darth Vader is dead. And I'm happy, I-I'm so, so happy that you were able to forgive me for all I've done. I love you Padmé, and I want to be with you always. Forever." he said as Padmé seemed to smile through the ethereal presence that she existed as.
"I love you too, Anakin. And I want to be with you too. Come with me, we can go to a better place. Please, come with me. I'll be waiting for you." said Padmé as her voice departed from the volcanic shore. Anakin then spoke to who deserved to hear his words more than anyone else at this moment. The Force.
"Please I know that I've failed to fulfill the prophecy and bring balance to the Galaxy. But please...let me pass on into the Netherworld...into the afterlife, and be with my family. Don't let me die and be cursed to live in Chaos for the rest of eternity. Please let me transcend the physical world and become one with the Force. Let another person be born to finish what I've started. Please, I beg you." pleaded Anakin as he gazed up at the heavens above him, constantly swirling in turmoil from the volcanic environment.
Anakin then felt the life begin to leave him. It was time for him to go. It was his time to become one with the Force. Was he afraid? Yes he was, but in his heart he knew. There were plenty of things in existence, far worse than death itself. It was at that moment that Anakin Skywalker, Chosen One of the Force, Jedi Knight of the Republic, and formerly the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader passed on into the Force. And all around him became black as night.
Outer space, Mustafar, Mustafar system, Atravis sector, Outer Rim Territories, Known Galaxy
Four Standard Years Ago, 19 BBY
(...)
Through the pure black void a lone Theta-class T-2c personnel shuttle descended through the vacuum of space. It was a tri-wing designed craft with a central stationary wing atop it, flanked by a pair of folded wings on either side. When it was in its flight position, the wing configuration also resembled an inverted letter 'Y'.
Moving on ahead of it was a squadron of seven ARC-170 starfighters serving as a security escort. The shuttle gave a harsh explosion of its engines and in a few standard seconds it burst downwards towards the planet beneath it. Mustafar; the red and orange raging volcanic laden rock of a planet, remained silent and without notice of this shuttle and those ships that escorted it in.
The only thing of notice to those within the shuttle being the single Acclamator-class assault capital ship in orbit, having been there to also escort them with added protection. Before it burst into hyperspace and off to where only the Force knew where.
"We'll be planet side and landing in seventy standard seconds, Your Majesty." announced the black uniformed Imperial Navy pilot as he looked over his right shoulder at his Emperor as he sat, eyes closed appearing to be in a state of meditation.
"Ah, very good Captain."
Sidious merely allowed a smile to appear upon his features as he leaned into his seat and drew in a mighty breath. Seeming to relish the air, but really relishing the darkness that poured upwards and outwards from the fiery lava covered volcanic planet.
Ever referred as volatile and uncontrollable by the rest of the Galaxy, the Dark Side would forever remain a fixture of Mustafar after the ancient Dark Lord of the Sith, Lord Momin, transformed it into what it was now and would always remain as. A pure burning nexus of power of the Dark Side of the Force.
However, Sidious was snapped out of his stupor as he sensed a disturbance course through the Force. He sensed Lord Vader's Force signature suddenly flicker out of existence, as all he could feel through the Force was... 'Nothing?' was the only word Sidious could use and say through his thoughts. It was impossible. Surely Darth Vader, the most powerful Force-wielder in existence couldn't truly be gone just as easily as that? Could he?
Of course Sidious had sensed that Lord Vader was in need of assistance, but Sidious believed Vader was only slightly injured. It seemed that either Vader had been inflicted with serious life-threatening injuries and died as a result. Or he only suffered some sort of injuries that rendered him unconscious and the young Sith possibly, subconsciously, and unknowingly used the rare Force ability, Force Blank, to become a Dark Void in the Force and cloak his Force signature and presence completely.
Sidious decided that the latter would have to be the most likely scenario. Not wanting to waste even a precious standard second if his as-of-now precious and possibly future expendable apprentice required aid, then he would receive it. For now, as his services to the elderly Dark Lord of the Sith were still required.
"Captain, get us down there immediately, I sense Lord Vader most likely requires assistance. That is a direct executive order and top priority." ordered the Galactic Emperor, his tone showing that he would allow nothing short of complete obedience.
"Very well, Your Majesty. As you wish." responded the pilot as he turned his head to the similarly dressed co-pilot that sat to his right. "Lieutenant divert spare auxiliary power to forward thrust and heat shields. We don't want to burn up in the atmosphere if we come in too shallow." he exclaimed.
"Yes Captain." responded the Lieutenant and co-pilot as he set to work diverting the shuttle's spare auxiliary power into the forward thrusters and heat shields. Meanwhile the Captain and pilot activated the shuttle's modified on-board comm system.
"ARC Squadron, this is Captain Zalev Seyl of Theta shuttle-2182. We have received a direct executive order from His Imperial Majesty to accelerate downward towards the planet. If you're going to maintain in-flight escort, please divert spare auxiliary power to both forward thrust and heat shields at this standard moment, in-case you come in too shallow in the atmosphere." reported the pilot; identified as Captain Zalev Seyl of the newly named Imperial Navy, over the comm system.
Sidious having already ordered a communications lock on the ARC starfighter squadron the moment they emerged from hyperspace, listened in as Captain Seyl hailed the ARC Squadron leader.
"Theta shuttle-2182, this is ARC Leader. We understand direct executive order and have diverted auxiliary power to thrust and heat shields. Continue on your present course. We'll escort you until you land and perform in-air perimeter recon until you're ready to leave. ARC Leader, out." reported the Clone pilot.
"Your Majesty, we are going in now. Acceleration is increased to maximum capacity. ETA, thirty standard seconds." reported Zalev, as the Theta-class shuttle descended through the black ash filled atmosphere at maximum acceleration.
The shuttle began shuddering as it broke through the black clouded atmosphere and began coming in towards a landing platform as it prepared to touch down.
"Your Majesty, we are now coming in for a landing. Touchdown in fifteen standard seconds." reported the co-pilot as Sidious stood from his seat and began walking towards the back of the shuttle, he stared at the four Imperial Royal Guards and eight Imperial Guard Clone Shock Troopers.
The former were dressed in red robes and wore red gloves and boots, red helmets that covered their entire heads with horizontal black visors, and held long black spear-like Force pikes. While the latter were dressed in full body primarily white Phase II armor that covered them from head to toe, with matching primarily white sculpted helmets that covered their entire heads. They had solid red areas on their chests, abdomens, knees, shoulders, elbows, utility belts, shins, boots, and parts of their helmets. They carried identical black DC-15A blaster rifles. The idea of their armor was to intimidate by removing any sign of emotion or sympathy.
Sidious gave a faint nudge of his head towards the landing ramp and his protection detail wordlessly stood from their seats and moved back towards it.
Within seconds, the seven ARC-170s broke off from their escort formation and pulled away from the shuttle as they left, seeing that the shuttle was only seconds from landing as they all flew off in their own directions to perform in-air reconnaissance.
Meanwhile the Theta-class shuttle had now settled into a slow descended hover, its lower wings folding upwards as it entered its landing position and set down upon a raised landing platform uphill from a raging molten river of lava. Its landing ramp descended, and so too did the Emperor and his protection detail. Emerging first were the Clone Shock Troopers in two single file lines. The moment each one stepped off of the ramp, they raised their blaster rifles before them to point the barrel of their weapons ahead of them covering sectors and flanks.
Next, Sidious, flanked from both the front and the rear by his crimson robed guards, descended the metal ramp. The elderly Sith looked around at his surroundings, never once had he himself been to this planet only through a hologram that he used to communicate with the bounty hunter Cad Bane when he had brought Force-sensitive children here. He saw that this hellish landscape would have been perfect for the Sith homeworld, if not for Korriban.
The ground was black, sandy, and harsh looking. Jagged rocks stuck out from the ground, facing the sky as distant mountains loomed high and climbed towards the sky like their smaller rock kindred. He heard the rumbles, the crackling of the volcanoes and the lava rivers. He felt the tremors and vibrations that those tall cones of rock emitted when they erupted, sending forth the molten orange liquid into the air.
Sidious looked forward as one of the Troopers approached him, the four horizontal red stripes on his shoulders identifying him as a Commander. "Your Excellency, we've just received word from ARC Squadron. Recon reports there's no hostiles within proximity." reported the Clone.
Sidious gave a mere nod of his head, "Very good, Commander. Now, let us find Lord Vader." declared the Sith as he turned and began walking downhill towards a black sandy shore near one of the planet's many lava rivers.
One of the Clones who had broken off to check for his second-in-command superior was running back uphill as fast as his legs would go as he stopped in front of Sidious and his protection detail.
"CT-2019, what is it? Have you found Lord Vader?" inquired the Shock Trooper Commander standing at Sidious' left-hand side.
"Your Excellency, Commander, there's something, or someone down there." reported the Trooper, averting Sidious' attention downwards toward the bottom of the hill on the black sandbanks of a lava river.
'That's it.' thought Sidious as he immediately broke into a stride heading towards the location of his apprentice, moving at a speed that his guard detail noted, belied his age, as the man moved faster than their eyes or minds could even follow. When he arrived further downhill, the elderly Sith noticed a small shape of sort lying next to the churning molten river.
'No, it can't be!' thought Sidious. The Dark Lord need not run for long as his vision landed upon what he hoped to the Force hadn't happened. He hoped that whatever that shape was, that it wasn't Lord Vader.
'No, this can't be! By the Force this isn't possible, it just can't be!' thought the Emperor as he internally boiled with rage. The Force swirling in darkness around him and coursing through his veins.
But it was true. His promising new apprentice, who was to be the greatest Sith Lord and Force-user who had ever lived - maimed and burned, perhaps even dead. The Dark Lord of the Sith slowed to a walk as he came to the right side of his most recent apprentice, the fallen, now motionless Lord Vader. His body adorned with the most severe of fourth, fifth, and sixth degree burns and his eyes were shut, his body showed no trace of life at all within him.
It was then that Sidious bent over the body. Leaning down, the Dark Lord lowered his left hand downward placing his open palm upon Vader's forehead to see if his apprentice was still alive. However, he was met with nothing. Sidious felt a blindness and a great lack of life through the Force within his apprentice. He felt the lack of the Force within Vader in its totality. All he sensed within his apprentice was the void of death itself. He was dead. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, was dead.
Sidious ground his teeth in frustrated, unadulterated anger. Lord Vader was dead, and he had wasted all of the immense Force potential that had been gifted to him. Of course he was expendable to the Dark Lord, as were all of his former apprentices, and he would have been discarded the very standard second the elderly Sith found an even more powerful apprentice to replace Vader. And with his training in the ability of Essence Transfer, he would have probably even transferred his consciousness into Vader's body, to utilize his Force potential to its fullest extent. Until then, he was still useful to Sidious, but now as a charred body, he was anything but useful to him.
It was then that Sidious' protection detail arrived as they ran downhill towards their Emperor on the burning black shore. They all slowed to a halt upon seeing their Emperor hunched over the charred and mutilated corpse of Lord Vader. They all felt shivers run down their spines knowing that Sidious was enraged. The Clone Commander stepped forward as Sidious began standing up from examining Vader's body.
"Sir, would you like for us to return to the shuttle and acquire a medical capsule for Lord Vader?" asked the Commander, hopefully trying not to anger his superior as he gained the Dark Lord's attention.
Darth Sidious kept his gaze focused on Vader's body as he remained silent for a standard second. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "No, Commander Thire. That will not be necessary at this moment. Lord Vader...is dead." he replied still gazing down at Vader's corpse, his eyes like twin burning amber suns displaying his rage.
He sneered with his features distorted by rage and seeing no alternative to at all reviving Lord Vader from the grave. Sidious extended his hands out forward, palms open, angling his aged boney fingers forwards and downwards. It was then that he unleashed tendril shaped torrents of blueish-white Force Lightning that exploded forth from his fingers.
The Force Lightning crackled in intense sound as it made contact with the deceased Vader's skin. The charred reddened skin began to smoke as it deformed exponentially more. The blueish-white bolts of lightning bombarded Vader's skin, it became deformed like hot Nubian wax on his homeworld of Naboo.
Sidious continued his bombardment on his former Sith apprentice for his failure. He could only maintain the sneer upon his features as his nostrils flared, but he didn't let up from his assault. Not even when the rancid smell of charred, melted, and burning flesh entered through his nostrils upon his inhalation, only for him to exhale through his aged, wrinkled, and pale lips. He had no sorrow to spare for the failure beneath him.
When Sidious had ceased his bombardment on Vader's remains all that was left was a completely unidentifiable black burned husk. The aged Sith placed both of his arms back down at his sides as he reached out through the Force and telekinetically lifted the body into the air without having to raise a finger. Sidious then tossed Vader's corpse into the churning river of lava where it sizzled and sank out of sight.
With that done Sidious turned, and with a furious whirl of his midnight black hooded robe, he stalked away. "Commander, we are leaving now." said Sidious in an icy tone, and his protection detail instantly knew it was time to leave.
"Yes sir." acknowledged Commander Thire as he looked at the Troopers under his command, "Alright, Jek, Rys, all of you boys. Let's get the kriff off this smoking magma rock!"
"Sir, yes sir." responded the Clones as they immediately followed their Emperor, his Royal Guards, and their Commander back to the shuttle, two of them being identified as 'Jek' and 'Rys' while the other five Troopers were unidentified.
It was only a few moments before the Theta-class shuttle lifted off from the planet, linked up with ARC Squadron, and jumped into hyperspace back to Coruscant, or as it was now known, 'Imperial Center'.
(Present Day)
That was four standard years ago, and there was no way that he could undo what had happened.
'What's done...is done.' thought Sidious as he opened his eyes to stare out into space, anger swelling within his mind.
After Darth Vader's death and disposal on Mustafar, Sidious had returned to the Capital of his newly formed Galactic Empire to ensure total stability and control over all of the hard work that had taken him standard decades to accomplish.
But now without Lord Vader, he had to resort to using his newly formed Imperial Hand and Inquisitorius programs to train Dark Side Force-users that would then hunt down all of the remaining Jedi that had escaped Order 66. And while some of them proved to be exceptionally powerful, knowledgeable, and gifted users of the Force, they were infinitely less than nothing compared to the unlimited pure Force potential that Darth Vader had possessed, or would have possessed.
Much had changed for the Galaxy after the end of the Clone Wars and rise of the Empire, as Sidious noted. There were reports that were passed onto him from the Imperial Security Bureau that stated there was most likely treason within the Imperial Senate and some Senators were most likely creating a rebellion movement against the Empire.
However, at the time ISB Commanding Officer Colonel Wullf Yularen's attempts at finding the perpetrator or perpetrators remained fruitless. If it weren't for the fact that the experienced Clone Wars veteran was a dedicated and useful pawn, then Sidious would have disintegrated him with Force Lightning instantly.
The elderly Dark Lord of the Sith gave a loose shake of his head, moving his hood slightly as he did so, he pushed the thoughts from his mind and he returned to the original topic. He had ruled over the Empire and Galaxy for four standard years now, and had done so without an apprentice. He knew that with all the work that he was attending to as the most powerful being in the Known Galaxy, both literally and politically, that he wouldn't have much time available to train a new apprentice in the teachings of the Dark Side.
And he doubted that there was any being anywhere in either the Galaxy or the universe that could even come anywhere close to the level of power that Vader had had. Much less any Force-user more powerful than him. Until, he felt something...
A disturbance in the Force had broken his concentration. Like a trillion stars had all gone nova in an instant. He felt a ripple of the Force that had screamed across the Galaxy from somewhere afar, beyond even the Western Rim, somewhere in the Unknown Regions. He felt the Force tremble and shake at the explosion of light that had rumored that a great...change had occurred.
The maelstrom seemed to rattle the dark shroud that had been placed by him upon the Galaxy four standard years ago. Its echo raced across the numerous hundreds of quintillions of stars of the Galaxy and found its way to the Dark Lord of the Sith. It felt...powerful. Very powerful. Its power was unlike almost anything Sidious had ever encountered before, its power just falling short of Vader's or his children that the elderly Sith had sensed when he met with their mother after his return to the Republic Capital following the Battle of Coruscant.
It seemed that this power could possibly be great enough to surpass even himself, which Sidious thought was impossible by any Force-user with the exception of those of the Skywalker bloodline.
However, before Sidious could properly hone in on the power and find its source, wherever it was...it disappeared.
'What?! No! It's gone! Where is it? From where in which system did it come from?' thought Sidious with rage and fury beginning to well up inside of him as he tried reaching out through the Force to find the location of the unknown maelstrom anomaly of Force energy. But try as he might with all of his unlimited power in the Dark Side, Sidious couldn't locate the Force anomaly. It seemed now, that it might be lost forever.
Sidious then narrowed his eyes in concentration and frustration as he stared out into the endless black void of space that glittered with the shimmering light of nearby stars.
'When that presence makes itself known again, I will be ready. Oh yes, I will be most ready indeed. If you prove to be even half as powerful as your display of power claimed. Then you will most likely be mine, my possible soon-to-be apprentice.' thought Sidious as he made his mental promise clear while he kept his aged and narrowed eyes directed out through the viewport. Whoever this being was to possess that much power, they would soon be the Sith Lord's apprentice. He would personally see to it, and would wait for as long as it would take.
Yoda's Hut, Dagobah, Dagobah system, Sluis sector, Outer Rim Territories, Known Galaxy
15 standard years Before the Battle of Yavin, 4 standard years after the Rise of the New Order
(Same Time)
Out in the Outer Rim Territories far from the reach of Imperial Center and the Empire was Dagobah. To any who had ever visited the planet it appeared to resemble a slimy mudhole composed of harsh and humid swamps as well as shallow marshlands interspersed with stifling forests. But to one being that resided on the planet, it was a safe sanctuary from those who would intend to do them harm.
Inside of a small cobbled together wooden hut that, from the outside, looked to have been packed together with mud, other flora, and had been built directly into the side of a large unknown species of tree, sat a lone male figure.
He was very short, standing at only about 66 centimeters in height. He was also incredibly old at 881 standard-years-old. He was a light green, wrinkly-skinned alien being of an unknown species. He had two large, and sharp pointed elfin ears on each side of his head. He had an almost bald head with a thinning amount of white hair left that showed off the multiple ridges upon his forehead. He had three-fingered hands and three-toed feet as well. He wore a tan robe over a brown tunic. He was Yoda, former Grand Master of the Jedi Order and as-of-now, a wanted fugitive on his own with only the Force and his thoughts to keep him company.
Yoda currently sat on the floor in the middle of his hut in a cross-legged position with his hands resting upon his kneecaps, his wrinkled green eyelids closed, and his pointed ears angled downwards. He sat in pure silence as he meditated upon the Living Force that was being emanated from the lifeforms on the planet. He called upon the Light Side to protect him from the endless lure of the Dark Side that emanated across Dagobah. Ever since the ancient Jedi Master Minch killed a powerful Bpfasshi Dark Jedi, Dagobah would still contain a trace of the Dark Side that infected it like a plague.
Yoda gave a short tired sigh as he faintly heard the various noises of the creatures that he shared his swamp world with. As always the old and one time Jedi Grand Master attempted to center himself within the Force. It wasn't such an easy thing to do, and hadn't been for some standard years now. Ever since he felt all those deaths, all those lights like stars effortlessly devoured and snuffed out by darkness, he had failed to ever truly center himself. But, that didn't mean he would stop trying. Against the face of such swirling and consuming darkness, like that which sought to eat the Galaxy whole, he thought it was more important than ever to try. To try and see the Light veiled and hidden by the Dark Side. A little bit of hope, it was.
It was then that a great cacophony rippled through the Force sending an immense level of power screaming towards the small green Jedi. Yoda's face twisted as his ears dipped further and his eyebrows furrowed and creased from the torrent of sensations the Force was experiencing. It caused the old former Grand Master's eyes to snap open, revealing their light brown hue. His little green head shifted from where it hung a standard second ago and he looked around the living quarters of his hut. The darkness of night had since befallen across Dagobah, but alone the small green Jedi sat in another meditation.
Yoda could only inhale a great breath as the presence within the Force assaulted his senses. He felt this ripple in the Force that had screamed across the Galaxy, its origin was from somewhere in the Unknown Regions. It was a shining powerful explosion that seemed to swipe out across the vastness of the Galaxy and temporarily took a cut out of the darkness that for the last four standard years seemed to enshroud all within it. However, the shining presence in the Force soon flickered and disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
It was then that Yoda loosed another tired sigh from his wrinkled green lips. The elderly former Grand Master hummed as he rose to his tired feet from his place on the floor, and telekinetically called his ever present gnarled brown Gimer stick cane from across the room without having to raise a finger. The brown wooden cane flew rapidly towards the former Grand Master, as Yoda caught it in his three-fingered left hand, he hobbled gingerly from the living quarters towards the opening of his hut. Once again without having to raise a finger, he used the Force to cast aside a small fabric flap he had hanging in the entryway and he stepped outside.
When he had emerged from his hut he walked forward placing distance between himself and his home. When he arrived at the center of a swampy clearing he raised his head upwards and gazed at the night sky decorated with small gleaming white stars. He then closed his eyes and lost himself to the will of the Force itself as he contemplated the occurrence he had felt through the Force.
It was a powerful echoing from one single point from far away, but so powerful had it been, that next to him he had thought it to be. His mind only grasping outwards towards that power he had felt, and could still feel as it had erupted almost like an explosion across the Galaxy set bright alone within the endlessness of the universe. Its power was indeed great, with Yoda easily guessing that it surpassed his own connection to the Force, with only the now gone Anakin Skywalker and his deceased unborn children having possessed even greater raw power.
The elder exiled Jedi listened further as the native fauna upon Dagobah continued to make their presence known. The sounds of chirping creatures, and cawing others, and the grumble of beasts beneath the swampy waters. Yoda sensed more than heard them all, their continued and seemingly ignorant existence in the face of that recent presence of the Force anomaly and the Dark Side gave him some measure of calm. It even forced a small aged smile across his face at the moment.
Knowing his aged mind had now dawdled off from the main subject, Yoda returned to his thoughts of the recent subject. That great ripple of Force energy had shuttered through the Force with great potency. It temporarily shook both the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, before both returned to whatever calm nature they could. It set in motion things Yoda knew he would have to wait and see to know exactly what. All the same, as of now, it was neither of the Light nor the Dark, but it could fluctuate to either side. Yoda could only imagine what now had entered into the wider universe. If he had felt it, he had no doubt at all who else had also noticed it, whether on Coruscant or wherever in the Galaxy he was.
He was still slightly rattled by it, an echo that had temporarily pierced a small percentage of the veil of the Force shrouded by the Dark Side, before it disappeared and the darkness sealed up and healed from its small wound. This could possibly be a good thing, Yoda's mind pondered. However, he felt a grave feeling that surged through his veins as questions formed in his mind.
What if this wasn't a good thing?
What if the future became more terrible than the present already was?
What change would this anomaly cause for the universe?
He shook his little green head of the questions and thoughts that swam through it. Yoda gave a third tired sigh as fatigue began to wear in and he opened his eyes once more. He turned on his little green heels and lumbered back slowly towards his hut intent on enjoying a nice rest.
But in his mind Yoda continued to ponder what changes would come to the Galaxy and the greater universe. And whether they were for good or ill, he couldn't say. He hoped that one day, the Jedi would return. Even if it seemed all the more impossible with every new standard day.
(Meanwhile)
Potter Manor, somewhere in England, Great Britain, Wizarding World, Earth, Sol system, Terran sector, Milky Way Galaxy, Unknown Regions
July 31st, 1980
"Push Lily! You need to push!" Poppy Pomfrey yelled as she tried to help the soon-to-be mother give birth to her child.
"I can't! I just can't! It hurts...it hurts so much!" Lily shouted as she squeezed her eyes shut as best as she could and her body racked with both unknown and magical energy, Harry's attempt at numbing her pain had begun wearing off allowing her labor-induced pain to return once more.
"I know it hurts Lily! I know! But please, you have got to stay strong for your baby's sake. For Harry's sake." Poppy responded, "Please work with me so it will end. Just push a little more and it will all go away."
Lily receded into the farthest reaches of her mind. Thoughts raced through her mind. She could almost see her baby; Harry himself with her green eyes and James's jet-black hair. Then inside of her, something snapped. All she could think of now was her son. She would do this for her son. She would give Harry life and let him come into the world and live with her and James. All self-control left her as her instincts kicked into gear.
Calling on everything she had inside of her, Lily gave the loudest scream that she had ever given in her entire life up to now as she pushed. She pushed with everything that it took to bring Harry into the world, whatever it took. With her eyes closed, Lily wasn't able to see the look that Poppy gave as the aged Medi-witch's face showed pure shock. Radiating from Lily was enough energy to light up the Disillusionment Charm's bubble with the equivalent of a million thunderstorms going off all at once.
There was a bright explosion of power as Lily's entire body glowed with some kind of unknown, ethereal and magical light that was like the birth of a new star. Poppy had to close her eyes as she shuddered, trembled, and even whimpered as what could be described as an unknown godly power and pure magic rushed through her, it was like a divine force or deity had made itself known.
"Okay Lily, on the count of three now!" Poppy shouted through the divine energy maelstrom. "One!...Two!...Three!...Push Lily!"
The area inside of the magical energy bubble grew even brighter to the point that Poppy couldn't even shut it out even though she was squeezing her eyes as far shut as they could go, and she wondered if she would become blinded from the light.
However, the light soon began to fade to show that it was reaching its end as it began to slowly recede and disappear. Even when the storm of energy passed, the glow around Poppy remained for a while before it faded away and she slowly opened her eyes, knowing that what she had just glimpsed upon would be in her mind for the rest of her life.
Lily lied still as she panted and gasped for breath feeling like she had run a marathon. She felt her skin and hair were wet from sweat, as her muscles painfully loosened from their contracted positions and were sore. She couldn't stop inhaling air into herself as she was temporarily startled by something that she had wanted to hear for a while now. She heard the sound that had made all of the pain she had just experienced worth it, as she would endure ten times worse for as long as it took. The sound of a baby's cry.
Several minutes after he had told Sirius his new duty as Harry's godfather, James was startled as he stood and watched as the Disillusionment Charm's bubble disappeared and a smiling, but sweaty Poppy Pomfrey stood where she was, obscuring Lily from view; seeing the all-but-complete Marauders within close proximity to each other brought back memories as well as amusement for the Medi-witch.
However, she had a duty to take care of and, as she looked to James, she smiled warmly as she said. "Lord Potter, there is someone here who would like to say hello to you."
As James stood in place, Sirius and Remus stood from their seats on the sofa and walked the short distance over to their fellow Marauder and brother-in-all-but-blood. With an affectionate pat on both of his shoulders from his friends, James walked over to where Poppy was standing off in the far corner of the living room, and as he did so, his smile reappeared and widened after he passed Poppy while he found tears in his eyes as he found himself looking at a sight that was both awe-inspiring and beautiful to behold.
His loving wife, Lily Janine Evans-Potter, was resting on the crimson red sofa with the blankets stained with evidence of her having to go through labor while her shoulder-length red hair was damp and slick with sweat. Her green eyes, which were one of the few things that had caught James's affection from such a young age, were half-open, but filled with a proud light as she held a blanket-wrapped bundle in her arms. Her pale, sweaty face holding a proud smile as she looked up at her husband.
"Is...isn't he beautiful, James?" she had asked as a tear streamed down from her eye onto her cheek.
Moving towards his wife, James knelt down on one knee on Lily's left side, looked down at the bundle, and gently pulled back the fold as his tough Auror and ex-prankster personas folded like a house of cards as he looked into the most-beautifully-enchanting pair of emerald green eyes that he had ever seen, second only to his wife, of course.
Hell, the eyes were actually even brighter and more empowering than hers, which was saying something. He looked down at the beautiful fair-skinned male infant that those eyes belonged to and he saw the small head of jet-black hair was peppered onto the top of his son's head. And, as James stared at his and Lily's child, it was like a change took hold of him. No longer did he think as a Marauder, an Auror, or a Gryffindor-bound troublemaker. No, as he looked into the eyes of his son, James Charlus Potter felt every little bit of his maturity catch up to him as he reached out to Lily, taking the bundle from her arms while, at the same time that James took his son's small frame into his arms, the grandfather clock in the other corner of the living room chimed midnight.
"Welcome to the world, Harry James Potter." James whispered, cradling his son to his chest while the tiny boy opened his mouth in a cute yawn before he closed his eyes.
Leaning over to his wife, James placed a soft kiss on Lily's left cheek as he told her, "You did great Lily, he's beautiful. And those eyes...so much like yours, but not." his tone containing just a slight hint of suspicion as he looked at his wife.
"I...I remember Filius, Professor Flitwick, tell me once...that a wizard's eyes are more than...than genetics. The...the brighter their...their color, the more...more-powerful the wizard is to be inside with magical power." Lily explained to her husband as they both looked down at the sleeping form of their baby as he slept in quiet and peaceful harmony.
"And if your hormonal times and those miraculous moments are anything to go on, I think our little one's going to be a very powerful little wizard and Marauder, don't you think?" James asked, but when he looked up at Lily, he saw that she had succumbed to sleep, earning a small smile from James as he turned and walked over to the other side of the room, but not before putting his right index finger to his lips as he saw Sirius and Remus standing present at the moment.
After he had walked the short distance, he handed his son to Sirius, who was actually crying at the fact that his honorary brother and sister had created such a beautiful image of a child, James then looked to Dumbledore as his smile faded and he told him. "Lily needs her rest, Albus. Can you come back in a couple of days so that we can talk about the other thing that I wanted to talk to you about tonight?" he asked not breaking eye contact with the old man.
"Of course, dear boy." Dumbledore replied, smiling warmly as he wiped a tear from his aged face before he added. "Congratulations once again, James. You will make a proud and noble father, no matter what. And, I know it was not planned in any way, but I want to thank you for allowing me to share this proud moment with you and Lily." the elderly Headmaster praised James and his remarkable life.
Returning the praise with a nod, James turned and walked the short distance back to his two best friends as they couldn't take their eyes off of the first ever second-generation Marauder, as Remus now had tears of joy streaming from his eyes as well.
As Dumbledore went to vanish back through the Floo, however, he took a look at the baby who had been returned to James's arms, all three of the Marauders gathered around him in a moment that would have looked perfect in a picture. Smiling softly at the thought of treasuring such a memory, Dumbledore's eyes settled on the infant as he gave a small nod.
Then, he turned around, walked towards the fireplace, and vanished through the emerald green flames on his way back to his office.
Headmaster's office, Gargoyle Corridor, Headmaster's Tower, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts Castle, Scottish Highlands, Scotland, Great Britain, Wizarding World, Earth, Sol system, Terran sector, Milky Way Galaxy, Unknown Regions
The fireplace in the Headmaster's office came to life as emerald green flames crackled within the hearth nearly scaring Fawkes, Dumbledore's red and gold Phoenix familiar, from his perch as he tried to rest before his eventual Burning Day.
Dumbledore took a deep breath as he emerged from the fireplace into his office, and standing alone in silence, he let himself move to where his Pensieve was located. He walked across the office floor ignoring the number of spindly tables upon which were set delicate looking silver instruments that whirred and emitted small puffs of smoke and his private library.
The old man arrived at his Pensieve which had the appearance of a shallow stone basin, into which runes and strange symbols were carved and precious stones were fitted. It was filled with a silvery substance that appeared to be a cloud-like liquid or gas.
Dumbledore removed the Elder Wand from his robe and held it in his left hand. It was a black wooden stick that was fifteen inches long, made of elder wood, and contained a Thestral tail-hair as its core. It bore numerous bumpy carvings that resembled clusters of elderberries that ran down its length, getting smaller as they reached the pointed tip. Placing the tip of his wand to his temple the Headmaster used the wooden object to pull a silvery glowing strand from his head, which was a copy of the memory he had from Potter Manor. Dumbledore then deposited the silver memory strand into the Pensieve that remembered that child who, while barely even a half-hour old, possessed greater power, and was beyond more powerful than all of the most powerful wizards and witches that had ever lived combined, including himself.
'A child whose power is beyond greater than Godric's, Salazar's, Rowena's, Helga's, Merlin's, Morgan's, Tom's, myself, and...Gellert's. Combined no less, and he has not even learned to speak or crawl yet.' Dumbledore thought with emotions that were mixed with pride and hope as he added. 'If his full power is even half of what it will become, I think our world, and even Tom himself, will be in for a surprise.'
'Perhaps, Harry is to be the one to vanquish Voldemort as spoken in Sybill's prophecy. If that is the case, then I must inform James and Lily. They must give me their child, so that he could play his role in this chess match between Tom and I. He might be useful to me.' Dumbledore thought as a small smile graced across his face and a twinkle in his eye sparkled as his supposedly brilliant mind thought.
The old man viewed himself as someone who could do no wrong. And why should he not? He was a wise and powerful old wizard who cheated, lied, manipulated, stole, and used everyone around him like mindless slaves. What he did he saw no repercussions for. He was doing what needed to be done, and was the only one that could do it and keep these secrets. He wouldn't need to listen to any other, because he had already begun setting his plan into motion.
'After all...it is for the Greater Good.' the great chess master thought.
(Meanwhile, back at Potter Manor)
James had stayed up with Sirius and Remus for a while as they talked about what had happened for each of them, before Harry's birth acted as a way to reunite almost all of the Marauders.
"And then." Sirius began before he took a sip of his pumpkin juice, and after swallowing he continued. "Some guy gets mad over me makin' eyes at his girl while he's off flirting with another one a few years younger. So, I tried pointing out that since he wasn't interested, that meant she was free for the picking. And what does the guy do? He says that a woman's body is more sacred than a piece of t and a. Yeah right, says the guy mentally undressing the other girl. So I said 'Hey, I can also act real smit. So why don't you go suck a Hippogriff's di-'?" Sirius was interrupted when James interjected.
"Padfoot, watch your language. I don't think I wanna explain to Lily why the first word out of his mouth is a profanity." James said as he gave his best friend a small upset glare.
Sirius couldn't help but give a small and annoyed roll of his eyes as he took another sip of his pumpkin juice while Remus also took a sip of his coffee.
"Take it easy, Prongs. The little Marauder's not even an hour old and is nowhere near saying his first word. So, like what they say in the Muggle World, just 'chill out'. Okay?" Sirius asked as James shook his head.
"Sorry, Padfoot." the Potter Lord said as he looked his friend in the eye.
Their attention was caught by Remus clearing his throat getting the attention of both of his friends. Both James and Sirius didn't even have a chance as Remus spoke.
"Well...it looks like it's getting late." the werewolf began as he looked at the grandfather clock indicating it was 12:25 A.M. "I think I should be getting back home, I have a job interview in the morning."
Sirius nodded his head as well indicating that like all the other times in the past, Remus was right once again. "Yeah, I guess you're right, Moony. I'm getting pretty tired too." the Grim Animagus responded as he let out a long tired yawn. "Hey Moony, you're pretty strong. How about you carry me back home?"
Remus gave Sirius an annoyed glare. "If you make me carry you back, I'll make sure you'll be retching slugs for an hour." the werewolf threatened, and his tone told the other two men in the room that he wasn't joking.
Sirius then shrugged his shoulders like he didn't care about the mild threat of puking up slugs. "Fine. You do that, and next morning after that when you go to your doorstep to get the Daily Prophet. You'll find a little surprise waiting there for you." the dark-haired man could only say with a mischievous smirk and twinkle in his eye.
James could only shake his head at the dry humor from both of his former Marauder friends. "Okay you two, I think it's time for you both to go. I'm tired and want to get some sleep. So go on, and don't let the Floo hit ya where you're split." he joked as he, Sirius, and Remus stood and after a bro hug from Sirius and a handshake from Remus they both disappeared through the crackling emerald flames of the fireplace.
James looked down at the bundle in his arms and noted that Harry was still sleeping. He went up the stairs and placed Harry dressed in some new pajamas into his new crib, tucked his son into bed, and gave the infant a small kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight my future Marauder." he whispered and closed the door to the nursery as he left.
James then walked back down the stairs to the living room as he found his wife still asleep. He marveled at her beauty, because to him, she was a perfect goddess that had given him the two greatest gifts he could ever ask for. Her hand in marriage, and the little bundle of joy asleep upstairs.
'What did I do to become so lucky?' James thought reflecting on everything that had gone good in his life.
James shook his head, snapping himself out of his stupor and walked over to Lily and gently picked her up from the sofa. He turned around and began his second trek up the stairs, this time into their bedroom where he placed her onto the bed. He pulled the blankets up over her and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead as well. James then lay down on his side of the bed with his head touching his pillow and allowed sleep to take him and his tired body.
But the Potter Lord didn't know that his son's birth was the beginning of something new and different. The universe would never be the same again. And it was all linked to Harry: both destiny and fate.
Author's Notes:
*Gasping* So yeah, there we go guys. Chapter 1 done and done. Man, I thought this was gonna kill me with everything that has happened. I've been really busy these past few months. First, I got a new supervisor at work and let me tell ya, the guy's a real jerk if you ask me.
Second, I went back for my third viewing of Avengers: Endgame, and let me tell ya, I seriously hope/want this movie to beat Avatar. After 11 years, it more than deserves it, Avengers: Endgame was the result of everyone at Marvel putting their heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into this movie. Avatar on the other hand only looked great, but the story, characters, and etc. were just plain garbage. I mean, it's a complete rip-off of Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, and Ferngully: The Last Rainforest all thrown together. But yeah, short story, go see Endgame and give it as much love as possible because my brother once said "The way art should been viewed isn't by the appearance on display. But rather, the heart, hard work, and effort that was put into it." But yeah, #WhateverItTakes.
But yeah, an absolutely huge shout out to my beta: sevvyboy1fangirl, for everything that he has done to help me. PS I just want to say thank you to my cousin Mark for his amazing work on the artwork for this story.
Also check out a deleted scene for this chapter that I had to cut. It explains some of what's going to happen in future chapters later on in the story. It's called "Harry Potter: Lord of the Dark Side (Deleted Scenes)".
Yes I know Captain Kagi was a Clone Trooper pilot who piloted Sidious' shuttle in the actual series. But I created the character of Captain Zalev Seyl to pilot the shuttle. I had two black uniformed officers in the cockpit because I wanted to recreate the opening scene of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. I mean, it's fanfiction after all.
I'd like one request from you my amazing readers, just one. Can we please get this story to at least 200 favorites and follows respectively. Nothing more than that as-of-now. If you can do that for me, I'd be very grateful and appreciative of that.
Finally, if you notice any grammatical/writing errors, please point them out to me wherever they are. I'll immediately fix them if you only just tell me. If you see an error, whether it bothers you or not, please just tell me and it'll be gone and fixed. I promise.
So I hope to see you guys again in Chapter 2 of Harry Potter: Lord of the Dark Side for more goodies.
But yeah, I'll try to post Chapter 2 as fast as I possibly can. But Chapter 2 will definitely be a treat that you won't want to miss. See you guys later and until next time.
Once again in the words of Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, "This is where the fun begins."
May the Force be with you. Gold Quantum Ranger, out.